Ultimate ONE WINGED ANGEL Comparison - Which One's The BEST?
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0:40 Final Fantasy VII
6:16 Crisis Core
11:19 Distant Worlds/Dissidia
18:17 Advent Children
26:13 Kingdom Hearts
29:01 Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix Remastered
32:05 Final Fantasy VII Remake
47:45 Final Thoughts
SPOILER ALERT!
"ONE WINGED ANGEL" is one of the most iconic songs from all of video game music. And with each new return to the world of Final Fantasy VII, we are always gifted new versions of the song. From the original Final Fantasy VII for the Playstation, to Kingdom Hearts to the Final Fantasy VII Remake, we will finally settle the debate on which version is the best. But don't despair, I will give a detailed breakdown as much as I can on each version as I re-listen to each before I come up with my conclusion.
NOTE: True fans know that there is no "Smash Version".
Musical Analysis by String Player Gamer, Diwa de Leon
Arranged by Nobuo Uematsu, Yoko Shimomura, Masashi Hamauzu
Original music by Nobuo Uematsu
Nobuo Uematsu Live with The Black Mages: • The Black Mages - One-...
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Which ONE WINGED ANGEL version is your favorite?
Advert Children From Smash Ultimate.😈🎸 (Though... I guess it is just the same from the original, huh?😅)
Advent children :D
distance world version always have place in my heart, can't forget the first time walk in for a real life music performance. :) however for works and loop music, I think remake version is great. Or just loop all versions in one playlist :D
For me would be the remake
Advent Children, no doubt. Best symphony metal ever existed. Because Nobuo Uematsu makes guitars and orchestra equal to each other. Metal band mostly can’t reach that level of composition.
So iconic, the first few notes for the Smash Bros Trailer was all the crowd needed to say 'Sephiroth is here'.
Unless you're someone like youtuber TCNick3 who's like "anime sword man? Idunno who this is"
Oh god, what have you done. Now I will spend like 4 hours watching reactions to the reveals of Snake, Joker, Sephiroth, Steve, etc. AGAIN
First two notes we already know!
To quote HungryBox, "SEPHIROTH?! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
Agreed! Also, the look of sheer horror on Cloud's face... He was thinking "FFS not in this world too!?"
Something I love about OWA Rebirth is that it basically tells you the entire story of the Remake, the whole time the music is basically screaming at you; "Something's wrong, something isn't right here, something's different." and by the end it gets so chaotic to the point where it even sounds like the voices in the song are afraid but, as shown by 'Those Who Fight Further' being present near the end of the song, despite the chaos and the uncertainty, there's still hope for our heroes to win and set things right again.
And the sheer tempo and unhingedness tells us "This should not happen yet. You're WAY out of your league here." - which I absolutely celebrate.
If I had to guess, much like how the music for the jenova fight in shinra tower went, as we progress through the games the music will sort itself out to become more inline with the original until in the final fight we get a version playing in the normal sequence but with the extras bits on top.
You also hear toward the end before the climax, a brief part of the Whispers theme before it get completly swallowed by One Winged Angel, the Whispers being the arbitrer of fate, you can interpret this part as Sephiroth having successfully take control/break of his destiny, whatever this may imply for Rebirth and the third game.
Definitely feels like even the game is like "Wait, why is HE here???? I don't have the music prepped uh, uh.....damn...uh, screw it, we roll with it, I'll make it up as I go" and as the party arrives it slowly remembers how this song goes as the song shifts into the classic section. "Oh right, I was supposed to do the Timpani opener, let's go back now that everyone's here."
Even the music is panicking.
Fun fact: in the Advent Children version the lyrics say "I will not remain a memory", which is what Sephiroth tells Cloud, showing that one way or another he will always have influence over him
Odd... The Latin conjugation translates to "do not remain in memory" Translation error perhaps? "I won't remain a memory" does feel more fitting Edit: Nvm, I eventually realized that since the lyrics say "come come my son" they're likely Jenova addressing Sephiroth, therefore "do not remain in memory" would be correct
Like when he time travels back in time to attempt to change fate revealing himself in places to Cloud and the party he was not originally at.
Even though it's not canon, the line uttered during the clash Cloud and Sephiroth had in Kingdom Hearts II is apt "No matter how many times I fall; your darkness will keep summoning me back!"
