Hard Times - The Jetzons X Ice Cap Zone (2021 Remix)

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Description

My rough mix of 'Hard Times' by The Jetzons and the theme for Ice Cap Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 3. There's already a couple of cool remixes out there that directly layer them but for mine I changed the song structure (my remixes are on the rough side as I layer and edit sound using video instead of audio editing software).

Noticing many motifs and cues of Michael Jackson's music in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, it's unsurprising that Brad Buxer (MJ's musical director and keyboardist of American new wave band The Jetzons) was one of the game's composers. In 2013, fans pieced together that the theme for Ice Cap Zone resembles a previously unreleased 1982 track by The Jetzons, 'Hard Times'.

There are many motifs and music cues lifted from MJ's hits into the game and vice versa; in keeping with the early 90s new jack swing sound of Sega Genesis (Mega Drive), the theme for Carnival Night Zone echoes motifs used in new jack swing singles 'Jam' and 'In the Closet' from his 1991 album Dangerous, while motifs from Knuckles' theme are echoed in new jack swing throwbacks 'Ghosts' and 'Blood on the Dance Floor' from his 1997 album 'HIStory in the Mix'. Buxer also confirmed that the Sonic 3 end credits theme became the basis for MJ's 1996 single 'Stranger in Moscow'. It's amazing that some of MJ's 90s catalogue reused music originally composed for a 16-bit video game.

There are many more motifs and music cues from some of MJ's biggest hits and lesser-known gems that are echoed in Sonic 3.

Check out my #SonicMovie original trailer edit set to my mashup of 'Jam', 'Carnival Night Zone' and the SEGA intro from Sonic 3 ► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYxfbezqDF4&feature=youtu.be

More background details:

A fan of Sonic games, Sega hired Michael Jackson to compose portions of the Sonic 3 soundtrack but he went uncredited. He had already collaborated with Sega on the Moonwalker game.

According to Buxer, MJ and his team developed fully fledged tracks - with extensive samples of Jackson beatboxing - to be simplified and compressed for Sega Genesis. The finished soundtrack had a signature MJ sound and was sent to Sega in mid-1993.

However, around this time the first allegations against MJ emerged and his involvement was terminated. His music had already been implemented and was quickly reworked by Howard Drossin.

Members of MJ's team (Buxer, Doug Grisby III and Ciorocco Jones) said MJ went uncredited because he was unhappy with how the Genesis replicated his music. (Jones, who contributed music to Sonic 3 under the name "Scirocco", credits himself along with Jackson and Buxer for musical cues for levels 2 and 3.) However, Sonic co-creator Naoto Ohshima said Jackson recorded an a cappella demo tape for the game, but that Sega was unable to use the compositions due to the allegations.

Sonic 3 has been rereleased less frequently since MJ's passing in 2009, possibly due to legal problems with his estate. The game was also not included in the Sega Genesis Mini due to licensing problems with the soundtrack.

MJ's involvement in Sonic 3 is shrouded in mystery, suggesting an agreement between him and Sega could have been kept secret.

Check out my #SonictheHedgehog music video ► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MADyWA2wJiQ&feature=youtu.be

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