@@jacobteague635 It is! It's in the followup quests after the HeavensWard main story quests that you start back at the Fortemps manor! The quote is from the bae herself, Vidofnir!
@@TerrasWorld Heavensward was so good, partially because you could understand all the villain's perspectives. You UNDERSTOOD why the dragons were angry, you understood Nidhogg's rage and pain at the loss of Ratatoskr. In that same token, you understood the perspective of the archbishop. Why SHOULD Ishgard suffer for a thousand years for the mistakes of their forefathers. No mortal alive knows what King Thordan and his knights were thinking when they betrayed the dragons. Both sides went way too far. Indeed neither side were "good". But neither were either side inherently evil. It was a fantastic telling of a war that had gone on for so long that the reasons for fighting were no longer important to many. An endless cycle of hate and vengeance that forces on both sides didn't want to end... because they knew nothing else anymore.
@@TerrasWorld Pretty much all of the expansions did this for me, even Stormblood, though by the end Zenos still looked like a one note character, by the end of Endwalker I had much more compassion for him. He was horrible and did horrible things, but I felt a lot of pity for what his circumstances and the choices of those around him, not just his own, made him.
Here's some juicy info on Dragonsong - The lyrics literally tell the backstory behind the entire Heavensward expansion from the perspective of someone intimately familiar with the events. Also, Final Fantasy XIV lore states that the dragons pass on their history through song...
Just wanted to add that given the song's significance it shows up as a motif in a number of places in Heavensward, and is used to devastatingly powerful emotional effect during climactic plot events.
@@JessesAuditorium That's what makes it so awesome - beauty on the surface, with real narrative depth beneath. It's an incredible moment playing the game when the layers of the history are peeled back and you have that epiphany of "Oh my god, this is what Dragonsong was describing! Those lyrics = these events! It's not just a song, it's a lament and a message!" It's almost meta, how the song has significance outside AND within the gane. It's being sung to us the players as an evocative theme song for the expansion, but also being sung from the perspective of a major character addressing other characters over the past, present, and expected future. It really is working on multiple levels.
@@cobbil It plays on repeat between the cutscene and the queue for the trial. Great time to be in a dps queue as you can just sit there on the Steps of Faith and take in this otherwordly awesome music with that scenery while you wait for the equally awesome fight ahead. 3.3 is my personal favorite part of the XIV storyline so far though I admit I'm not yet done with 4.0 so there could be more ahead, but that bar is really high.
Fun fact, FFXIV is in the Guinness Book of records for having the largest amount of different original tracks in any videogame ever. It was inducted in 2017 before Shadowbringers even came out and Stormblood was recently released, so it has even more songs right now. What I mean by this is you have a bazillion songs you can hear from the game's OST. I'll leave my suggestion for Wayward Daughter which is another very emotional song
@@JessesAuditorium Wayward Daughter is another one of those heartbreaking songs because it talks about a woman who was abused her whole life and when given the chance to start over anew, she doesn't believe she deserves it.
@Sorengrand I did some research and you are correct, Runescape got inducted after FF, so for arounf 1 year the record was held by FF XIV, but Runescape eventually "broke" the record. FF can in theory reclaim it as time goes by since each xpac adds over 100 tracks to the game.
Uematsu is just one of those composers that makes people cry even without context. With the full context, that final "never know" is fucking soul shattering. Shadowbringers is undoubtedly the best expansion, but Heavensward will always be the most impactful personally. RIP Stephen Critchlow.
One of his friends even played using a trial account through all of base game just to play hear his voice again, and as an appreciation for all of the players who did in-game memorials for one of the most important pieces of our Heavensward experience.
If you liked this, I'd recommend listening to Answers (same singer, Susan Calloway; and same composer, Nobuo Uematsu). I'd say to watch End of an Era, the trailer that has Answers as the background, but the music is a little quiet in that one. The energy of Answers is pretty different, but it's also a masterpiece.
@@JessesAuditorium might as well just listen to everything. At this point xD FF has songs for many genres. Every boss having their own unique music with differing genres. You won’t be disappointed. XIV is a Final Fantasy game first, MMO is secondary. The story telling has standards and music is an important part of that
"that's a song I want my ashes spread out to"... Well... Kind of appropriate for the song really. Can't even hear that opening piano without all those memories of the moments this piece backs... we have it playing in our FC house like a lot of people do too
It's been 4 months since this reaction. Many things happened. Since then I picked up FF14 and this very moment the credits rolled for Heavensward for me... Never thought that song can stir so much emotion after finishing the story. It might be powerful and emotional on its own. I felt certain things before being FF14 player listening to this song. But after you're through this adventure this song grabs your heart and clenches it hard, real hard. What a journey it was.
Great vid! Dragonsong is such a good song. I'd also second listening to "Answers." It's one of the most powerful songs in the game imo, basically the start and second chance of FF14.
It was called the Dragon Song war. It raged for a thousand years, where dragons and men senselessly slaughtered eachother, all based on a lie. The lyrics basically tell the story of it all.
Indeed. When you know the lore and have experienced the story... this song is like a physical force sweeping over your emotions like a tide. You can practically feel it.
You are correct about the Final Fantasy community. For those of us who grew up with the 8 bit Final fantasy games, we can tell you that one of the staples of a Final Fantasy game, is the music. It's one thing to tell a story, but to immerse the player and listener into the game via the music, is an art all by itself. And one that Square has mastered for decades now. To hear a piece of music(especially a FFXIV piece. A game of which I am a player, and have been since 2013) from a Final Fantasy game for the first time, is an experience. And there are SO many songs, just from FFXIV alone, that you can listen to. I am glad I found this channel. Much love and I wish you continued success!
