“I kind of liked it to your way, How you shyly placed your eyes on me. Did you ever know that I had mine on you?” Over 20 years later and those lines still give me goosebumps.

@chiefwuggets

6 ай бұрын

this is my tier 1 rizz, if i know we're geeks its similar. it'lll win 9 to 10.

I named my daughter Julia, not specifically for this game's character, but replaying it a year ago I was reminded of the track that shares her name, and it brought me to tears. It's the same beautiful feeling I get from my daughter. This game has such a perfect soundtrack.

@AlexConley

3 жыл бұрын

P.S. Squall is 100% Laguna's son. The game itself all but just flat out says it.

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

I absolutely adore this, and totally relate. My daughter is coming in April, and she isn't named after a Final Fantasy character, but after we decided on the name I realised she shares her name with them and it just adds to the personal touch of it. I really love Julia as a name, and a lot of it has to do with growing up on FF8.

@triphazard2906

3 жыл бұрын

@@GameScoreFanfare congratulations on your incoming bundle-of-joy 😄

@ElectricLegend14

2 жыл бұрын

That is so beautiful. I legitimately started tearing up while reading this. For me, I love the connection Ethan Winters has with his daughter in RE8, so I would love to name my future daughter after her. 🥰 Then playing that game after that would be even more emotional for me, because the plot is all about them.

I'll never forget eating at a restaurant not long after the game released and hearing Eyes On Me playing on the radio in the background. It was amazing.

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Whaaaaat, that's a magical moment!

Interestingly, this game is a Wuthering Heights parallel. While the initial “main characters” didn’t end up together, love transcends time to where their kids fulfill their love story. I think the music helps play this out so beautifully.

Eyes on Me is actually Rinoas favourite song, she says so during the concert. Also, yes to this entire video Please do the same for Melodies of Life. I had a field day once I realized that it's only halfway diegetic for reasons.

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Ooo does she? Interesting! I'm gonna have to go back through my footage and check!

@remem95

3 жыл бұрын

@@GameScoreFanfare looked it up. My memory was from the German version where she basically says "This is my favourite song, but the way they play it is terrible". The English line to that is "I love this piece, but it's been terrible for the last few minutes."

@KillChaos7

3 жыл бұрын

How she doesn't love Eyes on Me? that is what left from her mother.

@remem95

3 жыл бұрын

@@KillChaos7 She doesnt like the Jazz version they play

It is worth noting that the song on its own (that is outside of the context of the game) was very popular in general Asia as well by virtue of the existing popularity of Faye Wong. My wife who grew up in south east asia recognized the song from when she was growing up but didn’t know it was attached to the game.

So happy to have you back!

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Just happy to be back. 😊

Really funny you used the term “Our song”, because that’s exactly me and my fiancé’s song. I sang it to him when it was my prom 7 years ago, which was unfortunately a terrible big mess. Nevertheless, I sang it to him that night. I’ve been saying for -years- that it’s the greatest love song ever, and I feel very happy someone else or others think the same. My fiancé had “Julia” modded in FFXIV on his BRD months ago, and the moment he played it for me, I started crying. He laughed of course. It’s our song, and always will be. Hopefully that’ll be our first dance song when we get married this October.

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Awwww this is so sweet! I love it. Congratulations!! 🥰

Great to see you back! Looking forward to watching the vid - VIII has always held a special place in my heart.

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Klonoa, you too have a special place in mine. 💕

4:06 ngl the moment the lyrics started I felt a chill down my spine and, even if it was just a snippet, it made me tear up a little due to pure nostalgia. It's been over 10 years since I last heard that song and hearing it again made me remember how much I loved that game.

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Yup, that happened to me too when I played the game after so long. And by chills, I mean "break down crying".

I remember playing this game in 2000. The song was all over the game so I never forgot about it. I bought the game later on again in 2008. I always beat the game and relived the story over and over again. I think the song in the story lives on because the song is about Julia and Laguna and how their unfullfilled love transcends to their children. This is why we hear variations of the song throughout the game.

I love the attention to detail in this video. Analyzing whether something is diagetically used or not and what that means symbolically is something I'll want to pay attention to going forward.

They really couldn't have chosen a better singer than Faye Wong. She has such a unique and ethereal voice.

Got chills when Julia's theme came in. Great work!

FF8 is the only game I ever 100% completed three times. Thank you so much for reminding me of this beautiful song.

