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First U.S. Final Fantasy Concert Announced
Carlos Rodriguez writes "I just read at Games Are Fun that Square Enix has officially announced the first U.S.-based Final Fantasy Concert. Entitled 'Dear Friends', it will take place in Los Angeles at the Walt Disney Concert Hall this May 10th, and will feature melodies from the entire series composed and arranged by Nobuo Uematsu. This is the first Final Fantasy music event since 'Final Fantasy 20020220' took place on February 20th, 2002 and the first official Final Fantasy concert to take place outside Japan... It looks like fun! Anybody is planning to attend?"
you can spot me in the crowd as ill be jumpin up and down pumping my arms in victory.
SquareSoft RPG's has allways got some of the best quality music that I have ever heard. Not just the music from Final Fantasy, but also a lot of music from games like Chrono Trigger.
I would love to go to this. Of course, I'm probably the exact person they're targeting... I have about 20 Final Fantasy soundtrack CDs, including all the piano collections, remixes and all that. It makes nice background music while coding, so I listen to them all the time. And almost makes me feel like I'm playing video games, which is nice :-)
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Is Classical a style? Or is classical just when something has dust on it? Generally speaking, classical is a style, at least a broad-genre. Usually referring to orchastral/instrumental type music. The FF music, for the most part is indeed classical. Although I would say some things go into electronic or the odd song straight out rock.
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It looks like Moonwalk + Macarena + I am too sexy by Right said Fred.
Would love to go to something like this but it will never happen. A chance to hear some of these great themes, songs and what not played out by a live orchestra would be great.
Some of those songs always give me a nice feeling when I hear them(Crystal Theme for example)
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Uematsu is an exceptionally talented composer. The themes and motifs that he created for the FF series and other games are argueably some of the better for the entertainment industry. After several years of studying music in college and still having many friends and colleagues who are professional writers/arrangers, I can say that his music would stand up in any concert hall against most of todays prominent orchestral composers.
Now, the one coveat to all of this is that Uematsu needs to arrange the works for the appropriate ensemble. For a looped track in a game that could go on forever, the game system audio tracks are great. However, for an orchestral suite, there is a lot of work involved to properly craft it to that venue.
There are some previous FF works arranged for orchestra and performed in Japan and to the average non-gamer they sound just like a Hollywood soundtrack (in the best sense of that phrase, not in the soundtrack to You Got Served sort of way). A concert of his works is completely appropriate and I applaud them for bringing quality, modern soundtrack music to our concert halls.
Classic is not a broad genre, it is a certain period of music history, like baroque or rococo. While it is true that musicians back then didn't have electric guitars or synthesizers, it doesn't really have anything to do with referring to orchestral or instrumental music in particular. The term is _also_ used for music that is much _like_ classical music, and for lots of other things, in a metaphorical sense.
but what do i know, i'm just a model.
I'm waiting for the Burgertime concert.
Yep, with the Electronic Entertainment Expo happening following the concert, I can't think of a better way to spend some time in LA...if you have to do time in LA, that is.
Probably because it's being held at the same time as the E3 trade show. So the people visiting to see E3 can take a break from the craziness and check it out.
It's like sex, except I'm having it!
But just incased people didn't know Dear Friends was the name of a Japanese released FFV music CD. Where they orchastrated Final Fantasy V. It sounds awesome, if anyone wants any previews for it, I might put some tracks secretly on www.shadowgt.com
check out the minibosses. 8-bit nintendo tunes done with two guitars bass and drums. minibosses.com. They have a few songs up for download and are releasing an album relatively soon. They came around here once and the show was real fun. Their version of the Castlevania series is some great stuff.
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Well lord knows I'm no fan of Final Fantasy, and in fact have some choice words to say about Squaresoft as a whole, but one place I do not discriminate is in video game music. By far my favorite genre, I'm truly surprised that VGM hasn't already made a bigger hit here in the States, what with games becoming so mainstream nowadays. It's truly great stuff (usually-like any genre, there are always a few stinkers), far better than anything the RIAA churns out, and deserves this kind of recognition.
Who knows-if this is a big enough hit, I might be able to go to Borders and buy the Phantasy Star Online episode 3 OST along with my next book on Perl-as someone said before, great background music for coding.
This just might be the ticket to getting video game music the recognition it deserves here. Let's hope.
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Sorry, I can't do a thing about the prices. Japan is expensive.
http://www.cocoebiz.com (in Japan; has English website; sells some not-often heard soundtracks)
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp (in Japan, but they speak English fluently and have an English website)
http://www.gamemusic.com (in the U.S.)
All of these are reliable. I've bought from all of them.
Am I the only one that can't stomach music that's been so commercially manufactured like this.
It depends. Game and movie "mood music" is always terrible (like with porno music, you have to wonder why they even bother). However, especially with the more recent game consoles, some of the music in modern games is absolutely amazing and can compare favorably to well-regarded classical music. I remember one song from FF8 that not only set the mood perfectly but it was hauntingly good and reflects highly on the person who composed it.
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This stuff takes up permament places in my playlist. I have a good sound system..a lot of stuff doesn't stand up to the close scrutiny, but the amount of depth in these songs sure do, especially the newer ones (see X).
If you want to check it out, check out Someday The Dream Will End, or Auron's Theme from FF X. Just amazing music.
This is now in constant loop. Thanks a lot!!!
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A few months back I went to a Final Fantasy concert held by these guys in Sydney. Overall it was pretty good, although most most people with some knowledge of music were cringing at the mistakes. I think a concert arranged by Nobuo Uematsu would probably be more professional.