8-16bit "demakes" of non-game songs?

Thisd was extremely common among the demoscene on both the C64 and Amiga. It's really nothing new.

Zicdisks were full of them back in the 80s-90s
 
I've got a few of these for Dark Side of the Moon, OK Computer and Kid A. They're ok to put on for a while until the other people in the room figure out what they are and then you listen to real music.
 
How about 'Gave Up' by Nine Inch Nails?
link

Awesome original, bizarre chip tune. Extra points for 'NINtendo'.

It took you to make me realise they're called demakes...
 
How about 'Gave Up' by Nine Inch Nails?
link

Awesome original, bizarre chip tune. Extra points for 'NINtendo'.

It took you to make me realise they're called demakes...

Eh that's only a new term really for those "conversions".

Remember we didn't have MP3 players way back then so remaking our favorite tunes using computers was all the rage.

We just called them "remixes" :p
 
So Horse the Band has a Midi-synth player so they demo many of their songs in/on(?) midi first. (I was going to post one or two but apparently they took down/flagged their official midi tracks off youtube? Can't find any anymore)

And I've always liked this midi cover of one of my favorite songs of theirs (Octopus in Fire):
https://youtu.be/w7rSGY0s5H8
 
This was actually in a game but it's a cover of a Japanese pop song.

The first level of the NES game Cosmic Epsilon is a cover of PSY・S's (Masaya Matsuura of Parappa the Rapper fame's band) Parachute Limit. The music in the rest of the game is not to the same level as the first level so I don't know if the games music was composed by Masaya Matsuura or not, the composer is listed as H.Endoh. I don't know if the music was licensed for the game or not either.

Cosmic Epsilon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtPW3FjBj2U

Parachute Limit
https://youtu.be/ouJjSvp6n_M
 
The YouTube channel SiIvaGunner often has amazing covers of songs using the soundfonts of various games. However, being a joke site with lore, it will take some trial and error sifting through the mashups, memes and prank videos. Here's some favorites:

"Welcome to the Black Parade" by My Chemical Romance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8scQMvWfPac

"Self-Control" by Saint Snow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SYf9maIe9U

"Don't Say Lazy" by Hokagou Tea Time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w_cVHPm2k4

"Sunny Day Song"(starts at 0:39) by μ's : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yZTTadflVU

"Thriller" by Michael Jackson(Original & Remake version): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkPM5tEp9sg and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3nrWptz7Fw
 
I used to listen to midi versions of songs in the 90's, and one time I found a perfect midi representation of Sonic Youth's The Diamond Sea, which is like 20 minutes long and half of it is noise and guitar feedback. It was incredible how accurate it was even at the noisiest parts.
 
Followed the 8-bit thing like 10 years ago, so this is the best I got for mainstream remake/remixes.

Beck - Girl (8-bit variations)

Nice take on a cool song

8 Bit Weapon - 2D Died

A remake about retro games set to bye bye miss American pie. There are some legit feels listening to this track.
 
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