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
condor: Never commented this one… With Zoids, I think it can von title of your best remix.
prq: Excellent tune
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!!
92%
Nebdar: This tune has sole and purpose… Similar to the Twin peaks Tv series tune
karter: Must have for every collection. Outstanding!
mfe: To take something so simple and make it this atmospheric requires skill. Kudos!
93%
92%
Year 2001
machinae supremacy - Great Giana Sisters
MORBID: I am totally addicted to all these guitar-remixes! This one is just OUTSTANDING! More guitars! More punch! More drums… Hell YEAH!😊
stoo: There will never be a better Giana Sisters remix. These guys perfected it. Unbeatable.
manobuda: Muy, muy bueno
96%
Tonka - Last Ninja - Palace Gardens (Loader)
decibel: Lovely, the fade out at the end is sublime
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.
NecroPolo: A masterwork on a masterpiece. Period.
93%
DHS - Max Headroom (Orbital 3241 Elevator Mix)
humorguy: Great value for money DHS just keeps on doin' it!
chairmankaga: One of my favourite SID remixes.
aero: Simply gorgeous
90%
Year 2002
Glyn R Brown - Firelord - Symphonic
Sodden: Love it!!!
wavedancer: Would I be a woman I think I would be wet by hearing this remix 😉
vassago: LOVE IT!!!
96%
Mahoney - Armageddon Man (Vocal Jazz feat. Karin Öjehagen)
ulfepulf: Sweet!
macb3t: Absolutely brilliant!!!
Mrcookie: Marvelous!
95%
Glyn R Brown - Gordian Tomb Adventures
Chili-Man: A Masterpiece!!!
oddball: Gets better with every time I listen to this masterpiece!
Ginjirou: Absolutely amazing. Required entry on any mp3 player I own. Simply sublime! Could be from a shaolin monk stage show…?
95%
Year 2003
Lagerfeldt - Dutch Breeze/Robocop 3 (Progressive Uplift)
Zilog: No trouble here whatsoever, great track!
LaLa: Totally awesome! Great punching beat, well-balanced mix, just one awesome piece of remix!
condor: You know, othere remixes were great but this remix is historical.
93%
Thomas Detert - Supernova (the slow tune)
Amok: OMG… Powerful, Epic, Awesome… Speechless…
Supergrobi123: Ooooooutstanding, man!!!
Ryrynz: Beautifully done.
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!?
Skitz: I seriously think Glyn should score the forthcoming Hobbit film he is that good! This reminds me of the Gladiator score especially with the vocals in there. I think we should send some of his stuff to Peter Jackson!
Melaure: Masterpiece!
97%
mahoney: I found Vangelis. He has taken the shape of Mr. Donné! Great mix!
CharlieC: I think this version is better than Mordi's, because of the bass line. Sinus bass rules!
bastard: Sweet indeed! The more I listen to this, the more I love it… It's gotta be one of the best pieces on R:K:O…
97%
DHS - The Human Race (Bando alle Seghe)
infamous: Proof that DHS aint a one trick pony… This is a MUST have… Wonderful tune
Amok: Still great but I think its overrated and I prefer DJ Mitch's version… Finally I cant resist it… 😃
boessu: This one has a unbelievable quality. Great work.
94%
Year 2005
Makke - Artura(Dublin Delight Mix) feat. Andreas Wallström
Tas: Great fun, very enjoyable. Super dooper pooper scooper
infamous: Irish folk dancing ahoy, never really much liked the original but I cant help but smile whenever I hear this…
slaygon: Such a hilarious song, that I couldn't hold myself from doing my own version of it!
95%
Marcel Donné - Something Stranger Remake
devilhood: Fantastic texturing going on, the intro gives me goose bumps. I'm not a huge fan of the electronic sounding drum-kit though, but that's just me being picky ;😃
ifadeo: F**k'n brilliant! OUTSTANDING!
LaLa: Fourteen years later and still sounding amazing!
92%
tazuk: Sounds very Mike Oldfieldish, which is not a bad thing 😀
global: Such a sweet song… I love it!
Dumper: Everything Glyn touches turns to gold. Another classic.
92%
Year 2006
Andy Gilmour & LMania - Robocop Title
Chris Abbott: The axeman is BACK!
lagerfeldt: Take My Breath Away
Engineroom: Epic. Just epic.
95%
moog (Sebastian Bachliñski) - Tristess
leoni: Wow, this is an excellent track. Gives me the chill!
soppa: Whenever I get fed up with customers at my work, I just put my voip in to paperwork mode and sit back and listen to this! I love how moogs remixes are of great quality and mixing but still have that oldskool demoscene feel to them!
g3r: The r n'b feeling to this track with that special lead is simply awesome.
93%
machinae supremacy - Sidology 2 Trinity
NecroPolo: Badass! \m/,
kurganme: Yeah!
