Distant Worlds II Concert
So yes, I've been practically dead on LJ and I intended to post a massive Singapore picture post but I felt I needed to log this down before I forget, and granted to kill off some frustration.
Today I went for the Distant Worlds II concert launch which started in San Francisco. I've got lots of good to say about the concert, the orchestra and the singers but I must admit I'm severely irked at the crowd that was with me (not including Ying who came with me to the concert). It did kind of put a damper on my experience.
Other than that though, the music was brilliant. I'm sad that the lineup for both days are different, so I missed the Dancing Mad that was to be performed with Uematsu's band too ;-; I got the disc though so at least I get to hear it : )
Here are some pictures I took along the way to and from the concert.
The sky was very blue on the way there so I took many sky pictures with pretty buildings. This one is the SF Opera House.
More blue sky.
Did I mention the sky?
Anyways here we are at the SF Symphony Hall. : D
The interior was amusingly decorated with giant sunflowers. Summer theme perhaps? I must say Esplanade was far far more grand.
A view I liked but was too excited to take a proper picture.
I like the composition in this shot but mostly because these two were amusing as hell. Cute too <3
Me with my purchase : D The other is for doujinsangel . Sadly no autograph this time because it was exclusive and you had to pay for separate tickets to get them signed. They were selling posters for USD30 that were signed but no way in hell was I paying for that.
My yong sui face in front of the Premier 1st Tier entrance.
Ying and I looking super blanched but oh well. No amount of photoshop can save my face lol.
The view from our seats.
More camwhore.
And another : D
This was when I realized I was a very 'attractive' lady.
The concert about to commence : D
And thus commentary on the concert begins!. First up, the GOOD.
Just as a note I will inevitably be making comparisons to the first DW concert I went to in Singapore last year so yeah : D
Opening Bombing Mission - VII
I'm guessing this is pretty common way of opening the concert. Nothing too exciting but it showed that the SF orchestra were very precise and very steady in their entire playthrough. Good buildup and sounds throughout : D
Don't Be Afraid - VIII
I think they did well here, and I have a feeling the arrangement is a little varied here as opposed to previously. It felt a lot cleaner played this time too. Like each sounds was more distinct and it was really well built up to the more exciting bits. Arnie Roth has really good crowd appeal too.
Distant Worlds - XI
This is where vocalist Susan Calloway blew me away. She is a SUPERB singer. The orchestra backs her up really well but her singing was so good I was tearing at the emotional bits and I can see why this woman was picked to be the singer on the recorded DW tracks. I daresay she sounds better live!
Medley 2002 - I to III
A slight vary in the arrangement again so its a little more upbeat and happy this time and I quite liked it : D The crowd laughed at the same parts as we laughed in the last DW concert too. I really loved the music towards the end because it was like a slow build up to a more epic sound.
Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII
This is actually the first time I've heard the theme played live and it actually sounds almost exactly like the recording. Previously I never thought it sounded alike much because there was always something a little off. Towards the end another different variation but it was nicely done : D
Prima Vista (North American Premiere) - IX
Its very very short but played very upbeat and mixed so it was like a little lift me up in the middle of all the more somber songs : D
Kiss Me Goodbye - XII
Susan Calloway returns again and she's no Angela Aki because the woman brings her own flair into the song but wow, the way she sings it is also really nice and the orchestra's variation to back her is fantastic. I kind of wish i could also hear Angela Aki's version sung to that accompaniment. Loved the scenes they chose to put on the video for this track too. A lot of Ashe/Rasler, Ashe/Balthier, Balthier/Fran, others being happy and Basch being Basch.
Zanarkand - X
They nailed this one, its a different variation and they nailed it. This orchestra is notably smaller than most orchestras I would have expected but they nailed this one and I love them for it. It was heart rendering and their timing with the video was absolutely fantastic.
Series Main Theme
It was like nostalgia washing all over me while they played it. I think they rehashed the videos too, not massively but to include more notable scenes for entire variation <3 Once again the orchestra doesn't sound loudly epic, but I love how precise they are with their sounds.
Intermission
Some shitty stuff happened to me during intermission but I'll mention it in the bad section because I'd rather keep the good, being just good.
