"I know you may not believe me at the moment, but I am here to help - and I have no intentions on hurting you". He realises how hard that may be to believe given the three out cold men in the room that he'd just beaten half the life out of, but it wasn't as though he had the time to just stand around trying to explain things either. Man - ever since meeting that lot, it'd just been one thing after another, and here he was getting himself involved in something that had nothing to do with him.
"Can you walk? We need to get outta here before more idiots arrive...".
This isn't necessarily a pet peeve because I play into this characterisation as well, but it surprises me how parts of the fandom genuinely believe Genesis is the flamboyant theatre kid of the trio who can't go for two seconds without reciting his favourite poem.
Genesis' obsession with the Loveless text is purely academic as he spends years deciphering its secrets, especially the missing last chapter. His paper on the subject becomes a best-selling textbook when it was published after his "death". Everyone scoffs at Genesis reciting the text and pointing out the parallels of the characters' story arcs to their own, but he turns out to be right (he gets the character roles the wrong way round as Zack is the true hero of the story but he was correct that the story is repeating itself).
Fanon!Genesis shows great interest in the adapted stageplay (whether he's a diehard fanboy or snobbish nitpicking critic), but we never learn Canon!Genesis' opinion on the play changing the text or if he's even seen it.
His interest in agriculture rarely comes up in fanon despite growing up on an apple farm and winning an award for "National Agriculture Awards, Processed Foods Category" and plays a vital role in his characterisation.
I’ve always felt Hollow is about Cloud’s regrets after Aerith’s fate. But after finishing the Original Final Fantasy 7 game, I realized the lyrics outright quote and reference things Cloud says about Aerith in Disks 2 & 3.
So if I was convinced before, now I just can’t see the song being about anyone nor anything else.
I’ve been posting my thoughts about it on Twitter the last few days, but I figured it was worth putting everything together in one single post to illustrate just why I feel this way. I’ll divide the post in a few parts:
What we know about the song
Where we hear the song in Remake
The name of the song
The song lyrics and its ties to the OG (and to AC)
The imagery of the song
Could the song be about multiple people? nope
I’ll illustrate each point with images from the OG and occasionally Advent Children, so beware of spoilers for both! In contrast, there are only a few spoilers from Remake, including one cut-scene from the ending and a scene from Chapter 14.
What we know about the song
The song’s lyrics were written by Nojima and the music by Uematsu. In the Behind the Scenes, Uematsu explains that the song is sung from Cloud’s perspective and gives the vocalist clear instructions to make the vocals fit Cloud’s character.
This was further confirmed on a recent interview, where Uematsu said: “[...] the song is supposed to be about Cloud's inner feelings” (source).
Similarly, Nojima confirmed that one of the two keywords he received to write the lyrics was “told from Cloud’s point of view.”
Even more interesting, however, is the following:
I interpreted [Hollow] as "a ballad for a man who lost something important to him." — Nojima
In other words, Nojima wrote these lyrics thinking about Cloud having lost “something important” to him. In Japanese, the wording is 大切なもの, which means both “something important” or “someone important” depending on the context (comment from the translator).
Both have already been used from Cloud’s point of view, in regards to Aerith.
In the OG, it’s used when Cait Sith predicts that Cloud will lose Aerith. “What you pursue will be yours. But you will lose something dear." In Japanese, “something dear” is written with the exact same wording used by Nojima: 大切なもの
The same wording is also used in Cloud’s cameo in Final Fantasy Tactics, where he’s featured alongside Aerith.
As for “someone important”, Aerith has been described as Cloud’s 大切な人 "important/precious someone” more times than I can count. Like here, for example:
... [Sephirot] took away my important/precious someone.
So just from the wording alone, we can establish a link to Aerith. However, this is far from being the only way Hollow is connected to Aerith.
Where we hear the song in Remake
The very first time we hear the instrumental version of song in Remake is in Chapter 8, called “The Flower of Reunion” in Japanese and “Budding Bodyguard” in English. In other words, the first time it plays is on a Chapter entirely dedicated to Cloud and Aerith.
But even more telling is the very first moment we hear the song. It’s when Aerith briefly separates from Cloud in the Sector 5 Slums. It literally starts playing the instant Aerith leaves the party.
Then, it continues to play throughout the chapter as Cloud & Aerith reunite and do different quests together.
Fittingly, the second time we hear the instrumental version of Hollow is in Chapter 13, as Cloud & the party step into the places that Aerith first showed to Cloud — except that this time, Aerith isn’t with them because she’s been kidnapped by Shinra.
Meaning, Hollow’s instrumental version only plays in Sector 5. Aerith’s Sector.
The last time we hear the song is, of course, in the credits of the game. Where the full version of Hollow plays in full. But I think it’s interesting to think of the moment when the song starts to play.
First, we focus on Cloud & Aerith, standing on a barren place as rain starts to fall down on the party (this will be important later). It’s only after this very shot that the camera pans to the sky and Hollow starts playing.