You gotta imagine yourself, as a 12 year old kid, playing the game for the first time , being absolutly terrified cause its the FINAL boss fight of this Long game. The CUlmination of hundred of hours of gameplay, exploration, decisions and regrets. You are HYPER focused on the fight with that Formidable enemy, with his Strong Attacks, you're basicly in a Tunnel Vision mindset. And then you Hear OWA play, at first you're like "Oh its Neat" and then the Lyrics drops , and with it your Jaw, and your mind is blown away. Cause it is the ONLY time you hear any voice/Lyrics in the WHOLE game. There was no Voice acting in the hundred of hours you've played, everything was text and sounds, and then you Hear this Choir. 30 years later i still remember is.
I used to rage quit QUITE A LOT because I'd go through that TEDIOUS Bizarro Sephiroth fight, only to get slain by Safer Sephiroth, which would be extremely annoying 🤣 I was about 10 years old when I beat the game and I used to get irritated by the final fights 🤣
I may have played ff7 original but that was fairly late. I coudnt have your perspective and experience since ive heard the song several times by that point. And I didnt have the whiplash of suddenly hearing voice and lyrics to songs in games that were predominanted by only having midi. I imagine experiencing that in this generation would no longer really be possible and I envy that thought.
Exactly, my friend. Exactly the same feeling I had, albeit I was 9
There's a very similar thing that happens in the latest Kirby game (the forgotten land) of all things. The vast majority of the voice acting in the Kirby series has been only the odd yell or grunt. The main theme of forgotten land does have vocals, but notably they're in a fictional language. Using gibberish instead of actual vocals is a very common thing in Nintendo games and I think most people would chalk it up to being another case of that. It sort of re-enforces the idea that it would be very strange to hear full voice acting in a Kirby game. And what did they do? You beat the penultimate boss, and get to the point where the story starts getting weird (like many Kirby games), and it throws an entire 2 minute long monologue at you, in English, completely voice acted. It's even translated into like 12 different languages. On top of just being surprising, it's also a really clever narrative way of saying "by the way, all this stuff was done by humans"
the rage, sadness, happiness and joy and when finaly beating the boss and you feel both incredibly happy and verry sad at the same time
I love how remake play with our knownledge of the song !
Just like the game itself
Why music becomes so beautiful in tine then this men understanding the music!? I love it!
It's like the lyrical/musical equivalent to a striptease 🤣
They did that with almost any song, just look at Jenova Dreamweaver
@@djonprower9019 You mean he doesn't understand the music?🤔
Sephiroths theme is one of those things that it starts and you're immediately getting goosebumps.
OWA is Our generation equivalant of the Imperial March
Sephiroth's theme is actually "Those Chosen by the Planet."
I love how this song is so iconic that the Smash Ultimate reveal played the song before showing the character and everyone knew who it was just from the opening of the song. I've only seen Advent Children and haven't played any of the FF7 games and even I knew this song well enough to know who it was.
Yeah, I've only watched Adcent Children too... That is how you make a boss theme...
When the boss got cut in half, I could only think of a few characters who could do that. I heard those opening notes, my shock and hype was unreal.
His reveal as an all was just so great (and the fake out on Mario was hilarious 😂)
@@NagadirGame Me too. I'm having such a blast watching through the Remake series.
The thing I like about the KHII one is that it's horrifying. As in some sections straight up plays out like a horror movie. Like, you get in and Sephiroth asks about Cloud and Sora starts being a smartass then this song starts playing and we, as the player, are like: *_Wait wait wait wait. No no no no no_* and even half way through it reminds us that we fucked around a little bit too much and now we're about to find out
One of the big things about the Advent Children version, is that the new section also adds new lyrics to the piece: Veni, mi fili. Veni, mi fili Hic veni, da mihi mortem iterum Veni, mi fili. Veni, mi fili Hic veni, da mihi Which translates to: Come, my son. Come my son Come here, give me death once more Come, my son. Come my son Come here, give me It's not just a subtle change in the chant, it's literal storytelling hidden within the music. Even the main verse is changed to: Noli manere, manere in memoria Noli manere, manere in memoria Which is: Don't remain, remain in memory Don't remain, remain in memory This is literally describing Sephiroth's attempt to be resurrected in the genetic memories of Kadaj and Jenova. Even Cloud's final line to Sephiroth echoes this: "Remain where you belong, in my memories."
