Yeah, I still can't believe that this epic piece is composed by someone who NEVER was educated in music and was just "messing around" with it. Nobuo Uematsu is a natural at his profession and my inspiration 😊

Mozart been real quiet since this dropped

Kefka, the Nihilist Who Laughs & The False-Deity of Magic Who Falls Dancing Mad! Happy 30th Anniversary, Final Fantasy VI

Even now, I consider this the best version of Dancing Mad that I've ever heard.

Included the laugh. Literally the greatest piece of music in existence.

You know, Kefka at doesn't come off as being a multidimensional villain...but if you really think about it: This was a man who was a jester at first, which until other events set in motion, meant his whole life was basically spent making empty and meaningless attempts at giving his superiors quick laughs.. Life was almost entirely a joke for him. If the world was a joke for a Kefka, then the best punchline to that joke was to show everyone how meaningless it is. This song capture his nihilism, frustration, and insanity so perfectly I can't even stand it.

Kefka is proof that is not necessary to have a 20-page essay of tragic backstory to be a EXCELENT villian . A good characterization , charismatic personalty , have a constant participation through the story of the game, success in their ambitions , a well-established motivation (or philosophy ) and EPIC , AMAZING music as his themes really makes him a iconic villian that the player cant help to hate but love at the same time . Edit:Thx you people for the likes , it good to see that people still remeber this fantastic villian AND the game he is in: FFVI.

The soprano lady starting at 16:40 is the real MVP of this song.

jesus christ, the final tier really captures the insanity

person: do you listen to classical music? me, a fucking nerd:

Being a kid is thinking Sepheroth is the edgiest villain in the entire final fantasy series Growing up is realizing Kefka is one of the most monstrous villains ever portrayed in the video game format.

Kefka was another victim of the Empire, quite similar to Terra. Not only did he succeed in vengeance, he remade the entire world to his liking, ascending to godhood in the process. Its hard to think that he really lost the final fight. He was seriously crazy enough to let you win.

14:48 That random piano smacking tho. Shit just got chaotic.

0:00 - 1st Movement 4:31 - 2nd Movement 8:13 - 3rd Movement 11:27 - Final Movement

“Those who were seen dancing were thought to be mad by those who couldn’t hear the music.” _Friedrich Nietzsche

One winged angel gives you that feeling that you’re fighting a mighty final boss. Dancing mad feels like fighting a god.

Square Enix needs to hear this. This alone should make them want to remake FFVI.....

Christ, everything in Final Fantasy VI is so artistic. These forms of Kefka could be in an art gallery and Dancing Mad would fit right next to Beethoven and Bach.

It is said that using SNES for music was like using crayons, and the original composer used crayons to paint the Sistine Chapel. This remaster is what happens when you take out the paintbrushes.

Before there was a One Winged Angel, someone was Dancing Mad.

Every time I come back to listen to this, I ask myself the question "How the fuck does this exist? It's too good. Too damn good". And every time I am shocked by the quality, attention to detail and practically flawless capturing of the best final boss theme of all time. This is by far the king of KZfaq remasters.

This is definitely the best one I've heard.

This is Uematsu in his absolute prime, full of confidence, brimming with creativity, and totally unhindered and unchained. Dancing Mad and the entire FF6 soundtrack is a timeless masterpiece that will resonate forever in my mind.

If they remake FF6 someday, the final battle needs to sound like this.

This is not just a "arrangement", this is a masterpiece sent by god himself.

That final movement is truly god tier.

The Horror vibe near the end as the Piano playing distorts and all the different pieces begin to melt together is just...sweet jesus...perfection

This cover is 6 years old already? It still holds up, and this arrangement by itself should make Square wanna remake FFVI!

Life... dreams... hope... Where do they come from? And where do they go...? Such meaningless things... I'll destroy them all! -Kefka

Finally, a Remake that doesn't fuck up the final part.

