Discography of Final Fantasy XII

The music of the video game "Final Fantasy XII" was composed primarily by Hitoshi Sakimoto. Additional music was provided by Masaharu Iwata and Hayato Matsuo, who also orchestrated the opening and ending themes. Former regular series composer Nobuo Uematsu's only work for this game was "Kiss Me Good-Bye", the theme song sung by Angela Aki. The "Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack" was released on four Compact Discs in 2006 by Aniplex. A sampling of tracks from the soundtrack was released as an album entitled "Selections from Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack", and was released in 2006 by Tofu Records. Additionally, a promotional digital album titled "The Best of Final Fantasy XII" was released on the Japanese localization of iTunes for download only in 2006. "Kiss Me Good-Bye" was released by Epic Records as a single in 2006, and "Symphonic Poem "Hope", a "mini-symphony" of songs inspired by "Final Fantasy XII", was released by Tofu Records in 2006. A version of the song group was included in the official soundtrack album.

The soundtrack received mixed reviews from critics; while several felt that it was a good soundtrack but lacking in substance, others disagreed, finding it to be an excellent album. Common complaints about the album were the large number of filler tracks, which seemed to be uninspired and hurt the soundtrack as a whole. However, several reviewers commented on "Kiss Me Good-bye", finding it to be one of the soundtrack's strongest areas. The singles for the soundtrack were very well received by critics, who found them to be very enjoyable but short in duration.

Creation and influence

Hitoshi Sakimoto composed most of the game's soundtrack; Nobuo Uematsu, following his departure from Square Enix in 2004, only contributed the theme song, "Kiss Me Good-Bye", sung by Angela Aki.cite web | author=Niizumi, Hirohiko | date=2004-11-01 | title=Nobuo Uematsu leaving Square Enix | publisher=GameSpot | url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/11/01/news_6111914.html | accessdate=2007-03-10] Uematsu noted that Aki's style of playing the keyboard while singing reminded him of his childhood idol, Elton John, which was one of the reasons he chose her.cite web | author=Gantayat, Anoop| date=2006-03-16| title=FFXII Jacks Shibuya| publisher=IGN | url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/696/696511p1.html | accessdate=2006-09-01] Aki was approached for the role three years before the release of the game.cite web | author=IGN Music | date=2006-10-27 | title=Twelve Days of Final Fantasy XII: Angela Aki Interview Part I | publisher=IGN | url=http://music.ign.com/articles/742/742269p1.html | accessdate=2008-04-09] She based her words for the song on "a scene of a new journey after good-bye", which was the sense she had gotten from Uematsu's melody, and was encouraged by Uematsu not to limit herself in her lyrics to what she thought the producers wanted. Sakimoto was brought in to compose the soundtrack to the game by Yasumi Matsuno, the producer of the game, five months before the game was officially announced.cite web | author=IGN Music | date=2006-10-24 | title=Twelve Days of Final Fantasy XII: Hitoshi Sakimoto Interview Part I | publisher=IGN | url=http://music.ign.com/articles/741/741502p1.html | accessdate=2007-03-10] Sakimoto experienced difficulty following in Uematsu's footsteps, but he decided to create a unique soundtrack in his own way, although he cites Uematsu as his biggest musical influence.Interview with Hitoshi Sakimotocite video | year=2006 | title=Final Fantasy XII Collector's Edition Bonus DVD | medium=DVD | publisher=Square Enix | location=Tokyo | accessdate=2006-03-10] cite web | author=IGN Music | date=2006-10-25 | title=Twelve Days of Final Fantasy XII: Hitoshi Sakimoto Interview Part II | publisher=IGN | url=http://music.ign.com/articles/741/741508p1.html | accessdate=2008-04-09]

Sakimoto did not meet with Uematsu for direction on creating the soundtrack and tried to avoid copying Uematsu's style from previous "Final Fantasy" soundtracks. However, he did attempt to ensure that his style would mesh with Uematsu's "Kiss Me Good-Bye" and the overall vision of the series. The soundtrack also includes songs composed by Uematsu for previous "Final Fantasy" games, with new arrangements by Sakimoto.cite web | author=Gann, Patrick; Schweitzer, Ben| title=Final Fantasy XII OST | publisher=RPGFan | url=http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff12/index.html | accessdate=2008-04-02] These tracks include "Final Fantasy ~FFXII Version~", "Victory Fanfare ~FFXII Version~", "Chocobo FFXII Arrange Ver. 1", "Chocobo ~FFXII Version~", and "Clash on the Big Bridge ~FFXII Version~". Of these, all but "Clash on the Big Bridge" are recurring pieces used in almost every "Final Fantasy" game. "Clash on the Big Bridge" plays during the battle with Gilgamesh, as it did in "Final Fantasy V". Sakimoto created the music for the game based on the atmosphere of the game and the emotional changes of the characters, rather than the story, so that the music would not be affected by changes in the development of the game.

