FINAL FANTASY VI - Dancing Mad | Metal Guitar Cover

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  • Опубліковано 1 січ 2024
  • Dancing Mad (Kefka) Final Fantasy VI Metal Guitar Cover by FamilyJules
    ▼ Your choice for the Greatest Video Game Song of All Time ▼
    (Tabs For All Parts Available on Patreon!)
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    Stream and download this song on my album The Greatest Video Game Songs of All Time!
    🎵 materia.to/GreatestVGM 🎶
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    This is the final video in my series of going through the top 20 Favorite Video Game Songs of all time as voted on by my community. This is the NUMBER 1 song voted by all of you!
    Last summer when I tallied up the votes and saw that this would be the final song, I let out a sigh of dread. While I was excited that the number one song was one that I haven’t done, there’s a good reason why I’ve been nervous to take it on and it should be apparent by the runtime. Not only is it long, it’s complicated in technical ability AND arrangement. Being a 4 movement piece, it was not going to be easy to figure out how to make it one song.
    Last week, there was a bit of an issue with the number 2 song and I had to take some time to make adjustments, which put me back a bit in getting started on this which made me very nervous about it releasing on time. To have less than a week to put together a cover of the 12-17 minute arguable magnum opus of Nobuo Uematsu, was stressful but I knew I just had to do my best.
    Being able to simply play all of these parts was one thing, but mixing it was an incredible challenge. I opted to fully orchestrate it past its original instrumentation and getting everything heard at the level I felt appropriate was incredibly difficult. I had to make many sacrifices to tones and EQ I normally wouldn’t choose. I originally planned to use only the John Petrucci Neural DSP amp for all the guitars (which felt appropriate given the context), but I quickly found that because of the density, I wasn’t going to have the luxury of whatever tone I wanted. I ended up using the Mixwave Spiritbox again for rhythms and the Neural DSP Plini for leads. I love the Plini but it’s very low end heavy which I actually used to my advantage to add a slow reacting compressor to the low end to give the transients in the lead more punch to cut through without adding too much more high end energy.
    For the arrangement, I really just laid everything out and arranged as I went in a way that felt fluid to the direction I was going. I ended up repeating sections in different ways than I originally planned and I hope that it creates a unique arrangement of this piece. I found getting to repeat parts let me really go all out on adding stuff after replicating the original sections to respect the piece.
    My favorite part though was the chord changes I made to the clean section in movement one and movement 4. There was something about the Aadd9 chord going to an E/G sharp instead of the C sharp minor that really moved me that I had to have it there, especially at the end to give it a more triumphant feeling. I’m incredibly proud overall how this turned out and I can’t believe I finished it in time. I really hope you guys enjoy it as it was an absolutely immense undertaking.
    Thanks so much for watching! I’m going to be taking a small break to begin working on some new things coming soon. Subscribe if you haven't already so you can be the first to see the big things coming very soon!
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    Follow me!
    🐦 / familyjules7x
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    💬 / discord
    📷 / familyjules7x
    If you'd like to support me, pledge to me on Patreon or buy my music!
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    🥁 familyjules7x.bandcamp.com/
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    Proudly endorsed by:
    Ernie Ball Strings (www.ernieball.com/)
    Schecter Guitars (www.schecterguitars.com/)
    Get your next piece of music gear through my affiliate link for Sweetwater!
    bit.ly/Sweetwater_FamilyJules
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    Composed by: Nobuo Uematsu
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    Instruments Used:
    Lead Guitar: Ernie Ball Music Man Majesty
    Rhythm Guitar: Schecter C-7 Multiscale
    Bass: Schecter Diamond-J 5
    Interface: Axe-Fx III
    Mixer: SSL 12
    Microphone: Neumann TLM103
    Audio Software: Cubase 13
    Video Software: Davinci Resolve
    Video Camera: Panasonic Lumix GH5s
    Check out my entire list of equipment here: kit.co/FamilyJules7x
    #finalfantasyvi #dancingmad #familyjules

КОМЕНТАРІ • 724

  • @FamilyJules7X
    @FamilyJules7X  5 місяців тому +399

    DANCING MAD, the monumental final boss battle from Final Fantasy VI was your choice for BEST VIDEO GAME SONG OF ALL TIME! Here is my new metal arrangement of the track of all four movements! Thank you all so much for voting in my survey last year to find the greatest video game music of all time. Check out the top 20 songs in the playlist here: ua-cam.com/play/PLtVLuItpBoj5hqo8ZrGtgWOrso5OywGz2.html
    I'll be compiling all of the songs in this series into a full album that will first be available to supporters on Patreon, and then will be releasing to stores as soon as it clears. I'd like to give them all a once over for mixing and mastering so bear with me! Hope I catch some of you at MAGfest this month where I'll be performing on Mainstage with ToxicxEternity! Thank you again!

    • @Xanatrix
      @Xanatrix 5 місяців тому +17

      Not only is Dancing Mad a masterpiece, but the metal version as composed by Uematsu for his (now defunct) metal band The Black Mages was, in my opinion, the best version of Dancing Mad ever.
      Seeing another fantastic metal cover is just the best gift for the new year. Bliadhna Mhath Ur!

