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First U.S. Final Fantasy Concert Announced

Posted by simoniker on from the chocobo-poop dept.

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?"

16 of 92 comments (clear)

  1. im so there by tokaok · · Score: 5, Funny

    you can spot me in the crowd as ill be jumpin up and down pumping my arms in victory.

  2. That's smooth! by Lord+Graga · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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.

    1. Re:That's smooth! by Bagels · · Score: 3, Informative

      Mind you, a lot of Chrono Trigger's music was done by Yasunori Mitsuda, not Nobuo Uematsu (who did all the music for this particular concert). And I like Mitsuda's work better :). Mitsuda's work can also be found in Chrono Cross, Xenogears, and Xenosaga.

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  3. I would love to go by thelenm · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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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    1. Re:I would love to go by GTRacer · · Score: 3, Insightful
      I have about 20 Final Fantasy soundtrack CDs...

      Out of curiosity, and no, I'm not flaming, are those legit OSTs or are they Son May/EverAnime/etc. discs?

      I ask because I've been wanting to get more game-based OSTs and the legit ones are crazy expensive! Do you know a good site or store to order from (both in terms of price and reliability)?

      GTRacer
      - Long Live the Music!

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    2. Re:I would love to go by Haikiba · · Score: 5, Informative

      I've gotten all 11 Final fantasy OSTs through AnimeNation. They may cost more, but their reliability is top-notch.

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    3. Re:I would love to go by thelenm · · Score: 3, Informative

      They're mostly EverAnime discs I got off eBay over the last few years. But they're not too bad quality, I don't think. Unfortunately, I don't know of a good place to get them... the guy I bought most of the discs from apparently died in a car accident last year.

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  4. Chocobo Beats by superpulpsicle · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yes I can finally do the Chocobo dance in public and not be laughed at.

    It looks like Moonwalk + Macarena + I am too sexy by Right said Fred.

  5. Will there be a CD from the live performance? by darkmayo · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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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  6. Re:flamebait by eunos94 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Ok, I won't tout prevailing opinion, but I will disagree with you.

    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.

  7. No thanks! by gothrus · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm waiting for the Burgertime concert.

  8. FFV album by SpikeSpiegal · · Score: 5, Informative
    I am so going to this, then 2 days after is E3. HELL YEA.

    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

  9. if you want game music.... by RegalBegal · · Score: 4, Informative

    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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  10. VGM Recognition by CelticWhisper · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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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  11. Places to buy legit game music by Webapprentice · · Score: 3, Informative

    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.

  12. Australian FF concert by evilhayama · · Score: 3, Informative

    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.