The Grand Final: "Ending Theme" (FFVI) vs. "Battle With Gilgamesh" (FFV)

[Chris]

The final has at last arrived. Vote (http://www.squareenixmusic.com/uematsu.php) and make it a wonderful end to the contest with lots of comments!

Poll runs until midnight GMT tomorrow

[Z-Freak]

The best ending theme in the series and the best special battle theme in the series ....

I'll go with Gilgamesh as it made me purchase the FFV OSV in the first place.... When I first discovered it back in 1997, I couldn't stop listening to it !! The composition is spot-on, it's fun, addictive and is pretty memorable.

Ending Theme is awesome as well, but it's hard to sit through those 20+ minutes of greatness. FFVI was my first real attachment to Uematsu, but FFV made it definite that I had to buy the OSV. Of course FFVI soon followed after.

[weabblewill]

Chris, some weird protocol webpage comes up when I click on the link to vote. http://www.w3.org/Protocols/ What is that???

[Z-Freak]

There is an extra "http:/" in his link. Should be corrected soon enough.

[McFate]

I just realised that all post Nintendo FF songs have been dropped. Bit strange - shows that Uematsu's work on the PSX and PS2 is not appreciated by squareenixmusic fans like his earlier works.

The last two themes are very foreign for me. I won't vote - wouldn't be fair to choose based on half-opinions. Regardless of who wins, the 'Best of Uematsu' theme won't be one of my favourites... (Maybe this is the REAL reason why I won't vote... :P)

Well, at least Main Theme FF VII made it as far as it could.

And oh, if Gilgamesh wins, I'll be especially disappointed. But you guys know my hang ups about battle themes winning. :D Think of it like this: the best work of Uematsu, a battle theme? Wow. :S

[Don]

Let's see. I voted for Ending Theme despite my love for Gilgamesh. The way I see it, I'd rather have a piece of music that brings his best work (in my opinion) together win than just a battle theme (which does kick ass by the way). So the best of Uematsu to me, would be FFVI, which can be seen in the ending theme.

[weabblewill]

Well, we’re at the end here folks, and time to make a final vote. I was hoping FFVII main and FFVI ending would be the last battle because it was a lot tougher to decide. It’s been real fun to learn from everybody their various point of views on Uematsu’s music. The final four were extremely diverse, one as a cute town melody, one as a great battle track, one as an amazing overworld theme, and another as a great ending finale. This final round is extremely tough. I thought the only other piece that could possibly have beat “Ending theme” was “Dancing Mad”, and mighty Gilgamesh came on top to beat “Dancing Mad”.

Gilgamesh is a great theme, and shows Uematsu’s ability of creating great battle tracks that are catchy and extremely addictive. But I feel there’s just so many other battle themes that also deserve to be here hand in hand in the finals with Gilgamesh like “Jenova” FFVII , “Force Your Way” FFVIII, “Dancing Mad” FFVI, “Fierce Battle Atma Weapon” and “The Decisive Battle” FFVI. Gilgamesh gets my utmost respect for taking on so many great themes to come out on top. However to me, this piece only represents one facet of Uematsu’s musical talents (in terms of battle music).

I’ve asked myself the question, what do I want to remember from Uematsu in this contest? I feel “Ending Theme” is an excellent representation of Uematsu’s greatest ability, and that is creating memorable melodies when I hear each character theme interwoven perfectly. It is one Uematsu’s great tracks in one of his most revered VGM albums of all time (FFVI) that got me into VGM when I had my SNES station. Some may say it has an almost unfair advantage because of all the mammoth theme integrations, and I do not argue with that. But since this piece is in the contest, I cannot deny this piece excels beyond the other tracks that I’ve heard in terms of emotion and melody. Beyond character themes, Sezter’s theme makes me remember Uematsu’s airship themes that were bold and memorable, while FF main cue at the end reminds me of what Final Fantasy was all about. Therefore, FFVI Ending gets my well deserved vote, because I feel it is worthy of being called the “Best of Nobuo Uematsu”.

[Chris]

Sorry about the link problem.

