(no subject)
On July 9, I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Final Fantasy: Distant Worlds concert, a symphony of Nobuo Uematsu’s fantastic compositions with Arnie Roth as conductor and Uematsu himself in attendance. I was sitting in the very front row, which, if you’ve never been to a symphony, means I was in the cheap seats. There was a screen on which videos from the games where projected, and I could see two small strips of it to either side of the violinist with the ZZ Top beard that was in front of me.
Not that I’m complaining. I had come for the music, and I was not disappointed.
I must admit that, when Nobuo Uematsu stepped out onto the stage before the concert began, a little bubble of fangirl glee rose up in my throat and threatened to make me do something highly undignified, like screaming “OMFG UEMATSU-SAMAAA!” I managed to quell the urge.
(Seriously, though, he was right there. I could have reached out and poked him. Well, if I’d had a stick, maybe.)
Ahem. Anyway. Let me put the digression aside and give you the lineup.
FFVIII: Liberi Fatali
FFX: To Zanarkand
FFVIII: Don’t Be Afraid
FFVII: Aeris’s Theme
FFI-III: Medley 2002
FFV: Dear Friends
FFIX: Vamo’alla Flamenco
FFVIII: Love Grows
FFXI: Ronfaure
FF Series: Main Theme
(Intermission)
FFVII: Opening - Bombing Mission
FFVIII: Fisherman’s Horizon
FFXI: Memoro de la Stono - Distant Worlds
FFVIII: Man with the Machine Gun
FFIV: Theme of Love
FF Series: Swing de Chocobo
FFVI: Opera - Maria and Draco
FFVI: Terra’s Theme
FFVII: One-Winged Angel
I’d have to say that Vamo’alla Flamenco was probably my favorite out of all of these songs; I’ve always had a particular love for it. The rendition of Swing de Chocobo was imaginative and highly enjoyable, and (since I’ve never played FFXI) I was surprised at how beautiful Ronfaure was.
One-Winged Angel, of course, was a fantastic coup de grace. It wasn’t listed in the program, but no one was surprised when it was performed at the end of the night. However, I didn’t expect Nobuo Uematsu to come onstage to join the choir, and in spite of any problems my seat may have had, I had a perfect view of him as he sort of bounced along with the beat when he sang. It’s such a wonderful, powerful song, and easily one of Uematsu’s most memorable classics.
On the other hand, I was a bit bored by Fisherman’s Horizon. I’ve never understood why that’s such a popular piece of music; it always struck me as a rather mediocre piece of incidental music. Man with the Machine Gun was similarly average. And, while I love the Opera of Maria and Draco, I was not impressed by the singers. The vocalists featured on the Distant Worlds CD are much more memorable, in my opinion.
That said, every single song played was deeply enjoyable, and I loved every second of it. I may have even gotten slightly misty-eyed once or twice.
Not that I’m complaining. I had come for the music, and I was not disappointed.
I must admit that, when Nobuo Uematsu stepped out onto the stage before the concert began, a little bubble of fangirl glee rose up in my throat and threatened to make me do something highly undignified, like screaming “OMFG UEMATSU-SAMAAA!” I managed to quell the urge.
(Seriously, though, he was right there. I could have reached out and poked him. Well, if I’d had a stick, maybe.)
Ahem. Anyway. Let me put the digression aside and give you the lineup.
FFVIII: Liberi Fatali
FFX: To Zanarkand
FFVIII: Don’t Be Afraid
FFVII: Aeris’s Theme
FFI-III: Medley 2002
FFV: Dear Friends
FFIX: Vamo’alla Flamenco
FFVIII: Love Grows
FFXI: Ronfaure
FF Series: Main Theme
(Intermission)
FFVII: Opening - Bombing Mission
FFVIII: Fisherman’s Horizon
FFXI: Memoro de la Stono - Distant Worlds
FFVIII: Man with the Machine Gun
FFIV: Theme of Love
FF Series: Swing de Chocobo
FFVI: Opera - Maria and Draco
FFVI: Terra’s Theme
FFVII: One-Winged Angel
I’d have to say that Vamo’alla Flamenco was probably my favorite out of all of these songs; I’ve always had a particular love for it. The rendition of Swing de Chocobo was imaginative and highly enjoyable, and (since I’ve never played FFXI) I was surprised at how beautiful Ronfaure was.
One-Winged Angel, of course, was a fantastic coup de grace. It wasn’t listed in the program, but no one was surprised when it was performed at the end of the night. However, I didn’t expect Nobuo Uematsu to come onstage to join the choir, and in spite of any problems my seat may have had, I had a perfect view of him as he sort of bounced along with the beat when he sang. It’s such a wonderful, powerful song, and easily one of Uematsu’s most memorable classics.
On the other hand, I was a bit bored by Fisherman’s Horizon. I’ve never understood why that’s such a popular piece of music; it always struck me as a rather mediocre piece of incidental music. Man with the Machine Gun was similarly average. And, while I love the Opera of Maria and Draco, I was not impressed by the singers. The vocalists featured on the Distant Worlds CD are much more memorable, in my opinion.
That said, every single song played was deeply enjoyable, and I loved every second of it. I may have even gotten slightly misty-eyed once or twice.