Dude I've never even played this game but this song is incredible. 18 minutes of insanity

When you are first introduced to Final Fantasy, you discover One Winged Angel. When you explore Final Fantasy, you discover Dancing Mad.

0:00 Heed the first movement, remember the destruction of the world. Now, behold the destruction of life, dreams, hope; it is the fate of all things. 4:31 Heed the second movement, and stand in awe. Now, behold your former vain attempts at stopping the inevitable. 8:13 Heed the third movement, this is the power you oppose. Now, behold your savior and god; there is no salvation, prayers fall on deaf ears. 11:27 Heed the fourth movement, the skies are tearing apart. Now, behold the wild dance of a charming star.

While everyone obviously loves the final movement (Kefka himself), I've always had a spot for the third movement. I can't explain why, but I just love it. And I particularly love what Evergreen did with it.

0:00 = Hatred (Hell) 4:30 = Confusion (Purgatory) 8:13 = Lunacy (Heaven) 11:29 = Dancing Mad (God) 12:06 = Madness 13:33 = Prayer 14:40 = Insanity 16:07 = Liberation

14:47 caught me off guard really badly. just shows his madness can still scare anyone at any moment.

Most epic standoff in FF history to me. A psychopathic god self-made by his own greed and lust for power. You fight him in the heavens. So many biblical themes and references to end times here.

Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso, the Primal Sphere

I think it’s unfair to compare Dancing Mad and One winged Angel. They are both good on their own right and they each have their own purposes. Let me explain, you see in my view One winged angel was made to be “iconic.” As soon as you hear the beginning, you already know who is coming. On the other hand, Dancing Mad was created to give a story in the form of music which makes it a wonderful piece of work. It would be like comparing a hammer to an axe. Both are tools but they both have their own uses. So instead of fighing which is better why not appreciate both?

These themes and bosses are arranged to give the feeling that you are climbing the stairway from hell to heaven, only to find a mad god at the top instead of salvation.

It is said that the final boss for FF6 is supposed to represent the Divine Comedy, and Dante's(The Hero's) journey thru Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. When Dante (the hero's) reach God(Kefka), it is there that God (Kefka)bestows unto Dante(The Hero's) the secret of life. In this case Kefka tells them "Oblivion" :D

I love how the loops on parts get more insane. The first loop in a section is the basic symphonic remaster, then the second loop is the part that has emphasis driven deep in the skin of that section. Making it a remaster of a remaster. Amazing.

After listening to this version, none of the other versions of this theme hit the same. They all lack the impact that makes this one so good.

A chaotic being, with illusions of grandeur and a tap of infinite power. The psychology behind Kefka is crazy. Reminds me of 616-Thanos and joker rolled into one.

I love how the movements in the song spell out exactly how you should be feeling with this boss. 0:00 - "This is it, our final battle and how absolutely epic it is." 4:31 - "And yet, no matter what you throw at him it barely seems to even phase him." 8:13 - "Because this isn't your game. It's his, this is simple entertainment for him. For even gods get bored." 11:27 - "And now he has grown tired of this game."

I could definently see this as the actual Final Boss theme if Square Enix decides to make a Final Fantasy VI remake.

There is a saying about villains that goes like this: there isn't a worse villain than the one who thinks he's truly doing something good by doing the wrong thing. And that is right. But when talking about Kefka, he's very different kind of villain. One that was truly monstrous, one that did know that he was doing wrong, but kept doing it just because he could and he liked to do it. When someone mentions evil in videogames, this character is the one that immediately comes to mind. One of the best villains on the whole franchise, and still, this is a very underrated game eclipsed by its "succesor"

14:39 I will never get tired of that godlike transition.

This is better than the Distant Worlds version, which was a freaking professionally organized symphony, and possibly, dare I say, better than the original.

Thank you for all of your comments. For requests I uploaded the song on bandcamp. Now you can download mp3 on here : evergreen2.bandcamp.com/track/final-fantasy-vi-dancing-mad-symphonic-arrange

This never ceases to impress. Especially love how around the 15 min mark, the piano sounds like it's just getting punched to the beat yet it still meshes with the melody.

