Eyes On Me from Final Fantasy VIII Nobuo Uematsu with sheet music.

Eyes on me (FF VIII)

“Eyes on Me” is the theme song of Final Fantasy VIII. Composed by Nobuo Uematsu, English lyrics by Kako Someya, and performed by Hong Kong pop diva Faye Wong, with the song going on to sell a record breaking 400,000 copies. It also won “Song of the Year (Western Music)” at the 14th Annual Japan Gold Disc Awards in 1999. This was the first time a song from a video game has ever won the honor.

“Eyes on Me” is featured in this 2004 album, titled 夏のアルバム -Eyes On Me 日本語Ver. (Natsu no arubamu -Eyes On Me nihongo Ver.?, lit. Summer’s Album -Eyes on Me Japanese ver.). Arranged for vocals by Yuji Hasegawa, it was sung in Japanese by Manami Kiyota.

Game appearances

Final Fantasy VIII

The central melody of “Eyes on Me” plays each time Squall and Rinoa share a romantic scene. Different in-game versions of the theme include “Julia”, a piano arrangement that plays in Deling City hotel during a flashback, as well as in the Shumi Village inn, and “Waltz for the Moon”, a waltz arrangement that plays during the SeeD inauguration ball. “Eyes on Me” plays in the Ragnarok during Squall and Rinoa’s journey back to earth. An orchestrated version of the song is incorporated on the game’s ending theme.

Event planner Hiroki Chiba made the event where Squall and Rinoa are inside the Ragnarok when the song plays. Chiba had to adjust it frame by frame so that everything would be in sync with the song.^[1]

“Eyes on Me” was included in the Final Fantasy VIII: Original Soundtrack album as the twentieth track of the third disc. “Waltz for the Moon” and “Julia” are, respectively, the sixteenth and twentieth tracks of the soundtrack’s first disc.

Story

“Eyes on Me” was written by Julia Heartilly about her love for Laguna Loire. Laguna, a Galbadian soldier, fell in love with Julia, a hotel lounge pianist. Laguna would frequent the lounge to watch her play but, being notoriously shy and clumsy, could never convey his feelings to her. She felt the same way, but his nervousness made it difficult for her to let him know.

One night Laguna tried to approach her and although his nerves got the better of him, Julia invited him to her room where the two told each other how they felt. Julia admitted she wanted to sing and that she could write a song about Laguna, despite her previous difficulty in composing lyrics. “Eyes on Me” is that song, and the feelings conveyed in it are her feelings for him. Laguna was called away to a mission and the two would never see each other again.

Laguna and Julia’s love is echoed in Squall Leonhart and Rinoa Heartilly’s romance, significant as Julia is Rinoa’s mother and Laguna is Squall’s father. Thus their failed romance is fulfilled through their children.

The song may have become a classic within the world of Final Fantasy VIII, as a waltz version plays at the SeeD inauguration ball, a different arrangement plays at an impromptu concert at Fishermans Horizon, and the theme plays on the radio as far away as the isolated Shumi Village, all many years after the song was composed.

Lyrics

Whenever sang my songs
On the stage, on my own
Whenever said my words
Wishing they would be heard
I saw you smiling at me
Was it real or just my fantasy
You'd always be there in the corner
Of this tiny little bar

My last night here for you
Same old songs, just once more
My last night here with you?
Maybe yes, maybe no
I kind of liked it your way
How you shyly placed your eyes on me
Did you ever know
That I had mine on you?

Darling, so there you are
With that look on your face
As if you're never hurt
As if you're never down
Shall I be the one for you
Who pinches you softly but sure
If frown is shown then
I will know that you are no dreamer

So let me come to you
Close as I wanna be
Close enough for me
To feel your heart beating fast
And stay there as I whisper
How I loved your peaceful eyes on me
Did you ever know
That I had mine on you?

Darling, so share with me
Your love if you have enough
Your tears if you're holding back
Or pain if that's what it is
How can I let you know
I'm more than the dress and the voice?
Just reach me out, then
You will know that you are not dreaming

Darling, so there you are
With that look on your face
As if you're never hurt
As if you're never down
Shall I be the one for you
Who pinches you softly but sure
If frown is shown then
I will know that you are no dreamer

Japanese 見つめてた　君の背中 肩越しの　遠い花火 クラスの友達　来ないうちに二人 急いで選んだ　バスは海へ 教室の　君はいつも 素っ気無くて　遠い人で クラスの友達　いないときに二人 目と目あって　気づいた恋 夏のかおり　運んでくる 遠い日々の　君の笑顔 不安だった　未来は優しく 叶ったね　夕暮れの二人の夢 見つめてる　庭の子犬 肩寄せて　小さな花火 人混み苦手で　逃げた町の灯り 君と見れば　優しい色 夏の香り　運んでくる 遠い日々の　君の笑顔 見えなかった　未来は今かな? 話そうよ　星空に二人の夢 夏のかおり　運んでいく 遠い日々の　君の笑顔 不安だった　未来は優しく 微笑んで　繰り返す二人の夏

Romaji Mitsumeteta kimi no senaka Katagoshi no tooi hanabi Kurasu no tomodachi konai uchi ni futari Isoide eranda basu wa umi e Kyoushitsu no kimi wa itsumo Sokkenakute tooi hito de Kurasu no tomodachi inai toki ni futari Me to me atte kizuita koi Natsu no kaori hakondekuru Tooi hibi no kimi no egao Fuan datta mirai wa yasashiku Kanatta ne yuugure no futari no yume Mitsumeteru niwa no koinu Katayosete chiisa na hanabi Hitogomi nigate de nigeta machi no akari Kimi to mireba yasashii iro Natsu no kaori hakondekuru Tooi hibi no kimi no egao Mienakatta mirai wa ima ka na? Hanasou yo hoshizora ni futari no yume Natsu no kaori hakondeiku Tooi hibi no kimi no egao Fuan datta mirai wa yasashiku Hohoende kurikaesu futari no natsu

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