), I've been delighted to hear so many good fan-made covers over his songs. Some aim to be note-to-note and sound-to-sound replicas, some have a distinctive personal touch in them, some are Oxygene 4. <_<So out of boredom and a feeling of "hey, remember these?", I decided to make my current (May 2013) Top 15 List over the covers I have in my collection.
15) Per Kristian - Equinoxe 5 (First Version)
Made fully with an Access Virus KB, the chorus part also has a nice variation to the usual stuff (well, a prolonged note...). Per Kristian made a new version of this one later, but I always wished he had just finished this one instead. :]
14) Matt 222 - Oxygene 2
Only lately have I started to like Oxygene 2 in general a lot more than before, and this cover doesn't disappoint in replicating the original track.
13) Studio R7 - London Kid
A refreshing take on a mostly-neglected track (I would have expected Jarre and Hank Marvin to have revisited at least once in the past 25 years but alas...), I really like the arrangement on this one. The sounds could be a bit better, though, but this one's still good and my favourite London Kid cover thus far :]
12) Vanello - Palawan
An extended version of Palawan is always appreciated - this one has a bit too cheery feeling going on at times, but it's not that detracting to my ears (albeit noticeable). Nevertheless, this one's definitely one of my favourite JMJ covers from the 2010s.
11) FrequenZ - Oxygene 4 (Houston)
In general, I'm not too big of a fan of Oxygene 4 covers (especially commercial ones), but it's always a great pleasure when one of the specific live versions are being covered. Especially in this case - seeing as the original Houston version is probably not that special to most people. But I think it's already a lot more special than so many others because of the bass part that goes a bit out of order in the first chorus part - something which has been incorporated into this cover as well! Great stuff, definitely my favourite Oxygene 4 cover (thus far).
10) Nino - Oxygene 7 vs Blade Runner 1
Good instruments - check. Good arrangement - definitely check! Always thought the similarities between these two tracks was very interesting (albeit probably unintentional) - and hey, maybe one day we can get a laser harp version of Theme of Antarctica
(Read: Never >_>) I guess it could have had a bit more Blade Runner-like action going on, but in this context (JMJ covers) it's not really an issue. :]9) Per Kristian - Equinoxe 7 On The Rocks
Now this is what Equinoxe 7 would have sounded like if it had been performed at EIC. Just compare it to the CPLT version :] (And yes, the CPLT version is my favourite live rendition) Definitely my favourite Equinoxe 7 cover of all time, it really captures both the feeling of the original track as well as adding in a new layer of power and excitement.
dspProd - Orient ExpressThis cover (which follows after the part that has been lifted straight from the original track) definitely has the punchiness, power and accurate-sounding instruments to be my definite favourite rendition of this track.
(Other good versions were made by Rambo and Radek, for instance)
7) Rambo - Industrial Revolution Overture
A clever take on the original, I remember this cover having an interesting evolution of quite distinctive and different renditions - until finally becoming the final one you can hear today.
6) madMax - Magnetic Fields 2
Now this is a way to make a MF2 cover! I think this was made before the craze to cover up the very original album version of the track (which I've never fancied that much anyway) started (and spread to JMJ himself) - come to think of it, I think madMax himself said that he made it in the mid-1990s. All that trivia notwithstanding, I still think it's a good cover with a good arrangement, definite punch and overall fun.
5) Ed Starink - Souvenir of China
I wonder if mentioning Ed Starink is still as sacrilegious as it used to be? At any rate, I never cared for those detractors. And despite Starink personally not particularly liking Jarre's music, I think his cover of Souvenir of China is actually the best one I've heard. I guess in this case, he accidentally managed to capture some of its emotion in a very cool way (and adding in a Chinese voiceover pronouncing 'fahrrad' or what the Dutch word for 'bicycle' may be... or I'm just hearing things horribly wrong ;P).
4) Meinherz - Ethnicolor
It's always a pleasure to see someone actually covering Ethnicolor (my favorite Jarre track of all time), but even greater of a pleasure to see someone cover it in a very very nice and personal way. Some of the instruments are a bit off, but the arrangement is pretty good and unique. Definitely one of my top favourites.
(I'd also recommend Voxel9's cover of Ethnicolor titled UnaColor)
3) Le Zoolookologue - Equinoxe 4
So many people have covered this track (well, duh), but I remember this cover really coming out of nowhere in 2004. I can't remember if there was anything really special related to it (like made 100% with one synth), but none of the covers that have come after have been as satisfying as this one (to me, anyway). Would be even better if it included a cover of the extended part from the 12" mix ;]
(Other good covers were made by Rune Forshaug, SCOPE, Radek Tymecki, FrequenZ among others - the FrequenZ one in particular is very nice because it also includes the extended part in it :] )
2) Rune Forshaug - Third Rendez-Vous (Live)
Just great. Wonderful instruments and arrangement, definitely a notable personal touch in this one as well. Not to mention the live version involved an actual laser harp! Definitely my favourite cover of this track, and currently even my favourite JMJ cover of the 2010s.
1) Per Kristian - Music for Supermarkets Part 1
And yes, my favourite JMJ cover of all time is once again one by the great Per Kristian Risvik. Great instruments, definitely has a great punch, power and atmosphere - hell, I think it could have fit Paris La Defense very well! Extra points for the very nice vocal parts, as well :]
(Anders Nyman also made a good version of this one)
Well, that's my list now. Hopefully some use can come out of this thread. :]
) and with some instrument changes wanted by the compilation producer.