Discography of Final Fantasy X

The music of the video game "Final Fantasy X" was composed by regular series composer Nobuo Uematsu, along with Masashi Hamauzu and Junya Nakano. It was the first "Final Fantasy" game in which Uematsu was not the sole composer. The "Final Fantasy X Original Soundtrack" was released on four Compact Discs in 2001 by DigiCube, and was re-released in 2004 by Square Enix. Prior to the album's North American release, a reduced version entitled "Final Fantasy X Original Soundtrack" was released on a single disk by Tokyopop in 2002. An EP entitled "feel/Go dream: Yuna & Tidus" containing additional singles not present in the game was released by DigiCube in 2001. "Piano Collections Final Fantasy X", a collection of piano arrangements of the original soundtracks by Masashi Hamauzu and performed by Aki Kuroda, was released by DigiCube in 2002 and re-released by Square EA in 2004. A collection of vocal arrangements of songs from the game arranged by Katsumi Suyama along with radio drama tracks was released as "Final Fantasy X Vocal Collection" in 2002 by DigiCube.

The game's soundtrack is best known for the song "Suteki da ne", the theme song of the game, performed by Japanese folk singer Ritsuki Nakano, known as "RIKKI", in Japanese for both the Japanese and English versions of the game. The song was released as a single by DigiCube in 2001 and was re-released by Square Enix in 2004. The music was well received overall; reviewers praised the additions to the soundtrack by the two new composers for the series. They especially praised Hamauzu, both for his work in the original soundtrack and in arranging the songs for "Piano Collections Final Fantasy X". Several songs, especially "Suteki da ne" and "Zanarkand", remain popular today, and have been performed numerous times in orchestral concert series, as well as been published in arranged and compilation albums by Square as well as outside groups.

Creation and influence

"Final Fantasy X" marks the first time Nobuo Uematsu has had any assistance in composing the score for a "Final Fantasy" game. His fellow composers for "Final Fantasy X" were Masashi Hamauzu and Junya Nakano. Uematsu contributed 51 tracks, Hamauzu contributed 20 tracks and Nakano contributed 18 tracks to the game. [cite web | title=元Road of SQUARE　データベース | author=Inoue, Akito | publisher=Critique Of Games | url=http://critiqueofgames.net/data/ros/kai-ff10.htm | language=Japanese | accessdate=2007-02-14] The two new composers were chosen for the soundtrack based on their ability to create music that was different than Uematsu's while still working together.cite web | title=Interview by RocketBaby.net | author=Huang, Michael | publisher=nobuouematsu.com | url=http://www.nobuouematsu.com/rbaby.html | accessdate=2007-03-24] Uematsu claims that he found inspiration for the soundtrack by listening to specific instruments of songs by Elton John and The Beatles separately to see how they fit into the whole, and that his favorite part about the soundtrack is the good reviews from listeners.cite web | author=Uematsu, Nobuo; Hamauzu, Masashi; Nakano, Junya | title=Final Fantasy X Original Soundtrack Liner Notes | staff=Etoh | date=2001-08-01 | url=http://www.chudahs-corner.com/liners/index.php?catalog=SSCX-10054%7E7 | publisher=Chudah's Corner | accessdate=2008-03-12] Nakano set out to create music with a "vibrant and dynamic feel" that tied together his years of experience with game music, while Hamauzu tried to use the soundtrack to bring video game music to "greater heights".

Albums

"Final Fantasy X Original Soundtrack"

Infobox Album |
Name = Final Fantasy X Original Soundtrack
Type = Album
Artist = Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu, Junya Nakano


Cover size = 150
Released =

August 1, 2001
May 10, 2004 (re-release)

Recorded =
Genre =
Length = Disc 1: 68:34
Disc 2: 65:47
Disc 3: 61:10
Disc 4: 76:55
Label = DigiCube
Square Enix (re-release)
Producer = Nobuo Uematsu
Reviews =
Last album =
This album =
Next album = nihongo|"Final Fantasy X Original Soundtrack"|ファイナルファンタジーＸ　オリジナルサウンドトラック|Fainaru Fantajī Ten Orijinaru Saundotorakku is a soundtrack album of music from "Final Fantasy X" composed, arranged and produced by Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu and Junya Nakano. Vocals are performed by RIKKI for "Suteki da ne", Bill Muir for "Otherworld", and choruses for "Hymn of the Fayth". It spans four discs and 91 tracks, covering a duration of 4:32:26. It was first released in Japan on August 1, 2001 by DigiCube with catalog number "SSCX-10054", and was re-released on May 10, 2004 by Square Enix with catalog number "SQEX-10013".cite web | author=Gaan, Patrick; Schweitzer, Ben | title=Final Fantasy X OST | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff10ost/index.html | publisher=RPGFan | accessdate=2008-03-04]

