Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII

"Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" , stylized as "Main Theme of FINAL FANTASY VII", is the main theme and world map theme of Final Fantasy VII. It was composed and arranged by Nobuo Uematsu, who builds the piece around a phrase containing a major 7th interval. The phrase returns in several other tracks on the soundtrack, making 7th intervals a staple in the game's identity. An analysis of the Main Theme from Final Fantasy VII is available from Video Game Music Academy.
== Game appearances ==
=== Final Fantasy VII ===
"Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" plays while the party travels on the overworld before the Meteor is summoned, but as the game's main theme, its motif is heard in many instances throughout the story. Its variations are the tracks "Dear to the Heart", which plays when the party leaves Midgar and at Mt. Corel, as well as in several towns; "Steal the Tiny Bronco!", which plays during the sequence at Rocket Town where the party acquires the Tiny Bronco; "On That Day, Five Years Ago...", which plays during the Nibelheim Incident flashback; and the airship theme, "The Highwind Takes to the Skies". The melody of the main theme is also included in the ending theme, "Ending Credits". Bits of the main theme melody also play in the background of "Under the Rotting Pizza", which is the theme of the Midgar Slums, and in "Who...Am I?" that plays during times Cloud Strife questions his identity.
The main theme melody plays late into the "The North Cave" track, that plays in the Whirlwind Maze of the Northern Crater and on the overworld after Meteor has been summoned. The main theme is also part of the ending when "The Planet's Crisis" plays; many themes appear in "The Planet's Crisis" as it plays during the final cutscene of the game. The main theme is played twice: first at 1:13, (alongside "Tifa's Theme"), then at 5:00, with a quiet piano while the characters talk.
In Nibelheim, the melody of the theme can be played on the piano in Tifa Lockhart's house. By doing this during the flashback sequence on disc 1, and again during disc 2 or 3 when Tifa is in the party, the player can obtain her ultimate Limit Break.
"Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" is track 1 of disc 2 on the Final Fantasy VII: Original Soundtrack, and track 24 on the Final Fantasy VII Original Soundtrack Revival Disc. "Dear to the Heart" is track 23 of the soundtrack's disc 1; "On That Day, Five Years Ago...", is track 4 of the soundtrack's disc 2; "Steal the Tiny Bronco!" is track 8 of disc 3 of the soundtrack; "The Highwind Takes to the Skies" is track 3 of disc 4 of the soundtrack; "Under the Rotting Pizza" is track 14 of disc 1; "Who...Am I?" is track 23 of disc 3; "The North Cave" is track 21 of disc 3; and "The Planet's Crisis" is track 17 of disc 4 of the soundtrack; with "Ending Credits" as the final track.
==== Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children ====
Two original arrangements of "Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" by Kazuhiko Toyama appear in Advent Children Complete: "Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII (ACC Orchestra Version)", and "Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII (ACC Piano Version)".
The themes were released in the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete Reunion Tracks as, respectively, the third and ninth tracks.
==== Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- ====
An orchestral version of "Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" is included in the ending theme, "Living Legacy", by Kazuhiko Toyama. It is the very first theme of the medley.
==== Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis ====
"Main Theme of FFVII - FFVII EVER CRISIS -" is an arrangement made for the game, revealed first on the official social media accounts.https://twitter.com/FFVII_EC_EN/status/1689818920742510592https://twitter.com/FFVII_EC_JP/status/1689818923657764864
=== Final Fantasy VII Remake ===
"Main Theme of FFVII - Sector 7 Undercity" and "Main Theme of FFVII - Nightfall in the Undercity" play as the field themes in the Sector 7 Slums during the day and nighttime, respectively. Both of them were arranged by Shotaro Shima. "Main Theme of FFVII - Sector 7 Undercity" is track 20 of disc 1 and "Main Theme of FFVII - Nightfall in the Undercity" is track 20 of disc 2 on the Final Fantasy VII Remake Original Soundtrack.
An orchestrated version of the theme, known as "Ending - Out of Destiny's Reach", plays during a portion of the game's ending sequence. It is track 21 of disc 4 on the Final Fantasy VII Remake Original Soundtrack Plus. Another version plays during the game's closing credits, following "Hollow" and an orchestrated version of "Aerith's Theme". It is again briefly reprised at the end of the credits. A jazzy version of the "Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" can be purchased from a vending machine in the Underground Test Site in Sector 7, for playing on any of the game's jukeboxes.
The theme plays in the Sector 7 undercity as the location was intended to serve as a central hub and to feel like home. Though Final Fantasy VII Remake takes place solely in Midgar, the developers did not want to limit its soundtrack to themes originally only heard within the city.
