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!
banador: Just so good and interesting picture of the Nemesis that this music creates.
jlrcuesta: One of the best remixes. Excellent sounds and structure.
LaLa: Almost two decades later still a powerful, emotional remix, a must-have classic!
Nebdar: This tune has sole and purpose… Similar to the Twin peaks Tv series tune
t0ester: Brilliant!!
Nebdar: How such a small tune can be so much beautiful
eliot: Very very very outstanding 😊
countzorg: Shimmering
Year 2001
machinae supremacy - Great Giana Sisters
master_of_chaos: Whoaaaa… More of this
LMan: Not my cup of tea, but it surely rocks 😊
rossa: Wow great!!
Tonka - Last Ninja - Palace Gardens (Loader)
REYN: Best energy, best buildup, best drum programming EVER!!! Gigantic!!
decibel: Lovely, the fade out at the end is sublime
germantaz: As it already says: OUTSTANDING!!!
DHS - Max Headroom (Orbital 3241 Elevator Mix)
plokolp: Love this. 2 tunes in one.
aero: Simply gorgeous
madrigal: Wonderful remix, DHS is a guarantee for quality!😉
Year 2002
Glyn R Brown - Firelord - Symphonic
RebornOnline: A great version of my favourite C64 tune! Thanks Glyn!
Tas: Still sets a standard
Zoldex: Astounding!
Mahoney - Armageddon Man (Vocal Jazz feat. Karin Öjehagen)
Tasslehoff: Through the Soul
exo: One of the best remixes ever. Period.
omoroca: Rocks! Go Karin go!
Glyn R Brown - Gordian Tomb Adventures
brix: WTF?! ! This is great!
Gildan: Best remix on RKO, period.
humorguy: This is awesome. The first stirrings of a what has become a GREAT mixer.
Year 2003
Lagerfeldt - Dutch Breeze/Robocop 3 (Progressive Uplift)
Ryrynz: I used to play this at work in the store… Good times. Love it.
drax: Goose Bump alarm… One of the best remixes ever imo!
gforg: Auuusommee!
Thomas Detert - Supernova (the slow tune)
Zilog: Conquest of Paradise / Vangelis samples or else I'm mistaken => very nice!
Ryrynz: Beautifully done.
snorski: Epic
Year 2004
Gildan: Glyn continues with his Midas touch. Fantastic production and arrangment, sheer class as always.
mfe: Reeks of quality, and in a good way!
Dumper: What a wonderful tune, great to see Glyn back.
LMan: Wow! That must be Marcel's best remix of all times. Amazing!
datucker: You don't get it better than this!
condor: I remember this one whet I donwload it… It's brilliant!
DHS - The Human Race (Bando alle Seghe)
Dumper: I gave this an orange before, but hearing it quite a bit lately I now feel it deserves a nice big red one.
liontamer: I agree, a true stunner of a mix. I liked it initially, but the texture really grows on you over time. Very hot work.
aricz: Mmmmmmm, smooooooth and beeeeautiful! Soothing stuff, yummie😊
Year 2005
Makke - Artura(Dublin Delight Mix) feat. Andreas Wallström
infamous: Irish folk dancing ahoy, never really much liked the original but I cant help but smile whenever I hear this…
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!)
dacke: Wicked!
Marcel Donné - Something Stranger Remake
infamous: This tune makes me want to have marcels babies…
Makke: Ok… Now I have to change underwear…
LaLa: Fourteen years later and still sounding amazing!
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!!!
_steve_: Simply stunning. Very atmospheric and relaxing.
Waz: This is a bit good to say the least. Lovely use of guitar for the lead parts, which convey just the right amount of emotion. And plenty of gentle and neat touches to make it a beautiful emotional piece. Download it. Now.
Year 2006
Andy Gilmour & LMan - Robocop Title
Chris Abbott: The axeman is BACK!
eliot: There is little to complain, but less then the red one would be unfair…
Skitz: Thankyou Thankyou - this tune always made me think of the old Ariston advert in the UK - but now it reminds me of this! GREAT GREAT GREAT!
moog (Sebastian Bachliñski) - Tristess
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
jokesoldier: Makes me surprisingly very happy!
mania: Awesome tune and the synth sound at 1:19 rocks, don't listen to them 😉
machinae supremacy - Sidology 2 Trinity
Kelsaurian: Absolute ballar!
NecroPolo: Badass! \m/,
radsbr: Very good song!
YEAR 2007
Reyn Ouwehand - Green Beret (live at The Church)
boessu: Just outstanding work.