In 2002, Tokyopop released a version of "Final Fantasy X Original Soundtrack" in North America entitled "Final Fantasy X Official Soundtrack", which contained 17 tracks from the original album on a single disk. This release had the catalog number TPCD-0211-2. Additionally, in 2001, prior to the game's release, Square released a promotional disk titled "Final Fantasy X Promo CD", which contained edited versions of "Other World", "At Zanarkand", and "Battle 1". The disk covers a length of 7:08, and was only released in Japan.cite web | author=Rzeminski, Lucy | title=Final Fantasy X Official Soundtrack | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff10-usa/index.html | publisher=RPGFan | accessdate=2008-03-04]

Track listing

"feel/Go dream: Yuna & Tidus"

Infobox Album |
Name = feel/Go dream: Yuna & Tidus
Type = Album
Artist = Nobuo Uematsu


Cover size = 150
Released = October 11, 2001
Recorded =
Genre =
Length = 29:51
Label = DigiCube
Producer = Nobuo Uematsu
Reviews =
Last album =
This album =
Next album = "feel/Go dream: Yuna & Tidus" is an EP containing tracks composed by Nobuo Uematsu and inspired by songs from the game. "feel" was based on the "Hymn of the Fayth," while "Go dream" was based on "Tidus' Theme". Music arrangements were done by Masashi Hamauzu, Tsuyoshi Sekito, and Masayoshi Kikuchi. Vocals are performed by Mayuko Aoki for the track "feel" and Masakazu Morita for the track "Go dream". A remix of "feel" was included as a bonus track in the "Vocal Collection of Final Fantasy X". It was released in Japan by DigiCube on October 11, 2001, bearing the catalog number "SSCX-10058".cite web | title=feel/Go dream ~ Yuna & Tidus | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff10tribute/index.html | publisher=RPGFan | accessdate=2008-03-04]

"Final Fantasy X Vocal Collection"

Infobox Album |
Name = Final Fantasy X Vocal Collection
Type = Album
Artist = Katsumi Suyama


Cover size = 150
Released = December 18, 2002
Recorded =
Genre =
Length = 42:21
Label = DigiCube
Producer =
Reviews =
Last album =
This album =
Next album = "Final Fantasy X Vocal Collection" is a collection of vocal arrangements of songs from the game arranged by Katsumi Suyama along with radio drama tracks, performed by the game's characters' voice actors in Japanese. It spans 14 tracks and covers a duration of 42:21. It was released in Japan on December 18, 2002 by DigiCube with catalog number "SSCX-10073".cite web | author=Rzeminski, Lucy | title=Final Fantasy X Vocal Collection | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff10vc/index.html | publisher=RPGFan | accessdate=2008-03-04]

Suteki da ne

Infobox Single
Name = Suteki da ne
Type =
Artist = RIKKI


Cover size = 150
Released = July 18, 2001
July 22, 2004 (re-release)
Recorded =
Genre = J-Pop, Japanese Folk
Length = 20:35
Label = DigiCube
Square Enix (re-release)
Producer =
Reviews =
Last album =
This album =
Next album = "Suteki da ne" is the theme song of "Final Fantasy X". It was written by Nobuo Uematsu and Kazushige Nojima and was sung by Japanese folk singer Ritsuki Nakano, known as "RIKKI", whom the music team contacted while searching for a singer whose music reflected an Okinawan atmosphere.cite web | title=The Creators | url=http://www.square-enix-usa.com/games/FFX/btg/creators.html#1 | publisher=Square Enix North America | accessdate=2006-12-04] "Suteki da ne" is sung in its original Japanese form in both the Japanese and English versions of "Final Fantasy X". The song's title translates to "Isn't It Wonderful?" in English, and its lyrics were written by scenario writer Kazushige Nojima, while Uematsu composed the instrumentals and Shiro Hamaguchi arranged the instrumentals. Like the ballads from "Final Fantasy VIII" and "IX", "Suteki da ne" has an in-game version used in cutscenes together with an orchestrated version used as part of the ending theme.

