Yes I am a geek… I am a full fledged geek. I LOVE the Final Fantasy series, but not for the gaming aspect of it, but for the graphics and the music. Oh. Em. Gee. the music… I am so in love with the music. In fact I am such a lover of music that I have been to almost every Final Fantasy Concert that have come through Chicago. Now that there is a 25th Anniversary Concert of the Final Fantasy Concert Series coming to Chicago in December…? Let’s just say I was so excited that I got my ticket already.
The first concert to come through Chicago was aptly named: Dear Friends – Music from Final Fantasy. In fact it was the second Final Fantasy related concert to grace North America, and it was a big deal… the biggest ticket in town for those of us who were major fans of the series. So in 2005 on February 19th, out in the Rosemont Theatre (now the Akoo Theatre) the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra perform the following pieces from the Final Fantasy repetoire:
| SET ORDER | SONG TITLE | FINAL FANTASY GAME |
| 1. | “Liberi Fatali” | Final Fantasy VIII |
| 2. | “At Zanarkand” | Final Fantasy X |
| 3. | “Terra” | Final Fantasy VI |
| 4. | “Theme of Love” | Final Fantasy IV |
| 5. | “Dear Friends” | Final Fantasy V |
| 6. | “Vamo’ Alla Flamenco” | Final Fantasy IX |
| 7. | “Love Grows” | Final Fantasy VIII |
| INTERMISSION | ||
| 8. | “Aerith’s Theme” | Final Fantasy VII |
| 9. | “You are not Alone” | Final Fantasy IX |
| 10. | “Ronfaure” | Final Fantasy XI |
| 11. | “Medley” | Final Fantasy I, II, III |
| 12. | “Cloud Smiles” | Final Fantasy VII Advent Children |
| 13. | “Final Fantasy Theme” | Final Fantasy series |
| ENCORE | ||
| 14. | “One-Winged Angel” | Final Fantasy VII |
When the Dear Friends series died down in 2005, there was speculation as to whether there would be any other Final Fantasy concert series… well come 2007 Distant Worlds music from Final Fantasy. After opening in Stockholm, Sweden the first North American concert was held in Chicago. So on March 1st, 2008… Another Final Fantasy related concert came to Chicago with the following set list:
| SET ORDER |
SONG TITLE | FINAL FANTASY GAME |
| 1. | “Liberi Fatali” | Final Fantasy VIII |
| 2. | “To Zanarkand” | Final Fantasy X |
| 3. | “Don’t be Afraid” | Final Fantasy VIII |
| 4. | “Aerith’s Theme” | Final Fantasy VII |
| FINAL FANTASY I-III – MEDLEY 2002 | ||
| 5. | “The Prelude”, “Main Theme”, “Matoya’s Cave” “Rebel Army Theme”, “Chocobo Theme” “Elia, the Water Maiden” |
Final Fantasy I Final Fantasy II Final Fantasy III |
| 6. | “Dear Friends” | Final Fantasy V |
| 7. | “Vamo’ alla Flamenco” | Final Fantasy IX |
| 9. | “Main Theme” | Final Fantasy series |
| INTERMISSION | ||
| 10. | “Opening ~ Bombing Mission” | Final Fantasy VII |
| 11. | “Fisherman’s Horizon” | Final Fantasy VIII |
| 12. | “Theme of Love” | Final Fantasy IV |
| 13. | “Swing de Chocobo” | Final Fantasy series |
| 14. | “Opening” | Final Fantasy III DS |
| 15. | “Love Grows” | Final Fantasy VIII |
| 16. | “Opera “Maria and Draco”” | Final Fantasy VI |
| 17. | “Terra’s Theme” | Final Fantasy VI |
| ENCORE | ||
| 18. | “One-Winged Angel” | Final Fantasy VII |
In 2009 the Distant Worlds Concerts returned to Chicago with the following changes:
| SONG TITLE | FINAL FANTASY GAME |
| “Memoro de la Stono – Distant Worlds” | Final Fantasy XI |
| “Man With A Machine Gun” | Final Fantasy VIII |
| “Ronfaure” | Final Fantasy XI |
Another round through Chicago occurred in June of 2011 and March of 2012.
Heck before the June 2011 concert date was announced I actually flew out to New York City to join a couple of friends because it was the first time the Distant Worlds Music from Final Fantasy arrived in New York City. I could listen to this music forever.
Well take it a step further and I danced a waltz to Zanarkand… yes I am that much of a geek.