"Eyes On Me" is the theme song of Final Fantasy VIII, composed by Nobuo Uematsu and arranged by Shirō Hamaguchi with English lyrics written by Kako Someya, and performed by Hong Kong pop diva Faye Wong. Keiji Kawamori was the synthesizer programmer.
The song went 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, marking the first time a video game song ever won the honor.
Lyrics[]
The official lyrics 
were released on Final Fantasy VIII: Original Soundtrack.
- English
- 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
- Oh, 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 wanted to 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're 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 translation
- 歌う時はいつも
- ステージで独りきり
- 語る時はいつも
- 聞いてほしいと願ってた
- そのたびに、あなたが笑っていたような
- 本当かしら、気のせいかしら
- あなたはいつも片隅にいた
- ちっぽけな、このバーの
- ここで最後の夜
- いつもの曲を、もう一度
- あなたとも最後の夜？
- かもしれないし、違うかも
- 何となく好きだった
- 恥ずかしそうに私を見るあなたの目
- あなたは知っていたかしら
- 私もそうしていたことを
- ねえ、あなたはそこで
- 相変わらずの表情
- 傷ついたりしないかのような
- 落ち込んだりしないかのような
- こうしましょうか
- ぎゅっと優しくあなたをつねるの
- しかめ面をしたら
- あなたが夢を見てないってわかる
- あなたのところへ行かせて
- 好きなだけそばに
- うんと近づくの
- 高鳴る鼓動を感じるほどに
- そのまま私の話を聞いて
- 穏やかな瞳に見つめられ、どれだけ嬉しかったか
- あなたは知っていたかしら
- 私もそうしていたことを
- ねえ、私に分けてよ
- 余るほど愛があるなら
- 涙をこらえているなら
- 苦悩なら、それでもいい
- どうしたらわかってもらえるかしら
- 私は服と声ばかりじゃない
- こちらに手を伸ばしてくれたら
- 夢じゃないって、あなたもわかるのに
- ねえ、あなたはそこで
- 相変わらずの表情
- 傷ついたりしないかのような
- 落ち込んだりしないかのような
- こうしましょうか
- ぎゅっと優しくあなたをつねるの
- しかめ面をしたら
- あなたが夢を見てないってわかる
Game appearances[]
Final Fantasy VIII[]
The central melody of "Eyes On Me" plays whenever Squall and Rinoa share a romantic scene. Different in-game versions of the theme include "Julia", a piano arrangement that plays in the 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. The game's ending theme includes an orchestrated version of the song.
Event planner Hiroki Chiba made the moment 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" is included in the Final Fantasy VIII: Original Soundtrack album as the 20th track of the third disc. "Waltz for the Moon" and "Julia" are, respectively, the 16th and 20th tracks of the soundtrack's first disc.
Story[]
Julia Heartilly wrote "Eyes On Me" 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 write a song about Laguna, despite her previous difficulty 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.
Julia and Laguna.
Squall Leonhart and Rinoa Heartilly's romance echoes Laguna and Julia's love, significant as Julia is Rinoa's mother and Laguna is Squall's father; thus, their children fulfill their failed romance.
The song may have become a classic within the world of Final Fantasy VIII. 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 Julia composed the song.
Final Fantasy XV[]
The Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy arrangement of "Julia" is available on the Memories of Dissidia 012 FF album purchasable from Old Lestallum for 500 gil.
Dissidia Final Fantasy[]
An orchestrated "Eyes On Me" is included in "DISSIDIA -ending- from DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY", a medley of the ending themes from Final Fantasy to Final Fantasy X, including the theme of Dissidia Final Fantasy.
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy[]
An arrangement of "Julia" by Tsuyoshi Sekito, titled "Julia -arrange- from FINAL FANTASY VIII", is present as Laguna's world map theme in his storyline, during the third chapter of Treachery of the Gods. "Julia -arrange- from FINAL FANTASY VIII" was released as the 33rd track of the game's soundtrack first disc.
