Final Fantasy VII: Original Soundtrack

The Final Fantasy VII Original Soundtrack is a four-disc compilation of the music contained in Final Fantasy VII. There are 85 tracks split over the four CDs with music composed, arranged, and produced by Nobuo Uematsu.

Development
Called by Uematsu his "greatest harvest" in terms of creativity, the soundtrack, despite its length, was composed in a period of eight months, as opposed to the bi-annual period of producing that had become the standard regarding the previous original soundtracks. Final Fantasy VII's soundtrack was innovative in that it was the first game in the series to include a track with digitized vocals, "One-Winged Angel", which has been described as Uematsu's "most recognizable contribution" to the music of the Final Fantasy series.

Uematsu has said that the transition from SNES to PlayStation made him look forward to what he could do with the new hardware, and was happy they were able to experiment with things they hadn't been able to do prior to the development of Final Fantasy VII. One thing that came up in the early stages was that the developers wanted to include a theme song with lyrics, but it never really happened, apart from "The One-Winged Angel", but Uematsu doesn't consider this song as the game's theme song in the sense they had originally envisioned. Uematsu has also noted the part of experimenting with new ways to insert and apply music was the best thing to happen with Final Fantasy VII to him personally.

Despite it being possible to record CD quality music for PlayStation games, Square decided to do the music for Final Fantasy VII with the PlayStation's internal chip because as far as sound quality goes, the developers felt the hardware was more than capable with its higher dynamic range than the Super Famicom, and 24 simultaneous music output channels (the Super Famicom had 8), allowing for more complex compositions. Eight channels would be reserved for sound effects, leaving 16 for the music. The sound effects were recorded in the studio, but the music is all the console's internal chip putting less demand on the read access time of the CD-ROM; faster load times were prioritized over better sound quality.

The team wanted to have a soundtrack with no repeated music to mimic movies, although depending on the scene the tempo or the intensity might change. As Final Fantasy VII is a long game some music is repeated, but the overall goal was to make it as cinematic as possible in that regard.

From the first Final Fantasy up to Final Fantasy V the music had a European atmosphere, but Final Fantasy VI had started to break away from that, and Final Fantasy VII had a whole new image, one of "a dirty city of the future." Uematsu personally likes many different styles of music, and saw Final Fantasy VII as a chance to show parts of himself he hadn't been able to express before.

The field music has a unique flavor compared to Square's RPGs of the past. Uematsu intentionally eliminated the uptempo meant to encourage the player to embark on a journey. Instead, some parts rise melodiously and some parts make the player feel insecure, creating various expressions within the same field of music. Uematsu hoped players would get a different feel from it compared to previous RPGs and has described it has this his own "experiment."

He used keyboard and guitar for the basic compositions, and read the story and script as he composed. Due to the volume required of the soundtrack Uematsu worried he would run out of time. He'd first compose a theme, then program it in, and then revise it. There was no guarantee the PlayStation hardware would have the kind of sound he was looking for, and the sound quality was sometimes very different. For that reason there ended up being many unused songs.

Final Fantasy VII: Original Soundtrack peaked at #3 in Japanese music charts, the first time music from a game placed in hit charts in Japan.

The Compilation of Final Fantasy VII greatly expands the body of musical works of the Final Fantasy VII universe. Nevertheless, the most popular themes amongst fans remain a part of the original soundtrack, which include "Those Who Fight", "Aerith's Theme", "J-E-N-O-V-A", and the previously mentioned "One-Winged Angel".

Disc 1 (73:59)