The Man with The Machine Gun - VIII
Once again a different variation from what I remember and different videos too. Ironically videos of the Balamb Garden invasion which I had mostly forgotten because I haven't looked back at VIII in a long while. Its a lot less super thick jazz sounds and more orchestra like thus a little more mellow. Its the kind of arrangement I'd use to play while doing some calm work which is odd for this song. Not sure how much I like it but it was executed very well.
Theme of Love - IV
I'm convinced this orchestra specializes in sappy music. They played this REALLY well. When the flutes came in I wanted to weep for joy ;-; ANIKIIIIIIIII. ROSAAAAAAAAAAA
Jenova - VII
I was a little disappointed, ok quite disappointed, that the session I chose was the one that didn't get Dancing Mad and got Jenova instead. That being said though, the arrangement that they did this time is very different from most of the Jenova tracks I've heard of late and was actually really enjoyable! Good choice of arrangement.
Ronfaure - XI
I was wondering how they were going to play this because I always remember FFXI's opening with that amazingly sad wailing music and this performance had no choir. They did it well though, thus why I am convinced that their specialty is to play things that makes you weep like a child. I like the choice of epic ending.
Medley : The Promise + Fang's Theme - XIII (Masashi Hamauzu's composition)
This was a big surprise. I didn't check the lineup till I got there because I wanted to be surprised but I was very interested to hear this one. As most of you know FFXIII doesn't have the typical medley but these two songs are beautiful in their own way. I am personally of the opinion that Uematsu is a great composer, but not the only great one and that FFXIII actually had some gorgeous tracks. That being said, I didn't know how it would mesh together and it DID. SO well too.
Not only that, they even played that event scene where they were all falling out of the sky and Fang's Bahamut caught them and it just...fit. So well. I don't know how. They did it justice and I'm glad to have heard it live. That and I'm glad Uematsu is open to promoting other composer works in his namesake concert.
Medley: Twlight over Thanalan + Beneath the Bloody Borders - XIV
This was quite a surprise as well. To play an unreleased track for an unreleased game was quite something. Its the medley from the major trailer and they did it really well I feel. I don't recall if it was massively different but it was very Uematsu. It suits live play too because of the way it flows and the nice graphics in time helped with the feel.
Opera "Maria and Draco" - VI
The soprano, tenor and baritone they got for this concert are very much like Susan Calloway. Superb in their field and they delivered it well. I remember in Singapore while the singers were good on their own, when they sang together it did not mesh well. This one, meshed brilliantly. So much gusto in the male voices that I just swooned <3
Terra's Theme - VI
Honestly I could barely hear it over the cheering because its when the credits rolled but it sounded pretty solid from what I heard and I loved the little things Arnie Roth was doing while the crowd cheered him on.
Encore - One Winged Angel (as expected)
Before I begin, this is where I begin a bit of the BAD rant. As I stated above there was no choir so Arnie Roth and Uematsu himself asked the crowd to pipe in to the written lyrics on the screen, with Uematsu conducting. I was pretty psyched thinking that since its the U.S. people would more likely jump at it.
I was severely disappointed to see that I was dead wrong. About 10% of the crowd sang, I haven't the foggiest why and those who were singing were mostly foreigners. Uematsu himself seemed pretty disappointed since he stopped conducting half way. My heart weeps. I was really sad and annoyed actually.
All in all the concert was great. The singers fantastic and the orchestra well done.
Unfortunately I have the BAD list coming up. I might as well get to it.
First off, I encountered way too many rude people on my walk to the event hall from my place. Lots of loud obnoxious comments at me. I get this a lot but today it was just really bad. Then outside a hotel, a family who did not know how to keep their opinions quieter openly pointed at me and said 'That's not a dress! Its a long shirt' and continued having this conversation as I walked past them speaking English to my friend.
Rude much?
It doesn't stop there.
The crowd that went with me to the concert disappointed me. I personally now do believe it when people say Asian crowds are more enthusiastic for lord knows whatever reason. For one thing, a good majority of the people sitting around me in particular were a lot of Elitist Nerd Fags. Especially the men who sat in front of me. They barely clapped and they completely hated anything played that was not from a series before X and loudly proclaimed that they shouldn't have put any songs from XIII in ever because it wasn't 'Uematsu's'.
Asses? very much so. And it gets worse too.