It's such a lovely song. Despite me never having completed FFVIII, I've always loved the first parts of the game for its romantic scenes. They feel bittersweet because they describe that kind of pure love so many of us desperately want to have, but know may ultimately just end up being fantasy.

I can't believe how many times I've played VIII and never clocked everything is 'eyes on me'. Need to play it again now

I'm really, really, really glad you're back. Your content is some of the best and most accessible on the platform, and I was starting to think you were going to be gone forever (understandably, this has hit us all differently, and I hope the break has done you well). Funnily enough, I actually just finished my first playthrough of Final Fantasy 8 less than a week ago after years of wanting to give it a go, so this feels really nice for me to see. Welcome back!!

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

This thing means too much to me. I can't let go of it just yet. 💕

"When the full scope of the couples love is finally realised" Squall: "Now go sit down" over there...

Awww hello! I think Eyes on Me is probably my favorite song of all time, as Final Fantasy VIII is among one of my favorite stories ever told. Thank you for shedding light on this ballad, the song means quite a lot to me.

That was emotional. Thanks!

Never put that much thought into the way the song is used, but I definitely appreciate it now. Good to see your vids again!

Loved it man! Your attention to the visuals and everything else is just inspiring! Thanks for the *love* you've put in this new work. Keep on keeping on! ❤🎮

My personal favourite gaming love song is Small Two of Pieces from Xenogears, which came out a few years before FFVIII. I'm pretty sure Small Two is the first example of a full-length ballad in a video game - they must have carried that idea over from FFVII too. Yasunori Mitsuda uses the theme similar to Uematsu, breaking it up and using variations on the chorus, verses and bridge as leitmotifs throughout the game - including using it in the opening cinematic and as a music box theme. Even cooler is that Xenogears has a motif of broken pieces coming together, so when those leitmotifs conbine in the ending song it hits so hard. I love it!

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Oooh that's interesting! I've never played Xenogears as it was one of those games (such as Chrono Cross and Final Fantasy Tactics) that never made over into PAL territories. Very cool!

@hyperlink1998

3 жыл бұрын

@@GameScoreFanfare I highly recommend giving the soundtrack a listen if you get a chance. Mitsuda is right up there with Uematsu in my eyes. Loved the video - thanks for sharing the game music love. Glad to see you're back!

@Sawngawkuh

3 жыл бұрын

I believe there are vocal themes that predate Xenogears' in other video games, but specifically for Square's RPGs, I think it would've been the first in-game one. Also, while these don't count since they aren't featured in their respective games, an interesting tidbit worth noting is that some themes Uematsu composed in past FF entries did receive vocal albums in the early-mid 90s dedicated to rearranging them into vocal ballads and such.

I would go a little further, and call Final Fantasy VIII a romantic comedy, because when it isn't being serious, it's actually very funny! I think the only wrinkle in the "this is Squall and Rinoa's favorite song" headcanon is the awkwardness of it being a song Rinoa's mom wrote about Squall's dad. The latter bit isn't as relevant as the former, though, since Rinoa actually knew her mom and would have known it was her song, and she and her dad very clearly didn't handle Julia's death well. If she and Squall were to adopt Eyes On Me as their song, I'd at the least like to hear how Rinoa feels about the whole thing, but I also just want Final Fantasy characters to talk about their moms more often. Also you are 100% correct about the basketball scene being good and making perfect sense. I hadn't played most of VIII for a long time, but when I finally saw that scene in context, I was surprised by how much sense it made! 4 & 5 there aren't even fan theories, they're just god's own truth. Glad to see a new video!

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah I was surprised by how funny it was on this playthrough, and how genuinely good a lot of the writing is.

@gorimbaud

3 жыл бұрын

@@GameScoreFanfare I came out of my last playthrough feeling like it was one of the best written games in the series, honestly. Or, at least, that Squall and Rinoa had the best written character arcs in the series. Sad they dropped the ball on the rest of the cast, though. Anyway, I love VIII a lot.

FF VIII is my favorite in the series, thank you for the amazing video

This piece and song makes me tear up everytime I hear this..

9:59 on number 4 I think it is stated in game that Squall is Laguna's and Raine's child... other than that, good job with describing my favorite song from the game! I really love how you did justice to an underrated title.

