The Challenger - a new 25th anniversary tribute

[vintagetvreunions]

This is a very well constructed video and it symbolizes the power and commitment of the human mind. This song is amazong and you captured their spirit in combining both, the song and the images. Well done, my friend.

[ikkejick]

Amazing!!! Props to you Stephen!

[AkselPL]

Somebody can tell me how he made that deep bass at start? This is a flanger effect or something ?

[karmagician]

@AkselPL - If I remember correctly, it is a combination of an Orchestral Bass Drum hit, and a low synth bass note.

[AkselPL]

@karmagician

How about used effects? In 0:05,5 i am sure i hearing something like flanger. I really want to recreate it on m3 for example!

[karmagician]

@AkselPL - there is an effect made with samples of a cymbal crash from a synclavier tuned down several octaves, and doubled and detuned such that it creates a flanging kind of sound.

[AkselPL]

@karmagician

Thank You Stephen ;) 

[ufofan1980]

How come six seconds into the video, In a picture with a caption that reads January 28th, 1986 do I see a 2004 Ford Explorer parked n the foreground? Something to point out, great music though.

[karmagician]

@ufofan1980 - Because, as was stated in the description of the video:

Note: not all images in the video come from the Challenger, nor the Challenger STS-51L mission. I felt it was appropriate to use images of men and women in space, from other shuttle and space missions, within the context of them all being "challengers" - to compliment the lyrics and enhance the experience.

That image came from a later mission. But still applicable in this case.

[Maestro705]

One of the best songs ever!!!

[Supergans1]

Ooh, I see. I only red the story at this youtube movie and there you wrote" Produced and created with the Korg KRONOS".

So I presumed all instruments were Kronos, pitty it isn't true, would have been nice. Anyway great song and great voice. Thanks.

[karmagician]

@Supergans1 - Thanks!

[Supergans1]

Wow great sound of the electric guitar, didnt knew the kronos was able producing such fine guitars! Very natural, great!

[karmagician]

@Supergans1 - except those are real guitars. You could try reading about the song in the notes at the top, or at the link provided. ;-)

[StarsNeverSilence]

Great song, great workstation, great artist and great engineer !!!

And also an awesome workaholic you are !?

[vandermei25]

Amazing music and lyrics. Hats off ! Greetings from Russia

[adrianh63]

Awesome!

I liked the pads & strings....

Would've been much better watching you play your synth in some sequences

[js142004]

if the crew could listen to the song before lift off

[DanielListerUK]

I have been listening to this over and over again. The lyrics, melody and production are really powerful! I will definitely have to order a Kronos! I could see the song playing over the credits if they ever made movie about the Challenger. The story behind the production is fascinating too.

Would you consider uploading your original (oven-baked!) demo? It would be really interesting to hear the origins of the recording and how it evolved into the finished product. Thanks!

[karmagician]

@DanielListerUK - thanks, glad you like it! Re: the original demo...have to think about that, if I do it would be on the website page about the production.

[SynthPlaysYou]

A great tribute, both the video and the song are very good.

[Maestro705]

Sounds like Tommy Shaw on the vocals :-) Splendid!!!

[keykiyox]

Dear Stephen, not only are you a magician of midi (I own M3Ex btw) but also a very talented singer and musician. Thanks for the music.

[Maestro705]

Amazing!!!!!! I think this is one of the most thrilling melodies I have ever heard :-)

Simply close to perfect!!!

[350turboman]

have u thought about doing one for space shuttle columbia??

[eddie1brazil]

Simply fabulous !!

[350turboman]

what made u want to do this?? its realy awesome

[karmagician]

@350turboman If you go to the website that is indicated in the description above, you can click on "The Story of the Song" page to read about stuff like that.

[350turboman]

dude i would love to have this on my ipod

[karmagician]

@350turboman You can, if you go to the web site that is indicated in the description, and select the "About" page.

[350turboman]

@karmagician thamks . this literaly brought a tear to my eye and iam only 13. but love space

[operatorjulietmike]

@karmagician

saved.

I really like the song, with its message it somehow heals the scar of the accident and puts it in a bigger context. It's really a worthy tribute in my opinion.

[js142004]

wow what a song.......totally supporting the disaster. well done

[mastermixer]

Fine, fine job... fitting tribute... the sound took me right back to 1986! Saw the link posted on the MOTU-Mac mailing list.

[satanaonline]

who sings this song?

[karmagician]

@satanaonline - I do, you can find all the info about who sang and played at the web site link in the description.

[nagoya61]

unbelievably moving... great keyboard work, and great guitar work...

[wonderglory]

Fabulously fantastic job!

[theoriginaldizzyjam]

Shame on the three that disliked this. Shame. Such an awesome tribute.

[MarcJX8P]

A very nice song with a very worthy subject. Love the 80s style sound. Great vocals, too.

A really wonderful tribute to a tragedy that emphasizes the dream rather than the pain.

