Printable Version of Topic
Click here to view this topic in its original format
Caves of Narshe Forums > General Squenix Gaming > Florence + the Machine FFXV EP


Posted by: Rangers51 15th August 2016 17:59
I didn't think this was really worth a real newspost, but Florence + the Machine released over the weekend an EP of three songs that they've apparently performed for Final Fantasy XV. The cover of "Stand By Me" has been around since the Uncovered event back in March, but the other two songs were a surprise, at least to me. Anyone listened to them yet? I've been a fan of theirs since they broke big, and to me these songs seem like they tried pretty hard to make the two new tracks feel very Final Fantasy, and put their own sound into the background. Pretty decent, IMO.

Here's a link to the playlist on YouTube, they're also on iTunes and Spotify. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv2DSmy3Tro...4eZ_KHJ1W2sWI0n

Posted by: Blinge Odonata 16th August 2016 12:57
It's nice 'n all but.. why?

I remember squeenix trying that with leona lewis back in FF13. It sounds like some boardroom somewhere decided this is the way to appeal to the western gamer, through their mainstream pop culture.
Lost in translation I think, not like Japan where J-popstars could probably shift units.

Posted by: Rangers51 16th August 2016 13:28
Quote (Blinge Odonata @ 16th August 2016 06:57)
It's nice 'n all but.. why?

I remember squeenix trying that with leona lewis back in FF13. It sounds like some boardroom somewhere decided this is the way to appeal to the western gamer, through their mainstream pop culture.
Lost in translation I think, not like Japan where J-popstars could probably shift units.

Yeah, you're probably not wrong, but I do see one potentially important difference: these songs were actually performed specifically for XV, not like in XIII when they took a track off the shelf. I'm really not sure how well the markets for F+tM and Final Fantasy cross over, but at the very least it's something new. And, like I say, at least to me the tracks seem to "fit" Final Fantasy a bit better this time around?

Posted by: Dynamic Threads 16th August 2016 23:42
I always thought it was over the top and pretentious. Too trying.

But I'm not bothered at all about them having their music in the game, since it all depends on context. I'd have to hear them in game before judging the actual songs. Just like a bad song can pop in a commercial or movie. So I can't judge them further but...

My god, they should never have touched Stand By Me. That is not for them to do, in my humble opinion and they literally just did the F+TM treatment. Grandiose, over the top, bathed in it's own grandeur. Yuck.

But I'm being honest when I say I'm sure it will sound better within the context of the game.

Posted by: Stiltzkin 17th August 2016 17:47
Well, I like the tracks.

There have been a lot of covers of Stand by Me over the years, and none are a patch on the original. That said, I like the different take on it, and it's a decent track. The second track is a bit meh, but nice enough. As for I Will Be, I just really like it!

I agree with Rangers - it's definitely miles ahead of the recent FF-music star tie-ins and the tracks do really seem to have a FF vibe. Perhaps that's partly due to the quality of musician they've gone for this time.

I don't think the tie-in was necessary and it's certainly not blowing me away, but it's a far cry from shite.

Posted by: BlitzSage 12th September 2016 03:14
This is actually pretty cool, not just for the tracks themselves, but that's a pretty big deal of a band. No offense to Leona Lewis (if you're reading, hi!), but Florence and the Machine are a pretty good band.

Posted by: Death Penalty 12th September 2016 15:00
At some point in my life, after singing it for mediocre middle school choir concerts, I grew bored with Stand By Me to the point that I can't listen to it for much more than a minute. That said, these sound good, though I find myself in a similar position to many of the rest here: the decision process that leads to the selection of outside musicians for FF games is totally obscure to me, hah.

Also, important: I love "My Hands." I have not yet discovered how much of this love is irony or how much of it is based on annoying Del, but for now I think I'll

wake in the morning, tired of sleeping
get in the shower
and make my bed alone
put on my makeup
talk into the mirror
(something something something)
MY HANDS

Posted by: BlitzSage 13th September 2016 01:46
Yes, I know it's been done too many times in that way, but that song is always great. The original Ben E. King, John Lennon's, and of course.. the greatest version.. the one they should've had for FFXV!

Posted by: Rangers51 18th November 2016 16:13
I actually heard one of the tracks from this on one of the indie rock channels on SiriusXM the other day when I was driving. I didn't know that they were really going to treat this EP like a real release, and offer them up as official singles and whatnot. I thought that was pretty neat.

Posted by: His Shadow 12th December 2016 16:52
It makes sense for the games were a band of brothers stick with each other through thick and thin

Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)