The Theme song of 2020 Movement 1: Australia Hellscape Movement 2: The Arrival of Covid-19 Movement 3: Gender Reveal Hellfire Final Movement: Heaven Ascended Covid We are in the endgame Lads

Now this... this is a masterpiece. One-winged Angel has shone because of it's instrumentation and iconic chants, and I love it to death, but this is an artistic wonder. Nobuo Uematsu managed to create an incredible piece using the limited sounds of the SNES, so if he had the opportunity to create this piece realised in the orchestral glory it deserved then this song would shine even brighter than One-winged Angel has.

One thing I LOVE about this version the how in the finale as it starts to get further in, it almost sounds like the organist is just smashing the keys at random. Totally fits with the laughing and insanity going on in the background and it just works itself into the madness of the song itself.

I do not say this lightly: this is THE BEST cover of any video game piece I’ve ever heard. You took what was already a masterpiece and elevated it beyond what seemed possible, drawing out its essence and fleshing out what no doubt Uematsu himself intended to convey, but for the limits of the hardware of the time. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

It was october in 1994 and I heard this for the 1st time. I was 14yo and cried for 2 reasons. The masterpiece pincering my soul and I know the story was coming to an end. And I knew I never would feel the feeling this game brought to me again.

What I love about this arrangement that I've heard nowhere else, is that during each segment's repeated section has something added to it. I absolutely love the final movement's erratic and truly discordant sound the second time around. I am not exaggerating when I say that this is by far the single best remake of a video game song I've ever heard. It's easy to tell just how much love and detail was put into this masterful piece that captures the quality of Nobuo Uematsu's original version, while adding the exact number of new elements to wholly exceed such brilliance without diminishing or taking away from anything of the original. Something that few remakes of any theme I've heard are capable of.

HOW DOES THIS NOT HAVE MORE VIEWS?!?!?!

Im listening to this with my son, and im pointing out the calming parts of the song that lead into the madness. How intense the music is being played, the brilliance of the piano being, and the overall power that this song portrays, and im teaching how music can tell a story without a single word being spoken. I never appreciated this song as much as I do now, thanks to this version.

I can not sit still hearing this. My body temperature rises and I get agitated while this musics hijacks my mind through a journey through hell and heaven. A truly epic masterpiece. A composition to go kill gods with ...

11:27 really REALLY expresses the awesome divine cosmic powers and apocalyptic, omnicidal, howling, shrieking complete and utter, utter insanity of the God King Kefka.

that final tier transition... I came

The theme song of 2020

If this was done by a real orchestra Pianist: okay so what should I do 상록수: just go ahead and smack the piano

This... is absolutely perfect. I'm a *huge* FF6 fan, and I've heard maybe a hundred different versions or covers of Dancing Mad.. and NONE of them can even compare to how perfectly this version shows off Kefka's insanity..Holy fuck. You have truly created a masterpiece.

Sometimes evil defies comprehension. It looks like madness... if you grasp for reasons, you may come up short. Sometimes evil isn't to be fought, it's to be survived. Kefka confonts us with some horrifying concepts that many other "restart the universe with me as a god" narratives don't. Kefka shows how absurd human motivations and desires really are.

SO GOOD. Doesn't overdo it. Embellishes where appropriate. Satisfying af. Bravo.