I'll go with Gilgamesh as it made me purchase the FFV OSV in the first place.... When I first discovered it back in 1997, I couldn't stop listening to it !! The composition is spot-on, it's fun, addictive and is pretty memorable.

Ending Theme is awesome as well, but it's hard to sit through those 20+ minutes of greatness. FFVI was my first real attachment to Uematsu, but FFV made it definite that I had to buy the OSV. Of course FFVI soon followed after.

I agree with you here, though I'd displace 1997 with something like 2002. However, I also agree with Will's inspiring points, even if I don't listen to the Ending Theme often. I went with Gilg, but either is worthy, for very different reasons.

I just realised that all post Nintendo FF songs have been dropped. Bit strange - shows that Uematsu's work on the PSX and PS2 is not appreciated by squareenixmusic fans like his earlier works.

Well, it is the final. All his FFI-IV songs have been dropped too. But, yes, many do feel that the golden Uematsu era were his SNES games.

[Ronito]

This is the finale? While both of these pieces are good I in no way expected them to be in the finale. Top five, surely, but top two? FFVI Ending is a conglomeration of other themes, so it's not really it's own piece and Gilgamesh, while I enjoy it I do think it tends to be a little overrated. No FFVII Main theme? So many other pieces so worthy, and it comes down to these two. Shock and awe.

[Zhetty]

"Battle With Gilgamesh". Ending has its musical merits, but it doesn't have the same impact with me. But I couldn't care how this goes--both themes are very excellent and deserve to be here.

[Nathan Black]

I found the development of this contest's pieces quite... surprising. Then again, I'm not quite sure what song I would ever place as my favorite Uematsu jam. Then again, I'm not really too fond of the fellow's work, in the first place.

Oh, well! I would vote for either, so I need some silly reason to choose one over the other.

That reason is as follows: I like Sabin, and I hate Relm. Relm's theme is given too much airtime in "Ending Theme," so it must die.

Gogogo, Gilgamesh.

[McFate]

I guess you never played the Nintendo FFs...
That maybe the reason you can't appreciate the classic songs.
As for me, I prefer his earlier works, especially FFVI and FFIV.
You should listen to FFVI character themes... They are simply wonderful :)
And even better if you play the game to get the feeling.


Well, the problem may be that I started my FF career with FF VII-X-2, and then started with FF VI... It's totally different from the PSX ones - I really like the movie-style stuff in the later games, but this extra zest I couldn't find in FF VI, for example. So it's pretty hard to adjust... I think whichever game you start with (and its music) will be the one you like most. :)

[TheShroud13]

"Gilgamesh". Probably my favourite Uematsu piece that made it decently far aside from "Vamo". It has personality, and stands as a good piece outside of context, where "Ending Theme" isn't nearly as effective when not seen as the ultimate realization that came before in FFVI.

Think of it like this: the best work of Uematsu, a battle theme? Wow. :S

I have no problems with that. What's wrong with battle theme's anyway?

I think whichever game you start with (and its music) will be the one you like most.

I started with VII. It's pretty low on my favourites list.

[insertnamehere]

Ill say it once and ill keep reapeting it as most of you know nobuo uematsu shines in battle themes so i voted for gilgamesh so far with my vote they are both tie.

[Pandemonium]

Gilgamesh hasn't personally clicked for me yet. Ending Theme is so epic and reprises some of the greatest of all of Uematsu's themes, Gilgamesh has a few very good themes but Ending Theme has 15+. It flows well in spite of the thematic density and I find it much more emotive as well as technically proficient. In fact I was surprised Gilgamesh got as far as it did, Force Your Way ticks more of my boxes.

[Dark Cloud]

I'm gonna go with "Gilgamesh" here. I've been a supporter of it ever since this contest started.

By the way, the votes at the time of this post are now tied, 14-14. Good luck Gilgy.

[Boco]

I figured that this final poll would be a close one. Thus, I decided to post as well as vote.

