Video Game Music and Aerith's Theme

Music has a very important role in humanity and life itself. It has the power to create, form, shape, inspire, and flourish to what we as humans become. In some cases it is seen in a negative light, if not outright being branded as a tool of evil to be used in such a villanous way that some may have downright disregarded music entirely. However, for the majority who see music in a positive light, it can be seen as a majestic entity that can transcend time itself.

Today marks a very special occasion, for me, for gamers, and music enthusiasts all around as Classic FM put together a Hall of Fame of the top 300 classics, and through rigorous voting and polls, Aerith's Theme from Final Fantasy VII placed 16th out of 300 which is impressively high. Not only that, but this marks the first time that Video Game music has been officially considered "classical". Why am I escatic with glee and earjactulating buckets here? Here's why.

A long time ago in the year 1997, Squaresoft released Final Fantasy VII to universal acclaim and since then it has been highly regarded as one of the best games in the series. As a kid in middle school (didn't play it till I was 15) I too shared the same praise as I grew to adore it as much as any other fan. It was at that time at the end of disc one that after spending more than 20 hours having the myserious flower girl in my party for the majority of the game suddenly fall to her death as the maniacal Sephiroth plunged his sword into her. It was with that shock (again I was a teenager) I saw her perish from this world that the iconic song was born from tears of sadness that caused me to cry for the first time ever... to a video game. I had to pay for my parent's plumbing bill because of it. (lie)

As the years went on and me grown a wiser, I grew past my fanboyism to one game and series to many others, but it was Aerith's theme that still tugs at my heart strings. It was then a few months ago that I saw this page that lead to the Classic FM Hall of Fame. Jokingly I put in Aerith's theme and the voting just flourished. It was either that or One Winged Angel. As much as I like One Winged Angel, it's overplayed, like Bohemian Rhapsody, or Stairway to Heaven. It's still a good song, but too much rotation will start to thin. Thus on a lark, I entered Aerith and the rest is history.

Many music enthusiasts may never have played the game as it's not only outside of their ballpark, but some may not regard video game music as music at all. Which is a shame because it has evolved from it's humble beginnings back in the late 70s and mid 80s roots to what it is today. From chiptune to redbook audio to live orchestra video games have as they say grown the beard in terms of music. That's why you see concerts being played worldwide by for example Tommy Tallarico and Video Games Live to Distant Worlds II Music from Final Fantasy and to more or less up there The Legend of Zelda Symphony of the Goddesses (I've been to all 3, all are excellent).

So congrats to all gamers and gaming enthusiasts, we now belong with the classics. A toast to Uematsu-san. May his music and many others be a huge influence to humanity for years to come.

To see what the fuss is about, here's a link to Classic FM's Hall of Fame.

As well as entry number 16. Give it a listen will you?

Buy the MP3 of Aerith's Theme here. (Rarefindit sent ya there.)

If you have any memories of any memorable piece that moved you to tears like this, feel free to share that in the comments below.

To all you naysayers, video game music is now classical. Suck on that haters!

Ode to Desudes Brigade

There comes a time in every person's life where we say farewell. Where there's a beginning, there will eventually be an end to everything. However, it's the time spent that will be cherished the most. Those precious moments where you shared, laughed, cried, and enjoyed that time together is the memory that will live on.

As I recently heard, one of my go to places, the Desudes Brigade announced that they will be disbanding the site and the 4 del-facto leaders are parting ways. It's rather sad to hear that because they have been my new home since I left the hollowed halls of Anime Academy.

It was during those last 3 years that you have kept me sane as I went through some dark times with guilt, redemption, reflection, to now. Those were happy times and I wished we could have met in person so I may share those con memories. However, it is understandable that we all have our own lives to deal with.

Yeah, real life can be very detrimental sometimes when we pour our hearts into something only for it to end. However, it is with those lives that we have that we shape ourselves into what we truly desire. And besides, should you come back after completing your quest, that is up to you, fate, and when you eventually accomplish whatever you have been seeking.

Professor Otaku, Arkada, JesuOtaku, Vixen, you have my deepest condolences and I'm regretful that this happened. Though we never met in person and I've only worked with 1 or 2 of you as clients, I will continue to serve you as the friendly neighborhood rare game hunter.

Whatever you seek for either yourself or to entertain with for others, you are always welcome to ask Rarefindit for anything you need.