13:32. Nothing more, nothing less. This piece will allow you to enter status that only a god could dream of. Apr 30th 2024

This is breathtakingly amazing! I'm a professional classical musician and have my fair deal of experience with this music on a theoretical and musical basis and am therefore astounded by what you did with Ueamatsu's gorgeous music. The way you so effortlessly and naturally incorporated that choir into Bach's fugue and prelude is amazing. It sounds like something dear Johann would have done himself if he had decided to turn this into one of his chorals. The melismatic coloratura - like passages make it seem so darn authentic. Your usage and reusage of certain motifs at different points in the piece just adds to the overall complexity. (Like the incorporation of the main motif of Kefka's theme at 8:44 and onwards) I absolutely adore what you did with the last part; that sequenced and slightly atonal piano melody just really adds to the whole theme of madness (as does the overwhelming amount of different sounds and layers.) It does sound "messy", but it sounds messy in the right way! There's propably just one thing that irks me a bit but that doesn't have to do anything with your musical decisions. It's those male voice staccati at 4:39 and on that sound slightly too "synthetic". Amazing job! I'm sure you have a background in music as you show a great understanding of harmony, rhythm and seem to have a good amount of musicianship. Are you doing something like this professionally? If not, you should definitely entertain the thought!

As someone who is a huge fan of symphonic rock, this is the most absurdly epic thing I've heard *ever*

Sephiroth is cool but Kefka WON. you arent saving the world by killing him, youre just avenging it. This madman beat you and rubbed it in your face ruining the world. Putting him down just helped a little. Kefka is hands down the best FF villain

It's 11:37 P.M., Dec. 31, 2020, this is the last music I am listening to this year. It's 10:46 P.M., Dec. 31, 2021, this is the last music I am listening to this year. It's 10:30 P.M., Dec. 31, 2022, this is the last music I am listening to this year. It's 10:24 P.M., Dec. 31, 2023, this is the last music I am listening to this year. Happy New Year folks! *Kefka laughing noises*

I feel that this is what it would have sounded like if Mr. Uematsu had had today's resources available while composing this. It captures everything about the piece perfectly. All of the additions made to the score are exactly right: the vocal trills, percussion changes, reverb, the sort of hectic "piano pounding" during the Kefka tier... Seriously, I'm blown away.

13:33 I've said it once, I'll say it again. Doesn't matter what version of Dancing Mad I listen to, one thing is always the same. You can guarantee this part will always sound amazing.

I've been listening to this for a few years now, but never commented (I don't think). This is better than the FF XIV version by _light years,_ all others I've heard (including both Black Mages _and_ Worlds), and dare I say it, the _original_ even. The only thing that could _possibly_ top this, is a live version of this arrange. It truly encompasses all aspects of Kefkas' character and the final battle. I tear up at least once during every listen. Absolutely *_~magnificent~_*

This is probably one of the perfectly named songs ever. It is not only beautiful, but the title fits so well.

Rarely does a remake surpass the original, let alone seldom come close with the original's quality and its foundation. You have, however, made an exception to this long standing fact with remakes and remastered an already near perfect final boss piece. Though still not yet perfect, nothing can ever be, you have surpassed the original's magnitude and made this song what it should be. Square Enix should hire you as the head composer or as a co-composer with the person who wrote the original as your mentor. You have talent. If you can rewrite this into a piece that honors this song as it deserves, you should be able to get a career as a musician. However, do not forget your origins if you choose to do so. Many composers do and their quality collapses into abyssal levels soon after their ego has overtaken them with hubris. Good luck with any future endeavors you so choose to take beyond this composition and future compositions.

This, my friend, was fucking amazing. I'm _extremely_ picky when it comes to arrangements of this song; this pretty much nailed it. The dissonant vocals and strings you added (1:33 and 12:06) give a nice "fingernails on the chalkboard" feel, like screeching fallen angels. The ominous atmospheric background vocals in the fourth movement (13:04), and especially the "sloppy" piano melody in the second playthrough of it (14:47) really drive home the madness and the "fuck everything" of Kefka. Especially the cackling, hooting laughter at (15:38) and ESPECIALLY chilling at (15:45). Added vocals to the third (8:19), as well, give a nice Baroque fugue feel and add to the religious overtones of Kefka's ascent. Transition to the fourth with the bells, heartbeat, thunder and lightning approach (11:23) is epic. Tremendous conclusion at the end, from (16:06), and especially the grand pauses starting from (17:06). Sorry for the long and admittedly bougie comment, but I can't say enough about how good this is. I enjoyed it more than the Distant Worlds version, and even the Black Mages version, which is tough to beat. Really, really nice work, my friend.

