Initially I thought this group would be very difficult, but given that Opening - Bombing Mission will definitely be going through, I can put that aside and I'm neatly left with four excellent songs
Coin Of Fate The story of Edgar and Sabin is one of the most touching tales of brotherly love in any work of fiction I know, and this song makes it all the more emotional.
The Piano Collections version is a favourite.
Only A Plank Between One And Perdition I still don't understand this song title, but whatever, it's a great song. This gets me fired up. One of my favourite musical moments in the game is when Selphie's crew run out to attack BGH251F2: this song gets you fired up for the battle ahead (a tricky one unless you spam GFs), and then when you start the fight it's almost like this and the boss theme were meant to always be together. Oh, nobody nominated
Force Your Way for this contest... D'oh.
Danger In The Forest Somehow forest themes are consistently my favourite, this being no exception. The layers of harp arpeggios with the flute melody and those little chimes are beautiful. When the strings and choir come in, this becomes something truly mystical.
Besaid Whether we're talking about the original or
the rearrangement for the HD release, Besaid is my all-time favourite Final Fantasy 'field' track.
I might say that the original is more fitting for the setting in-game.
Here we can hear a fusion of styles, with a highly melodic piano part, discordant bass undertones, and a wonderfully decorative electronic descant.
Chris of SquareEnixMusic.com says "A sense of fragility, calm, exoticness, and the influence of technology are simultaneously created, reflecting Besaid's scenery, history, atmosphere, and uncertain future all in one."
At first I was nervous about the HD remaster arrangement as I think the original is perfect, but I was astonished to hear that Hamauzu has kept elements of what makes the original so beautiful intact but reimagined it in a very different style. The electronic components remain, as does the piano, but everything is given a lighter and more naturalistic touch. I especially adore the addition of rainstick, which evokes gently cascading waterfalls, as well as the subtle chimes and bells which float around the melody. Choosing legato strings to take over the piano melody at 1:25 was a bold move and probably alienating for some listeners used to the original, but for me this lifts the atmosphere of the song into a new plane. I would go so far as to call it healing.
To those people who feel upset that this rearrangement has 'replaced' the original, perhaps think of them as two separate realisations of one musical concept. Given a chance to reimagine one's old works for a new age, no artist with a passion for his or her creations would leave everything untouched without some curious experimentation.
Honourable mentions
Floating Continent
On That Day, Five Years Ago...
Opening - Bombing Mission
Court Jesters
Darkness of Eternity
Omnis Lacrima
That's how difficult it was for me to vote in this group.