I love that the Rebirth version feels like the song itself is trying to fight against Sephiroth but he keeps taking control and redoing the motions as much as it takes until he win
Every time I hear the choir, I keep thinking back to the parody. " Bells, Frogs, Peter Pan, Magic Cheese, someone's knees, SEPHIROTH!"😂
where does the parody come from?
@doodlebro. it was an old video. I'm trying to find it again, but it might be gone.🥲
@@Soul_Candy15 maybe try googling it lol
It’s so fitting if you actually try to „sing“ this to the lyrics. I won‘t be able to ignore this ever again.
@@Soul_Candy15I believe it’s the Amazing Brando version EDIT: No I’m wrong that’s another amazing rewrite
Making the player wait until you get to phase 3 to even hear them sing Sephiroth is CRAZY.
45:10 - references the FFVII battle theme Let the Battle Begin. 45:18 - references the Whispers theme from Remake. 45:43 - references the boss battle theme from FFVII Those Who Fight Further/Fight on! I love it!
_When the big Mo-fo is finally pressured, the impact of Meteor is in less than 40 seconds, and you run out of everything... Struggle 'till final victory. It's all or nothing !_
Heyoooo 👋
Advent Children just ROCKS. Changed my life forever
Your commentary on the call and response in advent- one winged angel really made it hit me, its not just a conversation between the rock/metal band and the orchestra, but its also a call and return, a FIGHT, between Cloud and Sephiroth! Cloud is the metal, the soundtrack has a metal backing for every fight, except Tifa's because that one does not include Cloud at all, and further Tifa is/was a pianist and it fits her character better. There's even a reason *why* the metal cuts out near the end of the track and then resurges at the finale! Man, dude. Props, you got me to think like an actual musician.
Such a good case study of what re-arrangements are capable of Dissidia/Distand Worlds: direct translation, keeping everything _exactly_ the same within reason Crisis Core: genre shift, but keeping the core (pun intended) intact Remake: grounds up re-imagining with very heavy similarity, but a fundamentally different identity
Very true.
I also believe they are also telling different stories. CC's version shows the initial descent into insanity with the ending highlighting that CC is a prequel of things to come with the call back to the original style. Remake's and subsequently Rebirth are highlighting different aspects as well. Remake starts frantic as Cloud begins alone and slowly builds up as you get more party members join the fight then to the original with a tone and sped-up beat comes the frantic countdown. They also incorporated the Boss Battle theme and the Whispers theme showing how differently things are going and fight against fate.
@@coolyeh1017definetly agree with Remake. it feels like every time it becomes somewhat recigniceable and you feel like you've gotten a footing back and back on track the music suddenly shifts and you've lost balance. and remebering the scenes i'm pretty sure that quite a few of them is Sephiroth doing something in the cutscene to the same effect.
The Remake OST is such an achievement of musical storytelling. From the reimagining to the significant changes to “show” you that there is something going on, everything hits so right. One Winged Angel is a real testament to that. There is a omnipotence present that winks at the player and it is simply delicious.
I love how you sound so formal and informed throughout the first half of the video, and as soon as "Rebirth" kicks in, your face kinda freezes into a "WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING?" expression. That about matched my first reaction.
"What the heck is happening" sums it up in a nutshell, both the Remake version of the song and the tie-in to Sephiroth as a whole in the story. The fight is literally out of nowhere for anyone familiar with the events of the original story, so it's only fitting that his music be a jumbled puzzle that keeps you guessing until it finally settles in that yes, you are fighting Sephiroth...in act 1. And by then it's over and you're just left with more questions and hype for the next installment.
In the original game, this song gripped gamers when they first encountered it. Dread. Panic. Terror. If there was ever a moment where music alone transported us inside the world of the game we were playing, this was it. I think even the contrast of the real choir with the sampled instruments triggered something in our minds when we heard it. Suddenly, this was real. All pretense was gone. For me personally, the arrangements that limit this to orchestra and choir are the most powerful because they manage to prevent me from thinking about the performers. I don't imagine a guitarist or drummer on stage. The music simply is the world I'm in, pulled once again back into that fight for survival.
Yes. You played 100 hours of game with NO VOICE, nothing but Midi sounds and musics... Then suddenly you reach that point and hear a Choir, you hear Sung LYRICS, and it Hits you like a slap in the face.
