#contiki

[fancypantsrecords]

Loren Allred & Nobuo Uematsu conTIKI - No Promises To Keep | Sony Records | 2024 | Pink Translucent

Theme song from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

[musicmags]

[rrogueamendiares]

girl help a uni project is making me want to kms again

[thatrandombystander]

I now have a full-time job so theoretically have the ability to save up for holidays... I haven't really travelled much and have been reminded that Contiki exists... maybe I'll take a short Contiki in New Zealand or just a domestic one in a part of Australia I haven't explored late next year 🤔

[kyndaris]

Celebrating Legacy

Music is an important element in most people's lives. They keep us entertained during long car rides, or can serve to denote important scenes as the orchestra sweeps in during an epic moment during a movie or a video game. Many can recall iconic soundtracks or albums that have defined moments in their lives. I know I have certainly appreciated many a composer from Hans Zimmer to Inon Zur, and even Jeremy Soule. But there is one composer who sits above the rest when it comes to iconic pieces in a long-running video game franchise. And that is none other than Nobuo Uematsu.

So, when I read on Facebook that he was coming to Sydney to do a show with his conTIKI band, I had to purchase tickets. And I harped on bleachpanda to get them as soon as possible.

The day of the event came: 8 September 2024. After a quick dinner nearby, bleachpanda and I headed for Sydney's State Theatre along with another one of my friends (although he was seated on the mezzanine level as he'd bought his ticket separately and wanted to be seated up close and personal). In, we went, and watched in amazement as all the seats were taken up by others.

Now that I think on it, this should not have surprised me. The show, only featuring on a single day, had long been sold out. I would know, of course, because after watching Hamilton right before my birthday, I'd informed Sorrengail Nobuo Uematsu would be coming to Sydney and she'd tried to see if tickets were still available - so she could pay obeisance to the man who wrote such iconic music that is even now celebrated in the Distant Worlds and A New World concerts that tour around the world (except Australia - please come back and play the Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth soundtrack for us!).

As 7:30 hit, the lights in the theatre dimmed and Nobuo Uematsu emerged on stage. He settled down at his keyboard, outfitted with a laptop, and he began to play. It felt almost intimate, sitting there, a face in the crowd. As if we had been drawn into his private garage or studio where he might compose his music.

In quick succession, he played through modulated versions of the Opening - Bombing Mission from Final Fantasy VII and Blue Fields from Final Fantasy VIII. After a quick introduction where he asked if members of the audience knew of his work, he wondered if we would like to listen to more iconic Final Fantasy music, this time from some of the older games.

Of course, being such a big fan of the Final Fantasy franchise who has enjoyed even the musical rhythm game spin-offs, the other modular pieces were still identifiable to me. The first one he played was from Final Fantasy III: Legend of the Eternal Wind. He then followed this up with the iconic Clash on the Big Bridge from Final Fantasy V. But, let's be honest, who could forget Gilgamesh's iconic theme and which has featured again and again in different games.

With those two pieces done, Uematsu introduced a talented voice actress to the stage. She was there to narrate three stories, as well as voice each of the characters. All of the stories were accompanied by a video shown on the big projector screen in the middle of the stage. And every time, Uematsu would pull out a piece of paper that said: Play the video, Rebekah!

It even became a bit of a running gag throughout the show. Especially when the video for the first story stuttered a little and there was some banter between Uematsu and the voice actress regarding the technical difficulties.

But the show must go on! And poor Rebekah managed to pull through.

The first story was a boy who was out fishing. He was chatting with, I had initially assumed it was a friend, a kappa. I don't recall much of the dialogue except they were talking about a girl in town who was a little down. It ended with the boy heading back home and telling his mother about the catch.

Shinigami-kun with its jazz background music was a cute story about an apprentice Shinigami who was persuaded not to take a girl's father with the promise of a big bag of chocolates. And the third story, The Rules of the Other Side, had a fast-talking mobster fish that was seeking compensation for wrongs made to the ocean.

Just like that, the first half ended. After a brief intermission, the show saw the rest of Nobuo Uematsu's band take to the stage. These included a guitarist, percussionist and also a singer. I don't remember their names too well but a video on YouTube indicates they might be: Yasushi Yokokawa, Chihiro Fujioka, Rie Tozuka and Xiao.

All I remember from the introductions was the singer saying she was an otaku who had managed to become the vocalist for a band run by Nobuo Uematsu.

