Video Games Live Pulls The Trigger: Chrono Medley Added to Repertoire

sorry guys but this is the most pathetic “arrangement” of chrono music i have ever seen. this is intolerable and i doubt that yasunori mitsuda knows about this.

Do you really think this performance is fine. Or is that just Tommy-inspired spin or, even worse, inspirations by YouTube comments from people who know nothing about music? I had a big discussion about this performance about a month ago with a few people and we were all in agreement that that it was very bad.

The performance is really awful — even less rehearsed than most VGL performances. The balance problems aren’t because of the video recording. The flute solo is so meek and the melody can’t even be heard during the Scars of Time solo. I agree the arrangement is weak too — abrupt transitions, inappropriate use of guitar, and a very cheesy feel throughout.

I really don’t care if VGL butchers Yasunori Mitsuda’s music and have long got over my distress about the video. But the PR spin is just lame.

Also, the comment “i doubt that yasunori mitsuda knows about this” is totally right. I’m not even sure SQEX does…

Was there any sort of PR spin for this? I don’t think they put anything out.

The comment: “Has Jack Wall unintentionally jeopardized his career by demonstrating the orchestra can get along fine without a conductor?” That’s spin to me. Any true conductor would tell you that an orchestra can’t get along fine without a conductor and use that video as evidence. 😉

I honestly think you are the only person who could’ve ever interpeted it that way.

Humor, anyone?

Not really. There’s been pretty extensive discussions about this video and many of them have been negative. I think a more open-minded post would have been appropriate — that reflects on the mixed reception to the video — rather than one that tries to tell people that the performance is fine. It all sounded like PR to me but maybe that’s just your style.

The post doesn’t express one opinion one way or the other. It’s more of, “Hey, here it is.” News. Not review.

Overcome your hatred!

Also, I’m not aware of any “discussions.” So why would we reference them?

That comment had nothing to do with their performance, it was just a passing joke that maybe Jack Wall’s presence wasn’t needed since he just picked up a guitar and stopped conducting in the middle of a piece.

Well, I forgive you. 😀

calm down friends!
and video games live does not need a conductor anyway. click track, ya know.

Once again Chris proves his bias and ignorance of Video Games Live and what it represents. Unfortunately, Chris seems to never be able to put aside his elitist game music attitude to realize all of the positive things that VGL is, has and continues to accomplish. His negativity (as always) is only sparked by his biased, truth-twisting and mean spirited attitude which he has had from the beginning.

The fact is… he’s never even seen our show yet feels the need to negatively discuss a crappy YouTube video in order to tear us (and others) down. He should be ashamed to even call himself a game music fan.

One things for sure… the more Chris hates something that VGL does… the more popular I know it’s going to be with the mainstream population. His comments here prove it again. I also find it interesting how he quickly dismisses anyone who has commented positively about this video insinuating that anyone who likes it or leaves a positive comment “knows nothing about music”. You see, if you don’t like the same exact music as Chris… then you’re inferior and don’t know what you’re talking about.

Rock On!

🙂

Tommy

chris should not feel ashamed. people who rape the wonderful music of yasunori mitsuda should. people who misuse music of others to promote themselves should. not chris.

did yasunori mistuda listen to your arrangement? did you get permission from him? from square enix? do you respect original work of composers AT ALL? do you care?
listening to your version of chrono music gives a clear answer.

Yo Cryrus,

I’m not trying to attack you and you’re certainly entitled to your own opinion. Everyone has different music tastes. But I believe that claiming any kind of music taste superiority over others is pretty elistist and immature.

You seem to be bashing others because you feel the arrangement is “pathetic”. And insulting my career and industry work by saying I misuse game music and composers to promote myself is quite disrespectful considering the “real” truth. That’s just an uneducated and mean statement. But if that’s the way you prefer to communicate with me, I’d prefer to ignore the negativity.

thanks,

T.T.

i would prefer if you would answer my questions, t. t.
do you have permission from yasunori mitsuda?
permission from square enix?

if not, you are the one who is disrespectful in the worst possible way.