    • @marcustomlinson9080
      @marcustomlinson9080 5 місяців тому +4

      I still find this game one of the most ground breaking games

    • @MadameTeqi
      @MadameTeqi 5 місяців тому +3

      It is an absolute honor to be like #69 on such an important and beautiful comment. Well done, Jules!

    • @olla_p.
      @olla_p. 5 місяців тому +4

      Yeeeeah, I would choose this battle theme too 🙂 FFVI had most awesome music in all of SNES FF's

    • @TheOneZenith
      @TheOneZenith 5 місяців тому +1

      @@XanatrixEverything that needed to be said, you nailed it perfectly.

  • @rakushasu1262
    @rakushasu1262 Місяць тому +39

    This track is probably the single greatest achievement in video game history. Four movements depicting the travel through hell, purgatory, heaven before meeting 'God,' including various pieces of classical music and remixing them into it, and all of that on the FREAKING SNES.

    • @affsteak3530
      @affsteak3530 Місяць тому +2

      The SNES sound chip was produced in secret by Ken Kutaragi at Sony. It's amazing it exists at all. 😁

    • @nickcarroll8565
      @nickcarroll8565 13 днів тому

      @@affsteak3530 I remember playing FFIV (2 USA) for the first time and being blown away by the snes sound quality. And that track got blown away by FFVI.

  • @CT808
    @CT808 4 місяці тому +51

    Decades later FFVI still getting the love it deserves.

  • @celesticnova
    @celesticnova 5 місяців тому +272

    I've never heard this song before, but after listening to 1 minute of this video, I think I need to play FF6.

    • @BJGvideos
      @BJGvideos 5 місяців тому +46

      God yes you do

    • @robganondalf4144
      @robganondalf4144 5 місяців тому +51

      I can safely say that FF6 is one of my favorite games of all time. I would 100% recommend though it is very sad at some parts.

    • @darkguardian50
      @darkguardian50 5 місяців тому +27

      its my favorite game of all time. If you love classic JRPG's there is no question you will absolutely love it. The pixel remasters from last year were great. And they sold FF4, 5 and 6 as a package that is some of the best spent money on a game you will make (assuming you like classic jrpgs).

    • @theinternetwizard4656
      @theinternetwizard4656 4 місяці тому +4

      ok im serious play the Brand New World mod with the vanilla end Script attached (its kind of dumbly hard in spots but save statesll help) its so fucking peak

    • @HHog
      @HHog 4 місяці тому +18

      Honestly Final Fantasy 6 has, in my opinion, the most powerful and emotion-evoking soundtrack in the series. Dancing Mad is of course a masterpiece, but then there's also a delightfully bombastic recurring villain leitmotif that's also worked into various parts of this track, there's the fact that every playable character gets their own fitting theme song which are all tied together into a large medley during the ending, and then there's even a segment of the game that they literally wrote a whole opera for (which was later performed with a live orchestra and opera singers on the "Final Fantasy VI: Grand Finale" album). Even if you don't end up playing the actual game, you should definitely give the soundtrack a listen.

  • @charliemiller9198
    @charliemiller9198 5 місяців тому +243

    Dancing Mad was, is, and will be, the definitive 'final battle' music for gaming. Uematsu struck absolute gold. And this is a better remaster than even the Black Mages' version. Bravo.

    • @lvcsslacker
      @lvcsslacker 4 місяці тому +22

      And let's not forget the ending theme, "Balance is restored."
      A 20 minute love letter to the characters and series. ON A SNES CARTRIDGE! I recently came across a midi remaster of it and I gotta tell you I was a sobbing mess at the end of it because of how good it was!

    • @alexisglaab2572
      @alexisglaab2572 4 місяці тому +11

      @@lvcsslacker The music of FF VI is absolute genius. So many wonderful leitmotifs worked across so much music, easily one of my favourite game OSTs of all time.

    • @ShwappaJ
      @ShwappaJ 4 місяці тому +5

      ​@@lvcsslacker To be fair, the midis of an SNES game are phenomenally tiny. It would've been more technologically impressive if FF6 had a soundtrack as long as the ones you find in a modern Final Fantasy game. Although I have no doubt it would be doable.

    • @parks97
      @parks97 3 місяці тому +1

      The extended solo in the Black Mages version automatically puts it above both this one and any other cover lol

    • @deathbykonami5487
      @deathbykonami5487 3 місяці тому +1

      He struck again with Dark Messenger from FFIX

  • @OGNoNameNobody
    @OGNoNameNobody 5 місяців тому +115

    Make no mistake, _Dancing Mad_ was always a little "rock opera", however, sir, that was, without question, the MOST *ROCK OPERA*

    • @Cue-Ball.
      @Cue-Ball. 13 днів тому

      There's really nothing rock about Dancing Mad until you reach the last phase though. It's more of a classical piece.

  • @chaosmiles07
    @chaosmiles07 5 місяців тому +58

    _Life... Dreams... Hope... Where'd they come from? And where are they headed...? This banger... I am going to upvote!!_

    • @ZonaiHero-ul5nm
      @ZonaiHero-ul5nm 4 місяці тому +5

      I read this comment right as the transition to the final movement hit. So this was perfect. 7:08 is the time for anyone who wants to do the same.

