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
Wilfred: I have listenea t least 50 times, but still very enjoying experience. Simply brilliant piece of music!
humorguy: When you played a game a lot… And then 20 years later you hear the remix. You know, better than anyone who did not play the game, but just heard the Sid. This is why I know how great this is!!
Dumper: Beautiful tune, great choice of instruments.
92%
LaLa: Almost two decades later still a powerful, emotional remix, a must-have classic!
karter: Must have for every collection. Outstanding!
Nebdar: This tune has sole and purpose… Similar to the Twin peaks Tv series tune
93%
humorguy: Oh sorry fell up from somewhere really nice. Big fat red one!
Melaure: Excellent, I have found Jarre's fealings in this tune 😃
countzorg: Shimmering
92%
Year 2001
machinae supremacy - Great Giana Sisters
anaconda: Simply the best remix ever done. All time favourite!
NWorXParallax: It'a a fantastic work. I can't get off. Let's play it again!!
boessu: A song with a perfect e guitar surprise. Cool!!
96%
Tonka - Last Ninja - Palace Gardens (Loader)
infamous: The transition in the middle is BRILLIANT, tonka really know's how to get into your head and make you listen up, top notch tune. Wish he'd do a few more such a great talent.
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!!!
sebuko: I love this version since over years. It´s the best last ninja version i´ve ever heard. Please rmx some more last ninja tunes. You´re really great!!!
93%
DHS - Max Headroom (Orbital 3241 Elevator Mix)
madrigal: Wonderful remix, DHS is a guarantee for quality!😉
plokolp: Love this. 2 tunes in one.
chairmankaga: One of my favourite SID remixes.
90%
Year 2002
Glyn R Brown - Firelord - Symphonic
Craze: Well, this is not the work of a hobby musician. This is professional. Extremely well performed and creative remix.
Man from Stars: Great!
kaus: Yeah my glyn favourite
96%
Mahoney - Armageddon Man (Vocal Jazz feat. Karin Öjehagen)
sophisticated: OMG, what a fab song! Gänsehaut pur!😉
eliot: One of the best remixes ever!
MORBID: This is brilliant!
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!
PsychNerD: Simply outstanding.
Pietafon: Awesome!
95%
Year 2003
Lagerfeldt - Dutch Breeze/Robocop 3 (Progressive Uplift)
emrebulsat: Perfect… The Powerful SAW Sound… Trance it…
ulfepulf: Love it!
putzi: Perfection!
93%
Thomas Detert - Supernova (the slow tune)
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.
snorski: Epic
Mordi: Awesome! I had no idea this tune was on this site. Wtf!
93%
91%
Year 2004
plokolp: Fantastic. A highly polished piece of music. I agree with others here - this should be the score for a movie or something. What is that lady singing anyway!?
denise: Great
cirdan: Amazing remix again, Glyn. Those Zimmer'ish strings are quite awesome.
97%
omoroca: Donné is god! Added to my collection.
chilli_uk: Think Ive just come - awesome work
Ryrynz: One the best remixes I've ever heard, I wish there was a higher bitrate version available.
97%
DHS - The Human Race (Bando alle Seghe)
infamous: Proof that DHS aint a one trick pony… This is a MUST have… Wonderful tune
Ziphoid: Still, after all these years - this is simply beautiful!
vosla: STUNNING!!! But those hating Enigma won't love this one.
94%
Year 2005
Makke - Artura(Dublin Delight Mix) feat. Andreas Wallström
Tas: Great fun, very enjoyable. Super dooper pooper scooper
firefox: Thumbs up!
nettuno: … A Celtic song? WOW!
95%
Marcel Donné - Something Stranger Remake
Nebdar: Masterpiece of the true master
Dumper: Love it, a perfect companion to Feekzoids remix.
load_error: Splendid.
92%
aero: Fantastic, thanks alot glyn!
dafunk: Sooo beautiful! In places reminds me of enya and enigma…
nec5: Really. You won't get better than this for orchestra/chant music. A+
92%
Year 2006
Andy Gilmour & LMania - Robocop Title
eliot: There is little to complain, but less then the red one would be unfair…
Itekei: Amazing SID, amazing remake. Thanks, guys!
stoo: When I heard the sweeping synths at the start I nearly cried. An 80s epic; this is the sound of my childhood. Someone should knight these guys.
95%
moog (Sebastian Bachliñski) - Tristess
Amok: Virtuoso!
weasel: He did it AGAIN!! That piano definitely _rocks_!! The lead is a bit 'special' indeed. Maybe there could be still some enhancements though! V2 release? 😉 But nevertheless. This _is_ a RED one again for sure!
widar: Amazing, simply amazing! The best?
93%
machinae supremacy - Sidology 2 Trinity
pixelhaufen: Damn that track is so great!
radsbr: Very good song!
XxDUSTYxX: THAT's what I call a masterpiece!
93%
YEAR 2007
Reyn Ouwehand - Green Beret (live at The Church)
Kozio1: Marvelous
MatrixRevolution: Not bad, not bad!
