New brief interview with Nobuo Uematsu

[postalblowfish7]

I just saw this on IGN - a few interesting tid-bits in it:

IGN Music: How did you choose Ms. Aki to sing the theme song, "Kiss Me Good-Bye"?

Nobuo Uematsu: I just felt that it had to be her when I heard her voice.

IGN Music: What is endearing to you about the Final Fantasy series?

Nobuo Uematsu: To me, the game series is like comrade-in-arms that you went through a lot with.

IGN Music: Do you ever look at the Final Fantasy artwork of Yoshitaka Amano for inspiration?

Nobuo Uematsu: Yes, Mr. Amano's artwork has always been a source of inspiration for me.

IGN Music: The styles of all the Final Fantasy scores vary from very upbeat, to dark and angry, to melancholy in nature. For example, Final Fantasy VIII was very dark, but IX was much more carefree and upbeat. Do these contrasts come from simply the story of the game, what's going on in your life, or perhaps just a desire to mix things up?

Nobuo Uematsu: The atmosphere of music varies depending on story line, of course, but it's also my intention to put various types of music into one game.

IGN Music: Which of your FF soundtracks is your personal favorite? More specifically, is there a specific piece of music that you hold most dear?

Nobuo Uematsu:It is very hard to pick one particular soundtrack or a song.

IGN Music: Which composers inspire you when scoring such epic games?

Nobuo Uematsu:I would say, Elton John.

IGN Music: If you could perform your music at any concert hall in the world, which one would it be and why?

Nobuo Uematsu: It would be nice to have an outdoor concert at an ancient monument in Athens

IGN Music: What new games are you most looking forward to?

Nobuo Uematsu: Blue Dragon.

i'm not sure if the interviewer actually knows is uematsu didn't do the score for FFXII, as he doesn't ask him anything about hitoshi sakimoto's compositions - i'd like to hear nobuo's candid thoughts on the subject.

i like how he says blue dragon at the end with such stern confidence and inderailable sneer. i wish i could hear the tone of his voice as he said it. a jab at square-enix?

original article=http://music.ign.com/articles/741/741101p1.html

[LocoColt04]

I'm sure the interviewer was aware, and that's why he (or she, I suppose) only asked about the single track, "Kiss Me Good-Bye." I, too, would like to hear his candid thoughts regarding his fellow composers' works though.

I wonder if Square-Enix will continue to freelance Nobuo for a track here and there for future Final Fantasy titles. I know he's left the company, sure, but as a freelance writer, he can work for everyone -- no one ever excluded Square-Enix from the category of "everyone."

[Georg Prime]

Yeah I'd be interested in knowing what his views would be on the subject as well. Of course he'd have to act professional about it, but it'd be interesting to know what he would have to say. Though a much different style, i enjoy all the work Sakimato has done with Ogre Battle, Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story, etc. I'm excited about his work in squenix's upcoming MMORPG, fantasy earth as well.

I also wonder how much he will be working with Squenix in the future, it sounds like he'll be doing a lot of work with Sakaguchi at Mistwalker though. AND he was asked to do some work on the new smash bros game, or atleast the title theme. He is slated to work on XIII i think though?

I also would like to hear him say which soundtrack is truely his favorite soundtrack though i doubt anyone will get answer out of him. In an old article i read about him, it did state that he really liked the soundtracks of VI, VII, and VIII though. And he will never forget "Eyes on Me."

http://www.rpgfan.com/news/2004/1959.html

Honestly, i'm a lot more pumped about Lost Odyssey than Blue Dragon, but maybe is just me.

[postalblowfish7]

lost odyssey looks to be pretty incredible - but akira toriyama and hironobu sakaguchi working on the same game?!?!?! it's going to be chrono all over again, only this time a seriously next gen title. i'm not too excited about them being on the XLAME360 - while texture detail and depth of field is really quite remarkable on most games i've seen on it (including the stuff that hasn't come out - got to see a real time demo of gears of war at work...) - the animations and camera moves are JERKY. the places where polygonal edges come together are JAGGY.

hopefully mistwalker has the expertise to finally utilize the 360's hardware to a point in which things actually stop fidgeting for half a second on the screen. this will be paramount in deciding whether the mistwalker games walk, or fall flat on their face IMHO.

as for sakimoto's compositions - i think they're fantastic! not as 'pop' as nobuo's, which are very sort of deliberate and catchy immediately. sakimoto is a little more neo-classical, but if you stick with any of his (and they're usually LOOONG) compositions, you'll usually find some outrageously catch hook. it takes a while to get there, but it's always worth the wait - just check out the pub music for final fantasy tactics advanced. after what seems like a goofy noodle looping for quite some time it erupts into a glorious chord progression.

[Hildegarde]

Such laconic answers, as always.
I don't see any reason for Squeenix to stop using Uematsu as a composer in some way or another, but, as in everything, things evolve and change and so do the franchise and he might end up getting expensive now that it's up to him to prize his work hours.
But, even though I love most of his compostitions and I think he is the cutest little thing, I do think that he is limited as a composer and that he might not be the greatest out there.
That he would remain working for Final Fantasy projects, I think, depends on tradition, more than anything else.

[Georg Prime]

Oh no i love Uematsu! ..though i also like the work of Sakimato as well.
Uematsu..definitely more pop though, he always seems to reference pop icons (like Elton John) as inspirations. Not only that, but Uematsu had no kind of classical training or education, he is completely self taught. Sakimato, i would guess is classically trained but i don't know that for a fact, i do know that he is a freelance composer as well though, and does not work for Squenix

Originally Posted by postalblowfish7

lost odyssey looks to be pretty incredible - but akira toriyama and hironobu sakaguchi working on the same game?!?!?! it's going to be chrono all over again, only this time a seriously next gen title. i'm not too excited about them being on the XLAME360 - while texture detail and depth of field is really quite remarkable on most games i've seen on it (including the stuff that hasn't come out - got to see a real time demo of gears of war at work...) - the animations and camera moves are JERKY. the places where polygonal edges come together are JAGGY.

I agree..i was happy to see the colab between a little bit of the CT dream team! I mean the game does look great though to me it seems to have too much of a kiddish and lighthearted feel to it. Though i guess i don't know a whole lot of info regarding the story of the game so i'll have to wait and see.

But yea..i'm not too happy about the xbox360 decision either.