  • @DanJonesKing
    @DanJonesKing 4 місяці тому +7

    You know the Video's fucking gold when the Most replayed moment is the entire thing LMAO

  • @wariothelegend9645
    @wariothelegend9645 5 місяців тому +115

    i remember seeing the form dropped like a year ago, thinking "i guess my favorite is Dancing Mad, don't think that will go anywhere though"
    and here I am at the start of this year, where Dancing Mad is declared the best video game song of all time by an apparent landslide. Amazing cover, glad the Kefka nation is still going strong in 2024!

    • @BJGvideos
      @BJGvideos 5 місяців тому +6

      That reminds me. I used to have a mailing list called Cult of Kefka. I should send this to them, see if anyone is active.

    • @timhaldane7588
      @timhaldane7588 5 місяців тому

      Glad to see it at the top of the heap where it belongs.

    • @mecagoenbb
      @mecagoenbb 4 місяці тому +6

      Where was it declared the best? Here im this channel? I agree it is, but where was it?

    • @wariothelegend9645
      @wariothelegend9645 4 місяці тому +5

      @@mecagoenbb the form dropped on twitter one day sometime early 2023 several months before he started the cover series. that's how I found out about it at least, i have no idea if it was posted on youtube as a community post or not.

  • @mavven2882
    @mavven2882 5 місяців тому +44

    Without a doubt, this is easily the best cover of this song that's ever been created. This track was so f*ckin metal that it cured my iron deficiency.

    • @PhilMante
      @PhilMante 2 місяці тому

      GaMetal's version is epic as fawk too.

    • @vulcan422
      @vulcan422 Місяць тому

      @@PhilMante That's the best part about Dancing Mad: everyone who's ever covered or performed it always has a different take on it while still making it sound amazing. Even Uematsu himself has several different versions of it. By far one of the greatest examples of progressive rock in video games.

  • @BimJowen
    @BimJowen 5 місяців тому +52

    Mad respect to the man who wrote this masterpiece for the SNES, he's an absolute genius, but so are you for constructing this. This is the best it will ever be done.

    • @kathymarch3653
      @kathymarch3653 4 місяці тому +20

      Nobuo Uematsu. The man, the legend himself. Responsible most famously for the greater portion of the Final Fantasy franchise soundtrack

    • @sabertoothsentry1418
      @sabertoothsentry1418 4 місяці тому +12

      ​@kathymarch3653 His body of work just in Final Fantasy alone is incredible. There are too many tracks to name. Uematsu truly is a legend.

    • @jasonaburkes
      @jasonaburkes 4 місяці тому +5

      Argueable on best ever, because Uematsu also does Hard Rock. ua-cam.com/video/bSvW_w-5rWQ/v-deo.htmlsi=i6mwfdhC6-X8vnSJ

  • @Dethraxx
    @Dethraxx 5 місяців тому +158

    It has to be a re-cover of Hyrule Market (Night). That's one of the best video's you've ever done.

    • @Hadaron
      @Hadaron 5 місяців тому +8

      Yoooo Dethraxx fancy seeing you here! Still listening to your Octopath 2 covers

    • @Zucr_
      @Zucr_ 5 місяців тому +1

      Man I don't know he nailed the first cover. it would be hard to top. Then again maybe it was too perfect perhaps a little more expression.

    • @DizzyDisco93
      @DizzyDisco93 5 місяців тому +1

      Lmao he could have a metronome in the back so the audience can follow along

  • @keystone5750
    @keystone5750 5 місяців тому +274

    A SNES song? Dancing Mad, perhaps? A song that ambitious and impressive stands out among every other track on the console I can think of.

    • @MewtwoStruckBack
      @MewtwoStruckBack 5 місяців тому +23

      The obvious and correct answer! Video game heaven would be livestreaming a 100% playthrough of FF6 and Jules playing this live as you finished out.

    • @LavaCreeperPeople
      @LavaCreeperPeople 4 місяці тому +3

      FF6 is alright, but the soundtrack is an S-tier
      but what about Thunder Force IV's OST? The Sega Genesis counterpart of top-tier music

    • @retrolaf7755
      @retrolaf7755 4 місяці тому +8

      ​@@LavaCreeperPeoplethank you. FF4 holds most of the A-tiers OST from the whole franchise.
      Plus, Red Wings, Boss Theme and Theme of Love are S-tier.

    • @LavaCreeperPeople
      @LavaCreeperPeople 4 місяці тому +1

      @@retrolaf7755 nice :D!

    • @PannikAttack
      @PannikAttack 4 місяці тому +12

      FF6 had a complete OST of generally maddeningly great music with no right to be that awesome and complex on a 16-bit system! I have covered a lot of gaming music and there are so many favourites among players and myself - This game just had the best concentration of them - Also with One Winged Angel, Uematsu definitely drew on his previous style experiments here :)

  • @walteranurantha5014
    @walteranurantha5014 5 місяців тому +289

    Four layers of Kefka's madness:
    0:00: Hell
    2:43: Underworld
    4:51: Sky
    6:56: Heaven
    This is way longer than Sephiroth's theme for story purposes. Mad lad awesome cover!❤

    • @deathbykonami5487
      @deathbykonami5487 5 місяців тому +4

      There's five layers, cause there's five parts to this song. You missed one.

    • @walteranurantha5014
      @walteranurantha5014 5 місяців тому +23

      @@deathbykonami5487 8:48 is the musical transition in the Heaven layer, not the next layer/phase transition.

