Nobuo Uematsu

Nobuo Uematsu (?? ??; Uematsu Nobuo, born March 21, 1959) is a Japanese composer of video game music, and one of the most well-known, prolific, and versatile in the field. He has composed music for many games produced by Square Co., Ltd, and Square Enix, including the Final Fantasy series of role-playing games, and some pieces for Chrono Trigger.

Biography

Born in Kochi City, Kochi prefecture, Japan, Uematsu began to play the piano when he was twelve years old (his greatest role model early in life was Elton John) and is a self-taught musician. After graduating from Kanagawa University, he composed music for commercials before joining Square Co., Ltd. (now Square Enix Co., Ltd.) in 1986. He went on to compose music for over thirty game titles, including the award-winning Final Fantasy series. In October 2004, Uematsu formed Smile Please Co., Ltd. and continues to compose for Square Enix along with several other works. The style of his compositions range from stately classical-like pieces, to New Age, to hyper-percussive techno-electronica, similar in sound to some music by the band Emerson, Lake and Palmer, one of his stated influences. Uematsu is a renowned composer who has been touted as increasing the appreciation and awareness of video game music. A prime example is the Final Fantasy VIII theme song, "Eyes on Me" {{audio|Final Fantasy VIII - Eyes On Me.ogg|sample}}, composed and produced by Uematsu. The theme song featured Hong Kong pop diva Faye Wong and sold a record 400,000 copies. It then went on to win "Song of the Year (Western Music)" at the 14th Annual Japan Gold Disc Awards in 1999 ? the first time music from a video game won the honor.

Related Topics:
Kochi City - Kochi prefecture - Japan - Piano - Role model - Elton John - Kanagawa University - Square Co., Ltd - Square Enix - 1986 - Final Fantasy - 2004 - Smile Please Co., Ltd. - Classical - New Age - Techno-electronica - Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Final Fantasy VIII - Eyes on Me - Hong Kong - Faye Wong - 1999

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The music from the game series has grown to such notoriety, Nobuo Uematsu was named as one of the "Innovators" in Time Magazine's "Time 100: The Next Wave - Music" feature. Uematsu's approach to Final Fantasy music is diverse, encompassing many styles. This diversity along with the popularity of the music has resulted in a variety of musical performances including classical symphonies, rock and acoustic. After a string of successful concert performances in Japan including a six-city, seven-show concert series titled "Tour de Japon ? music from FINAL FANTASY?," the first stateside concert, "DEAR FRIENDS -music from FINAL FANTASY-," followed May 10, 2004 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California selling out in three days. The performance featured music from world-renowned Final Fantasy video game series, performed by the acclaimed Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and the Los Angeles Master Chorale and conducted by Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra director Miguel Harth-Bedoya. Due to the positive reception for this performance and clamor from fans for more, a concert series for North America was to follow.

Related Topics:
Time Magazine - Final Fantasy - Japan - May 10 - 2004 - Walt Disney Concert Hall - Los Angeles, California - Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra - Los Angeles Master Chorale - Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra - Miguel Harth-Bedoya - North America

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In 2003 Uematsu expanded his horizons yet again when he formed The Black Mages, and released an album of specially arranged versions of his classic Final Fantasy pieces. The Black Mages, in which Uematsu himself played keyboards, are a group of technically accomplished rock musicians who reinterpreted and expanded on the original compositions found in the series. In the same year, for the first time ever his music from Final Fantasy was performed in a Symphonic Game Music Concert outside of Japan. It took place as the official opening ceremony of Europe's biggest trading fair for video games, the GC Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany. Another concert featuring Final Fantasy music took place one year later in Leipzig, Germany again.

Related Topics:
2003 - The Black Mages - ''Final Fantasy'' pieces - Final Fantasy - Symphonic Game Music Concert - Japan - Europe - Video games - GC Games Convention - Leipzig, Germany

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While he is best known for his work in video games, Uematsu's work spans a wide-range of outlets. Some of those works include composing the theme song for the anime film "Oh My Goddess!" and writing music for top Japanese vocalists such as Emiko Shiratori and Rikki.

Related Topics:
Anime - Oh My Goddess! - Emiko Shiratori - Rikki

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Uematsu has written a column, "Nobuo Uematsu no Minna Sounano?", for popular Japanese gaming magazine Weekly Famitsu for several years. Two compilations of the columns have been released. Additionally, Uematsu signed to finish the Chrono Trigger soundtrack after his friend, Yasunori Mitsuda, contracted stomach ulcers (http://www.chronocompendium.com/wiki/index.php?title=Power_Up_Excerpt).

Related Topics:
Weekly Famitsu - Chrono Trigger - Yasunori Mitsuda

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Uematsu's music has been a large part of the Final Fantasy franchise's great popularity in the United Kingdom and the United States. In the 2004 Summer Olympics, the United States synchronized swimming duet of Alison Bartosik and Anna Kozlova won the bronze medal using two of his pieces from Final Fantasy VIII in the second half of their routine.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - United States - 2004 Summer Olympics - Synchronized swimming - Alison Bartosik - Anna Kozlova - Final Fantasy VIII

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As of 2004, Nobuo Uematsu lives in Japan with his wife Reiko and his dog Pao.

Related Topics:
As of 2004 - Japan

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In early 2005, Nobuo's rock band, The Black Mages, released its second album titled '. Arrangements included Final Fantasy VIII's "The Man with the Machine Gun" {{audio|The Black Mages II - The Skies Above - The Man With The Machine Gun.ogg|sample}} and Final Fantasy X's "The Skies Above" {{audio|The Black Mages II - The Skies Above - The Skies Above.ogg|sample}}.

Related Topics:
The Black Mages - Final Fantasy VIII - The Man with the Machine Gun - Final Fantasy X

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His company, Smile Please, will compose music for various video game companies, including Square Enix and Mist Walker.

Related Topics:
Smile Please - Square Enix - Mist Walker

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As of 2005, he is touring the United States with his concert Dear Friends.

Related Topics:
2005 - United States - Dear Friends

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