There is also a light in this silver lining: the forums and community. Without them, and the communication that you bring and share, D2 wouldn't be as a family as it would have. It is through everyone on the forums and fan blogs that you brought inspiration to for they wouldn't have accomplished alot without your support. The streams shalt shant be forgotten too as they are also an intricate part of this community. For it is with they who brought and continues to bring joy in some of our (me) boring lives.

Those streams who I mention include and not limited to Spaceman Hardy's Manime Monday who put the word man in tea, Wazaraku's random W Plan, Noahclue's 10 Frame Theater, Itchinader's Late Night Anime, Durga's Sentai Sunday, Sneebs, Sahoni at seldom time, many many more who does stream, and to no less extent, my pathetic attempt at Jrock Jukebox. (I may do it again)

Though the body perishes, the spirit lives on in all of us and those memories will keep us intact, until the dreaded Alzeimer's takes a swing at my brain. Either that or someone in this digital age masters alchemy and makes a revival potion that revives the body but not the soul of the site. (Obscure Koudelka reference ftw).

So to you, Professor Otaku, Arkada, JesuOtaku, Vixen, Malakye, and as well as Hitch who I think is still recovering from that noodle incident involving his balls and some jumper cables, Kagami, Rabbit, and many others... it's been real. Stay Gold y'all

Bang.

P.S. I am still washing my eyes with chlorine on a daily basis thanks to MC Bigman. It won't never not go unaway unseen. (Edit: That sentence error was on purpose)

Consejos de Rare Sage: Murciélago y Segunda Etapa

Today I will invoke a certain trope just for the sake of this message: Gratuitous Spanish. For those who don't know, gratuitous language is something we all do to think we are speaking a certain language that we do not understand. There are many kinds such as Taglish (tagolog/english), engrish (not limited to japanese/english), and spanglish (whatever you see on a taco bell menu).

The reason why I'm doing this is I have a special message for a certain reader that I can only do using this trope. May sound silly, but it's also important. Before I do that I will invoke it here: Empanada. With that said...

Normalmente no me involucran a mí mismo cuando se trata de otro tipo de relaciones, por lo general es mi regla de honor de no meterse con la que ha tomado. Sin embargo, esta excepción es una especie de importante porque, como un amigo, quiero ver que todo el mundo es feliz y con menos conflictividad. Piensa en mí como el luchador equilibrado y sanador del grupo. Al igual que Youmu que tiene una espada y algunas curaciones.

En base a lo que me dijiste, que parecen ser miserable en su relación. Cosas como la religión, y el dominio puede realmente matar la llama de la vela. Mi consejo, seguir siendo amigos con esta persona.

Si no se quiere comprometer con usted, entonces no está destinado a ser. Es mejor ser libre de elección que controla más de una persona que no está de acuerdo con usted. Una relación sana se trata de la igualdad de oportunidades. Si uno no le gusta el otro, entonces ¿qué sentido tiene?

La verdad sea dicha, aunque era una cosa menor, pero yo tenía un poco de interés en que en aquel entonces. Sin embargo, mi creencia es que lleva un montón de la formación del carácter con el fin de conocer a una persona más y en estos últimos meses, tengo que saber más de lo que pensaba. Llámame loco, pero la razón por la que no persue algo más que un perdedor con el sabio consejo es porque yo lo dejo a usted que usted elige a ser amigos, compañeros, o incluso que los que decide ser un signifigant otro.

Lo que estoy tratando de decir que no se puede decir con palabras, ya que la imagenserá mejor en lo que respecta a su situación o no te quedas con esa persona. Gracias, Minori Kushieda.

Además, son ustedes y lo preparará para el enganche? Quiero decir que es el anillo por su parte, los documentos legales, la boda, y conocer a los familiares en todos los lugares, además ¿estás listo mental, física y financieramente a asumir ese compromiso cuando tiene sus propios objetivos para pensar?

Francamente, no puedo decir nada más sobre él. Es realmente depende de ti. Sin embargo, hay alguien que usted sabe que tiene un interés en lo que comparte tanto la nostalgia y la fe, incluso si él cree que es sólo la mitad de la misma. Si sabes quién es esta persona, me gustaría tener interés en él su lugar.

Tenga cuidado, firmó un perdedor.

One final note, cuarta espada and habanero. That is all. Ulquiorra.