Piano Opera Final Fantasy VII/VIII/IX

Piano Opera Final Fantasy VII/VIII/IX is a piano arrangement album of music from Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII and Final Fantasy IX. The music is arranged and performed by Hiroyuki Nakayama and overseen by the series composer Nobuo Uematsu.

Development
Nobuo Uematsu had difficulty in choosing just four songs from each game for the album. He wanted it to feature songs that weren't shoe-in inclusions, songs that don't always get the spotlight. Two tracks in particular, Final Fantasy VIIs "Cosmo Canyon" and "Words Drowned by Fireworks" were easy choices as he likes the tracks himself and the songs hadn't seen many re-arrangements before. Uematsu has named "Words Drowned by Fireworks" as his potential favorite song, but stressed he loves all the songs naturally, "as a parent would love a child they gave birth to".

A piano rendition of Final Fantasy VIII song "Ami" was included on the album. Uematsu explained its name comes from the Spanish word ami for "friend", as friendship is an important part of Final Fantasy VIII's story. The song's naming was also inspired by 1986 novel by Chilean writer Enrique Barrios, entitled Ami, el niño de las estrellas that is known in Japanese as Ami Chiisana Uchuujin ("Ami, the tiny alien") and in English as Ami: Child of the Stars.

Track List

 * 1) "Ami [FINAL FANTASY VIII]"
 * 2) "Fight On! [FINAL FANTASY VII]"
 * 3) "Cosmo Canyon" [FINAL FANTASY VII]"
 * 4) "The Man with the Machine Gun" [FINAL FANTASY VIII]"
 * 5) "Not Alone [FINAL FANTASY IX]"
 * 6) "Liberi Fatali [FINAL FANTASY VIII]"
 * 7) "Words Drowned by Fireworks [FINAL FANTASY VII]"
 * 8) "Festival of the Hunt [FINAL FANTASY IX]"
 * 9) "Force Your Way [FINAL FANTASY VIII]"
 * 10) "Roses of May [FINAL FANTASY IX]"
 * 11) "Opening - Bombing Mission [FINAL FANTASY VII]"
 * 12) "Melodies of Life [FINAL FANTASY IX]"