I had some complimentary requests recently asking where some of my old MP3 cover versions went — short answer, the links broke! So if you want them again or missed them the first time around, here they are:
Boy Loses Girl Song
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Original by Aphex Twin. I turned the already-cheery source into something bordering on happy hardcore, complete with sine wave whistles, piano counterpoint, high school marching band rolls, and even a halftime breakdown section. Why it's so happy despite the sad name, I don't know. But yes, the bassline is cribbed from an alternate reality version of Underworld's "Jumbo"!
Horizons (piano version)
Original by James Holden. Seminal trance (what a loaded word) classic gets a downtempo rubdown from yours truely (not sic). I took the key melodies and worked it into an æmotional lather. If you like pretty chording with vaguely nostalgic underpinnings, you'll dig this. What's even better, the man himself enjoyed it.
Simple & Clean (Kingdom Hearts theme)
Original by Yoko Shimomura and Utada Hikaru. One of my all-time fave melodies, I rearranged this masterpiece to put the piano front and center, and warmed it with supplemental instrumental lines: ambient pads, music boxes, and even a classical guitar-thing join the fray. Really delicate and beautifully romantic.
Star Wars (Techno Jedi Master remix)
Original by John Williams. You know the theme. Fun voice samples and over-the-top house piano hammering. LOTS of changes. I had a such good time with it, and this was done almost a decade ago. 
Things I'll Never Say
Yes, that Avril Lavigne song. Must've listened to it 100s of times on my boombox before jumping atop my piano to comp the chords and play along.
Aaaand as a contemporary bonus,
Somebody (Allbody)
Original by Depeche Mode. One of my wife's favorite songs, and when you can play piano, you quickly realize the value of serenading your lover with sweet sounds. I played shortly after Valentine's Day 2007, and hope it'll help you bring forth more love in this world. 'Cuz as David Helfgott said, "If music be the food of love, play on."
Usual disclaimer that these are for fun and not profit applies. Enjoy!
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
I love your rendition of Somebody. I was listening to it a lot so i thought I had better download it to save your bandwidth lol.
Love your edition of Boy Loses Girl, it's all "Sims-2-like", just the way i like vocal/lyrics-less songs ^.^
-Smiles.
@Jo: Awww thanx! You a big Depeche Mode fan?
@Smiley: Thanks a lot! One of my fave pieces of Sims 2 machinima is this one of Avril Lavigne's "Sk8r Boi", it has so much energy:
» http://youtube.com/watch?v=X-IQMNrNV1g
I thought Simple and Clean was simply amazing. Are there sheet music for any of the Games We Played medley pieces?
@Jake: Thankyou! Sadly, no sheet music for those. I've an open request inviting anyone who wants to transcribe it to go ahead and feel free…
hello, this is my first time posting a comment. i just recently stumbled on this site looking for "The Games We Played" music, but a further investigation into this site amazed me. Torley i've fallen in love with your music, especially that Utada song. (OMG love her) and…well thanks for making my night.
@Danny (the Champ): Glad you stumbled here, and thanks even more for letting me know! It's muchly appreciated… enjoy the tunes!
I love your techno star wars. i've been listening to it for the past 3 years and was adding artwork to itunes so i went to the website in the metatags. just wanted to say THANK YOU for a great TECHNO VERSION!!! I'd love a newer version of DUEL OF THE FATES…
@dito: Awwww thanks for sharing this with me! I don't have any plans to remix "Duel of the Fates" but I agree it's a wonderful choral epic… so damn catchy.
I have been absolutely bemused with the music you have created on here.
I just couldn't stop listening to them, especially Hikari.
Glad I managed to find this website. <33
-Peep
P.S: You have great piano skills. ^^
@Peep: Aw! *big smile* By "bemused", I hope you mean in a likably mystical way!
Thanx for your comment!
I'd stumbled upon your site from Youtube after following the link to your videos from the Valentine's day "Tip of the Week" article on the SL Blog, and WOW… the tips & hints, the textures, the link to those cool photo tools, and the music… so many things to thank you for! (especially the "Simple & Clean" cover, I love it. Your version is getting added to my MP3 player with Hikaru's two versions I had already) [runs off on a downloading spree]
@Smiley: Why thanx for visiting and sharing this with me! I appreciate you letting me know and am happy to provide these resources! Woohoo!
"Simple & Clean" still ranks up there as one of my fave songs.
More video tutorials to come.
ahhhh your version of simple and clean is soooo lovely ^^
awesome awesome ^^
Simple and Clean was absolutely stunning! It is by far the best piano rendition I have heard. I had shivers! How do I download it?
