Round 2, Pairing 20: "Opening Theme (FFVI)" vs. "The Place I'll Return to (FFIX)" [Archive]

View Full Version : Round 2, Pairing 20: "Opening Theme (FFVI)" vs. "The Place I'll Return to (FFIX)"

Dave

08-09-2006, 04:53 AM

Vote here (http://www.squareenixmusic.com/uematsu.php), in the 20th pairing of round two.

Resk

08-09-2006, 04:54 AM

I'm going with The Place I'll Return To, only because the opening of FFVI isn't as good as the FMV opening for the game :-p

TheShroud13

08-09-2006, 05:04 AM

Totz

08-09-2006, 05:14 AM

My vote goes to FFIX as well. I don't see what the fuss about "Opening Theme" is all about, "Tina" is much much better.

I wholeheartedly agree with Shroud on "The Place." Let's hope it wins!

Rain

08-09-2006, 06:30 AM

Opening theme, which includes Tina's theme, is definitely a keeper in terms of variation and relevance to story. The Place I'll Return to, is musically nice but lacks depth. Its nice for what it is, which isn't much beyond an aesthetically appealing opening track...but since this is a judgment of the actual music itself and not its reach in the actual game, I would have to go with the FFIX submission.

Sayo

08-09-2006, 06:38 AM

I agree with the general consensus so far. :) FFIX for the win. "Opening Theme" never really did much for me, considering "Tina's Theme" was far superior. ;)

Brittany

08-09-2006, 11:31 AM

Whoa... this is blowing me away right now. I have never cared for Place I'll Return to, especially after it beat Balamb Garden (one of my favorite final fantasy themes of all time) a while back. Now here it is completely dominating Opening Theme (another one of my all time favorites) so my hatred for it is growing. :lol: It's so repetitive and really goes nowhere while Opening Theme is constantly building up to that sweet little part at the end. I'm voting for Opening Theme, no doubt.. even if it does not do any good.

Dave

08-09-2006, 02:45 PM

I'm with Brittany here in that I've always found "The Place I'll Return to Someday" a bore. I respect the ancient percussion and perhaps the use of what could be described as medieval flair, but I really don't think that the piece betters "Opening Theme." The latter is well-structured, balanced, and far more captivating than the current leader.

Chris

08-09-2006, 02:50 PM

Though I love "Tina", I don't particularly care for "Opening Theme". I have no idea why, it just never clicked with me for whatever reason.

"The Place . . . " remains one of my favourites though. Simple, pseudo-polyphonic pseudo-renaissance goodness. It's a very pretty tune, and really does drip with a sort of veiled nostalgia. An unknown memory calling out. I like it a great deal, and really, just that one song really coloured my experience with FFIX, even with other tunes going on in the game that one lingered in my mind, and yeah. Vote.

Agree 100% with Shroud here.

While I never liked "The Place I'll Return to Someday" that much when I first played FFIX, it has been a piece that has constantly grown on me as I've grown to appreciate the style employed and its elegant melodies. It's pretty simple, but very effective, despite its nasty arrangements in Disc Three/FFIX OST Plus.

"Opening Theme" is OK, but I like "Catastrophe" and "Tina" separately better. It's a tad overrated, IMO, but still a classic introduction to the game.

Queen_Garnet

08-09-2006, 07:23 PM

My vote goes to "The Place I'll Return to Someday"...Simply because I loved it, it has this nice melody and it just remain in your mind...At first, I didn't like it at all, but after a while in the game I just grow to love it...

Scherzo

08-09-2006, 10:23 PM

The Opening Theme is kinda ehhh for me. It starts off absolutely horribly (I HATE that solo piano line), and while it improves from there, it never does anything really amazing.

"The Place I'll Return to Someday" on the other hand, manages to capture the spirit of FFIX perfectly, while still staying simple.

insertnamehere

08-09-2006, 11:53 PM

I voted for opening all those mictures of music put together made it perfect. The place ill return to is to simplistic and it bores me it doesn't stand out it stays in the same dynamics through the whole song it really doesn't scream out to me like opening does

I HATE that solo piano line You mean the organ admitanly it does clash a bit but that's why i love it

Dave

08-10-2006, 12:00 AM

The Place I'll Return To (FFIX) 54.55 % (18)
Opening Theme (FFVI) 45.45 % (15)

You got in, just in time, INH. ;)

Aryires

08-10-2006, 12:03 AM

I find myself not agreeing with any of the opinions stated above. I actually like both pieces a lot. When I first experienced Final Fantasy VI, the music of its intro completely blew me away! The memory is carved in my mind and will never fade. I, too, like Tina, but that doesn't prevent me from enjoying this arrangement, in fact, I think I like it just as much, but for different reasons: Tina is more optimistic and nostalgic, while Opening Theme is sad and melancholic. Especially the final part of OT's variation of Tina is one I truly cherish.

On the other hand, I appreciate The Place I'll Return To Someday as well. I never found it dull or repetitive, its polyphony captivated me, and its melody stays in my mind since I first listened to it. I think it perfectly expresses what the title declares: a vague reminiscence of a place to which you believe you will return someday... It remains one of my favourite FF tracks to this day. And Chris, when you say disc three, are you referring to the soundtrack or the game? I haven't finished FFIX yet, so I'm not sure which arrangements you're talking about, but it you mean the chorus version that's heard in that 'faces' chamber in Oeilvert, I'll have to disagree.:p

With that being said, it was kinda hard for me to decide, but FFVI nostalgia finally got the better of me, so I'm voting for Opening Theme, knowing that it will probably lose to its contender, as it seems...

EDIT: As it turns out, I missed voting for a matter of seconds! Tough luck I guess, though it wouldn't make a difference...