Koji Kondo vs. Nobuo Uematsu! The Ultime Showdown!

[postalblowfish7]

ladies and gentleman! boys and girls! welcome to the main event - the ultimate super-deciding video game composer showdown!

in the left corner, hailing from kochi city japan - the man behind the breath taking scores from final fantasy I-X - NOBUO UEMATSU!!!! known for sweeping orchestral arrangements and classic memorable melodies such as 'terra's theme', 'aerith's theme', 'final fantasy', and 'the prelude'. he always goes out of his way to put as many different styles of music as possible in all of his games - and is a firm believer in never reprising songs in different games (besides 'final fantasy' and 'the prelude' of course). very pop-sensible, probably the most well known figure in gaming music - he sites pop musicians like elton john as a major influence. he's the rock star of video game music.

and in right corner, hailing from nagoya japan - the genius composer who brings the worlds of super mario and zelda to life, the prince of the mushroom kingdom, the king of hyrule, the super smash star fox pilotwinging master of harmony and arrangement, the crusher of mediocrity, the forger of the most classic of classics and our returning champion - KOJI KONDO!!!!!. the godfather of all that we hold dear in gaming music, koji kondo - unlike nobuo uematsu - has been reusing his most memorable melodies from mario and zelda in game after game in those series, always forging them into new compositions that somehow manage to sound completely fresh - even though some originated well over a decade ago. he always can come up with new downright classic melodies in the pinch, and is unafraid to take his music in new directions if the game calls for it. he sites latin and jazz music as his biggest influences. the quiet genius of video game music, he's always extremely humble about his work.

arguably the untouchable genius of gaming music, will koji be upset by nobuo's support within this final fantasy community? gloves in the middle... DINGDINGDING!

(ooc note lol: my vote went for koji kondo - because as nobuo uematsu's compositions are very pop-tastic, there's a sort of artistic brilliance that permeates through koji kondo that, as a musician, i find more mysteriously alluring. when i listen to an uematsu composition, i know exactly why i like it. the structures, the chord movements, etc. but some of koji kondo's best works are completely baffling to me. his style is so unique that when you hear a piece of koji kondo music there's no mistaking where it came from. he's like the radiohead of video game music lol. he's also the master of the 'short-loop' - which i think is probably the hardest type of VGM to be faced with writing. his overworld songs for the NES super mario 3 and later the SNES's super mario world were loops that were a mere 3-6 seconds in length, yet you could listen to them for minutes on end and find they never become grating. so yeah, i vote for one round going to koji, my hero!)

[Georg Prime]

Originally Posted by postalblowfish7

ladies and gentleman! boys and girls! welcome to the main event - the ultimate super-deciding video game composer showdown!

in the left corner, hailing from kochi city japan - the man behind the breath taking scores from final fantasy I-X - NOBUO UEMATSU!!!! known for sweeping orchestral arrangements and classic memorable melodies such as 'terra's theme', 'aerith's theme', 'final fantasy', and 'the prelude'. he always goes out of his way to put as many different styles of music as possible in all of his games - and is a firm believer in never reprising songs in different games (besides 'final fantasy' and 'the prelude' of course). very pop-sensible, probably the most well known figure in gaming music - he sites pop musicians like elton john as a major influence. he's the rock star of video game music.

and in right corner, hailing from nagoya japan - the genius composer who brings the worlds of super mario and zelda to life, the prince of the mushroom kingdom, the king of hyrule, the super smash star fox pilotwinging master of harmony and arrangement, the crusher of mediocrity, the forger of the most classic of classics and our returning champion - KOJI KONDO!!!!!. the godfather of all that we hold dear in gaming music, koji kondo - unlike nobuo uematsu - has been reusing his most memorable melodies from mario and zelda in game after game in those series, always forging them into new compositions that somehow manage to sound completely fresh - even though some originated well over a decade ago. he always can come up with new downright classic melodies in the pinch, and is unafraid to take his music in new directions if the game calls for it. he sites latin and jazz music as his biggest influences. the quiet genius of video game music, he's always extremely humble about his work.

arguably the untouchable genius of gaming music, will koji be upset by nobuo's support within this final fantasy community? gloves in the middle... DINGDINGDING!

(ooc note lol: my vote went for koji kondo - because as nobuo uematsu's compositions are very pop-tastic, there's a sort of artistic brilliance that permeates through koji kondo that, as a musician, i find more mysteriously alluring. when i listen to an uematsu composition, i know exactly why i like it. the structures, the chord movements, etc. but some of koji kondo's best works are completely baffling to me. his style is so unique that when you hear a piece of koji kondo music there's no mistaking where it came from. he's like the radiohead of video game music lol. he's also the master of the 'short-loop' - which i think is probably the hardest type of VGM to be faced with writing. his overworld songs for the NES super mario 3 and later the SNES's super mario world were loops that were a mere 3-6 seconds in length, yet you could listen to them for minutes on end and find they never become grating. so yeah, i vote for one round going to koji, my hero!)