Every time I hear Dragonsong I get goosebumps. It's such a powerful song, and it does an amazing job of filling your mind with images. Even without the video, you can almost see the drifting snow, the city of ishgard and so on.
A man after my own heart. "The Best is Yet to Come" is literally the first song in my DnD pre-game playlist. If I had to describe the FFXIV experience: A 300 hour concert.
Dragonsong is a song that makes me cry every time I hear it despite the fact I've heard it 100 times already... This and Answers. Thank you for sharing a song from Metal Gear! I've never heard it before and absolutely love it now
I watched this when it was new and now watching it again for the tenth time I feel like I need to leave a comment. Jesse's reaction is precious; especially when him not having even played the game. He knows my fellow Warriors of Light. HE KNOWS! His reaction brings a smile to me every time. Ya'll need to get this song in your playlist and listen with your eyes closed. TAKE... IT... ALL... IN! This song will DESTROY YOU. Now excuse me while I watch the video again.
The story behind this music in the game's context is so beautiful yet so tragic. It's a tale of betrayal, broken hearts, falsehoods, love, hatred, hope and prayers.
It's incredible how this song can start playing and I instantly begin to tear up a little and by the end of it I'm full on crying. What a fucking song.
Just watched a special arrangement of this last night live and it was spectacular. Amanda was great! (and the lady next to me was crying every time she sang)
every once in a while i come by just to watch your reactions to answers and dragonsong. thanks for recording these, it's nice to share in common appreciation every once in a while. this song gives me the shivers, even a year after i played through the campaign.
Having this pop up while paying respects to Asmongold's Mum who recently passed away and he stopped playing in the expansion this was written for, it hits differently some how. I want to thank you for all of the reaction videos. FFXIV is a dear game to me, even though you don't play it yourself I'm glad you are enjoying the music as much as we all do.
I had the pleasure of seeing this song live along with a couple other songs by Susan Callaway. She was phenomenal. When you know the game and the story the songs gain a deeper meaning and it's hard not to tear up.
Interesting lore fact for you: whenever this particular singer is singing at any point in ff14 it means it’s being told from the point of view of the goddess hydaelin, the deity who granted the player character their powers, going into spoiler territory a bit, in lore there has been a war going on between the elezen (elves) and dragons for 800 years known as the dragonsong war, the two races were once at peace due to one of the dragons’ leaders falling in love with a elezen, but the elezens betrayed the dragons, the song is the story of the war
This particular music piece will stick with you for as long as it can. Of all my years of listening to music, this was the only one that would randomly play in my head even when I completely forget about the game. It was hauntingly beautiful and sad, but had a deep old soul in the music that kept resonating within me.
The tone for the song is so fitting too as it comes at the end of a expansion during the credits of it and as we look back at everything that happened and this specific part of the story is very we have won but at what cost what have we lost along the way. Very much a somber reflection of loss but at the same time growth.
Been playing XIV since 2011 so the music hits really hard because each song reminds me of various chapters in my life. Dragonsong and Answers just do something to my spirit
My god man, that MGS song was my favorite since I was a child. One of the first PS1 games I played was MGS 1 and now I got to listen to it again. Definitely recommend anyone who hasn't listened to it, to give it a shot. Absolutely emotional song.
This game is truly a spectacle. We are a very passionate community. So I'm glad to see someone realize at least in part where that passion comes from. I hope you keep having fun with these. And come join us in game if you ever have time!
what i love so much about soken and ffxiv in general is the amount of variation between the compositions. you get classic fantasy elvish style to acoustic guitar campfire to heavy metal riffs all the way to liquid DnB. The music is what makes this game so special to me and why I look forward to going to new areas / instances so much.
Everyone's giving you very feeling-heavy songs, but I'd like to go to the opposite direction and point you to "Beauty's Wicked Wiles" (Sri Lakshmi's theme), "What Angel Wakes Me" (Titania's theme) or Good King Moggle Mog XII's theme. Part of the fun of the game is that there's something for everyone, so there's a wide range of both gameplay styles, job types, ways to spend your time and, yes, music themes. No matter who you are, Eorzea has something for you.
Very true! I would add Unbending Steel to that list. What Angel Wakes Me is so underrated, it has one of the most genius lyric compositions of all of XIV soundtrack. If you know about poetry metrics, or rap metrics, you can enjoy it all the more.
This song gives me chills everytime I hear it, even more so when you follow the story of heavensward and how much emotional connection it gives this song.
UA-cam suggested this, and I'm so fucking glad I did. Nice to make your acquaintance, dude! Seeing your experience hearing this for the first time was magical.
I remember when this video first got released in the months leading up to Heavensward. The emotions made me cry and I listened to it on repeat for weeks. "A pain without cease..." was the part that always got me. Susan Callaway kills it on this track and "Answers"
I've haven't played the Heavensward part of FFXIV in years and the moment the song hit its stride, I just started sobbing. I never used to cry to game OSTs. Maybe feels in the heart, but I've never had a full on cry. Every major song in FF has made me hysterical.
Man, your channel showed up out of nowhere, and watching you react to all these FFXIV OSTs has been really powerful. I used to be very emotionally closed off, but after watching so many streamers and UA-camrs allow themselves to be torn apart by FFXIV and its music, I'm no longer as ashamed to show emotion. These videos leave me bawlin' .
