Chrono Cross question

[Gamemusicfreak]

This topic came up in another forum and I thought I would share it to see what you all think. Someone representing a performer named Mari Boine thinks Yasunori Mitsuda used part of her music in the Chrono Cross opening and wants him to credit her/her band. The song in question is Mari Boine's song Gilvve Gollat (from her album "Lehakastin"), which debuted in 1994.

Here are some samples:

Mari Boine's original song: www.arvmusic.org/gilvve30sec.zip

Chrono Cross intro:
www.gamespot.com/users/thefjk...SBhwmSs5b8IvjQ

Mari Boine:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari_Boine (English)

I would really be interested to hear your opinions. I think it's possible the music inspired Mitsuda, but he has been accused of "cutting & pasting" here, which I think is wrong.

[SkyeWelse]

Well considering that Yasunori Mitsuda's work on the Chrono Cross opening was debuted on the opening trailier which was released sometime in 1998 I believe before the actual Japanese release in 1999, I suppose it is a possibility that he could have, but unlikely. For one thing, Mitsuda has had so much experience as one of the greatest video game composers of all time that he probably doesn't need any help coming up with ideas for his music... but then again there is pressure. After listening to it, you can vaguely make out some similar style in terms of the strings, but that's really it. The medodies are completely different pieces of music. I think it's a little much for Mari Boine to claim something so simple to do as an accompanment as copyrighted since there are so many that sound the same anything. One could argue that Mari Boine took it from something she heard before as well. My girlfriend of whom is a cellist and music performace major thinks it is also a little much to make such a claim without more solid proof of the same melody and it more likely doing all of this as a publicity stunt.

But if one were to claim copyright infringment or plagerism, one could argue that the Sephiroth theme of Uematsu is a total rip off of at least two classical pieces that I can't recall the name of at the moment. I've heard them before as my gf has played them for me before on cd and I'd have to suspect Uematsu pretty hard for the similarity of the pieces.

But the fact of the matter "without solid evidence" is that a great deal of video game and movie composers *cough* John Williams *cough* take their ideas and styles from other pieces of music. It's something that just happens and most likely has been happening for quite awhile.

I forgot where I saw it, here at these forums before perhaps? The clip of the R.E.M. music that sounds exactly like Megaman's Elecman stage? lol Sorry this just reminded me of that.

-SkyeWelse

[Gamemusicfreak]

Yes, Haydn was credited at the end of FF VII, I believe Haydn's "The Creation" was Uematsu's influence for One Winged Angel.
The Waltz piece in FF II (NES) has parts taken directly from Johann Strauss Jr.'s Emperor Waltz Op. 437 as well.

[Gamemusicfreak]

Could be, it has been so long since I've seen the FF VII credits.

[Falcom Director of Fanservice]

Wyrdy is 100% correct. One Winged Angel was cribbed from Carmina Buena, I believe.

And let's not forget old Yngwie.

[Gamemusicfreak]

Ok, I had previously thought only the lyrics came from there. I found a page with some nice detailed information:

www.midishrine.com/index.php?showlyr=6

About Chrono Cross, Mitsuda hasn't responded yet in the cocoebiz forums, if he does I'll put a link up.

[Falcom Director of Fanservice]

Does Mitsuda respond there often?

[Gamemusicfreak]

Not yet. He is a member, but hasn't made any posts, I was expecting a response from this topic though.

Noriyuki Iwadare has made several posts over there though, which is pretty cool.