Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy with Seattle Symphony At Benaroya hall

I haven't drawn any fanart for so long. This is Squall Leonhart, a main character from Final Fantasy VIII. He was one of my favorites. I actually did quite a number of fanart of him, but you won't ever find 'em online, hahaha! *cough*

The reason I feel like drawing this now is because yesterday (July 10), I and @bicyclefish went to a symphony concert! It was my first time! Yeah I know it's a video game soundtracks symphony, but one has to start somewhere right? :D


I did dress up a bit since I didn't know what to expect. It turned out to be a bit weird as far as the attendance goes. There's no such thing as dress code. There were people in shorts and flip-flop, casual workday attire ( some didn't even shower after work...*), party dresses, formal, up to full-blown gown, steampunk (!), and, of course, FF cosplay (@bicyclefish predicted this). We arrived a little bit before the concert started, and was crestfallen when I read the program. There was no One Winged Angel listed in the program. (cue sad face)

Nobuo Uematsu was there too! He came onto the stage to greet the audiences before the concert started, then he seated among the audience (not even the front row but about 10 rows back) the entire time, 200 meters away from me.



The concert opened with Liberi Fatali, the opening theme to FF8 and my favorite. Then it proceeded as in the program. I was enjoying it, but in the back of my mind, I was silently wishing for One Winged Angel.

For once, what I wished came true! They played One Winged Angel as an 'encore', with Nobuo Uematsu among the choir XD. It was of course an unlisted program, but it made everyone happy, they knew how to get reaction from fan(boy)s, a little teasing doesn't hurt I guess :D

(Friend's note: She squealed. Really she did. Others did too, but I think she was one of the loudest.)

We left happy, because I got my One Winged Angel. People behind me were saying that they knew they would have to play One Winged Angel. A FF concert without it would be just plain wrong, not to mention leaving the poor choir hanging XD

The real star of the night, imo, is Chocobo. I still have its theme in my head.



*yep, we happened to sit next to one.