LokkoLori: This is Supremacy… Literally
93%
YEAR 2007
Reyn Ouwehand - Green Beret (live at The Church)
Melaure: Exellent
bordeaux: 😊 enjoyed the entire session 😊 thumbs up!
dream_19: This is ultimate!
97%
Dafunk - Destruction - The New Beginning (rmx)
NecroPolo: Not my style but it's perfectly done.
klosterkatten: This tune is great! You really improved! Well done, I cant give anything but this cute red smiley.
prowler: It seems like Dafunk is really in the zone right now, producing like sonic wanderer did some years ago 😀
93%
eliot: Thiz time he got it right…
emrebulsat: Very nice. I like Dafunk's stuff
maverickbna: Another great one from Dafunk! Keep up the good work!
93%
YEAR 2008
Mordi - Plastic Pop (I Miss You mix)
Amok: Mordis masterpiece. Awesome production. The vocals fit perfectly. Hats off, mate 😊
jokesoldier: Mordi, I'am with you ❤️
k_rostoen: Very well done!
93%
Dafunk - Hardcore Power (We Believe In Goa - Remix)
jailbird: Dafunk for teh win! /me dances
Danceaway: Starts 08 as he left 07… Top stuff and the sounds are bang on, along with top mixing… Keep it up Master Dafunk…
migu: Simply great!
93%
Peter W - Stargate (Not As Trancelucent As)
prowler: Very professional dreamtrance! A bit sleepy at times, but very enjoyable.
Amok: Just great…
L0rd3vyL: My second favorite Peter W tune.
92%
YEAR 2009
Firestorm - Commando (Sound of SceneSat Edit)
schlicky: Just friggin awesome!
condor: Brilliant!
Totta: Someone's been listening to the Soundtrack from The Rock by Hans Zimmer. Extremely well done! You should send this to Zimmer.
96%
Jogeir Liljedahl - Synth Sample - The Stationary Ark
Amok: Loves
Waz: Deliciously good and sounds smooth and clear throughout.
Jezza: Amazing remix of a great sid!
95%
Danceaway: Best oceanloader remix I've heard… Very nice
Bingo: The original is sooo good it just can't be spoiled 😀 Great remix, excellent arrangement, the lead synth is a bit too soft for my liking.
jokesoldier: I just want to discover some uncharted land now, thanks Mordi!
94%
YEAR 2010
95%
Chabee - Baboon (Skydive ReMix)
drax: What an amazing sound and atmosphere - would have been nice to hear some of the original lead in it though… Eventhough it might not have been suitable for this remix… This is really awesomeness!!!
Mitch van Hayden: Superb!
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!
catcher40: Amazing is all I can say. Took me back to the good old days of playing LN, loved every minute.
92%
YEAR 2011
moog (Sebastian Bachliñski) - Jazzcat (007)
chabee: The sax plays amazing! Nice work!
jokesoldier: No need to say that's really, really, really nice& smooth 😊
nettuno: Excellent, melody, arrangement and a style unique. WOW!
93%
LaLa: Per-fect. Soft to the ear, smooth to the brain.
NecroPolo: Drax gets Mordified. I like both factors.
LMania: I love DRAX' melodies, and I love Modi's remix.
93%
Peter Clarke - Ocean Loader 3 (Cinematic remix)
MattMaybee: Wow! Really different but really good!
Palin: Oh… So immersing.
Musoman: This was MY favourite Ocean Loader, brilliant
93%
YEAR 2012
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.
NecroPolo: The famous Mordifier plug-in made justice again 😊 Awesome work. Although I couldn't listen to it through my reference speakers yet, I can hear some extra pleasant warmth compared to your previous tracks even through these little multimedia speakers.
Brosa: As usual - Mordi = The sign of quality.
94%
Andreas Wallström and NecroPolo - DMC demo IV 2 (Celtic Mission mix)
weasel: BRING IT ON!!! *headbanging… Although no really long hair!! ;-D* Working really _great_ this version for this great SID.
LaLa: Head-bangingly powerful! Guitar-smashingly heavy duty! Rock on!
Aule: MONSTER!
93%
bordeaux: Great tribute, awesome guitars - thanks a lot!
Zilog: Powerful & Sweet as always, a masterpiece!
L0rd3vyL: Awesome. Love me some rock, and you do Armand's tune supurbly.
93%
YEAR 2013
chilli_uk: Mix between kreftwork and jarre - so so clever - love it
Mayhem: Not a SID familiar with, but the remix sounds great 😊
deleyt: Nice Jarre! Very soothing.
93%
LukHash - Supremacy (youtube vid)
weasel: LukHash is a BLAAAST!!! 😃 Really, really cool stuff he's doing here! KEEP ON GOING, pal! *Thumbs UP!*
MORBID: Such a brilliant remix!
