Christmas Special Editorial: 20 years of RKO (The charts revisited)
Published: 24/12/2020 by Neil Carr
In the year 2000 Jan Lund Thomsen's RKO (remix.kwed.org) was born. Finally, a resource that enabled remixers to uploaded their remixes for the world to enjoy. Before that time the remixing scene were made up of several websites spread around the internet. Finding these sites and jumping around from one to another was a painful and a somewhat chaotic experience. Over the years RKO would establish itself to be the one stop shop to get your c64 remix fix. In this Christmas editorial special we go back through the years and present the top 3 remixes voted by our readers from each year to the current day. So grab a cuppa sit back and enjoy whilst we take you on a nostalgia trip. Oh! and if you haven't voted yet on these remixes here's a chance to do so. Happy Christmas everyone.
*Ratings are correct at the time of publish. Ratings subject to varience should votes be cast.
YEAR: 2000
omoroca: Jarresque like hell. This one goes straight to the heart. Years ahead of its time! At 3:10 I fall apart from enchantment. Goose bumps all over! Added to my collection.
Bjorn H.: One of the first C64 remixes I ever heard. Went with me on numerous travels. Two or three thumbs up.
cinemaniac: Perhaps the best remix of this, the best C64 theme out there ever!
92%
nonick: Excellent! But I'd like to know which Galway tunes have been recycled here.
mfe: To take something so simple and make it this atmospheric requires skill. Kudos!
eliot: The original can not be beaten by any remake 😀
93%
92%
Year 2001
machinae supremacy - Great Giana Sisters
thepiano: On of my favourite
anaconda: Simply the best remix ever done. All time favourite!
koroner: Brilliant!
96%
Tonka - Last Ninja - Palace Gardens (Loader)
hillsman: Absolute genius. A true sid remix - wish there were more like it.
Dr Hambone: Absolutely perfect from start to finish apart from the snare build up at 1.15 which I find a bit over the top. Well done. This is my favourite remix I've heard!!!
Cifu1978: Really nice remix, with good tunes, good vibrations and good memories.
93%
DHS - Max Headroom (Orbital 3241 Elevator Mix)
humorguy: Great value for money DHS just keeps on doin' it!
legus: Gooood!!!
aero: Simply gorgeous
90%
Year 2002
Glyn R Brown - Firelord - Symphonic
Hutch75: Brilliant!
vassago: LOVE IT!!!
chosc: This is my favourite song here on remix. Kwed. Org
96%
Mahoney - Armageddon Man (Vocal Jazz feat. Karin Öjehagen)
Mrcookie: Marvelous!
Amok: Absolutely outstanding tune
migu: So very beautiful still.
95%
Glyn R Brown - Gordian Tomb Adventures
Chappers: Glyn is a genius! You could be forgiven for thinking an entire orchestra was involved with this. Instant classic!
oddball: Gets better with every time I listen to this masterpiece!
Nebdar: When you listen you think thats some movie trailer music. Outstanding 😊
95%
Year 2003
Lagerfeldt - Dutch Breeze/Robocop 3 (Progressive Uplift)
zera: I hear the song already for years. And I will hear it still many years. Ingenius.
humorguy: Perfect instumentation, rockin' feet tapping… Well you know the rest!
stoo: When I was a kid I used to load the Robocop 3 demo just to hear this, and the intro never fails to give me goosebumps. Jeroen Tel is a god and Lagerfeldt's remix is legendary.
93%
Thomas Detert - Supernova (the slow tune)
NecroPolo: This one is stunning. Damn! Quality is timeless.
Ryrynz: Beautifully done.
soppa: Marvelous remix, the production is of course excellent but this is just so well thought out it's bound to stay on my playlist for a long long time.
93%
bar: The art of Vangelis+The sound of Neuronium+The touch of Suzanne Ciani=one of the best tune on RKO
Gildan: Sit back, put your feet up and enjoy!
mz1453: Sounds like Kitaro! Relaxing, clear and yet powerful!
91%
Year 2004
97%
97%
DHS - The Human Race (Bando alle Seghe)
condor: You have started with Enigma like drums, Jarre's like voices, and style of Deep Forest. Awesome!!!
DaManiac72: Brilliant. You should be very proud.
vert1: Win!
94%
Year 2005
Makke - Artura(Dublin Delight Mix) feat. Andreas Wallström
tags: Absolutely brilliant 😊
humorguy: 9 for excellence 1 for courage 10/10!!!
stallkerl: Great God!. … This is magnificent, this is brilliant!. … By far the best remix I've heard so far! (I just LOVE this celtic stuff!)
95%
Marcel Donné - Something Stranger Remake
zuckerfrei: Fantastic! Thats really catchy and emotional at the same time. Especially the second half remindes me to early works of Tangerine Dream.
commodoremuseum: When's the album coming out?