Heavensward is the Expansion dragonsong belongs to. Every time i hear this Song i get goosebumps and tear up bc 1. It is just beautiful and 2. I know the Story behind it. Heavensward is a wonderful expansion but the lore around it and this Song is so very, very sad.
The big part of this that hits me is that this is basically the song playing when you confront the -final- boss of Heavensward. Staring the evil dragon Nidhogg reborn as a primal, ready to defeat him and end the Dragonsong war of a thousand years, this song plays while you stare at him, preparing to enter the fight against him. It hits -so- hard.
The first video I find of yours and it's my all-time favorite Final Fantasy song. Your understanding of how we (the FF community) feel about these amazing stories and music was spot on.
Just have to say this is the first video of yours I found. I watched a few of your other videos and I love it. looking forward to watching it all, keep up the awesome work and I look forward to your content.
We cry when we play this section of the game (not the trailer). Then we seek out others who have recorded their playthrough and cru with them again. Catharsis we seek. Together.
**Heavensward Spoilers** I didn't see anyone mention it, but one of my favorite moments is this track plays [as the main theme of the expansion] after a major cutscene where the cool dragon you saw dukes it out with another dragon and falls in battle. It's up to us, the main hero, to defeat the evil dragon and put an end to this war once and for all. While you are waiting to go into the battle this music plays while you see your dragon comrade fallen before you and when you go into the boss battle it seamlessly transitions this song uninterrupted into cutscene and the first phase of the battle, only to change into the epic 2nd phase (Freefall), and final phase (Revenge of the Horde). Here's the whole experience together! ua-cam.com/video/BnOKdmAcSP0/v-deo.html Thank you so much for sharing your reactions. They're wonderful to hear as a long time fan; this music hits me in all the right places especially how they suit the story and themes at every moment on your journey. Soken truly is wonderful and this game would not be the same without his amazing work to capture so many emotions and environments; it's strange to think of a place I have never been to as my home.
Good to see someone else getting into the XIV OST. As a long time player there are a lot of favorites and good listens to be suggested, but if I were to make just one I'd say "The Copied Factory Final Boss Theme (Weight of the World - Prelude version)". I'd say it is easily one of the most overly bombastic songs in the game, but it's SO good.
This song hits so much harder after playing the Heavensward expansion. The nostalgia of the journey through that story is brought back hearing this song, and that makes people love it so much.
This trailer still makes me get all teary eyed. The music is beautiful and the context of the lyrics and what is currently happening in the plot is what makes it truly POP.
I started crying just listening to this masterpiece... Heavensward was the best story I have ever seen in any game, especially right after ARR. It breaks me that I can never experience it again... I've never been this emotional for any game, ever. The Heavensward credit screen broke me into tears, it was truly over. I don't know if I can handle Shadowbringers.
iirc in Vesper Bay you can unlock new game+ you wont get it for the FIRST time ever again... but you can look at more detail and cry and dont worry! from Shadowbringers it only ever really gtets worse :)
Hee~ If you choke up without even knowing the game, just imagine. Every single time it comes up I'm in STREAMS of tears. Such a beautiful, serene, emotional piece, even more so with the context of the story. And The Best is Yet to Come! Ah, another track that is so utterly, captivatingly, tragically beautiful. A sub for you, my fabulous friend. ♥
You retroactively got a new FFXIV lover to watch your content from Answers showing up. Then again, what're the two things I look up most? Reactions and FFXIV content on YT. Only a matter of time.
I would recommend listen to the other musics from other expansions as well like "Answers", "Revolutions" and "Tomorrow and tomorrow". The first two has the same artist as Dragonsong. All of them are very good.
very happy you listen to the music before giving your thoughts. tons of people interrupt the music to give their opinions. their fist thought is analyze instead of enjoy. basically showing they see music more of a chore than a form of entertainment.
This song hurts my heart. It tells the past of the heavensward expansion, and plays right at the climax of the story and the credits. Brings back the whole story and the emotions along with it. Made lots of folks cry this one. Does remind me of those MGS ending songs too. Great take as ever man
It is so beautiful and filled with with so much sorrow. You are right, there is a reason we love the game and its music. Its enchanting and if you know the story it makes it so sad.
The music in this game blows me the fuck away every time. Pairs so perfectly to the story in so many places. This song reminds me of some of the music from Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete on the PS1.
This song hits 1000x harder if you play the story! I admit I’m biased because of my love for the Dragoon (my favorite class I even played it in FFXI) but damn this was an awesome review!
I noticed that the songs I like the most are often ones that tell the story just as well as the plot itself. Heavensward was one hell of a journey for me and this song summarized it perfectly.
I'll have to say though... people did likely not recommend this because piano. This song just means so much after having gone through the lore, that it's just a piece we've all grown to love and want other people to see its beauty. Edit: Oh and of course, the song itself hits in the feels since it's just distilled sadness, the whole theme being a trusting peace broken by cruelty and the thousand year long war of revenge and attrition that followed, partly built on a lie. That song is really heavy, and I think the music and lyrics suit the lore perfectly. It is also one of the few pieces that has super clean easy to understand lyrics, the voice and the piano aren't part of it, they CARRY the song
It's an older game, but FFXI Memoro de la Stono is so good! It gained popularity a few years ago with the linguistics community because the beginning is in Esperanto (a constructed language that's less than 150 years old)
love watching your reactions and analysis. You respect the music and let it unfold. Most "reactions" talk over parts of the music, which i sometimes find a bit disrespectful. Loves.
