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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.

Final Fantasy VIII: Liberi Fatali
植松伸夫 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec
Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec
Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec

Excitate vos e somno, liberi mei
Cunae sunt non
Excitate vos e somno, liberi fatali
Somnus est non

Surgite
Inventite
Veni hortum veritatis
Horti verna veritatis

Ardente veritate
Urite mala mundi
Ardente veritate
Incendite tenebras mundi

Valete, liberi
Diebus fatalibus

Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec
Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec

Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec
Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Liberi Fatali" are in Latin and their meaning is often subject to interpretation by fans of the game and its music. The phrase “Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec” does not have a specific meaning in Latin, as it was created by Nobuo Uematsu specifically for this piece. The phrase is believed to be a fantasy language used for ritualistic purposes in the fictional world of Final Fantasy VIII.

The lyrics mention the “excitate vos e somno,” which means “wake up from your sleep,” and describes the summoning of powerful forces to fight against darkness in the world. The lines “Surgite, Inventite, Veni hortum veritatis, Horti verna veritatis” can be translated to “Rise up, invent, come into the garden of truth, Garden of eternal truth.”

The theme of light versus dark is prevalent throughout "Liberi Fatali," as the lyrics urge the listeners to burn away the darkness in the world with the light of truth. Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of urgency and a call to action against the forces of evil.

Line by Line Meaning

Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec
Repeating a mysterious phrase with unknown meaning, possibly related to magic or incantation.

Excitate vos e somno, liberi mei
Awaken from your slumber, my free ones.

Cunae sunt non
There are no cradles, implying a sense of urgency or danger.

Excitate vos e somno, liberi fatali
Awaken from your slumber, fatal ones.

Somnus est non
There is no sleep, suggesting a battle or conflict ahead.

Surgite
Rise up, a call to action.

Inventite
Discover or find a solution.

Veni hortum veritatis
Come to the garden of truth, perhaps a metaphor for enlightenment or knowledge.

Horti verna veritatis
Garden of eternal truth, suggesting a higher sense of purpose or meaning.

Ardente veritate
With burning truth, suggesting passion or conviction.

Urite mala mundi
Burn the evils of the world, possibly a call for justice or righteousness.