Batowski: This should be number one! Even if it had nothing to do with Green Beret it would be a hit.
97%
Dafunk - Destruction - The New Beginning (rmx)
LaLa: Great arrangement, great sounds, great mastering, great, great, great.
GSC: Napierdalaj 😃
k_rostoen: What Skitz said.
93%
mace: I've been waiting for a looong time for one of my fav artists to make a move and I must say it was worth waiting for!! Fab stuff Daf!!
Waz: Another excellent job by Dafunk here. Gorgeous heavy bass and drums that underpin the tune wonderfully, and the piano lead is just the right side of full on. And you have to love those vocals - beautifully placed.
NecroPolo: Great work and recognisable style.
93%
YEAR 2008
Mordi - Plastic Pop (I Miss You mix)
redhot: A little late, I just discovered this following Mordi remix on youtube. Wonderful
baztd: Fantastic. I love it!
Amok: Mordis masterpiece. Awesome production. The vocals fit perfectly. Hats off, mate 😊
93%
Dafunk - Hardcore Power (We Believe In Goa - Remix)
Mayhem: If my brother likes it then it has to be good… Stonking way to kick off 2008!
Danceaway: Starts 08 as he left 07… Top stuff and the sounds are bang on, along with top mixing… Keep it up Master Dafunk…
zajos: I did not listen to Slay Radio for half year and now I checked back and this tune made my day. Great!
93%
Peter W - Stargate (Not As Trancelucent As)
Zilog: Simply PERFECT
condor: Bravo! Althought I hate hats, Ilove sound selection.
Makke: All I can say is: Propper job, Peter! Very well done.
92%
YEAR 2009
Firestorm - Commando (Sound of SceneSat Edit)
sumppi: He's a professional and you can hear it. Great stuff, even if the faster parts don't always really fit in IMHO.
alpi: Awesome arrangement and brilliant-sounding, thumbs up *cheers
pricer: Fantastic, such an exciting six and a half minutes. Not seen an up beat classical arrangement of this quality since Mr G Brown.
96%
Jogeir Liljedahl - Synth Sample - The Stationary Ark
Mrcookie: Smooth and beautiful
Amok: Loves
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?
95%
condor: Very nice remix… Can listen it all day long.
redhot: Perfect remix!
Skitz: What can I say! Simply Outstanding!
94%
YEAR 2010
95%
Chabee - Baboon (Skydive ReMix)
_steve_: I can't add anything that hasn't been said above. Fantastic remix!
Dees Productions: Great pads, sweet leads, fresh bassline, fine percussions = Lovely choon! Can't wait for your next masterwork! Respect.
Zilog: Exquisite!
92%
SIDrip Alliance - From First to Last (AROK12 tribute mix)
Arne: All in all a very good sounding remake of different Last Ninja musics. Thumbs up for this music!
catcher40: Amazing is all I can say. Took me back to the good old days of playing LN, loved every minute.
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)
jokesoldier: No need to say that's really, really, really nice& smooth 😊
_steve_: How can this be rated bad?! - were you even listening to the same song as everyone else?
Karmar: Bad? Why? It's amazing cover! THX moog!
93%
aero: It just feels groooooooove!
omoroca: Wonderful, as always! Mordi=Jogeir? Added to my collection.
YogibearRenoise: Great as almost always!
93%
Peter Clarke - Ocean Loader 3 (Cinematic remix)
NecroPolo: I'm not really into orchestral remixes but only lack of hearing would let me say that I don't appreciate the work behind it much. It's a great track with great arrangement but I like the other version better.
Unzen: Excellent tune - memories come flooding back 😊. Top work!
Shark: Liked it a lot and loved the THX type logo theme around 1.30.😊
93%
YEAR 2012
drax: That is an excellent remix of one my oldies 😊… Quite like the intro of it 😊… Very well done - I am so flattered that you remix so many of my sids 😊
zajos: 😊 😊 😊 Sounds amazing! Up to date, pro sound still reminds me of the original era.
omoroca: Wrong chords from your 2008 version have been fixed. Good work! This tune is just as good as moog's outstanding version. Added to my collection.
94%
Andreas Wallström and NecroPolo - DMC demo IV 2 (Celtic Mission mix)
truck: \m/ worthy comment I'm just not coming up with right now here
Peter W: Ridiculous! If you cant feel this…
bizarro: I often thought of remixing that SID by myself. But this rendition is hard to beat 😀
93%
chabee: Great as it is!
bordeaux: Great tribute, awesome guitars - thanks a lot!
teo: Great remix, has it all what's needed!
93%
YEAR 2013
93%
LukHash - Supremacy (youtube vid)
XxDUSTYxX: Outstanding Remix! |m|
celina w: Wow!!!
Crono: Masterpiece!
93%
BeeZerk - BeeZerk - Blasphemy (Feat. Pallaso & Kage)
Cyanuric: A little thin if you ask me but cool stuff nontheless!