Worth noting if you've never played the first Kingdom Hearts: the "shortened" opening is designed to sync up with the pre-battle cutscene. The music only starts up after Sephiroth rises from a kneel and makes a flourish, and the brass and lyrics kick in _right_ as the camera pulls around behind Sora and the fight begins. It's a killer moment. Look it up!
In KH2 as well, it starts in the pre-battle cutscene when both sora and sephiroth take a fighting stance and the lyrics start when seph activates the battle-opener reaction command.
I honestly look at the Remake as a battle of Composer vs Listener, the Rythm is the movement on the field, the drums are the footsteps between, the brass and cymbals are the steel clashing and the several "sections" for it hits like you're changing stances or just adjusting how you moved in the fight and the surprises are the conductor hitting you with Feints to bait your guard, or you knowing the song, by changing what you know against you immediately to offset you from following a simple pattern. Remake is my favorite but Advent and the Original will always hold a spot in my heart as i grew up with those.
Very nice analogy!
An absolutely iconic song, crazy how this song has stayed in it's position of reverence for so many years. Just like METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEACE, An all time classic with an incredible soundtrack which I highly recommend you listen too.
Definitely will! It's been on my to-do list. What's your favorite songs?
@@StringPlayerGamerOfficial Red Sun ... Red Sun over paradise
All of them.@@StringPlayerGamerOfficial
@@StringPlayerGamerOfficial definitely gotta be one of either: *starts listing half of the soundtrack*
@@voltaikk1732 Still need titles. That's how this works.
8:00 RIGHT on the button for this one. Basically, the Sephiroth you are fighting is the unstable one from the Nibelheim incident, aka the one that literally JUST became mad and seeking Jenova's head. Honestly though, if you were ever interested in Zack's story and how the Nibelheim incident actually happened, you should DEFINITELY play Crisis Core, more specifically, the "Reunion" version which is MILES better than the original in almost every aspect.
I agree, but I hate the overhaul of the voice acting :(
What I love so much about the Remake is how meticulous it is. From referencing multiple other songs in the OST, to it specifically being a 4-act structure like the battle was. It's a masterclass on top of the masterclass that is OWA. It keeps teasing you with the "SEPHIROTH!" response until the 3rd act. The exact act when Sephiroth bamfs out his wing. The response to the call only happens when the One-Winged Angel himself appears. Absolutely masterful.
I always loved the nod to American Psycho and Sephiroth's absolutely SHATTERED psychological health with the string stingers. They wanted to really make it clear that Sephiroth is mentally ill, he is a full on psychopath going postal and YOU need to stop him before he kills every innocent life on the planet. Honestly the entire track tells Sephiroth's character and story so loudly and precisely that it's a textbook example of character themesongs. The militarized lifestyle he lead being told through the marching drums and marching band style tone. His fall from glory with the multitude of descending arpeggios. His deteriorated mental health with the American Psycho stingers, the "claps" like his psyche snapping as he realizes he's a manmade organism, the shifting tempos and tones showing he's constantly going back and forth through his head. The latin choir warning that he is a walking epitome of bloodthirsty rage at his place in the world.
Like you, I played the original FFVII on release and hearing One winged angel the first time blew my little mind and really made me start appreciating good game music, hearing the remake rendition blew my mind again, I was so hype. .
24:15 In the movie version of this song there's a little moment on which some kind of march sounds before the "Fili fili, veni" part.
That's probably because you must have watch the Advent Children Complete version, which is the long version that add about 20 minutes of new scenes to the movie, the fight between Cloud and Sephiroth had a new part added, and as a result the music had a new section to link to that new part, for some reason tough the full version of the song, with Complete addition, is harder to find.
Advent: One-Winged Angel - ACC Long Version. That's it.
I just adore how the remake version is so familiar but it fakes you out, anticipates your reaction but then subverts it, much like the game. We all know the music and the game so well and it's being used against us. I just love it.
You're very right! The song represents the entire subversion theme of the Remake itself.
