Overview

Final Fantasy arranged albums, such as orchestrated remixes, piano collections, unofficial projects, and other such releases, have always captivated Uematsu fans worldwide. None of this, however, can compare to the sense of awe and nostalgia that came from hearing classical Final Fantasy pieces put to lyrics. The combined talents of Nobuo Uematsu and Lisa Ooki formulate to create what could be the most artistic use of video game music ever with the "Final Fantasy Vocal Collection" two disc series.

The final volume Pray is a real showcase of Lisa Ooki's talents. Not many people know who she is, which isn't too surprising. She doesn't have a whole lot of public image, although many people will agree with me when I say she should. Her voice is absolutely gorgeous, and she can sing fluently in countless languages, several of which are present in the Vocal Collections. It almost seems as if she can sing perfectly in any pitch, although she tends to wisely keep her voice in the mezzo soprano category.

Body

"Prelude" from is actually more interesting than either exceptionally good or exceptionally bad. Unlike every other track on the albums, this variation of the "Prelude" is simply Lisa Ooki humming along as well as a choir. Even though it doesn't have the same effect as the other tracks, it provides a very calming introduction to the music that follows.

"Wanderer of Time" is an excellent example of how the music was remixed to fit the lyrics. Although the actual tune is orchestrated in the background for the most part, the lyrics are sung to a similar melody that was stacked on top of the original. The lyrics themselves are nothing too special, focusing on various abstract concepts and musings, which really play on the whole "fantasy feeling" associated with this music. Also included, much like in several of the tracks, a completely new section to the original score.

In my opinion, "Au Palais De Verre" is one of the greatest tracks off either disc. Not only does Lisa Ooki sing the French lyrics, to the best of my knowledge, fluently, but also the orchestration of the old favorite "Matoya's Cave" is excellent. Most of these tracks are to such notable pieces, that hearing them orchestrated is nothing new. But with "Au Palais de Verre," not only is there a sense of nostalgia from hearing it sung, but hearing it orchestrated is just as awe-inspiring.

As the titular piece of the first album and the vocal version of Final Fantasy's main theme, "Pray" can't be overlooked either. The orchestration is epic, the Japanese lyrics fit the melody perfectly, and this is truly when the nostalgia really sets in.

Summary

I know I sound like a broken record, but Pray and Love Will Grow both have a sense of nostalgia to them; fans of the music practically NEED to hear these albums. If you must choose between the two, definitely go with Pray given its superior content. The concept here is a lovely addition to the abundant amount of arranged albums that are being released, and I'm glad to see Uematsu doing more of this with the Mahoroba Song Book.