Sad news in the world of Final Fantasy music.

The Black Mages, the band responsible for churning out memorable Final Fantasy battle themes, have decided to part ways without clear reasons for the sudden disbandment. The band was assembled during the spring of 2002 and after that, the band has generated three studio albums namely The Black Mages, The Black Mages II: The Skies Above and The Black Mages III: Darkness and Starlight.

According to Nobuo Uematsu, the band’s composer, producer and keyboardist, difficult schedules made it impossible for the band to rehearse together and with other problems like Kenichiro Fuuki, one-half of the group’s guitarists, university post, it was clear that The Black Mages could never sustain each member’s availability like the one they had seven years ago.

Copyright issues were also Uematsu’s concern as Square Enix could bar the group in playing their own thing for future Final Fantasy musical projects. Uematsu did promise his fans that he’ll still be around and render his genius that had made his former band a force to be reckoned with during those times when it was time to face Necron (Grand Cross Battle Theme) and Ultimecia (The Extreme.)

Well, if Uematsu stays then, that’s at least something to lessen our sadness but, we’ll surely miss the band for making our final boss fights something to remember and relish for years to come.

Thank you, The Black Mages! Here’s one video clip featuring one of my all time favorites, One Winged Angel from Final Fantasy VII Advent Children.

Technorati Tags: Final Fantasy Music, Nobou Uematsu, The Black Mages

ffdream

I’ve been downloading (I know, I’m bad) Final Fantasy music and tracks on this site for almost six months and now and, the impressive collection of albums (including Tales of Symphonia and Kingdom Hearts) will make you want to consider of purchasing FF albums.

Anyway, I believe that the site is in French so use some context clues or better yet, Google Translate if you want to understand the site a bit more. I really think you should because an online reservoir dedicated  to Final Fantasy this huge has something that even official websites created for FF fanboyism cannot even come close.

Just click on the link above and start listening to your favorite Final Fantasy tracks now. Oh and a reminder to all, I am not affiliated to this site or am I, in any kind of circumstance, is paid to advertise it on my site.

Technorati Tags: Final Fantasy Music

I love Final Fantasy remixes and, to listen to a fellow Final Fantasy connoisseur makes it worth the listen. Remember Force Your Way Out? The Final Fantasy VIII battle theme that pumps up every encounter with engaging beats and fast-paced hits – well, what I have here is a remix of the original background theme that, in my opinion, is one of Uematsu’s finest music memorabilia for Final Fantasy.

Personally, I appreciated Final Fantasy VIII for its up-tempo music. I’m an opponent of the game’s farfetched junction experiment and the only reason I played it is because of the music – The Man With The Machine Gun, Don’t Be Afraid and The Extreme are my favorites and this overhaul from a Youtube named D33JNES (the guy has a collection of cool remixes you may want to listen to) hits the ground with something unheard of. Here’s the video guys!

You can get a lot of cool Final Fantasy related posts from the link and hopefully, all of his remixes will sound respectable just like this one. I never would’ve thought that Force Your Way Out could be transformed into a house party theme. Cheers!

Technorati Tags: Final Fantasy Music

Listening to both themes made you want to shed a tear. Those unfamiliar with Final Fantasy music and background themes are thinking that you want to become an undertaker someday because you have two obituary-related BGM on your iPod. Let’s take a peek shall we. No crying over your loved ones, please!

At Zanarkand (Final Fantasy X)

Tidus’s long and arduous journey to the sacred grounds of Zanarkand made every move emotional. You know the game’s going too end soon and, upon knowing that he was just a Dream created by the Fayths, this theme fits in every way possible. Regardless of its melancholic tone, few people judge it as a perfect funeral rite anthem – suitable for eternal farewells when the deceased relatives are showering the coffin with flowers and dirt. How ironic that this theme was also played when Tidus vanished – it’s like dying but in his case, he faded along with his vibrant temperament and flashy groove.