My vote went to FFVI's "Ending Theme." This competition has surprised and amused me to no end, but it is very fitting that the finale be an epic piece versus a battle theme. I chose "Ending Theme" because I enjoy it more than "Clash on the Big Bridge" and because it represents Uematsu's greatest musical achievement at that point in time.

And as for the "medley" naysayers: you don't have to like "Ending Theme," but don't put it down just because it is a derivative work. Medleys and derivative works have been accepted as worthy musical compositions since the medieval era. Honestly... what sort of epic ending theme wouldn't recount prior melodies and motives where appropriate? No point in having a theme if it doesn't return.

[TheShroud13]

And as for the "medley" naysayers: you don't have to like "Ending Theme," but don't put it down just because it is a derivative work.

First of all, welcome, I'm glad you decided to post here! I must say that I don't really like being told what to think though. It's nothing personal, it's just something that bothers me. I will dislike any piece of music for whatever reason I want to. I have no problem with people favouring "Ending Theme", I can certainly see its merits, I really love the piece, but for what I personally see this contest being, a medley doesn't quite fit the bill.

Honestly... what sort of epic ending theme wouldn't recount prior melodies and motives where appropriate? No point in having a theme if it doesn't return.

I don't disagree that "Ending Theme" is a good piece, and as far as ending themes for anything go, I would give it a nod any day of the week. I even perhaps enjoy it more than I enjoy "Gilgamesh". However, "Ending Theme" does not work well outside of context. A person that has not played FFVI, and is simply looking for a piece of music to listen to is going to find a piece with very little motivic unity outside of each theme's realization. It might work on some level for people, but most listeners are going to have difficulties taking in the piece as its own entity. Also, although this isn't an entirely fair statement as a whole can certainly be better than its parts, I have trouble voting for a piece whose individual themes weren't good enough to make it to this point.

"Gilgamesh" on the other hand works entirely well on its own. Its compositional development is based entirely on ideas developed within the composition. As such it doesn't need any prior knowledge of themes or anything to fully enjoy. Some thematic ideas when taken out of context can work very well, but I think "Ending Theme" covers too much ground to really stand as its own piece separate from its parts. I'm sort of taking this as a best Uematsu theme contest personally, and "Ending Theme" is more of a conglomeration than a stand-alone theme.

[Chris]

Welcome to the forums, Boco. :) It's great to see that some non-forum members have been enjoying the forum too. I enjoyed your analysis and hope you'll some day decide to post again.

Shroud, I find much of your second and third paragraph telling people what to think. There isn't much objective about the statement that 'Ending Theme' does not work well outside of context, though I agree it probably works better in context. I find that and similar statements just as 'oppressive' as an encouragement to not solely judge "Ending Theme" based on the fact it is derivative or a suggestion that Ryuichi Sakamoto may be Japan's greatest musician. Not criticising your arguments, but your criticism of other's presentation of posts.

[Resk]

I think I'll go with... Gilgamesh FTW!

[Totz]

I'm going with the Gilgster. This being a Uematsu contest, why not have one of his most praised battle themes to win it? ;)

[Chris]

It's still neck-on-neck. Very scary! What if it's a true draw? :o

[TheShroud13]

Shroud, I find much of your second and third paragraph telling people what to think. There isn't much objective about the statement that 'Ending Theme' does not work well outside of context, though I agree it probably works better in context. I find that and similar statements just as 'oppressive' as an encouragement to not solely judge "Ending Theme" based on the fact it is derivative or a suggestion that Ryuichi Sakamoto may be Japan's greatest musician. Not criticising your arguments, but your criticism of other's presentation of posts.

I'm not telling anyone what to think - I was just explaining that my personal interpretation of the contest (as more of a best Uematsu theme vs. a best Uematsu piece of music) lead to my vote for Gilgamesh. I don't think everyone needs to think of things that way. My point was not that "Ending Theme" is totally worthless out of context, but that it has little personal identity as an individual theme as it's a unification of many identifiable parts - where as "Gilgamesh" is pretty much all derived from the same material. I do believe those are objective statements, and thus I stated them as so. Everything else, as far as my interpretation of the contest - was all subjective, and I'm pretty certain I expressed it as so.

