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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.
Otherworld
植松伸夫 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An otherworld awaits you
Don't you give up on it.
You bite the hand that feeds you.
All alone cold fields you wander
Memories of it, cloud your sight
Fills your dreams, disturbs your slumber
Hold now, aim is steady
An otherworld awaits you.
One thousand years, you ready?
The otherworld it takes you
Go into the sand and the dust in the sky
Go now, there's no better plan than to do or to die
Free me pray to the faith in the face of the light
Feed me fill me with sin now get ready to fight
You know you will
You know you will
You know you know you know you know that you will
You know you know you know you know that you will
Fight fight fight
Fight fight fight
Fight fight fight
Hope dies and you wander
The otherworld it makes you
Dreams they rip asunder
The otherworld it hates you
Free now ride up on it
Up to the heights it takes you
Go on if you want it.
An otherworld awaits you
The lyrics of "Otherworld" by 植松伸夫 speak about a fallen knight who has lost his way and wanders alone in the cold fields. Memories of the past cloud his sight, disturb his slumber, and fill his dreams. However, the singer is urged not to give up on the otherworld that awaits him. He is asked to aim steadily and get ready to enter the otherworld that takes him. The song encourages the singer to go beyond his comfort zone and take on a new challenge that will enable him to rediscover his purpose in life.
The lyrics suggest that the otherworld offers a chance for redemption, but it requires courage to face the unknown. The singer is encouraged to leave behind the past and make a choice to follow the faith of the light. The lyrics imply that the otherworld presents an opportunity to overcome one's fears and fight for one's beliefs. The song ends with a climax of hope and determination, where the singer is free to ride up to the heights where the otherworld takes him.
Line by Line Meaning
Go on if you want it.
If you have the courage and determination then strive for it.
An otherworld awaits you
A new and different world is awaiting you.
Don't you give up on it.
Don't abandon your dreams, keep working towards them.
You bite the hand that feeds you.
You are ungrateful and disrespectful towards those who support you.
All alone cold fields you wander
You are lost and aimlessly wandering in empty and desolate surroundings.
Memories of it, cloud your sight
Your memories of the past are obstructing your vision of the present.
Fills your dreams, disturbs your slumber
It occupies your thoughts and disrupts your peaceful sleep.
Lost your way, a fallen knight
You have veered off course and feel like a defeated warrior.
Hold now, aim is steady
Stay focused and keep your aim unwavering.
One thousand years, you ready?
Are you prepared for a long and difficult journey?
The otherworld it takes you
It will transport you to a completely different realm.
Go into the sand and the dust in the sky
Face the harsh and unknown conditions ahead without fear.
Go now, there's no better plan than to do or to die
There is no other option than to either fight or perish.
Free me pray to the faith in the face of the light
Request liberation from the divine force that shines upon us.
Feed me fill me with sin now get ready to fight
Become empowered and prepare to engage in battle by accepting wickedness.
You know you will
You are certain that you will succeed.
Fight fight fight
Persist and battle through hardships.
Hope dies and you wander
You feel despair and aimlessly roam about.
The otherworld it makes you
It molds and shapes you into someone different in the new world.
Dreams they rip asunder
Your aspirations are mercilessly shattered.
The otherworld it hates you
The new world despises you.
Free now ride up on it
Rise above and break free from the constraints of the new world.
Up to the heights it takes you
It will elevate you to great heights.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SMITH ALEXANDER O, NOBUO UEMATSU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind