The Great Final Fantasy Musical Debate

[IskatuMesk]

Cosmo canyon - my very first memorable FF7 theme (Or really any FF track at all, this was soo many years ago when 7 was still young and I had yet to experience RPG's). Hell yes.

Hmm, I haven't listened to FF music for quite a while. But I'll give you some.

Final Fantasy XII Music - Esper Battle

Final Fantasy X Music - Summoned Beast Battle

There's a billion renditions of One Winged Angel, from various live concerts and such. I like the AC version just because it sounds more modern, and the metal elements were actually done correctly. I have live versions of that one too, I think.

As for Xenoblade...

Xenoblade - Main Theme

[Wii] Xenoblade - Website music theme 2 (Gaur Plains)

Xenoblade - Colony 9

Semi-Semi related.

[HQ] Godsibb - Yuki Kajiura LIVE 2008.07.31

(Note that Xenoblade and Xenosaga are unrelated game-wise)

[AA7Dragoon]

I've had a lot of fun spending the last couple of hours going back and listening to your guys' musical selections.

For those who have mentioned some FF titles, can you put them up under a top 3 list?

I agree with Lavarinth and Mesk's choice of Cosmo Canyon being a great song.  It definitely stands out from the rest of the FFVII soundtrack the moment you hear it.  You're like, "whoa, this is a zone song?"  Another song that is similar in sound that I like is Wutai.

Since we're on the topic of Final Fantasy VII, let's take a look at it as a soundtrack.

Overall, most of Final Fantasy VII's music is underwhelming.  In fact, Nobuo's experimentation with the new sound capabilities of the Playstation drag down most of soundtrack into mediocrity.  Some painful examples, the Bzzt in Mako Reactor, beeps in Mining Town, and pings in Descendent of Shinobi.  The sound limitations also shortlisted Sephiroth's TRUE theme song of "Those Chosen By the Planet."  If it actually had a male chorus to back it up, the fans and developers would have remembered it.  It didn't even make it to Advent Children.  Only One-Winged Angel did.  There's about 84 songs on the soundtrack, with only a few notables:

1. One-Winged Angel - I prefer this orchestrated version above all others: Final Fantasy VII Music - One-Winged Angel ~Orchestra Version~
This orchestra version of One-Winged Angel faithfully maintains the sound of the original, but fills in all of those awful PS1 musical effects with beautiful string and brass instruments.  I actually like this version better than Advent Children's modern rendition.  This is how One-Winged Angel should truly sound.
2. Cosmo Canyon
3. The Highwind Takes to the Skies (based off of FFVII theme song) - a memorable theme song like most Final Fantasies.
4. Those Chosen By the Planet - Sephiroth's TRUE theme song.  This song is incredibly creepy and unfortunately did not survive the evolution of the FFVII story because of its limited original sound.
5. Fight On! - Actually a pretty cool boss fight song.  Very fast and upbeat.

Fun songs to listen to:
- Gold Saucer
- Rufus' Welcoming Ceremony

That's my assessment of Final Fantasy VII.  In truth, it actually has a better soundtrack than many other Final Fantasies.  Underwhelming Final Fantasy soundtracks include FF9, FF12, and FF8.  I can get to those a bit later.

[Thalraxal]

FF6- Devil's Lab


FF7- Cid's Theme

[AA7Dragoon]

Final Fantasy X broke out of the music limitations from previous titles, and was able to fully voice and orchestrate some of its finer pieces.

There's something unique about this soundtrack.  When you look into FFX's soundtrack, you actually only find a few songs that are worth mentioning.  However, the songs worth mentioning are ammmaazzzzing.  Clearly in the top 20 of all Final Fantasy songs ever written.

1. Hymn of the Fayth - Absolutely stunning piece.  You hear this song throughout the game.  The most interesting part about this song is how there are multiple versions based on the Aeons you meet.  Each Aeon sings their own version of the Hymn.  The best two are Bahamut and Anima.  As you know from the game, Bahamut in FFX is represented as a little boy.  His Hymn is actually sung in the falsetto of a boy.  Wow!  It is powerful.  Anima is another great version.  You can feel a mother's anger and regret in the voice of Anima singing the Hymn.  The best representation of this song, as a wholen is when Yuna does the dance to release all of the souls.  It is beautiful and mesmorizing.  Click here for full version:
FFX - Yuna's Dance - The Sending

Bahamut's Hymn:
Final Fantasy X Music - Hymn of the Fayth ~ Bahamut
Just listening to the different versions brings to mind that this song actually passes as a spiritual hymn.  It is humbling, sobering, and commands your attention to remain silent out of reverence to its prayer.  You just can't reproduce this kind of sound.

2.. Zanarkand.  Yes, Lavarinth.  Zanarkand is a great song as the theme for FFX.  The best version of it is actually at the end where the game merges the best sounds of the soundtrack into one, climatic piece:
Final Fantasy X Music - Ending Theme

Listen to the whole song of "Ending Theme."  It is beautifully orchestrated.  It begins with the Hymn then transitions into Zanarkand.  The crescendo towards the end is so movingly dramatic, it sucks the air out of your lungs.

As a whole, FFX does not make it into my top 3; however, two of some of the best songs in the entire series are in this soundtrack.

An example of disappointment in FFX soundtrack?  Otherworld.  This could have been a cool song if the English lyrics were audible.  I couldn't help but hear weird and funny interpretations to what the guy was saying.  Overall, the song was a failed experiment.

[Marco]

What is with you people and Cosmo Canyon?  You guys must of been tribesmen or shamans in a past life.  CC is a nice place, and maybe I'd even live there.  But still.  Interesting.  What is it, the drums, the memorability, the tribal nature? 



Who was it that said they cried when I used this theme in "The Fenix"?  I remember several people did.  "Oh noes, Kerrigan just killed Anlissa Devreaux.  She was the bestest character ever!!!"  Hah, that scene sucked.  It was all the music.

[WB]

Talking about FFX, I would have to say for my personally, this one was better than zanarkand
Final Fantasy X OST - Between Ordeals ~ Cloister of Trials Theme

As for FF7 a top 3? I can't fucking do that. But heres some more:
Sending a Dream into the Universe (linked previousley)

Final Fantasy VII Music - Electric de Chocobo
Electric de Chocobo - I remember me and a friend playing this on real instruments back in HS (back when I had such motivation and interests...)

Final Fantasy VII - Chasing the Black-Caped Man [HQ]
Chasing the black caped man

Final Fantasy VII - You Can Hear the Cry of the Planet [HQ]
You Can Hear the Cry of the Planet

And these two, I'm not even gonna link to because reading the names should evoke the music in your fucking head:
Crazy Motorcycle
JENOVA

[Meta]

Final Fantasy "Dancing Mad" Sydney opera house "PLAY"

/thread