    • @Ghostrander
      @Ghostrander 4 місяці тому +15

      It's also heavily inspired by the Divine Comedy

    • @syeblaize
      @syeblaize 4 місяці тому +8

      The transition with the opening theme that goes into the baseline with Kefka's original theme always gives me goosebumps, no matter which version. THIS VERSION gave me ultra goosebumps.

    • @Fustercluck06
      @Fustercluck06 4 місяці тому +10

      Kefka > Sephiroth

  • @Archontasil
    @Archontasil 4 місяці тому +12

    "There's nothing like the sound of hundreds of voices screaming in unison"

  • @knowbuddynose
    @knowbuddynose 5 місяців тому +83

    Covering Dancing Mad is a serious undertaking. Well done!

  • @SuspiciousTemmie
    @SuspiciousTemmie 5 місяців тому +47

    Dancing Mad is without a doubt one of, if not _the_ greatest videogame song ever made, but holy crap, you might have just made it even better. You absolutely outdid yourself on this one dude, this might legitimately be the best cover you've ever made

  • @lewis9s
    @lewis9s 5 місяців тому +22

    First GaMetal does Serpent sting the horizon,
    Next FamilyJules does Dancing Mad,
    2024 is already going strong! 💪🔥

  • @WeskAlber
    @WeskAlber 5 місяців тому +53

    Aw man, I was waiting for you to do a riff for Kefka's laugh!
    Awesome job dude.

    • @danielrue1801
      @danielrue1801 4 місяці тому +2

      Literally the -only- thing missing from this, is that screeching laugh. However, this song is still the best rendition of the piece I have ever heard. Truly masterful.

  • @Maglude
    @Maglude 5 місяців тому +166

    Take a bow, Jules. That was freaking epic, a masterpiece even! Thank you.

  • @EVizify
    @EVizify 4 місяці тому +2

    Nobuo would be proud. As I'm typing I'm only 1 minute in and this is marvelous.
    A full listen later... I don't know what I like best. The incredibly solid rythm section. The throughout tension. The gasping finale. That's a really, really beautiful piece of work.

  • @ckoden
    @ckoden 4 місяці тому +20

    This song, Kefka, and Final Fantasy 6 left a mark on my childhood that I never want to forget. This version you've created is everything I could have hoped for and more. It literally brought tears to my eyes.

  • @MatthewSHarrison
    @MatthewSHarrison 5 місяців тому +2

    I've been watching this whole Top 20 video series play out and it is an absolute joy to see this selected as the overall #1, because this is something I've been preaching for years: Dancing Mad is the greatest musical composition in video game history. Nothing else measures up.
    Jules, you did an awesome job with this given the quick turnaround, better than many of your peers could put out there with an extended period of time. If you ever decide to revisit this, here's some things that you could consider:
    - Even though you absolutely nailed everything on the guitar, there were times where a "voice change" felt necessary. Some vocal pads, the organ in the third movement, etc. Everything you did was executed and arranged very well, but in a four movement piece, the colors need to shift heavier between movements.
    - I don't think you need to do any repeat of the third movement. Just hit it once and do that badass transition into the fourth.
    - The small repeat of the fourth movement was unexpected but you did it very well. It would have been nice to hear you solo for longer. You've probably heard the Black Mages version from nearly two decades ago, but the guitar solo in the fourth movement kicks ass.
    Fantastic job overall, and absolutely commendable given what little time you put into this.

  • @videogamephenom1991
    @videogamephenom1991 2 дні тому +1

    6:55 - The Schecter Blackjack SLS does the Omen theme before the final phase. This instrument hasn't been seen in quite a long time, especially when Jules first used it since his tenure at San Diego began nearly nine years prior.

  • @AmuroRae
    @AmuroRae 5 місяців тому +49

    This is insane. I literally cannot fathom the amount of work that went into this, from the song itself to the video completion. Just fantastic.

  • @derpchief9614
    @derpchief9614 5 місяців тому +4

    It's such a gift that people are still making covers of Dancing Mad

  • @ShadowReaper1227X
    @ShadowReaper1227X 5 місяців тому +10

    I’m SO glad you extended that part at 4:27!! Always felt that riff went too hard to be so short. Glad to see I’m not the only one who thought so! Banger cover m8!!!

  • @kainx99
    @kainx99 5 місяців тому +5

    Oh man! What an awesome cover, you now leave me with an impossible choice to make: Which FF6 Dancing Mad I keep in my Final Fantasy Metal Cover Playlist.
    This is going to be a very tough choice!
    Cheers!

  • @Youspoonybard1
    @Youspoonybard1 5 місяців тому +19

    Of course it’s Dancing Mad! It couldn’t be anything else honestly. Such an amazing piece of music.

  • @ryn2075
    @ryn2075 4 місяці тому +1

    Dawg. Just...I don't have any words. The group of metal talent that exists on YT currently, between you, Richaad, Jonathan Young, ToxicX, and plenty of other very talented channels is just....
    We're spoiled. This was incredible. Seriously. This cover is seriously next level, and maybe that's mostly kudos to the original composition being so incredible, but your arrangement, your personal flair, your percussion choices that kept the song feeling just as uneasy and off-balance as the original. Absolutely amazing. I didnt even have the mental space to rock out to the genre because the musical arrangement itself was so captivating. Thank you.