With the pleasantries out of the way, the band played through Suteki Da Ne, Melodies of Life and No Promises to Keep. All songs from the Final Fantasy franchise.

And then, because Nobuo Uematsu isn't defined by just the music he has done for Final Fantasy, he and his band played through two original songs and then a combination song with story. They were: The Child Who Came From An Egg, Oni, and Doppelganger. Suffice it to say, the two songs, with their accompanying videos, were a little surreal and impressionistic with their imagery. Especially with the koala bear headed men dancing on the sidelines.

I even wondered aloud to bleachpanda if the songs had been written when they were all on shrooms. The visuals certainly were a bit strange and almost psychedelic in nature.

Not that I'm complaining. It just seemed a little out of left-field for me. Then again, I like things to make sense.

And with the closing notes of Doppelganger, the band bowed and left the stage. The crowd cheered, hoping for an encore. After several long minutes (presumably because the band was changing into the ConTIKI show t-shirts that were being sold for $50), Uematsu emerged once more on the stage. He played an excellent rendition of To Zanarkand from Final Fantasy X before the band returned to the stage to play one of my other favourite songs: Kiss Me Goodbye - although I did find it odd considering it was the ending for Final Fantasy XII, a game Nobuo Uematsu did NOT compose. Still, it was great piece to end the night as me, bleachpanda and my other friend scurried to the train station to return home after a late night out in the city.

Was the ConTIKI show what I was hoping for? Not exactly.

Then again, it never said it would be a proper Final Fantasy concert. In fact, given it was a smaller setting, I wasn't entirely sure WHAT Nobuo Uematsu would bring to the table. Sure, his personal songs were a little strange and wacky, but given how well renowned he is as a composer, I'm sure people can offer him some leeway to do whatever he likes in his own private affairs.

The Reddit thread regarding the event, though, had a few mixed reactions from people attending. More than likely, they were expecting something a little more grand than an old guy sitting at a keyboard remixing his old pieces, but it certainly could have been much worse.

Here's hoping, though, that we DO get another Distant Worlds concert back in Australia in the not too DISTANT future.

EDIT: There was ALSO another story about a stone deity! When writing up this blog, I had the impression of four stories being told but could only remember three. BUT no, there was four.

[nintendont2502]

I was getting excited abt planning a trip to america next year before I realised that involves. Planning

[emergingghost]

internet had me talking about snoopy irl and then my mum was like "i still have a gold snoopy necklace this random guy on a contiki gave me in the 80s, you can have it" so. i now own snoopy necklace we are so winning

[mysticdragon3md3]

"Wait, wait, wait!

Everybody calm down!

There seems to be some misunderstanding, but I'm not retiring from video game music work!

I'm going to cut back a bit on my video game music work because I want to have more time to make the music I want to make. It would be difficult for me to take on the entire soundtrack of a video game because the time commitment for composing would be too long, but I would like to continue to work on jobs such as one theme song.

So, we are waiting for your offer to Nobuo Uematsu con TIKI!

#conTIKi"

[monk-princess]

My friend is insane she crashed into a parked car while driving kids that she baby sat then drove away….. then the other day she factimed our other friend just to tell her that she’s been going on 6am walks with this other chick (who she invited into our group chat no warning not realising or remembering that i have had beef with this girl since um literally year 2.) then messaged her after saying oh i forgot to ask do you want to go for walks too? She’s going on a contiki tour with this bitch in november and she doesn’t even drink. She’s flying halfway across the world with this random blonde but wouldn’t even drive 10 hours up the coast with her ‘BESTIESSSSS!!!’ because she has homesickness from her family and sleeps in bed with her mother every night in bed and with her sisters too. They all have like … i don’t know what you call it…. relative anxiety like they all feed of off each others anxiety. I don’t even care like i’m not pressed or offended i am actually just astounded at how abysmally she acts in actually amazing how out of touch some people are and like i know im fucked up and stuff but that just makes me look up and thank god that i’m not like that

[artemisbarnowl]

In other news this one bubble tea chain is running a competition to win a contiki tour and like.....I'd definitely go if I won even though it's probably the second worst way one could have a free holiday but it is Not Working as an incentive for me to visit the store y'all.

Also I'm really close to not being eligible for the trip on account of my advanced age.

[adreamthatsworthkeeping]

Watching Poirot and it's like a posh version of a contiki tour. You stay in a hotel with strangers, you go on tours and outings with them, and have meals together.

