A theory
MIDGAR THE CITY OF MAKO (OST)
Chapter 9 vision/ Cloud shedding a tear
As I learned by the time passed ff7remake carries big spoilers through its tracks / songs / themes. Chapter 9 when Cloud shed a tear and that song played had been on my nerves cause i didn't understand it. *SPOILERS* I read opinions abt it mostly *SPOILERS *Aerith death but honestly those didn't fully satisfy me except for Silver-wield's which shed a light upon it.
SPOILERS ahead btw
So this is my opinion on it and I hope u enjoy it :
*Pls relate these terms to mentioned story parts*
*Dark theme: hopelessly/disappointment/misery/pain/u know u can't run away from the fate
*Soft melodies: hope/bright future/new beginning
This track is 04:26 long. It's a dark song with a seemingly dark theme at the beginning, up until 01:57. I break it in parts here
1. 00:00 >>> 01:05 ----> dark theme /horror
2. 01:05 >>>01:31 ---> then it beats up and goes heroic. I got a sense of not giving up /hope/and struggling but being defeated at the end, the sound of a blade and music falls down as well as an individual does |Zack's last stand |.
3. 01:31 >>> 01:57 ---> dark theme/ fearfulness/shock.
4. 01:57 >>> 02:25 ---> music gets soft with a few high-pitched notes (this piece was played while Cloud having a headache and seeing the vision). Soft melodies. | Cloud sees Tifa at train station |
5. 02:25 >>> 03:00 ---> while the soft rhythm remains in the background we get some creepy vibe and ppl singing sth that I didn't understand. Soft melodies being played low-pitche along with dark theme and high-pitched being played and eventually over comes dark theme and it disappears.| all Jenova stuff and the foundation of SOLDIER persona |
6. 03:00 >>>03:12 ----> it goes heroic/SOLDIER mood.
7. 03:12 >>> 03:58 ---> U HEARD THIS FUCKING SOUND? ITS A GODDAMN TRAIN RIDING ON and we all know that's not iconic at all( sarcasm btw).wasn't it played for the ff7remake opening too?. Then goes heroic/SOLDIER style/ rise of the SOLDIER Cloud. drums all kick in...we have a little bit of a dark theme yet again. Goes soft and then we hear the second train noise. | first train noise wanna make sure u know we r at train station the second indicates Mako reactor one bombing mission |
8. 03:58 >>> till the end ----> nothing special. Plays a bit longer and fades.
I believe every single track refers to sth and has an inspiration for its theme. Each one has a story to be told and worth listening.
Back to the vision. The more I think abt it the more clear it gets to me. I dont think its abt Aerith death but how he felt during his journey ( surviving journey I guess) to Midgar, how he lost everything (or thought he lost) he had including his faith in his Hero/idol who he used to praise and wishing to be like.How like a failure he felt. Devastated, useless to save ppl he loves and watch them die before his eyes.
REASONS:
They showed us the visions in which she was praying/ holy falling/ Cloud laying her down in the lake. Zack is a spoiler now. One of the four mysteries mentioned in Ff7remake Ultamania.
Aerith isn't associated with mako (lifestream yes. Water yes . Holy yes. Cherry blossoms yes. Flowers yes. Mako NO). On another hand Zack is and all SOLDIER, shinra, Jenova and reunion related things.
Aerith replied with Zack's line ( I want to spend more time with u in JP = I'm not sick of u yet in EN (Zack seems to be more hidden in EN version))
Aerith pulled out Zack's heroic pose
Aerith hummed THE PRICE OF FREEDOM (tnx to @Silver-wield) while walking away in Japanese version(hidden in EN version yet again ).
Cloud really didnt have the time to mourning on Zack's death . It was last weak according to in game calendars (tnx to @Silver-wield)
All chapter 8 was covered with a trace of Zack in every corner( tnx to @otp-oasis-heavenxearth ) so it triggered his PTSD.
Also why this track? Why not her theme? The city of mako Midgar just doesn't make sense for her. Zack lost his life on the way to Midgar. Escaping from being experimented on and mako poisoning to go to Midgar, the city of mako.
With all the efforts Devs put in bringing Zack back, present him as a mystery and tricking us by not showing the vision, its believable to me that what ever happened in that vision, whatever it was, it is related to Zack.
*also both Cloud and Zack have a similar heroic train scene I didnt included that cause i don't know CC in details so I didnt enter the territory. But that is relatable too imo*
https://youtu.be/JlYMpU8DSqU
I went to watch cc and look what I've found. Notes being played at the beginning are same as Notes which were played while Cloud had the vision.
This is actually getting interesting. I accidentally spotted on another moment too in the remake.
Same notes in lower keys start right at this moment.
Being extended.
And there is no denying in this. Sky symbolizes Zack. This frightening Sky and freedom and stuff all goes back to Zack and CC events.
Should probably rewatch and find another moments if there exists.....
















