To those who haven't even touched a console in more than a decade, video game music might still be all bleeps, squeaks and monophonic adaptations of Russian folk songs. But it's fair to say that the music has come on significantly since those days, so much so that this weekend there is an entire concert dedicated to gaming soundtracks. Video Games Live, which uses a live orchestra to perform soundtracks to popular games and incorporates several interactive elements with the audience, began life in Los Angeles in 2005. But the event is making a debut in this country on Friday, featuring the UAE Symphony Orchestra as part of the line-up. Although the crowd will have to wait to hear which songs will be played, Tommy Tallarico - the man behind the event, who has composed the music for more than 250 games - drops a few hints by revealing his all-time favourites."
Final Fantasy 8
"I'd say probably my favourite game score of all time, as a body of work, is the music from Final Fantasy 8, and the composer is Nobuo Uematsu. From the first song, called Liberi Fatali, to the songs with slower strings, it's a complete body of work. It's unbelievable. To me, as a composer, that would be my standout favourite."
Mario Bros
"You also have to put on that list the most iconic game music of all time, which is Mario. You're talking about a piece of music that 100 years from now people are still going to know and recognise. As crazy as it sounds, it's right up there with the theme song from Star Wars or Happy Birthday. There's nobody who can hear that piece of music and not stop tapping. Everybody knows it. Ninety per cent of the world probably knows that song. It's one of the most recognisable songs in the world. So you've got to give props to Mario and Koji Kondo the composer, who also made the music for Zelda. As a composer, what you really want to do is create that motif, that hook. Once you have those four or five magical notes, you can really do anything with it, you can make it sound scary or happy or sad, you're being chased, it's gone double speed because you got the star. The melody is what everyone remembers the most, that is the most important moment."
World of Warcraft
"I personally love the music from Blizzard, for their World of Warcraft games. The way they do the percussion and the choir, it really draws you into the experience in such an incredible way."
Red Dead Redemption
"From an interactive standpoint, the music in this is unbelievable. They use so many authentic instruments and the interactivity is amazing - when people start to chase you the bassline gets going. It's so western. I don't know of a score that drew me into an experience so much on an interactive and emotional level. It's one of the best interactive scores of all time."
Chrono Cross / Chrono Trigger
"I love performing the music to these games from Square Enix. The composer is Yasunori Mitsuda. That's a game that has a lot of emotion. It's one of the crowds' favourites, in fact. When we play that, they go nuts, and I get to play the acoustic guitar, so it's a fun one to play. We always wait towards the end to play, so it comes as a surprise. We might surprise the folks here. We've got to see if it's popular here or not."
Video Games Live is being held this Friday at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Doors open from 1pm with various gaming activities taking place. The main show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets from Dh185
aritman@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
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The years Ramadan fell in May
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Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 1050Nm
Range: 450km
Price: Dh601,800
On sale: now
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The five pillars of Islam
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
THE SPECS
Touareg Highline
Engine: 3.0-litre, V6
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 340hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh239,312
Henrik Stenson's finishes at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship:
2006 - 2
2007 - 8
2008 - 2
2009 - MC
2010 - 21
2011 - 42
2012 - MC
2013 - 23
2014 - MC
2015 - MC
2016 - 3
2017 - 8
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
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