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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.
約束の地 ～The Promised Land～
植松伸夫 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
終わること知らない戦いに 挑んでは消える
何かを守るため存在る 君を信じてる
逆らえぬ宿命を 今日も生きている勇気
見上げた夜空は遠く
その先に広がる銀河へと続く(eternity)
君の心の声、絆、僕等へとつながっている
My long&winding road
何処へ行こう... ただひとつ真実は
夢に明日に 光を届けたいだけ
絶望の淵がもしも 目の前に来たら
瞳の奥焼き付けた勇姿 思い出そう
何かを守るため存在る 自分を信じたい
ひとりじゃない今 夢語る時も 戦う時も
永遠の輪廻はいつも
操られるように銀河へと還る(reincarnation)
君の心の声、辿り 怯えずに前だけを見た
恐れるな 君はずっと 生きてきた
Your long&winding road
これからも誇りを持ち続けろ
夢が明日が 光に満ちてるから
君の心の声、絆、僕等へと
舞い上がる風に行方 導かれ
My long&winding road
何処へ行こう... ただひとつ真実は
夢に明日に 光を届けたい
恐れるな 君はずっと 生きてきた
Your long&winding road
これからも誇りを持ち続けろ
夢が明日が 光に満ちてるから
The lyrics to the song 約束の地 ～The Promised Land～ by 植松伸夫 speak about the struggles of life, facing the unknown, and finding the strength to carry on. The opening lines set the tone for the entire song and symbolically reference the sun setting in the wilderness, creating an atmosphere of chaos and uncertainty. The lyricist further conveys the theme of uncertainty by pointing out that those who choose to fight for what they believe in at times fade away without seeing an end. Despite this, the author still believes in the singer and their purpose, giving them the strength to keep going.
The artist also highlights the importance of forging one's path and believes that life is a journey with many twists and turns. The author identifies this journey as a long and winding road - a metaphor for the unpredictable nature of life. To face these struggles, the author encourages the singer not to be afraid, reminding them that they have what it takes to face any challenge. In the end, the lyrics remind us that we are not alone and that we are all connected. It highlights that we should always strive to go towards the light and dream of a tomorrow filled with hope.
Line by Line Meaning
荒野に落ちる太陽 紅く燃えながら
The sun falls in the wasteland, burning red.
終わること知らない戦いに 挑んでは消える
Fighting endlessly, disappearing.
何かを守るため存在る 君を信じてる
I believe in you, who exists to protect something.
逆らえぬ宿命を 今日も生きている勇気
Courage to live another day, with an inevitable fate.
見上げた夜空は遠く その先に広がる銀河へと続く(eternity)
The night sky above stretches on to an eternity of galaxies beyond.
君の心の声、絆、僕等へとつながっている
The voice of your heart, your bonds, connect us all.
舞い上がる風に行方 導かれ My long&winding road 何処へ行こう...
Guided by the winds that soar, my long and winding road questions where I should go.
ただひとつ真実は 夢に明日に 光を届けたいだけ
The only truth is I want to bring light to tomorrow through my dreams.
絶望の淵がもしも 目の前に来たら 瞳の奥焼き付けた勇姿 思い出そう
If the abyss of despair comes before me, I'll remember the courage in your eyes.
何かを守るため存在る 自分を信じたい
I want to believe in myself, who exists to protect something too.
ひとりじゃない今 夢語る時も 戦う時も
I'm not alone now, in times of dreaming and fighting.
永遠の輪廻はいつも 操られるように銀河へと還る(reincarnation)
The eternal cycle of life returns to the galaxy, like it's being controlled.
君の心の声、辿り 怯えずに前だけを見た
Following the voice of your heart, don't be afraid, just look ahead.
恐れるな 君はずっと 生きてきた
Don't be afraid, you've been living all along.
Your long&winding road これからも誇りを持ち続けろ
Keep holding onto pride for your long and winding road from now on.
夢が明日が 光に満ちてるから 君の心の声、絆、僕等へと
The dreams and tomorrow are filled with light, along with the voice of your heart and our bonds.
舞い上がる風に行方 導かれ My long&winding road 何処へ行こう...
Guided by the winds that soar, my long and winding road questions where I should go.
ただひとつ真実は 夢に明日に 光を届けたい
The only truth is I want to bring light to tomorrow through my dreams.
恐れるな 君はずっと 生きてきた
Don't be afraid, you've been living all along.
Your long&winding road これからも誇りを持ち続けろ
Keep holding onto pride for your long and winding road from now on.
夢が明日が 光に満ちてるから 君の心の声、絆、僕等へと
The dreams and tomorrow are filled with light, along with the voice of your heart and our bonds.
Writer(s): 植松伸夫
Contributed by Elizabeth P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.