During intermission I was texting someone and the guy in the front got up, and said something lewd to his friends about a game I liked and I shot an annoyed look at him which he caught. I didn't talk to him and just went back to my texting and he just stood against the banister eye-ing me like a piece of meat and loudly proclaimed to his overweight unattractive companions that 'I'm going to stand here till the intermission is over and in the mean time I'll just take my time to stare at this girl in front of me *insert dirty eye gesture here*'
I know a lot of people tell me that America is full of douches sometimes. I didn't want to believe it much. Seems I was wrong for not believing the locals.
Fucking ass.
The crowd is a whole lot less enthusiastic too and after seeing the overwhelming amount of people who went to Singapore and seeing the tickets sell out in Asia so fast, the idea to see that there were actually notable empty seats about was kind of disheartening.
That and just the energy just did not feel as.... overwhelming like previously. Perhaps it was the great company I was with back then, I don't know. But it was a little lackluster for me in that sense.
The response during the encore was a bit of a kicker too : I
All in all I know I rant of the bad, and I would be lying if I said it didn't spoil my experience quite a bit having to listen to elitist gamers complain during the concert and giving me weird looks when I actually bother to try and sing to One Winged Angel despite the fact that my voice sounds like crap after my cold, I'm really trying not to let it spoil it thoroughly for me.
I wish I could go again tomorrow just to see Vama Allo Flamenco, Dancing Mad and to watch Susan Calloway perform Melodies of Life and Suteki Da Ne. I'm sure she'd nail the former but I want to see how she'd work with the latter considering she sounds completely and thoroughly western.
Oh well, other than being bothered a little again on the way back the walk back was quiet and nice : )
The view I saw outside the instant after stepping out of the building. : D
I took this shot when I went home because I don't have a full length mirror so I tried to take a picture with the big mirror down in the 'lobby' we have.
I've worn this a few times before which is why I don't get why is it people are making such a hoo-hah about my skirt >_>; Oh well. I don't get many chances to dress up anyways. I love my Harley Davidson boots <3
The being said, this might interest all you guys back home. Arnie Roth announced that within July and August, details of the Asian Tour of the 2nd concert and a special announcement of sorts will be made. I'm fairly certain Singapore will be on the list considering the sheer popularity so keep your eyes and ears open for it : D
That and, for the love of god if Uematsu conducts you guys in the audience to sing, I hope you guys will sing. It'd make my day just to hear that the audience actually took the opportunity to do that once with the composer we love/admire.
That's all for now : D Please leave a comment : D
Today I went for the Distant Worlds II concert launch which started in San Francisco. I've got lots of good to say about the concert, the orchestra and the singers but I must admit I'm severely irked at the crowd that was with me (not including Ying who came with me to the concert). It did kind of put a damper on my experience.
Other than that though, the music was brilliant. I'm sad that the lineup for both days are different, so I missed the Dancing Mad that was to be performed with Uematsu's band too ;-; I got the disc though so at least I get to hear it : )
Here are some pictures I took along the way to and from the concert.
The sky was very blue on the way there so I took many sky pictures with pretty buildings. This one is the SF Opera House.
More blue sky.
Did I mention the sky?
Anyways here we are at the SF Symphony Hall. : D
The interior was amusingly decorated with giant sunflowers. Summer theme perhaps? I must say Esplanade was far far more grand.
A view I liked but was too excited to take a proper picture.
I like the composition in this shot but mostly because these two were amusing as hell. Cute too <3
Me with my purchase : D The other is for doujinsangel . Sadly no autograph this time because it was exclusive and you had to pay for separate tickets to get them signed. They were selling posters for USD30 that were signed but no way in hell was I paying for that.
My yong sui face in front of the Premier 1st Tier entrance.
Ying and I looking super blanched but oh well. No amount of photoshop can save my face lol.
The view from our seats.
More camwhore.
And another : D
This was when I realized I was a very 'attractive' lady.
The concert about to commence : D
And thus commentary on the concert begins!. First up, the GOOD.
Just as a note I will inevitably be making comparisons to the first DW concert I went to in Singapore last year so yeah : D
Opening Bombing Mission - VII
I'm guessing this is pretty common way of opening the concert. Nothing too exciting but it showed that the SF orchestra were very precise and very steady in their entire playthrough. Good buildup and sounds throughout : D
Don't Be Afraid - VIII
I think they did well here, and I have a feeling the arrangement is a little varied here as opposed to previously. It felt a lot cleaner played this time too. Like each sounds was more distinct and it was really well built up to the more exciting bits. Arnie Roth has really good crowd appeal too.