 * 1) "The Prelude" - 3:12
 * Plays during the introduction screen.
 * 1) "Opening - Bombing Mission" - 3:59
 * Plays before and after attack on the Sector 1 Reactor.
 * 1) "Mako Reactor" - 3:26
 * Plays inside each of the Mako Reactors.
 * 1) "Anxious Heart" - 4:00
 * Plays in several areas, such as the Train Graveyard and Nibelheim.
 * 1) "Tifa's Theme" - 5:23
 * Plays during Tifa's flashbacks and in the 7th Heaven before the party leaves to attack the Sector 5 Reactor.
 * 1) "Barret's Theme" - 3:22
 * Plays as the background to Sector 7 and the 7th Heaven after Cloud agrees to attack the Sector 5 Reactor.
 * 1) "Hurry!" - 2:25
 * Plays in a number of areas, including when escaping from Reno in the Church after Aerith introduces herself to Cloud. Also, during the revisit of Sector 7 and during the climb to the top of the Sector 7 Plate.
 * 1) "Lurking in the Darkness" - 2:26
 * Plays at the plate interior and several underground areas.
 * 1) "Shinra Company" - 4:13
 * Plays during cutscenes involving Shinra Electric Power Company.
 * 1) "Let the Battles Begin!" - 2:38
 * Plays during all normal battles.
 * 1) "Fanfare" - 0:53
 * Plays after winning a battle.
 * 1) "Flowers Blooming in the Church" - 5:09
 * Plays in the Sector 5 Church, and in Aeris's house.
 * 1) "Turks' Theme" - 2:20
 * Plays in any room or cutscene the Turks appear in.
 * 1) "Under the Rotting Pizza" - 3:21
 * Plays in Sector 5 and Sector 6 Slums.
 * 1) "The Oppressed" - 2:34
 * Plays in Wall Market and Rocket Town.
 * 1) "Honeybee Inn" - 4:22
 * Plays in the Honey Bee Inn.
 * 1) "Who... Are You?" - 1:20
 * Plays during cutscenes involving either Jenova or Sephiroth.
 * 1) "Don of the Slums" - 2:10
 * Plays in Don Corneo's Mansion.
 * 1) "Infiltrating Shinra" - 3:51
 * Plays in the Shinra Headquarters.
 * 1) "Fight On!" - 3:22
 * Plays during boss battles.
 * 1) "Red XIII's Theme" - 1:26
 * Plays when Red XIII introduces himself to the party.
 * 1) "Crazy Motorcycle" - 4:47
 * Plays during the motorcycle minigame.
 * 1) "Dear to the Heart" - 2:11
 * Plays on multiple occasions, most notably when the party first leaves Midgar, as well as in some towns and during some cutscenes involving the entire party.

Disc 2 (63:34)

 * 1) "Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" - 6:31
 * First theme on the World Map.
 * 1) "On Our Way" - 3:42
 * Plays in various towns such as Kalm and Junon.
 * 1) "Good Night, Until Tomorrow" - 0:08
 * Plays during a rest at an Inn.
 * 1) "On That Day, 5 Years Ago" - 3:09
 * Plays on multiple occasions, most notably during the Nibelheim Incident flashbacks and Cloud and Tifa's night under the Highwind before entering the Northern Cave.
 * 1) "Farm Boy" - 2:53
 * Plays in the Chocobo Farm.
 * 1) "Waltz de Chocobo" - 0:35
 * Plays when the chocobos dance at the Chocobo Farm.
 * 1) "Electric de Chocobo" - 3:44
 * Plays during a battle encounter with a chocobo and during the snowboarding minigame.
 * 1) "Cinco de Chocobo" - 3:24
 * Plays while riding a chocobo on the World Map.
 * 1) "In Search of the Man in Black" - 3:02
 * Plays in the Mythril Mine amongst other locations.
 * 1) "Fort Condor" - 3:51
 * Plays during fights at Fort Condor.
 * 1) "Rufus' Welcoming Ceremony" - 2:09
 * Plays during Rufus's welcoming ceremony, the marching minigame and from there on after in Junon until disc 2.
 * 1) "It's Hard to Stand on Two Feet!" - 3:23
 * Plays on the ship from Junon to Costa del Sol.
 * 1) "Trail of Blood" - 4:04
 * Plays in the Shinra Headquarters after the party escapes from the cells.
 * 1) "Jenova" - 2:18
 * Plays during battles against Jenova∙BIRTH, Jenova∙DEATH and Helletic Hojo, and during the descent to Jenova∙SYNTHESIS.
 * 1) "Continue" - 0:31
 * Plays upon a Game Over.
 * 1) "Costa del Sol" - 2:23
 * Plays in Costa del Sol.
 * 1) "Mark of a Traitor" - 3:33
 * Plays in North Corel.
 * 1) "Mining Town" - 3:03
 * Plays during Barret's flashbacks at Corel.
 * 1) "Gold Saucer" - 1:55
 * Plays in the Gold Saucer.
 * 1) "Cait Sith's Theme" - 3:24
 * Plays when the player first meets Cait Sith in the Gold Saucer and during prominent scenes featuring him.
 * 1) "Desert Wasteland" - 5:42
 * Plays in the Corel Prison.

