Musical Monday: “Terra” (Final Fantasy VI), composed by Nobuo Uematsu

This week’s song is the theme of Terra, the heroine of Final Fantasy VI, and also the game’s first overworld track. Melancholy, wistful, yet with a strain of hope, it is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard despite being composed for the SNES sound chip. Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhuEcFsYrco

Deservedly, it also features in pretty much every Final Fantasy remix collection there is: I’ve listened to piano, vocal, and multiple orchestral versions of the song. However, while the orchestral versions are grand and glorious and good (I’ve linked one below, from the “Distant Worlds II” collection), I can’t help but think that they miss the sweet sadness that made the original so special. The vocal version, “Wanderer of Time” (linked, bottom), comes a bit closer to the original. Still, they’re all well worth a listen.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oCVhmzp0is

Details

Track: “Terra”.

Source: Final Fantasy VI original soundtrack.

Composer: Nobuo Uematsu. “Wanderer of Time” version sung by Risa Ohki.