@michaelrate7693

3 жыл бұрын

Nope, its never stated, just so heavily implied that they basically 'tell' the player without Squall ever finding out ( and with Laguna not knowing until after the last time you play as him). 1-Raine was pregnant with Laguna's child when he left to find Ellone 2-Raine's ghost appears to Squall 3-Laguna tell Squall that he has something important to tell him (and will after the final battle) 4-Laguna put Ellone into Edea's orphanage 5-Laguna is the most likely to have put his/Raine's child there too as no-one in Winhill would even know about the place. 6-Laguna's child is mentioned as being male. 7-Similarities between Laguna and 'internal monologue' Squall. 8-Out of everyone at the orphanage calling her 'sis', Squall is the only one Ellone goes out of her way for (and she is old enough to remember Laguna) Most importantly 9-IF 5 is true then, with Raine being Pregnant when Laguna left Winhill (but not showing) Seifer is too old to be Laguna's son and the options are Zell, Irvine and Squall. Laguna knows. Of the three, it is obvious he will want to tell his son first, which makes the something important from 3 be 'Squall, I'm you're dad!'.

@seasaltlover7409

3 жыл бұрын

@@michaelrate7693 ohh it makes sense, except for number 2, where does Raine's ghost appear? Are you referring to the dream sequence? I barely finished the game and I'm not sure if I missed something since I never traveled to Winhill in the game because I got stuck on Lunatic Pandora. Other than that thank you for clarifying, English is not my first language and while I seem to understand it there is always that one time where I might get it wrong.

I always love hearing you discuss music in Final Fantasy 😭❤️ Thank you for another fantastic video ❤️❤️❤️

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

More to come! ❤️

So glad you’re back :)

Glad to see you posting again. Great work as always! I really appreciate what you do.

Love it! Thank you so much for making a video on this. It is so well-made and aesthetic pleasing. This song have always bring warmth to me. Keep it up! Can't wait to see more of your work!

This video is one of your best imo. Great narrative and story telling. Thank you, made my night

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Aww you made my night!! 😭

Sharing without thinking it's another form of showing love to the content you do.

Great to have you back. Can't wait for more final fantasy videos.

So happy to see a new upload on this channel! Welcome back! Love your insightful commentary and openness to respond emotionally to music (which is what it's always been about!)

bro your ff videos are so good

Glad to have you back! I missed your vids

Thanks for making this video man! Hope you're doing well!

Glad to see you back, amazing video as ever. :)

you never fail to put us in awe of the amazing-ness of gaming music

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

I try. 💕

excellent analysis! I love this music. FF8 is past present and Future in one!

Wow, great new video. Love the quality of the visuals, sound, everything. I remember mostly the Waltz song, because that was part of a PC FF8 demo I played way in the past. I never like RPG games, with the turn based fighting and all, but the visuals, story and music of FF8 (demo) was amazing. Recently I listened to more FF music mostly FF7 remake), and appreciate it a lot. Keep up the good work! Interesting that Waltz and Eyes on Me has the same notes, now I notice them. Somehow I always like it when a game or movie has a certain theme and leitmotif, I miss that in newer movies.

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Yes the PC demo was my intro to FF8 as well! You did the waltz, then the training center with Quistis. You had Leviathan as a GF, which you don't even get until later in the game! I couldn't get enough of the demo, it blew me away. I remember complaining to my neighbour that I couldn't figure out how to proceed after the training center. Turns out it was because the demo ended, and he had the full thing on PS1. So I borrowed it from him and thus my love affair began.

I love looking into music theory and how it is applied, this one has always stayed with me so thanks for the in-depth look at it!

I think it would have been very entertaining if Rinoa had played Eyes On Me in the Ragnarok cockpit speakers. Rinoa: Hold on Squall let me put on something romantic. It'll be "Our Song". You know the one my mom wrote.

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Rinoa: "yo, does this spaceship have an aux?"

FF8 is amazing and probably has one of the most nostalgic soundtracks for me. I’m almost certain it won’t get the remake treatment in my lifetime but I’m so glad the piano collections exist. Great vid as always!

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Maybe one day. Who knows what will happen in 20 years!?

Always a pleasure to hear analysis that's so insightful. :>

Didn't realise it'd been 7 months but geez I'm happy this is here

Been a minute since I've seen ur vids in my timeline m8

lovely video! i watched this knowing nothing about this game or song, but you've sold me on its cultural impact. thanks for sharing!

Perfect analysis. I loves that game and you helped me noticing out about the music. After your video on octopath travelers, I have no choice but to subscribe. Cheers frome France mate

I missed these videos, great job :')

Aw yis, you're back with my favourite final fantasy. Amazing.

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

It's MY favourite Final Fantasy!

Oh, a new video!??!! YES!