Distant Worlds - XI
This is where vocalist Susan Calloway blew me away. She is a SUPERB singer. The orchestra backs her up really well but her singing was so good I was tearing at the emotional bits and I can see why this woman was picked to be the singer on the recorded DW tracks. I daresay she sounds better live!
Medley 2002 - I to III
A slight vary in the arrangement again so its a little more upbeat and happy this time and I quite liked it : D The crowd laughed at the same parts as we laughed in the last DW concert too. I really loved the music towards the end because it was like a slow build up to a more epic sound.
Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII
This is actually the first time I've heard the theme played live and it actually sounds almost exactly like the recording. Previously I never thought it sounded alike much because there was always something a little off. Towards the end another different variation but it was nicely done : D
Prima Vista (North American Premiere) - IX
Its very very short but played very upbeat and mixed so it was like a little lift me up in the middle of all the more somber songs : D
Kiss Me Goodbye - XII
Susan Calloway returns again and she's no Angela Aki because the woman brings her own flair into the song but wow, the way she sings it is also really nice and the orchestra's variation to back her is fantastic. I kind of wish i could also hear Angela Aki's version sung to that accompaniment. Loved the scenes they chose to put on the video for this track too. A lot of Ashe/Rasler, Ashe/Balthier, Balthier/Fran, others being happy and Basch being Basch.
Zanarkand - X
They nailed this one, its a different variation and they nailed it. This orchestra is notably smaller than most orchestras I would have expected but they nailed this one and I love them for it. It was heart rendering and their timing with the video was absolutely fantastic.
Series Main Theme
It was like nostalgia washing all over me while they played it. I think they rehashed the videos too, not massively but to include more notable scenes for entire variation <3 Once again the orchestra doesn't sound loudly epic, but I love how precise they are with their sounds.
Intermission
Some shitty stuff happened to me during intermission but I'll mention it in the bad section because I'd rather keep the good, being just good.
The Man with The Machine Gun - VIII
Once again a different variation from what I remember and different videos too. Ironically videos of the Balamb Garden invasion which I had mostly forgotten because I haven't looked back at VIII in a long while. Its a lot less super thick jazz sounds and more orchestra like thus a little more mellow. Its the kind of arrangement I'd use to play while doing some calm work which is odd for this song. Not sure how much I like it but it was executed very well.
Theme of Love - IV
I'm convinced this orchestra specializes in sappy music. They played this REALLY well. When the flutes came in I wanted to weep for joy ;-; ANIKIIIIIIIII. ROSAAAAAAAAAAA
Jenova - VII
I was a little disappointed, ok quite disappointed, that the session I chose was the one that didn't get Dancing Mad and got Jenova instead. That being said though, the arrangement that they did this time is very different from most of the Jenova tracks I've heard of late and was actually really enjoyable! Good choice of arrangement.
Ronfaure - XI
I was wondering how they were going to play this because I always remember FFXI's opening with that amazingly sad wailing music and this performance had no choir. They did it well though, thus why I am convinced that their specialty is to play things that makes you weep like a child. I like the choice of epic ending.
Medley : The Promise + Fang's Theme - XIII (Masashi Hamauzu's composition)
This was a big surprise. I didn't check the lineup till I got there because I wanted to be surprised but I was very interested to hear this one. As most of you know FFXIII doesn't have the typical medley but these two songs are beautiful in their own way. I am personally of the opinion that Uematsu is a great composer, but not the only great one and that FFXIII actually had some gorgeous tracks. That being said, I didn't know how it would mesh together and it DID. SO well too.
Not only that, they even played that event scene where they were all falling out of the sky and Fang's Bahamut caught them and it just...fit. So well. I don't know how. They did it justice and I'm glad to have heard it live. That and I'm glad Uematsu is open to promoting other composer works in his namesake concert.
Medley: Twlight over Thanalan + Beneath the Bloody Borders - XIV
This was quite a surprise as well. To play an unreleased track for an unreleased game was quite something. Its the medley from the major trailer and they did it really well I feel. I don't recall if it was massively different but it was very Uematsu. It suits live play too because of the way it flows and the nice graphics in time helped with the feel.
