Eyes on Me (song)

"Eyes on Me" is the theme song of Final Fantasy VIII. Composed by Nobuo Uematsu for the soundtrack and performed by Hong Kong pop diva Faye Wong, the song went on to sell a record breaking 400,000 copies. It also won "Song of the Year (Western Music)" at the 14th Annual Japan Gold Disc Awards in 1999. This was the first time a song from a video game ever won the honor.

The central melody of "Eyes on Me" plays each time Squall and Rinoa share a romantic scene, while an orchestrated version of the song is incorporated to the game's ending theme.

In Game


In the Final Fantasy VIII storyline "Eyes on Me" is written by Julia Heartilly about her love for Laguna Loire. Laguna, a Galbadian soldier, falls in love with Julia, a lounge piano player in a hotel. Laguna would regularly visit the lounge to watch her play but, being notoriously clumsy, he could never convey his feelings to her. One night she admitted that she wanted to sing and that she could easily make one about Laguna, which shows that the feelings conveyed in this song are her feelings for him. They spent the night together, but the next day Laguna was called away to fight and the two would never see each other again. This song becomes a theme for the game as their love is echoed in Squall Leonhart and Rinoa Heartilly's romance, significant because Julia is Rinoa's mother and Laguna is confirmed to be Squall's father. Thus their failed romance is actually fulfilled through their children.

Lyrics
Whenever sang my songs

On the stage, on my own

Whenever said my words

Wishing they would be heard

I saw you smiling at me

Was it real or just my fantasy

You'd always be there in the corner

Of this tiny little bar

My last night here for you

Same old songs, just once more

My last night here with you?

Maybe yes, maybe no

I kind of liked it your way

How you shyly placed your eyes on me

Oh, did you ever know?

That I had mine on you

Darling, so there you are

With that look on your face

As if you're never hurt

As if you're never down

Shall I be the one for you

Who pinches you softly but sure

If frown is shown then

I will know that you are no dreamer

So let me come to you

Close as I want to be

Close enough for me

To feel your heart beating fast

And stay there as I whisper

How I loved your peaceful eyes on me

Did you ever know

That I had mine on you?

Darling, so share with me

Your love if you have enough

Your tears if you're holding back

Or pain if that's what it is

How can I let you know

I'm more than the dress and the voice

Just reach me out then

You will know that you're not dreaming

Darling, so there you are

With that look on your face

As if you're never hurt

As if you're never down

Shall I be the one for you

Who pinches you softly but sure

If frown is shown then

I will know that you are no dreamer

Fable
The song is included in the Japanese release of Faye Wong's 2000 album Fable as dance remix track called "Eyes On Me - Almighty Radio Mix".

Final Fantasy Song Book "Mahoroba"
"Eyes on Me" is featured in this 2004 album, entitled "夏のアルバム -Eyes On Me 日本語Ver." (Natsu no arubamu -Eyes On Me nihongo Ver. lit. Summer's Album -Eyes on Me japanese ver.). Arranged for vocals by Yuji Hasegawa, it was sung in Japanese by Manami Kiyota.

Lyrics
見つめてた　君の背中 mitsumeteta kiminosenaka 肩越しの　遠い花火 katagoshino tooihanabi クラスの友達　来ないうちに二人 kurasunotomodachi kunaiuchinihutari 急いで選んだ　バスは海へ isoideeranda basuwaumie

教室の　君はいつも kyoushitsuno kimiwaitsumo 素っ気無くて　遠い人で sokkenakute tooihitode

クラスの友達　いないときに二人 kurasunotomodachi inaitokinihutari 目と目あって　気づいた恋 metomeatte kitzuitakoi

夏のかおり　運んでくる natsunokaori hakondekuru 遠い日々の　君の笑顔 tooihibino kiminoegao

不安だった　未来は優しく fuandatta miraiwayasashiku 叶ったね　夕暮れの二人の夢 kanattane yuugurenohutarinoyume

見つめてる　庭の子犬 mitsumeteru niwanokoinu 肩寄せて　小さな花火 katayosete chiisanahanabi

人混み苦手で　逃げた町の灯り hitogominigatede nigetamachinoakari 君と見れば　優しい色 kimitomireba yasashiiiro

夏の香り　運んでくる natsunokaori hakondekuru 遠い日々の　君の笑顔 tooihibino kiminoegao

見えなかった　未来は今かな？ mienakatta miraiwaimakana? 話そうよ　星空に二人の夢 hanasouyo hoshizoranihutarinoyume

夏のかおり　運んでいく natsunokaori hakondeiku 遠い日々の　君の笑顔 tooihibino kiminoegao

不安だった　未来は優しく fuandatta miraiwayasashiku 微笑んで　繰り返す二人の夏 hohoende kurikaesuhutarinonatsu

Eyes on Me
In this demo album by Spanish singer Ailyn, "Eyes on Me" is the tenth track. Released in 2005, the album itself is a collection of Ailyn's favorite anime songs.

Kokoro no Senshi
In 2006, the song was included in Angela Aki's second single. "Eyes on Me" is the fourth track that ties the single with the series.