L0rd3vyL: Awesome remix, Marcel
92%
Tas: I almost knew this would be outstanding before hearing it… As usual another top quality (mike oldfield-esque) track from Glyn.
raiden: Outstanding GREAT! Welcome Back Glyn! Good to hear That he's still alive! Great Mix.^^
humorguy: Now I understanded nothing ventured,. Nothing gained. Glyn ventured and boy! Did I gain!!! A little risky for the site and I love it!!!
92%
Year 2006
Andy Gilmour & LMan - Robocop Title
Fdi: Just excellent! I listen it again and again! GREAT!!!
Chris Abbott: The axeman is BACK!
humorguy: I am from London, UK. Was lucky to be 2 years in NY in the 80's this is what you could have heard on the radio, driving up the coast to Marblehead. Brilliant.
95%
moog (Sebastian Bachliñski) - Tristess
jaytee: BRILLIANT! Love it. Even the shrill synth (shrill was the point, surely). This is exactly how I would have remixed this (had I any talent).
chilli_uk: Its ok for a POLAK! LOL Gratuluję ;- Moog as you see my polish is getting better - this is my fav tune of yours Na Zdrowie
milan72: BOMBASTIC!!!😊
93%
machinae supremacy - Sidology 2 Trinity
gforg: Great song!
romeo_knight: I WAS WRONG! Just listened to it on Slay Radio and it's fuckin outstanding!
duffbeer: Absolutely great. I even recognized a short excerpt from F-Zero - Mutant City 1, one of the first Super-Nintendo games.
93%
YEAR 2007
Reyn Ouwehand - Green Beret (live at The Church)
Dumper: Stunning.
Melaure: Exellent
XxDUSTYxX: Wow! This rocks! |m|
97%
Dafunk - Destruction - The New Beginning (rmx)
_steve_: Fantastic sounds. Absolutely brilliant track
GSC: Napierdalaj 😃
snorski: Smooth!! Like it a lot!
93%
tonywestonuk: Fantastic… Have you considered posting to http://www.garageband.com/genre/trance - Cus, this remix is far to good to be kept just in the c64 remix community
gol: Amazing sound
eliot: Thiz time he got it right…
93%
YEAR 2008
Mordi - Plastic Pop (I Miss You mix)
Goblin: What can I say, a fantastic take on a great tune… I'd love to hear more Danko remixes like this one
bunker: The first time I thought it was a silly little thing but I grew to love it and now think it's epic. Love the digital effects on the vocals.
brix: Hell a good one! Something very different, well executed and the original melody is good to recognize.
93%
Dafunk - Hardcore Power (We Believe In Goa - Remix)
Agemixer: Nicely advancing one, good development since the original which is awesome aswell! I just love all the melodic silent moments in the middle and especially all those dafunk style, strong low modulation sounds… Kickass!
Ishma: Excellent!!!
Nada: Nice!!!
93%
Peter W - Stargate (Not As Trancelucent As)
Zilog: Simply PERFECT
prowler: Very professional dreamtrance! A bit sleepy at times, but very enjoyable.
Makke: All I can say is: Propper job, Peter! Very well done.
92%
YEAR 2009
Firestorm - Commando (Sound of SceneSat Edit)
Gothmog: Woha! O_O RESPECT!!!
Metal: Hands down - this is the best remix for a very long time! Simply an amazing piece of work!!
Ryrynz: Done in a very epic movie like style, with obvious Unreal Tournament style instruments. Best remix of the year! What a treat!
96%
Jogeir Liljedahl - Synth Sample - The Stationary Ark
inqisit0r: Ive changed my review of this song twice. Ive given it mediocre criticisms, but hearing it 5 times… UNBELIEVEABLE! But why? 1 note off pitch in so many places and it would flop. Its so simple, how is it so beautiful?
Mayhem: Take one fairly unknown SID. Go in a different direction to how Mixer made his (superb) remix of it. Produce something sublime that matches it in quality. Welcome back Jogeir 😊
dragonkiss: Briliant remix
95%
prowler: Wonderful! I can never hear enough good covers on the all-time SID classics 😀
Skitz: What can I say! Simply Outstanding!
Fishs: SImpy awesome
94%
YEAR 2010
Melaure: Great job!
chabee: Amazing!
p2: One off JB's better songs even gets better every time it's remixed!! F*cking great gituar solo & sound!! We want more, we want more… Di!! This version together with Marcel Donne's and Lagerfeldt's version is my top 3 of Sweetness! -p2/h3@tw@v3
95%
Chabee - Baboon (Skydive ReMix)
Dees Productions: Great pads, sweet leads, fresh bassline, fine percussions = Lovely choon! Can't wait for your next masterwork! Respect.