It is very creative, they do it a lot with other songs as well. Constantly teasing old fans making you want that payoff then when it happens it so satisfying@@StringPlayerGamerOfficial
I finally finished the original game and I originally didn't understand why everyone was so scared of this song, but then I got to that boss fight and it scared the crap outta me. I was unprepared, didn't have nearly enough items, and was not ready for this fight at all and this music just added to how scared I was in that moment. Sephiroth then proceeded to kick my ass many times XD
29:44 I will say, the KH2 version is waaayy more bombastic right away cause this man is on your ass before the intro sequence for the fight even ends, and next thing you know he’s teleporting, setting mines around you, throwing meteor storms and even trying to Heartless Angel your ass to 1 HP and 0 MP. There aren’t ANY breaks in this fight, and the music really reflects that. Edit: also to elaborate; KH2 originally released a couple years after KH1 on the PS2, and eventually we got the 1.5 and 2.5 HD Remixes where we got the originally JP exclusive director’s cut versions of KH1 and 2 with reorchestrated music.
kh2 music good, gameplay good, leveldesign and worlds straight up garbage its a corridor simulator
@@JButterZJlevel design isn’t that bad for its time as it was made in the early to mid 2000’s. Especially if you compare it to KH3 that is more open.
@@Izanagi-Okami KH1 had better world design
@@panlie3499 this is correct, with the exception of The World That Never Was.
The original KH2 take on One Winged Angel didn't sound that good back then on the PS2, sounded like they added in kazoos to the orchestra at times. Which was why the complete overhaul for the 2.5 HD Remaster REALLY surprised me with its execution and tone. A MASSIVE upgrade!
For some reason, the Midi music from FF7 still gives me chills, i LOVE the world map/main theme also, very relaxing
Some characters when you saw them, a bgm appears in your mind. Sephiroth, a band of orchestra plays infront you.
Truly a boss theme of all time. It makes the boss fight so much more difficult because of how good it is.
I was lucky 12 years ago to be in a live concert with music from video games, where Nobuo Uematsu himself appeared, conducted by Arnie...One Winged Angel live in concert blew my mind away. But my favourite version is the one from Advent Children Complete ❤❤❤ ❤❤
Same here. Advent Children's version is chef kiss.
What I love about the Crisis Core version is that it's in that game that we see Sephiroth's descent into madness, when he discovers who he is, "who" his mother is, and how he came to be. And you mentioning the theme of instability in the music really drives home, for me, how well that piece was written in the context of this specific game. I guess the Crisis Core Version is probably my favorite, because when I decided to get into FF7, I decided I was going to do it in the "Midgard Chronological order". So even if I'd seen Advent Children before, Crisis Core is the 1st one I heard while playing a game, and in the context of seeing the evolution of the world via games, OVA and movie.
Regarding the Advent Children version: There was an Advent Children “Complete” version made a few years later that was exactly the same as the one you reacted to; but toward the end of the piece they add a section where it is only orchestral. They pull away both the lyrics and the metal aspects and it gives the Advent Children version an added twist that is a nice call back to the Distant Worlds version!
it's incredible how many bangers uematsu made in his carrier
45:11 those who fight crescendo -> whisper theme -> those who fight further -> back to ooa
34:35 - When you mentioned One Winged Angel Rebirth being so meta with the music and your explanation it actually fits perfectly with the interview about this song where the composer of the new arrangement described how they broke down the puzzle and reconstructed it. The quote by Yasunori Nishiki: "I mentioned this in the Ultimania Guide (Final Fantasy VII Remake Material Ultimania) too, but I remember seeing a comment from Mr. Uematsu somewhere in which he talked about how he approached the original composition by first creating a number of different motifs and then trying to piece them all together in the manner of a puzzle. I started my arrangement in the spirit of "re-constructing" that original puzzle, breaking it back down into its constituent phrases and then putting it back together in a new order" there's more to the interview about the song but you were spot on with your thoughts about it. For those who want to see more of the interview it's on a Square Enix website, I just looked up "final fantasy 7 remake revisted chapter 18"
The Remake version also has multiple phases since the Sephiroth fight also has multiple phases. I think the second phase starts with the standard intro.
The one in Advent Children it feels like the conclusion and culmination of the rivalry between Cloud and Sephiroth.
32:47 Probably one of the best openings to a 'bad guy' song I've ever heard. It felt so grand once it all kicked in, and really hits the 'you're fighting a god' note perfectly. Request below: I have no idea if you've already done this, and I apologies if you have, but could you please react to the Banjo-Kazooie/ Tooie sound tracks? Ones to reconmmend: - Main theme (both banjo kazooie and tooie) - Freezyeezy peek - hell fire peaks - Spiral mountain (both games)
So happy you are covering this, and especially also including the Kingdom Heart versions.
