Belle and Final Fantasy IX

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The first time I heard Belle from Notre Dame de Paris one of my first thoughts was “This sounds like a piece of music from Final Fantasy IX.” Now at the risk of sounding like a “gamer” (which I’m really not), Final Fantasy IX is one of my favorite games ever. The piece of music from the game that sounds like Belle is called “Freya’s Theme. ”

Now it’s only in the beginning of each that they sound similar. For first 7 seconds of each they really sound alike. They both have the same rhythms, beats and tone. But Belle’s tempo is much slower and the use of instruments is different. Belle uses guitars and Freya’s Theme uses what sounds like a harpsichord (I think). In any case, both pieces use strings.

Maybe it’s because I love Final Fantasy IX so much that helped me gravitate to Belle and Notre Dame de Paris. But they’re are both great pieces of music. Also bells are important item during the part where this music play in Final Fantasy IX. Coincidence? Oh, I think not.

Well actually I do. But isn’t that kind of cool. But then again the game does look to European history and style so they are more than likely refefencing the same  music roots. But it’s worth noting that in Japanese the main character’s name is “Jitan” which is how the Japanese spell Gitan meaning Gyspy. So I suppose it’s possible that the production team took inspiration for Notre Dame de Paris as the Final Fantasy IX was being made right after the musical came out in Paris. Though I really doubt that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBXeXBpTVOk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ6yqiVOHT0

Music by  Richard Cocciante and Nobuo Uematsu