ReMix: Final Fantasy VII 'Aeris Lives'

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Final Fantasy VII

Another year bites the dust :) I'll be posting another mix right after this one with some post-2004 commentary, so let's jump straight to the music: newcomer Kevin Lau gives us a touching, sentimental solo piano arrangement of the innately touching and sentimental Aeris theme from FF7. It's recorded very cleanly, if low at times, and features an impressive command of dynamics, especially in terms of the minute, shades-of-gray gradations between piano, mezzo piano, etc., and even injects a little prelude into things, blending in the infamous introductory arpeggios shamelessly and effectively. Larry gives us the point-by-point, John Madden analysis:

"Very quiet but excellent first few minutes. Great way to slowly escalate things at 1:48. Well done integration of "The Prelude" from 2:21-3:05, followed up by some excellent rearrangement of The Prelude all the way until 3:35. The abrupt/drastic change in key at 3:40 didn't work at all, but what came after that was strong. Nice activity throughout the last 3 minutes or so, before slowing things down for the dramatic finish. I'm not an FF music fan myself, but I can see how other fans could dub this as emotive."

Excellent playing - I think most of the panel felt that the arrangement was a little conservative, so this would be an area where future submissions could improve, but for a first ReMix this is a pretty mature, intimate, and accessible take of a well-known theme. Should be a sure thing for Squareheads and those with a sweet tooth for touchy-feely melodies on a well-recorded grand. Side effects may include the emasculinating phenomenon of weeping like a little baby, depending on your emotional connection to the source material. Good stuff - the occassionally too succinct Malcos summarizes:

"Whew, this recording sounds sweet. Great piano playing, what else can I say?"

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
A wonderfully beautiful piano mix. It captures perfectly the character of Aerith, that scene from the game, the relationship, and the emotions that go along with it. It captures that beauty and sorrow at the same time wonderfully. The simplicity of just having the piano play is great, and is in no way 'too simple'. It's easy to go OTT with pieces sometimes, but the simplicity of this was good for conveying the emotions involved.

Someone earlier said that it's good to relax you when under stress, and that is very true. But although that's a good practical use of the song, it's just enchanting to listen to. Well done. And I wish I could play piano this well!

- _heartilly_ on June 6, 2009
Wow. Simply beautiful. I've always loved Aerith's Theme and this remix does it so much justice.
It's one of the few songs I've heard that brings me to the verge of tears.

This is brilliantly beautiful.

- sefirosu on January 28, 2009
This is absolutely beautiful, definitely the best version of all the various takes on this score.
I am wondering if you have the score (music sheet) for this.

- Majestic on November 14, 2006
Uh.....yeah. what he said.

- BIGSTEVE on November 5, 2006
A hauntingly beautiful piece. Not many composers can catch the resonance and the soul of a song, let alone two of them. The majesty, the depth, the simple yet profound manner in which the piece comes across is pure brilliance.
Then suddenly as if the power of the music is not enough to grip and stun you, the prelude passages knock you off your feet in a sublime "One, two" combination. 8O
My review does not do this piece justice, but one hopes that it accurately portrays my enthusiam. Thank you Kevin Lau for the gift of this music.

- Aerous on November 4, 2006
BIGSTEVE says this OC Remix is off the chain!!! Love it! I like beyond Midgar better, but this is still really good. It kind of calms you down if you listen to it when you're under stress!
Bottom Line: It's Awesome. Download it.

- BIGSTEVE on October 5, 2006
Maher Shalal wrote: Um, so this is the best piano remix on the site I've found so far. Remixer happen to write down the music for it? Can I have it? Please?

Kevin did in fact create sheet music. Get it at his site, http://www.kevinlaumusic.com/.
I don't know if Kevin will ever read this himself, but if you do, great work. You won't remember me, but I met you at a wedding shower in Pickering for Liz and Mark. I'm checking out more of your stuff on your site. Haven't had time to hear much yet (Liz only pointed your site out to me this evening), but I especially like the version of Eternal Harvest. Yes, I know it's a remake, but well done just the same.

- Kanthos on October 4, 2006
gotta say, one of the best songs on the site.
never liked aeris, she wasn't much of a good fighter, nor was she a good character. sure she had great personality, but the only things she really did to help the plot was to die.
sorry to any fan's of her's for those comments.
but one thing i can say about her. even though i didn't care much for her, i still weeped for her. and boy did i love her theme.
and this remixer here has brought back all the good feelings that i got from her. warmth, sorrow with a hint of hope, love, and anything else. whilst listening to this song for the first time, i completly forgot any complaints i had about her as the charecter and focused on the good.
well, i've rambled enough.
overall, excellent, excellent song.

- Walter_Sullivan on July 9, 2006
Um, so this is the best piano remix on the site I've found so far. Remixer happen to write down the music for it? Can I have it? Please?

- Maher Shalal on June 2, 2006
I really loved the piano playing in this song, and Aeris's theme was one of my favorites in the game.
So good remixer + good theme + good piano = Great OC Remix

- Psychotic Ninja on February 18, 2006
What else can I say? This is amazing, the piano is just beautiful. It really captures the beauty from that BEAUTIFUL scene from the game. (I would go into detail, but I don't wanna go into any spoilers.) This is definitely material for a re-release of FFVII. It's the best done remix of Aeris's theme on the site I've heard so far. Keep these coming, okay?! ^_^

- lady zelda on February 2, 2006
The sweetness of Aeris' theme is only enhanced by the addition of the prelude passages. i'm in love.

- YuffieKisaragi on October 20, 2005
This is one of my favorite melodies of all games I´ve played, and KL does a good job turning it into a pianoremix, which is one of my favorite instruments, so this can´t really be any better. It also became a good result combining the FFprelude with aeris theme, and the parts around 4:00 and forward really shows how you can turn it up faster.
Thanks for reviving Aeris for us, Laudude. 8)

- Bummerdude on September 20, 2005
I almost cried with the subtle nuances in the playing. Bonus points to you, my friend!

- Sirocco on August 10, 2005
Waah... so sad. i love that song.

- Makkusu on July 23, 2005

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