I wasn’t expecting to see a new Zelda-themed remix by GlitchxCity in my subscription box on February 26, especially a remix of “Ballad of the Wind Fish,” but after I clicked on the thumbnail and listened to the track for about five seconds, I knew it would be the next song I covered in Medli’s Melodies.
There are many ways a musician can craft a remix of a song. They have multiple approaches, styles, genres, and tempos to use with any given project, and it takes a respectable level of ingenuity to find and use the perfect mix of musical elements to create the best version of what they envision. Glitch took the tropical theme of Link’s Awakening and placed it at the center of attention. Doing so resulted in a refreshing and upbeat tribute to both the song and the entire game.
The remix wastes no time in delivering the cheerful and upbeat energy one would expect from a song played on a peaceful tropical island. The quick tones from the guitar strings move like the first energetic steps of dance taking place poolside at a beach resort. The rest of the instruments, such as the flute and drums, follow suite and also match the magical instruments Link found and used on his journey across Koholint Island. (There’s even a surprise appearance from Navi, who lends her vocal talents.) The beat keeps going and going, and the end goal of its journey is to offer delight to its listeners.
The song keeps pace until the end, where it trails off quietly, leaving the listener wanting more. In that sense, it’s like a sweet dream: The experience is hard to capture and define while in the moment, and you come out of it not fully remembering what happened, yet you know that whatever it was had put you in a good mood. Marin created the “Ballad of the Wind Fish” because she had a dream to perform for many people and to make them happy, and there’s confidence to be had in the belief that she would approve of the job Glitch’s rendition does for that same hope.