Your rendition of "Simple and Clean" was absolutely stunning! I've yet to hear anything like it. I'm inept when it comes to downloading, so could you please tell me how to download it? I can't think of anything I'd appreciate more!
@Wolffie: Ah, you just right-click the title and save to disk… or just use this link: http://torley.com/files/mp3/kingdom-hearts-piano.mp3 Happy ya like it, thx for listening!
@synnesai: Thank you! *bows*
Well, I just got here. Always loved the video tuts and was intrigued by the musical bgm. Wow, is there no end to your talents? If I may, I'll download some (a lot) melodies from here. Thanks for sharing your talent, I learned so much from the videos, and now I have soul music for relaxation *^_^*
Enjoy your First Life, Torley!!
今後ともよろしくお願いします。
@Dithean: I suppose I keep growing, evolving, learning, sharing. Thanks a lot and I wish I could read Japanese better! Enjoy your lives too!
i heard your version of simple and clean on a vid today…
and was awestruck!!
it's the best version i've heard so far…and probably will ever hear
can't wait for more from you…especially if it's piano vids or sheet music xD
@Unagi: Thanx a lot! I'm still looking for people who can help transcribe, I'm appreciative of help I can get. ^_^
Think you'll ever do a Metal Gear Solid cover? xD
@Julia: Heck yes, did it!
» http://youtube.com/watch?v=weoSw5Ev1qI
Enjoy. =D
Oh my gosh the first one i ever heard was Simple and clean and i was absolutely amazed!! i loved it so much so i downloaded it…then i got to thinking well if that was so good what about the rest. so i gave a listen and wow… i love them! im not so much into classical music type stuff so normally i would hate piano music but you have such a talent!
@Arielle: Thrilled you like 'em so much! Thanx for taking the time… to listen… and enjoy!
Hey Torley, I came here from searching for Simple & Clean Piano, I LOVE your arrangment! You probably get asked alot, but do you have any sheet music? Also, do you plan to do other Kingdom Hearts songs? Or have you already made some?
Thanks
First up, love the music man, i made my way here from your Fringe video on youtube.
2nd, I have shivers down my spine listening to the star wars mix, i remember listening to that some 8 or so years ago, cant remember exactly but i still had 56k at the time and got it through some p2p program. Burned it to a CD n'all
I guess the internet is a small place after all
Wow that's a cool connection! I remember "Techno Jedi Master" made the rounds on lots of P2P networks including Napster. Thanx, Raines!
wow! hey,torley!! i became your fan! i´ve been listening to boys loses girls a lot!
The arrangement of simple and clean is absolutely amazing! Is there a previous version of this song you used or completely arranged it from scratch? Regardless you did a great job in complimenting the melody with the other instrumental lines you used. Thanks for the wonderful music!
@yolatengo: Awesome, I must've done that over a decade ago. Still so bouncy.
@Jchen: I arranged it from scratch, totally improvised by ear. I didn't have any sheet music to work from, but that would've made it easier. You're most welcome!
I have got to say, the Simple and Clean arrangement is absolutely AMAZING.
I'd love to be able to play that. I think it'd be great if you could possibly transcribe some sheet music, or something.
I could maybe try doing it myself, but some of the rolled chords could take a LONG time for me to figure out. x)
Hey Torley, it's wert180 from youtube,
Hey you should check out the FFX theme tune, it's beautiful, you could make a brill arrangement out of it.
.,+'your arrangement of Simple and Clean is….too beautiful that no words can express.. I'm begging you to please please please send me the arrangement? I'de love to play it! I've been looking for the sheet music for a VERY VERY long time now. thanks for your kind consideration. God bless
LONG LIVE KINGDOM HEARTS!! >:D
dear torley,
i can't believe your a real person. i was haveing trouble with one of your vids on 2ndlifewiki, went to find it on youtube, and found your channel. to my surprise, insted of a geeky techno guy spouting jargin that would fly over my head, i found you playing fringe. needless to say i fell in live with your music (mainly the piano solos and covers) and cannot quit listening. in fact i downloaded a few of your songs and you got me off of listening to rap in the car, which is really hard to do because of the subs in the trunk.
futhermore i am a cronic insomniac and your music is so soothing that it has not been a problem since i started listening. needless to say i have never found said vid or remember what it was in the 1st place. plus your articals are a good read while listening. very good advice. i hope you continue to such good work and wish you well in all the years to come.
a true fan forever,
dewie
p.s. if you are up for takeing any piano requests, a mgs4 "old snake" piano solo improv. would be awsome. i understand if your too busy, but i believe you might be the only one that could pull off that.
Hey Torley, very, very nice. BIG depeche mode fan, and I play myself, love your version of "Somebody"!!!!