I am a huge fan of VGL. So it really hurts me to say that this arrangement and this performance are very bad indeed.

All I say is rock on, Cyrus! Ignore his malicious spin. 😉

I’m not sure I want to spend money to see what VGL has to offer anymore. I’ve never been to one but I thought of going this year.

I personally think you ought to see it at least once before you can really judge. It’s not an orchestral concert, and it doesn’t pretend to be. It’s a “show.” These YouTube videos sound like ass, and for the record, the basis of the CT material in this particular arrangement is directly from the recent Orchestral Extra disc.

Thanks for adding that info Jayson. I also found it a little peculiar that some of the hardcore game music fans would be mocking the Japanese arrangements. Maybe some of these folks are mistaking the word “arrangement” with sound mixing (i.e. instrument volumes). I’ll be the first to admit that the first few times you play a new segment “live” that the sound mixing isn’t always perfect. Every venue and sound system is different. It takes a couple of shows to adjust it just perfectly. But the arrangement is something totally different which is where I think some of the confusion is coming in?

What’s also interesting is that if we do past arrangements exactly (our Mario & Zelda pieces)… some of the hardcores will complain. Yet if we do a brand new arrangement… some of the hardcores will complain. And, when we base something on an existing arrangment and slightly add to it (such as the CT/CC or our FF7 OWA segment)… they still complain. So clearly, it’s impossible to please some of the hardcores. 🙂

Luckily for the show, the vast majority appreciate and love what we’re doing which is the major reason why we’re continuing to grow at such a fast rate (70+ performances this year alone).

I understand that we can’t please everyone and I would only recommend to people (as Jayson mentioned) to check out the show in person for yourself before making any judgements (unlike Chris). 🙂

And if you have any suggestions or comments, we’d absolutely love to hear him… and as Jayson will tell you… we always listen to feedback and ideas and if it makes sense for the show on a greater scale, we always try to incorporate them.

You can reach us via e-mail at: ^[2] or make a suggestion through our FORUMS at ^[3]

Thanks,

Tommy

I’ve seen videos and heard fan recordings of VGL and they all have one thing in common — a sense of minimal rehearsal. It reaffirms the rumours I’ve heard of paying an orchestra 5000 dollars for one rehearsal straight into concert. This obviously doesn’t matter to a lot of fans who simply want to hear their favourites and don’t care if they’re butchered. However, those looking for a more mature experience should look elsewhere to Distant Worlds, Games in Concert, Symphonic Fantasies, Night in Fantasia, Press Start, or at one time PLAY!

However, even the VGL Volume One album had big performance and recording problems, even though it probably had lots of rehearsals and obviously had a lot of expensive post-production mastering. The problems will be less obvious to casual listeners, but shocking to those with more experience in the recording industry. This tells me that Tommy and Jack don’t really have a good understanding of the music they’re treatment and are unable to command an orchestra effectively. This allows me to extrapolate even more about what the actual underrehearsed shows are like. I guess this is what happens when those used to making an awkward hybrid of a rock show and orchestra concert attempt to make a more serious production.

I wouldn’t have much of a problem with VGL if all it did was regularly butcher fan favourites with trashy shows. I obviously wouldn’t want to see it myself and wouldn’t recommend it, but I wouldn’t hate it. The problem I have is that their competitive scheduling, stolen ideas, and malicious propaganda are intended to bankrupt their competitors outside Japan. Tommy’s methods go beyond acceptable business and are in fact extremely malicious and vindictive. I absolutely do not understand his need to do that since his competitors are very different (actual symphonic concerts) and there’s easily enough room for everyone. I think it’s pretty understandable why those who research game concerts a bit more are opposed to their continuing attempts to destroy respectable productions and the people behind them.

Don’t know about any of those details (and not sure how you do, either), but I personally like VGL, don’t think they butcher fan favorites, and agree that there’s room for everyone.

Thread locked! Everyone STFU!

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