Love his face at 6:13 when the bell hit. That's me every time I listen to this song
As a composer Remake just blew me away. Just wow. Definitely not the most digestible for casual listening, but If you play you go insane with it. As you said, is a whole experience onto itself it tells a story that you can confirm by watching the game. Feels more action like, encompasses vitality, fervor as a sort of a strike. We're not fighting a gigantic monster but a powerful man. A human-like figure of a beast that has within himself the power to bring doom upon all of us. It's so well thought, so inspiring.
The opening lyrics in the AC version for the main parts roughly translate to “I shall not remain a memory.” in reference to Sephiroth returning to haunt Cloud once more.
And i ADORE how Advent One Winged Angel is basically a metal version of Distant Worlds' arrangement, with updated lyrics
The song improves over time, its an evolution of music
My most favorite thing (amongst so many other things) that I love about Remake's version is at 40:10, the rhythm of the drums. We've been so used to the marching 1, 2 rhythm but this version has off beats and gives a sort of like taiko drum vibes that makes it feel more...'animalistic?' I just love bobbing my head to the beat of those drums put together with choir...man I remember hearing that in game and I had to pause and go "OOOOO!!" 😂 Edit: ahh yes! You explain it perfectly 42:42
This is so awesome I love watching people experience this theme, it was like I was listening to the songs with you 💗
The reason for the sharp differences between the Kingdom Hearts 1 and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix versions of One Winged Angel is due to the music in the PS2 version being limited to being MIDI format however when the 1.5 and 2.5 HD Remix versions were released they remade nearly all the music in a full orchestrated state which is why they sound so much better. Also in the Kingdom Hearts series, Sephiroth is one of the optional secret bosses. In the base games he’s usually the final secret boss and one of the hardest in the games even being a challenge at Max Level 99 (100 in Kingdom Hearts 1), fighting him in a one on one fight. Also your attention to detail with the Crisis Core version of One Winged Angel is spot on. This version of Sephiroth is the younger version who just recently turned from Hero to Villain. He had just read the journals in the Shinra Manor basement made the realization and had his psychotic break, this is also occurring on the same night as the Nibelheim incident. I will never forget seeing that scene with the camera slowly zooming in Sephiroth looking towards the camera then turning and walking away in the fire remade on the PSP
Yes I played and finished all these games.
Distant Worlds version is the one that I always end up going back to. I really love the feeling from the live performance
You are exactly right about the lyrics for Advent children. They talk about it in the commentary, or perhaps it was a making of feature. Either way, the translated Latin is referencing the memory of Sephirtoh in this one.
I love the brwakdown and the review! Im not good at understanding mysic on a technical scale but i feel like im learning things ❤
Super fun video! Love to see how an idea can be expanded on and interpreted.
I remember the Day i heard One Winged Angel for the First Time in a FF Last Boss OST compilation the first thing i had in mind is a big Spider Boss Fight 😂😂
The thing i like about the Remake version is that its so much more chaotic, almost like the band and singers are braking the 4th wall and saying HES HERE, LOOK OUT. I imagine them following you, and getting all panicked but getting payed too much to leave, so get super scared😂❤❤
I was sweating while I was fighting Sephiroth in the remake, especially when it got to the end of the fight and the song devolves into a chaotic mess as you race against the timer to win the battle. It was exhilarating!
Just have to say, I really enjoyed watching your facial expressions as you listen to the songs. It's a joy to see how much you love music!
cool video. i remember the original was the first time me and my friends heard vocals in vgm. in the CD era of the 90’s it was really exciting to hear video games catching up.
I am grateful for your deep explanation of instruments. It is expanding my mind by the second.
What an amazing video! It's very obvious how much fun you had analyzing the different versions of One Winged Angel. Indeed, the REMAKE version is the icing on the cake. It's funny how you talk about how this version keeps you expecting something to happen, and then it doesn't, or it happens in a different way. That's exactly the feeling of the game as well. As players, we are expecting the story and dialogues to unfold like in the original FFVII, but in reality, the game constantly plays these tricks on us, breaking our expectations. Whether you like the game or not. It's impossible not to acknowledge the sheer brilliance in the construction of all this! Thank you for the video!
btw Yasunori Nishiki was also arranging One Winged Angel arrangement in FF7 Remake
It's so funny, even though I played the fight several times, I never noticed JUST HOW MANY changes were made in Remakes version. It was really like listening to one winged angel for the first time, even though I knew every other version. Such a masterpiece
I've listened to OWA Rebirth countless times and I just have to say I had so much fun listening to it with you that made my night. Cheers!
