Song #65 - A Night at the Opera
Converted by David Newton (Wong)
Original sections by Nobuo Uematsu
Started on 10/01/2004
Completed on 11/08/2004
Length: 17 minutes, 10 seconds
wongchungbang@hotmail.com
---
This is, of course, based on the opera sequence from "Final
Fantasy 6" (or 3 in America), with the story of Maria, Draco
and Ralse. Most of it follows the tune of the original, but
with embellishments in some places, and some entirely new
sections. It's the first non-original song that I've produced
for a while, apart from the instrumental section of "The Sage
Who Became A Star". A departure from my usual sound, it has a
lot more sections which don't follow a set rhythm - it was
interesting to try those.
As you can see, this took ages to create, mostly because I hit
a difficult section in the middle of the piece, where the main
theme plays. After not being able to get the chords to sound
right for ages I abandoned it, but came back later because I
felt it should be finished. To my ears the chords still sound
a little awkward in places, but I think I've got it as well as
I can.
I wasn't aware that it would take such a length of song to do
this in - the idea came from listening to Maria's main section
and speeding it up a bit. The climax of the song (including
the version of the FF6 boss theme) is the part that I like
best, but by the end I just didn't know where to stop it.
Because of that, the sudden slowdown was included, followed by
a melody that every FF fan will recognise.
---
[Narrator:]
The West and East were waging war
The peace between the lands was no more
Draco, great hero of the West
Thinks of the love that he left
Maria, is she safe, waiting there alone
As Draco fights the battle far away from home
[Draco:]
Oh, Maria
Oh, Maria
Please, will you hear my voice
Oh, how I long to be with you
[Narrator:]
The forces of the West have fallen
And Maria's castle's been taken
Ralse of the East has taken her hand
But still she waits for Draco to return from his command
[Maria:]
Oh my hero, so far away now,
Will I ever see your smile
Love goes away, like night in to day
It's just a fading dream
I'm the darkness, you're the stars
Our love is brighter than the sun
For eternity, for me there will be
Only you, my chosen one
Must I forget you, our solemn promise
Will autumn take the place of spring
What shall I do, I'm lost without you
Speak to me once more
[Apparition:]
Maria, take my lead...
[Maria:]
We must part now, and my life goes on
But my heart won't give you up
Now I walk away, let me hear you say
I meant as much to you
Oh, so gently you touched my heart
I will be forever yours
And come what may, I won't age a day
I will wait for you always
[Chancellor:]
Come, Maria, forget your past
Ralse wants your presence at the dance
[Ralse:]
Maria, take my lead...
[Guard:]
The survivors of the West attack!
[Draco:]
Maria!
[Maria:]
Draco, I've waited so long
I knew you'd come
[Ralse:]
Maria will finally
Have to become my queen
[Draco:]
For the rest of my life
I will keep you by my side
[Ralse:]
It's a duel!
[Maria and Draco:]
I'm the darkness, you're the stars
Our love is brighter than the sun
For eternity, for me there will be
Only you, my chosen one
In the darkness, I've found light
Forever we will shine
For eternity, there'll be you and me
Now and for all time
