Hiya!

Music has always been a big part of the Final Fantasy franchise. Legendary video game music composer Nobuo Uematsu has been cranking out really memorable tunes for the series, such as the snazzy Chocobo theme song, the Prelude and the quick but effective Victory fanfare. What’s even more amazing is, as the technology improved, Nobuo Uematsu slowly but surely added actual lyrics to future entries, such as Eyes on Me for Final Fantasy VIII, Melodies of Life for Final Fantasy IX and the iconic One Winged Angel for the original Final Fantasy VII. Considering One Winged Angel is actually smaller songs stitched together to make one awesome track is a testament to the man’s genius.

There was some concern Square Enix’s soundtrack for Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth wouldn’t be great as Nobuo Uematsu wasn’t scoring each and every tune for these games. However, thankfully, they did commission him to write up the title tracks for them: Hollow for Remake and No Promises to Keep for Rebirth. So, how do these tracks stack up? Well, let’s go check them out individually and find out.

As I just said, Hollow came out for Final Fantasy VII Remake and it was the game’s title track. It was sung by Yosh from Survive Said the Prophets. According to Nobuo Uematsu himself, he composed the song with the idea of Cloud sitting in a barren field during a rainstorm, so the feeling of sadness and depression of Hollow’s overall tone is well-deserved. It’s also a really, well, Western song as it kind of reminds me of a cowboy riding in the outback or something like that. Not exactly something you would expect in a JRPG.

There is some debate as to the song’s meaning. It’s obviously Cloud’s song based on Nobuo Uematsu’s comments but what are Hollow’s lyrics talking about? Most people seem to be saying it’s about Cloud and Aerith because the song does point to someone healing and Aerith is the designated healer of the party, but I don’t think so. I actually see it either to be about Cloud and Tifa or, and this might sound strange, Cloud and Zack.

It could be about Cloud and Tifa because of what happens in the original Final Fantasy VII. At one point, Cloud is put in a comatose state and it’s Tifa who brings him back. She’s also the one who helps Cloud realize the truth about how he never actually made it into the SOLDIER program, hence the lyrics of Cloud being lost and Tifa being the one to “make him whole” again. Then again, it could be about Cloud and Zack’s friendship. Zack befriended Cloud and he actually helped him throughout the events of Crisis Core. Zack even sacrificed himself so that Cloud could live. It fits everything in the lyrics… except for the “would you be here in my embrace” part. That’s the only awkward portion but, hey! What’s wrong with best buds hugging, huh?

However, I will say I never really loved Hollow. I liked it fine but the problem is it feels really out of place in Final Fantasy VII Remake. It also never really plays a part in the mood of the game. It was inserted into the game as an instrumental version of Hollow when walking about the Sector 5 Slums but it never completely gels for me as the game’s main song. If I heard it on the radio, I don’t think I would really care for it.

Nobuo Uematsu returned to write the theme song for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth with No Promises to Keep. The song was first revealed during The Game Awards 2023 and, while the clips from the game certainly blew viewers’ minds, the song, performed live by Loren Allred.

This wasn’t the complete song and, sadly, the one we do get in Rebirth during the stage play section is actually an abridged version. You do hear the full version of No Promises to Keep once you finish the game. I’ve listened to the full song but, I’m warning you in advance, I’m only going to post the Loveless play version, specifically the one with Aerith being the heroine later. Why? That’s because I’m a Cloud and Aerith shipper.

Anyway, ust from the live presentation alone from Loren Allred during the Game Awards though, it was obvious No Promises to Keep was going to be Aerith’s song. Sure, in the game, it’s probably part of the Loveless play but it obviously has a strong connection to Aerith as well. Heck, Nobuo Uematsu even sneaks in a variation of Aerith’s theme song in No Promises to Keep! Unlike Hollow, No Promises to Keep’s lyrics are less ambiguous. She’s singing about Zack and how he promised to return and how she’s still waiting for him.

No Promises to Keep feels more deliberately developed for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth as they even designed it to be sang during the play section of the Golden Saucer. This does help it feel like they wrote it to advance the game’s story and convey the actual emotions of the characters, which it does excellently. It feels like a modern rendition of Celes singing in the Opera of Final Fantasy VI, conveys the emotion of Melodies of Life in Final Fantasy IX and the catchiness of Eyes on Me of Final Fantasy VIII.

I honestly really like No Promises to Keep, not just as a song in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, but a song in general. I still tear up once in a while whenever I watch the trailer with No Promises to Keep because the song hits all the great melancholy notes of my heart. This is a song I catch myself singing now and then because of how good it actually is. Not that I have the pipes of Loren Allred but it certainly helps Loren Allred’s singing prowess is a thousand times better than mine. Honestly, if there is a Best Song in The Game Awards, No Promises to Keep better win or Geoff Keighley and I are going to have a big problem!

Byee!

Which song do you think is better? Hollow or No Promises to Keep? Let me know why it’s No Promises to Keep in the comments section below!