ReMix: Donkey Kong 'Duel of the Apes'

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BadAss: Boss ThemesDonkey Kong

We wrap up our BadAss: Boss Themes mixflood with some Donkey Kong (GB) action from Big Giant Circles:

"All three tracks are boss themes. The final sequence of this game is like a bunch of boss battles (sort of) with tracks 28 and 29 being the final battle, parts 1 and 2.

0:00-0:16 (referencing track 29)
0:16-0:40 (track 28 intro and the arpeggio from 24 overtop)
0:40-2:00 (melody is pretty much verbatim 28 with a few flourishes for color)
2:00-2:16 (strings are adapted melody reprise from 28)
2:16-2:48 (track 24 arp)
2:48-3:20 (synth solo overtop source chord progression-mostly original but makes tentative reference to the main melody of 28)
3:20-3:36 (back to verbatim source 28)
3:36-3:52 (modified melody from 28)
3:52-end (all 3 sources being referenced here)

Notable notations that are noteworthy: Symphonic choirs, look at me go. :) I just programmed 'em to say gibberish, I don't remember exactly, mainly just stuff like "Mee NO Da LO Oompa Loompa La La," for all it's worth. Long as it sounds epic-ish. Also, this track was *made* for a guitar lead. Um, enjoy?"

Well gosh, if you INSIST. It's interesting that the Gameboy version of DK made its way onto the BadAss setlist - I'm not saying Kong doesn't have a wallet that says "Bad Motherf*!%er" on it, it's just a surprising source selection in a vacuum, even outside of inclusion on an album. Clearly Jimmy had a vision here, and worked to integrate these themes into a coherent, badass electronica whole. Judges actually evaluated this one, so I can lean on their expertise - Mattias writes:

"Great production, clever and cohesive arrangement with good solos. Sequenced guitar sounds decently realistic, everything works well together, it makes you eargasm. Good stuff!"

Shariq adds:

"Pretty epic bro. Guitar is a change of pace from what I usually hear from you, but it's solid as hell."

And last but not least, director The Joker offers:

"BGC was one of the first, if not the first, completed tracks we had. When I first heard it, it sounded good. Damn good, in fact. It was smooth, epic, and full of just that good ole fashioned swagger. I told Jimmy to make it darker anyway; he delivered. If the first half got you ready for adventure, then the second makes you fight for your ever loving life. Your life, damn you! If you wanted big, sweeping, smooth, choral rock, then by Crom you got it."

Nice; clearly the choral elements were employed to darken things up a bit and give it that epic movie trailer "Carmina Burana" repurposing vibe. IN A WORLD WHERE JUMPMAN MUST SAVE THE LADY FROM A MONKEY NAMED DONKEY... you get the idea. That Jimmy just programmed in nonsense lyrics, and that it sounds pretty darn epic, makes me LOL a bit at how almost anything, when sung by a large enough choir, can sound killer & deathly serious. "My tiny little nipples went to France"?? No problem, just get a choir to announce it! At any rate, this is yet another great cut off BadAss, again showing off a diversity of style AND source material, while remaining true to the director's mission statement of coordinated, strategized, and well-executed ass-kickery. Congrats to The Joker and pu_freak and for all artists involved for making sure BadAss lived up to its name - you're all a bunch of evil, villainous, no-good swine... and we love you for it ;)

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
Man Dingo, this is some good stuff.
You've turned this tune into one heck of an epic. This is the kind of song to play for the final of "Donkey Kong: The Movie". I just imagine Jumper Man making his way to save the princess with all of his strength as flaming barrels are coming his way. The chorus is great and love the reoccurring motif that brings a dark and ominous vibe to the whole thing. Simple into Star Wars, that's what this feels like.
Thanks for posting this one!

- duskvstweak on December 27, 2011
Great stuff! I especially liked the choral work in the last section, it was a nice touch. Thanks for this!

- MechaFone on December 25, 2011
LuigiFan;827208 wrote: Oh, and Codamadius, I do believe the original Donkey Kong eventually became Cranky Kong, as the canon goes. I think.

True. About the track:
Ah yes, a track that has been in my playlist for quite some time (it helped that it was finished so soon). Since I wasn't familiar with the srouce, I never knew you used sveral sources with this, it really sounds like a whole. I love the inclusion of the choirs and bells, making everything a little darker and a lot more epic! Absolutely love the synth solo around the 3 minute mark! Great stuff

- pu_freak on December 12, 2011
I love this so much. I have no negatives. I haven't even listened to the whole album yet and this sits up there with one of my favorites. Props.
Oh, and Codamadius, I do believe the original Donkey Kong eventually became Cranky Kong, as the canon goes. I think.