Lclhstr: Not my favourite style by any measure, but man 😊 put your HENZA-henza-HeNzA!😊
LMania: Wow this is some serious billboard-charts-wothy summer pop!!
93%
YEAR 2014
Slaygon - Platoon (Inexperti belli)
khisanth: GREAT stuff indeed.
The SIE: Outstanding it is…
c64glen: Brillant. Sounds very dirty to start with and then has some glorious guitars.
94%
Robert Engstrand - The Mansion Gardens (Last Ninja medley)
chabee: Great!❤️
bahamut_ger: Oh my God. VERY NICE MEDLEY. Thank you for that one. One of the Best I heard so far
Jojje70: The female vocals does a wonderful job in this remix, totally lifts it to a higher level! Great production and arrangement, nicely done.
93%
Markus Schneider - Enlightenment - Druid II
speedy: He's back with really top notch orchestration and mega pro hollywood sound. I waited soo long for a new release. More please!
DHS: Wow! I mean, WOW!
Marmue: This is incredible!
93%
Year 2015
Slaygon - Never Die (Skitz lives forever)
NecroPolo: This track is made of harmony, musicality and honour. Maximum respect, man!
Zatuffli: Describe emotions with music. I am excited! Simply brilliant! Good Work!
ChrisBond: Perfect!
96%
Dr Future - Fist II - The Legend Continues
Kalell: Great and very suggestive Atmosphere!
LMania: Beautiful.
XxDUSTYxX: Great work! Very enjoyable!
95%
MRT - Eagles (Easy Flight mix)
NecroPolo: This track has antique aesthetics and balance. The style is not really for me. The quality is.
mfe: Takes a few too many liberties with the melody for my liking, but it's well mixed.
Ryrynz: Wow, that's quite the remix.
93%
YEAR 2016
Mordi: Cool! Very original take on the source. I like the mood.
Snake1: Very cool remix!
mika: Aaaaand that one is going straight to my car playlist
96%
Johan Andersson - Out Run - Splash Wave (surf mix)
LaLa: 100% Beach Boys feeling.
Blackstar: Love it!
Sanjo Ride: Loved this, was juming around in my seat
94%
JustPhreak: Just great!!
bgmnt: One of the best!
NecroPolo: Despite that I hate dancing and dreamy stuff to quite a high degree I'd be a fool not to see the values of this quality track. Great work and a floor filler contender on a demoscene party.
95%
YEAR 2017
SIDNIFY - Supremacy (Overprime mix)
Mordi: Wow! Cool stuff!
oxygen: Amazing remix 😀
Amiga4eveR: Superb!
97%
94%
96%
YEAR 2018
FastLoaders - Commando High Score
Major Sludgebucket: Another tune with too many remixes, at least this sounds like the definitive one.
bahamut_ger: Great Work!!!
lubber: Perfect cover! Thanks for those 3, 5 minutes!
96%
95%
FastLoaders - Ghouls and Ghosts
Uglybob: Progressive
kwed: Too much (prog) rock for one hand!
hillsman: Unbelievable. Please do a Ghouls 'n' Ghosts album!!
94%
YEAR 2019
Peter Clarke - Firelord - Symphonic (a nod to Glyn)
Breadbox Bill: I love it!
bastard: Absolutely wonderful arrangement!
Marcus: I still love Glyn's version after all these years(2002)! It's almost impossible to improve his fantastic version or his Times of Lore. Your choir Peter fits perfectly your remix and I got goose bumps. Very Well Done! Both versions are just great for me.
96%
Glyn R Brown - Firelord (from 8Bit Symphony)
Seedgroup: Pure Gold!
L0rd3vyL: Awesome
Marcus: Glyn really has the feeling to arrange an orchestra track with all his dynamics and emotions (very quiet to thundering loud). I loved the old one and the new one is just great again.
97%
c64glen: Outstanding. Unfamiliar with the original but there Pink's Who Knew in there.
omoroca: After 20 seconds I knew I have to vote Outstanding. Because… It is. Great job!
rnuls: Fantastic song from Jogeir
97%
YEAR 2020
Mayhem: Erm… Wow!
Ryrynz: Oh my lord. Is anyone else basically after a version of this but with a bit more of a drawn out emotional vibe to it?
MagicMosher: Really cool!!!. Absolute banger once again my man
96%
Peter Clarke, ziona & Slaygon - Tales of Boon (The Collaboration Mix)
tw1l1ght: Wow! You guys better be careful not being 'asked' to get a permit from the community before being allowed to submit more entries in that trio -> Puts each of your best sides into a complete package of awesomeness! ❤️ @3:30 - SO Slaygons part!😉
Glyn R. Brown: The more I listen to this track, it just gets Better & Better 😊 Great work Guys…
Poppykuk: Another musical journey with peter clarke. I hear the other players and it all works beautifully together. I love the way the soundscape changes.
94%
SIDNIFY - The Last Ninja - The Wilderness
MatrixRevolution: Amazing!
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!
Mano: Solid, Well done.
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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