I got exposed to FF7 through the Advent Children movie and The one that probably everyone knows (in where I live at least) including myself when they hear the first few marching notes is the Advent Children version because of how the movie became popular that even non-gamers or even just occasional anime consumers knows about it and they knew Sephiroth through that movie. I became a fan with everything FF7 after watching the movie because of how cool it was that when I got to college in 2010, I researched and played everything FF7 related, That's where I got to play the original and heard all the original OSTs and they're living rent free in my head ever since. But the one that stuck to me the most is the "World's Enemy" from Crisis Core. Sephiroth's spiraling mind after his identity crisis is really translated very well in the intro Like: "yeah Sephiroth, that's what you are. Now put both your hands in your head, eyes wide open, sweat like a waterfall and contemplate your very existence like a madman" and it directly goes to his theme's chorus after that intro like it's saying: "but don't overdo it because you look good and have a majestic hair. Because you're Sephiroth!" Then in the end, you get the standard march intro of Sephiroth's theme implying that he became what he is in the original FF7 game. You have to listen and appreciate to the original or the true to original arrangements of the "One Winged Angel" to appreciate the "World's Enemy". It's just sublime. Still, all of them are great.
Love this video! Humbly requesting the same for the evolution of the Jenova themes!
Hi! I rarely play Final Fantasy overall it was a great episode. My favourite is the remake. it gives a strong impression of intimidation yet has a beautiful melody, simultaneously. I am new to your channel and I love how you explain/describe the history, scenario and emotion from a song. It is a gift to fathom what is the song portraying to its audience. Thank you for existing! Also, I would love to see an episode of you explaining the tracks of Soul Sacrifice. I have a feeling you might like it! Continue being you, wishing you the very best of your channel and have a wonderful day!
I love your channel man. You sound and look so friendly, and give us a history of these songs and you explain them so well. I love your videos, keep doing what you do. Also please do an episode on God of war 3! Or any of the god of war games! I think you will enjoy it. :)
I love the Advent Children version so much because it fits in with whats happening on screen perfectly. Like Sephiroth is unrelenting and he is out for Clouds blood and the music compliments that so well
You'r skills explaining everything and bringing concepts, details, trivia etc is amazing! all the emotions of the music and the game makes so much sense when you can bring up everything. It really adds to the already incredible music. The geniality of it all is...even more admirable. That's why i cry with FF VII every time, and id get the chills
The way u open the video is how I love listening to your cover lol
Great review for my all time favorite video game music theme. First time watching you and certainly not the last one
Thanks god Advent Children is here. I REALLY insist that you need to hear JENOVA from Advent Children, it’s pretty short but oh my god how powerful it is. And btw you can make comparison with remake version two! Thanks for your videos, really interesting every time!
When they released the original FF7 for PC, they had to include a special midi synth capable of playing the voice instruments that you install alongside the game. I think it was GS wavetable synth. So nostalgic.
Did I really just spend almost almost an hour watching a man listen to and analyze One Winged Angel? Yes, and I have zero regrets.
Nobuo Uematsu's One Winged Angel is a timeless Masterpiece!!! All versions rocks!!! Zephiroth's slow descent to madness up to his ascension to a malevolent demi-god reflects...
Also, your reviews on every part of the music are INGENIOUS :)
You're right, Crisis Core Sephiroth was MUCH more innocent, a hero, even a nice guy.
I love that some of the added elements in some of the songs are taken actually directly from other tracks associated with Jehovah and Sephiroth like "Birth of a God" but it's not the only point that rhythm and notation is used in the original. It's a really cool concept to bring that full circle into his theme. The explosive addition of that in Remakes theme is very nice.
I’m so glad you included the kingdom hearts versions! This is my favorite eso game song ever. Beating sephiroth in kingdom hearts 1 is still one of my proudest video game achievements 😆 thank you so much for the awesome breakdowns of all these fantastic versions!
I don’t know if anyone has talked about it or not but I adore the part towards the end of OWA Rebirth where the horns kick up in a triumphant way and it plays the games main battle theme motif. Gives me chills.
The Final Fantasy VII Remake version is so chaotic, if you know the original song you're like, preparing for that build up to sing along, but NO, plot twist. But when the moment finally arrives, my God, it's amazing.
