Undertale - Hopes and Dreams remix - "Guided by Hopes and Dreams"
77Released on the Pixel Mixers album, The Great Tale of the Little Ones [Vol.2]. Available for free direct download from: https://pixel-mixers.com/2019/02/24/indie-games-the-great-tale-of-the-little-ones-vol-2-tribute-album/
Arrangement, lyrics, production, backing vocals: Jorito
Vocals: Psamathes (https://www.youtube.com/psamathes)
Guitars: jmabate (http://www.youtube.com/user/jmabate)
Bass: Kalu4ii Plays (https://www.youtube.com/c/Kalu4iiPlays)
I completely missed the Undertale hype train from a few years ago (also somewhat intentionally), but Undertale’s music is too good to ignore. So when there was a free Undertale slot on the Indie Games v2 tribute album over at the Pixel Mixers community, it felt like too good an opportunity to pass up.
Hopes and Dreams is one of my favorite tracks from Undertale for its upbeat and optimistic vibe and just plain catchy melody. Since I’ve been looking for an excuse to try my hand at a Nightwish-esque, that meant operatic female vocals. Fortunately one-woman choir Psamathes, a Pixel Mixers regular, was immediately interested to do some symphonic metal, so I got to arranging. As far as the arrangement goes, the source track is catchy but also quite repetitive, so I had to be creative. Fortunately there was enough material to create a verse and chorus section as well as a bridge part. To spice it up, I wrote a riff + chant section quite heavily inspired by a part of the source (even though I completely forgot from where by now), added a solo section and threw in some (intentionally keyboard-ey/ROMpler-ey sounding) orchestral sounds for that symphonic feel.
No symphonic metal without guitars, and while I liked my Shreddage 2 midi riffs well enough to blend them in too, I was happy to work with jmabate, who provided the lead and rhythm guitars and threw in an extra tasty solo bit as well as a few harmonies at the end to boot. Bass was provided by Kalu4ii Plays, another PM community member, and provides the rhythm section together with some pretty layered drums courtesy of Logic Pro’s Drummer (and heavily edited by yours truly).
After the usual mixing hell (it turned out to be one of these high track count monsters with too many layers) it turned out not quite as Nightwish-esque as I originally planned, but I still feel it’s a great homage to Undertale, to symphonic rock/metal in general and it has plenty of good vibes and power. All of this was immensely helped by the fantastic singing from Psamathes and the extra oomph provided by the performances from jmabate and Kalu4ii and I can't thank them enough for helping the track come to life!
Lyrics:
Have the strength
to believe
Guided by
Your Hopes and Dreams
I am stuck
In dark surroundings,
Lost and dazed,
Feels like I'm drowning
Thinking back,
As I was falling
Down this void,
My ears still roaring
Can I get up,
From this nightmare?
Won't give up,
Give in to despair
'Cause the dreams
And hopes inside me
Fill my heart with
determination
(I) find the strength
to believe
Guided by
My Hopes and Dreams
Determined to
Find a way
My heart won't
Lead me astray
Feeling lost and helpless,
I'm so scared...
I don't know how I will
Get out of this mess.
But when I remember
All my dreams
I feel stronger,
I know I can't give up
Just yet
Trust your
Hopes and Dreams
(4x)
I am struggling,
'cause beliefs,
They're causing conflict
Fuelled by passion
Clashing,
Now my friends are hurting,
I just want to end this fighting.
Can I find a way
To stop this?
Bring back peace
To all around me?
Won't give up,
To save my friends
They're in the hopes and dreams
That guide me
Trust your
Hopes and Dreams
(4x)
The struggles of my past,
They have shaped me
They made me strong,
And showed me what I could be
My doubts are gone,
A thing of yesterday,
'Cause now I know
Nothing can stand in my way!
(I) find the strength
to believe
Guided by
My Hopes and Dreams
Determined to
Find a way
My heart won't
Lead me astray
Determination,
It will fill our hearts
Nothing can stop us,
Or can break us apart
Trust the power of your
Hopes and
of your Dreams