  • @TylerFast441
    @TylerFast441 5 місяців тому +13

    You god damn Mad Lad. It's amazing how well Dancing Mad can translate into becoming an incredible prog metal piece. Sounds exactly like as if Dream Theater was covering it but without the keys. Amazing work as always, gave me goosebumps. Going on my Spotify for sure.

    • @AnvilJeff
      @AnvilJeff 5 місяців тому +3

      See this was the perfect opportunity to call him a *Dancing* Mad Lad. You were so close.... 😂

    • @TylerFast441
      @TylerFast441 5 місяців тому +2

      @AnvilJeff Im at work with my brain (mostly) turned off. Ill let you have it.

    • @AnvilJeff
      @AnvilJeff 5 місяців тому +1

      @@TylerFast441 fair my dude, fair. That'll be me in two hours

  • @XTRMNTR2K
    @XTRMNTR2K 5 місяців тому +47

    You know, I rarely leave comments unless I feel I have something unique and worthwhile to contribute. But today I just *have* to give my opinion!
    Over the course of the years I've heard many, many takes on this absolute beast of a track. Most of them metal, some with a more classical approach (including covers played on a full-size church organ!). And out of all of them, your cover has to be among the absolute best. Holy moly, what a masterpiece. Not only did you play this beautifully (and masterfully), but the arrangement was out of this world. I absolutely loved how you added more of your own personal touch in the repeated parts! It all feels very natural and organic to me, like this is the way the song is supposed to be. And working under pressure no less, I can only salute you for achieving such a mindblowingly awesome result. My hat is off to you!
    Last but not least: A Happy New Year to you! May 2024 be filled with love, health, success and lots of awesome music!

  • @tipsy634
    @tipsy634 5 місяців тому +2

    I was NOT expecting you to come out with this absolute BEAST of a song. People voting on the poll made a good choice.
    I'm astonished by this project you've completed. Basically, when you've doen top 10s and 20s in the past, you've turned them into Medleys (understandably)... I was not expecting you to come out with a FULL TOP 20 PLAYLIST especially containing so many songs you've already covered. And especially when the algorithm is so cruel to videogame covers specifically - Most artists are moving away from song covers entirely.
    I think it's also a testament to how much you've grown over time as a musician. Your newest work blows your oldest work out of the water. You've even outmatched covers you made a couple of years ago.

  • @Necrikus
    @Necrikus 5 місяців тому +7

    Dancing Mad so early into the new year? I don't know if that's a good omen or a bad one, but I'm always happy for a good cover of it.

  • @SohakmetGameplay
    @SohakmetGameplay 5 місяців тому +9

    It's gonna be Dancing Mad, isn't it?

  • @DyxoXinoro
    @DyxoXinoro 4 місяці тому +1

    The way the guitar just wails in sorrow during that final solo. Oh man. I felt that in my soul.

  • @aapur
    @aapur 5 місяців тому +9

    Son of a Sandworm! This cover absolutely slaps the sand off my boots!
    In all seriousness, this cover is just perfect. 10/10 no notes

  • @StattStatt
    @StattStatt 5 місяців тому +14

    I actually gasped out loud when I saw this, and god damn you absolutely knocket it out of the park and into orbit. Amazing job as always!

  • @t0adflaxxx
    @t0adflaxxx 4 місяці тому +1

    Goddamn. This mix gave me the same feeling I had when I heard it for the first time on my SNES back in the early days of 1995. I remember just sitting in a submenu and staring at my screen in awe, listening until it finally looped. Bravo, sir!

  • @soopakoopa6461
    @soopakoopa6461 5 місяців тому +33

    The biggest takeaway from this top 20 is that you should play explorers so you can appreciate Dialga's Fight to the Finish more after your cover of it.

    • @theillusionist1494
      @theillusionist1494 4 місяці тому

      The bigger takeaway is that Jules’s fans all have extraordinary taste, since main series Pokémon does have some bangers yet DFTTF was the only Pokémon song to make the list

  • @danielostrowski856
    @danielostrowski856 5 місяців тому +14

    The obvious answer is the Yoshi’s Story credits theme when all the Yoshis are singing along out of tune

  • @blue_ronado
    @blue_ronado 5 місяців тому +23

    I got actual chills while listening to this when this went live. Was not expecting Dancing Mad to be at one, but I'm immensely glad one of my favorite Final Fantasy themes took this spot. You killed it with this cover. Phenomenal work!

  • @RichardHardslab
    @RichardHardslab 5 місяців тому +8

    Ah, the blessed return to Final Fantasy’s Opera phase. Great rendition of Dancing Mad!

  • @Seegtease
    @Seegtease 5 місяців тому +9

    This is truly the magnum opus of Nobuo Uematsu. It always gives me chills to this day.

  • @Slackarius
    @Slackarius 5 місяців тому +6

    Instrumental storytelling doesn't get much better than this. No words needed to take us through Kefka's journey from mad clown, to god, to nothing.

    • @sabertoothsentry1418
      @sabertoothsentry1418 4 місяці тому +4

      It really is. He starts as someone you can't take seriously and runs from pretty much every bit of confrontation. Then you get to Doma and Zozo and you see how evil he is. By the time you get to the floating island, you learn how insane and dangerous this joke actually is.