It's like the song is fighting Sephiroth for control. It's being yanked back and fore between what the timeline wants and what Sephiroth wants before we hit the halfway mark, and Sephiroth finally takes full control shown by the original OWA introduction. I love it.
i love FF7 and i absolutely loved your analysis in this video and your passion and interest! thank you for sharing!
For reference regarding Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts (PS2) is followed by Chain of Memories (Game boy advance) then Kingdom Hearts 2 then Kingdom Heart Birth by sleep. When they were ported on PS3/PS4, bundles were made. KH final mix + Kingdom Heart Re: Chain of Memories making the Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix ; Kingdom Hearts II (final mix, where the 2nd music comes) and Birth by sleep in KH 2.5 HD Remix. Basically, the first song was from Kingdom Hearts and the 2nd version, from Kingdom Hearts 2, but on its final version on PS4.
I got to hear the distant worlds version in concert last year - what a great time that was
It's the remake for me. No, I unfortunately never played a FF game before (still haven't, mind you!). I stumbled into this track randomly on the Internet, and I've been hooked on it ever since. Now that I'm talking about it, I wanna share my highlights from it. First, there's the 'new' section at 32:50, the section with the choir just going ALL IN. Then, there's the further warmup at 33:23, the Carmina Burana reference as you called it. Here, at 33:47 is where my personal MOST FAVORITE (and to my knowledge, most underappreciated!) part comes in, I'd be extremely happy if you'd help me out as to what exactly did they do here with the violins going up and this other sound in the back going down (I guess?). I cannot put in into words how much I love these melodics here, so beautiful! It's also a crying shame that it's also incredibly short and it only happens once in the entire 10-minute arrangement. 36:11 Again, that particular 'new' section, man-- does this part just blow my mind! 36:36 Then comes THIS part - that just ramps it up even further! 39:00 Things start to get truly brutal here-- The standard intro as you've called it. 39:25 The lead-in-- 39:32 --to the iconic stuff. 42:13 The key change. 44:10 Picking up the tempo into the finale of the arrangement, if I do say so myself. To say that the remake version is awesome, would be an understatement! (Not so) Off topic: 40:21 Right here, ladies and gentlemen, we see a man who's heart is full to the brim.
This was such a satisfying way to spend an hour ❤❤❤
Advent children has traditionally been my favorite version but man that live recording is fantastic! As a band kid, I can't help but love it. (And want to play it)
I remember hearing the remake version happen and not only got chills but a frantic sense of anxiety. That's some impressive work being able to redo the song so many times and ellicit so many different responses across 30 years.
I just love all of these so much. What an iconic theme
I played the distant worlds version with the RPCO in 3 concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in 2022. It was such a blast and I had to play the game afterwards. Loved final fantasy 7 now and forever! OWA is the gaming version of the Imperial March from Star Wars. Recognisable from the first notes and ingrained in memory
Personally I really Love the advent children version though every version is great in its own way. The kingdom hearts versions have that nostalgic feeling for me since it was the first game I ever played on my own console. But I have to say the Remake version is definitely the most interesting one. Have a good day everyone ❤
So the Kingdom hearts 2.5 remix was his Kingdom hearts 2 boss fight because we fight him in both Kingdom hearts 1 and 2 both as a Secret boss. Which is why they follow the similar format of an abridged like version.
I am so blessed to have grown up playing video games through ALL of Nobuo's compositions and arrangements. I was exposed to some of the most amazing music that not only set the scene, but the emotion. Many of the games I have played with his works in them simply WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE SAME without his influence.
I had gone to see the live performance of Final Fantasy music years ago, and absolutely loved hearing One Winged Angel live
Jealous!!!
With the many itterations of this fantastic theme comes the joy of experiencing them all for the first time. I myself have never played a Final Fantasy game and probably never will, but with this kind of music I cannot deny that they are great. And as per usual I am here to request that you continue reacting to the Risk of Rain 2 ost and consider reacting to Risk of Rain 2013 and Returns ost's =)
One thing to note about one winged angel rebirth is during the fight they don't start chanting sephiroths name till he pulls out the wing, the transition to the advent opening is when you hit his third phase one winged phase, rebirth has one of the best build ups to a boss its insane Edit: also my favorite one winged angel is actually one winges angel advent children complete edition
Love this breakdown was this iconic theme
a lot of ppl don't realise but Shinra's theme also has choir in it and you hear that track much earlier in the game.