I believe one of the greatest musical compositions in all of human civilization is Yellow Magic Orchestra's "Rydeen". I previously blogged about my obsession with "Rydeen", and that happy pervasiveness, or shall we say — gladdiction! — continues today.
Not only does "Rydeen" have a superior, very easily hummable melody which has an uber-earworm factor, the technical production is brilliantly spot-on. Sliced synth stabs are melded with loops of horse-trotting as an insanely catchy rhythm track pounds throughout: to drive the point home, you really must watch the music video for its sheer 3D-swirling-keyboards-and-live-footage audacity, which is synced incredibly well for something nearing 3 decades old.
Tedious 4-on-the-floor intro? Scroo that! "Rydeen" is as meaty as a butcher's shop in a world without vegans, yet maintains a lean, healthy poise. It's both gracefully feline and hard-hittingly ferocious, the mild-mannered faces of the 3 Japanese who performed it offset by their BADASS LIVE PERFORMANCES.
There's even Rydeen: The Documentary. Wish it had English subtitles — it is for reasons like this and many more, that if you were previously unfamiliar, "Rydeen" may very well be the most important song you've never heard of… until now!
Going further, we can never, ever forget the tremendous influence "Rydeen", and other music by YMO has had on video game music of the present. Earlier points in the timeline like Martin Galway's cover in Stryker's Run set the stage for many catchy bleeps 'n' bloops to come, along with their richer-orchestrated ilk (keeping in mind how influential YMO have been on Japanese culture that got exported en masse to the West), and this year even saw the effective reunion of YMO under the name Human Audio Sponge, doing an IDMey xylophones-and-polyrhythms version of "Rydeen" used to sell beer and showcase YMO's longevity. More "Rydeen" interpretations have sprouted up, like Señor Coconut's Latino marimba madness. What's more, fans at home can't resist playing along either, and that's precisely why…
I'VE DONE MY OWN COVER VERSION OF RYDEEN ON PIANO!
Yes, that is a nod to Masi Oka at the end, and I have finally been redeemed.
I hope "Rydeen" is as magical for you as it has been for me. Music is healing.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Torley,
I love that song. It really is a masterpiece. I don't know what the world would sound like now if it weren't for that one piece.
Very beautifully played on the piano too.
Thank you
~biff~
TORLEY!!!! I've been so busy I haven't had time to ask you, but since you recorded many "Torley on Piano" videos - Does that means your ears have been healed or become more tolerant in any way at all?
You've stolen my heart with this =)
Can I take you home?
@NakedBiff, Jamie, and Tuli, thanks a lot for enjoying! Hehe… I just had so much energy pressing forth on this. =^..^=
My hearing hasn't improved, but I do feel more resistant/resilient to loud noise. My disability is still noticeably painful, tho, so I still wear earplugs from time to time.
I belong with Ravenelle, my beloved bride who inspires me to do so many things like this *kisskissmuah I more than love you baby*.
does anyone know where i can maybe get sheet music for this….i've been searching and i just cant seem to find it so can you or anyone on this site help me on this because i would really love to learn this song
P.S. you played this song wonderfully torley.
@Sean: I don't know of any sheet music for "Rydeen"; I learned it by ear! I played it in D minor and the first three chords are B flat major, C major, and D minor if that helps any.
ok that actually helps a lot thank you
hey, can you give me a more comprehensive breakdown on the chords. You play that amazing song amazingly.
I'm sorry roy, I don't have more of a transcription. Maybe in the future, I should do closeups of my fingers so it's easy to see which notes I'm playing. But this guy does it so well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMf7VQF0ZK8
I first heard about YMO a bit over a year ago…but didn't at first delve into their music; but recently, I re-discovered them while looking for another song by another great electronic band from around the same time, the song was Magic Fly by SPACE. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EE-OWbBw60
While looking for that I remembered YMO and found Rydeen, and it's currently my favorite song right now and after listening to it over and over, i pulled out my bamboo recorder and figured out the simple melody…eventually I sat down at the piano to find a few chords…
now through just some random web-surfing, i found your page and was astonished by your cover. it is truly great…and it's inspired me to continue my love of this song, and deepen my admiration of YMO.
thanks torley, drop me an email sometime.
@mr. kriSh: I like "Magic Fly", it's another great classic (and may've played a role in Daft Punk's helmets). Oh thanks so much! Glad I could bring out those emotions in you… and I'd like to hear a bamboo recorder cover of "Rydeen"!
Hi Torley, your cover of this masterpiece was breathtaking!!!
I discovered Y.M.O. almost 30 years ago, when I was aproximately
8/9 years old watching a "pre-MTV argentinean saturday evening music videos show"
called "Musica Total", and they used to put gems like Y.M.O. videos on air.
At that time it was extremely expensive to buy imported vinyls in Buenos Aires -even those released here were expensive- but, extrangely, someone decided to edit the first two Y.M.O. records in Argentina on vinyl!
Ever since then, I treasure them along with my local vinyl editions of Kraftwerk's Radioactivity and Autobahn and one of the latest vinyls here -then appeared that monstrous but cheaper invention called cassette to ruin our lives- that was a rare
version of Thomas Dolby's Golden Age of Wireless (it has a different cover and tracklist).
As a DJ, I own much more records than that, but , particularly the Y.M.O.'s ones, take me back in time when I was a kid playing with two portable turntables and dancing with my sister and our nanny to their songs. Happiness!!!
Sorry for the lenght and my english, and thanks for the music. Bye
Love your review of Rydeen and thanks for posting the chords. Keep up the good work.
i adore this tune. the most amazing thing was to find out its a Takahashi tune, and not a Sakamoto 1. why do u think about LE Femme Chinoise? also a wonderful takahashi tune.