Brainiac
12-14-2009, 03:02 PM
I figured we should finally move this to the proper new forum. The old thread can be locked or merged with this one in this forum.
So, Distant Worlds Chicago 2009. I had and excellent dead-center seat, despite being literally right in front of the projector (though once the orchestra got going, the drone was pretty much unnoticeable). The stuff that repeated from Baltimore was just as good and the new stuff was at least interesting if not epic/excellent. So without further ado, a few quick words on each piece:
First Half
Prelude: Always a good listen. It was a slightly lyrical version, but not one I recognized from any of the various vocal CDs.
Liberi Fatali: Do I really need to explain this piece?
Victory: The most compressed awesome ever performed by an orchestra. :D
To Zanarkand: Always a good listen, though some piano purists may not care for full orchestration.
Don't Be Afraid: Again, not much to explain.
Ronfaure: Same as above.
Memoro de la Ŝtono - Distant Worlds: Sung by Susan Calloway, just as on the CD album. Great to hear live.
Love Grows: Since there was no performance of Eyes on Me, this was a decent instrumental replacement.
Swing De Chocobo: Still no answer on whether Arnie Roth prefers wark or kweh.
Melodies of Life: I'll be honest here. Susan Calloway is not a good stand-in for Emiko Shiratori. It was still nice, but it just sounded wrong to me; More Friends was the better performance.
Fisherman's Horizon: Always fun to watch the Garden crash FMV.
J-E-N-O-V-A: This was an interesting arrangement. It started very quietly with bells but quickly became the bombastic piece we're all familiar with.
Second Half
Opening - Bombing Mission: Again, if you need a description, you're beyond my help.
Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII: See above.
Suteki da ne: Again, Susan Calloway is a poor substitute. She's a great singer, but her voice is nothing like Ritsuki Nakano's. The official English translation was interesting but also diminished my emotional connection to the piece since it was never translated before (unlike Melodies of Life).
Aerith's Theme: You seriously need an analysis of this?
Dancing Mad: Okay, here's the longest analysis I'll post. Basically, this arrangement was a lyrical "Dancing Mad" without the part that's an adaptation of "Kefka" and I'd say less than half of the organ solo. Still good, but the removed sections were gapingly noticeable to fans. It was even shorter than the non-Stockholm PLAY! version. Interestingly, the early parts were supplemented by the PSX FMV visuals while the middle was pretty much in-game visuals (including the greatness that is General Leo's Shock). The ending, however, was cutscenes from Dissidia. Overall, I'd call it good but unsatisfying, if that makes sense. I still don't know why they didn't try to do the whole thing with like the Stockholm PLAY! concert with The Chicago Mages, but considering how many songs they played, I guess I can understand it.
Kiss Me Good-Bye: Again, Susan Calloway stood in for the original vocalist (Angela Aki), but this time, it was a good fit (much like her vocals for FF11's Distant Worlds). I liked this one, and I heard Angela Aki perform this live at PLAY!'s premiere (also in Chicago, so Arnie Roth's statement about this being a premiere was wrong).
Theme of Love: Still as beautiful as ever, but the remake's "Tsuki no Akari" remains absent. Blasted copyright issues.
Man With The Machine Gun: Gotta love Laguna's battle music.
FF14 Medley: This consisted of two pieces - "Twilight Over Thanalan" and "Beneath Bloodied Borders." I think for this one I'll just let you all listen to it here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIbqKXkMinI).
Terra's Theme: The standard finale for this concert series, complete with the introductory walking Magitek armor scene and credits just for Distant Worlds.
Encore
Advent: One-Winged Angel: Gee, what a shock. This was pretty much the same version as from More Friends, complete with slightly different lyrics. Still a good listen and I thought The Chicago Mages did a great job.
Victory: Just because Arnie Roth loves it. :D
Advent: One-Winged Angel: Just because once wasn't enough (and Uematsu got to goof around some more with The Chicago Mages).
As an additional note, if you haven't read about it online yet, Arnie Roth confirmed that when Distant Worlds heads back to Stockholm next year, they'll be releasing the Distant Worlds II album. The recording is supposed to commence late next month with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and the FF14 medley is said to be set for the album. The rest of the tracklist seems to be up in the air, going by Arnie Roth and Nobuo Uematsu's naming of possible pieces for the CD before the encore. Look for more details and update concert dates soon.
