Final Fantasy VIII: Eyes On Me - Faye Wong :: Review by Dave

	Album Title:	Final Fantasy VIII: Eyes On Me - Faye Wong
	Record Label:	Toshiba EMI
	Catalog Number:	TODT-5271
	Release Date:	February 24, 1999
	Content:	1 CD - 3 Tracks
	Purchase:	Buy at CDJapan

Overview

What flaws could the trend setting "Eyes on Me," single, which was the first vocal theme in the Final Fantasy series have? This sparked a new era in the Final Fantasy games - a vocal theme would appear in every game thereafter. Not only this, but the theme was the first piece of Video Game Music to be recognised with a popular music award in Japan. Sure, there is a bit of trouble with the lyrics throughout this album, but I can assure you that it is a fulfilling experience. Jim Lau's "Red Bean" is another great composition, and although it could never be better than "Eyes on Me," this ballad is beautiful and wholesome. Read on for a more concise review of my opinions. Enjoy.

Body

"Eyes on Me" is a classic theme that almost every Final Fantasy fan will know. An ethnic instrument opens the track with some reverberating twangs, and when some strings gloriously bow over the top of this, a pop ballad is born. Faye Wong's voice comes in with a sense of longing and love, and with that glorious rock organ suspending chords in the background of the track; everything becomes so much more mesmerizing. The 1:50 mark sees the full return of the orchestra, and although the drum line somewhat clouds the orchestra in this part, Nobuo Uematsu doesn't disappoint by leading us into a wonderful instrumental section. A Celtic-styled flute plays alongside the strings to create a passionate atmosphere that really emphasises the love that Faye Wong's voice sheds. With so much feeling behind the melody, it's hard to criticize this piece. The lyrics create a precise image of Squall and Rinoa's relationship in the game, and although there are a few problems with tenses and verbs, this just go to show how well tuned the lyricist, Kako Someya, was with the game. The instrumentation is perfect, and the perfect balance between the vocals and the orchestra all of the way through is a great asset to the track. This theme has it all, and what a theme to spark a Final Fantasy revolution.

"Red Bean" is another touching theme, and although it doesn't develop as much as "Eyes on Me,". It is easy to fall in love with the majestic sound that the piano yields. The romantic and sentimental nature of this track does it the best of justice, and with the lyrics inevitably falling upon a rhythmic representation of a past love or longing, a real sense of justice and passion is created. The simple introduction to this track couldn't have been better as it really adds a sense of anticipation of what is to come. After the drum beat is added, Faye Wong seems to add an increasing passion to her voice, and later on she is uplifted once more with the introduction of the strings. The string section is much more prominent in this track than in "Eyes on Me," and this is down to a brief, but perfect, solo line from the section. The greatest feature of this track is the arch shape that it takes. To me, the development clearly writes out the development of love and of all of the emotions and thoughts that are brought along with it, and with the ending of the track being subtle and quaint, it perfectly portrays the feeling of success when this passion is fulfilled. This track has a lot of flair and if the lyrics were in English, then it would seem all the more picturesque to me.

Although it may please many budding singers, the fact that the last track is a karaoke version of the original "Eyes on Me" is a little disappointing. The majority of the fans would have preferred the superb orchestral version of the track that was used as the ending theme of the Final Fantasy VII game. The blend of originality, perfect transitions, and ultimately a great sense of power and justice in this track would have made it a perfect feature to this album. Even so, upon hearing the karaoke theme, one can really respect the genius behind those swaying violins and guitar line. One benefit of this track is that the electric guitar line is uncovered, and although the whole track ultimately lacks in substance, it is great to hear how the underlying part of the track is pieced together.

Summary

This album features one of my favourite vocal themes from a Final Fantasy album to date, and with this theme backed up with an eloquently written original theme, the need to buy this album increases. If you were a fan of the original track, but couldn't afford the Final Fantasy VIII Original Soundtrack, then this album is for you. "Red Bean" provides enough enjoyment alone to make this a worthy purchase, and with "Eyes on Me" taking the limelight, this album becomes a must-have for many. Of course, the size will be enough to put most people off, but since the album is going for a cheap price, the purchase would hardly be backbreaking. Try it out. You may be surprised. Please note that I am marking the percentage score down due to the size.

Percentage Overall Score: 74%