  • @stat1stick
    @stat1stick 3 місяці тому +1

    I've followed you since the beginning. Sadly, I was never subscribed. I only hunted down your videos or watched them when they were in my feed. I haven't seen you around for a while and I decided to look you up. I was happy to see that you're still here and are the same guy you've been all these years. Your journey has been incredible. As a fellow musician, I daresay that I was there, learning and growing along with you for some time. Priorities, life and the UA-cam algorithm separated me from you for some time. Now that I see that you're still around, I finally and gladly give you my subscription. Thanks for being you. And for that amazing Super Metroid video.

  • @regenaer6761
    @regenaer6761 5 місяців тому +5

    It's been a while I haven't listen to one of your cover, and giving me Dancing Mad is probably the best way to bring me back! Well, time to (re-)discover some of them!
    Also, it is time to share again the most accurate quote I've ever read to describe the talent of Nubuo Uematsu, the one by Jeremy Jahns: "For a musician, the SNES sound engine is like an artist using Crayola crayons. Nobuo Uematsu used Crayola crayons to paint the Sistine Chapel."

  • @Consolous
    @Consolous 5 місяців тому +4

    What a great way to start the new year. Snes covers are the best, especially FF

  • @gctypo2838
    @gctypo2838 5 місяців тому +6

    Hats off to Kefka for being one of the main inspiration behind one of my favorite villains ever.

    • @JacksonOwex
      @JacksonOwex 5 місяців тому +1

      Now I'm curious who your favorite villain is!

  • @derjman
    @derjman 4 місяці тому +3

    I am in awe.... you nailed this a 100%! Even tiers 3 and 4, which in my view are the hardest to "get right" sound absolutely spectacular and overwhelming in your version. This version has me banging my head and wanting to crank up the volume on the stereo ... only to find it is already at the max :D Thank you so much for this wonderful rendition of the best song in the best game I have ever known :)

  • @Glory2Snowstar
    @Glory2Snowstar 5 місяців тому +10

    I ALWAYS blast covers of this theme whenever I have finals. Now it's Winter vacation for me and one of the best Dancing Mad covers of all time appears.
    A perfect start to 2024, thanks for everything Jules :)

  • @xanderscookingschool1497
    @xanderscookingschool1497 5 місяців тому +9

    After listening, I understand why this was number 1. Damn. Now I need to play Final Fantasy 6 just for Kefka.

    • @andrewdorsey1237
      @andrewdorsey1237 3 місяці тому

      Kefka is literally The Joker *who won*
      Which of course makes him one of the best villains of all time

    • @xanderscookingschool1497
      @xanderscookingschool1497 3 місяці тому

      @andrewdorsey1237 So I heard. He never faced punishment for his actions, right?

    • @andrewdorsey1237
      @andrewdorsey1237 3 місяці тому

      @xanderscookingschool1497 not until the party gets to him no. And even then he's just a nihilist

    • @mr.monkey354
      @mr.monkey354 3 місяці тому

      @@andrewdorsey1237he still lost since he wanted to eradicate hope, which the heroes had as they killed him.

  • @RenanJarniac
    @RenanJarniac 5 місяців тому +9

    12 minutes of goosebumps! The best FF for me, and the best boss fight song ever composed! Simply amazing!

  • @UnexpectedApples
    @UnexpectedApples 5 місяців тому +2

    NO SHOT YOU COVERED KEFKA'S THEME!!!!!!! WHAT A WAY TO START OFF THE YEAR WITH THIS PERFECT, MADDENING, JAM!

  • @teixeira6132
    @teixeira6132 5 місяців тому +9

    One of the best songs of the best FF! Uematsu on his peak during SNES era! Awesome work!

  • @etherealsamael3211
    @etherealsamael3211 5 місяців тому +6

    As soon as I saw the SNES controller shadow teaser, I had the gut feeling it was this. There are few SNES songs that people hold in high enough regard to be better than the big hitters we've been seeing these last few weeks.
    Bravo, mr. Jules. Hell of a cover, hell of an event. You did amazing work on all of these songs.

  • @Tidemkeit
    @Tidemkeit 5 місяців тому +13

    Let's take a moment to appreciate the descriptions of Jules' videos!
    Also, amazing work, my man!!
    I finished the game just a week ago, so that's a great present for me!

  • @zphayde
    @zphayde 5 місяців тому +3

    It's so wild to see you still making this magic, watching your stuff through entirely different ERAS of my life

  • @HyperNova137
    @HyperNova137 4 місяці тому +6

    You've just elevated a masterpiece to something we don't even have a word for.

    • @retrolaf7755
      @retrolaf7755 4 місяці тому +2

      Couldn't say better. Words are escaping.

  • @mikeylookalike
    @mikeylookalike 4 місяці тому +2

    One of the most satisfying boss fights in FF history, with one of the best songs!! Amazing job, as always!!!!

  • @DuskWolf224
    @DuskWolf224 5 місяців тому +23

    A proper finale for the series! The arrangement was phenomenal! Damn shame you had some issues with Bury the Light; I can only imagine how hard you must've worked to fit this behemoth of a song into the timeslot!

