FF song bracket: Round 1, Group 11

[Flintlock]

Pick your four favourite songs from the selection above!

If you can't decide on just four, you can vote for as many as you want, but only in one poll of the 20 in the first round. The full list of upcoming polls can be found here - this spreadsheet has also been updated with game and voter stats based on the results of closed polls, so check it out!

You can listen to the songs in the playlist below.

This poll will be open for three days, and at least four songs will qualify for the next round.

Alternate names for these songs include:

Golbez, Clad in Darkness - "Golbez(a), Clad in the Dark"
Final Battle - "Decisive Battle"
Yuna's Decision - "Yuna's Determination"

For more information on this event, visit the discussion thread.

 

[Kuroto]

I think you've accidentaly put In Search of Light twice on that poll...

 

[Flintlock]

You think? Yes, I have. Whoops. It was supposed to be Prelude to the Void; I put a note in bold in my opening post but if an admin could sort it, that'd be great.

Or just make me an admin already, kthxbai.

 

[Kermitu Kleric Katie]

Crap. My vote on the second In Search of Light should be baleeted, as I didn't read the OP until after voting and voted both just to be safe.

 

[Monterosa]

My top four picks

Sacred Grounds, Esto Gaza

The piece begins with choir chords that lead into crystal piano keys, followed by a smooth, emphatic choir that is accompanied by pizzicato strings. The most important part of the piece is to note the time signature makes it slightly slower than most other atmospheric themes, allowing more time for the listener to immerse him or herself between the depths of the notes. The piece does well at depicting the religious, quiet mood of the town, and it is this very simplicity of chords that make it wonderful to listen to.

Final Battle"

Opening with a dirty brass-led progression, Hamauzu's "Decisive Battle" develops into an impeccably realised piano concertino dominated by Stravinsky-esque staccato piano lines that glide angularly and convulsively over thick, rasping, and dissonant orchestration. The theme is made delightful through the way it attains a degree of lyricism through the precise, albeit deceptively random, interaction of the piano and orchestra, sometimes in conjunction with the "Song of Prayer" theme.

Via Purifico

Hamauzu's rearrangement for Piano Collections (and later the HD remaster) takes Uematsu's beautifully moody arpeggio-laden melody and perfects it. I could say more but I think it's better to let this particular song speak for itself.

Symphonic Poem "Hope"

Comprising four movements and a final refrain, Taro Hakase and Yuji Toriyama's 9-minute orchestral track is packed with various moods and melodies pieced together very cohesively.

'1st mov. Overture' sets a dark mood and swiftly leads to the sombre '2nd mov. March of a Wise man', which is my personal favourite section and most akin to the mood of Final Fantasy XII, though it also reminds me of Final Fantasy IX FMVs. Unfortunately this particular movement is disappointingly short.

'3rd mov. Road of Hope' is enjoyable and certainly the most memorable part of the song. It races along in high spirits but for the last minute transforms into something much darker highlighting a gorgeously performed dramatic violin solo.

'4th mov. Romance' is an understated, and yes, romantic piece for guitar and strings, and it wouldn't sound out of place on any Final Fantasy soundtrack as a theme for the leading couple. But honestly this movement is soon forgotten once 'Road of Hope' returns as an uplifting refrain for the final movement.

Honourable mentions
Golbez, Dressed In The Dark
Kingdom of Baron
In Search of Light
Prelude To The Void
Under The Rotting Pizza
Real Emotion

 

[RedFFWolf]

Maybe I'm cheating myself here, especially as it's not exactly the same piece, but I'm basing my vote for "Yuna's Decision" on the HD version (I figured it potentially legit seeing that the playlist features the HD version of Via Purifico)
This might make little sense but, taking the names literally, to me the original version sounds like the place, "The Calm Lands", but the HD version sounds more like "Yuna's Decision"

I never played FFV before, and I thought it'd be hard voting for a song I didn't have any prior attachment/connection to, but I'm gonna give it a vote. Not that I wasn't already spoiled for choice, but to leave enough of an impact on me without any knowledge as to what it regards warrants some attention

"Forested Temple" and "Esto Gaza" also grab my votes.
(Shout out to "Under the Rotting Pizza" most of all)

 

[Flintlock]

You can base your vote on whatever version of a song you want. I just messed up by putting the HD remaster version in the playlist.

It was inevitable that I was going to make some mistakes while gathering videos for 280 songs, but it's unfortunate that three of those mistakes happened in the same group, and that I then added another mistake when posting the poll.