Soundtrack

Infobox Album
Name = Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack
Type = Album
Artist = Hitoshi Sakimoto


Cover size = 150
Released = May 31, 2006
Recorded =
Genre = Video game soundtrack
Length = Disk 1: 73:15 Disk 2: 73:18 Disk 3: 73:19 Disk 4: 73:25
Label = Aniplex
Producer = Hitoshi Sakimoto
Last album =
This album =
Next album = nihongo|"Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack"|ファイナルファンタジー XII オリジナルサウンドトラック|Fainaru Fantajī Tuerubu Originaru Saundotorakku is the soundtrack album of "Final Fantasy XII", containing musical tracks from the game, and was composed and produced by Hitoshi Sakimoto. Additional music was provided by Masaharu Iwata and Hayato Matsuo, who also orchestrated the opening and ending themes. The soundtrack spans four discs and 100 tracks, covering a duration of 4:54:34. It was released on May 31, 2006 in Japan by Aniplex, bearing the catalog numbers "SVWC-7351~4". The limited edition of the soundtrack included a 28 page booklet featuring artwork for the game and providing information about the soundtrack.

An album entitled "Selections from Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack" was released on November 31, 2006 by Tofu Records containing 31 tracks from the full "Final Fantasy XII" soundtrack. The tracks were the same versions as on the full soundtrack, although some tracks that repeated were cut shorter. The album covers a duration of 73:23 and has a catalog number of "TOF-033". [cite web | title=Hitoshi Sakimoto- Official English Website | url=http://sakimoto.cocoebiz.com/news/index.shtml | publisher=CocoeBiz L.L.C. | date=2006-10-31 | accessdate=2008-09-12] Additionally, a promotional digital album titled "The Best of Final Fantasy XII" was released on the Japanese localization of iTunes for download only on March 15, 2006. The album contains 11 tracks handpicked by Hitoshi Sakimoto, including versions of "Theme of Final Fantasy XII" and "Chocobo FFXII Arrange Ver. 1" that were ultimately not used in the game. [cite web | title=The Best of Final Fantasy XII | url=http://www.basiscape.com/sound05_10_13/sound_ff12.htm | language= Japanese | publisher=basiscape.com | accessdate=2008-04-08]

Track listing

Singles

Kiss Me Good-Bye

Infobox Single
Name = Kiss Me Good-Bye
Type =
Artist = Angela Aki


Cover size =
Released = March 15, 2006
Recorded =
Genre = J-Pop
Length = 19:59
Label = Epic Records
Producer =
Reviews =
Last single = "Kokoro no Senshi"
(2006)
This single = "Kiss Me
Good-Bye"
(2006)
Next single = "This Love"
(2006) "Kiss Me Good-Bye" is the theme song of "Final Fantasy XII", and is the third Japanese single by Angela Aki. The only vocal piece in the game, it was set to tunes composed by Nobuo Uematsu, arranged by Kenichiro Fukui and produced by Motoki Matsuoka. The single was released by Epic Records in Japan on March 15, 2006, covering a duration of 19:59 and bearing the catalog number "ESCL-2810". A limited edition was also released bearing the catalog number "ESCL-2808" featuring a DVD containing the "Kiss Me Good-Bye" video clip which included both shots of Aki performing the single and clips from the video game.cite web | author=Gann, Patrick | title=Angela Aki - Kiss Me Good-Bye | url=http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff12-kiss/index.html | publisher=RPGFan | accessdate=2008-04-08] Unlike previous "Final Fantasy" games, the theme song is sung in English in both the Japanese and North American versions of the game. The version featured on the CD single has a slightly different arrangement and Japanese lyrics; however, the English version that was featured in the game is included as a bonus track. An English version of the single was released as a digital single on May 16, 2006 under the title "Kiss Me Good-Bye [EP] " in North America through Tofu Records. [cite web | title=Angela Aki Official Web Site | language = Japanese | url=http://www.angela-aki.com/ | accessdate=2008-04-08]

Symphonic Poem "Hope"

