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Nobuo Uematsu (植松伸夫 Uematsu Nobuo) (born March 21, 1959) is a Japanese composer of video game music. He is best known for his work with game developer Squaresoft (now Square Enix), having provided scores for a majority of installments of Square's Final Fantasy series of role-playing games. Uematsu's body of work - composed, in its entirety, on keyboards - is known for its distinct eclecticism, and has secured his status as one of the most popular and beloved composers of video game music in the world.

Nobuo Uematsu was born in Kōchi, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. A self-taught musician, he began to play the piano when he was eleven or twelve years old, and he did not take any formal piano lessons. After graduating from Kanagawa University, Uematsu played the keyboard in several amateur bands and composed music for television commercials.

When Uematsu was working at a music rental shop in Tokyo, a Square employee asked if he would be interested in creating music for some of the titles they were working on. Although he agreed, Uematsu considered it a side job, and he did not think it would become a full-time career. He said it was a way to make some money on the side, while also keeping his part-time job at the music rental shop. His first score for Square was Cruise Chaser Blassty, released in 1986.

Uematsu enjoyed massive commercial success with the song "Eyes on Me" performed by 王菲 and featured in Final Fantasy VIII. The single sold 400,000 copies, a record for a video game song, and won the "Song of the Year" award at the 1999 Japan Gold Disc Awards. Uematsu was subsequently named in Time Magazine's list of the Top 100 Innovators - Music, and has toured Japan playing classical concerts on several occasions.

His music itself is notoriously eclectic, tracks featured skip between pop-style balladry, to fusion styles incorporating African traditions, to, in recent years, a number of Celtic-influenced recordings and releases. Many of his works also contain elements of progressive rock and hard rock. His formation of The Black Mages, a rock band, in 2003, allowed him to experiment with his own compositions, releasing band renditions of a significant number of tracks from his soundtracks. The Black Mages disbanded in 2010, but Uematsu formed a new band featuring other ex-Black Mages members and some new faces, Earthbound Papas, in its wake.

In 2004, Uematsu formed his own production company, Smile Please, to which Uematsu's compositions for CG-animated film Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children is credited. Uematsu continues to compose for Square Enix and other video game developers, such as Mistwalker. Notably, he worked on the soundtrack for the Nintendo crossover fighting game, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, having composed its main theme.

「独りじゃない -original-」 from FINAL FANTASY IX
植松伸夫 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lost in darkest blue
Endless labyrinths weaving though
Will you stagger on
With no star to light your way?
Share with me your tears
cll your troubles and deepest fears
I remember when
You chased all my shadows away

Won't you take my hand?
Come away with me from this land
Let me give to you
cll that you have given to me
Fly horizon bound
Find the moon behind darkening clouds
Even far apart
Know our souls together will be

When the storm draws nigh
Dreams will shatter before your eyes
Know that you're not alone
When the battle starts
I will comfort your restless heart
You'll know that you are home

When your stars stop shining
Endless vines around you winding
Know that you're not alone
I will give my all
So your tears will no longer fall
Down, down on sorrow's stone

Look into my eyes

cll eternity you will find
In this fragile heart
Know that you will always belong
Shout into the night
Show the darkness that you will fight
Hopeless you may feel
But inside I know you are strong

Keep me in your heart
So we'll never be far apart
Let the bonds of love
Break these chains imprisoning you
clways you will find
Shadows lingering close behind
Lift your spirits now
We shall be together soon

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Not Alone" by 植松伸夫 from the FINAL FANTASY IX Original Soundtrack convey a message of support, companionship, and encouragement in times of darkness and despair. The song opens with a description of being lost in a deep blue abyss and navigating through endless labyrinths without any guiding star. Despite this, the singer asks the listener to share their tears, troubles, and fears, recalling a time when the listener chased away the singer's shadows, indicating a deep level of trust and reliance.

The chorus emphasizes the idea of not being alone, emphasizing that during the approaching storm and battles, the singer will comfort the listener's restless heart. The use of imagery like shattered dreams and vines winding around emphasizes the challenges and struggles the listener may face. However, the singer assures that they will give their all so that the listener's tears will no longer fall on sorrow's stone, offering unwavering support.

The lyrics also highlight the eternal connection between the singer and the listener. The mention of eternity and a fragile heart suggests that despite the hardships, the listener will always belong and find solace in the singer's presence. The lyrics also encourage the listener to shout into the night and show the darkness that they will fight, acknowledging the moments of hopelessness but firmly believing in the listener's strength.

In the final lines, the lyrics express a longing for the listener to keep the singer in their heart, ensuring that they will never be far apart. It suggests that the bonds of love will break the chains imprisoning the listener, providing them with liberation and eventually leading them to be together.

「独りじゃない -original-」 from FINAL FANTASY IX植松伸夫 Lyrics

「独りじゃない -original-」 from FINAL FANTASY IX
植松伸夫 Lyrics