dear friends

Los Angeles was home to the first Final Fantasy symphonic concert in the western hemisphere, and we were lucky enough to have tickets to this wonderful performance. Jeff comments on the great experience he had.

Three rules have become obvious because of a day which I spent wrapped in joy. I was at a music concert at the Disney Concert Hall. The concert was Dear Friends.

This day was one of the best days of my life. I was able to be a part of the first Final Fantasy concert in the USA. Ben, Jason, Aldo, Loy, Loy's girlfriend Jennifer, and I went to the concert together. As I looked around two things were plain as day: the Disney Concert Hall was a great hall, and there were a lot of people that had no idea what the dress code was. That fact saddened me at the time. I think most of them failed to understand that this was a great leap for video gaming. This was a great event that many people dearly wished to go to, but only a few could attend. But to that end, I couldn't do anything about the way people dressed.

The next two hours passed as if I was in some kind of dream. Each of the songs played made me recall parts of my life in playing each game. Aeris' theme made me recall the sadness I felt as I saw her sink away in ff7. The Chocobo theme reminded me of the fun of just riding them around in the games. The Crystal Theme relaxed the mind just like every time I heard it at the end of each of the games.

As time passed, I noticed a man sitting to the side of me with a tear in his eye. I pointed the man out to Ben, who took a look at the face and said, ”I believe that is producer Hironobu Sakaguchi.” This was quite a shock. Then to add to that, Aldo added in, "I think the other person sitting next to him is Yoshitaka Amano." At least, this is what I hope would have happened; Ben did recognize Sakaguchi, but of course, pretty much no one knew what Amano-sensei looks like. At that point I would've gladly traded one of my hands for a marker and a copy of their work so that I could get an autograph. To that end, I failed to find a marker, so I missed an opportunity that comes probably once in a lifetime.

After they played what I thought was the last song, there were heartfelt thanks given to Final Fantasy fans throughout the world by Nobuo Uematsu. Amano and Sakaguchi then joined him on stage. We all applauded on and on until our hands were red and in a great deal of pain. Than out of nowhere, the encore song was played. It was One-Winged Angel. Hearing a choir live along with the Philharmonic was an unbelievable experience.

After that one song, I knew in my heart that the concert was truly over. But I now have some great memories to remember each time I hear another Final Fantasy song.

—jeff