The "Eyes On Me" segment of the Final Fantasy VIII ending theme returns for the new "DISSIDIA 012[duodecim]-ending- from DISSIDIA 012[duodecim] FINAL FANTASY", a medley of the ending themes from Final Fantasy to Final Fantasy XIII and including the Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy and Dissidia Final Fantasy ending motifs.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy[]
"Waltz for the Moon" appears as the Event Music Sequence for Final Fantasy VIII. Additionally, the "Ending Theme" is the end song for the series play.
The iOS version features the "Ending Theme" as a Field Music Sequence that can be bought on the app store for $0.99/£0.69.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call[]
"Waltz for the Moon" and "Ending Theme" both reappear as Field Music Sequences for Final Fantasy VIII.
Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]
"Eyes On Me" is included as part of the 6th anniversary special arrange medley, taken from the top 10 music from All Final Fantasy Big Vote.
Arrangement album appearances[]
Piano Collections: Final Fantasy VIII[]
A piano arrangement of "Eyes On Me" by Shirō Hamaguchi and performed by Shinko Ogata appears as the album's second track, and many consider it the easiest of the Piano Collections' vocal song arrangements.
Potion 2: Relaxin' with Final Fantasy[]
"Eyes on Me (Acoustic Guitar Version)" is a version arranged and performed by Naganori Sakakibara, released as a bonus track for this compilation. It is the 14th and final track of the album.
Final Fantasy Song Book "Mahoroba"[]
"Eyes On Me" appears in Japanese on the 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 and sung by Manami Kiyota. The lyrics were written by Kazushige Nojima.
Lyrics[]
- 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
- Rōmaji
- 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 tokini 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
- Kata yosete chiisana 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 kana?
- Hanasō 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
- Unofficial English translation
- I was gazing at your back
- Distant fireworks over your shoulder
- The bus that the two of us quickly picked out went to
- The sea before our classmates arrived
- You are always a dismissive
- And distant person in the classroom
- We both realized we were in love when we met
- Eye to eye while our classmates were gone
- Your smile from those distant days
- As it brings the scent of summer
- The future I was uncertain about came true
- Tenderly, a dream with the two of us at dusk
- A puppy in the garden that's staring
- Shoulder to shoulder and small fireworks
- The lights of the town I fled because I am not good with crowds
- They are gentle colors when I see them with you
- Your smile from those distant days
- As it brings the scent of summer
- Is the future that I couldn't see right now?
- Let's talk about both our dreams under the starry sky
- Your smile from those distant days
- As it carries away the scent of summer
- The future I was uncertain of was our summer,
- Where we smile gently and do it over again
Guitar Solo Final Fantasy Official Best Collection[]
A solo classical guitar arrangement of "Eyes On Me" is included as the album's 17th track, arranged and performed by Yuji Sekiguchi.
SQ Chips[]
An arrangement of "Eyes On Me" by Another Infinity appears as the 13th track on the 8-bit arrangement album featuring tracks from several Square Enix games.
Final Fantasy Orchestral Album[]
"Eyes on Me" appears on this Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary arrangement album sung by Crystal Kay and orchestrated by Tsutomu Narita. It was performed by the FiLMharmonic Orchestra in the Dvorak Hall at Rudolfinum in Prague.
This version was initially performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London as part of the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Distant Worlds concert.
Distant Worlds and A New World Collections: music from Final Fantasy VIII[]
A new recording of "Eyes On Me" featuring vocal soloist Susan Calloway appears on this album exclusively, performed by the Distant Worlds Philhamornic Orchestra.
This version is slightly relyricized, rephrasing some of the original English lyrics with more natural-sounding English grammar:
- Whenever sang my songs → When I have sung my songs
- Whenever said my words → When I have said my songs
- Of this tiny little bar → Of that tiny little bar
- If frown is shown then → If a frown is shown then
- Just reach me out then → Just reach out to me
Live performances[]
VOICES: Music from Final Fantasy[]
"Eyes On Me" was performed live during the concert, arranged by Motoki Matsuoka and Angela Aki. Aki both provided the vocals and played the piano.
It was also recorded and released in the album.
Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy The Celebration[]
An orchestral arrangement of "Eyes On Me" by Tsutomu Narita was performed for the concerts commemorating 25th anniversary with Crystal Kay as the vocal soloist. The recording on the album was performed by the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra at the Tokyo International Forum.