The theme's motif is incorporated in "Hell House", which plays when fighting the Hell House, "Home Away from Home", which plays in Aerith's childhood cell, "Aerith's Theme - The Cetra", which plays when she discusses her ancestry, and "Escape From the Shinra Building", which plays as Cloud rides his Hardy-Daytona into the lobby of the Shinra Building.
"On That Day, Five Years Ago..." is arranged in "Those Chosen by the Planet", which plays during the first encounter with Sephiroth, and "Just Another Job", which plays when Jessie Rasberry asks Cloud to accompany them to Upper Sector 7.
"A Tower, a Promise", which plays during the flashback of Tifa's promise in Nibelheim, and "Bitter Memory", which plays during Cloud's flashback of living with his mother, are arrangements of "Dear to the Heart".
An arrangement of "Who Am I" plays during Cloud's visions just before falling into the Sector 5 slums church.
"Under the Rotting Pizza" and "Under the Rotting Pizza - Battle Edit" play in the backstreets of Sector 5. Another arrangement is also available as a jukebox track.
===Final Fantasy VII Rebirth===
The theme appears again in various arrangements.
"Toward Mt. Nibel" is an arrangement by Shotaro Shima that plays when beginning the journey to Mt. Nibel in chapter 1 "Fall of a Hero". It is track 5 of disc 1 on the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Original Soundtrack.
"The Grasslands - A New Journey Begins" is an arrangement by Shima that plays as the field theme at the Grasslands Area in chapter 2 "A New Journey Begins". In the same region, "Main Theme of FFVII - Battle Edit" is an arrangement by Shima that plays as the battle theme. Both are tracks 12 and 13 respectively of disc 1 on the original soundtrack.
===Final Fantasy XV===
The original version from Final Fantasy VII and the arranged version from Dissidia Final Fantasy are included in the music player. It is the fifth track of the Memories of FFVII album that is available by default, and the 30th track of Memories of DISSIDIA FF album purchased from Old Lestallum for 500 gil.
=== Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008) ===
An arrangement of "Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" by Takeharu Ishimoto titled "Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII - Arrange (From FINAL FANTASY VII)" is featured, as the background theme of the stage boards of the Destiny Odyssey VII storyline.
"Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII - Arrange (From FINAL FANTASY VII)" is the first track of the Dissidia Final Fantasy Original Soundtrack second disc.
The "Main Theme" segment of the Final Fantasy VII ending theme is also included on "DISSIDIA - Ending (From DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY)", a medley of the ending themes from Final Fantasy to Final Fantasy X, including the theme of Dissidia.
==== Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy ====
As with all themes from Dissidia, "Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII - Arrange (From FINAL FANTASY VII)" returns as Cloud's world map theme.
The "Main Theme" segment of the Final Fantasy VII 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 ending themes of Dissidia 012 and Dissidia.
====Dissidia Final Fantasy NT====
The original PlayStation version is available via a Theatrhythm Final Fantasy event.
=== Theatrhythm Final Fantasy ===
The "Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" was selected as the theme for the Final Fantasy VII Series play's respective Field Music Sequence. The theme appears on Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Compilation Album.
==== Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call ====
The "Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" returns as a Field Music Sequence. An arrangement also plays on the overworld map during Quest Medleys. It also appears on the Best of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call album.
====Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival====
The "Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" appears again as a playable Field Music Sequence. It is available to the player by default.
Difficulty	Difficulty	Difficulty	Difficulty	Difficulty
Beginner 	Basic 	Expert 	Ultimate 	Transcendent
N/A 	2 	4 	6 	N/A
====Theatrhythm Final Bar Line====
== Arrangement album appearances ==
=== Final Fantasy VII: Reunion Tracks ===
An orchestral arrangement by Shirō Hamaguchi is featured on this best-of album of Final Fantasy VII, conducted by Hiroshi Kumagai and recorded at Sound City. It is the seventeenth track of the album.
=== The Best of Final Fantasy 1994 - 1999: A Musical Tribute ===
The Best of Final Fantasy 1994 - 1999: A Musical Tribute is an album that features a selection of tracks from Final Fantasy VI to Final Fantasy VIII, arranged and remixed by Sherman F. Heinig and performed by the Hollywood Symphony Orchestra.
"Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" is one of the four selected tracks from Final Fantasy VII that were included on this album, and is the fifth track of the album.
=== Piano Collections: Final Fantasy VII ===
A piano arrangement of this theme by Shirō Hamaguchi and performed by Seiji Honda is included in this album as its second track.
=== Distant Worlds II: more music from Final Fantasy ===
The Reunion Tracks orchestral arrangement was conducted by Arnie Roth and performed by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra in the sequel to Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy. It was the tenth song of the line-up.