So, Distant Worlds Chicago 2009. I had and excellent dead-center seat, despite being literally right in front of the projector (though once the orchestra got going, the drone was pretty much unnoticeable). The stuff that repeated from Baltimore was just as good and the new stuff was at least interesting if not epic/excellent. So without further ado, a few quick words on each piece:
First Half
Prelude: Always a good listen. It was a slightly lyrical version, but not one I recognized from any of the various vocal CDs.
Liberi Fatali: Do I really need to explain this piece?
Victory: The most compressed awesome ever performed by an orchestra. :D
To Zanarkand: Always a good listen, though some piano purists may not care for full orchestration.
Don't Be Afraid: Again, not much to explain.
Ronfaure: Same as above.
Memoro de la Ŝtono - Distant Worlds: Sung by Susan Calloway, just as on the CD album. Great to hear live.
Love Grows: Since there was no performance of Eyes on Me, this was a decent instrumental replacement.
Swing De Chocobo: Still no answer on whether Arnie Roth prefers wark or kweh.
Melodies of Life: I'll be honest here. Susan Calloway is not a good stand-in for Emiko Shiratori. It was still nice, but it just sounded wrong to me; More Friends was the better performance.
Fisherman's Horizon: Always fun to watch the Garden crash FMV.
J-E-N-O-V-A: This was an interesting arrangement. It started very quietly with bells but quickly became the bombastic piece we're all familiar with.
Second Half
Opening - Bombing Mission: Again, if you need a description, you're beyond my help.
Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII: See above.
Suteki da ne: Again, Susan Calloway is a poor substitute. She's a great singer, but her voice is nothing like Ritsuki Nakano's. The official English translation was interesting but also diminished my emotional connection to the piece since it was never translated before (unlike Melodies of Life).
Aerith's Theme: You seriously need an analysis of this?
Dancing Mad: Okay, here's the longest analysis I'll post. Basically, this arrangement was a lyrical "Dancing Mad" without the part that's an adaptation of "Kefka" and I'd say less than half of the organ solo. Still good, but the removed sections were gapingly noticeable to fans. It was even shorter than the non-Stockholm PLAY! version. Interestingly, the early parts were supplemented by the PSX FMV visuals while the middle was pretty much in-game visuals (including the greatness that is General Leo's Shock). The ending, however, was cutscenes from Dissidia. Overall, I'd call it good but unsatisfying, if that makes sense. I still don't know why they didn't try to do the whole thing with like the Stockholm PLAY! concert with The Chicago Mages, but considering how many songs they played, I guess I can understand it.
Kiss Me Good-Bye: Again, Susan Calloway stood in for the original vocalist (Angela Aki), but this time, it was a good fit (much like her vocals for FF11's Distant Worlds). I liked this one, and I heard Angela Aki perform this live at PLAY!'s premiere (also in Chicago, so Arnie Roth's statement about this being a premiere was wrong).
Theme of Love: Still as beautiful as ever, but the remake's "Tsuki no Akari" remains absent. Blasted copyright issues.
Man With The Machine Gun: Gotta love Laguna's battle music.
FF14 Medley: This consisted of two pieces - "Twilight Over Thanalan" and "Beneath Bloodied Borders." I think for this one I'll just let you all listen to it here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIbqKXkMinI).
Terra's Theme: The standard finale for this concert series, complete with the introductory walking Magitek armor scene and credits just for Distant Worlds.
Encore
Advent: One-Winged Angel: Gee, what a shock. This was pretty much the same version as from More Friends, complete with slightly different lyrics. Still a good listen and I thought The Chicago Mages did a great job.
Victory: Just because Arnie Roth loves it. :D
Advent: One-Winged Angel: Just because once wasn't enough (and Uematsu got to goof around some more with The Chicago Mages).
As an additional note, if you haven't read about it online yet, Arnie Roth confirmed that when Distant Worlds heads back to Stockholm next year, they'll be releasing the Distant Worlds II album. The recording is supposed to commence late next month with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and the FF14 medley is said to be set for the album. The rest of the tracklist seems to be up in the air, going by Arnie Roth and Nobuo Uematsu's naming of possible pieces for the CD before the encore. Look for more details and update concert dates soon.