TheZee: A beautiful blend of sounds! You've got real talent mate, keep up the good work!😀
Karmar: Beautiful
92%
SIDrip Alliance - From First to Last (AROK12 tribute mix)
Mordi: Flakey lead, but otherwise great.
Arne: All in all a very good sounding remake of different Last Ninja musics. Thumbs up for this music!
Danceaway: Love it, top mix and it blends through each track perfectly, looking forward to seeing you guys live at somepoint in the future… Keep it up guys!!!
92%
YEAR 2011
moog (Sebastian Bachliñski) - Jazzcat (007)
Melaure: What a wonderfull piece of Jazz. Sax, guitar,. … Not far from perfection!
Dees Productions: Are you serious? Really, man this made me want to pack that pipe with thart jazzy stuff and sit that lounge all night in'. Wow what a jazzmeister! Lovin' this!
chabee: The sax plays amazing! Nice work!
93%
Ryrynz: Once again Mordi delivers us beautiful sounds.
LMan: I love DRAX' melodies, and I love Modi's remix.
aero: It just feels groooooooove!
93%
Peter Clarke - Ocean Loader 3 (Cinematic remix)
Musoman: This was MY favourite Ocean Loader, brilliant
MattMaybee: Wow! Really different but really good!
_steve_: Fantasitc. Like the slower pace of this one
93%
YEAR 2012
DSMarine: One just doesn't walk past Mordi's music XD. Great as always.
LaLa: Great rendition. But what this remix makes clear to me is that this tune is in despearate need of a remix with a singing duet…
Melaure: D'ont understand schallmaeur, it is only the fourth remix, Wanna compare with Giana sisters? Well, great work, pure music.
94%
Andreas Wallström and NecroPolo - DMC demo IV 2 (Celtic Mission mix)
Mordi: Sweet track!
_steve_: Just need to bring that bass end out more, to really feel the bass drum and bass guitars.
drm: Awesome. Reminds me of Joe Satriani!!!
93%
XxDUSTYxX: Awesome Remix, so much energy! Arman was a legend. He and his music will be missed.
Zilog: Powerful & Sweet as always, a masterpiece!
L0rd3vyL: Awesome. Love me some rock, and you do Armand's tune supurbly.
93%
YEAR 2013
Grigul: Wow, great tune. The influence by Jean-Michel Jarre is obviously, but hey - I'm a huge fan of Jarre since 1979. Great Job, Peacemaker.
Razmo: Really nice to hear a synthy Jarre'ish tune in here… Top red smiley for this. Only thing I can put my finger on is the imense wall of sound… It's very thick sonically on the verge of becoming muddy in tone, but it's just at little…
Zilog: Beautiful
93%
LukHash - Supremacy (youtube vid)
oxygen: I really liked your original tone, wonderful work piece
p2: Love it! Just like all the other work of LukHash!
LokkoLori: Obey Master LukHash!
93%
BeeZerk - BeeZerk - Blasphemy (Feat. Pallaso & Kage)
gol: Had to search for my password to login, because this is dope and it had to be said
weasel: Yeah!!! What LMan said!!! 😃😃😃
JLD: Amazing remix!!
93%
YEAR 2014
Slaygon - Platoon (Inexperti belli)
c64glen: Brillant. Sounds very dirty to start with and then has some glorious guitars.
Kate Eternal: Wonderful!
NecroPolo: Evil 😊
94%
Robert Engstrand - The Mansion Gardens (Last Ninja medley)
Jimbob: A hugely enjoyable track. The vocals work amazingly well.
Hoylander: WOW! This is one of the best remixes I've heard here in a long time! Very expressive and emotional, very well arranged and produced. Totally loved when the Palace Gardens theme was introduced towards the end. Again great job with this one!
omoroca: Best R:K:O upload in months! Although this sounds unfinished somehow! Is there any more of this? I love the self-esteems this tune comes with. Added to my collection.
93%
Markus Schneider - Enlightenment - Druid II
rico: … Gives me a lot of Game of Thrones vibes - in a very good way!
infamous: Markus has always been a fantastic musician and all thats changed over the years to me is the increase in production values, great stuff as always.
betelzeus: Holy Shnikeys That's awesome… Angels and Demons meets Pirates… Some of the 'machine gun' strings bother me just a little. Other than that though… Nice… Very nice, definitely a red from me 😊
93%
Year 2015
Slaygon - Never Die (Skitz lives forever)
Nickenstein: This is seriously fucking beautiful, Slaygon! (In my head, Skitz will never die.)
k_rostoen: I've always loved Lover why by Century, but this one is right up there with it. Brilliant remix!
Jonazz: Oh… Yeah my film composer do it again! He really are on fire…!
96%
Dr Future - Fist II - The Legend Continues
Joe Mc Lutz: One word: MAGIC!
Aule: Atmospheric Masterpiece!
0021agimA: Perfect work Dr Future!