[SephirothLaguna]

Well, I'm gonna have to go with Ending theme. I like it so much, I'm listening to it on loop now, when I could be going to my KH music.:thumbs:

[Black Mamba]

I am not happy with either of these taking the title of Nobuo's best.

But it is what it is and I must vote for one. FFVI's Ending Theme is just a mixture of melodies from the FFVI sountrack. I'm much rather give the title to a single piece of music.

I'm just sad its Gilgamesh. :(

And I bring it to a tie....

[Scherzo]

Well, I know I'll be voting for Gilgamesh over the Ending Theme, even though I don't particularly like either piece. My problem with Ending Theme is that to justify it being here instead of any of the individual themes it features -- none of which made it into the final 16, BTW -- I'd have to say that the artistry in connecting the different melodies into a cohesive whole was stunning enough to warrant beating out all 127 other themes.
Course, I don't think so. So even though it's a bit ridiculous for a battle theme, Gilgamesh gets my vote.

EDIT: Oh yeah, I'm also a bit pissed that Ending Theme beat off Vamo'alla Flamenco. Just thought I'd get that off my chest.

[Edgar]

A vote for Ending Theme. Battle With Gilgamesh is a great fun battle theme, but I don't think it's the best piece of music Uematsu has written. On the other hand, FF VI Ending is the best of Uematsu, as it compiles his best character themes into a single grand medley.

[Boco]

I must say that I don't really like being told what to think though. It's nothing personal, it's just something that bothers me. I will dislike any piece of music for whatever reason I want to.

Apparently my first post was a little confusing. I wasn't trying to tell people what to like or dislike. In fact, I said that people "don't have to like 'Ending Theme.'" I was trying to make a point that "Ending Theme" was indeed a valid, unique piece of music. "Ending Theme" is no less musical or complete than "Clash on the Big Bridge." It is a medley and you're free to dislike it because of that. But statements like these are what bother me:

FFVI Ending is a conglomeration of other themes, so it's not really it's own piece

I'm sort of taking this as a best Uematsu theme contest personally, and "Ending Theme" is more of a conglomeration than a stand-alone theme.

I have no problem with likes, dislikes or opinions. It's just sad to see erroneous opinions paraded as fact. :( For example, one doesn’t have to believe that George Washington existed… but that’s rather silly isn’t it? Likewise, one can criticize a piece of music freely… but it’s just silly babble without just cause and supporting arguments. Remember, I’m not talking about enjoyment. I’m talking about criticizing the piece’s musicality. And there’s no rule or tradition that says medleys don’t count as unique, stand-alone works.

However, "Ending Theme" does not work well outside of context.

It doesn't? Oh... well I've always enjoyed it out of context. For me, it "works" just as well as any other piece that was in this competition. And another thing: that is most definitely telling people what to think. Try not to scold me for doing things that you do too. :roll:

Sorry about arguing so much. If this post seems too harsh… then just tell me to chill. My life revolves around music analysis and I just can’t stand it when people freely mix and match analysis, criticism, and personal preference. It drives me crazy! :o

[Rain]

Nonsense! Nothing wrong with a little arguing to get the brain and the heart goin. :)

Let's see. I voted for Ending Theme despite my love for Gilgamesh. The way I see it, I'd rather have a piece of music that brings his best work (in my opinion) together win than just a battle theme (which does kick ass by the way). So the best of Uematsu to me, would be FFVI, which can be seen in the ending theme.

QFT. Ending Theme (big surprise) gets my vote as well.