Disc 3 (73:24)

 * 1) "Cosmo Canyon" - 3:38
 * Plays in Cosmo Canyon.
 * 1) "Lifestream" - 4:10
 * Plays during scenes at Cosmo Canyon Observatory when Bugenhagen explains about the Planet and the Lifestream.
 * 1) "The Great Warrior" - 3:22
 * Plays during scenes in Cosmo Canyon when Red XIII discovers the truth about his father.
 * 1) "Descendant of Shinobi" - 3:00
 * Plays upon meeting Yuffie and during prominent scenes with her.
 * 1) "Those Chosen by the Planet" - 3:39
 * Sephiroth's leitmotif, it plays at the Shinra Mansion in Nibelheim, and during the final fight with Sephiroth.
 * 1) "The Nightmare Begins" - 2:58
 * Plays in basement of Shinra Mansion, when meeting Vincent, and during Lucrecia's flashback.
 * 1) "Cid's Theme" - 3:02
 * Plays when meeting Cid and during prominent scenes featuring him.
 * 1) "Steal the Tiny Bronco!" - 1:19
 * Plays when the party steals the Tiny Bronco from Rocket Town.
 * 1) "Wutai" - 4:27
 * Plays in Wutai.
 * 1) "Stolen Materia" - 1:37
 * Plays when Yuffie steals the party's Materia.
 * 1) "Racing Chocobos - Place Your Bets!" - 1:50
 * Plays in the Chocobo Square of the Gold Saucer.
 * 1) "Fiddle de Chocobo" - 2:57
 * Plays during the Chocobo Racing minigame.
 * 1) "Jackpot!" - 0:44
 * Plays if the player wins a chocobo race.
 * 1) "Tango of Tears" - 0:47
 * Plays if the player loses a chocobo race.
 * 1) "Debut" - 2:37
 * Plays during the play at Gold Saucer.
 * 1) "Words Drowned by Fireworks" - 3:01
 * Plays on the Round House ride in Gold Saucer during the date scene.
 * 1) "Forested Temple" - 3:51
 * Plays in the Temple of the Ancients.
 * 1) "Listen to the Cries of the Planet" - 3:51
 * Plays in the Forgotten Capital.
 * 1) "Aerith's Theme" - 4:55
 * Plays during scenes with Aeris and Sephiroth in the Forgotten Capital and during the subsequent battle with Jenova∙LIFE.
 * 1) "Buried in Snow" - 4:54
 * Plays in the Great Glacier.
 * 1) "The North Cave" - 7:15
 * Plays in crater at top of world and is second and final theme when walking on the World Map.
 * 1) "Reunion" - 3:46
 * Plays when Shinra finds the Promised Land.
 * 1) '''"Who... Am I?" - 1:34
 * Plays in Mideel after Cloud is found.

Disc 4 (68:56)

