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Final Fantasy IX: Melodies Of Life - Emiko Shiratori :: Review by Dave
OverviewFollowing Faye Wong's trend setting "Eyes on Me" from the Final Fantasy VIII Original Soundtrack, the Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack yields another great theme for all to hear. Emiko Shiratori has a lot to live up to, but rest assured that "Melodies Of Life" is just as good as Uematsu's previous themes. Of course, each theme excels in different areas, so once again Uematsu provides us with something original and emotive to listen to. Much like Faye Wong's single, Final Fantasy IX: Melodies Of Life features a karaoke version of the original theme, but the great thing is that the publishers have thrown in another track as well. Due to this, this album is an even more interesting experience, since it holds both Japanese and English versions of "Melodies of Life," and an original theme called "Galway." So, how does "Galway" compare to "Red Bean"? Read on and see. BodyThe first track on the album is "Melodies Of Life ~featured in Final Fantasy IX (Japanese Version)," and I can assure you that the theme is nowhere near as long-winded as its title. In fact, it just seems to be wrapped up in a nice little package, ready to be given away as a gift straight from the heart. As the track proceeds, it unwraps itself in a stream of sophistication and perfection, and this is exactly the effect that Uematsu was after. The next theme on the album is sung in English, and this will be willingly accepted by many fans who long to know the meaning behind the words. Indeed, this track is a rhythmic representation of the tests of life itself, and in my eyes, there is very little that Uematsu could have done to improve it. The oboe, piano, and synth introduction provides a perfect balance for the vocal line to run across, and with Emiko Shiratori adding some glorious vibratos to each of the suspended notes; everything just seems to be so much more enhanced. As in "Eyes on Me," the string section play to their best abilities, but the instrument that stands out the most is the piano. Masato Matsuda plays the instrument gracefully and inspirationally, and the greatest thing is that it spurs the singer on too. The lyrics in the English version are amazingly fitting the theme, and it is just great to see the words performed with such passion. This track may not be on par with "Eyes on Me," but if you listen to the karaoke track, it becomes really easy to appreciate the beautiful instrumentation. The last track on the album is the impressive "Galway," which is totally different in style to "Melodies of Life." The track starts off in a Celtic fashion with a folk violin and flute melody running alongside a guitar and other creative instruments. Emiko Shiratori's voice comes over the top of this in a careful and fragile fashion, but as soon as there is a crescendo and a bit of movement in the violin part, her voice becomes full of passion and sophistication. A drum beat and some electronic instruments are added to the track, and although one would expect this to ruin the theme, the blend of authentic instruments and technological sounds works really well together. Nonetheless, although this theme is performed to the highest qualities, it just seems to lack flair in comparison to "Melodies of Life." There is a short-lived violin section that appears towards the end of the track, but this is the only time that the instruments are really allowed to pass their boundaries. The track finally ends after the backing singers chant the words "look into the sky" in a typical, pop-styled way. In comparison to Faye Wong's "Red Bean," this is just as promising, and although it may not have the same blend of instruments, it is respectable nonetheless. It was a good choice to end the album with this composition, rather than a karaoke version of "Melodies Of Life," which was actually placed beforehand. Summary"Melodies of Life" is yet another classic track from Uematsu, who really seems to have the flair for vocal compositions. "Melodies of Life" may not have received a popular music award like its predecessor, but it is a magnificent composition nonetheless. As with Faye Wong's album, I would have liked to have seen another theme from the game on this, but I think that the English and Japanese versions of "Melodies of Life" balance it out quite well. Very few albums that hold a similar amount of tracks hold the same amount of originality that this one does. The instruments are expertly chosen and they really bring out Emiko Shiratori's voice well. This album can be picked up for as little as five pounds, so it is a worthy use of your money if the game's vocal track pleased you. I was pleased with what I found, so I hope that you will be too. Percentage Overall Score: 72% |
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