Compilation album appearances[]
Potion: Relaxin' with Final Fantasy[]
The arrangement of "Eyes on Me" taken from the Piano Collections: Final Fantasy VIII album is included as the 6th track.
Final Fantasy S Generation: Official Best Collection[]
The arrangement of "Eyes on Me" taken from the Piano Collections: Final Fantasy VIII album is included as the 2nd track.
Non-Final Fantasy guest appearances[]
Fable[]
The Japanese release of Faye Wong's 2000 album includes the song as a dance remix track called "Eyes On Me - Almighty Radio Mix."
Kokoro no Senshi[]
In 2006, Angela Aki's second single included the song's English version, arranged by Motoki Matsuoka and Aki. Aki also played the piano. "Eyes On Me -featured in FINAL FANTASY VIII-" is the fourth track that ties the single with the series.
Lyrics[]
- Whenever I sang my songs
- On the stage on my own
- Whenever I 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 with 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 laid 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 a 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 for me 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 a frown is shown then
- I will know that you are no dreamer
"Eyes On Me" (Korean version)[]
MayBee did a cover of the song in Korean, released on August 11, 2008.
Ancient Bards[]
An Italian metal band named the Ancient Bards has covered "Eyes on Me" opening with the "Final Fantasy" theme. Sara Squadrani sings the song in English.
A New Story[]
An English cover by Japanese singer Kanon.
Other cover versions[]
Irish singer Mary Byrne recorded a cover version of "Eyes on Me" as her "winner's single" during her time on The X Factor in 2010 and would have released it had she won. However, Byrne was eliminated in the semi-final.
Spanish singer Ailyn made a cover version of "Eyes on Me" in a demo album collecting her favorite anime songs before becoming a professional singer.
Behind the scenes[]
Development[]
The game developers originally planned to use a famous vocalist in the ending of Final Fantasy VII, but the plan didn't go through due to being too abrupt, and there was no suitable theme in the story for a vocal song to come up in the ending suddenly.[2] In Final Fantasy VIII the song has a meaning in the plot, and it relates to the game's main characters. Uematsu wrote a ballad he thought would suit the theme and asked everyone to bring in CDs with vocalists who would match it.
The team listened to countless CDs in staff meetings, but none seemed to match their expectations until they listened to Faye Wong. Uematsu didn't know Faye Wong before listening to her CD in a Squaresoft staff meeting, but her voice and mood seemed to match his image of the song. He thought of her being Chinese fit the international image of Final Fantasy.[2]
Uematsu didn't participate in the negotiation to ask her to perform the song for Final Fantasy VIII. Faye Wong accepted the offer, but the recording had to take place in Hong Kong due to her schedule.[2] Uematsu organized an orchestra and gave her a copy of the tape before the recording. Her style was to concentrate alone before recording and sing in a one-shot deal in complete darkness. Uematsu describes Wong's singing skill as superior and her voice as "truly heavenly." [2]
Allusions[]
This song is not to be confused with the Superfly song "Eyes On Me," which is the theme for the game, The 3rd Birthday.
In Final Fantasy X-2, one of Yuna's battle quotes in the Songstress dressphere is, "Hey, eyes on me!"
"Eyes On Me" is a special attack used by the one-eyed Ahriman family of enemies in Final Fantasy XI.
There is a main scenario quest in Final Fantasy XIV titled "Eyes On Me." Eyes on Me is also an enemy ability used by All-Seeing Eye, the boss in Dzemael Darkhold.
A decal called Beaux Arts in Final Fantasy XV bears the description: "A colorful custom decal set with a fine art theme. Sure to catch the eyes of that special someone who never knew you had yours on them." This alludes to the lyrics of "Eyes on Me."
Sheet music[]
See also[]
Citations[]
- ↑ Final Fantasy Masterminds Reminisce About Their Favorite Moments (Accessed: April 21, 2018) at Game Informer
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Nobuo Uematsu Interview #4 (dead) (Accessed: February 08, 2001) at www.nobuouematsu.com (dead)