[insertnamehere]

Sorry about arguing so much. If this post seems too harsh… then just tell me to chill. My life revolves around music analysis and I just can’t stand it when people freely mix and match analysis, criticism, and personal preference. It drives me crazy! Don't worry i think shroud can take it. welcome btw

[Boco]

Also, even though I was surprised "Clash on the Big Bridge" made it this far, I have no complaints with it winning. One of the things that really got me excited about new FF soundtracks was the battle music. I would have felt cheated if a battle theme didn't make it into the final round. :D

[Nathan Black]

So... "Battle with Gilgamesh" is actually "Clash on the Big Bridge?" I never knew it had an actual name. ;)

I enjoy Chris Tilton's rearrangement of Gilgamesh's theme a lot more than the original, and I think the piece overall shows that diversity, even in battle themes (perhaps especially in battle themes), is a key part of what gives a song lasting power. I mean, as far as I'm concerned, there's not a single normal battle theme I've enjoyed hearing for an entire game. Boss music switches things up, and Gilgamesh doesn't strive to meet expectations, which makes it an even better piece than most battle themes, to me. It sets its own bar, and, take it or leave it, is unique because of it.

Gilgamesh is a joke, and his song is almost a joke. However, it has very intense structure, regardless of the bounciness, which mirrors the fact that Gilgamesh can be quite a real threat (and does become such).

And Relm's Theme is garbage, I say. Garbage!

[Resk]

The real funny thing, is that the Gilgamesh theme actually fits the mythological figure that the reference is based on - the myth of Gilgamesh from Mesopotamia (sp).

On a totally different note, I find the results of the voting to be very... suspicious. Almost every pair in Round 4 and Round 5 has come down to a vote difference of less than 5 votes between the two options. Kind of makes me glad that the vocal contest (which will start when this one is finished), will show more accurate results since it won't be influenced by outside votes.

[Chris]

Just to note, I'm shifting the poll's closing time to 2 AM GMT (i.e. about three hours away). Then there'll be an all Hamaguchi theme round (10 themes all against each other in one poll). Then, on Thursday, the vocal contest will start, largely run by Resk.

[GoldfishX]

No mysteries here...I voted Gilgamesh. I fondly remember the first time hearing both of these (I discovered Gilgamesh right around the time I discovered there WAS a Final Fantasy V!). Ending Theme is pretty much a flawless medley, but I've always gotten the biggest charge out of Uematsu's battle themes and Gilgamesh takes the crown in that category (although Zeromus' battle theme is a close second).

Go go Gilgy!

[Chris]

It ended up a solid victory for Gilgamesh:

Battle With Gilgamesh (FFV) 55.43 % (51)
Ending Theme (FFVI) 44.57 % (41)

Total votes: 92

Feel free to discuss the outcome here. :) Congratulations, Gilg. I wonder what Uematsu will think of that? Hopefully soon enough, SEMO will ask him. :)

[weabblewill]

“Ending Theme” put up a hell’ov a battle against Gilgamesh, but Gilgamesh was too overwhelming for you in the end. So long for now.

I think Uematsu will definitely be surprised his most cherished pieces of work are his battle themes when SEMO interviews him. We might want to ask him, what track he feels is his best work ever and why.

[Pandemonium]

I wonder what Uematsu will think of that? Hopefully soon enough, SEMO will ask him.

Hmmmm, that'll be interesting.

I am dissappointed Ending Theme didn't pull ahead but Battle with Gilgamesh is not bad I guess in spite of it's brevity, the themes are good and it has a great deal of pace and impact. I think Ending Theme is the superior piece but perhaps its length can be a bit much for those not accustomed to 20 mins of solid music hence the lack of poularity in the final stage.

[Boco]

I'll admit it... I am discouraged that "Clash on the Big Bridge" was the winning battle theme, but I am glad that a battle theme won.

And, as always, "best" doesn't necessarily mean "favorite." Does anyone else find that interesting? The two words are used so interchangeably and yet their meanings (and realizations) and so vastly different. Hmm...

[Scherzo]

I think Uematsu will definitely be surprised his most cherished pieces of work are his battle themes when SEMO interviews him. We might want to ask him, what track he feels is his best work ever and why.

I've heard him say he's very proud of "To Zanarkand." Which is funny, given how early it got knocked out of the competition.

Gilgamesh was a good win though -- it could have been worse.

[Nathan Black]

And, as always, "best" doesn't necessarily mean "favorite." Does anyone else find that interesting? The two words are used so interchangeably and yet their meanings (and realizations) and so vastly different. Hmm...

