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

8 bit cover version of Magic! – Rude: Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 home computer.

Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 home computer.

I couldn’t think of a more ironic way to celebrate a divorce than with a song about a marriage proposal. Hahaha. 🙂

One of those hybrid SID waveforms of mixing triangle with a thin pulse makes an appearance in this one. Sawtooth bass, very minimal PWM – just to mix up the flavour a bit. Oh, and SID 6581 R4 filter goodness in the instrumental solo.

I love a bit of reggae, even if it is watered down for pop music. Hahaha.

Made with ♥
Gavin

8 bit Bitpop (Chiptune) cover of an awesome 80s song – Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 home computer.

I wanted that bangy-clangy sound so I’ve used a bit of ring-mod in this one. Kinda feels like how I did Kiss’ ‘I was made for loving you’ – but different. 👍

One (or two) of my most loved features of the 6581/8580 SID Chip is its Ring and Sync-Mod capabilities. I don’t use them often since they are hard beasts to master. I’ve gone for quite a bit of ring/sync in this one.

I’ve also done a nice little transition from a real whistle to a ring-modded SID generated one.

As always, made with ♥
Gavin

Made with the sounds of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES/Famicom).

Think of this as two NES’ together. It’s Bitpop, I’m allowed to use a few more channels if I like! 🙂

Made with ♥
Gavin

Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 home computer.

Brown, blue, violet sky, hurtful, purple, green & mean – Anything you like. Spin the wheel, see if you win!

I don’t know how I wanted this one to sound but the way it turned out is exactly how I wanted it to sound – part carnival/funfair and part glorified ice cream van. 😁

I’ve been to the Brisbane City Amusement Centre and the Sunnybank Amusement Centre and noticed how more games are skills based carnival games rather than video games. I think that’s where my carnival inspiration came for this low-fidelity cover.

As always, made with ♥
Gavin

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsqdbEQ9Muk[/embedyt]

Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 home computer.

I had a fella leave a comment on Reddit after I asked what other Iconic Aussie songs I could consider doing and he came back with “How good are you at emulating bagpipes?”. That could only mean one thing. This song.

I actually tried doing this one a few months ago but it ended up on the cutting room floor because the vocals I have are, well, not the standard I wanted. But I really like this song and wanted to have a go at those 8-bit bagpipes!

Since I recently did ‘Lily Was Here’ and that is an instrumental. I thought “why the hell not?”. So I’ve picked up from where I left off with this one. I tried again to massage the vocals into the piece but, nope, it just wasn’t working for me.

Here’s ‘You’re the Voice’ – no vocals but still quite bitpop. Still using exclusively the sounds of the Commodore 64.

As always, made with ♥
Gavin

Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 home computer.

I think I’ve mentioned that I love Sia. 😂
Her music is super expressive and heavily utilises moody & serious chord progressions. I like her as a performer too. She often compliments her singing with performance art – possibly as she doesn’t see herself as a performer – it works for me just the same whatever her reasons are. Her vocal capabilities are also amazing. I know I’m using cover singers but these cover singers have a tough job in doing one of her songs.

So here’s my go at ‘Elastic Heart’s in six SID channels. The percussion alone is two channels. I hope you like it.

Made with ♥
Gavin

Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 home computer.

When this song came out in 1989, I couldn’t stop listening to it. I remember recording it onto a tape for my car stereo and playing it over and over again. There’s a few songs that I remember over time incessantly playing – The Obvious Child, Paul Simon, Elecktraglide, David Whittaker,

My plan for this song is to do multiple versions by targeting various sound chips from the 80s. I’m starting with my beloved C64 SID chip but I also plan to do a Amstrad/ZX Spectrum, NES & Gameboy version of this song. Over time, not straight away. It’s going to be a side project.

It’s strange, I used to do instrumental only pieces but now I’ve grown accustomed to doing these Bitpop songs with vocals, I’m a little scared to do a song without vocals as I have nowhere to hide the imperfections.

This remains to be Bitpop even though it doesn’t have any vocals as I am still using modern sound production techniques to aide the underlying chiptune.

Made with ♥
Gavin

8 bit Bitpop (Chiptune) cover version of Mike Posner’s song, I Took a Pill in Ibiza – Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 Home Computer.

Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 home computer.

