30 Days/30 Songs. Day 24: A Song You Want to Play at Your Funeral

Cloud Smiles - Nobuo Uematsu

Yesterday, I told you people shit on video game music.
The people I spoke of probably have never heard of the musical GENIUS that is Nobuo Uematsu.

Let me school you. (AND I BEHOOVE YOU TO CLICK THESE LINKS AND LISTEN.)

As far as video games, Square-Enix's Final Fantasy series has constantly set the standard through amazing, breathtaking art, stories, characters, and music. My God, I can't talk to you for DAYS about the soundtracks to some of the entries in the Final Fantasy series.

And here's the kicker. Most of these beauties were composed by ONE guy. Mr. Nobuo Uematsu.


There is NOT a soul on Earth that wasn't moved to tears back in '97 on Final Fantasy VII when the character Aerith Gainsborough was brutally murdered by the remorseless Sephiroth. They weren't moved solely on the act itself, they were moved because of the leitmotif, 'エアリスのテーマ (Earisu no Tēma)' or simply, 'Aerith's Theme', that accompanied her passing. Oh, that opening piano. Jeez. Anyone who tells you they saw that murder and heard that song, then saw her burial and wasn't a little fucked up about that is a FUCKING LIAR.

Hell, I'll even throw in that 'Zanarkand' number from Final Fantasy X. Fucking beautiful music.

In 2003, when Uematsu was tasked to revisit the Final Fantasy VII franchise for the film, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, he did so with a fury. Besides pretty much re-arranging and enhancing many of the classics he blessed us with on the original soundtrack of the game Final Fantasy VII, he added some new tracks. One of them was the powerful 'Cloud Smiles' which starts out with a feigned melancholy spirit and picks up as the... no. I won't tell you about it. Go listen.

If I had the power to control the celebration of my life, it would go as follows:
No casket.
A solo table with an old fashioned glass of ice, a bottle of Jack Daniel's, a bottle Coke. Next to that, a shot of Jameson.
A picture of me having fun.

No drawn out theatrics, no crying and pouring out of hearts about regrets. Just silence, and that damn song. Then everyone go home.

30 Days/30 Songs. Day 23: A Song that You Want to Play at Your Wedding

Dearly Beloved - Yoko Shimomura

People shit on video game music.
People use words when they don't really need them. Music is the GREATEST example of this travesty. (Especially rap music)

Ok. I'm digressing...
Back in 2002, a video game was released. It was called Kingdom Hearts. The game was a product of the Square-Enix monster. (More on that later... as in, tomorrow) When it came to the soundtrack, Square turned to Japanese composer, Yoko Shimomura., who already had a couple impressive game soundtracks under HER belt, including the legendary Street Fighter II
When you begin the game, at the opening menu, a touching piano piece plays which in a way foreshadows the loving, yet sad tale that is about to unfold. This was how I first heard 'Dearly Beloved' which is arguably the best song on the whole damn game, even though it was light-hearted and a little (and I mean just a little) empty. As pleasant as the song was, it wasn't until 2005 that she tweaked it for Kingdom Hearts 2 and I immediately fell in love with the piece.

In the second version of the song, it has grown up. She added an orchestra, and the richness, the quality of the song just... enhances. It suddenly feels as though the meaning behind the work truly shines as the sounds of waves slide across sandy shores, dancing along the cello, and that piano. Truly amazing... and in my opinion one of the prettiest love songs I've ever heard. Apparently I'm not alone in that line of thought, think I'm lying? Go YouTube the song right now.

I've sat in on discussions before where people talk about the 'perfect song' to play at a wedding. It's always an argument about the mood isn't appropriate for Song X or Song B doesn't say the right thing. I've always thought to myself that's because sometimes the best thing in a situation is just understanding. Don't try to talk it out or be poetic. Let the music speak for itself. That's why this is my song for my particular occasion. No words are needed. None should be said. Everything you need to know lies within the title, and the music itself.

Give it a listen. Lie to me and say you disagree. (...and don't steal my idea.)