The Best is Yet to Come is definitely near the top in the list of top greatest game music ever made. Metal Gear series has a lot of the top-of-the-list worthy pieces. That, Snake Eater, Way to Fall, Debriefing, the MGS2 Main Theme, etc. Harry Gregson Williams is an amazing talent. Final Fantasy series has a crap ton though because their game library is so huge. The Dream Oath from FF6 from the Orchestral OST always comes to mind first and foremost. That's got to be #1 for me. Not a lot of composers in the modern world, whether it be games, anime, or movies, who're just like "Yeah I think I'll just write a 23 min long Opera cause whatevs" besides Nobuo Uematsu.
Man, love your reactions! Somehow I'm hoping I'll also find you one day reacting to playing the game itself, maybe in the near future(?). If only so you can experience the full extent of whatever made you choke up in this video once you add in context. :D Edit: Forgot to add my vote for "Answers" from A Realm Reborn as the next one from the series to review.
I appreciate it sir. I wish, but I work 10 hour days 5 days a week and when I'm home, I'm usually learning a song or posting a video, so my time is limited. Although maybe I'll stream myself doing live reactions on my Twitch soon? Answers is this coming weekend, thanks for the support :)
Yooo just found this channel and already love your stuff! I'm sure you've gotten a ton of requests already but if you ever find the time to fit it in, the whole BGM for FFXIV - Epic of Alexander is 4 amazing songs in one!
Metal Gear Solid was also one of my first loves way back on PS1 and yeah... The Best is yet to Come still gives me chills, as does Aerith's theme and recently this song has joined in with songs that just absolutely shake me down to my core when I hear them.
Memoro de la stono is another awesome song by the same composer and singer but for the previous online installment, FFXI. It was awesome hearing Susan reprise her position for big expansion songs for A Realm Reborn, Heavensward and Stormblood having known her from the before times. It's just nostalgia to hear and just such a good song that I recommend listening to for those who like her songs in XIV
Dragonsong is my favorite song, but all of the songs from the game are fantastic. :) I agree with you about the white dragon, he is amazingly beautiful. I'm glad you are enjoying the FFXIV music so much! Thanks for your videos, I've enjoyed them!
Wow I just stumbled onto your channel thanks to ff14 recommends and watched all your reactions - I'm so glad that you are enjoying the songs and its clear that your reactions are genuine. Easy subscribe and I'm looking forward to checking out your other content now too!
first time viewer and a FFXIV simp. Loved your video and couldn’t help but do what I could do to help the algorithm. Thank you for your reaction! Gonna go ahead and start to binge your other vids.
"We sing of Nidhogg even now.
Not to praise him, but to speed his soul unto its rest.
For even he is deserving of peace."
Is that a quote in the game? If so, who says it?
@@jacobteague635 It is! It's in the followup quests after the HeavensWard main story quests that you start back at the Fortemps manor! The quote is from the bae herself, Vidofnir!
@@proudlarry8225 Fucking love Vidofnir I'd totally pull a Ysayle on her 😂😂
@@TerrasWorld Heavensward was so good, partially because you could understand all the villain's perspectives. You UNDERSTOOD why the dragons were angry, you understood Nidhogg's rage and pain at the loss of Ratatoskr. In that same token, you understood the perspective of the archbishop. Why SHOULD Ishgard suffer for a thousand years for the mistakes of their forefathers. No mortal alive knows what King Thordan and his knights were thinking when they betrayed the dragons.
Both sides went way too far. Indeed neither side were "good". But neither were either side inherently evil. It was a fantastic telling of a war that had gone on for so long that the reasons for fighting were no longer important to many. An endless cycle of hate and vengeance that forces on both sides didn't want to end... because they knew nothing else anymore.
@@TerrasWorld Pretty much all of the expansions did this for me, even Stormblood, though by the end Zenos still looked like a one note character, by the end of Endwalker I had much more compassion for him. He was horrible and did horrible things, but I felt a lot of pity for what his circumstances and the choices of those around him, not just his own, made him.
I love so many of the music of FFXIV. It this one…this one is special. Why?
A smile better suits a hero.
Damm just listening to that music and you drop that line i bet you made many tear up now....... Thank you :-)
I was holding my tears until I read this. 😭😭😭
Reopen old wounds why don't you? And to this song no less 😢
Oof
Freak you I wasn't expecting to cry tonight ;-;
Here's some juicy info on Dragonsong - The lyrics literally tell the backstory behind the entire Heavensward expansion from the perspective of someone intimately familiar with the events. Also, Final Fantasy XIV lore states that the dragons pass on their history through song...
Just wanted to add that given the song's significance it shows up as a motif in a number of places in Heavensward, and is used to devastatingly powerful emotional effect during climactic plot events.
I can only imagine being so enthralled with the world and making all those connections. I'm over here gushing out just the pure sounds!
@@JessesAuditorium That's what makes it so awesome - beauty on the surface, with real narrative depth beneath. It's an incredible moment playing the game when the layers of the history are peeled back and you have that epiphany of "Oh my god, this is what Dragonsong was describing! Those lyrics = these events! It's not just a song, it's a lament and a message!" It's almost meta, how the song has significance outside AND within the gane. It's being sung to us the players as an evocative theme song for the expansion, but also being sung from the perspective of a major character addressing other characters over the past, present, and expected future. It really is working on multiple levels.
@@cnkclark This song as part of phase 1 of the Final Steps of Faith almost floored me and easily got me killed. Its a masterpiece.