Danceaway: I emailed Martin Galway and gave him the link to the You Tube version and he replied stating Reyn rocks… Outstanding track, Awesome stuff Mr O
vurtx: As a remix its a masterpiece anyway, but for it to be live is just a true genius at work
Dafunk - Destruction - The New Beginning (rmx)
bratac: Excellent, it has melody and yet is trancy.
prowler: It seems like Dafunk is really in the zone right now, producing like sonic wanderer did some years ago 😀
Man from Stars: I like it all impresinve rithmic music for me.
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
KF: Top Stuff…!
emrebulsat: Very nice. I like Dafunk's stuff
YEAR 2008
Mordi - Plastic Pop (I Miss You mix)
Melaure: Congratulations
germantaz: Congratulation. Everything everybody said is true. In my opinion it could be a bit faster ;o)
_steve_: Wonderful!
Dafunk - Hardcore Power (We Believe In Goa - Remix)
Ishma: Excellent!!!
brix: First I thought it was just very good, but from 4:00 the tune really gets the shit going! Outstanding stuff. Partytime!
chilli_uk: Its great and as always clear, concise and well mixed - would make a great track for a dj to mix to and with - great work
Peter W - Stargate (Not As Trancelucent As)
condor: Bravo! Althought I hate hats, Ilove sound selection.
xo: Su-bloody-perb.
Zilog: Simply PERFECT
YEAR 2009
Firestorm - Commando (Sound of SceneSat Edit)
Dumper: Eftos, at least he doesn't copy other peoples tunes like you do. Great Remix.
vili: Reminds me The Rock, too. Combined with Batman Begins.
Ziphoid: I don't know what to say. This is just pure perfection.
Jogeir Liljedahl - Synth Sample - The Stationary Ark
cyphax: Something went REALLY wrong here because I've not heard this before and I'm like WTF! This is GORGEOUS!
chabee: I love it!!!
LMan: Sweetness. The kind of remix I'd label definitive.
bratac: Massive! Perfect!
condor: Very nice remix… Can listen it all day long.
Twinbee: A classic then and a classic now.
YEAR 2010
Ryrynz: Awesome, though I still prefer Marcel Donne's version. His background tune adds alot of oomph and this ones a bit blippy. This tune instead focuses on the lead and thats what makes this tune get a red.
omoroca: Gibs rules! Added to my collection.
drax: Excellence!!! I think there is a bug in the original sid-file. Just found the original prg-file and it sounds a bit different… This one covers the sid-file from hvsc.
Chabee - Baboon (Skydive ReMix)
Unreal: Yeaa! It is a great remix now!! I loves the feel, and the various elements and samples in the music! Congratulations, I am waitin' the next one, my friend!😊
Zilog: Exquisite!
Mordi: Cool tune. Great sounds and lovely percussion. I love your style!
SIDrip Alliance - From First to Last (AROK12 tribute mix)
Mordi: Flakey lead, but otherwise great.
maindrian: Makes me want to dry hump my speakers. It's THAT filthy. The lead does feel a little flimsy over the top of all that crunchy guitar, but boy, oh boy, does that guitar crunch.
Arne: All in all a very good sounding remake of different Last Ninja musics. Thumbs up for this music!
YEAR 2011
moog (Sebastian Bachliñski) - Jazzcat (007)
NecroPolo: _steve_: Someone needs to grow taste or ears, maybe both 😊 I'd really appreciate some explanation coming with bad rating instead of trolling with no name. That's coward in a way, eh?
Karmar: Bad? Why? It's amazing cover! THX moog!
nettuno: Excellent, melody, arrangement and a style unique. WOW!
soppa: One of my personal favorites, could listen to this all day long.
LaLa: Per-fect. Soft to the ear, smooth to the brain.
chabee: Nice Re-Remix 😊
Peter Clarke - Ocean Loader 3 (Cinematic remix)
karl_xii: Fantastic, gives me the shivers when listening
Palin: Oh… So immersing.
Unzen: Excellent tune - memories come flooding back 😊. Top work!
YEAR 2012
The SIE: What else can I say… All above said is true. Except schallmauer's shout.
Ryrynz: Pro job. I would like to hear it however with a softer and smoother more expressive lead. This rings near the edges of perfection, It could've been one of the best.
redhot: Still a great classic
Andreas Wallström and NecroPolo - DMC demo IV 2 (Celtic Mission mix)
rotteroy: Horns up!!!
Bigraw: Beast! 😃
Dees Productions: Wow, such a great sound and energy in this song. I really like this!
XxDUSTYxX: Awesome Remix, so much energy! Arman was a legend. He and his music will be missed.
Chainsaw: Just awesome great. This rocks!!! Red smile, because there is no higher one!
Dees Productions: Awesome!
YEAR 2013
LukHash - Supremacy (youtube vid)
NecroPolo: SID remixing at its best IMO as besides melody it is also a respectful tribute for its unique sound, too. I miss a smarter ending maybe - but I don't care. Great stuff!
