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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.
My Home Sweet Home
植松伸夫 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Day by day, from land to land I roam.
Though told by the wind, which way to go,
Oh how I long for my home, sweet home.
Boađe ruoktot álo godon dovddat duski,
Boađe ruoktot álo godon dovddat váivvi.
Du ruoktu vuordá du álo,
Fragrant blossoms blooming far away,
Do my folks see them as I did long ago?
Are they still joyful, are they young at heart?
Will I see them again as I did that day?
How far I've come from my childhood home?
There will come a time when my troubles are gone,
And when I shall not be all alone.
Till then, I dream of my home, sweet home.
The song "My Home Sweet Home" by 植松伸夫 touches on the universal theme of homesickness, something that many people can relate to - the feeling of longing for the familiarity and comfort of one's childhood home. The singer, who is traveling far from home, yearns to return to where they belong. The opening lines of the song describe how far the singer has been wandering, from land to land, but their inner compass still points them towards their home. Despite being advised by the wind, the singer wants to return and is excited to be reunited with their roots.
The subsequent verse portrays the singer's nostalgia, wondering if their family can still enjoy the fragrant blossoms they once admired together, and hoping that they will be able to see them again soon. The memories of their family seem like yesterday, and the singer is unsure if they have grown old or experienced anything tragic while they were gone. The final verse speaks to the singer's desire to leave their current situation and find solace in their "sweet home". The journey has been tiring, and the singer longs for a time when they will not have to feel alone anymore.
Overall, the song "My Home Sweet Home" features emotionally resonant lyrics that express feelings of longing, heartache, and hope. It is a powerful reminder that no matter where life takes us or how far we roam, home will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Line by Line Meaning
So far away from my home, sweet home,
I'm feeling separated from the place where I belong.
Day by day, from land to land I roam.
I travel from one place to another without a permanent home.
Though told by the wind, which way to go,
The wind guides me, but my heart yearns for my home.
Oh how I long for my home, sweet home.
My desire to return to my hometown is strong and heartfelt.
Fragrant blossoms blooming far away,
Flowers are blooming in distant places,
Do my folks see them as I did long ago?
Are my loved ones still alive and able to enjoy the beauty of nature?
Are they still joyful, are they young at heart?
I wonder if they're still happy and feeling young inside.
Will I see them again as I did that day?
I hope to reunite with my family and friends someday.
How far I've come from my childhood home?
I realize how much distance is between my current location and where I grew up.
There will come a time when my troubles are gone,
I believe that one day, all of my hardships and worries will disappear.
And when I shall not be all alone.
I will have people around me who care and support me.
Till then, I dream of my home, sweet home.
In the meantime, I daydream about returning to my hometown.
Writer(s): Nobuo Uematsu
Contributed by Joshua F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Aranimda
I gave this song to my mom on a small MP3 player she uses when she walked her pilgrimage through Europe. She loved it. A few years back I lost her to cancer. Whenever I hear this song now I think of her and her journey far.
@WilliamTDias
I used to play this song with my kalimba, it's a wooden soundboard with metal keys and soft sound, it's like a small piano, and this was the last song that I played to my mom, I still remember her on the bed with a smile while listening me, I lost her to cancer four years ago, back then I became completely depressed for a long time, until a day that I found some photographies from her while she was traveling with me and realized that she would want me to be strong and keep going, that day I promised her that I would do my best to make her pround and would not fall for my depression. This song brings me a lot of memories and feelings, from my childhood and friends, from my mom... it will always have a deep place in my heart.
@Aranimda
@@WilliamTDias A big hug
@spirittaker825
Happy 30th anniversary, Final Fantasy V.
@awetistic5295
The home I have left are people. The places that were my home don't exist anymore like they used to, too much has changed. I still miss them and wish I could go back. Too much nostalgia in this song.
@CraigStCyrPlus
Were you to go back, you wouldn't be who left. When you went away, you took all the good with you.
@kyarimaresuki
I love this song. It brings back a sad and maybe pathetic memory, though. I happened to be listening to it on a dark, rainy night when I had been about to ask for a job application. I couldn't, though. I just sat in the car and lost myself to tears. I had just moved away from home for the first time, and not very close. My mental state was falling apart because of so many painful things, including my parents splitting in a terrible way.
Almost twenty years later, my parents are back together, and I'm in a better place. But just now, I thought of this song and so many bittersweet things after hearing sad news from my parents.
I want to share this with someone now. Music is such an important part of our lives, and this song has been a part of mine. It's under-appreciated, I think.
@RainePhoenix
This song always makes me cry! Final Fantasy V is my 2nd favorite game in the series, and it's soundtrack is perhaps my personal favorite. So many beautiful, emotional and iconic tracks, hiding within a game that, to this day, remains something of a hidden gem within the franchise, being neither as divisive as Final Fantasy 2, 8 or 13, or considered as iconic or groundbreaking as 1, 4, 6, 7, 9 or 10. It hasn't even been remade as substantially as Final Fantasy 3. This game, its characters and its soundtrack have gotten me through some of the most trying parts of my life, and this arrangement elevates what was already an emotionally-charged powerhouse into something so filled with nostalgia and wistful longing that it tugs at the heartstrings so hard.
@zGabaz
Your comment made me VERY VERY happy :) I have exactly the same feelings about this song and this game (and FFV is also my second favorite!). These tracks make me think about all the good things and people in life. I could not have written it any better... I hope you are doing well and stay strong, friend :)
@RainePhoenix
@@zGabaz Same to you! And, I'm glad I'm not the only own who truly appreciates this game and it's music this much. Truly a masterpiece.