Eyes on Me is romantic to be sure, but... Melodies of Life... that, that song breaks my heart.

@YouDonkeyfu

3 жыл бұрын

ya, years later and these songs still send chills up my spine

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

so powerful.

that's also the reason why my fave FF is FF8. Eyes on me is really one of the best game ost :)

Eyes on Me is my favorite main theme in all of FF. The way it was used was perfectly interwoven into the story like you explained. My favorite of part of this song is where it breaks the tempo around 4:29, and starts the chorus immediately. It really sells the desperation for Julia calling for Laguna one last time. She really wanted to be with him, and her last thoughts were that of Laguna. I think that’s the reason the lyrics ends with the same notes when the song starts, because Julia couldn’t let go. She died as she lived, suffering for the hope that she will reunite with her love. It was used similarly in the end, where Laguna recalls his time with Raine and her death, but Laguna is able to look towards the future as the Garden flies by, so the song ends on a lighter and newer tone. Both Eyes On Me and the Ending Theme were perfectly used for Squall and Rinoa as well. The Ragnarok scene perfectly matches up with the lyrics, and the desperation from Julia is echoed through Rinoa, her daughter, when the tempo break I mention occurs at the same time Rinoa mention about time standing still, where she reverts to her old self, and becomes fearful for the future again. The Ending FMV is used in a hopeful tone. Rinoa walks confidently, holds her ring, and tries to save Squall despite her being lost herself, and when she presumably fails, the song beautiful sings the chorus, showing her hope prevailed. Unlike Laguna and Julia, they didn’t have the stars aligned, but Squall and Rinoa did have them align, and so the song doesn’t end on them, because they’re love is fully realized and immortalized. There is hope for the future, but most importantly, the game highlights the present, with this moment of the beautiful flower field. It’s doesn’t give a clear answer to what happens next for the entire duration of the song, but it shows the “Enjoying the Now” mentality of Rinoa. FFVIII is my favorite piece of art. It isn’t perfect, but it’s the most beautiful thing that touched my heart. It was a fun game that not only served as escapism, but it made me comfortable with reality. The gameplay drew me in, the story was epic, but the characters were easily the best part. I relate to these characters more than I do to real people. Their growth inspired me. Squall’s arc of camaraderie, Rinoa’s arc of importance of the present and love, Zell’s arc of self-esteem, Selphie’s arc of hope and happiness, Quistis’s arc of self-discovery and purpose, and Irvine’s arc of choosing your destiny changed me as a person. Even the antagonists were relatable, so much so, I can’t call them villains. Seemed like it took the bad qualities of myself, and turned them into characters, who learned how to change and solve their problems. The music played a big part with that. It’s easily one of Nobuo Uematsu’s greatest works, especially when no character has it clear on their own individual theme, yet you feel what the characters and settings feel like through the music. I’m really glad to see people who appreciate this game as much as I do. You should absolutely stick to what you’re doing.

@LyntzbartzkyPerez

6 ай бұрын

I know this is a 2 year old comment but you’re literally just like me bro FFVIII has like the same importance in my life

Wow, this was awesome! Really reminds me of your earlier works which I absolutely adored. I used to be a top tier supporter on patreon, but stopped contributing due to a few consecutive unsatisfactory videos. I anxiously await the next release and will definitely support again if it is as good as this.

Missed you, buddy. Great video!

Love this video ❤ eyes on me is one of the best tracks in any game ever ❤❤❤

Really good explanation Sir!

AHHHHH I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU BACK

Well done sir! 👍 Thank you!

I never noticed the Eyes On Me/Waltz connection before! Great video as always (even though I still prefer Melodies haha)

HE IS BACK

Great video!

Fantastic video as always. While I love everything in it however, and while I hate to be that guy especially in something I love as much as videogame music, one could argue that the very first theme song in the series was in FFVI, with the wonderful Aria of Mezzo Carattere. Eyes on Me is more prominent as a leitmotif and as a narrative tool, but it wasn't the very first one.

In conclusion, Square Enix should capitalize on the success of FFVII remake to give us a full remake of FFVIII.

I enjoyed the video! Glad you're back! I'd also bring up the Opera House song from FF6 because while it's not a pop song I think there are plenty of lines you can draw between them in this FF song lineage!

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Good point! Though Draco and Maria aren't exactly characters in the game.

Thanks for this. It’s cheesy but this song means a lot. Also it was my first mp3 back in the day.