  • @fightingthefaith
    @fightingthefaith 5 місяців тому +1

    first thing I checked after clicking the thumbnail was the length of the video- thank goodness! and thank you for putting in the work for this

  • @DarkKewn
    @DarkKewn 5 місяців тому +5

    Meilleur thème de boss de fin de tous les temps.
    Avec le rire de Kefka cela aurait été parfait !

    • @retrolaf7755
      @retrolaf7755 4 місяці тому +2

      9:53 !!! (+ quelques secondes)
      Frissons tout du long en tout cas!

    • @SDchoroQ
      @SDchoroQ 4 місяці тому

      Oui, un passage qui rappel un des moments de génie de la team Squaresoft. @@retrolaf7755

    • @TrueMajora
      @TrueMajora 2 місяці тому

      Tout à fait ça manque juste du rire mais ça reste excellentissime

  • @philippmikl-petschnig1663
    @philippmikl-petschnig1663 5 місяців тому +4

    Holy...damn. That was a straightup masterpiece of a cover, of a masterpiece of a song. I had to go back multiple times, just to process what i heard. You are an amazing artist Jules, definetly my favorite musician i heard of through UA-cam, together with FalkkonE.

  • @matthewneal4011
    @matthewneal4011 5 місяців тому +5

    One of the best final boss songs of all time. All hail kefka.

  • @SirBladewind
    @SirBladewind 4 місяці тому +1

    Thank god someone covered the theme for the greatest villain in FF history.

  • @Kasaaz
    @Kasaaz 5 місяців тому +4

    Jules, the first song I found of yours was Frog's Theme. A song special to me. It's been amazing seeing your growth as an artist over the years since. And to see another song from that era top off this whole thing? Just the best.

  • @adanteallegro
    @adanteallegro 5 місяців тому +16

    "Oh man, number 1, what's it going to be what's it going to be - okay yeah that tracks."
    I got chills listening to this!! This whole series has been a treat to listen to, and I can tell that you've worked extremely hard on each track, especially this one!! Fantastic job, fantastic series!! You definitely deserve a nice break.

  • @MatthewKorpas
    @MatthewKorpas 5 місяців тому +1

    Dude this absolutely blew me away, excuse me while I get up, dust myself off, apologize to the neighbors, and walk back to my own apartment.

  • @goldenalpaca3881
    @goldenalpaca3881 4 місяці тому +2

    Thank you for not skipping the organ cadenza
    it's my favourite part of the song, we need more baroque guitar

  • @LiquidNeon00
    @LiquidNeon00 5 місяців тому +15

    That was an amazing cover of dancing mad, holy crap!! Really well done, and it was so epic with the changed repeats and extra length.

  • @VicTheMetalDrummer
    @VicTheMetalDrummer 5 місяців тому +12

    It couldn’t have been anything else. It had to be Dancing Mad.
    And I’m so glad it was, you did an amazing job. I’m honestly floored by how incredible this sounds, and being able to put it out so quickly (less time than any other song on this top 20, due to the Number 2 song having issues) is an amazing feat.
    I think this is some of the best work you’ve done ever. Kudos, Jules.

    • @larkan511
      @larkan511 5 місяців тому

      Could've been a lot of better things actually but to each their own I guess

  • @estefencosta1835
    @estefencosta1835 5 місяців тому +2

    Acceptable #1. Some of the list was surprising but Dancing Mad sitting at the top is fitting.

  • @hedonistredd4592
    @hedonistredd4592 5 місяців тому +3

    6:55
    THAT. DAMN. PART.
    Goosebumps, every time. Exactly as that intro should be for God Kefka. ❤️

  • @Bossfightmedia
    @Bossfightmedia 5 місяців тому +1

    The great thing about this Song is that you don't necessarily need to like it. But definitely have to respect the sheer amount of power. Much like with Kefka. Which is why that is arguably one of the best representations of any character by any theme ever. And you did WAY more than just do it justice. Way to fucking go. Super impressive.

  • @darkguardian50
    @darkguardian50 5 місяців тому +2

    An absolute masterpiece to stand along side Uematsu's own Black Mages version of the song. But honestly, as great as the Black Mages version is with its epic climax and extended solo, the arrangement you did here is better. The manner in which you handled the loops, adding little changes to keep it interesting throughout, knowing when to stay devoted to the original and when to crank up the metal influences. FF6 is my favorite game of all time and this my favorite video game song, this gets a massive thumbs up from me.
    If I had one tiny complaint. Very tiny. WHERE WAS THE LAUGH?!

  • @mathiasthewise
    @mathiasthewise 5 місяців тому +1

    Dancing Mad. An audio distillation of opposing nihilism, Dantes Inferno and killing a false God rolled into one epic soundtrack. Beautiful.

  • @Valius_
    @Valius_ 5 місяців тому +4

    Great job on this and all of the songs in the series. The transition into the final part of the song gave me chills, just like the original. You nailed it, man. Well done!

  • @oblivionkey99
    @oblivionkey99 5 місяців тому

    you seriously did the ENTIRE cover of Dancing Mad?.....major props to you bro.

  • @McWiddles
    @McWiddles 4 місяці тому +1

    This is TREMENDOUS. Does every bit of justice the beauty and urgency of Nobuo Uematsu's masterpiece while making it entirely your own. As a fan of this game perhaps beyond no other than Earthbound, thank you.