The song was released as a single by DigiCube on July 18, 2001, and re-released by Square Enix on July 22, 2004. The disk also contains an instrumental version, an unrelated song entitled "Gotsuki-sama ~UTIKISAMA~" ("The Moon"), and a vocal version of Aerith's theme song from "Final Fantasy VII" titled "Pure Heart". The single covers a duration of 20:35. The original release has a catalog number of "SSCX-10053", and the re-release has a catalog number of "SQEX-10029". [cite web | author=Gann, Patrick | title=Final Fantasy X - Suteki da ne | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff10single/index.html | publisher=RPGFan | accessdate=2008-03-04]

Reception and legacy

"Final Fantasy X Original Soundtrack" was moderately well received; while some reviewers felt it to be an "absolutely amazing" soundtrack, others only found it to be a "satisfying" work that was "not quite all I was hoping for".cite web | author=Engelhorn, Isaac; McCawley, James | title=Final Fantasy X Original Soundtrack | url=http://www.soundtrackcentral.com/stc/reviews/ff10ost.htm | publisher=Soundtrack Central| accessdate=2008-03-17] Several reviewers felt that of the three composers, Uematsu's pieces were the weakest, citing them as "sub-par" and having a tendency to be "buried" under the compositions of the others. Hamauzu's contributions, however, were seen as some of his best work, and reviewers felt that both he and Nakano brought a "myriad of new flavors" to the soundtrack which were very well received. "Final Fantasy X Official Soundtrack", although not re-released after the "Original Soundtrack" was brought to North America, was seen as a good sampler of the music from the full soundtrack. "Piano Collections Final Fantasy X" was very well received, with reviewers finding it to be a "great" album, and stating that it was superior to most video game soundtracks, both piano or otherwise.cite web | author=Dell, Patrick; McCawley, James | title=Final Fantasy X Piano Collections | url=http://www.soundtrackcentral.com/stc/reviews/ff10pc.htm | publisher=Soundtrack Central| accessdate=2008-03-17] They especially praised Hamauzu, terming him a "very skilled arranger and performer". "Final Fantasy X Vocal Collection", however, was poorly received by critics. They found the album, while it had "pretty good" vocals, to have overall poor sound quality and a clichéd musical style. While "not a horrible album", they found that the collection was overpriced and under-produced.

The Black Mages, a band led by Nobuo Uematsu that arranges music from "Final Fantasy" video games into a rock music style, have arranged three pieces from "Final Fantasy X". These are "Fight With Seymour" from their self-titled album, published in 2003, [(February 19, 2003). "The Black Mages". DigiCube. SSCX-10080] and "Otherworld" and "The Skies Above", both of which can be found on the album ', published in 2004. [(December 22, 2004). "The Black Mages II: The Skies Above". Universal Music. UPCH-1377] Uematsu continues to perform certain pieces in his "Dear Friends: Music from Final Fantasy" concert series. [cite web | author=Schnieder, Peer | title=Dear Friends: Music from Final Fantasy | publisher=IGN | date=2005-05-11| url=http://music.ign.com/articles/513/513292p1.html | accessdate=2006-03-01] The music of "Final Fantasy X" has also appeared in various official concerts and live albums, such as "20020220 Music from Final Fantasy", a live recording of an orchestra performing music from the series including several pieces from the game. [cite web| url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/20020220/index.html|title=20020220 - Music from FINAL FANTASY| publisher=RPGFan| accessdate=2007-04-01] Additionally, "Swing de Chocobo" was performed by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra for the "Distant Worlds - Music from Final Fantasy" concert tour, [cite web|url= http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/f/ffdistantworlds.shtml|title=Distant Worlds - Music from Final Fantasy - Album Information |publisher=Square Enix Music Online|accessdate=2008-02-22] while "Zanarkand" was performed by the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra in the ' concert series. [cite web|url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/dvds/tourdejapon.shtml|title=Album Information - Tour de Japon: Music from Final Fantasy DVD|publisher=Square Enix Music Online|accessdate=2008-02-22] Independent but officially licensed releases of "Final Fantasy X" music have been composed by such groups as Project Majestic Mix, which focuses on arranging video game music. [cite web | author=Rzeminski, Lucy | title=Project Majestic Mix: A Tribute to Nobuo Uematsu - Gold Edition | publisher=RPGFan | date=2002-07-02 | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/pmm-gold/index.html | accessdate=2008-08-13] Selections also appear on Japanese remix albums, called "dojin music", and on English remixing websites. [cite web | title=Game: Final Fantasy X (PlayStation 2) | url=http://www.ocremix.org/game/final-fantasy-x-ps2/ | publisher=OverClocked ReMix | accessdate=2008-03-04]

References

External links

* [http://na.square-enix.com/uematsu/ Nobuo Uematsu's official website]
* [http://na.square-enix.com/music/tunes/ff/ Square Enix's official music store]