New World (Final Fantasy XIII-2)


 * For the Final Fantasy V track of the same name, see: Final Fantasy V: Original Sound Version.

"New World" is the main theme for the Japanese Xbox 360 and Western releases of Final Fantasy XIII-2. It is sung by Charice Pempengco. The song is the second track of Charice's Infinity album.

Yakusoku no Basho
"Yakusoku no Basho" is the Japanese counterpart of "New World" with a slightly different arrangement for the Japanese PlayStation 3 release of the game. It is sung by Mai Fukui and written by Koichi Tabo of. The song's name literally means "The Promised Place" in Japanese.

The Yakusoku no Basho single was released on November 23rd, 2011 in Japan. It included a DLC code for Final Fantasy XIII-2 which can be used to download "Gift from the Songstress," a set that includes Diva Mic and Diva Headphone accessories.

The track was also included on Mai Fukui's six-track mini-album, entitled Beautiful Days, as was the single's other A-side Tatta Hitori no Mikata (meaning "Only One Ally" ) - although neither was included as an instrumental version. The mini-album was released December 14th, 2011 in Japan.

Japanese Lyrics ("Yakusoku no Basho")
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Romaji

 * Tatoeba anata ga, ima
 * Koko ni ita toshitara nani o tsutaeru deshou?


 * Kotoba mo nai mama, kitto
 * Sono mune ni hohoyose namida kobosudakene


 * Mou ichido dakiaetara
 * Nidoto hanarenuyou
 * Tsuyoku musubiau no
 * Sore ga kibou no hikari
 * Kitto~


 * Ai yo douka tsureteite
 * Yakusoku no basho e
 * Tsunagi aeta omoi wa eien dakara


 * Ai yo yonde kono ude ni
 * Dakishimeaeru nara
 * Donna mirai mo osorenaide mukae ni yukeru
 * Hitomi wo mitsume kotae you
 * Anata no soba ni iru


 * Shizuka ni kokoro ga itta
 * Watashi wa koko ni ite anata wo aishiteru


 * Hanareteitatte zutto
 * Kawaranu kono omoi anata ni todoke you


 * Mou nani mo kowakunai yo
 * Donna kurayami demo
 * Terasu kono hikari wa
 * Itsuka anata no moto e
 * Kitto~


 * Ai yo douka tsureteite
 * Yakusoku no basho e
 * Soko e yuku yo chikai wa eien dakara


 * Ai yo yonde kono ude ni
 * Dakishimeaeru nara
 * Donna itami mo koete miseru hohoemi nagara
 * Hikari wa nidoto nakusanai
 * Kanarazu soko e yuku


 * Toki ga subete wo iyasu
 * Sore o tada matsuyori
 * Ima wa arukidasou
 * Kaze ga yubisasu bashou de
 * Ashita ga matteru kitto~


 * Ai yo douka tsureteite
 * Yakusoku no basho e
 * Tada unazuki
 * Dakishimeaeru sono hi e


 * Ai yo douka tsureteite
 * Yakusoku no basho e
 * Tsunagi aeta omoi wa eien dakara


 * Ai wo yonde kono mune ni
 * Dakishimeareru nara
 * Donna mirai mo osorenaide mukae ni yukeru
 * Hitomi wo mitsume kotae you
 * Anata no soba ni iru


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Kanji

 * たとえばあなたが 今
 * 此処にいたとしたら 何を伝えるでしょう?


 * 言葉もないまま きっと
 * その胸に頬寄せ 涙零すだけね


 * もう一度 抱きあえたら
 * 二度と離れぬよう
 * 強く 結び合うの
 * それが 希望の光
 * きっと


 * 愛よ どうか連れていって
 * 約束の場所へ
 * 繋ぎあえた 想いは永遠だから


 * 愛を呼んで この腕に
 * 抱きしめあえるなら
 * どんな未来も 恐れないで迎えにゆける
 * 瞳を見つめ答えよう
 * あなたのそばにいる


 * 静かに 心が言った
 * 私はここにいて あなたを愛してる


 * 離れていたって ずっと
 * 変わらぬこの想い あなたに届けよう


 * もうなにも 怖くないよ
 * どんな暗闇でも
 * 照らす この光は
 * いつか あなたの許へ
 * きっと


 * 愛よ どうか連れていって
 * 約束の場所へ
 * そこへゆくよ 誓いは永遠だから


 * 愛を呼んで この腕に
 * 抱きしめあえるなら
 * どんな痛みも 越えてみせる微笑みながら
 * 光は二度と失くさない
 * かならずそこへゆく


 * 時が すべてを癒す
 * それをただ待つより
 * 今は 歩き出そう
 * 風が 指差す場所で
 * 明日が待ってる きっと


 * 愛よ どうか連れていって
 * 約束の場所へ
 * ただ、うなずき
 * 抱きしめあえるその日へ


 * 愛よ どうか連れていって
 * 約束の場所へ
 * 繋ぎあえた 想いは永遠だから


 * 愛を呼んで この胸に
 * 抱きしめあえるなら
 * どんな未来も 恐れないで迎えにゆける
 * 瞳を見つめ答えよう
 * あなたのそばにいる


 * }

English Translation

 * Sometimes I think
 * What would I say if you were here?


 * But I find that the words are not there
 * As the tears gather on my cheeks and fall to my chest


 * I would embrace you if we met once again,
 * Hoping you would never leave
 * Our reunion would forge a powerful bond,
 * Acting as a beacon of hope.
 * Surely...


