Band of the Week: Nobuo Uematsu

[February 8-14]

Nobuo Uematsu
Sounds Like: Classical / Piano / Orchestral Composition / Progressive Rock
Drinking Buddies: The Black Mages, The Final Fantasy Series, Square-Enix

Synopsis: Video game compositions have never been so cool.

Makes You Want To...: Dream; Play video games; Learn piano.
[Square-Enix Music] / [Official Site] / [Black Mages fanpage]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Nobuo Uematsu.


Most people think music these days always has to be hip and trendy; that it has to be on the hottest TV shows, plastered all across the internet, smeared all over the radio or MTV; even if the bands are independent and lesser known, most contemporary music is assumed to follow a certain formula: get a Myspace > make music > release albums > party. But in truth, music can't be clichéd, and can never follow any sort of formula. In truth, music is created in many different ways. And just because the source may be unexpected doesn't make it any less exquisitely done.

Nobuo Uematsu is a prime example of music defying conventions in music making, and does so with the sort of panache that makes his peers and rivals fill with jealous and envy upon the execution of every single note. Uematsu is a pianist. He was self taught, and the beginning of his career sprung up due to his sister, thereafter him applying his homegrown pianist skills and brand new keyboard in some amateur bands and for some commercials. But the reason his name is one that should be respected highly among professional musicians is the part of his musical career that made him famous. Nobuo Uematsu gained his fame after being hired by the video game company Squaresoft (presently Square-Enix), where he was one of the chief composers of many of their video games - including their most monumental, successful entertainment release - the Final Fantasy series.

Most folks out of the loop know Final Fantasy as Owen Pallett, he formed his moniker after the successful game franchise. But from the game that inspired him, arose the talent of Nobuo Uematsu. After the series' success and expansion, Final Fantasy has quickly become one of the largest successes in video gaming history. Final Fantasy VII has been arguably labeled one of the best video games of all time, and as the series preps for its release of their latest title, Final Fantasy XIII, Square-Enix can humbly thank the talents of Nobuo Uematsu, who provided the musical workings for titles I - XI, as he has been building his reputation as an esteemed composer since 1985.

Some folks who play video games may take the music for granted, while in fact, the music of any video game is possibly one of the most integral parts. Music sets the mood, and it sets the pace, just as in movies. If you watch an action movie, the chase scene would be pretty boring without an awesome soundtrack backing it up; the same for video games. Someone is always behind the helm of these games, and Final Fantasy has been enjoying the reign of Nobuo Uematsu now for almost three decades. Uematsu composes almost all the music for the Final Fantasy series, among other games, which is a lofty task indeed, requiring talent and skill that is unrivaled by musicians. Dabbling in all sorts of moods - from soft piano tunes to epic, all-out orchestral performances - and experimenting in many forms of genres - from classical music to heavy metal - Nobuo Uematsu has seen it all, and is a master at his art.

Beyond his work with video games, he also enjoys remastering his own music, constantly returning to it, revamping it, and bringing it back to life in new, beautiful ways. He co-founded the band, The Black Mages, a rock/metal band that takes his compositions, and transcribes them from classical and orchestral works into heavy hitting rock songs. And while Uematsu contributes to many of the Final Fantasy original soundtracks, he also returns to his music for solo piano performances - just him, his piano, and his music - solitary, emotional, and captivating works of a true artist. All of Uematsu's music is beautiful, all different, as he constantly innovates. Songs of love, songs of pain, songs of anger; songs of war, songs of strife, songs of celebration; Nobuo has done it all time and time again, and while his music is predominately instrumental, it is no less powerful in its ability to tug on your heartstrings - to make you feel what you're intended to feel. Uematsu's music is simply unrivaled, in whatever form it takes.

Presently, Nobuo Uematsu is working on three projects: 10 Stories (which I think is a Japanese anime), Fantasy Life (a game for the Nintendo DS), and is composing the entire original score for Final Fantasy XIV, which will be his first major contribution for the series since Final Fantasy XI. If you want to hear Uematsu's music in its intended form - as video game compositions - you'll need to score yourself many of the very lovely titles he has contributed in, a list which is quite extensive. But if you're interested in strictly the music, you'll be glad to know that Uematsu's discography is EXTENSIVE, in ways that I could never explain. Between all the original soundtracks for all the games he has done, as well as the three albums released by The Black Mages, I sincerely and earnestly recommend to everyone reading all of the piano performances for the video games. They're some of the most beautiful music I have ever owned, and you will not regret purchasing these passionate works. You can probably get his music from Square-Enix's site, but I recommend iTunes or Amazon for all your musical needs.