Round 3, Pairing 14: "The Stage is Set (FFVIII)" vs. "The Successor (FFVIII)"

[Dave]

I wonder if today's pairing will be as close as yesterday's? Vote here (www.squareenixmusic.com/uematsu.php). Thanks!

[Totz]

Let's go, "Stage"! I still don't see what's so special and magical and special again about "The Successor".

[TheShroud13]

Neither of these are particularly special to me. "The Successor" is my preference if I have to take one. It's actually a pretty interesting piece past the first few bars (and the restatements of those bars).

[Resk]

I think I'll go with Stage... good memories of going around Esthar and Balamb with the gang...

[Black Mamba]

"Successor" is just all kinds of weird coolness. However, less is sometimes more. "Stage" gets my vote here.

[Don]

So hard for me to vote. I'll choose Successor only because I'm in a sappy kind of mood today.

[Chris]

Simple derivative piano theme based on a chord progression already overused in FFVIII vs. awesome militaristic action theme featuring a melodic progression overused in FFVIII but presented in one of its finest forms.

I'll go with "The Stage is Set" thank you very much.

[Stryfe]

I had to check to make sure I wasn't just listening to the Piano Collections there. Military orchestra fun vs. slow piano boring...hardly a difficult choice for me.

Edit: woops, already been said *gets sued for plagiarism* ;.;

[Dark Cloud]

Man, what is up with FFVIII and this competition?

Anyways, I'm going with "Stage." Just can't get past that militaristic sound.

[Neo Locke]

Wait, what!? The Successor beat Living by the Sword? Noooooo...

*votes for Stage is Set and stabs The Successor repeatedly with a knife*

[TheShroud13]

"Living by the Sword" isn't very good :p I rued starting a new FFIX game every time because I knew I had to get through that. "Vamo alla Flamenco" made the pain easier, but "Living by the Sword" is. . .really boring.

[Scherzo]

God, after "Vamo'alla Flamenco" VS "The Extreme," all the other pairings seem so anticlimactic.

"The Successor" this round, I guess . . .

[Zhetty]

"The Successor" was good in the beginning (for the first 10 notes), but afterwards... Oh wow, boring.

"The Stage is Set" puts me in a strategy-RPG mood. It reminds me of a final/boss map bgm. :p

[McFate]

The Successor for me. While that chord progression is overused, I still like it better than the overused military theme. So yeah, Successor! :)

[Kaibigan]

The Stage is Set mostly for it's development and 'singing' percussion. Really one of those very effective military pieces.

[insertnamehere]

I voted for something that was not boring and that is the stage is set

[Dave]

The Stage is Set (FFVIII) 59.46 % (22)
The Successor (FFVIII) 40.54 % (15)

Won by a fair way!