So three out of three times we hear Hollow, the song can be connected to Aerith.
Which makes perfect sense IMO, because everything about the song itself is connected to Aerith.
Including its title.
The name of the song
While the song is sung in English, the original lyrics were written in Japanese. The original name of the song was actually 「 空っぽの雲 」 “Empty Cloud”, which then became「からっぽの空」aka “Empty Sky” or “Hollow Sky”. And in fact, the Instrumental version of the song that plays in Sector 5 — again, Aerith’s sector — keeps the Japanese name.
Of course, both “empty” and “hollow” carry the same meaning:
“Having a hole or empty space inside”.
You know what was meant to evoke this exact same feeling in the players? Aerith’s death.
The feelings aroused by Aerith’s death are “a great emptiness” and “If I had know this was coming, I’d have done things differently”.
These are the exact same feelings Cloud sings about in Hollow.
And what’s more, his pain after losing Aerith was recently referenced in the Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary Exhibition with the following quote:
Which takes me to:
The song lyrics & its ties to the OG and to AC
Since the song was originally written in Japanese, I will be using @gurekura’s literal translation as well as the official translation of the lyrics. You can see their original post on Twitter HERE.
I think that when you read the lyrics, it becomes very obvious that it’s written from the perspective of the original Cloud. The Cloud we see in the Original FF7 as well as in Advent Children, among others. So, of course, it’s no surprise that these lyrics perfectly match various scenes.
What’s telling though, is that just as we’ve seen until now, the lyrics are a perfect match for scenes focusing on Cloud and Aerith.
1.
2.
No matter whether you take these lines literally or figuratively, “healing” easily evokes images of Aerith. Who not only is a healer — we even see this in AC, where Aerith heals Cloud of Geostigma — but also reaches out to Cloud as he’s broken by pain and guilt in AC and helps him recover.
But while this is all fine and dandy, I can understand why people may think of different scenes while hearing these lyrics.
However, their link to Aerith becomes even more blatant as we go. In fact, from here on out, the lyrics basically quote Cloud’s words, feelings & thoughts in the OG as he faces Aerith’s death.
3.
Was it all a dream? Will I ever know?
Foolish and blind to everything
Had I realized, had I noticed it sooner,
Would you be here in my embrace?
Word. For. Word. These are literally Cloud’s feelings, pain and regrets after losing Aerith.
4.
Then we have the chorus, where the references to Aerith are also clear because she’s always been known for her bright personality, and for keeping a smile on her face even in the hardest of times.
Remember how Kitase said that “If I had know this was coming, I’d have done things differently” was one of the feelings he wanted to inspire with Aerith’s death?
That is exactly what Cloud is singing about in this chorus. But this will become more obvious when we get to the end of the song.
5.
This is honestly unequivocally about Aerith, who hid her pain and the weight of her mission behind smiles and comforting words to not pain Cloud and the others.
Hidden within your smile
There were secrets
But I was empty
I just demanded
This fits perfectly with how blinded Cloud was by his own pain after he lost her, and how this kept him from realizing the truth of her sacrifice.
6.
Then there’s the second chorus, where Cloud once again sings about all the things he would do differently if only he were given a second chance.
And what he wants to do most of all, is to be able to notice Aerith’s pain and the truth hidden behind it.
What’s more, while players may have missed it given the graphics of the OG, Remake itself shows that this is indeed how Aerith is. She is always hiding her pain and heavy truths behind a smile. The perfect example comes in Aerith’s Resolution Scene in Chapter 14, where Aerith tries to reassure Cloud that she doesn’t mind staying in the Shinra Tower.
She does her best to keep a bright smile and a happy front. But if you look closely enough, you can see the sadness in her eyes, a clear reflection of her true feelings.
7.
Lastly, we have Cloud facing the truth. That despite all his regrets, despite how hard he may wish to have a second chance, Aerith is gone. And the song takes us full-circle.
You’re no long here, so I’m empty. Again, this fits perfectly with the feeling Kitase wanted to evoke with Aerith’s death.
And Cloud feeling this way is also backed-up not only by his behavior in AC, but also by insight from Tifa, as shared in Dismantled:
Plus, of course: “She was gone in the blink of an eye. But the pain never went away.”
So really, given everything I’ve mentioned above, I just can’t see this song being about anyone but Aerith. Because the lyrics clearly evoke thoughts and emotions Cloud himself said about her in the original game.
And if you keep Aerith in mind, then...
The imagery of the song
In the Behind the Scenes, Uematsu also talks about the imagery that inspired the music. This is what he says about it:
Nojima also confirmed that [Cloud] “standing in the rain” was the second keyword he received to write the lyrics.
The moment I heard this, I thought of one particular scene from Advent Children:
This scene fits the imagery on multiple levels. Cloud is alone, standing on a barren and empty place, as rain pours over him. He lets the rain wash over him, eyes closed.