You're certainly right. For me they are both great and it is often hard compare the two. Kondo is more of the classicly trained muscian who has undergone much formal training and takes most of his inspiration from east asian music. Uematsu, a self taught muscian, who takes more from pop and western music.

I mean you know you're big your songs become part of a culture like Kondo's has. I mean who doesn't know the mario theme? God it's such a sampled song, even in rap/dj music, etc. Same with zelda's theme, has anyone heard System of a Down's song that literally is revolved around that one theme? I'm not even a huge fan of System of a Down but it's hilarious hearing these guys sing about Zelda! And i do like how kondo really hasn't changed much of his melody, only in ocarina time did we see him doing new things. And get this, even Paul McCartney is quoted as being a fan of his music!

Uematsu for me, maybe it's because i spent so much of my time playing final fantasy when i was little (though i did the same for mario and zelda), there is something so amazing about his songs to me. His music, especially in VI, no matter how many years i'll go without playin the titles, will always stick in my mind. I love Terra's Theme..Cele's Theme..Cyan's, Gau's, and who can't help but love Kefka's theme? Not only that but the prelude and the prologue which have become two staples of the series are truely two timeless and classic pieces. So in the end, though they both are great, I have to go with swinging rock star frontman of the black mages, Nobuo Uetmasu!

[postalblowfish7]

and after round one it's a dead heat! koji and nobuo have both taken hits - but neither is giving an inch in this all out brawl to determine the super-ultimate battle of video game music superiority!!!!

i'm glad you mentioned the new themes koji kondo introduced in ocarina of time. i remember at the time hearing the new songs and somehow not being detracted from the fact that it was a 100% zelda game through and through. pretty incredible considering he had a lot to live up to - but that gorgeous title screen music can stand today as one of the most classic of all zelda songs. when you hear it now it doesn't even scream "OCARINA OF TIME!!," it just quietly states "zelda." i just can't wait for sunday - when i get to hear the new koji kondo 'album' - twilight princess!!!

ok, enough coach chatter - back into the ring boys!!

DINGDINGDING!

[postalblowfish7]

and after another round of intense fighting the composers return to their corners. no blood has been shed yet on either side, but nobuo took a severe blow to the head that ended the round! it's clear by the look in his eyes there's still a lot of fight left in him - it's still anyone's match!

on geo's comments: i've checked out the NES sound files for nobuo's work pre-final fantasy and, frankly, it's not very good lol. to his credit, like the general pointed out, nobuo is a self-taught musician who came from being a keyboard player in a rock band (by rock i mean early 80's local caliber j-rock lol). but god, those kondo short loops - the overworld music for the forest of illusion in super mario world comes to mind. ****ing brilliant! and the way he sort of took it to the next level with the mario 64 castle music - it short loops a few times before the notes tumble into a rising and falling chromatic chord set that's pure mario, pure bliss, pure koji kondo.

ok fighters, shake it off! round 3!

DINGDINGDING!

[Georg Prime]

Hey Hey, an intense bout here! I'd say Nobuo is down, but certainly not out!

Good argument for Kenij Geomancer. I guess it just sounded like System of a Down to me, though i definitely could be wrong, i found it through filesharing, and it's hard to trust those because often times people label the artists wrong.

Going on with the whole self taught thing with Nobuo.. I feel like a lot of more hardcore music fans might poo pa his pop sense but i think it's that rockstar attitude that makes him so great

Look at it this way

All the classicly trained composers will meet, looking all prim and proper, discussing their classic influences, comparing how long they've been studying and what schools they went to. In walks Nobuo, clad in his black mage's outfit , shaggy hair, and glasses. When asked about his influences and studies he'll just say "Yeah..i listened to elton john, played some keyboard in a band with my buddies, and next thing i know i'm composing for one of the biggest gaming franchises in the world"

Then..he'll bust out with a full out keyboard solo and bring the house down! ROCK AND ROLL BITCHES!

..haha a brief exaggeration i know, but you guys get the picture.

it really is quite the story though, that somebody with so little formal training is in the position he is today. I often feel that anyone with enough training can make good music. But Uematsu to me stands as one of those natural and genuine talents.

I also would like to add that the two have worked together on a few occasions. First on Super Mario RPG, and also in the upcoming super smash bros brawl which nobuo is contributing to.

I'm really pumped to hear the music in Zelda: TW as well..i'm just super pumped about the game period. To get tide us over until its release i thought i'd tease you guys with a little link gone wild. ONE WORD: SEXY

[Eternal Anomaly]

*jumping and cheering*Nobuo Nobuo!
I do remember the Mario theme though *tam tam tam tatatatam tata tata ta ta ta tatata*
I just cant decide who to cheer for! *runs around in circles*
I gues it will be Nobuo...one for the rock fans!

[Refieth]

Uematsu-san, no contest. *begins banging chair off the ground wildly* UEMATSU! UEMATSU! UEMATSU!!!one! UE- etc.