I hear a tune in my head - November 4, 2000 - Andrew Kaufmann
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this column are those of
the participants and the moderator, and do not necessarily reflect those of the GIA. There
is coarse language and potentially offensive material afoot. Purple swine that fly through the night. Don't say we didn't warn you.
I refuse to write an intro.
| Radio, radio |
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Why the hell isn't anyone talking about Jet Grind Radio????
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If you're asking that, you obviously haven't been hanging out with Andrew Vestal. That boy
is completely obsessed with the game. It's currently running his life. We can't get him to
shut up about it. I don't think he's had anything to eat or drink in 6 days because of the
game.
| Simple can be better |
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Hello AK! Who are you?
Yesterday someone mentioned that FFIX has a whole lot of tracks. I noticed
how hardly any RPGs use background sounds instead of music. Suikoden is one
of the only games were you heard bird singing when you were in a forest,
which was well done too. In FFVIII's fire cave for exemple, you could have
had a simple mood-song, not an actual song, and some lava sound or something.
The good news is that Uematsu repeatedly stated that he wishes to use a lot
more background sounds on the PS2 so that he could compose less songs. I
think he's right and I'm pretty sure that the rest of the team will agree.
Music is great for world-maps, Balam Gardens, villages and so on, but the
use of sounds instead of music can also be very usefull. Combining the two
can be even better too. FFX should give us a good idea of where the whole
idea will be heading for upcomming RPGs (or at least for other FFs).
-Phil
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You make a good point, Phil. Complexity doesn't equal quality. Now, if the
ambient music is really irritating, and the lava grindingly annoying, then your
plan can be tossed out the window. But it all depends on the song. I haven't
played FF9 yet, so I don't know how good a job Uematsu does of matching songs
to environs. I think he hit the pinnacle there during Final Fantasy IV (2 US).
For example, the cave music there was the perfect cave music. There were no
sound effects, but the music was perfect. I think Uematsu's composition hasn't
weakened, but he isn't nailing the moods as well as he used to. Come on
Nobuo, you can do it! Wish!
| Gun hazard |
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Uematsu and Mitsuda DID compose a game together - Front Mission: Gun
Hazard. The game is pretty lousy, so it's not really America's loss that
the title was never brought over here, but the music was very good.
Definitely a change of pace for the composers, but still cool.
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There's a game that might be better as a soundtrack than a game...
| Megaman |
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Dude, its 5:04 AM. I need to stop playing mega man legends 2, and I
desperatly need to take a break. unfortunatly, the new post isn't up yet, so
I have nothing to do. My squeezy servebot makes up for that though.
DCB-saving, exiting, turning it off and sleeping
Ps. What IS the frequency?
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My question about Mega Man Legends 2 is, what's up with the quizzes? I don't follow
their purpose. Is Mega Man trying to compete with Regis?
It's 440 Hz., by the way.
| The blind leading the blind |
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I see deaf people.
- Toaster Thief
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And they see you...
| Moon tunes |
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Yes, I know this topic's been around for a few days, but unfortunately
I've been helping lead marching band practices for the past week and unable
to see anything but lots of lines and dots (Figures we'd lose the game in
double overtime too. Stupid Chiefs!). Anyway.
Having six years of musical experience, and by that I don't mean putting
headphones on, I think I can safely name what I would consider one of the
best musical compilations a game has to offer, if not THE best. Lunar: SSC,
without a doubt, gives composer Noriyuki Iwadare a pedestal to sit upon and
then some. It has everything, from the old-style march to a couple classical
numbers to a bit of synthesized jazz to...oh, heck, I'm starting to sound
like someone from Advertisement. But the point remains that this is an
exceptional piece of work. Anyone who's actually spent some time listening
to it knows what I'm talking about. Some complain that the main theme is
heard time and time again, but I say it's a plus for two reasons: One, it
keeps taking you back to that beautiful intro scene, and Two, it is my
opinion that a song that can sound good through so many translations is a
GOOD thing. Anyone who still has a gripe with it, take a listen to the last
complicated lick at the end of track nineteen, Reach for the Front, that's
five bars from the fermata (presuming 4/4 time and [Quarter Note=120] tempo).