In this scene, that rain is Aerith’s Great Gospel. It starts falling the moment Kadaj hears Aerith’s voice, heals everyone it touches from Geostigma and Tifa outright speaks to Aerith as she watches a droplet of the rain.
Of course, there’s no way to know exactly what image Uematsu was talking about. But I find this particular scene quite fitting, given all the ties the song has to Aerith.
Not to mention that in the Final Fantasy 30th Exhibition, Aerith says the following about Cloud’s pain after her death: 「もう、泣かないで. 雨になっちゃうよ」 “Don’t cry. You’ll make it rain”. (source)
So, there we have an explicit link between rain — and Cloud’s anguish after he loses Aerith.
To wrap this up, I’ve seen people suggest that the song is about multiple people. I respect that everyone has the right to have a different view-point, but personally, I can’t help but to disagree with this particular one.
Could the song be about multiple people?
There is no evidence of this in the song. At no point does the song switch its focus. At the contrary, the references and themes remain the same all throughout-it — as does its subject.
Your shining smile = Once more, shine brightly = Once more, laugh again = Hidden within your smile, there were secrets = Had I noticed sooner, would you still be in my embrace? = Show me your smile one more, this time = I'll notice the truth hidden inside your tears
The subject and the imagery remain constant, so it’s safe to assume the song is about one person and one person only.
And given all the things mentioned above... I hope you can now see why I can’t think of anyone else but Aerith.
The marketing surrounding Ever Crisis is starting to concern me.
"We still don't know Sephiroth"
Good. Despite what remake thinks, I don't need to know every tiny detail about these characters.
That was my main complaint with Traces of Two Pasts. It was just a cheap cash grab to sell a book about Tifa and Aerith's backstories, where there was nothing in the pages that changed our perspective of the two as characters or altered our experience playing the game on a second playthrough.
The fact that the game begins after the Wutai War was a deliberate move by the creators. As a kid Cloud fantasies about becoming a hero just like Sephiroth but by the time he's old enough to join Shinra, the war is already over and the world doesn't need heroes right now. We never see the war through flashbacks but we hear enough from second-hand accounts and how history is already being written by the winners.
Shinra now controls all corners of Gaia and is presented as a force of good towards the stubborn Wutai who couldn't see reason by just giving up their land so they could make more mako reactors and free clean energy for everyone :D
The planet is dying and Wutai was the final sprint to ensure Shinra's monopoly on a now desolate planet where flowers can't grow.
Wutai is so scarred by this loss it becomes a tourist attraction and gets it's own sideplot in the form of Yuffie who joins Cloud's party in hopes of returning her homeland to it's former glory.
There is so much left unsaid about the Wutai War but the aftermath is felt throughout the game, which is why I'm not interested in a prequel where Sephirith feels sad for conquering said territory and murdering its people, or possibly changing the circumstances in order to rid him of any responsibility.
Because the original game did an amazing job highlighting Sephirith's best and worst qualities. He is a powerful warrior and skilled tactician who can lead his troops to victory but does not question the destruction he brings in his wake. He was even given the name "The Demon of Wutai" for his role in single handling conquering it and had his face plastered on every poster to sell this false image of him to further Shinra's own agenda (which worked because Cloud, Zack, Genesis and Angeal all recruited to become just like Sephiroth).
We know very little about Sephiroth but he is complex enough to get the point across. He cares for his men and puts the wellbeing of others first, but he is still a tool of Shinra and if ordered to do something then he will do it most efficiently with the least amount of bloodshed.
I don't want this to be a Crisis Core situation, where we take all these well-established scenes and ruin them by shoving more characters who don't need to be there, or pull an Anakin Skywalker where we muddy Sephiroth's character by over-explaining everything to the point it destroys the reputation of the original source material.
I like how the entire fandom characterizes Genesis as the insufferable drama queen of the trio when Sephiroth; upon dying for the second time, did the impossible and resisted becoming one with the lifestream by focusing on all his hatred for Cloud “fuck this sassy little twink” Strife, stripping away all his other memories and the last dregs of his humanity, and latching onto the Jenova cells in Cloud like a leech. So, for as long as Cloud remembers Sephiroth, he will always find a way to return.
And he would have won in Advent Children if he literally sat back in the afterlife and just played the long con. He already infected the planet with Geostigma and didn’t need to lift a finger as the virus would have spread across the populace and eventually contaminate the lifestream itself after a couple of decades.
But no, Sephiroth just couldn’t resist rubbing his victory in Cloud’s stupidly handsome face, he comes up with this overly convoluted plot to have his remnants ressurect him just so he could brag about his plan to Cloud, in person, and have one last sword fight together. Thereby allowing Cloud to once again defeat him and save the planet.
I’m so glad this height chart exists. For years I’ve read fanfics where Genesis is described as being shorter than Zack and it lowkey pisses me off. He’s the shortest of the original trio, but he’s not that short. All First Class SOLDIERs are at least 6″1.