99.9% of role playing games have you saving the world. In FF6 you're avenging a dead world. Metal as f$@#

You know it's good when the music's got you hooked for 18 minutes straight

Your version is by far better than Distant Worlds. Amazing.

Holy craps the last part! The utter chaos is conveyed perfectly especially in the second half

This arrangement is AMAZING. You can practically hear Kefka tripping over himself as he gloats on organ in the final movement.

I never like, I never comment, but Christ on a dancing pogo stick this is the best version I've heard. Elevating.

This remix is so good it should be illegal. Thank all that is holy it isn't.

When I fight a boss in a game, for me I want the music to make me FEEL that fight, give me goosebumps during that fight. Dancing Mad (all tiers) does this for me, and is the only boss theme to ever do this. This is why IMHO it is the best boss theme in all of gaming, as well as FFVI having the best score out of any game, ever. Some may argue "Zelda this, other FF games that," and with valid reason. However, when I think of video game music, FFVI is the FIRST game to pop into my head. I love games, and have played them most of my life (as most folks here have as well I assume), so I'm not trying to bring hate upon other games. I just think that FFVI has the best music (total score and boss theme) in all of gaming history. It just...connects with my soul :)

There is something odd about kefka, he despises life, yet he had some sort of twisted love for terra. He is a nihilist yet in dissidia he constantly stay close to kuja, chases terra around and try to persuade her to join him. He says something in "why try to live if death awayts at the end, love, hope, [...] were do they come where do they go, I'll destroy it all". Maybe his "End of the world of pain" was a way to confort himself for what he suffered because of the experiments, and the lose of terra. Maybe he in the end just wanted terra to be his friend, as a twisted puppet of course, but he was alone and shut/denied himselft til the end.

11:50 That moment when you realize the chorus is chanting... KEFKA!!! KEFKA!!!!

Pardon my drunken Kings English but fuck me I love that slightly off-key piano in that final bit, that tiny little touch really just adds so much and tells a story of who exactly Kefka is without saying a word.

Yeah, so Twitter doesn't know jackshit about how great videogame music can be. This alone is a shining example~!!!

16:40 I felt every single goosebump on my skin and nearly cried.

_"Our pianist just called in sick..."_ _"WHAT?! Bu-but, the grand finale is coming up!!"_ _"We need to find a replacement, QUICK! We can't just... we must... ah-HA!!! _*_...THIS CAT!_*_ "_ 14:48 🎹🐈

15:45 Oh my lord, that snarky sarcasm fits right into this song. It even sounds like the singers are mocking you... brilliance! (Initially I thought they were mocking the player, but now that I think about it... They're actually mocking the song itself. Considering Kefka mocked the concept of a god while being one, his singers making fun of the very song they're singing matches him well!)

I didn't think I could have so much love for music from games I've never played, and yet I've spent the last 2 days listening to this and One Winged Angel.

This is just so nicely arranged. The adding of the choral vocals in the third and fourth mvts really give it realistic depth. And then the addition of the church bells at the end? A sort of literal death knell for Kefka. It's haunting and beautiful. With the wonderful recapitulation tag echoed at the end, doubled both on organ and choir is a fantastic rounding out of the whole piece; followed by a big fat plagal cadence with crescendo really giving it an epic conclusion. I like this VERY VERY MUCH. Well done!

This is the only remaster I accept

Phase 2 is easily the most unsettling, you made it sound like a truly maddening CARNIVAL OF ULTIMATE TERROR. Something about waltzes just signifies horrific, unfair death

Symbolism the boss fight.

I don’t care what anyone else says, I prefer this over the original.

Im listening to this as an non ff6 fan, but holy sh*t that was a roller coaster.