Theme Analysis

Vivi_Stalker · Nov 24, 2002, 08:02 PM

The character themes of FFIX. We've heard them all at least once, even if we didn't notice them. They tell us things without words. They speak for the characters themselves...

But the question is...

How do the themes speak to you, and what do they say about these people?

Explain your reasoning, and try to get at least 2 in there.

Eventually, I hope that there'll be one for every main character.

I'm um...reserving my right to say that I'm having a brain fart.

I'll post mine later...

Kuro · Nov 24, 2002, 08:59 PM

Oooo! ME LIKE TOPIC!!!

I think Rose of May is still my favorite character theme, but I also realized how wonderful Ziddy's theme was/is/wis!! At first I actually didn't really care much about it. But becasue I'm so obsessed with the little monkey-tailed bandit... hehehe, well, naturally his theme eventually really grew on me.

Like Zidane, there's an upbeat, cheerful beginning of the theme which captures a lot of high-spirited energy. It's also brash and bold, yet lighthearted, much like the character. And also like Ziddy, this song is also progressive, in terms of emotion. I know, this is a kind of a weird thing to say, but Zid's theme comes in three parts... probably the most dynamic and changing of all the themes I've found.

The first part is a march, carefree and cheery, representing how Zidane begins. He begins the game as a hyper, without many worries. The second part sounds like a clock, quieter and more subdued, a little more thoughtful, representing how Zidane becomes a quieter, more thoughtful character (especially in terms of his thoughts for Dagger). And the final part of the theme, which is a reprise of "Where Love Doesn't Reach," represents Zidane in his final stages during the game, a more reflective, serious character, but always still upbeat and lighthearted. I could think it also demonstrates his ties to Dagger, but that's just me thinking to hard about it. Heeheehee.

Anyway, that's Ziddy's theme. I'd also put Rose of May, but I'll save it for later.

Great toipc, Veestah!

-EDIT-
Hehehe, oops... XD Unfinished first part of the post. Heh-heh...

Vivi_Stalker · Nov 24, 2002, 09:50 PM

Haha!! Somehow I knew you'd be the first here, Kurie!!

Anyway, i thought of this thread while I was playing today.

It was Freya that inspired it.

I'm not sure if this is her actual theme, but it always seemed to play when she had center stage. (I don't have the song...My Mp3 getting thing sucks...)

But...Under the assumption that the one I heard was indeed Freya's Theme, these were my thoughts.

A kind of meloncholy song, in my opinion... It represents Freya's outward strength and ambition, but the undertone of sadness suggests her soft demeanor.... And the broken heart she carries with her. All of her sorrows are in this song, as are her joys. It's just a beautiful theme....And I've liked it better than anyone else's.

Vivi's theme was great, but also kind of one-sided. It's that first happy, upbeat song we hear as we galavant through the streets of bright and cheery Alexandria! It's the simplicity of a child... Happy and carefree. But we really don't see Vivi's thoughtful and more subdued moods through this piece. It feels somehow unfinished to me, after seeing the personal journey he went through.

Those are my thoughts.

Everyone, feel free to post which ones you feel most strongly about, but any experiemental individuals who wanna try to finish the list... Go ahead.

It'll be neat to catalog all this.

Dagger aka Garnet · Nov 24, 2002, 10:59 PM

I love all the themes

My Favorite is either Zidane,Daggers Beatrixs or Eikos.

Zidane's theme, I think, fits him really well because its cheerful and happy

He is always trying to cheer everyone up,stand by them and help them

Garnet's theme is really sweet but kinda sad a bit. She is really sweet but at the beginning she has alot of things bothering her and she is sad alot..I think her theme describes her well too.

And Zorn and Thorn's theme. When you hear it,you know Zorn and Thorn are up to no good and slinking around somewhere.So..

Vivi_Stalker · Nov 25, 2002, 12:31 AM

XD YEAH!! I know whenever I heard the one for Zorn and Thorn, I'd start giggling...I knew something weird was gonna happen. XD Didn't expect that one, cool!!

