Final Fantasy 9 is considered one of the most beloved installments in the franchise. Released on July 7, 2000, many fans cite the overarching story and the memorable characters as factors in making the game one of the highlights of the series. There's another reason why the game withstands the test of time: The soundtrack. In addition to its story and characters, Final Fantasy 9 is also home to many esteemed songs, such as Melodies of Life, Roses of May, and You're Not Alone!
What many fans may not know about this full-of-surprises title, however, is the inspiration and the ideas behind the soundtrack that's still adored around the world today. Here are some fascinating details about Final Fantasy 9's wonderful music.
7 It Was Nobuo Uematsu's Largest Project
It goes without saying that Nobuo Uematsu, the composer for the Final Fantasy series, has created an immense body of music that continues to sway the hearts of fans today. Final Fantasy 9 is surely no exception to this.
While the soundtracks of the previous installments are large in their own right, though, Final Fantasy 9 easily tops them all as the largest project undertaken by Uematsu. The soundtrack consists of a total of 160 songs spread across four discs. It is speculated by some that the size of this project was the reason behind Uematsu's absence from the next installment, but there has been no evidence to support this.
6 An Homage To The Series
It is no secret that Final Fantasy 9 pays homage to its predecessors. This can be seen in the form of the Black Mages (an entire race based on the job class from previous games) and the return to the Medieval-inspired setting that defined some earlier entries in the series. The allusions don't stop with the characters or the setting, though.
The soundtrack also includes various tracks from previous Final Fantasy games. For example, in the Black Mage Village, there is an amplifier that will play Doga and Unei's theme from Final Fantasy 3. In fact, the Black Mage Village music, as well as the enigmatic Vivi's character theme, are loosely based on the theme of the village Mysidia from Final Fantasy 4.
5 It Was Also Nobuo Uematsu's Favorite Project
There's no denying that the game's soundtrack is one of the best in the series. It goes without saying that many consider this soundtrack to be their absolute favorite. What fans may not know, however, is that their feelings about the soundtrack are shared by none other than Nobuo Uematsu himself.
In an interview with Neo Magazine, when asked which project was his favorite, Uematsu replied that it was Final Fantasy 9 without hesitation. His love for the project is not just limited to the music; in another interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Uematsu states Final Fantasy 9 is his favorite "in terms of the game itself." Even in his liner notes, he expresses joy at having taken part in the project, extending his thanks to the staff and developers of the game.
4 Drawing From Medieval Themes
When sampling any piece of music, one question that will come to a lot of listeners' minds is, "what's the inspiration behind this?" In the case of Final Fantasy 9, the music was heavily inspired by medieval themes.
According to an interview with Weekly Famitsu, Nobuo Uematsu traveled to Europe and visited castles in Germany and other countries in order to better incorporate medieval aspects into the music. Although not all the songs turned out to be medieval-themed, the lengths Uematsu went to ensure the quality of his craft remains impossible to deny.
3 It Gave The Composer The Most Creative Freedom
When composing the soundtracks for Final Fantasy 7 and Final Fantasy 8, Uematsu stated that he faced difficulty in inserting pieces that were more lighthearted in nature. He cited the realistic nature of both games as the main source of the difficulty.
With Final Fantasy 9, however, composing songs became relatively easier. Due to the more whimsical designs of the characters and world, as well as the return to the fantasy setting, Uematsu found more leeway to fit pieces that were both comical and dramatic. He even included more obscure instruments, such as kazoos and dulcimers. This shows a direct correlation between the mood of the game and the mood of the music (not that both aren't rather dark at times during the experience).
2 Not All 160 Tracks Were Used
As previously stated, a total of 160 tracks were developed for Final Fantasy 9's soundtrack. According to an interview by Core Magazine, though, Uematsu stated that not all the tracks he composed were used. He said that the main theme composition was left out of the game, due to having no real place for it.
Furthermore, he also stated that he writes his music without knowing what the game will look like, so there was no telling which pieces needed to be used where. The unused tracks of Final Fantasy 9 are available on Spotify alongside the rest of the original soundtrack. Perhaps, in the future, these tracks could be used in a possible remake.
1 The Soundtrack Was Supposed To Be One Genre
Although there was a medieval theme for the basis of the soundtrack, the final cut was not completely medieval-based. This is evident in songs such as You're Not Alone and The Dark Messenger, which includes elements of synth and a guitar riff respectively.
In an interview with IGN, the composer stated that the soundtrack was originally going to stick to one genre: classical. This was done in order to remain true to the overall ambiance of Final Fantasy 9. Uematsu eventually decided against this, as he believed that such an idea would be too dull.