DSMarine: As the vote says… Simply Outstanding!
eisei: Love the video too
BeeZerk - BeeZerk - Blasphemy (Feat. Pallaso & Kage)
Cyanuric: A little thin if you ask me but cool stuff nontheless!
archon: Wow, great mix and fitting the vocals in just perfectly!
Melaure: Top of the charts!
YEAR 2014
Slaygon - Platoon (Inexperti belli)
L0rd3vyL: Best platoon remix I've ever heard
Makke: NiN anyone? Loving it!
Worped: Absolutely epic!
Robert Engstrand - The Mansion Gardens (Last Ninja medley)
Mordi: Very nice!
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!
DJNutzZ: YES!!!
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!
NecroPolo: Man I must admit that in general I greatly dislike orchestral remixes. At least the ones that are not created with so much expertise like this one. It blasts the rest out of the pool (sorry guys). Kudos Markus!
drm: Good one it fits the game well.
Year 2015
Slaygon - Never Die (Skitz lives forever)
NecroPolo: This track is made of harmony, musicality and honour. Maximum respect, man!
LaLa: Fresh off his win at ROTY 2014, Slaygon drops another beauty on us. Wonderful cinematic emotions - I only wish if it was longer…
GlenBenton: Brilliant!
Dr Future - Fist II - The Legend Continues
Joe Mc Lutz: One word: MAGIC!
ChrisBond: Really good!!!
linus: Extremely lovely!❤️
YEAR 2016
Sokratekk: Would fit in any Italo Disco set… Great!
Samarium13: Very punchy feel, great beat!
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
Johan Andersson - Out Run - Splash Wave (surf mix)
L0rd3vyL: Another fine remix from Johan Andersson
Tomsk: So much fun to listen to! Excellent
hillsman: Loving these Surf remixes! I really like this one and its perfect for Johan's style
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.
Dr.Piotr: Leds dance!!! Greats!
bgmnt: One of the best!
YEAR 2017
SIDNIFY - Supremacy (Overprime mix)
Mordi: Wow! Cool stuff!
MatrixRevolution: Wow!! What a Guitar!!
L0rd3vyL: Fantastic remix, dude
Etsit: Summer cruise!
Ryrynz: Ahh it's beautiful.
nummer2: Absolutly great. Man I follow your mixes for so long but you improved on some unbelieveable level. Its perfect. Were you get all these cool sounds and ideas from. 😃
YEAR 2018
FastLoaders - Commando High Score
Jojje70: Crisp and very well produced with nice improvs!
FNL: Excellent! 😃
Clyder64: Wow… Very pleasant and relaxing tune. Great work
Ryrynz: I still like x-formz one a bit more but this is great. Can we get a FLAC please?
Erestor: Perfect!
WizardOz: Epic!
YEAR 2019
Peter Clarke - Firelord - Symphonic (a nod to Glyn)
Poppykuk: Great arrangement. Keeps the atmosphere of the original but sounds huge.
Breadbox Bill: I love it!
_steve_: Love Glyn's original - this re-imagining of that is very well put together and is a great addition to it. Not sure omoroca is hearing the same tune as eveyone else.
Glyn R Brown - Firelord (from 8Bit Symphony)
L0rd3vyL: Awesome
Ryrynz: Love this but prefer the 2002 version's overall expression, just needs a remix up to this level of quality and boom… Masterpiece.
speedy: EDIT: Great stuff after several listenings and better than first one.
mrt: Fantastic work! Thanks
aix: I don't comment very often, but when I do… Whoa.
rnuls: Fantastic song from Jogeir
YEAR 2020
XxDUSTYxX: Extremely catchy feel-good music!😊
Paulie68000: One of my all time favourite arcade pieces; I love the seamless blend of genres from the opening strings to the guitar break near the end. Pure class.
Shark: What a great remix, like you peter spent many an hour on this game and the remix of the soundtrack is perfect, Sega would be proud!
Peter Clarke, ziona & Slaygon - Tales of Boon (The Collaboration Mix)
Ryrynz: The synths don't really have the punch I want, they really need to be front and center, orchestra sounds good. Overall a nice atmosphere. Dat Slaygon tho… @3:30 my jam.
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.
Glyn R. Brown: The more I listen to this track, it just gets Better & Better 😊 Great work Guys…
SIDNIFY - The Last Ninja - The Wilderness
XxDUSTYxX: Thank you for your powerful and catchy hi-quality remix, SIDNIFY! Ben Daglish will never be forgotten!
Bistecca104: Wow! Just WOW!
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!
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.

Back In Time Live & Remix64 25th Anniversary Compo

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