[godandpatriotsdream]

I wept through most of this video as I recalled where I was when I heard the terrible news. I once dreamed of riding the 'arrow of fire right up into Heaven' but did get to see Endeavour launch Feb 8, 2010. It was the fulfillment of a childhood dream, even though I wasn't aboard. What a fitting tribute to the Challenger 7 and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice blazing a trail for all mankind. We shouldn't allow their sacrifice to be in vain by not following.

[Deneteus]

Great tribute song!!

[bas7es]

Me too love the 80's sound. You would almost swear it was a real DX7 e.piano. It has that "raw" tingle of the original.

Great composition Steven! I love the harmonies.

[lucheng123]

That's really a great job!

Thanks.

[c0mpman]

Great song, R.I.P. the astronauts.

[GoodOmenMusic]

Very cool

[ppaul3]

Sounds great

[666765h]

omg just LOVE to be up there with them smiles :) excellent!!!

[AttilaMesits]

We have expected something like this from you sooner or later. 5+ stars. A great memorial, a fantastic new way to showcase the Kronos and an excellent song.

[snakesteve68]

Thank you for this song and this video--a beautiful and inspiring tribute.

[gpgpgp13322]

i love space flight and well anything to do with space R.I.P to the brave men and women on the challenger disaster 

[CrusaderBeach]

Sounds good :)

[IDOBLU2008]

2:57 I really love this part

[stryker1999]

The pipe organ should have been louder. ;-)

But seriously, very nice tribute to a cause that must continue as long as God grants us life on this small piece of rock, soil and water. To continue to explore this universe, and learn, and grow. Lives will be lost, but we can't shy away from this challenge.

Darn, I forgot this was done on the Kronos too! Another marvelous peek at my next instrument.

[mgjohnson1]

Hey... great song! The crazy thing is that it has a very 1980's sound to it just like I'm listening to Toto doing "Africa" or Triumph doing "Eye of the Tiger"!!! Pretty cool.

[keyboardkomuso]

@mgjohnson1  actually "Eye of the Tiger" was Survivor

[Renvah]

Great song.

Though the photo in 1:17 was made on ISS last year. It has nothing to do with Challenger :-)

[karmagician]

@Renvah Thanks! Good eyes, but please read my description of the video above. To quote:

Note: not all images in the video come from the Challenger, nor the Challenger STS-51L mission. I felt it was appropriate to use images of men and women in space, from other shuttle and space missions, within the context of them all being "challengers" - to compliment the lyrics and enhance the experience.

I'm fully aware where it came from. Another great "Challenger", doing amazing work.

[Renvah]

@karmagician Yeah, I realize all of that now. Especially when there is a lot of other pictures non Challenger related. The clearest being Atlantis shuttle or modern EVA photos. I just made that comment when I was on 1:17 with this being the first picture (as far as I can tell) not from that period of time :-) I just took it as granted that all of them should be.

Anyway, again, great song! Thanks for the experience listening to it and watching the video.

[KZ4USA]

Great saw it at NAMM 2011.

Im going to buy one, sold my Fantom G8 already.

[VisionQuestRanger]

Great video and song about the Challenger astronauts. I read about your song on the website Universe today, and had to look it up on YouTube right away! A wonderful tribute. Very well done indeed!!

[newpro5657]

Stephen - inspiring work. Great production, excellent choice of quotes. In our small way, we electronic musicians explore the outer reaches of the sonic universe. I loved the Maroon Monster, love the M3 and I know I will love the Kronos next summer when I get it. Excellent production deserving of a huge audience. - Sam Utah

[karmagician]

@newpro5657 Thanks! Pass it around. ;)

[IDOBLU2008]

Great song. It has that 80's feel. Great sound too.

[Biopharmer]

Nice Wavesequencing at the beginning.

[SilverfangX777]

@karmagician The kronos is out already?!?!?!

[karmagician]

@SilverfangX777 No, since I'm the guy that develops the KARMA technology in the keyboard, I have a development unit.

[SilverfangX777]

@karmagician Whoa, thats cool, can't wait to get this keyboard! Nice vid by the way

[Kensei702]

Your inspiration is a great tribute to those we lost – and to those they left behind carrying on the Challenge!

God Bless

[schemkesa]

Hi Stephen,

Just ordered the Reincarnation for M3 and stumbled across you're song. It reminds me of Jon Anderson (your vocals) en Yes (structure of the song) and the beautiful 80's (classic synth sounds) and a little Alan Parsons... Nice job.

[BasariStudios]

Awesome Stephen!

[thepluginguru]

Very well done, Stephen.

[ballademaker]

you sing very good and how you have build up the whole song is impressive and the video is amazing good:) the guitarist doing a great job too, very good done the mixing also great reverb and effects in use. but i am not suprized since you are a wizard on seaqencing nice hope we can hear some new material later also from you i hope so:)) again a real masterwork this one.

[Bach42t2003]

This deserves the widest dissemination, especially 28 January 2011. Amazing Stephen!!

[cfeijao]

Great!!

[olifinger]

Man, I love this song. Great voice Stephen! As a M3 owner, I am extremely excited to get my hands on the new Kronos.