The Space Between · Nov 25, 2002, 01:55 AM

What the hell are you talking about?

Heh. I'm confused. How do they speak to me?

Like, tunes played? Hmm... I like Garny's song, although it is just 'la la laa'-ing.

What others are there?

Sorry.

Kat · Nov 25, 2002, 02:12 AM

When I hear Zorn & Thorn's theme my blood starts boiling!!
I hate those two!! that is why I rejoiced SO much when they
finally died on Mt. Gulug

Zidane - fits him very well. 'nuff said!
Dagger - I agree DAG

sweet, & a little sad. fits her too

Vivi - I love it!!

sooooo cute!!
fits him, for he is a kid! ( but a strong one

)

Freya - Kinda sad... I wouldn't blame her , though.
after all... her true love forgot all about her..

Beatrix - Maybe it represents Dilemma?
btw, I play "Loss of Me" on the piano all the time

I'll post the rest later...

my fingers are getting numb

Kuro · Nov 25, 2002, 02:26 AM

Awww... please be a little nicer than that, 'Tween.

In FF9, each lead character (Zidane, Dagger, Freya, Steiner, Vivi, Amarant, Quina, and Eiko, as well as Kuja, Beatrix, and the Jester Twins) has a theme song.

* SOME SPOILERS *

Zidane's theme, you hear right after you leave Dali on the cargo ship (during the "Ooo... soft!" scene), And Eiko's you hear as she's cooking dinner for her guests in Madain Sari (the "Eiko's Kitchen" ATE). Freya's is played just as you enter Burmecia for the first time. Dagger's is played as she's getting ready for her coronation with Dr. Tot and Beatrix. Beatrix's is played just after you leave Cleyra on the Red Rose to rescue Dagger. Steiner's is played as he's searching for his Knights of Pluto in Alexandria. Slamander (Amarant's), you'll hear just before you leave Madain Sari for the Iifa tree, right as he joins your team. Quina's you'll hear when you're catching frogs in the Qu's Marsh.

... you'll hear some of them more often than others, and variatons of several of them, but that's the lowdown.

The Space Between · Nov 25, 2002, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kurohime
Awww... please be a little nicer than that, 'Tween.

Ooh. A nick. I'm accepted.

Well, I got it now. I think I like Kuja's. But I don't have the soundtrack, so I can't remember very well.

Kuja: the badass of badasses introduces himself with the badass song of badass songs. My kind of mood.

Kuja wears a thong! :[

NVee · Nov 25, 2002, 04:45 AM

Heheh, looks like I'll try Eiko's theme

IMO, this is the most kawaii character theme I've heard as of yet. It says "I'm still young, so you'll have to forgive me if I act totally cute, or bratty, in a cute way. If I seem nieve in the slightest, blame it on the age"

Next in line for favorites are Freya's and Beatrix's themes, but I don't really think I can figure out how to describe them... So I'll just leave them for someone else to do ^_~

Bliss · Nov 25, 2002, 05:21 AM

I have to say that at present my favourite theme is Zidane's.

I noticed that it was split into three parts too, and that's one of reason why I love it so much. Everything that I want to say about it, Kuro's said already, so I don't think there's any reason for me to repeat it.

That theme really describes Zidane's personality as it progresses through the game.

Another one I really like is Freya's Theme. It describes her personality and emotions perfectly, too - sad, but courageous and noble. Freya's Theme also reminds me of Burmecia a lot. In a way, the state of Burmecia in the game reflects Freya's broken heart. Blah.....

As for Beatrix's Theme.... I don't know how to describe this one!!! I'm not a great writer!! Heh. I just like it a lot. It brings out the plesantness of Beatrix's character and her nobility as well.

