Nobuo Uematsu, WOW Options

[Zezei]

Nobuo Uematsu
(植松 伸夫; Uematsu Nobuo, born March 21, 1959) is a Japanese composer of video game music, and one of the most well-known, prolific, and versatile in the field. He has composed music for many games produced by Squaresoft and Square Enix, including the Final Fantasy series of role playing games, and some pieces for Chrono Trigger.


Born in Kochi City, Kochi prefecture, Japan, Uematsu began to play the piano when he was twelve years old and is a self-taught musician. After graduating from Kanagawa University, he composed music for commercials before joining Squaresoft. (now Square Enix Co., Ltd.) in 1986. He went on to compose music for over thirty game titles, including the award-winning Final Fantasy series. In October 2004, Uematsu formed Smile Please Co., Ltd. and continues to compose for Square Enix along with several other companies. The style of his compositions range from stately classical-like pieces, to New Age, to hyper-percussive techno-electronica, similar in sound to some music by the band Emerson, Lake and Palmer, one of his stated influences. Uematsu is a renowned composer who has been touted as increasing the appreciation and awareness of video game music. A prime example is the Final Fantasy VIII theme song, "Eyes on Me", composed and produced by Uematsu. The theme song featured Hong Kong pop diva Faye Wong and sold a record 400,000 copies. It then went on to win "Song of the Year (Western Music)" at the 14th Annual Japan Gold Disc Awards in 1999 — the first time music from a video game won the honor.


Nobuo Uematsu at the Second Symphonic Game Music Concert in Leipzig, Germany at the Gewandhaus Leipzig, August 18th, 2004The music from the game series has grown to such renown, Nobuo Uematsu was named as one of the "Innovators" in Time Magazine's "Time 100: The Next Wave — Music" feature. Uematsu's approach to Final Fantasy music is diverse, encompassing many styles. This diversity along with the popularity of the music has resulted in a variety of musical performances including classical symphonies, rock and acoustic. After a string of successful concert performances in Japan including a six-city, seven-show concert series titled "Tour de Japon –music from FINAL FANTASY–," the first stateside concert, "DEAR FRIENDS -music from FINAL FANTASY-," followed May 10, 2004 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California selling out in three days.



Uematsu has written a column, "Nobuo Uematsu no Minna Sounano?", for popular Japanese gaming magazine Weekly Famitsu for several years. Two compilations of the columns have been released. Additionally, Uematsu signed to finish the Chrono Trigger soundtrack after his friend, Yasunori Mitsuda, contracted stomach ulcers ([1]).

Uematsu's music has been a large part of the Final Fantasy franchise's great popularity in the United Kingdom and the United States. In the 2004 Summer Olympics, the United States synchronized swimming duet of Alison Bartosik and Anna Kozlova won the bronze medal using two of his pieces from Final Fantasy VIII in the second half of their routine.

As of 2004, Nobuo Uematsu lives in Japan with his wife Reiko and his dog Pao.

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(IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/neartears.gif) I'm listening to 'Eyes on Me' right now.


"Eyes On Me" is the theme song for the video game Final Fantasy VIII, composed by Nobuo Uematsu, with lyrics by Kako Someya. There are several versions of this song, but undoubtly the most popular are the versions sang by Faye Wong, which made this Chinese singer renowned outside of East-Asia. Though criticized as sappy at times, the song ranked as one of the best sellers in Japan, and collected a few music awards as well.

The song's lyrics unveils the love story between a singer and one of the members of her audience. It can be assumed that they have not met yet, but both share a romantic interest.''


anyway, I think he's very talented and has brought a bit more beauty in this world through his works.

[Mightycandy]

yeah his music is relaxing to hear.

[xaixai]

AHahha to me hes like the best music composer. Only rivaled to Hayao Mizaki's (i dunno who he is).

[rahul1000]

AHahha to me hes like the best music composer. Only rivaled to Hayao Mizaki's (i dunno who he is).

Wait a sec, if you don't know who Hayao Miyazaki is, then how can you compare Nobuo to him? (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_confused.gif) (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_confused.gif)

[herc]

uematsu rocks! he clearly is the best music composer.

[Jaimu-Jaimu]

Uematsu's quite good but Sakuraba is better.

[cabbit]

I like his music.

Incidentally, he blogs in English =p

[toki]

hes a genius.

[SKL]

His band plays the most amazing music i've ever heard. (Black Mages)
I recommend people listen to: Force your way - black mage. Its the fight scene music fu-king guitars and everything. Perfected master peiece.

[Jaimu-Jaimu]

^ Urgh, I hate that Black Mages stuff. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/bawling.gif)

[aZnRiCeChiQ]

Zezei, unless you want to get temp banned, resize your signature.

[VietSk8rGUI]

I LOVE HIS STUFF!!!!! i must have had 20 gig of his music stuff (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_redface.gif) deleted them all tho (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_redface.gif) (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_redface.gif)

[SKL]

I LOVE HIS STUFF!!!!! i must have had 20 gig of his music stuff (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_redface.gif) deleted them all tho (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_redface.gif) (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_redface.gif)

WHAT... are you crazy.. i would actually pay money to get those stuff! (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/SHOCKED.gif)
Why delete anyway?

[Jaimu-Jaimu]

I used to have 15 GB then lost all the data on my HD.
Let me just check....

I'm up to 4GB again. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif)

[herc]

you guys are crazy. all my music i have on my comp isn't even up to 6gb.

[Jasel]

I have 9.88 GB of Japanese, Chinese, and Korean music (mostly Japanese). And that's not including all the non-asian music.

Anyway someone post up some albums or soundtracks or something (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_redface.gif)

[Zezei]

Can someone MOVE THIS THREAD TO AF LOUNGE?

[Zezei]

(IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/madcool.gif)

This post has been edited by Zezei: Apr 11 2006, 05:04 AM

[renzokuken]

u all guys are final fantasy freak.....but i wonder where i got my nickname from.... (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_wink.gif)

[Zezei]

I've never played Final Fantasy. But I do really love the visuals, the packaging of the game. The design of the game and characters. The logo that's different for all of the games. very fantasy-like.

your nick reminds me of this old Nintendo 64 game 'Killer Instint'
when the ninja guy Jago does a combo something and says renzo- or indokuken?