Infobox Single
Name = Symphonic Poem "Hope"
Type =
Artist = Taro Hakase


Cover size =
Released = March 1, 2006
Recorded =
Genre = Classical
Length = 8:45
Label = Hats Unlimited
Producer = Taro Hakase
Reviews = nihongo|"Symphonic Poem "Hope"|交響詩「希望」|Kōkyōshi "Kibō" is a single released by violinist Taro Hakase that has been described as a "mini-symphony" for "Final Fantasy XII" inspired by the main theme for the game.cite web | author=Gann, Patrick | title=Symphonic Poem "Hope" | url=http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff12-hope/index.html | publisher=RPGFan | accessdate=2008-04-08] The single contains five tracks, arranged by Taro Hakase and Yuji Toriyama and produced by Taro Hakase. These tracks were used in a promotional video for the game, and a version of them was recorded by the London Philharmonic Orchestra as a single track and included in the official soundtrack release. "Symphonic Poem "Hope" was released on March 1, 2006 by Hats Unlimited bearing the catalog number "HUCD-10015".

Reception

"Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack" received mixed reviews from critics. Jared's review from Square Enix Music Online cited that the soundtrack "utilizes ambiance, power, intensity and beauty" and termed the album to be "amazing", though he felt that the lack of melody "hurts this soundtrack" and that some of the tracks were "bare of inspiration". [cite web|author=Jared|url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/jared/ff12.shtml | title= Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack Review | date= 2007 | publisher= Square Enix Music Online |accessdate=2008-02-01] Meghan Sullivan of IGN thought that the composer was "trying too hard to evoke emotion" and that many of the songs were "over-the-top and bombastic", though she did feel that there were certain tracks that "manage [d] to be stirring". She also stated that Uematsu's only work for the soundtrack, "Kiss Me Good-bye", is a "strong end to a surprisingly trite collection". [cite web| url=http://music.ign.com/articles/722/722920p1.html| title=Hitoshi Sakimoto - Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack: Limited Edition| author=Sullivan, Meghan | date=2006-08-02| publisher=IGN| accessdate=2008-02-01] Greg Kasavin of GameSpot, on the other hand, felt that it was a "beautifully composed soundtrack" that sounded "fantastic". [cite web| url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/finalfantasy12/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary%3Bread-review&page=2l| title=Final Fantasy XII Review| author=Kasavin, Greg | date=2006-10-31| publisher=GameSpot| accessdate=2008-09-12] Patrick Gann of RPGFan found it to be "a great work", but "somewhat lacking in substance", concluding that he had "a lot of mixed feelings about it", while Ben Schweitzer of RPGFan disagreed, enjoying the soundtrack and finding it to be an "excellent" album, and "better than [he] could have expected".

"Symphonic Poem: "Hope" was found by critics to be an enjoyable single, though at only 9 minutes long, Gann felt he could have "gotten by without it", although he said that for other listeners, their "collection may not be complete without this little gem". Dave of Square Enix Music Online concurred with that sentiment, saying that "despite the length of the album, it easily grew on" him. [cite web|author=Dave|url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/dave/ff12hope.shtml | title=Final Fantasy XII: Symphonic Poem "Hope": Review by Dave | publisher= Square Enix Music Online |accessdate=2008-09-17] "Kiss Me Good-bye" reached number six on the Oricon charts, a major Japanese sales tracker. The release was seen by critics as an excellent single, with Gann feeling that both the "Final Fantasy XII" and non-game tracks held their weight equally. "Kiss Me Good-bye" was performed by the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra and Angela Aki for Play! A Video Game Symphony, a world-wide video game music orchestral concert series. [cite web|url=http://www.n-sider.com/articleview.php?articleid=518|title=Play! A Video Game Symphony |author=Daiker, Brandon |date=2006-05-27|publisher=N-Sider|accessdate=2008-04-08] Selections of music from the game also appear on Japanese remix albums, called dojin music, and on English remixing websites. [cite web | title=Game: Final Fantasy XII (PlayStation 2) | url=http://www.ocremix.org/game/final-fantasy-xii-ps2/ | publisher=OverClocked ReMix | accessdate=2008-04-08]

References

External links

* [http://www.angela-aki.com Official Angela Aki Site]
* [http://hats.jp/hakase.htm#HUCD-10014b HATS |交響詩「希望」Symphonic Poem "Hope" home page at Hats Unlimited]
* [http://www.square-enix.co.jp/music/sem/page/ff12/ "Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack"] home page at Square Enix