The first one sounds like Final Fantasy, and the second one sounds like boring hip-hop pop.

This is a horrible horrible decision on SE's part. Firstly they used the Japanese theme song IN THE ENGLISH TRAILERS!!!! so people who have been following the game have already heard it and liked it. But now it's not gonna be in our version of the game.

The other big problem is that the Japanese theme was WRITTEN FOR THE GAME!!! While the English one was pulled of a random album from a random untalented generic pop star and has nothing to to with the game at all. I can understand wanting to have a song in English for the English speaking people but they should have hired Utada or Bonnie Pink or someone to do the song who could sing the exact same song in English and Japanese and make it sound exactly the same. This however is a HORRIBLE idea and I can only hope that the backlash from this decision will cause them to not use the song and change it back for the US release of the game.

*facepalm*

Both songs are good. But what I care more about is that if they will pack the Japanese dub in the PS3 version at least. It probably won't happen though.

Well I, for one, prefer the Japanese version.

Well, I for one have to say that while the original vers-BABY,BABY,BABY,BABY,BABY!!!

The english one is boring. I refuse to listen to someone croon for a full minute about their morning hygiene routine.

I personally think both sound fine, but the original Japanese should've been used since, well...the damn theme was written for the game in the first place! While I usually hate stuck-up weaboos who believe that the English language will never match the quality of their beloved Japanese, I gotta say that using a song specifically written for the game makes a LOT more sense than some random pop song.

I mean, I understand the desire to use English in an English-localized game, but if that's the case, then at least try to make it authentic. Simple and Clean by Utada worked beautifully in the English dub of Kingdom Hearts. Lullaby for You was also perfectly rendered in English (and I would argue, even better than the Japanese) in The World Ends With You. God Knows in the English dub of Haruhi was surprisingly well done.

I guess what I'm annoyed by is that it's obvious that dubs and English VA's have come a long way since their ear-wrenchingly terrible roots in the 80's and 90's, so I find it annoying that despite the local voice talent we have, some STILL insist on resorting to choosing a more, "english appropriate" song to appeal to the masses, who in reality, would probably perfer the Japanese.

Square said in a few interviews that the US version won't have the Japanese dub but it's not official yet. I am hoping that the Asian version of the game will have English subtitles. I might be getting my hopes up for nothing but there is plenty of time to see if the Asian version has a english subtitle track in it since it is being released next month and the US version isn't until March.

I don't like either to be honest. Neither seems quite right for a Final Fantasy game. I think I'd prefer a translation of the Japanese version in this case. I dunno, maybe I'm just too used to hearing Leona's voice everywhere that it doesn't seem like anything special to me. I agree with Josh in that choosing a popular modern artist like Leona Lewis seems a bit odd for a fantasy game. However, I think the songs are similar enough to see why Square-Enix decided to go this route.

The Leona Lewis song was quite nice for the first minute until the main beat kicked in. But then I heard the Japanese one, and it's a similar type of song. As far as FF songs go, the Japanese song actually sounds kinda forgettable and slightly cheesier and schmaltzier than usual. It sounds like the type of anime ending you'd fast forward through.
Maybe they'll slightly change the Leona Lewis song to make it sound less poppy, but the vocals are nice and could stay the same. Either way, it's kinda better than an awkward sounding English translation of a Japanese song. The same thing could very well happen with Kingdom Hearts, as Utada is unlikely to return, and the next artist they use might not be one who sings in English(clearly).

Neither of them have a place in the game IMO, but the again none of us have played it. That being said, I like both songs pretty equally I can see why they picked them. They see to inspire the emotions are the same style of pop music. They are both cheesey to me(each for different reasons), the more I listen to them the more I don't like either song.

They sound about equal to me - Pop. I miss Nobuo Uematsu.

Leona Lewis' song sucks.

The Japanese one is way better but still the other one is acceptable.

ive seen the jap theme manny times on the net so im bias towards it and it helps i dont know what shes talking about.I dunno least that way i cant say if what she is singing has anything to do with the game but i doubt that would happen since it was made for the game.The english one however jez what does what you do in the bathroom have todo with the game?maybe if i stucked by i would have seen a connection but after 15 second s or less i stopped the vid.But what does it matter its not like the themesong is going to be in the game.To my recollection XII and X werent played in the game i think i heard them on the net.

BWARGHHH!
Not a fan.

Sayuri Suguarawa's Version.

Honestly, the japanese one sounds like some generic anime ED for a show like InuYasha. The english one is ehhh I don't know, some radio pop ballad.

i would gladly pay twice the price to import the Japanese version just to not have that bitch in my game

sadly i cannot read the menus or words so it would be a pointless effort.

it has honestly changed my opinion of the game now. i am a lot more weary to buy it just because of this

I've never felt the "theme" songs ever fit Final Fantasy games, and this is no different. Having said that, ugh, that English song. No thanks.

"Kiva

...I miss Nobuo Uematsu."

This.

WHAT?! did someone say 'SINGING' the theme tune! What the hell. One of the things that got me first interested in Japanese Music was Nobuo Uematsu's music. Because the music is famous within the FF series and connects to the game on an emotional level.

Now we (UK/EU)get this _(Insert choice word)_ Leona Lewis.
This ruins everything! Ok, well it ruins a very small part of it. But still, it's a bloomin' cheap gimmick.

Got to say i just listened to the Leona Lewis "song" and i feel that i have to say.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAArrrrrrrrghhhhh my ear drums are bleeding.

seriously though did they really think having some one like her do the song was a good idea. This may sound wierd but most people i know who listen to leona lewis has never even picked up a final fantasy game. what are they trying to accomplish with this crap????? what happened to appealing to the demographic???? i have read a lot about people boycotting the game because of the song, not something i will be doing as long as the mute button on my remote works.

*will not be doing

Are you guys listening to the same songs as me?
For Final Fantasy this song by leona is actually a really good choice, and will be interesting to see where in the game it will be used.

It's certinly better than that japanese song which is awfull.

What i don't understand , fair enough the japanese song was written for the game, but what do you care, you can't even understand it anyway, so what's the point in it.

But i agree with you guys if leona was gonna be the theme tune to FF then they should of get her to write a new song specificly for the game, it would of been allot better, and everyone allot happier i am sure.

To go as far as saying ppl are boycotting the game now that leona is singing on it is insane lol.

I guess i am posting a comment on the website japanator so i can understand that people would be sticking up for the proper jpn music and everything.

Didn't hate the song by Leona but it's definitely not as good as the jpop ballad. I think they should have just done what they do in KH games and just adopt an english version of the song.

Are you pll crazy?? i think that its about time FF moved on yes the song choice could have been better but that dnt void the point that FF's sound track needed "modernized" i also believe Leona has the perfect voice to pull off any FF theme i feel there is a truth to her singing and that is what FF needs some 1 that can put that little bit more emotion in to the game. changing the language of the song is like udating the graphics or change to the battle system that this FF has. i also love the fact that Leona is English and not American which in my mind all games seem to be these days. can you think of a game ( in English ) that isn't narrated by an American or isn't based on America?? i look forward to this installment of FF more now than ever before

to be honest i think that leona lewis is too good for this game!
and the japanese song... i suppose does suit the game more... because they are both pieces of crap!