It’s a blessing. It’s a curse. It’s what you get for saying hello to people. At some point, a goodbye is coming, too. Not just to all the people you love and who love you back, but to the world as well.
Eugene O’Kelly, Chasing Daylight: How My Forthcoming Death Transformed My Life
It is the bittersweet yin to the priceless yang, the Luna to our Sol, and the twilight that precludes a beautiful sunrise: the farewell. It is a contract that both parties initially agree upon unbeknownst. Perpetually overlooked, the sweet parting of two companions is the eventual sacrifice of saying hello. Despite the pain and angst that follows and our desire to hold the sun in the sky for a moment longer, we ultimately do not wish for change. Instead, we recognize that kinship is forever locked in the depths of our memories.
The Zelda series is no stranger to the sentiments of touching farewells. The conclusion of Link’s journeys often coincides with the departure of his closest companions, and the final goodbye between Link and Fi is one of the most emotional scenes in the franchise. The musical accompaniment to this heartbreaking moment is equally melancholic and floods the player with mixed emotions.
While the melody that accompanies the final moments in Skyward Sword is emblematic of Fi and Link’s first encounter inside the Statue of the Goddess, the original theme takes a subordinate role to the dialogue between the two companions. During this final cutscene, Fi admits that she is unable to fully comprehend human emotions, such as happiness and sorrow, and much like Fi’s transactional personality, the piano from the original game exudes a slightly cold and emotionless tone.
However, Furyxx Violin’s rendition of Fi’s Farewell fills this iconic Zelda partner with personality and voice. In contrast to the original, Furyxx Violin selects the perfect instrument to add an individual perspective to this emotional climax: the violin.
Furyxx Violin’s piece is immediately recognizable for its passionate and sentimental tone. The melody opens with the violin playing in the same key as the original and the accompanying guitar stabilizing the depth of the song. As the music transitions into the first verse, Furyxx shifts the violin melody to a higher octave, which gives a deeply personalized voice to Fi’s emotion. It almost feels as though the Sword Spirit is brought to life and is crying out for one more moment with her Master.
No. She is not crying out for her Master. Furyxx’s violin gives Fi the voice to cry out for her companion, partner, and friend. In the fleeting moments of their final encounter, Fi longs to express her feelings towards the Hero of the Skies. As the melancholy rendition reaches the outro, a hint of open dissonance remains. This creative choice is also symbolic of final departures and is a perfect ending to the bittersweet theme: We always yearn for one more moment.
If you enjoyed Furyxx’s interpretation of Fi’s Farewell, be sure to check out his YouTube channel for more Zelda arrangements.