- LuigiFan on December 11, 2011
... Of all the illustrious badguys in videogame history, you put fricken' DONKEY KONG on the cover of the album? What madness, what insanity prompted you to -- *Listens to this particular track*
... Oh. That's why. Wow.

- Necris Omega on December 10, 2011
Haha, the intro made me think of Inspector Gadget too! This is one of my favorite tracks on the album. Great epic vibe to the track that really builds on itself as the song progresses. Nice work!

- SuperiorX on December 9, 2011
Just to clarify...it actually wasn't Donkey Kong himself that was Mario's nemesis, it was Donkey Kong's uncle wasn't it? Good work btw :)

- Codamadius on December 8, 2011
That intro to the song made me think of Inspector Gadget, although I know that's not where that intro originates from. This is a nice chill bad guy tune where you're rocking and doing your own thing. The guitar adds a nice touch here - we don't get to see a whole lot of that from Jimmy. The song builds pretty nicely while still maintaining that chill pace. Solid work overall.

- Bahamut on December 7, 2011
I immediately sat up in my chair when this started playing while I was listening to the album. When I looked at who the boss was, I was rather confused at first... until I remembered that Donkey Kong was originally Mario's nemesis. :razz: Oh, well. Guess Mario got tired of chasing after Pauline... Anyways! This track really rocks to the core, and the addition of the choir really helps with the menacing, foreboding feel. If this had played during the actual stages... well, that would have been pretty badass. Yay for more BGC!

- HitoriJaNai on December 7, 2011
DUN, DUN-DUN-DUN! God, I love that intro and it being used again at that great ending. Like a wave of nostalgia. If the goal was an epic battle, you sure as hell achieved that. Excellent guitar and drum work, and the symphonic choir really made this ReMix feel like a grand battle. I really don't think it's that short, being filled with so many goodies and being over four minutes long, but I will say that I wished the track 29 part was used a little more. Can't complain though, cause it was amazing. Incredible job, BGC.

- Crulex on December 7, 2011
I love this track so much. The bass is really driving, the arrangement is very tightly packed, and even the fake guitar sounds pretty good! :-)
It definitely sounds like Jimmy had a specific vision for this track, as every element fits very well, and it definitely has the aforementioned swagger.
A++ will listen again (and again).

- OA on December 7, 2011
So happy to finally see a remix of this golden game! AND BY BGC! Great, rockin, headbangin, amazing interpretation of an f'ing awesome source.
oh, and thanks for dat synthgasm 8-O 8-O 8-O

- Chiwalker on December 7, 2011
Seeing a DK remix in BadAss was great. And BGC did an awesome job, from the very beginning with the little DK jingle to the ending with choirs/guitar/orchestra/phat beatz.
The choice of sources is cool. The sampling of guitar is amazingly good, I thought it was a real guitar first. Synth solos (and guitar solos) were pretty exciteing to listen to.
And like Rexy said: "Why is it too short?" :) I'll look forward more DK remixes, this game deserves it.

- Chernabogue on December 7, 2011
Of all the tracks I heard in the trailer, THIS was the one I was looking forward to the most. I have very fond memories of the GB Donkey Kong - one of the most played games on the system for me, so I'm very happy someone covered the score eventually!
After a nicely manipulated intro fusing both the DK jingle and the 9-5 arpeggio, it goes straight into a straightforward adaptation of the 9-8 stage though a lot of the additions on the guitar later on and the call-and-response between the guitar harmonics and strings add in a lot of melodic character. The solo section following it and the choir preceeding it managed to similarly give it some clever touches in regards to the melody, so while the structure may seem safer in comparison to other BGC tracks there's still a considerable amount of substance that really lift it up.
Even under the production bonnet it managed to hold its own. I believe the key element that should be given credit is the synth guitar work; even though they are a considerable pet peeve with me in the community in general, the amount of expression done towards it gives it a well balanced touch. Excellent.
I do however have one goddamn nitpick with this - [i]it's too short!![/i] That may be nostalgia with the source more than anything, but I was kind of hoping for it to not just end after a second rendition of the theme.
It's still a very sweet track overall, and I feel greatful that you handled something that A) is undercovered, and B) that I have somewhat of a nostalgic attachment to, so thank you BGC :D

- Rexy on December 7, 2011
What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

- djpretzel on December 6, 2011