Remaining Fantasy 14: Dawntrail has a reasonably strong soundtrack, all informed—I discovered myself bopping alongside to most of it, and I believe the selection to make its capital metropolis Tuliyollal stuffed with swingin’ jazz is impressed. I even just like the corny rehash of the primary theme in the course of the story’s ultimate trial (even with my extra complicated ideas on the story surrounding it). Alas, one tune is an exception to my appreciation: Smile.
For some context as to why Smile was an enormous deal: You’ve got gotta perceive the form of good will Remaining Fantasy 14’s composer, Masayoshi Soken, has constructed up up to now. Just about each growth’s soundtrack has been a cornucopia of leitmotifs, buffeted by swelling moments and considerate preparations. I nonetheless get chills listening to Tomorrow and Tomorrow, or tears stinging in my eyes at Move.
Smile is not essentially too unhealthy in isolation, however it sadly has a variety of expectation using on it as Dawntrail’s important theme. It is an admirably courageous, huge, Disney-tier boisterous swing that sadly flings its fist well past the mark. The lyrics are advantageous—good, even—however talking personally, I discovered the vocals of Akino (who is great in different songs from the sport, resembling Scream) to be mismatched to the type they had been going for, and somewhat distracting when attempting to hearken to the sport’s ending exposition.
Mix that with a refrain that goes from 0 to 100% actual fast, and also you get some unintentionally hilarious moments in the primary story—like when you need to construct a bomb prepare and crash it right into a barrier, and also you’re abruptly anticipated to clap alongside to a cheery constructing montage that blasts you with an entire choir instantly.
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In different phrases, it is an especially uncommon miss—which makes some commentary from Soken, discussing the tune on a current blu-ray launch of Dawntrail’s soundtrack (shared on the sport’s subreddit by person Y0LOME0W), all of the funnier.
“This observe was ordered by none apart from Nacchan Ishikawa on the state of affairs workforce. Particularly, she requested an ending theme within the type of a musical, and … properly … I hate to say it, however musicals aren’t actually my factor. Every time the characters drop what they’re doing to burst into tune, it simply throws me off. Like, why are we singing now?!”
Soken’s feedback on the tune Smile from r/ffxiv
Contemplating that is precisely what occurs twice in Dawntrail’s important state of affairs quest (though I really did not thoughts it throughout Wuk Lamat’s inauguration ceremony), it is somewhat humorous to listen to him saying this now. It is also attention-grabbing that it was ordered by Ishikawa—whereas she took on a extra supervisory position for Dawntrail, she’s additionally credited with a few of the sport’s most beloved storylines, resembling Shadowbringers and Endwalker.
“That being mentioned,” he continues, “I do like ‘The Blues Brothers'”—that explains the Tuliyollal theme, then—”so I used to be assured I might nonetheless make it work … Okay, I do know it appears like I used to be pressured to make this tune in opposition to my will, however I guarantee you I wasn’t, haha!” Haha, hah. Blink twice when you need assistance, Soken. I may help.
In all seriousness, whereas I would not be in opposition to Soken taking an trustworthy stab at a musical-style theme (it would’ve minimize down on the Wuk Lamat fatigue if she’d acquired all her speeches wrapped up right into a strong “I would like” tune), I am genuinely glad to listen to he is experimenting. Probably the greatest components about FF14’s soundtrack is that it is everywhere in the store by way of style—one minute you are headbanging to Metallic or Underneath the Weight, the subsequent you are weeping overtly into your G’raha Tia physique pillow at Shut within the Distance. Even when I did not like Smile all that a lot, I am glad he tried—and can proceed to attempt. Who is aware of, perhaps Alan Wake’s softened him up on musical numbers, we’re overdue a dance quantity or two.
