Dancing Mad

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Uematsu’s New Band: What Are The Earthbound Papas?

May 10, 2010 | Jayson Napolitano | 2 Comments Share this

Out with The Black Mages, in with the Earthbound Papas? Who knows! There’s a post on the Dog Ear Records blog about Nobuo Uematsu’s new band, the Eartbound Papas, who will apparently be featured as the accompanying band during the “Dancing Mad” segment of the Distant Worlds II concerts. As to who’s in the band or what their purpose is beyond the performance of “Dancing Mad” at these shows is unknown at this time, but I love the band’s name.

Uematsu has prepared the above video as a teaser for the group. I can’t say it looks all that promising, as Uematsu certainly needs some more practice on the drums, but watch until the end, as in typical Uematsu fashion, we get a funny English command which we are bound to follow. You can check out the teaser site here.

[via DER Blog]
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A Night of Firsts: Final Fantasy Distant Worlds Chicago Impressions

December 24, 2009 | Brian Davis | 6 Comments Share this

[Editor’s Note: Shota and I had a blast at the Distant Worlds performance in San Francisco earlier this year, but unfortunately we couldn’t make it this time around. We were, however, able to send contributor Brian Davis, who had also attended the Distant Worlds US debut in Chicago in 2008. He comments on the new “Dancing Mad,” “J-E-N-O-V-A” and Final Fantasy XIV segments that we’ve been talking about for months, so read on!]

The Final Fantasy-themed concert series Distant Worlds has enthralled fans of the series since its inception, and the performance on December 12th, 2009 in Chicago was no different. Arnie Roth once again directed the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra and the Elmhurst College Orchestra through a set that encompassed music from Final Fantasy games old and new, and I braved the beginnings of another Chicago winter to see it. The show took place at the Rosemont Theater as it did last year, and featured the same large screen over the orchestra to show game footage and video during the show.

Read on for our impressions of this special performance that featuring music from Final Fantasy XIV and other special segments. (more…)
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Final Fantasy XIV, “Dancing Mad,” and “J-E-N-O-V-A,” Oh My!

November 12, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | 6 Comments Share this

What do these three items have in common? Well, they’re all debuting at the upcoming Distant Worlds concert that’s set for December 12, 2009 in Chicago. It’s really not fair that Arnie Roth unleashes all this awesomeness over in his home base of Chicago, as I never get to see these shows!

To pre-emptively answer your next question, yes, Nobuo Uematsu will be there as well. And so will we! While I’m of course unhappy that I won’t be able to make it there myself, OSV will be there, and we’ll have impressions of the new “Dancing Mad” and “J-E-N-O-V-A” arrangements (the latter of which should be pretty interesting with an orchestra), as well as the world premiere of music from Final Fantasy XIV. Should be an awesome show. And I hope they tack on the rockin’ ending to “Dancing Mad,” although I’m pretty sure they won’t.

For more information, visit the official Distant Worlds website.

Will you be making it out to the Distant Worlds concert in Chicago? Of the three premieres, which are you looking forward to the most?
Game Music

Distant Worlds Is Bringing the Goods Back to Chicago in December

August 13, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | 3 Comments Share this

Shota and I loved the Distant Worlds concert we attended last month in San Francisco. We mentioned that they’d be adding some new segments in the near future, and we’ve now received confirmation that on December 12, Distant Worlds will return to the city it debuted in with two new segments: “J-E-N-O-V-A” and the amazing “Dancing Mad.” As an additional bonus, they’ll be performing the Advent Children version of “One Winged Angel” with a rock band on stage.

My feeling is that “Dancing Mad” has been long overdue in the game music concert circuit. It’s an amazing piece of music, and even more epic than “One Winged Angel” any day. Also, Nobuo Uematsu will be attending the show in Chicago, so I highly recommend checking out the VIP meet and greet as it was a blast (plus you get a signed CD and program). I just can’t wait until the show makes its way back to the west coast…

Have you attended a Distant Worlds concert and have any thoughts about the show? Will you be making it out to the Chicago performance?