When I do one of my podcasts with my brothers, I try to think of a topic that we can both talk about enthusiastically. My brother Ben, who is the oldest of my younger brothers on my dad’s side, he’s really into music. I’m into music more than what you might think I am, too, I just don’t talk about it as much. So I thought a topic we could both talk about together is our favorite video game music composers. I hope you all get to listen to this one and maybe even learn a thing or two!
Please listen to the podcast and let me know what you think in the comments section. The next episode should be with me and my brother Nathan, as we talk about Disney stuff! But if you have any questions or ideas for future episodes, please let me know! Thanks! --Cary
PS: I’ve noticed it’s been a bit slow around here lately. Everything all right?
I knew Go Shiina would be at the top of your list.
My own top five are Koji Kondo (my single favorite piece of game music is the Zelda Overture, especially the later renditions of it), Uematsu, Koichi Sugiyama, Hitoshi Sakimota (he composed the music for so many of those SRPGs I love), and Noriyuki Iwadare (composer for Lunar and Grandia, and was also heavily involved in the later Smash soundtracks.) My honorable mentions would include Bobby Prince (original Doom), Motoi Sakuraba (most of the Tales games, including the recently released Arise), Shimomura, Kenji Ito (SaGa), and Hiroki Kikuta (Mana), Michiru Yamane. However, you can tell your brother that Donkey Kong Country was primarily composed by David Wise, with assistance from Robin Beanland and Eveline Fischer.
In March 2013, I drove to Omaha, Nebraska to see Distant Worlds. I actually got backstage tickets for myself and my wife. We got to meet Mr. Uematsu (it was his birthday, as it happened), as well as Arnie Roth, who is the director of the Distant Worlds concerts. Mr. Uematsu autographed my FF9 cover art. I still have it on display on my shelf.
I knew that someone else composed most of the music for DKC, but I wasn't feeling like doing too much fact checking during the podcast or arguing so all I said to Ben was, "Are you sure?"
I went to two different Final Fantasy concerts. I don't remember what they were called, but I'm pretty sure one of them was Distant Worlds. Both played One Winged Angel as the encore. Bleh. Am I the only one who thinks Dancing Mad was so much better? The second concert was especially cool becasue they played out the whole opera scene from FF6. Dream came true that day.