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.

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) "Heart of Anxiety" - 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.
 * 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 in some towns and during some cutscenes involving the entire party.

Disc 2 (63:34)

 * 1) "Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" (F.F.VIIメインテーマ) - 6:31
 * First theme on the World Map.
 * 1) "On Our Way" (旅の途中で) - 3:42
 * Plays in various towns such as Junon.
 * 1) "Good Night, Until Tomorrow" (お休み,また明日) - 0:08
 * Plays during a rest at an Inn.
 * 1) "On That Day, 5 Years Ago" (5年前のあの日) - 3:09
 * Plays during the Nibelheim Incident flashbacks.
 * 1) "Farm Boy" (牧場の少年) - 2:53
 * Plays in the Chocobo Farm.
 * 1) "Waltz de Chocobo" (ワルツ・デ・チョコボ) - 0:35
 * Plays when the chocobos dance at the Chocobo Farm.
 * 1) "Electric de Chocobo" (エレキ・デ・チョコボ) - 3:44
 * Plays during a battle encounter with a chocobo and during the snowboarding minigame.
 * 1) "Cinco de Chocobo" (シンコ・デ・チョコボ) - 3:24
 * Plays while riding a chocobo on the World Map.
 * 1) "In Search of the Man in Black" (黒マントの男を追え) - 3:02
 * Plays in the Mythril Mines amongst other locations.
 * 1) "Fort Condor" (鷺の砦) - 3:51
 * Plays during fights at Fort Condor.
 * 1) "Rufus' Welcoming Ceremony" (ルーファウス歓迎式典) - 2:09
 * Plays during Rufus's welcoming ceremony, the marching minigame and from there on after in Junon until disc 2. This track also makes a cameo appearance in Final Fantasy IX in the Evil Forest and in Final Fantasy X in arriving at Luca.
 * 1) "It's Hard to Stand on Both Feet!" (二本足で立つのも難しいものだな) - 3:23
 * Plays on the ship from Junon to Costa del Sol.
 * 1) "Trail of Blood" (血の跡) - 4:04
 * Plays in the Shinra Headquarters after the party escapes from the cells.
 * 1) "Jenova" (J-E-N-O-V-A) - 2:18
 * Plays during battles against Jenova∙BIRTH, Jenova∙DEATH and Helletic Hojo,.
 * 1) "Continue" (つづきから) - 0:31
 * Plays upon a Game Over.
 * 1) "Costa del Sol" (太陽の海岸) - 2:23
 * Plays in Costa del Sol.
 * 1) "Mark of a Traitor" (裏切り者の烙印) - 3:33
 * Plays in North Corel.
 * 1) "Mining Town" (炭坑の街) - 3:03
 * Plays during Barret's flashbacks at Corel.
 * 1) "Gold Saucer" (ゴールドソーサー) - 1:55
 * Plays in the Gold Saucer.
 * 1) "Cait Sith's Theme" (ケット・シーのテーマ) - 3:24
 * Plays when the player first meets Cait Sith in the Gold Saucer and during prominent scenes featuring him.
 * 1) "Desert Wasteland" (砂の流刑地) - 5:42
 * Plays in the Corel Prison.

Disc 3 (73:24)