@@cobbil It plays on repeat between the cutscene and the queue for the trial. Great time to be in a dps queue as you can just sit there on the Steps of Faith and take in this otherwordly awesome music with that scenery while you wait for the equally awesome fight ahead. 3.3 is my personal favorite part of the XIV storyline so far though I admit I'm not yet done with 4.0 so there could be more ahead, but that bar is really high.
gotta be careful dude, we in the ffxiv fandom are pretty obsessive and we'll push the whole ost on you if you let us 😜
This is no understatement by any means
... i mean... your not wrong
To be fair like 3/4 of the ost are undeniable bangers though
Well it's because soken and nobuo are gods of music.
You could say he's ... thrown wide the gates.
I still can't get through Dragonsong without crying, especially during its climax. And I've been playing this game for years.
Fun fact, FFXIV is in the Guinness Book of records for having the largest amount of different original tracks in any videogame ever. It was inducted in 2017 before Shadowbringers even came out and Stormblood was recently released, so it has even more songs right now. What I mean by this is you have a bazillion songs you can hear from the game's OST.
I'll leave my suggestion for Wayward Daughter which is another very emotional song
I hear a new fun fact or tidbit from the community everyday, so crazy lol
@@JessesAuditorium Wayward Daughter is another one of those heartbreaking songs because it talks about a woman who was abused her whole life and when given the chance to start over anew, she doesn't believe she deserves it.
@Sorengrand I did some research and you are correct, Runescape got inducted after FF, so for arounf 1 year the record was held by FF XIV, but Runescape eventually "broke" the record. FF can in theory reclaim it as time goes by since each xpac adds over 100 tracks to the game.
Uematsu is just one of those composers that makes people cry even without context. With the full context, that final "never know" is fucking soul shattering. Shadowbringers is undoubtedly the best expansion, but Heavensward will always be the most impactful personally. RIP Stephen Critchlow.
Damn right. I've heard it so much now, and it still sends the good kind of shivers down my spine.
This song hits different for me now that the voice of House Fortemps is no longer with us. RIP Stephen Critchlow.
Not just the voice of Fortemps... but the voice of Heavensward.
One of his friends even played using a trial account through all of base game just to play hear his voice again, and as an appreciation for all of the players who did in-game memorials for one of the most important pieces of our Heavensward experience.
Not forgetting the voice of Honoroit, too... Archie Lyndhurst only 19... I can't make it through HW even now, it's just tears every time
5:59 I love how you can see the exact moment that note hit you in the heart lmao
😭
This song plays during an epic battle...
Many a party has wiped because of the tears, I hear!
and its only the first part of the battle, it transitions into a different one twice and they all hit hard. Not the same way, mind, but still amazing.
@@Nirual86 one made us cry, the other made us clean our tears and fight for the ones we may still save!
I had to turn the music off, mate!
The only time I didnt mind waiting in a 45 minute queue
I can confirm that , i just wipe because i cant see anything
If you liked this, I'd recommend listening to Answers (same singer, Susan Calloway; and same composer, Nobuo Uematsu). I'd say to watch End of an Era, the trailer that has Answers as the background, but the music is a little quiet in that one. The energy of Answers is pretty different, but it's also a masterpiece.
I'll take note of it!
ANSWERS is the ultimate ffxiv anthem
@@JessesAuditorium might as well just listen to everything. At this point xD FF has songs for many genres. Every boss having their own unique music with differing genres.
You won’t be disappointed. XIV is a Final Fantasy game first, MMO is secondary. The story telling has standards and music is an important part of that
@@JessesAuditorium this is my all time favorite!
@@sergezede Coming later this week :)
"that's a song I want my ashes spread out to"...
Well... Kind of appropriate for the song really. Can't even hear that opening piano without all those memories of the moments this piece backs... we have it playing in our FC house like a lot of people do too
It's been 4 months since this reaction. Many things happened. Since then I picked up FF14 and this very moment the credits rolled for Heavensward for me... Never thought that song can stir so much emotion after finishing the story. It might be powerful and emotional on its own. I felt certain things before being FF14 player listening to this song. But after you're through this adventure this song grabs your heart and clenches it hard, real hard. What a journey it was.
Wow!
Great vid! Dragonsong is such a good song. I'd also second listening to "Answers." It's one of the most powerful songs in the game imo, basically the start and second chance of FF14.
It was called the Dragon Song war. It raged for a thousand years, where dragons and men senselessly slaughtered eachother, all based on a lie. The lyrics basically tell the story of it all.
So glad you did this song! It makes me cry every time I hear it. Knowing the lore behind the words just hits me right in the heart so much
Indeed. When you know the lore and have experienced the story... this song is like a physical force sweeping over your emotions like a tide. You can practically feel it.
You are correct about the Final Fantasy community. For those of us who grew up with the 8 bit Final fantasy games, we can tell you that one of the staples of a Final Fantasy game, is the music. It's one thing to tell a story, but to immerse the player and listener into the game via the music, is an art all by itself. And one that Square has mastered for decades now. To hear a piece of music(especially a FFXIV piece. A game of which I am a player, and have been since 2013) from a Final Fantasy game for the first time, is an experience. And there are SO many songs, just from FFXIV alone, that you can listen to. I am glad I found this channel. Much love and I wish you continued success!
FFX music is heartwrenching in parts!
@@sitnspin1819 The story is far better than i thought it'd be, FF14 is amazing!
Every time I hear Dragonsong I get goosebumps. It's such a powerful song, and it does an amazing job of filling your mind with images. Even without the video, you can almost see the drifting snow, the city of ishgard and so on.
A man after my own heart. "The Best is Yet to Come" is literally the first song in my DnD pre-game playlist. If I had to describe the FFXIV experience: A 300 hour concert.