Opera "Maria and Draco" - VI
The soprano, tenor and baritone they got for this concert are very much like Susan Calloway. Superb in their field and they delivered it well. I remember in Singapore while the singers were good on their own, when they sang together it did not mesh well. This one, meshed brilliantly. So much gusto in the male voices that I just swooned <3
Terra's Theme - VI
Honestly I could barely hear it over the cheering because its when the credits rolled but it sounded pretty solid from what I heard and I loved the little things Arnie Roth was doing while the crowd cheered him on.
Encore - One Winged Angel (as expected)
Before I begin, this is where I begin a bit of the BAD rant. As I stated above there was no choir so Arnie Roth and Uematsu himself asked the crowd to pipe in to the written lyrics on the screen, with Uematsu conducting. I was pretty psyched thinking that since its the U.S. people would more likely jump at it.
I was severely disappointed to see that I was dead wrong. About 10% of the crowd sang, I haven't the foggiest why and those who were singing were mostly foreigners. Uematsu himself seemed pretty disappointed since he stopped conducting half way. My heart weeps. I was really sad and annoyed actually.
All in all the concert was great. The singers fantastic and the orchestra well done.
Unfortunately I have the BAD list coming up. I might as well get to it.
First off, I encountered way too many rude people on my walk to the event hall from my place. Lots of loud obnoxious comments at me. I get this a lot but today it was just really bad. Then outside a hotel, a family who did not know how to keep their opinions quieter openly pointed at me and said 'That's not a dress! Its a long shirt' and continued having this conversation as I walked past them speaking English to my friend.
Rude much?
It doesn't stop there.
The crowd that went with me to the concert disappointed me. I personally now do believe it when people say Asian crowds are more enthusiastic for lord knows whatever reason. For one thing, a good majority of the people sitting around me in particular were a lot of Elitist Nerd Fags. Especially the men who sat in front of me. They barely clapped and they completely hated anything played that was not from a series before X and loudly proclaimed that they shouldn't have put any songs from XIII in ever because it wasn't 'Uematsu's'.
Asses? very much so. And it gets worse too.
During intermission I was texting someone and the guy in the front got up, and said something lewd to his friends about a game I liked and I shot an annoyed look at him which he caught. I didn't talk to him and just went back to my texting and he just stood against the banister eye-ing me like a piece of meat and loudly proclaimed to his overweight unattractive companions that 'I'm going to stand here till the intermission is over and in the mean time I'll just take my time to stare at this girl in front of me *insert dirty eye gesture here*'
I know a lot of people tell me that America is full of douches sometimes. I didn't want to believe it much. Seems I was wrong for not believing the locals.
Fucking ass.
The crowd is a whole lot less enthusiastic too and after seeing the overwhelming amount of people who went to Singapore and seeing the tickets sell out in Asia so fast, the idea to see that there were actually notable empty seats about was kind of disheartening.
That and just the energy just did not feel as.... overwhelming like previously. Perhaps it was the great company I was with back then, I don't know. But it was a little lackluster for me in that sense.
The response during the encore was a bit of a kicker too : I
All in all I know I rant of the bad, and I would be lying if I said it didn't spoil my experience quite a bit having to listen to elitist gamers complain during the concert and giving me weird looks when I actually bother to try and sing to One Winged Angel despite the fact that my voice sounds like crap after my cold, I'm really trying not to let it spoil it thoroughly for me.
I wish I could go again tomorrow just to see Vama Allo Flamenco, Dancing Mad and to watch Susan Calloway perform Melodies of Life and Suteki Da Ne. I'm sure she'd nail the former but I want to see how she'd work with the latter considering she sounds completely and thoroughly western.
Oh well, other than being bothered a little again on the way back the walk back was quiet and nice : )
The view I saw outside the instant after stepping out of the building. : D
I took this shot when I went home because I don't have a full length mirror so I tried to take a picture with the big mirror down in the 'lobby' we have.
I've worn this a few times before which is why I don't get why is it people are making such a hoo-hah about my skirt >_>; Oh well. I don't get many chances to dress up anyways. I love my Harley Davidson boots <3
The being said, this might interest all you guys back home. Arnie Roth announced that within July and August, details of the Asian Tour of the 2nd concert and a special announcement of sorts will be made. I'm fairly certain Singapore will be on the list considering the sheer popularity so keep your eyes and ears open for it : D
That and, for the love of god if Uematsu conducts you guys in the audience to sing, I hope you guys will sing. It'd make my day just to hear that the audience actually took the opportunity to do that once with the composer we love/admire.
That's all for now : D Please leave a comment : D