Category: Music

I Dream of Jeannie was made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 8bit home computer

Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 – 6 Channels

Hugo was rather influential as an electronic musician but he also penned (or co-penned) some of the most iconic themes. To his credit are “The Partridge Family”, “Outcasts” and covers of “The Man With No Name” & “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”.

Once he added Moog Synths to his instruments, he help shape the musical landscape for future electronic musicians. His version of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” is a classic example.

Another case on coincidental timing here as Bill Daily just passed away. He was an American actor and comedian known for his sitcom work as Roger Healey on I Dream of Jeannie and Howard Borden on The Bob Newhart Show.

Made with ♥
Gavin

Hawaii Five-O was made with the the sounds of the Commodore 64 8bit home computer from the 80s. 

Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 – 6 Channels

Morton is probably best known for composing the theme music for Hawaii Five-O, a television series for which he won two Emmy Awards (in 1970 and 1974), and was nominated seven other times for work on television programs including Gunsmoke and Police Woman.

Yes, I’ve taken that from Wikipedia. I don’t know much about him but I really like this tune. 🙂

Made with ♥
Gavin

Chariots of Fire was made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 – 6 Channels

Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 – 6 Channels

Another progressive synth artist favourite of mine. He’s done some awesome scores for movies over the years but my first run-in was the duo of Jon & Vangelis with the song “I’ll find my way home”. He’s still a favourite and he’s definitely a legend.

This interpretation is a bit heavy on effects but I wanted a full sound without extending into more sound channels.

Made with ♥
Gavin

Calypso – Tribute to Jean Michel Jarre was made with the sounds of the Commodore 64

The song, “Calypso 1” was the lead song off the album ‘En attendant Cousteau’ (English title: Waiting for Cousteau) is the tenth studio album by French electronic musician and composer Jean-Michel Jarre. The album was dedicated to Jacques-Yves Cousteau and was released on his 80th birthday 11 June 1990. Allmusic described the album as “groundbreaking stuff”, due to its extreme stylistic differences from his other albums. The album reached Number 14 in the UK charts.

It may not be too well known but Jarre was a hero of mine when I was growing up and doing music on the C64. This album was different to anything else of his that I had previously heard and for that reason, it’s memorable.

Made with ♥
Gavin

Mission Impossible was made with the sounds of the Commodore 64

The theme is written in a 5/4 time signature which Schifrin has jokingly explained as being “for people who have five legs”. However, a more likely explanation is that Schifrin started from the Morse Code for M.I. which is dah dah dit dit. If a dit is one beat and a dah is one and a half beats then this gives a bar of five beats exactly matching the underlying rhythm.

In 1996, the theme was remade by U2 members Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. for the soundtrack to the film.

Made with ♥
Gavin

We Didn’t start the fire – Tribute to Billy Joel – Made with the sounds on the Commodore 64 – 6 Channels

This song has 119 historical references and if you listen to the melody while disregarding the lyrics, it’s kinda like a dentist drill. 🙂

Made with ♥
Gavin

80s msuic cover version made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 – Multi SID

Time to get yer trashbag on.

Some fun facts from around the web:
• Voted 4th worst song of all time
• Lead Singer, Dene Michael, was jailed for claiming false benefits.
• Dene was forced to sing the song for other inmates
• Once you hear this song it will be in your head for hours afterwards

Made with ♥
Gavin

Bitpop/Chiptune cover version of a classic 80s song, the Final Countdown by Europe – Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 – Multi SID

Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 – Multi SID

This song needs no introduction so I wont. 😛
I have at times gone out of my way to avoid the typical C64 Pulse-width modulation (PWM) although its a defining C64 sound simply because its a staple modulation effect that often comes at the expense of other waveforms not being used as much. This time around though, its PWM all the way.

Made with ♥
Gavin

Cover version of a great dance song by the Scissor Sisters. Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 home computer.

The original song has a segment after the first chorus that was composed on the Commodore 64 using the onboard SID sound chip in the computer. Now here’s the whole song done with the Commodore 64’s onboard SID chip.

Made with ♥
Gavin