Dragonsong is a song that makes me cry every time I hear it despite the fact I've heard it 100 times already... This and Answers.
Thank you for sharing a song from Metal Gear! I've never heard it before and absolutely love it now
me too!!! i can’t help but ugly bawl when listening to this, greenwrath and close in the distance
I’m a long time player and have listened to this a thousand times, but literally started crying when it played.
I watched this when it was new and now watching it again for the tenth time I feel like I need to leave a comment. Jesse's reaction is precious; especially when him not having even played the game. He knows my fellow Warriors of Light. HE KNOWS! His reaction brings a smile to me every time. Ya'll need to get this song in your playlist and listen with your eyes closed. TAKE... IT... ALL... IN! This song will DESTROY YOU. Now excuse me while I watch the video again.
The story behind this music in the game's context is so beautiful yet so tragic. It's a tale of betrayal, broken hearts, falsehoods, love, hatred, hope and prayers.
It's incredible how this song can start playing and I instantly begin to tear up a little and by the end of it I'm full on crying.
What a fucking song.
Just watched a special arrangement of this last night live and it was spectacular. Amanda was great! (and the lady next to me was crying every time she sang)
The way this song gets incorporated into the final fight with the dragon was so smooth and fitting.
every once in a while i come by just to watch your reactions to answers and dragonsong.
thanks for recording these, it's nice to share in common appreciation every once in a while.
this song gives me the shivers, even a year after i played through the campaign.
The final steps of faith (where this song plays during the fight) is where i fell in love with this game
Having this pop up while paying respects to Asmongold's Mum who recently passed away and he stopped playing in the expansion this was written for, it hits differently some how. I want to thank you for all of the reaction videos. FFXIV is a dear game to me, even though you don't play it yourself I'm glad you are enjoying the music as much as we all do.
I had the pleasure of seeing this song live along with a couple other songs by Susan Callaway. She was phenomenal. When you know the game and the story the songs gain a deeper meaning and it's hard not to tear up.
Interesting lore fact for you: whenever this particular singer is singing at any point in ff14 it means it’s being told from the point of view of the goddess hydaelin, the deity who granted the player character their powers, going into spoiler territory a bit, in lore there has been a war going on between the elezen (elves) and dragons for 800 years known as the dragonsong war, the two races were once at peace due to one of the dragons’ leaders falling in love with a elezen, but the elezens betrayed the dragons, the song is the story of the war
This particular music piece will stick with you for as long as it can.
Of all my years of listening to music, this was the only one that would randomly play in my head even when I completely forget about the game.
It was hauntingly beautiful and sad, but had a deep old soul in the music that kept resonating within me.
The tone for the song is so fitting too as it comes at the end of a expansion during the credits of it and as we look back at everything that happened and this specific part of the story is very we have won but at what cost what have we lost along the way. Very much a somber reflection of loss but at the same time growth.
Been playing XIV since 2011 so the music hits really hard because each song reminds me of various chapters in my life. Dragonsong and Answers just do something to my spirit
My god man, that MGS song was my favorite since I was a child. One of the first PS1 games I played was MGS 1 and now I got to listen to it again. Definitely recommend anyone who hasn't listened to it, to give it a shot. Absolutely emotional song.
This game is truly a spectacle.
We are a very passionate community. So I'm glad to see someone realize at least in part where that passion comes from.
I hope you keep having fun with these. And come join us in game if you ever have time!
what i love so much about soken and ffxiv in general is the amount of variation between the compositions. you get classic fantasy elvish style to acoustic guitar campfire to heavy metal riffs all the way to liquid DnB. The music is what makes this game so special to me and why I look forward to going to new areas / instances so much.
Everyone's giving you very feeling-heavy songs, but I'd like to go to the opposite direction and point you to "Beauty's Wicked Wiles" (Sri Lakshmi's theme), "What Angel Wakes Me" (Titania's theme) or Good King Moggle Mog XII's theme. Part of the fun of the game is that there's something for everyone, so there's a wide range of both gameplay styles, job types, ways to spend your time and, yes, music themes.
No matter who you are, Eorzea has something for you.
Very true! I would add Unbending Steel to that list. What Angel Wakes Me is so underrated, it has one of the most genius lyric compositions of all of XIV soundtrack. If you know about poetry metrics, or rap metrics, you can enjoy it all the more.
Can I toss on Wrath of the Harrier? It was for a final boss in side content, but it's stupid hype.
The Brute Justice theme and Locus songs are amazing also
This song gives me chills everytime I hear it, even more so when you follow the story of heavensward and how much emotional connection it gives this song.
A smile better suits a hero...shit this song always makes me tear up. One of the most beautiful songs I've heard.
UA-cam suggested this, and I'm so fucking glad I did. Nice to make your acquaintance, dude! Seeing your experience hearing this for the first time was magical.
I remember when this video first got released in the months leading up to Heavensward. The emotions made me cry and I listened to it on repeat for weeks. "A pain without cease..." was the part that always got me. Susan Callaway kills it on this track and "Answers"
Just heard this song for the first time today in the game. One of the best quest lines in the game so far.
I've haven't played the Heavensward part of FFXIV in years and the moment the song hit its stride, I just started sobbing. I never used to cry to game OSTs. Maybe feels in the heart, but I've never had a full on cry.
Every major song in FF has made me hysterical.
This song always brings a tear to my eye.
Man, your channel showed up out of nowhere, and watching you react to all these FFXIV OSTs has been really powerful.