  • @Arksimon2k
    @Arksimon2k 5 місяців тому +5

    Hot DAMN. What a sensational cover, you've really outdone yourself on this one. Really amazing effort. Favourite cover of this track I've heard.

  • @commediaDollArte
    @commediaDollArte 5 місяців тому +3

    A cover of FFVI in 2024?! I just can't believe it!

  • @makesomething4093
    @makesomething4093 5 місяців тому +4

    I’m glad we’re in agreement that this is the greatest video game song of all time, much less battle themes.
    You have to understand, I prefer 7 to 6 as a game, I’m one of those. I love One-Winged to death as well and it’s the song that got me listening to VGM outside of the games themselves; I have every reason to prefer One-Wing and/or not even care about this song on a personal level.
    But even though this one took me longer (years, in fact) to fully appreciate, seeing it live 5 times, one of them being Distant Worlds performing it with an actual full pipe-organ and choir, yeah, that was the single greatest live musical experience in my life, and I just had to think back and go
    “… that was written on a 1994 SNES game cartridge by a self-taught composer.”
    And yeah, this is the best song in video games. Not my favorite (it’s 3rd) but it’s the (as-close-to-objective) best.

    • @BJGvideos
      @BJGvideos 5 місяців тому +1

      OWA is a banger so saying this is even better than that is high praise indeed

    • @makesomething4093
      @makesomething4093 5 місяців тому

      @@BJGvideos This is the realization that took me years to come to, I appreciate it!

  • @HeroponMan
    @HeroponMan 4 місяці тому

    Dude I keep listening to this. The amount of times I had to pause just to be like "that was so raw" is unprecedented. Dude. Thanks. Literally the goat you are so blessed with creative talent.

    • @HeroponMan
      @HeroponMan 4 місяці тому

      There just is not another cover of this song that I enjoy as much as this one. Oozing with raw. Raw raw raw

  • @manakakisaragi9121
    @manakakisaragi9121 5 місяців тому +3

    I've been your fan for years, always appreciating your fantastic covers. But holy cow, you made your best one yet, with the best boss theme ever. Hats off, you did an amazing job.

  • @Sebruzz
    @Sebruzz 5 місяців тому +1

    - wait with excitement to see what piece gets rank1
    - see the title
    - instantly think "I approve."
    - press the likebutton
    - enjoy the show

  • @adv78
    @adv78 5 місяців тому +3

    And so it comes to an end. And a good end at that.
    Thank you so much for this content Jules, i was excitedly waiting every weak for the new song the last 20 weeks and it was a LOT of fun, it was exciting seeing songs i knew and loved, and the ones i didn't served as a chance to get to know more banger tracks
    Thanks for everything and hoping for new interesting projects!!!

  • @MrHappy702
    @MrHappy702 4 місяці тому +1

    The madness of Kefka made manifest.

  • @272arshan
    @272arshan 5 місяців тому +1

    it sounds so festive and christmasy. I have almost zero context for this cover but I'm impressed.

  • @SketchModsThings
    @SketchModsThings 4 місяці тому

    Man.... The way you did the last 4 1/2 minutes of the track gave me SERIOUS goosebumps! Perfection!

  • @Avendesoraleaf
    @Avendesoraleaf 5 місяців тому +3

    What a fitting end for such a stacked top 20. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Phenomenal work as always Jules, you keep surpassing you own limits each time.

  • @The_Phoenix_Saga
    @The_Phoenix_Saga 18 днів тому

    Maestro... youve...fucking... NAILED IT!!! This without a doubt my favorite rendition of the whole score of Dancing Mad!

  • @stuftcabbages6826
    @stuftcabbages6826 4 місяці тому

    Gave me the same chills as when I first fought Kefka as a kid a few too many years ago. Killer job with this cover!!

  • @alexnewlan
    @alexnewlan 5 місяців тому +3

    I feel like a kid again. Amazing!

  • @Huskybythegeek
    @Huskybythegeek 5 місяців тому +1

    All 4 movements, you did it you absolute dancing madlad !

  • @MisogynyMan
    @MisogynyMan 5 місяців тому +2

    Bravo. Just bravo man.
    Peak videogame cover.

  • @vsoco4921
    @vsoco4921 4 місяці тому +1

    One Winged Angek got nothing on this. And, man, the best covers are always yours
    EDIT: My God this is so PERFECT

  • @61089loki
    @61089loki 5 місяців тому +9

    Am legitimately amazed you hadn't done this one yet. JUST started listening, and those opening chords set chills down my spine

    • @61089loki
      @61089loki 5 місяців тому +2

      I still would have tried to fit Kefka's laugh in at the end of the last "verse" for the 4th Movement before the loop though. Still an absolutely stellar piece.

  • @wyattkline5238
    @wyattkline5238 4 місяці тому +1

    I've been a fan of yours since 2013. I remember listening to your zelda covers while I did my math homework. I even got to see you San Diego in November 2021. The show was was sick and we spoke for a little bit afterwards when I bought a shredventure shirt. It's crazy looking back and seeing your improvement. It's inspired and motivated me to play my guitar every day. Regardless of any direction you take your music I along with your other fans will always be supportive. Thank you Jules.

  • @renaissanceman2841
    @renaissanceman2841 4 місяці тому

    I wish I could press the like button a thousand times. Absolute perfection, not just the guitars but the overall mastering and mixing of the sound.