Top 50 C64 Demo/Scene Tunes
Following on from the top 64 game tunes, we present you with the finest selection of C64 scene/demo tracks. This type of music was usually used to accompany presentations from talented (and not so talented) programmers keen to show off their coding skills. In some cases however, there are standalone tracks.
Unlike the Amiga, where tunes such as those from Alpha Omega and Phenomena Enigma are some of the best on the machine, the quality of C64 demo music is usually of a lower standard than its professional game counterparts. There are literally thousands upon thousands of tunes to check through and much of it is mediocre. Nevertheless, we have uncovered a few gems hidden amongst the rubble to share with you.
The selection process involved sifting through tracks from the more popular composers as well as those which scored a high number of votes from the Best of VARIOUS archive. Of course, we couldn't possibly have listened to all the demo music out there, so please contact us via email if you know of a fantastic tune we have missed or post your recommendations in the Comments box at the top of the page.
UPDATE 30/05/2008: Since this section was first introduced in 2002, we have been hard at work seeking out new great scene tracks. I am pleased to say the time spent has been worth it: we have a total of 19 new entries (including a brand new number one) pushing the total collection up to 50. There has also been some shuffling within the chart, resulting in greater accuracy in the placements. In particular, Tim Kleinert's multi-channel fest "Graphixmania 2" (part 6) enjoys a substantial rise from 15th position and is now at number 8. Others haven't fared quite so well and have moved down the list or dropped out altogether.
The new leader is Glenn Rune Gallefoss's sensational "Pop". Not much of a name and also fairly short in length, these are the only two criticisms of a blistering track which masterfully blends original chord sequences and stretch-phasing. Still sitting comfortably at two is "The Alibi" - a very popular Laxity track which is well known amongst sceners with its timeless quality and melodious chord sequences. Fans should check out this excellent remix by Jogeir Liljedahl in module format. "Come on Please" is Volker Meitz's finest moment, which though not flawless, boasts great energy and dynamics with some stunning climaxes. Veteran genius Jeroen Tel's comparatively recent release, "Alternative Fuel", has been a big hit among SID fans with its chunky bass line and classic game-style melody. Hein Holt is an interesting and talented composer - his bizarre, somewhat twisted and unique style is encapsulated best in "PMS". "Nibbleman" is just plain funky, whereas "3545_II" is Laxity's very successful attempt to imitate the Hubbard greats. The others featured all have at least one memorable moment and are well worth a listen.
NB. Titles with [NTSC] sound better when played at the faster NTSC speed in SidPlay. Numbers in brackets represent our old (misjudged) rankings.
Click here to download all of the
below scene/demo tunes
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| *WINNER* 1 (NEW): Pop (Glenn Rune Gallefoss) |
| 2 (1): The Alibi (Thomas Petersen - Laxity) |
| 3 (2): Come On, Please (Volker Meitz - PRI) |
| 4 (NEW): Alternative Fuel (Jeroen Tel) |
| 5 (NEW): PMS (Hein Holt) |
| 6 (3): Nibbleman [NTSC] (K. Røstøen & G. R. Gallefoss) |
| 7 (4): 3545 II (Thomas Petersen - Laxity) |
| 8 (15): Graphixmania 2 (part 6) (Tim Kleinert) |
| 9 (5): Zimx USA [NTSC] (Thomas Petersen - Laxity) |
| 10 (6): Ultimate Intro (Volker Meitz - PRI) |
| 11 (11): Arcade Intro (Tim Kleinert) |
| 12 (NEW): Alien Seahorses Invading Heaven / Double Dodo (Hein Holt) |
| 13 (13): Dutch Breeze: The End (Reyn Oeuwehand) |
| 14 (NEW): Hamlet (Timo Taipalus - Abaddon) |
| 15 (8): Break Free (#1 + #2) (Thomas Petersen - Laxity) |
| 16 (14): Sweet and Sour (Volker Meitz - PRI) |
| 17 (7): Happy Hour (Thomas Petersen - Laxity) |
| 18 (NEW): Spunk (Thomas Mogensen - DRAX) |
| 19 (NEW): Pink Alien (Riku Kangas - Flotsam) |
| 20 (10): Blackmail Tune 1 (Reyn Oeuwehand) |
| 21 (NEW): Sidamp Theme (Hans Axelsson - TDM) |
| 22 (NEW): Touch Down (Alexander Rotzsch - Fanta) |
| 23 (9): Track'n Sector 2 (Steven Diemer - A-Man) |
| 24 (12): Rainbow Shuffle (Volker Meitz - PRI) |
| 25 (NEW): Discokeen (K. Røstøen & G. R. Gallefoss) |
| 26 (17): M.A.C.C. (Jeroen Tel) |
| 27 (20): DMC Demo IV (#4) (Johannes Bjerregaard) |
| 28 (16): Telefax (Torben Hansen - Metal) |
| 29 (NEW): Swamp Poo (Thomas Mogensen - DRAX) |
| 30 (18): Upfront (Thomas Petersen - Laxity) |
| 31 (NEW): Slap Mix (Stellan Andersson - Dane) |
| 32 (NEW): Escape From Reality (Stellan Andersson - Dane) |
| 33 (19): Double Bubble (DariusZ Paliga - Sage) |
| 34 (35): Got to Soul [NTSC] (Steven Diemer - A-Man) |
| 35 (NEW): Pool Party (Volker Meitz - PRI) |
| 36 (NEW): Premature (Glenn Rune Gallefoss) |
| 37 (NEW): Jigsaw (Mitch & Dane) |
| 38 (22): That's the Way it is (Jeroen Tel) |
| 39 (30): Sample (#1) (Jeroen Tel) |
| 40 (NEW): Legoman (Mitch & Dane) |
| 41 (21): Coma Light 11 (#2) (Volker Meitz - PRI) |
| 42 (29): Triiix! (Torben Hansen - Metal) |
| 43 (32): Groove [NTSC] (Thomas Danko) |
| 44 (28): Blow of Fate (Volker Meitz - PRI) |
| 45 (33): Noisy Pillars (#2) (Jeroen Tel) |
| 46 (34): Dutch Breeze (introduction) (Jeroen Tel) |
| 47 (36): Waste III (Thomas Petersen - Laxity) |
| 48 (23): Bit Like Johannes (Matt Simmonds - 4-Mat) |
| 49 (NEW): Assatas Song (Michal Hoffmann - Randall) |
| 50 (NEW): Tropical Funk (G. Tjelta & K. Røstøen) |
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