Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy

So... why am I writing about the Distant Worlds concert on my NYC blog? Because it's awesome beyond statelines! It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance that I have looked forward to for almost a decade (Couldn't make the Dear Friends concert in LA way back when...) so the experience was all the more precious.

Let me make my little fangirl disclaimer here: Nobuo Uematsu is my musical God, and I am entirely in awe of his music, his person, his being. In other words, expect a lot of "omg Nobuo Uematsu is the best thing since Diet Coke" kind of comments...

I accidentally stumbled upon the Distant Worlds 2009 concert tour on Facebook, of all places. One day in April, I was humming songs from Final Fantasy (Kiss Me Goodbye and Suteki Da Ne are always favorites during my impromptu karaoke sessions). I suddenly had an urge to check the web and see if there are any FF concerts happening near NYC. Afterall, EVERYTHING happens in NYC right?? haha.

Because of that random thought, I landed on the Distant Worlds homepage and found out that they are currently on tour! OMG! was the first thing that went through my mind. Then I blanked out for about a minute before looking at the tour dates and discovered that they were playing at San Francisco.

Now I've been planning to visit family in California for awhile, and I never knew when I should take my vacation. Seeing the July 18th, 2009 date plastered on the Distant Worlds site, I KNEW I had to be there. It was also going to be performed by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra at the Davies Symphony Hall. I was at Davies last year with a friend for a Brahms concert, and it was one of the best concerts I've ever been to (I am a classical music nerd).

So I nervously waited for 2 weeks and on the day that the tickets went on sale, I picked up my phone at 10am sharp (Pacific Standard Time) and dialed the number for the SF Symphony's box office (they did not enable online ordering at the time). I waited, and waited, and waited, and finally got through. I purchased 2 tickets, for myself and for my sister, at the Premier Orchestra section (Row H, dead center). It was about $110 per ticket but ... ANYTHING for Nobuo Uematsu!!!

The only thing I was disappointed about was that the website had no mention of the great Uematsu-san being in attendance. I thought to myself "Oh well, at least I can enjoy his music live with musicians he personally worked with".

Then a few weeks before the show, they announced that he will be there!!! AND there was going to be an after-party meet and greet thing at Crimson Lounge. I was literally hyperventilating when I saw the news. I have been very lucky in that I somehow always checked the website the day these big news broke! Another $110+ a ticket for the after-party, but we are guaranteed an autographed copy of the Distant Worlds CD and we get to meet Nobuo Uematsu!!!

*phew* I am tired already with all that typing... but the good parts...


On July 18th, 2009 (Saturday), I took the Amtrak down to the Bay and met up with my sister. We had originally planned to have dinner at Benihana (SF Japantown) but then me being the nervous pig, decided to eat somewhere close so I can get into Davies Hall without too much trouble. We ate at a sushi restaurant by my sister's work place. (Cali sushi are so much better than the crap NYC has). We then drove over to Davies.

When we arrived, there were many people hanging out outside Davies and in the lobby. As expected, there were many Asian guys and Asian girls who were dragged there by their non-Asian gamer boyfriends... To my surprise there were actually a few older couples at the show! I am so glad that Uematsu-san's music has transcended not only nationality, but also generations!

Getting inside was much easier and faster than I thought (no bag checks!). The ushers handed us the program (which didn't really have anything to do with the concert...) and we were seated.

We waited while the musicians came in (in groups of two or three) and made themselves comfortable. On the screen was an animated Distant Worlds logo, drifting in and out like a wave.

After about thirty minutes, the lights dimmed and everyone started to cheer. Conductor Arnie Roth came out to thundering applause. He did a quick introduction and welcomed the audience. Then the cheers became louder because THE Nobuo Uematsu was escorted into the hall! We all stood up and gave him a standing ovation. He waved at everyone and then was led to be seated in a couple of rows behind mine. OMG Nobuo Uematsu was sitting IN the audience!!!!!!!!!!!!! *told ya I would freak out...*

With him were a few officers from Square-Enix Japan. Arnie told us that they wanted to visit San Francisco and watch the concert with the world- famous San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Once they were seated, Arnie led us to the wonderful opening theme of FFVIII: "Liberi Fatali".

Have I mentioned that Liberi Fatali is one of my favorite FF tracks??? FFVIII is also my FAVORITE Final Fantasy (which I am re-playing!). It didn't really help with the opening FMV sequence showing on the big screen. I was just in super-hyper mode!

Arnie teased us a bit with the Victory theme! I want it as my cellphone ringtone (anyone get the FF7:Advent Children reference!?) We were then treated with a beautiful rendition of "To Zanarkand" which totally melted my heart.