 * Somehow, my love will take me
 * To the Promised Land,
 * Bringing me to the eternity that I desire


 * Love will be gathered in my arms,
 * And if we reunited I would hold you
 * Do not be afraid of the world to come
 * The answers can be seen in my eyes,
 * As long as you stay close to me


 * Gently my heart is calling out
 * As I wait for your love


 * All the while I thought we'd be fine so far apart,
 * But these feelings I have for you are never-changing


 * Now I see that nothing can scare me
 * No matter how dark
 * Because this beacon will continue to shine
 * And under its guidance you will return
 * Surely...


 * Somehow, my love will take me
 * To the Promised Land
 * And I swear to be there for all of eternity


 * Love will be gathered in my arms,
 * And if we reunited I would hold you
 * Break through your pain and smile
 * With this light you will never be lost
 * And you will get there without fail


 * Time will heal all wounds
 * As long as you are patient
 * And now I begin to set off,
 * The wind pointing to that land,
 * Waiting for tomorrow
 * Surely...


 * Somehow, my love will take me
 * To the Promised Land
 * And with a simple nod,
 * I await the day where I embrace you


 * Somehow, my love will take me
 * To the Promised Land,
 * Bringing me to the eternity that I desire


 * Love will be gathered in my arms,
 * And if we reunited I would hold you
 * Do not be afraid of the world to come
 * The answers can be seen in my eyes,
 * As long as you stay close to me

"New World" (English Version)

 * Staring the stars, feeling the winds every time
 * I cannot stop thinkin' of you
 * Since you've been gone away from here
 * Shedding the tears, crying out loud for once
 * 'Cause you are such a precious part of me
 * And there’s no one who’ll fill my broken heart


 * Oh, but now I have realized
 * The reason why I live in this world
 * Even you have left me here alone
 * I found a way where I can get hope for the future


 * Baby, I'm gonna see the New World
 * With nothin' but the love you gave me
 * Only thing I can do is to trust the time we shared
 * Baby, I'm gonna go to the New World
 * With nothin' but the strength you gave me


 * There's nothing to be afraid of
 * I know your love will lead me where I should be
 * Even if it is dark and hard times for me
 * I don't wanna give up my home


 * Having a dream, basking in the sun everyday
 * I'm startin' to think that I'm still here
 * Though the pain of loss still hurts me
 * Makin' me smile, makin' me laugh many times
 * Everything is gentle to me because you are makin' it so


 * And now I have realized
 * The reason why I live in this world
 * It's not to lose one I truly need
 * I will make sure we feel the beautiful days together


 * Baby, I'm gonna see the New World
 * With nothin' but the love you gave me
 * Only thing I can do is to trust the time we shared
 * Baby, I'm gonna go to the New World
 * With nothin' but the strength you gave me


 * There's nothing to be afraid of
 * I know your love will lead me where I should be
 * Even if it is dark and hard times for me
 * I don't wanna give up my home


 * Pray for all of the things in this world
 * And believe in the power of our love
 * Sing a song of tomorrow
 * Now we are not alone; we come to life again
 * A new day will come to you
 * For you and me


 * Baby, I'm gonna see the New World
 * With nothin' but the love you gave me
 * Only thing I can do is to trust the time we shared
 * Baby, I'm gonna go to the New World
 * With nothin' but the strength you gave me


 * There's nothing to be afraid of
 * I know your love will lead me where we should be
 * Even if it is dark and hard times for us
 * I don't wanna give up our home


 * Ooh, ooh-ooh
 * Ohh yeah-yeah-yeah
 * Yeah-oooh-oh-ohh

Interpretation
The song describes the story of Final Fantasy XIII-2 and the relationships between Serah Farron and her sister Lightning, as well as her fiancée, Snow Villiers. It may also allude to the relationship between Noel Kreiss and Paddra Nsu-Yeul. The song is about finding the strength to carry on even after being apart from loved-ones across time and space, a common theme in Final Fantasy XIII-2.

Two people have left Serah since the ending of Final Fantasy XIII. Lightning disappeared right after Cocoon fell, and Snow left two years later. Serah thinks both of them constantly. Noel, the game's other protagonist, is always thinking of Yeul, the person whose Guardian he wanted to become but she died while still young leaving Noel alone. After Serah passes, she leaves people behind, most notably Lightning, who crystallizes herself in order to preserve Serah's memory and the "new world" she fought to create. Noel also leaves a message to his past self that can be found in New Bodhum 700 AF, where he alludes to Serah's death and tells himself to stay strong because there are "dark times" to come and he will have to face them without having Serah by his side.

The song talks about "seeing the New World" with "the love you gave me". Many people in Final Fantasy XIII-2 fight with the power of love. Serah's love for Snow and Lightning gives her the strength to start her quest. The situation is similar to Noel in regards to Yeul. At the end of the game, Lightning's hope for the future is restored after she learns that Serah was ready to die for her sake in order to give Lightning a future worth living in, even if she wouldn't be able to be there herself.

The "new world" may allude to the unexplored world of Gran Pulse where the people of Cocoon were forced to migrate to after the catastrophe, and it is largely a new realm for both protagonists Serah and Noel; for Serah because she is from Cocoon, and for Noel because he hails from another time. The "new world" also alludes to the new future that Serah and Noel want; they want to change the future and eradicate the Dying World from the timeline, effectively remaking the world into a "new world". Another allusion is at the end of the game, when Lightning decides to crystallize herself with Serah's wish in her heart. After learning of how Serah sacrificed herself, Lightning decides to live on and see the "new world" in the future, where she will one day wake up at the end of eternity.

The song plays during the ending and talks about keeping hope alive even after having lost people dear to us. Final Fantasy XIII-2 ends on a sad note with Serah dying and chaos taking over the world, and the song's message also reminds to keep hope alive even during the darkest of times, in its own way alluding how the end of Final Fantasy XIII-2 wasn't the end of the world and that even in a world overtaken by chaos hope of a better future still persists.

Links

 * Japanese iTunes Download.