I didn't like the other character themes as much - as in, they didn't describe the character all that well. Especially Garnet's Theme and Vivi's Theme. Vivi ISN'T happy and carefree like the theme made him out to him. At least, not that much. And Garnet's Theme is too syrupy-sweet. It doesn't sound like her at all, because you know there are other sides to her personality.

Kuro · Nov 25, 2002, 06:40 AM

Blissy! Of course you're a good writer!

Wow... these have really been some great interpretations. Vee, the way you described Eiko's was perfect!

Rose of May, Beatrix's theme...

The one word that I think comes to mind whenever I listen to this song is passion. I think it's not only my favorite character theme, it's probably my favorite Uyematsu-sama work, period. Throughtout the game, I always got the sense that Beatrix was this extremely strong and willful character, yet there was something inside her that was missing. Something longing, lonesome, and even a bit sad. But it has emotional power in it that feels as if it's describing someone with sorrow but is determined to fight and to find her way.

Kuja's Theme...

The piano strains of this theme kind of sound... creepy. It's kind of haunting and mysterious. I always thought of Kuja as a bit of a misguided soul, too. He's dark, and he's kind of got this weird aura around him that says, "I wear what I wear because I CAN. And if you question me..... hahahahahaahaa!! You won't live to regret it!! Hahahahahaha-HAHAHA!!!"

His theme is almost psychotic, too. Hehehe. Listen to it for a few hours on end and you'll be just as neurotic as he is!

I do think that it captured the mood surrounding his character quite well, although One Winged Angel is probably still my faovorite theme. Hehehe.

More to come later!

Vivi_Stalker · Nov 25, 2002, 08:20 PM

Ah, Kurie reminded me that I loved Kuja's Theme as well.

Listening to this song, seriously thinking about it... The eerie piano is quite.... QUITE.

hock: Kuro nailed it.

It also represents his poetic personality. What I liked about Kuja, is his never ending supply of witty comments and retorts...And his unique way of explaining things. If anything else had been played in the place of this song, I probably wouldn't have taken Kuja as seriously as I do while I play.

Kuro · Nov 26, 2002, 12:41 AM

I'm listening to Garnet's Theme as I type this, and I think I agree with NVee. It's a little too syrupy to be the real Dagger... it's less about the real young woman inside her and more about her prim and proper royal side, which is only a part of her. Of the other variations of her theme, though, I think "Song of Memory" (which is played towards the end) describes her better.

Just my thoughts on that, though.

Steiner's Theme...

Hehehe, now what else can I say other than this theme just reminds me of a big, lumbering oaf.

It sounds like someone who's kinda trying to think but is killing too many brain cells in the process. Let's face it, Steiner isn't exactly the shiniest crayon in the box, now is he? So this theme, with its slo but determined stacatto tempo, really fits him.

*eyes start going all swirly* You know.... thirty minutes of Zidane's Theme on repeat will drive you utterly maAAaaAaaaaAaAaaAddDdD!!!!

PaperDragon · Nov 26, 2002, 01:09 AM

Well, I didn't enjoy the character themes that much. I guess what bothered me is that I didn't even know they had themes until I saw the soundtrack. They should have played the themes more often. Garnet's theme is too syrupy, but the theme that bothers me the most is Vivi's theme. Bad first impression, I think. Its a pretty song and all, but they play it while he's walking around Alexandria. I thought it was the Alexandria town theme or something, but I never associated it with Vivi. HOWEVER, even though I think FFIX did a bad job on character themes overall, I do think it has some of the best. Such as.....

Loss of Me-Beatrix's Theme ~

Loss of Me (or Rose of May) is one of the best character themes I have ever heard. They played it more than once, and I always associated it with Beatrix.

Jesters of the Monn-Zorn&Thorn's Theme~

Even though people may hate these guys, you've got to give their theme credit. I think it fits them perfectly, as halfway into the song it stops and begins playing backwards.

Kuja's Theme

A recycled theme. Yeah, its been heard before in FFV, but it still fits him perfectly.