The entire concert was AMAZING! It was great to hear the music live, see the games on a huge screen, and scream with fellow FF fans! It was a rock concert in a symphony hall, and Nobuo Uematsu was our Rock God. My favorite performances include Man with the Machine Gun (ahh... Laguna...), Vamo alla Flamenco (Who wants to be my canary!?), the "Big Band" arrangement of the Chocobo theme (created per Uematsu-san's request, according to Arnie), and oh my goodness, the Maria and Draco opera from FFVI... LIVE!!! It was soooo amazing!!! The vocalists did a superb job performing the opera, and really acted their parts! They were rewarded with a standing ovation at the end. I absolutely fell in love with Maria and Draco after this performance ( I loved it already, but now I love it even more!).

Of course the concert ended with an encore performance of "One Winged Angel" which Nobuo Uematsu came on stage to personally introduce. What MORE can you say about "One Winged Angel"? Everyone loves this piece, and it was a wonderful way to end the perfect evening.

If I really had to be picky, the only disappointing parts about the concert is the omission of the FF11 opening theme "Memoro de la Stono ~ Distant Worlds". It is strange to me that they didn't perform this even though the whole tour was named after this song! They played "Ronfaure" from FF11 instead, which was still a great piece, but not as great as "Memoro" in my opinion.

Also I wished they had someone perform "Kiss Me Goodbye" live as in the Detroit concerts. I really loved Angela Aki's voice in the song and I hope she will come to the U.S. one day to perform this song live!

After the concert, my sister and I walked a few blocks over to Crimson Lounge. We were each given a copy of a pre-signed Distant Worlds CD.
I didn't realize it was already signed until my sister pointed it out. I thought they were unwrapped so we can bring it to Nobuo Uematsu to be signed. I was slightly disappointed. We were shuffled into the basement of the Lounge. The lights were dimmed and there was some appetizers on the table and an open bar. Most people didn't really eat though, we were all just too excited to be meeting Nobuo Uematsu.


I was actually in the restroom when Nobuo and Arnie came in. Hmmphff! I knew the moment I heard the loud screams and cheering. I hurriedly rushed back to the room. Arnie and Nobuo's assistant explained what the night was going to consist of, and opened up the floor for photo-op. I wanted to get closer for a photo-op but the people in front of me wouldn't move! By the time I squished close enough, they decided it was time to begin the autograph session.

The line was looooooong and went up the stairs and out the door. I was glad that I purchased the Distant Worlds concert program so I would have something for him to sign. (Heck I would've just turned into a groupie and have him sign my chest! ... j/k :D) We were each given a photo-op and autographs by both Nobuo and Arnie. Nobuo drank beer the whole time ("He only drinks beer!" ~ Arnie said of Nobuo). Uematsu-san was so cute and very friendly. I think all of us were just immersed in his positive personality.

My sister went first. She had her program signed and also talked to Arnie and Nobuo a bit. I helped take her picture with the two and then it was my turn!!!

I tried pretty hard to suppress my fangirl excitement (seeing how some girl before us was hyperventilating a bit and blabbered in exaggerated Japanese -- she was Caucasian). I handed my program to Uematsu-san with two hands, as a sign of respect per Japanese traditions. Arnie asked me if I was from San Francisco, I told them no I came all the way from New York to see them at this concert! Both Arnie and Nobuo were surprised ("Wow, New York!" ~ Nobuo). I then had Arnie sign my program and took a photo with them. They then thanked me and I of course thanked them over and over!!!

As it was getting close to midnight, my sister and I decided to leave the event early. If anyone knows of what was said/done after the autograph session please leave me a comment! (I really want to know!) Stepping out into the cool San Francisco night air, my sister and I were sooooooo grateful to have had the opportunity to experience Uematsu-san's masterpieces live, and to be able to meet the legend himself!!

I hope Distant Worlds, and any future Final Fantasy concerts will continue to consider San Francisco as a venue (and NYC too!!!). I will definitely go again and again! I have been a Final Fantasy fan ever since FFVII. In fact it was Final Fantasy that pulled me into the gaming world. I spent a lot of my teenage years and college years with the FF games and they have always helped kept me sane when reality gets a bit crazy. Nobuo Uematsu has always delivered classic after classic, and I am so utterly impressed by his talent and passion. I even got my mom into FF music! haha!

Thank you all so much for reading this long post, and thank you so very much Nobuo Uematsu and Arnie Roth for sharing your talent with us. Thank you Square Enix and AWR music for giving us the opportunity to personally let Nobuo Uematsu know how much he is loved and appreciated here in the U.S!!! Please come back again soon!




<3,

Kat

P.S.: To wrap up this post, here's a piece from FF11 "Memoro de la Stono ~ Distant Worlds". Enjoy!