 * 1) "Cosmo Canyon" (星降る峡谷) - 3:38
 * Plays in Cosmo Canyon.
 * 1) "Lifestream" (生命の流れ) - 4:10
 * Plays during scenes at Cosmo Canyon Observatory when Bugenhagen explains about the Planet and the Lifestream.
 * 1) "The Great Warrior" (偉大なる戦士) - 3:22
 * Plays during scenes in Cosmo Canyon when Red XIII discovers the truth about his father.
 * 1) "Descendant of Shinobi" (忍びの末裔) - 3:00
 * Plays upon meeting Yuffie and during prominent scenes with her.
 * 1) "Those Chosen by the Planet" (星に選ばれし者) - 3:39
 * Sephiroth's leitmotif, it plays at the Shinra Mansion in Nibelheim, and during the final fight with Sephiroth.
 * 1) "The Nightmare Begins" (悪夢の始まり) - 2:58
 * Plays in basement of Shinra Mansion, when meeting Vincent, and during Lucrecia's flashback.
 * 1) "Cid's Theme" (シドのテーマ) - 3:02
 * Plays when meeting Cid and during prominent scenes featuring him.
 * 1) "Steal the Tiny Bronco!" (タイニーブロンコを奪え!) - 1:19
 * Plays when the party steals the Tiny Bronco from Rocket Town.
 * 1) "Wutai" (ウータイ) - 4:27
 * Plays in Wutai.
 * 1) "Stolen Materia" (マテリアいただき) - 1:37
 * Plays when Yuffie steals the party's Materia.
 * 1) "Racing Chocobos - Place Your Bets!" (本命穴チョコボ) - 1:50
 * Plays in the Chocobo Square of the Gold Saucer.
 * 1) "Fiddle de Chocobo" (フィドル・デ・チョコボ) - 2:57
 * Plays during the Chocobo Racing minigame.
 * 1) "Jackpot!" (大当たりぃ~) - 0:44
 * Plays if the player wins a chocobo race.
 * 1) "Tango of Tears" (涙のタンゴ) - 0:47
 * Plays if the player loses a chocobo race.
 * 1) "Debut" (初舞台) - 2:37
 * Plays during the play at Gold Saucer.
 * 1) "Words Drowned by Fireworks" (花火に消された言葉) - 3:01
 * Plays on the Round House ride in Gold Saucer during the date scene.
 * 1) "Forested Temple" (樹海の神殿) - 3:51
 * Plays in the Temple of the Ancients.
 * 1) "Listen to the Cries of the Planet" (星の声が聞こえる) - 3:51
 * Plays in the Forgotten Capital.
 * 1) "Aerith's Theme" (エアリスのテーマ) - 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" (雪に閉ざされて) - 4:54
 * Plays in the Great Glacier.
 * 1) "The North Cave" (北の大空洞) - 7:15
 * Plays in crater at top of world and is second and final theme when walking on the World Map.
 * 1) "Reunion" (リユニオン) - 3:46
 * Plays when Shinra finds the Promised Land.
 * 1) "Who... Am I?" (俺は誰だ) - 1:34
 * Plays in Mideel after Cloud is found.

Disc 4 (68:56)

 * 1) "Shinra's Full-Scale Assault" (神羅軍総攻撃) - 2:43
 * Plays during the FMV with Barret shows Tifa the Meteor and when Cloud is going through various obstacles when trying to reach the upper plate to get to Shinra headquarters.
 * 1) "Attack of the Weapon" (ウェポン襲来) - 2:46
 * Plays during Weapon appearances.
 * 1) "The Highwind Takes to the Skies" (空駆けるハイウィンド) - 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" (深海に眠る秘密) - 4:10
 * Plays on the submarine.
 * 1) "Provincial Town" (偏狭の村) - 2:20
 * Plays in Bone Village.
 * 1) "From the Edge of Despair" (絶望の淵から) - 4:30
 * Plays in Mideel when Cloud is hurt, and in Rocket Town when the party comes to take the rocket.
 * 1) "Other Side of the Mountain" (山の向こうに) - 2:32
 * Plays when Tifa realizes the Cloud's deepest memory when both are submerged in the Lifestream.
 * 1) "Hurry Up!" (もっと急げ!) - 2:51
 * Plays during battles in the Battle Square.
 * 1) "Launching a Dream into Space" (宇宙への夢) - 3:10
 * Plays when the party is launched into space.
 * 1) "Countdown" (秒読み開始) - 0:49
 * Plays during the rocket launch cutscene.
 * 1) "Open Your Heart" (心開けば) - 2:57
 * Plays during non-battle scenes in Fort Condor.
 * 1) "Mako Cannon - The Destruction of Shinra" (魔晄キャノン発射～神羅爆発) - 1:28
 * Plays during the FMV where the cannon destroys the shield of the North Crater.
 * 1) "Judgement Day" (最期の日) - 3:54
 * Plays when descending the Northern Cave to face Sephiroth.
 * 1) "JENOVA Absolute" (完全なるジェノヴァ) - 3:56
 * Plays during the battle with Jenova∙SYNTHESIS.
 * 1) "Birth of a God (神の誕生) - 3:57
 * Plays during the battle with Bizarro∙Sephiroth.
 * 1) "One-Winged Angel" (片翼の天使) - 6:54
 * Plays during the battle with Safer∙Sephiroth.
 * 1) "The Planet's Crisis" (星の危機) - 9:44
 * Plays in the ending.
 * 1) "Staff Roll" (スタッフロール) - 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

 * An excerpt from Haydn's "The Creation" is played in President Shinra's office as Sector 7 plate collapses below him.
 * When asked to name his favourite three tracks from the soundtrack, Uematsu named the Overworld Theme, the Desert Canyon theme and Aerith's Theme.

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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