[hiccupbutpurple]

I wanna go on one of those contiki tour type things so bad but having to constantly be around people is terrifying

There’s one through the Nordic countries and I wanna go purely because of httyd but I would annoy literally everyone with constant httyd talk lol

But like,,,,,new experiences :D

but also,,,,new experiences D:

[acespeon]

actually if the show has taught us anything, I doubt Bob would have actually liked it if Fischoeder had paid off their business loan in full rather than just for the month. he gave Warren back the money he invested in him in ProTiki ConTiki for example.

sure it would’ve meant less stress on the family but Bob likes accomplishing things on his own terms.

as someone that comes from a similar family structure (parents always struggling month to month, growing up on less money than other kids), it leads to guilt and overthinking. spending that much money in one go, even someone else’s, leads to uncomfortable feelings.

so even though Linda comments “he could’ve been more grateful” and Bob agrees with her, it would’ve eaten away at him inside until he would give most of the money back to Fischoeder with just enough to cover the loan payment

[thatrandombystander]

I now have a full-time job so theoretically have the ability to save up for holidays... I haven't really travelled much and have been reminded that Contiki exists... maybe I'll take a short Contiki in New Zealand or just a domestic one in a part of Australia I haven't explored late next year 🤔

[europeincoming-24]

Exploring Europe: Student Travel Packages for Memorable Adventures

Why Choose Student Travel Packages?

Student Travel Europe packages are curated to be budget-friendly, educational, and packed with experiences that cater to the interests and needs of students. These packages not only take care of logistics but also bring students together from around the world, making for a socially enriching experience.

Key Benefits:

Budget-Conscious Pricing: Discounts on transportation, accommodations, and activities.

Group Dynamics: Travel alongside other students, which can make the experience more enjoyable and less intimidating.

Educational Opportunities: Many student travel packages include guided tours that provide context and history, helping students learn while they travel.

Top Student Travel Europe Destinations

Each Student Europe Travel Package is designed with specific experiences in mind, from art and history to adventure and beach escapes. Here are some popular travel routes and cities included in many student travel options:

Paris, France: Home to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the heart of European fashion and culture.

Rome, Italy: Ancient history comes alive in Rome with sites like the Colosseum and Vatican City.

Barcelona, Spain: Perfect for art and beach lovers, offering vibrant nightlife and rich Catalonian culture.

Amsterdam, Netherlands: Known for its beautiful canals, museums, and a laid-back atmosphere ideal for students.

Berlin, Germany: Rich in history with plenty of sights like the Berlin Wall, making it a fascinating place for young travelers.

Types of Student Travel Packages

Different Student Europe Travel Packages cater to varied preferences and lengths of stay. Here are a few options commonly available:

Weekend Trips: Ideal for students on a tight schedule, these include two to three days exploring one city or region.

Multi-City Tours: Packages that cover multiple cities in one trip, typically 10-14 days, for a taste of several European cultures.

Educational Tours: These trips are designed to be more immersive, with activities that align with academic subjects like history, art, and environmental studies.

Adventure Packages: Great for thrill-seeking students, offering activities such as skiing in the Alps, hiking in Switzerland, or water sports in Croatia.

What to Expect in a Student Europe Travel Packages

Student travel packages make the logistics easy so students can focus on enjoying their trip. Here’s what’s often included:

Affordable Accommodation: Hostels, student hotels, or shared accommodations.

Transportation: Multi-city train or bus passes are commonly included for hassle-free travel across cities.

Guided Tours: Local guides provide context and insights, making sightseeing educational and enjoyable.

Group Activities: Organized events like city walking tours, museum visits, and optional day trips.

5. How to Choose the Right Package

To find the perfect Student Travel Europe package, consider factors like budget, trip duration, and your interests. Many travel companies like Contiki, EF Tours, and STA Travel offer specific Student Europe Travel Packages that cater to various preferences. Look for package reviews and check for any seasonal discounts that could make your trip even more affordable.

Conclusion

Exploring Europe as a student can be a life-changing experience. By choosing from one of the many Student Travel Packages available, you can immerse yourself in different cultures, meet new people, and enjoy a well-organized trip that takes care of all the details. Whether you’re interested in art, history, nature, or just want to experience the best of Europe on a budget, a Student Europe Travel Package can make it all possible. Start planning, and get ready for an unforgettable European adventure!