The recording is also included as track 2 on the Distant Worlds and A New World Collections: music from Final Fantasy VII.
=== Cafe SQ ===
"Cafe SQ: FINAL FANTASY VII "F.F.VII Main Theme"/ The Reign Of Kindo" is a track on this arrangement album with music arranged to sound like music that would play in a cafe.
=== Final Fantasy Orchestral Album ===
The main theme of Final Fantasy VII appears on this Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary arrangement album.
===BRA★BRA Final Fantasy VII Brass de Bravo===
"Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" was arranged by Yohei Kobayashi and supervised by Hidenori Iwasaki and recorded for the album, conducted by Hirofumi Kurita and performed by the Siena Wind Orchestra. It is track 4 on the album.
The same recording was also released later on the BRA★BRA Final Fantasy Battle & Field album.
===Square Enix Jazz -Final Fantasy VII-===
"Main Theme of FINAL FANTASY VII Jazz Arrangement" is an arrangement by Eijiro Nakagawa. It was performed by Ken Higeshiro (drums), Ryu Kawamura (electric bass), Takana Miyamoto (piano), Naoto Suzuki (electric guitar), Nakagawa (trombone), and Ryoji Ihara (tenor sax). It is track 12 on the album.
===Final Fantasy VII Remake Orchestral Arrangement Album===
An orchestral arrangement of "Main Theme of FFVII" by Sachiko Miyano appears as track 10 on the album. It was conducted by Arnie Roth and performed by Shinra Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
===Final Fantasy VII Remake: Acoustic Arrangements===
"Sector 7 Undercity Medley" is an arrangement medley of "Tifa's Theme - Seventh Heaven" and "Main Theme of FFVII - Sector 7 Undercity" by Yuya Mori that appears as track 2 on the album. It was performed by Atsuki Yoshida (viola, clarinet), Ren Tsukagoshi (acoustic guitar), and Misaki Hatori (flute).
===Final Fantasy VII -Chiptune Arrangement Tracks-===
An arrangement of "Main Theme of FINAL FANTASY VII" by Hirofumi Sasaki is track 3 on the album.
===Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Orchestral Arrangement Album===
An orchestral arrangement of "Main Theme of FFVII - Battle Edit" by Shotaro Shima appears as track 3 on the album. It was conducted by Hirofumi Kurita and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
== Live performances ==
=== Tour de Japon: Music from Final Fantasy ===
The Reunion Tracks orchestral arrangement was included in this series of live concerts and was the eight song of the line-up.
===Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy The Journey of 100===
The orchestra arrangement of "Main Theme of Final Fnatasy VII" by Shiro Hamaguchi was conducted by Arnie Roth and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. The recording was released as track 5 on the album.
===BRA★BRA Final Fantasy VII Brass de Bravo with Siena Wind Orchestra===
"Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" was performed during the concert tour in 2018, conducted by Hirofumi Kurita and performed by the Siena Wind Orchestra. The live recording from the 2018.5.12 Tokyo Bunka Kaikan performance was released on the concert Blu-ray.
===Square Enix Jazz -Final Fantasy VII- at Billboard Live TOKYO===
"LIVE: Main Theme of FINAL FANTASY VII Jazz Arrangement" was performed live at Billboard Live Tokyo in February 2020 and recorded as track 4 of disc 1 on the album.
== Compilation album appearances ==
=== Final Fantasy S Generation: Official Best Collection ===
The orchestral version of "Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" from Final Fantasy VII: Reunion Tracks was included on this compilation as its third track.
=== Final Fantasy VII Vinyl Limited Edition ===
"Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" is included on the second disc of this collectors' edition.
===Final Fantasy Heroes===
"FINAL FANTASY VII : Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" is track 13 on the album.
===Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary Tracks 1987-2017===
"Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" is track 60 of disc 1 on the album celebrating Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary.
===Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Vinyl===
Both the original and Remake versions of this theme are included.
===Heroes and Villains===
"Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" is track 4 on side A of the Heroes and Villains Second album.
===Final Fantasy VII Compilation Vinyl===
"Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" is track 4 on side A on the album celebrating the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy VII.
===Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Vinyl===
"Main Theme of FFVII - Battle Edit" from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is track 5 on Aerith Side of the album.
== Appearances outside the Final Fantasy series ==
=== Super Smash Bros. Ultimate ===
A rearrangement of "Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII" by composer Motoi Sakuraba appears as a music track.
==Citations==
Category:Field themes from Final Fantasy VII
Category:Field themes from Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008)
Category:Field themes from Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
Category:Field themes from Theatrhythm Final Fantasy
Category:Field themes from Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call