LokkoLori: Obey Master LukHash!
93%
BeeZerk - BeeZerk - Blasphemy (Feat. Pallaso & Kage)
Danceaway: TOP track and agree with above… This is nice and I can play in the car with Summer time by will smith…
LMania: Wow this is some serious billboard-charts-wothy summer pop!!
Lclhstr: Not my favourite style by any measure, but man 😊 put your HENZA-henza-HeNzA!😊
93%
YEAR 2014
Slaygon - Platoon (Inexperti belli)
defiance: This is amazing…!
L0rd3vyL: Best platoon remix I've ever heard
c64glen: Brillant. Sounds very dirty to start with and then has some glorious guitars.
94%
Robert Engstrand - The Mansion Gardens (Last Ninja medley)
Jojje70: The female vocals does a wonderful job in this remix, totally lifts it to a higher level! Great production and arrangement, nicely done.
K8-bit: Beautiful. Hairs on the back of neck rising kind of good. Please do more Last Ninja themes like this!
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
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!
Blackstar: Love it - count me in for next tour
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.)
Jonazz: Oh… Yeah my film composer do it again! He really are on fire…!
LMania: Sweet, sweet violins.
96%
Dr Future - Fist II - The Legend Continues
ChrisLo: Wow! Perfect piece, arragement, sounds, ambient!
Kate Eternal: Purrrfect!
LaLa: Lovely arrangement, Western-style oriental ambience done right.
95%
MRT - Eagles (Easy Flight mix)
Dr.Piotr: Lindsey Stirling she played Mr. T
LMania: Lovely style.
Ryrynz: Wow, that's quite the remix.
93%
YEAR 2016
Ispace: Jeroen Tel’s classic track, skilfully remixed!
Samarium13: Very punchy feel, great beat!
Sokratekk: Would fit in any Italo Disco set… Great!
96%
Johan Andersson - Out Run - Splash Wave (surf mix)
L0rd3vyL: Another fine remix from Johan Andersson
vurtx: Just perfect in all areas.
gABBa =aGp=: Hey boy, you ever were on woodstock? Great tune!😊
94%
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.
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!
95%
YEAR 2017
SIDNIFY - Supremacy (Overprime mix)
MORBID: Oh yeah!
teo: What a great first remix! Igy tovább!
XxDUSTYxX: That's so dope! |m|
97%
russ: Awesome. Really enjoying this 😀
NecroPolo: Not my kind of stuff at all (there is no blood) but it is quality at its best. Great work!
redhot: Awesome, especially the bass line
94%
HighCSharps: Nice work!
Ripper7575: Very Good!
StormChild: My favorite remix of Albedo alongside with RunStop64's version(s)!
96%
YEAR 2018
FastLoaders - Commando High Score
nettuno: Grest execution, with a very good improvvisati in????
lubber: Perfect cover! Thanks for those 3, 5 minutes!
bahamut_ger: Great Work!!!
96%
KoYamaRo: Nice Arrangement and Mix, a Masterpiece!
Marcus: The perfect mix! The shouts speak for themselves. Could be a Hans Zimmer score!
nous: Amazing!
95%
FastLoaders - Ghouls and Ghosts
LaLa: Straight off their Progressive 64 album. Superb there, superb here.
symbols: Seu Geuuud!
Uglybob: Progressive
94%
YEAR 2019
Peter Clarke - Firelord - Symphonic (a nod to Glyn)
C64_Gamer: Love the 2002 version and now I love this too
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.
Breadbox Bill: I love it!
96%
Glyn R Brown - Firelord (from 8Bit Symphony)
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.
kwed: Turns out the only way to top Glyn R Browns 16-year old symphonic remix was to have Glyn himself come back and update it. Amazing stuff and instant classic if I ever heard one!
Gildan: Glyn… Nuff said
97%
aix: I don't comment very often, but when I do… Whoa.
Mordi: Dane meets Liljedahl! Highly enjoyable!
rnuls: Fantastic song from Jogeir
97%
YEAR 2020
hillsman: A worthy best remix winner IMHO - very special indeed.
Poppykuk: This is a dangerous remix! You listen to it and then it is in your head for the rest of the day. Such a good interpretation of a favourite game-tune of mine,
ziona: Excellent execution, and now I can’t even get it out of my head!😊
96%
Peter Clarke, ziona & Slaygon - Tales of Boon (The Collaboration Mix)
MagicMosher: You guys should absolutely keep up the work together the harmony between the 3 styles of music takes me on a journey
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…
94%
SIDNIFY - The Last Ninja - The Wilderness
MatrixRevolution: Amazing!
Mordi: SIDNIFY = Quality. Punchy track!
XxDUSTYxX: Thank you for your powerful and catchy hi-quality remix, SIDNIFY! Ben Daglish will never be forgotten!
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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