Pandemonium (Final Fantasy IX)

The guy you have to face when this gloomy theme starts playing from the innards of Bran Bal seem like a fit for an old man trying to converge Terra to Gaia, thus destroying the latter in the process. Garland, makers of Genomes, deserves a little bit of praise as Pandemonium tries to give his character a deeper definition. He’s a reaper and this chant-less canticle makes it clear that he is serious about his pact to destroy other planets and sustain Terra through the souls caught up in oblivion. Seriously, this one, if you’re not into Final Fantasy, is a unique substitute for requiems in need of emotional concentration

Technorati Tags: Final Fantasy Music, Garland, Pandemonium, Zanarkand

In the world of Final Fantasy, random encounters grant players that much-needed experience points necessary to beat both story and optional bosses. All right, you have defeated Kuja or Emperor Vayne during your first try – I know you’ve been humiliated (if not, I’m going to become the laughing stock of the whole Final Fantasy blogosphere) by these beasts boasting impeccable penchant to dispatch you with a single move.

Push (or poke it with a  sharp object) that restart button because you’re going to die eventually – this list contains some of the most overlooked opponents that will make you look silly during your first encounter with them. No Phoenix Pinions to save you on this one!

5. Red Chocobo (Final Fantasy Tactics) – So ganging up on defenseless yellow Chocobos from Mandalia Plains is the way to go, huh? How about entering Zierchele Falls and surprise yourself with a crew of Red Chocobos ready to avenge their physically-unable brethren. First time Tactics players find themselves bewildered on how to beat these hard-hitting birdies; if they don’t feel like killing Ramza with a powerful ‘Choco Ball’ then, they’ll annihilate your party with a Chocobo Meteor. If only we could escape from these needless bloodshed.

4. Axe Beak (Final Fantasy IX) – Ah Lindlum, home to the very first synthesis shop you’ll encounter. How about a walk outside the castle’s defensive walls with your newly-acquired Butterfly Sword. Carve Spiders are so level 5 behind, how about those Axe Beaks? They look vulnerable and at the same time, pretentious on how they will deal with your cockamamie idea of letting Zidane fight these flightless monstrosities “alone.” Glowing Eyes will knock Zidane out while the other pecks at you or cast Thundara continuously – hitting both shoulder buttons will be ineffective because, well, you’re fast asleep. Die, you cocky thief.

3. Cactuar (Final Fantasy VI to Final Fantasy XIII) – There’s something wrong with this humanoid cactus. That stationary pose, two jet black eye lids, oblong-shaped mouth? Anyway, he’s still tiny, I should able to win this one, right? Wrong! Once you KO’ed this desert-dweller, it’ll unleash an attack popularly called as “1,000 Needles.” If you were unlucky and encountered one when three of your party members are flat on their backs, those thorns will forever be a symbol of a short-lived journey across monster-populated continents.

2. Tonberry (Final Fantasy X) – It’s slow, it’s got a lamp and it’s equipped with a knifes ready to cleave you at any moment. Like it will get here on time and… what’s this Karma?! The more fiends you have killed, the more damage this skill will inflict upon the damager. Don’t go near it when you HP is 9,999 below or else. Once close enough to strike, Tonberry’s knife will purge all those who have underestimated it’s peculiar fighting style.

1. Malboro (We hate its origins) – The epitome of status ailments! This weird dude of unexplained origins will pawn you with its Bad Breath attack that dazes players with, if not all, negative status changes hampering their abilities to fight. If you have a Ribbon then you’re safe. If you’ve got no protection to its horrendous spit of death then, you’re toast. Personally, I think the developers went overboard with this tentacle-laden fiend – you could stop spamming us with consistent ambushes on Malboros, thank you!

Technorati Tags: Axe Beak, Cactuar, Final Fantasy Music, Malboro, Red Chocobo, Tonberry

This was a very surprising pick – the British singer, Leona Lewis, was rewarded as the voice of Final Fantasy XIII. When I said voice, I’m not pertaining on any summon dubbings or creature grunts about death, she’s going to turn that offer for sure.

Final Fantasy games have brought us singing sensations like Angela Aki and Faye Wong as they hit the melodies right for that heart-touching effect which made VIII and XII’s ending memorable (despite the latter’s lackluster storyline all- throughout the game), Lewis is a new breed among Final Fantasy theme song singers and praising her artistic credentials over the years and vocal repertoire is not enough to give her an A++ for “My Hands.” For over 23 years, Final Fantasy music has never failed to give fans dreamy messages of hope, courage and love and this tradition continues with Lewis’s entry.

Here’s a video of her Final Fantasy XIII debut as the game’s lead singer. Is her performance better Aki’s Kiss Me Goodbye solo or can her singing experience best Wong’s Eyes on Me? You be the judge!

Technorati Tags: Final Fantasy Music, Final Fantasy XIII, Leona Lewis