I used to be very emotionally closed off, but after watching so many streamers and UA-camrs allow themselves to be torn apart by FFXIV and its music, I'm no longer as ashamed to show emotion.
These videos leave me bawlin' .
Glad to hear!
Don't worry, I cried off camera.
Heavensward is the Expansion dragonsong belongs to. Every time i hear this Song i get goosebumps and tear up bc 1. It is just beautiful and 2. I know the Story behind it. Heavensward is a wonderful expansion but the lore around it and this Song is so very, very sad.
Thank you for the on-going support, I will try my best to get to all the connected themes at some point! I'm just getting started :)
The big part of this that hits me is that this is basically the song playing when you confront the -final- boss of Heavensward. Staring the evil dragon Nidhogg reborn as a primal, ready to defeat him and end the Dragonsong war of a thousand years, this song plays while you stare at him, preparing to enter the fight against him. It hits -so- hard.
The first video I find of yours and it's my all-time favorite Final Fantasy song.
Your understanding of how we (the FF community) feel about these amazing stories and music was spot on.
Oh man.. its been 6 years.. and hearing this song still ache my heart...
Just have to say this is the first video of yours I found. I watched a few of your other videos and I love it. looking forward to watching it all, keep up the awesome work and I look forward to your content.
This song will never not make me cry I think. Heavensward is one of the most beautiful experiences I've ever seen in a video game.
We cry when we play this section of the game (not the trailer). Then we seek out others who have recorded their playthrough and cru with them again. Catharsis we seek. Together.
**Heavensward Spoilers**
I didn't see anyone mention it, but one of my favorite moments is this track plays [as the main theme of the expansion] after a major cutscene where the cool dragon you saw dukes it out with another dragon and falls in battle. It's up to us, the main hero, to defeat the evil dragon and put an end to this war once and for all. While you are waiting to go into the battle this music plays while you see your dragon comrade fallen before you and when you go into the boss battle it seamlessly transitions this song uninterrupted into cutscene and the first phase of the battle, only to change into the epic 2nd phase (Freefall), and final phase (Revenge of the Horde). Here's the whole experience together!
ua-cam.com/video/BnOKdmAcSP0/v-deo.html
Thank you so much for sharing your reactions. They're wonderful to hear as a long time fan; this music hits me in all the right places especially how they suit the story and themes at every moment on your journey. Soken truly is wonderful and this game would not be the same without his amazing work to capture so many emotions and environments; it's strange to think of a place I have never been to as my home.
Thanks! I appreciate it. I'm actually reacting to ROTH this weekend :)
Waiting for the queue as a DPS while seeing that scene. So epic.
Good to see someone else getting into the XIV OST. As a long time player there are a lot of favorites and good listens to be suggested, but if I were to make just one I'd say "The Copied Factory Final Boss Theme (Weight of the World - Prelude version)". I'd say it is easily one of the most overly bombastic songs in the game, but it's SO good.
Though there doesn't seem to be many that are just the song. Mostly the entire encounter video which is 10+ minutes long, the song just loops.
I looped this track for like 1 week straight
@@rougecrown you and me both my friend.. you and me both
This song hits so much harder after playing the Heavensward expansion. The nostalgia of the journey through that story is brought back hearing this song, and that makes people love it so much.
This trailer still makes me get all teary eyed. The music is beautiful and the context of the lyrics and what is currently happening in the plot is what makes it truly POP.
A Smile Better Suits A Hero!
I started crying just listening to this masterpiece... Heavensward was the best story I have ever seen in any game, especially right after ARR. It breaks me that I can never experience it again... I've never been this emotional for any game, ever. The Heavensward credit screen broke me into tears, it was truly over. I don't know if I can handle Shadowbringers.
iirc in Vesper Bay you can unlock new game+
you wont get it for the FIRST time ever again... but you can look at more detail and cry
and dont worry! from Shadowbringers it only ever really gtets worse :)
Nah, you want your ashes spread out to "Tomorrow and Tomorrow." Quite a bit of piano in there too.
Reacting to that one very soon, this or next weekend.
Hee~ If you choke up without even knowing the game, just imagine. Every single time it comes up I'm in STREAMS of tears. Such a beautiful, serene, emotional piece, even more so with the context of the story. And The Best is Yet to Come! Ah, another track that is so utterly, captivatingly, tragically beautiful. A sub for you, my fabulous friend. ♥
This series has just some really chill vibes, I love it.
No matter how many time i listen to that music, i always shed tears. It just hit right in the feels
This one's a tearjerker and the way it's used in game is beautiful and emotionally devastating.
You retroactively got a new FFXIV lover to watch your content from Answers showing up. Then again, what're the two things I look up most? Reactions and FFXIV content on YT. Only a matter of time.
sees hraevalskr "thats the coolest dragon ive ever seen"
hraevalskr "who said that!" looking in two oposite directions
I would recommend listen to the other musics from other expansions as well like "Answers", "Revolutions" and "Tomorrow and tomorrow". The first two has the same artist as Dragonsong. All of them are very good.
Answers is coming later this week!
very happy you listen to the music before giving your thoughts. tons of people interrupt the music to give their opinions. their fist thought is analyze instead of enjoy. basically showing they see music more of a chore than a form of entertainment.
This song hurts my heart. It tells the past of the heavensward expansion, and plays right at the climax of the story and the credits. Brings back the whole story and the emotions along with it. Made lots of folks cry this one. Does remind me of those MGS ending songs too. Great take as ever man
It is so beautiful and filled with with so much sorrow. You are right, there is a reason we love the game and its music. Its enchanting and if you know the story it makes it so sad.