 

[RedFFWolf]

^I meant to say "cheating with myself" 'cause it helped my decision. Nah, I figured that was the case anyway

Oh, and these "mistakes" are nothing! That version of Via Purifico is certainly no mistake Seriously, I don't wanna come across as if my tongue is aiming for a particular body part before it makes speech (if you catch my drift), but this has been running phenomenally - that spreadsheet is something else! And your "poll mistake" ensured I gave extra attention to certain songs and I found something new!

You oughta be so ashamed

 

[Ghost X]

Golbez, Clad in Darkness (Final Fantasy IV)
The Forested Temple (Final Fantasy VII)
Esto Gaza (Final Fantasy IX)
Final Battle (Final Fantasy X)

 

[Channy]

I finally used my Joker vote, since I had a check at the list and wouldn't have any problems choosing for next rounds...

I voted for Forest Temple, Rotting Pizza, Rikku's Theme, Via Purifico, Yuna's Decision, Final Battle and Real Emotion because decisions....

 

[Flintlock]

Lex has been kind enough to fix the poll. If anyone needs to change their votes as a result of the In Search of Light / Prelude to the Void mix-up, just let me know.

The new polls will go up once I've finished watching Shutter Island.

 

[Flare]

Esto Gaza
Final battle - Memorable final boss music here for me, but I think this has such a unique tune in it; the piano notes especially, I would think they would clash with the song but they instead add to it.
Via Purifico - Love the piano in this. <3
Symphonic Poem "Hope" - I don't ever remember hearing this, but I really like it.

Honorable mentions go to~
Prelude to the Void
Forested Temple
Real Emotion (because this song is catchy despite me not being a fan of the game )

 

[Lex]

Forested Temple
Esto Gaza
Via Purifico
Beneath Bloodied Banners

I don't adore any of those but I do prefer them to the others. My favourite of the bunch is either forested temple or beneath bloodied banners, can't make my mind up.

 

[Flintlock]

The poll will close in a little over 24 hours.

My top pick is Esto Gaza. Another one of my "perfect" songs: it does everything it needs to do, and listening to it is always a pleasure. I always visit Esto Gaza early (with the Blue Narciss) when I play IX nowadays just to hang around and listen to this theme for a while.

My other votes are for Under the Rotting Pizza*, Via Purifico and Symphonic Poem "Hope". Picking the last vote was a tough call; I don't really like ending themes in general, since they tend to be very long and meandering, and there are inevitably parts of them that I don't like. But this was a weak group and "Hope" has some really good bits, so it squeaked through.

Semi-honourable mentions to The Forested Temple, Yuna's Decision and Beneath Bloodied Banners. I also love the beginning of In Search of Light, but lose interest when it goes all Highwindy (yes, I know it came first) around the half-minute mark. Dishonourable mention to Real Emotion, which will probably end up being my lowest-ranked song in this whole event.

* This would also get my nomination if we had a "best song title" event.

 

[Kuroto]

I voted last night in this group, but it was too late to write anything so I'm doing this a bit late. Wasn't exactly a difficult group but I wouldn't say it was too easy either. Warning! X bias coming up.

Golbez, Clad in the Dark - It's short, it's dark and it is very memorable. You don't want this theme to start playing in the game, because Golbez isn't really the guy you want to fight against.

Final Battle - A menacing start after which comes the feeling of urgency. It is not the most usual battle theme, but to me it is very effective. I really enjoy the piano in this piece. I usually don't like music that is all over the place but it works for this piece because it somehow manages to still be consistant. I enjoy listening to it and it doesn't get boring.

Rikku's Theme - A good character theme for Rikku, except maybe a bit too calm for her. But it's a really nice theme and I like it. Cute, happy and soothing.

Via Purifico - My top pick for this group. Beautiful piano piece and the melody flows nicely. A piece of music that you can lose yourself into. I'm actually surprised it's not doing better in this group.

My honorable mention goes to Yuna's Decision. It's another very pretty piece that would deserve more votes. Unfortunately it was a tough decision between it and Golbez. Also a part of me felt that it would have been wrong to just pick all the songs from X. Can't have too much bias.

 

[Flintlock]

This poll is now closed. The songs which have definitely made it into the top 100 are:

The Forested Temple
Under the Rotting Pizza
Final Battle

If your favourite song isn't on this list, don't despair! It might still get in as one of the best runners-up. The songs with the best chance of qualifying in this manner are:

Golbez, Clad in Darkness
Via Purifico
Symphonic Poem "Hope"

Thanks for voting!