Now that's something. I'm half tempted to analyze a track or two and give
it to my director and see what he thinks.
End result: If you got it, good. If you don't, get it. If you can't
afford it, at least find an mp3 or two. This is NOT something you want to
miss out on. I'll probably be the only one in the store willing to plunk
down $60-odd dollars to have Lunar: EBC in my hands with the soundtrack being
first in my mind. Oh, shoot, I have an audition on Wednesday. If you'll
excuse me. Now, where'd I put that trombone...
Sick of getting criticized for doing jazz improv to the marching
rendition of "Born to Hand Jive/We Go Together",
Aleksandrs Bomis
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Now, I can't claim to be an accomplished musician, but I'll have to disagree with
you anyway. I found Lunar: SSC's music to be satisfactory, but not spectacular. Not
a single song sticks out in my head. I think the peak of videogame music composition
was Uematsu's Final Fantasy VI. He had dreamy, he had marches, he had eerie, he had
funky. It was good stuff. Except for that annoying thing played at Kefka's Tower.
| Ally |
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Hi,
I'm pretty late replying to this so I hope you won't mind. And though it may
not seem like it, I'll eventually get to the point.
Anyway, during one of Chris' columns (it was Friday if I'm not mistaken)
this guy sent in a letter comparing game music with pop, movie soundtracks,
classical and the music used in musicals (that sounded weird). Chris said
that it really wasn't really fair comparing these types of music as they
were used differently than game music. But there are a exceptions. Case in
point, Ally Mcbeal.
If you've ever seen the show, most episodes usually feature a bar somewhere
near the firm. In this bar is a woman (played by Vonda Shepard who is a
great singer, but I'm going off track) who usually sings a song (or songs)
which through the magic of television always fits whatever crisis Ally is
facing. This is extremely similar to game music. For example, all those
scenes between Elly and Fei in Xenogears. They all had some kind of music
which fit the situation. Same case here. So the way game music is used isn't
really all that incomparable.
I'm just using Ally McBeal as an example since the music on the show (the
songs which feature Vonda anyway) is not pushed into the background like in
movies. While like in a musical, the music on the show doesn't have to be
stretched out as long as game music, the way it's used is much more similar
to the way game music is used. Musicals tend to use music as a way to
advance the story instead of complementing the scene or adding emotional
impact.
Since I wasn't very clear earlier, I should explain myself. I'm just saying
that game music is comparable to other forms if you look hard enough for
examples. Did I take a long time to come to that or what? Sorry. I tend to
ramble on and on jumping from one topic to another at random. Just ask my
friends. There I go again.
And just like Aeris/Tifa/Emeralda/Id/whoever, Ally has her own theme song.
Next week, how David E Kelley has been influenced by anti-religion vibes in
Xenogears and evidence proving it in his shows. That was a joke; not that it
was very funny. But laugh anyway. Laughing at bad jokes makes you more
tolerant of other people's annoying habits. That's a TC-ism.
-TC, who knows nobody got that last one unless they watch Ally on a regular
basis. It wasn't very funny either.
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TC, my man, you rambled so much in your letter I couldn't quite figure out
what your exact point was. But the letter was long, and well thought out,
so I'm going to assume that you made a brilliant point that I'm just missing
because I'm dense and kind of tired.
I would like to take this opportunity, however, to point out that Calista Flockheart
would be really pretty if she weren't so gaunt. She's cute as it is, but if she weren't
so frighteningly skinny she'd be one of more attractive actresses on TV. And that's
what I think.
Closing Comments:
It's funny, every now and then there comes a music debate, and it always gets
numerous well thought out answers. Go figure.
-Andrew Kaufmann
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