You have to hear to FFXIV OST - Final Omega's Theme (From the Heavens)
"My feelings are closed off"
Shadowbringers...
"Challange accepted"
"Do not despair. You are not without allies." T_T7
The music in this game blows me the fuck away every time. Pairs so perfectly to the story in so many places. This song reminds me of some of the music from Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete on the PS1.
It really is impossible to listen to this without tears
This song hits 1000x harder if you play the story! I admit I’m biased because of my love for the Dragoon (my favorite class I even played it in FFXI) but damn this was an awesome review!
I noticed that the songs I like the most are often ones that tell the story just as well as the plot itself. Heavensward was one hell of a journey for me and this song summarized it perfectly.
As a metal gear solid fan, when you mentioned it I instantly knew which song you meant, good taste dude and nice reaction.
The many tears that have been shed with this song and a particular scene in the game.
I'll have to say though... people did likely not recommend this because piano. This song just means so much after having gone through the lore, that it's just a piece we've all grown to love and want other people to see its beauty.
Edit: Oh and of course, the song itself hits in the feels since it's just distilled sadness, the whole theme being a trusting peace broken by cruelty and the thousand year long war of revenge and attrition that followed, partly built on a lie. That song is really heavy, and I think the music and lyrics suit the lore perfectly. It is also one of the few pieces that has super clean easy to understand lyrics, the voice and the piano aren't part of it, they CARRY the song
It's an older game, but FFXI Memoro de la Stono is so good! It gained popularity a few years ago with the linguistics community because the beginning is in Esperanto (a constructed language that's less than 150 years old)
Whoa, that already sounds like something I have to check out based on the backstory alone. I'll for sure throw that in sometime this week, thanks!
Not sure why, but this song is so beautiful. I can't help but tear up.
Put a huge smile on my face :D Thank you for reacting to this!
A heavensward. Nostalgia hits hard.
Seeing you get emotional just listening to the song alone…oh boy does it hit hard at the end of 5.3
love watching your reactions and analysis. You respect the music and let it unfold. Most "reactions" talk over parts of the music, which i sometimes find a bit disrespectful. Loves.
The Best is Yet to Come is definitely near the top in the list of top greatest game music ever made. Metal Gear series has a lot of the top-of-the-list worthy pieces. That, Snake Eater, Way to Fall, Debriefing, the MGS2 Main Theme, etc. Harry Gregson Williams is an amazing talent. Final Fantasy series has a crap ton though because their game library is so huge. The Dream Oath from FF6 from the Orchestral OST always comes to mind first and foremost. That's got to be #1 for me. Not a lot of composers in the modern world, whether it be games, anime, or movies, who're just like "Yeah I think I'll just write a 23 min long Opera cause whatevs" besides Nobuo Uematsu.
From the memoirs of Count Edmunt de Fortemps.
_Heavensward_
Man, love your reactions! Somehow I'm hoping I'll also find you one day reacting to playing the game itself, maybe in the near future(?).
If only so you can experience the full extent of whatever made you choke up in this video once you add in context. :D
Edit: Forgot to add my vote for "Answers" from A Realm Reborn as the next one from the series to review.
I appreciate it sir. I wish, but I work 10 hour days 5 days a week and when I'm home, I'm usually learning a song or posting a video, so my time is limited. Although maybe I'll stream myself doing live reactions on my Twitch soon?
Answers is this coming weekend, thanks for the support :)
Yooo just found this channel and already love your stuff! I'm sure you've gotten a ton of requests already but if you ever find the time to fit it in, the whole BGM for FFXIV - Epic of Alexander is 4 amazing songs in one!
Seconding this. It's truly phenomenal.
Metal Gear Solid was also one of my first loves way back on PS1 and yeah... The Best is yet to Come still gives me chills, as does Aerith's theme and recently this song has joined in with songs that just absolutely shake me down to my core when I hear them.
i just have to say knowing the back story and the lore up to this point makes this way better imo but still an amazing/great song!!!!
Memoro de la stono is another awesome song by the same composer and singer but for the previous online installment, FFXI. It was awesome hearing Susan reprise her position for big expansion songs for A Realm Reborn, Heavensward and Stormblood having known her from the before times. It's just nostalgia to hear and just such a good song that I recommend listening to for those who like her songs in XIV
"The Best is Yet to Come" is awesome, wow. I beat MSG years ago but didn't remember it at all. Thanks for the recommendation!
Dragonsong is my favorite song, but all of the songs from the game are fantastic. :) I agree with you about the white dragon, he is amazingly beautiful. I'm glad you are enjoying the FFXIV music so much! Thanks for your videos, I've enjoyed them!
I appreciate it, thank you!!
It's currently my favorite out of everything I've heard thus far =)
Hraesvelgr is an inspiration.
That mgs 1 ost shoutout: so you are a man of culture!
Wow I just stumbled onto your channel thanks to ff14 recommends and watched all your reactions - I'm so glad that you are enjoying the songs and its clear that your reactions are genuine. Easy subscribe and I'm looking forward to checking out your other content now too!
Thank you T_T, I'm just being myself and always will!
So many music reaction channels, you're the only one that's popped up that reacts to video game music.
Thanks! I was thinking the same thing. I love VGM so it only made sense I show love to it.
@@JessesAuditorium if you can, look into Titania's theme from FF 14. It's such a different vibe to the other boss music you've done so far.
first time viewer and a FFXIV simp. Loved your video and couldn’t help but do what I could do to help the algorithm. Thank you for your reaction! Gonna go ahead and start to binge your other vids.