{"id":4108,"date":"2022-02-07T22:00:48","date_gmt":"2022-02-07T13:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/?p=4108"},"modified":"2022-02-09T11:46:20","modified_gmt":"2022-02-09T02:46:20","slug":"breaking-down-endlwalkers-best-song","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/2022\/02\/07\/breaking-down-endlwalkers-best-song\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking Down Endlwalker\u2019s Best Song"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cClose in the Distance,\u201d the background song for Ultima Thule, the game\u2019s final area, is an amazing power ballad\u2014not to mention a fantastic piece of musical storytelling. And as such, there\u2019s a ton to break down. So, let\u2019s get to it!<\/p>\n<p><strong>*Note: This article is nothing but spoilers for <em>Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When you first enter the area, the song is nothing but a tinny-sounding cord progression\u2014as if you\u2019re listening to it on an old radio, half out of range. As you continue through the zone and your party members sacrifice themselves one after the other to bring hope to this land of despair (allowing you to progress on your mission to stop Meteion), the song becomes clearer. Eventually, when it\u2019s just you, Alisaie, and Alphinaud (mirroring the opening moments of <em>A Realm Reborn<\/em>), the vocals join the music\u2014setting the stage for your final walk to the end of the game.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Masayoshi Soken - Close in the Distance (FFXIV Ultima Thule Variations Fan Mix)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7V1Mr7SpHew?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s great about \u201cClose in the Distance\u201d is how its lyrics are directly related to the plot of not only <em>Endwalker<\/em> but all that has come before. Let\u2019s dive into it.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Whispers, falling silently, drift on the wind<br \/>\nBut I hear you<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>With your companions now transformed into non-corporeal beings, giving their all to form a path for you to continue, they are little more than whispers on the wind. However, you are not truly alone. The singer of the song is still with you.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4112\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/XIV2.jpg?resize=960%2C540\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/XIV2.jpg?w=960&amp;ssl=1 960w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/XIV2.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/XIV2.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Our journey, now a memory fading from sight<br \/>\nBut I see you<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Even though the vocals we hear are male, the singer\u2014i.e., the viewpoint character in the song\u2019s narrative\u2014is actually the remnant of Hydaelyn existing within Azem\u2019s Crystal. With her, Emet-Selch, Hermes, and Hythlodaeus now all dead, the adventure you had in Elpis is remembered only by you. But even still, the small fraction of Hydaelyn that remains is watching over you.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Unbroken, promises we made so long ago<br \/>\nYou&#8217;re still here<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Back in Elpis, all those millennia ago, you and Hydaelyn (then Venat) promised each other that you would believe in the potential of mankind, fight to the end, and silence the song of oblivion together. With her building the path to Ultima Thule and you walking it to confront Meteion, you both have kept your word.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-4109\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/maxresdefault-23.jpg?resize=1024%2C576\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/maxresdefault-23.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/maxresdefault-23.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/maxresdefault-23.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/maxresdefault-23.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Unspoken requiem for the river of tears<br \/>\nFlowing, winding, to an eternal sea<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>So much pain, suffering, and death has been caused by Hydaelyn\u2019s attempt to save the world through the sundering. The lifestream is very much a \u201criver of tears\u201d thanks to her and it flows into the Aetherial Sea where all souls are cleansed of their memories and then reincarnated.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>And yet our hope remains<br \/>\nGuiding, lighting the way<br \/>\nNo time for (mourning)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>But now is not the time for sadness. You, the Warrior of Light, still remain to carry on the fight. You have inspired countless people, and, thanks to them, you now stand on the Meteion\u2019s doorstep, ready to battle for the fate of the world.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>(Morning) Rises on a land reborn from the ashes<br \/>\nWith the heavens&#8217; true sunset<br \/>\nBlood-red skies tranquil after the storm<br \/>\nBlessed shadow<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-4111\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Etg8y49VcAATK2A.jpg?resize=1024%2C290\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Etg8y49VcAATK2A.jpg?resize=1024%2C290&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Etg8y49VcAATK2A.jpg?resize=300%2C85&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Etg8y49VcAATK2A.jpg?resize=768%2C218&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Etg8y49VcAATK2A.jpg?resize=1536%2C435&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Etg8y49VcAATK2A.jpg?resize=2048%2C580&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This stanza recounts your journey so far: \u201cA land reborn\u201d is a reference to <em>A Realm Reborn<\/em>, \u201cthe heavens&#8217; true sunset\u201d to <em>Heavensward<\/em>, \u201cblood-red skies tranquil after the storm\u201d to <em>Stormblood<\/em>, and \u201cblessed shadow\u201d to<em> Shadowbringers<\/em>.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Turning, wending, always night follows day<br \/>\nThe sun will shine again<br \/>\nWalk on, never look back<br \/>\nThrough you, we live<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Hydaelyn wants you to know that no matter how bad things get, they can always get better as long as you keep trying. The path won\u2019t be easy\u2014there will be pain and suffering and many won\u2019t make it to the end\u2014but you can\u2019t let that stop you. As long as you vanquish the Endsinger, all their sacrifices will have meaning\u2014and all those who survive the Final Days will have a second chance at life.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Tales of loss and fire and faith<br \/>\nEvery word on our hearts engraved<br \/>\nIn the dark you will not stray<br \/>\nForge ahead, till the end, we pray<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>You and Hydaelyn both remember your adventures\u2014all the highs and lows so far. They have forged you into a person that will not falter in the face of despair. Even though she is effectively out of the fight aside from the fragment of her power that resides in Azem\u2019s Crystal, she has faith that you will walk on to the end and save the world she gave everything and more to protect.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4110\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/XIV.jpg?resize=960%2C540\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/XIV.jpg?w=960&amp;ssl=1 960w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/XIV.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/XIV.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"more-link-wrapper\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/2022\/02\/07\/breaking-down-endlwalkers-best-song\/\">Click to Read<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Breaking Down Endlwalker\u2019s Best Song<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4124,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[153],"class_list":["post-4108","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-final-fantasy-xiv","excerpt","zoom","full-without-featured","even","excerpt-0"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ffxiv_02012022_183950_211.jpg?fit=960%2C540&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4108","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4108"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4108\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4113,"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4108\/revisions\/4113"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4124"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4108"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4108"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}