95%
MRT - Eagles (Easy Flight mix)
nummer2: Love it 😊
James T. Kork: Just brilliant.
blubberdiblub: Wow, just wow! The reverberation creates a dreamy atmosphere, the bass line so powerful and the strings simply lovely.
93%
YEAR 2016
ChrisBond: Wow - that is a really good remix, good sounds good arragement, but a little static beat - love it anyway, and thanks a lot for the Cybernoid I Bonus at the end - lovely
Samarium13: Very punchy feel, great beat!
KoYamaRo: Extremly Nice 😀 Sounds nice to me…
96%
Johan Andersson - Out Run - Splash Wave (surf mix)
gABBa =aGp=: Hey boy, you ever were on woodstock? Great tune!😊
Breadbox Bill: Great jazzy remix!
ChrisBond: What can I say, perfect Beatles like 😊
94%
LaLa: When listening to this tune I'd like to stand on a hilltop and yell out: This is what the scene is about!!! Kickass 80s feel coupled with a kickass demo tune.
verm71: Exquisitely produced thumpy dance track!
L0rd3vyL: Awesome!. … Just awesome!
94%
YEAR 2017
SIDNIFY - Supremacy (Overprime mix)
Tomsk: These guys can do no wrong. Sensational remix
NecroPolo: It's about time for you guys to join Remix64 / RKO. Welcome onboard! Great stuff.
DJs. DoMoDo: Great remix music 😀
97%
Ryrynz: Would like something more like Apollo2k's version but no denying the quality of this.
kwed: One of the best Plastic Pop arrangements ever. If not the best.
Castor: Awesome!
94%
Mordi: Cool!
Marcus: I have to turn up the volume. And listen the song a second time, third time… I really like it.
Zilog: So sweeeeeeeeet!
96%
YEAR 2018
FastLoaders - Commando High Score
MatrixRevolution: I love this Melody!!!
xgener8or: Really good vibes 😊 Could be at the end of a movie with a ferrari driving into the sunset along a mountain road. Haha
Amiga1200: Woooooow man!
96%
Anthony Walters: Awesome! - Hollywood is calling…
nsky: Well done!
speedy: Uhh, what to say. Great track!
95%
FastLoaders - Ghouls and Ghosts
GlenBenton: Wow, man!
Ryrynz: Professional. Excellent.
ChrisC.: Fastloaders Metal Gods!
94%
YEAR 2019
Peter Clarke - Firelord - Symphonic (a nod to Glyn)
Poppykuk: Great arrangement. Keeps the atmosphere of the original but sounds huge.
JustPhreak: Outstanding work!
C64_Gamer: Love the 2002 version and now I love this too
96%
Glyn R Brown - Firelord (from 8Bit Symphony)
_steve_: This is simply amazing. The only way to top it is being at the live performance in June
Chris Abbott: A huge upgrade to the iconic 2002 version. Make sure you catch the pure symphony version at http://www.8-bit-symphony.com
Mano: Top notch.
97%
rnuls: Fantastic song from Jogeir
Mordi: Dane meets Liljedahl! Highly enjoyable!
omoroca: After 20 seconds I knew I have to vote Outstanding. Because… It is. Great job!
97%
YEAR 2020
Tomsk: Startlingly good remix. Strings, bass, lead, guitar all blended together with care and love. I can even forgive the 'shoehorned' vocoder, because it makes me smile. Wonderful all round!
Unzen: Epic tune as per usual!
Walter12: Best… remix… EVER!!
96%
Peter Clarke, ziona & Slaygon - Tales of Boon (The Collaboration Mix)
Glyn R. Brown: The more I listen to this track, it just gets Better & Better 😊 Great work Guys…
Marcus: I can't remember the game but wow what a score!. If this great track is 3rd place what is 2nd and 1st in the remix competition.
XxDUSTYxX: Excellent collaboration! Thank you very much for this Remix, ziona, Slaygon and Peter Clarke!😊
94%
SIDNIFY - The Last Ninja - The Wilderness
hillsman: One of the best remixes on RKO… Period.
Ryrynz: Doesn't get much better than this, it's got all the elements of a top notch remix, love the fresh new SID sound, what an evolution! Holy shit @3:00, bro we need more remixes from you here!
Ahriakin: Great remix, lots of energy while respecting the source.
94%
People, we should considder ourselves lucky to be part of a community diverse enough to cover everything from the solitary hobbyist with a copy of Fruityloops to an 80-piece symphonic orchestra. The solitary remixer can afford to be out of pocket on a remix since the music isn’t his/her day job - the professional musician doesn’t have that luxury. Dismissing one over the other isn’t a way to take the hobby in new directions. If you prefer the freely available renditions, that’s fine by me - but don’t knock commercial efforts simply for having a cost. No one is in this to get rich.
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