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Even though I honestly haven't played too many of the final fantasy games beyond FF4 and FF6, I have heard music samplings of most of the other games, enough to conclude that Dancing Mad is the greatest song I have heard of any FF game. I really don't include music from video games in my playlist, but I had to make an exception for this song, particularly the version performed by the Black Mages. Some people aren't fans on the guitar solo, but I think it is one of the most epic guitar solos ever made, definitely a top 5'er for me for solos of all time. You can even look at my last.fm scrobbles (I'm in the con group), its one of my top ten most played. Nothing before or since has captured the feeling and spirit of its game and character as well as Dancing Mad has done for Kefka.

My favorite tier is by far Kefkas tier. When the organ begins, and that epic "hopeless feeling" begins the guitar salvo, I never get tired of it. Sometimes I wonder if they will ever capture that same spirit again in another game, but I know they will strike the right chord in the future, and that this isn't just nostalgia (okay, maybe a little bit

Quote (InsaneVisionary @ 21st July 2010 14:48)

Aah my second favourite Final boss theme in Final Fantasy. Second only to the

Dark Messenger (Darkness of Eternity) from Final Fantasy IX

Yeah, that's another awesome track. Works Kuja's theme into counterpoint with the bass line.

But then again, Dancing Mad is four tracks together...

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Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

You can find me on the Fediverse! I use Mastodon, where I am @[email protected] ( https://sakurajima.moe/@glennmagusharvey )

Dancing Mad is a good song, and I think One Winged Angel gets all the hype because for many it was their first Final Fantasy and they haven't heard any music before that. I also like Dancing Mad because there's a story behind the music that you can get from the emotions of the tones. Like the fourth tier is kind of more relaxing and paced out than the hyper church organs before hand, it's like the music is trying to tell the player Kefka's emotions throughout the last battle, like the first tier is saying that this is the final battle, prepare to die and the last tier is kind of almost saying that Kefka is thinking that maybe he was wrong about the thirteen heroes but he's still fueled by his insanity and he still enjoys being insane. Hope it made sense. One Winged Angel is just saying "Sephiroth is evil" while Dancing Mad speaks a whole lot more in terms of last boss music.

This post has been edited by ZidaneTribal on 25th August 2010 05:31

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Currently playing Chrono Trigger !!
Currently looking forward to Don't Know.

Quote (ZidaneTribal @ 25th August 2010 01:43)

Dancing Mad is a good song, and I think One Winged Angel gets all the hype because for many it was their first Final Fantasy and they haven't heard any music before that. I also like Dancing Mad because there's a story behind the music that you can get from the emotions of the tones. Like the fourth tier is kind of more relaxing and paced out than the hyper church organs before hand, it's like the music is trying to tell the player Kefka's emotions throughout the last battle, like the first tier is saying that this is the final battle, prepare to die and the last tier is kind of almost saying that Kefka is thinking that maybe he was wrong about the thirteen heroes but he's still filled by his insanity and he still enjoys being insane. Hope it made sense. One Winged Angel is just saying "Sephiroth is evil" while Dancing Mad speaks a whole lot more in terms of last boss music.

Well, the thing about One Winged Angel is, it's probably not my favorite song in FF7. My favorite piece is probably the main theme/overworld theme. But I personally find FFVI's entire soundtrack to be amazing. I'm not even sure Dancing Mad is the best song. But you're right, I wouldn't place One Winged Angel is nearly as good, not to say it's bad by any stretch.

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Praise Be To Helix!

How have I not posted in here? I love this song. The song is like a symphony telling of Kefka's madness rising to power. This psychopath, out of all the villains that want to take over the world, is the one that succeeds, ruling as a demonic god. He wants to destroy all that is, and this song makes you believe he can.

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"You know that feeling you get when you're on a merry go 'round, and you want to jump off to make the spinning stop, but you know it'll suck when you land? I feel like that all the time"- Keno

"I stab my girl until I fall down"
-Yukari
Do you like Horny Bunnies?

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a demonic god.

This is a key reason why Dancing Mad works--the 3rd and 4th parts fit the concept, which totally plays the "light is not good" trope for every bit of irony it's worth.

C-sharp major organ solo. Can't get more blatantly "holy" than that. That's a seven-sharp key signature, the most "sharp" of a normally-notatable key signature you can get, for those of you who aren't music theory geeks.

And then a C-sharp minor final theme, which remixes Kefka's theme into a combination of 7-beat and 8-beat bars. Complete with organ over rock percussion.

(Heck, the page image for that trope I linked to is Kefka himself.)

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Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

You can find me on the Fediverse! I use Mastodon, where I am @[email protected] ( https://sakurajima.moe/@glennmagusharvey )

Quote (Glenn Magus Harvey @ 26th August 2010 11:51)

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a demonic god.

This is a key reason why Dancing Mad works--the 3rd and 4th parts fit the concept, which totally plays the "light is not good" trope for every bit of irony it's worth.

The reason it is ironic is the very reason they give themselves. We almost stereotype black as evil. Everything in stories that is dark is hellish and bright is heavenly. So, the image of Kefka as a divine angelic being messes with our psyche. You are completely right. Because the organ is often associated with Bach-esque church music.

Edit

I found this clip. It's an interview with the man himself, Uematsu, saying that the FFVI soundtrack and Dancing Mad are his favorites. He also says in part 3 that Dancing Mad was his hardest song to compose (the interpreter accidentally calls it One Winged Angel, lol, but he means Dancing Mad). Just thought you guys would find that interesting.

This post has been edited by BlitzSage on 10th September 2010 01:34

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Praise Be To Helix!