I was pretty sad about Avicii passing away and I didn’t know that I shared a common despair with him in existential dread. I like my EDM and he was an EDM hero of mine. Very sad.

So instead of doing an Avicii song I chose this one as it mentions Avicii by name. This arrangement is a Bitpop/EDM nod to a great artist thats gone far too soon.

Made with ♥
Gavin

8 bit Bitpop (Chiptune) cover of Duke Dumont’s Ocean Drive. Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 home computer.

Ok, looks like I’ve got a bit of an automobile theme going on in this and the song song (Take On Me). I din’t plan it that way, it just happened.

This is a favourite of mine from the last few years. I hope you like it too.

Made with ♥
Gavin

Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 home computer.

Queen was one of my favourite bands growing up and for that matter, even today with Adam Lambert singing, they are still a favourite. There’s no replacing Freddie Mercury though. His voice, wow, he could do it all. Such an enormous talent!

The Commodore 64 game of Flash Gordon was pretty good. It gave me quite a few hours of enjoyment and the Rob Hubbard soundtrack was so good.

While I’ve got some interesting and challenging sounds from my C64 music driver, I’ve not tested it’s metal in doing sound effects. This song is laden with them and that is a big part of why I wanted to do it – for the challenge.

I hope it turned out ok.

Made with ♥
Gavin

Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 home computer. I frikkin love Sia. Her voice – wow! So that made this song a no-brainer to do. I’ve gone for a thicker EDM feel for this one. Dual basslines, nice sine wave drums to emulate the TR808-909 sound, multi-speed and timbre arpeggios riffing away. Mmmm. Goodness gracious me! Made with ♥ Gavin

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwMGXSyRTJI[/embedyt]

Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 home computer.

Ok so I’ve been doing more of the light and fluffy songs recently so I wanted to mix it up a little. I was given the suggestion of doing an INXS song and I was a bit indifferent about that. Though the idea has grown on me.

I then thought, Adam Ant. Then I was indifferent about that. Then it hit me, that snarly faced, blonde hair rock/pop artist Billy Idol. He’s got so many good songs to choose from too! I could decide between Rebel Yell, Mony Mony or White Wedding so there’s a good chance I’ll do the whole three. We’ll see how it goes.

I hope you enjoy.

Made with ♥
Gavin

Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 home computer.

I’ve really enjoyed doing classic 80s songs lately and I think this one sits amongst them. Pop with a reggae underpinning. Its pretty nice.
This time I’m back with those C64 arpeggios after having a break from them in my last song.

Back on the C64, there was some pretty cool tunes made by Mark Cooksey in games like Paperboy, Ghosts ‘n Goblins & 1941. Like the other musicians he had a distinct sound and I’ve tried to replicate his sound to a degree in honour of him.

I hope you enjoy.

Made with ♥
Gavin

Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 home computer.

Time get get 8 bit Rick-Rolled. 🙂
I’ve been doing a lot of songs lately with the signature arpeggio effect and I wanted to give that effect a break for a this song. Previously I’ve been using my C64 music driver in conjunction with Renoise. But this time around I’ve used my C64 music driver with Tracktion Waveform 9. It’s pretty great!

Made with ♥
Gavin

Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 home computer.

There are some artists that were legends of the 80s. I’ve done Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, Bon Jovi’s “Living On a Prayer” but I’ve wanted to do a Madonna song for quite some time. I had a go at doing “Like a Payer” but I just wasn’t satisfied with the result.

I chose “Material Girl” because it’s nice and bubbly and gave me room to light hearted riffs and arpeggios. I hope you like it! 🙂

Made with ♥
Gavin

Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 home computer.

This song draws parallels to real life for me – just the name is different. There’s a few 8 bit covers of Toto’s “Africa” but I wanted to do a Toto song that hasn’t been done to death.

Lots of swirly arpeggios, pulse leads & sawtooth/triangles incidentals.

Made with ♥
Gavin

Made with the sounds of the Commodore 64 home computer.

I went to a Guns and Roses cover band on my birthday this year and although GnR aren’t on my playlist, I thoroughly had an awesome time. I didn’t realise I knew seven of there songs. Anyhow, it inspired me to bitpop a heavier rock song so I chose this one. Its probably my favourite Bon Jovi song.

Made with ♥
Gavin