 * 1) "Shinra's Full-Scale Assault" - 2:43
 * Plays during the FMV with Barret shows Tifa the Meteor, when Cloud is going through various obstacles when trying to reach the upper plate to get to Shinra headquarters, and in Junon after acquiring the Highwind.
 * 1) "Attack of the Weapon" - 2:46
 * Plays during Weapon appearances.
 * 1) "The Highwind Takes to the Skies" - 3:46
 * Plays during flights with the Highwind and after the player beats the Mog House game in Gold Saucer.
 * 1) "Secret of the Deep Sea" - 4:10
 * Plays on the submarine.
 * 1) "Provincial Town" - 2:20
 * Plays in Bone Village and Mideel.
 * 1) "From the Edge of Despair" - 4:30
 * Plays in Mideel when Cloud is hurt, and in Rocket Town after Meteor has been summoned.
 * 1) "Other Side of the Mountain" - 2:32
 * Plays when Tifa realizes Cloud's deepest memory when both are submerged in the Lifestream.
 * 1) "Hurry Up!" - 2:51
 * Plays during battles in the Battle Square, when Cid and the party try to stop the runaway train from hitting North Corel and on the World Map when Diamond Weapon appears.
 * 1) "Launching a Dream into Space" - 3:10
 * Plays when the party is launched into space.
 * 1) "Countdown" - 0:49
 * Plays during the rocket launch cutscene.
 * 1) "Open Your Heart" - 2:57
 * Plays during non-battle scenes in Fort Condor.
 * 1) "Mako Cannon - The Destruction of Shinra" - 1:28
 * Plays during the FMV where the cannon destroys the shield of the North Crater.
 * 1) "Judgement Day" - 3:54
 * Plays when descending the Northern Cave to face Sephiroth.
 * 1) "JENOVA Absolute" - 3:56
 * Plays during the battle with Jenova∙SYNTHESIS.
 * 1) "Birth of a God" - 3:57
 * Plays during the battle with Bizarro∙Sephiroth.
 * 1) "One-Winged Angel" - 6:54
 * Plays during the battle with Safer∙Sephiroth.
 * 1) "The Planet's Crisis" - 9:44
 * Plays in the ending.
 * 1) "Staff Roll" - 6:19
 * Plays in the credits.

Liner Notes (translated from the original Japanese)
There is one thing common in all the Final Fantasy games. None of them are complete. All of the games are results of staffs from all around the world trying their 200% effort and ambition. Too much ideas are packed in, while the game becomes blurred and unfocused. New ideas are being incorporated, but only dry and arid works come out. I think that is what we need to focus on to improve right now. Still, as a staff of SQUARE, I really don't think it is a big problem in the long run. If I were to compare it with a plant, the FF will be a plant given premium nutrition, water, and light without the care of a gardener. The branches will just extend in their own way, in any direction. A spring clean-up is necessary. The Final Fantasy series is nearing its spring clean-up. The flower might blossom in the next work, or maybe later. Though, we are confident that we will someday present you a COMPLETE work.

Well, speaking about the incompleteness of Final Fantasy, the music in it is not an exception. Still, I have put out everything I have right now so I began to see what I really need to work on in the new environment. It think that was the greatest harvest this time. Let me thank every staff, every SQUARE member, my family, and friends. I am also grateful to you fans, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you very much.
 * Nobuo Uematsu

Limited edition
A limited edition of the Final Fantasy VII: Original Sound Track was also released. The set includes illustrated liner notes with several pictures of Uematsu's workspace, various CG and battle shots from the game, messages from Nobuo Uematsu, Square producer Tadashi Nomura, and Digicube music director Kensuke Matsushita, and a discography, alongside several pages of text. The set comes in a black box with the Final Fantasy VII logo engraved on a thin metal plate.

The Final Fantasy VII limited edition soundtrack is one of the rarest Final Fantasy soundtracks.

Sheet Music
Published by DOREMI Music Publishing, the book contains Asako Niwa's piano arrangements for the music on the Final Fantasy VII: Original Soundtrack, arranged to sound as much as possible like the originals on the piano. The difficulty level is beginner to intermediate.

Trivia

 * "Rufus' Welcoming Ceremony" makes a cameo appearance in Final Fantasy IX in the Evil Forest. It also briefly appears in Final Fantasy X.
 * An excerpt from "The Creation" is played in President Shinra's office as Sector 7 plate collapses.
 * When asked to name his favorite three tracks from the soundtrack, Nobuo Uematsu named the Overworld Theme, the Desert Canyon theme and Aerith's Theme.
 * The original 1998 trailer of Final Fantasy VII features a piece of music called "Final Encounter" by Steve Baker that isn't featured in the game or soundtrack.

Links

 * VGMdb - Final Fantasy VII Original Sound Track
 * VGMdb - Final Fantasy VII Original Sound Track (Limited Edition)
 * VGMdb - Final Fantasy VII Original Sound Track reprint

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