I'm not so sure about that. The substitution is so easily done because, unless one is very careful, both are quite subjective. If we say that the "best" Uematsu piece is the one that wins this competition, then, by goly, it's the best piece of music, by the criterion that have been set in place. Of course, anywhere else, Gilgamesh's Theme may be considered a laughable choice; then again, it may not.

The thing about elimination is that the winner may not be the very best... just the best of the two choices. Would Gilgamesh have lost to another song, if it had been placed against it in the finale? Who's to say, really.

In this specific contest, the best and favorite sometimes can be interchangeable. I'd be surprised to see a person admit to favoring a song which is inferior in their own mind.

But people like to surprise me. :)

[Dark Cloud]

Wow, to be honest, I thought FFVI Ending was gonna win. Guess I was wrong..kudos Gilgamesh, Uematsu, and all of the themes that were in this contest.

[Boco]

If we say that the "best" Uematsu piece is the one that wins this competition, then, by goly, it's the best piece of music, by the criterion that have been set in place.

I had never thought of it that way. Thanks for posting! That really gave me something interesting to think about.

In my mind, I always associate "best" with quality and "favorite" with personal preference. Some of my favorite music is (in my opinion) not very "good." But on the other hand, even quality can be very subjective (though I tend to think it's slightly less subjective than preference).

Now I must go and ponder this concept... Honestly, you just made my day. It's like a little light-bulb just turned on in my brain.

[insertnamehere]

Hitoshi Sakimoto's version of "Clash on the Big Bridge". It's really cool! Woah when did this happen and where can i get this?????

[Dark Cloud]

Woah when did this happen and where can i get this?????

It's on the FFXII OST, I have it, I can upload it to openomy for you.

[insertnamehere]

It's on the FFXII OST, I have it, I can upload it to openomy for you. PLZ do Tnx in advance.

[Dark Cloud]

Ok, when it's done, I'll PM you the link.

[SephirothLaguna]

Well, I prefer Ending theme, but Gilgamesh has it's upsides. Not Gilgamesh himself, I HATE HIM!!!

[McFate]

Personally, I was hoping Ending Theme would win - another wish that was not to be. :) I would never have guessed that a battle theme would win though.

I don't think Uematsu is a battle theme composer. I'll always see him as a more mellow, character/scene theme composer, who dabbles with battles from time to time... :D But the fans of squareenixmusic have thus spoken, and are now thus heard.

That's the end of the contest. Took a while. Bit sad that this is the end of it... :(

[Rain]

...Gilgamesh bores me to no end. This sucks... I think I am going to go on a hunger strike in protest.

[TheShroud13]

My life revolves around music analysis and I just can’t stand it when people freely mix and match analysis, criticism, and personal preference. It drives me crazy! :o

Going along with the sort of best vs. favourite idea, I've always considered it pretty much impossible to separate analysis and criticism from personal preference. When it comes down to it, an objective analysis might give one a sense of what's going on in a piece and could be used to help explain one's enjoyment (or lackthereof) of a particular piece the analysis really means nothing until it's interpreted by the individual. That is to say, everything objective within music can be interpreted subjectively. So even though it's possible to make an objective analysis of music, it's really not interesting to read or talk about without mixing in some personal reaction.

It's sorta like when people analyse poetry. Yeah, I could point out all the alliteration, write out the rhyme scheme, find all the metaphors - but where things get really interesting are when I start trying to make sense of the technique, and how all those things fit together to make a poem that means something to me, and that's always going to be a subjective judgment. With music we can check out phrase structure, form, harmony (although this too can be looked at subjectively - is that a Dsus2/E or a chord by fourths?), the independence of voices, melodic contour, length, and a multitude of other factors but none of that is going to really indicate anything about the musical experience at all until we turn it into something personal. Taking a statement from one of the earlier rounds, I had mentioned something along the lines of "Uematsu uses the 3 against 2 polyrhythm to represent Freija's inner turmoil." Now, that's definitely a subjective statement, and one that mixes personal reaction and objective analysis. But had I just said "Uematsu uses a 3 against 2 polyrhythm" it wouldn't really mean anything, it would just be an observation about what's there. In the previous statement, at least it means something to me, even if it doesn't to anyone else.