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah! My first phone had a Julia polyphonic ringtone on it.

brilliantly organized argument, i fully agree!

There is also another reason Eyes on Me is played for Squall and Rinoa. Squall is actually Laguna's son and in Laguna's backstory it is mentioned how Julia got married to a General Caraway, Rinoa's father...so it is Laguna and Julia coming together in their offspring.

I always like how this "Love" song does not have a single of the generic words/quotes a love song has. Just Uematsu Sama, things

This song made me play the game, not sure what was i expecting cuz it was my first PS1 FF

Wow, this video released so close to Patrick H Williem's video about needle drops in movies where there also a lot of talking about diegetic and non-diegetic use of songs. It's kinda amazing

The Breath Mints.

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

The Breath Mints.

The multiplayer mainline titles got theme songs too. XIV had Answers from the beginning and every expansion got one or two, depending how you look at them. It was a couple of expansions before XI got Distant Worlds, but that was considered so important they named the most prominent series of live touring Final Fantasy concert performances after it.

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I did some quick research because I'm clueless when it comes to the MMO's. but I didn't want people giving me TECHNICALLYs so I just specified the single player games. 😂

I cannot be swayed in this opinion: Writing a lyrical main theme that plays during the end credits and then hinting at that theme with instrumental arrangements throughout the rest of the game is the OBJECTIVELY best way to write a videogame OST. No matter what else you have in there, if you have at least that, it's a good soundtrack.

@agromchung

3 жыл бұрын

Also see: all of the Fire Emblem games after Awakening

@Tohlemiach

3 жыл бұрын

@@agromchung yes. And also yes.

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Good thing Eyes On Me plays in the ending theme too!

Nice to see you back. Yeah the song is pretty good, tho I liked Melodies of Life more. Has that melancholy that resonates with me more

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Crossing Those Hills is the most melancholic version. 💕

Bit off topic, but I remember my first playthrough when the song came on and I heard the voice singing, it felt kinda weird. I hadn't heard a single voice in all the hours I'd played up until that point. Really off topic: If Mrs. Wendal and I have an our song, it's ... lol ... Running in the 90s

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I totally get that too. I mean there is Liberi Fatali and Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec. But it really brings out the humanity in the song when there's not another voice in the game.

Wow!!!! Love it!!!!!!

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

I adore this!! I put it on my wedding playlist during the dinner.

The game that introduced me to the whole jrpg genre ❤️

#1 our song of all time

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Heck yeah

I agree 100% with everything said in this video.

I love this song , and i never complete this game , but i like how every FF game has a great soundtrack , especially for me FFVII VIII IX and X , can you analyze something from FFX? Great video c:

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

I'd love to! X is one of my favourite FF soundtracks.

you know I've been eager to hear you talk about 8...now for the 8 part video deconstructing liberi fatali right? I kid of course....kinda

I want to see a remake for FFVIII

@gorimbaud

3 жыл бұрын

I'm not necessarily desperate for a remake of the game (but i'd super play one), but I am desperate for a remake-approach to the OST, ala this: twitter.com/alex_moukala/status/1316470415217360898?lang=en

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

I've always wanted a prequel where you play through Laguna's story!

I’d love for you to go to over FF9’s Melodies of Life, if you ever started making videos again.

yeees this song (and the game tbh) needs more recognition (also wait…squall *isn't* confirmed to be laguna and raine's son? you learn something new everyday)

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

Nah he definitely is. But the game never flat-out says it, strangely.

I think this video made me care more about ff8 than ff8 did... Eyes on Me really is a *very* good song.

#4 That's a fact though. Squall is Laguna's son.

I've just realized that Eyes on Me was made by Rinoa's mother for Squall's dad. That made my brain go "sorry what"

Song for wedding ceremony

Agree

Given that Rinoa's mom wrote the song for Squall's dad, yeah, I think it is definitely their "our song", lol.

❤❤❤

I dunno. Paper Boats is a really good love song. :P Can't wait to watch after I'm off work.

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

This guy has good taste.

@sonoxas7176

3 жыл бұрын

"You can run, but you caaaaaan't hiiiiide"

As these months of absence are sure to do you dirty as far as the Algorithm™ is concerned, here is a little comment to hopefully help you out. Happy to have you back. Also, Squall is a self centered little edgelord and Rinoa deserved better.

@GameScoreFanfare

3 жыл бұрын

But she cracks open his hard shell and makes him open up!

❤

I don't even like FF8 but I still love this song. Gives me chills every time I hear it.