And, as always, "best" doesn't necessarily mean "favorite." Does anyone else find that interesting? The two words are used so interchangeably and yet their meanings (and realizations) and so vastly different.

That all sort of leads into my personal concept that, outside of any specific context there really can't be any 'best'. Even within a particular context, say we're judging the best rock song or the best classical piece; or if we made it more specific and judged the best Beatles song or the best Beethoven piano sonata; it would still be difficult to find any argument that could be convincingly be made for 'best'. I mean, by narrowing down the genre, you start to get a sense for the particular values of the genre, and can kinda get a feel for quality by seeing how well the piece fits the mold of the others and manages to maintain its individuality but there's really still no way to say what's indicitive of quality. It really does all come down to personal preference in my mind. After all, for everyone who thinks that a movement of a Brahms Symphony is marvelously well paced, and does an admirable job of delaying the largest climax for an appropriate spot in a movement while making sure all of the time getting to that point is meaningful and directed; there are those who would wish he would have been able to say everything he said in fifteen minutes in five, and find his lack of conciseness to be an error. Who can really devalue either point? Both have a base in an objective musical truth - the movement is long - but two people hear that objective truth in a different way, neither of which is an invalid. So that's why, I really think that 'best' is a useless term as far as music goes (especially when not linked to any particular criteria), and that analysis, criticism, and personal preference are inescapably linked if not, for the purposes of music, completely interchangable words.

...Gilgamesh bores me to no end. This sucks... I think I am going to go on a hunger strike in protest.

He didn't bore your mom. OH SNAP!

[Chris]

It's referred to the 'Best of Uematsu' not for the purposes of declaring what is Nobuo Uematsu's greatest work, but as the 'best' according to this forum, i.e. the favourite. Any 'best of' contest or compilation will be subjective, but the presentation of it is more catchy and appealing to most, that way. Besides, we clearly state in the forum descriptor:

Celebrate 20 years of Nobuo Uematsu with a main site-integrated contest dedicated to finding his most popular work.

[Rain]

Your mom...OH SNAP!

Snap - The sound your arm is going to make in about 5 seconds...BOOYA! :D

[Boco]

@ TheShroud13:

Enjoyed your post. Now that I think about it, I'd say I agree with the series of points you made. The three really are connected (even if I didn't realize it at first).

@ Chris:

Whoops! I see what happened there. I meant for my "best vs. favorite" comment to be a sort of random observation; not a complaint with the competition's title. It certainly did appear to be one though. :ashamed:

[TheShroud13]

I meant for my "best vs. favorite" comment to be a sort of random observation; not a complaint with the competition's title.

It's a good to reminder to make anyway, after all, the heat of the competition seemed to make everybody get a little edgy and forget that it is indeed a popularity contest.

Although I still would have killed you all if "FFVII Main Theme" won.[/innocence]

[Chris]

I agree. It's a good reminder of the distinction. Though the forum descriptor and contest description refer explicitly to the 'most popular work', I admit that even I wasn't sure of the exact nature of what was being crowned given this contest has gone on for... too long.

[Scherzo]

Actually, the reminder of what the competition is about makes me feel a LOT better about the result. Even though I don't particularly like Battle With Gilgamesh, it's been declared "the favorite" -- there's not much I can do to argue against other people's vote.

Maybe that's the main difference between "favorite" and "best." If I say that "Vivi's Theme" is my favorite Uematsu piece, no one can dispute that. Saying that "Vivi's Theme" is Uematsu's best piece is another matter entirely.

[FFfreak]

You guys say you'll have an exclusive interview with Uematsu on this site? When do you think that'll occur? :-)

[Chris]

We haven't contacted Uematsu yet, so I don't want to promise anything, but he's done interviews with sites a lot less popular than SS/SEMO, so I think he'll agree.

I'll try to get a translator to email him and, if I get it confirmed, I'll make a forum thread dedicated to people's questions. :)