Listening to FLOW from Final Fantasy XIV With the actual Soloist!! (Opera Singer Reacts)

Amanda Achen, the solo singer for Flow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Shadowbringer's Main Theme from Final Fantasy XIV joins me for a music listen and chat of the Flow Music video.
ENDWALKER SPOILERS HERE (Despite me still not being finished with Endwalker)
Amanda Achen Socials - - - - - - - - - -
@amandasingsthings
Suggestions- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
/ marcomeatball
JOIN THE DISCORD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
/ discord
SOCIAL MEDIA - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
/ marcodmeatball
CHAPTERS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
00:00 Marco Intro
00:21 Introducing Amanda
1:38 Flow
7:07 Initial Reaction
7:39 Amanda's Thoughts
7:55 Discussing Soken
8:22 Marriage proposal
8:49 Marco's Thoughts
10:10 The Differences between Styles
13:00 Making the Mic your friend
15:13 Is Context Important?
16:00 Is Context Helpful/Harmful?
18:01 We don't NEED Context
19:26 What Was it Like To Record?
20:13 Soken's Favorite Singer
20:37 MIDI is Weird
21:30 Tessitura Benefits/Dangers
22:30 Rubato Chat
23:10 Hair Issues X_X
25:22 FanFest Recap
27:50 Practicing without Singing
28:29 What's Next for Amanda?
29:22 Amanda and Distant Worlds (2018)
30:20 Concerts With Joe Hisaishi
30:43 Luck + Positioning = Opportunity
31:04 Artistry and Becoming the Vessel
31:58 Wrap Up Chat
CREDITS: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Developer: Square Enix
Designer: Nobuaki Komoto
Composers: Masayoshi Soken, Nobuo Uematsu, Naoshi Mizuta, Tsuyoshi Sekito
Singers: Sam Carter (Architecs), Amanda Achen
FINAL FANTASY is a registered trademark of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
© SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

[@austinmartin612]

The tear streaming down her face when you tell Venat "We will find our way, Venat" really got to me. She doesn't cry if you call her Hydaelyn btw

[@JackgarPrime]

I can't imagine anyone not picking the Venat option in that scene. There's just no way.

[@Lunzatis_Palemoon]

If there was anything I could say to Amanda it would be the following: Your voice helped to carry so many songs that helped make a FFXIV into something much much more than just a video game. You helped make it one of the best stories ever told. Your voice in all these songs helped to make so many scenes so much more than they would have been without the music. If there ever comes a point in time where you start to question your career or even your legacy then remember this and all the people you've touched through the music and through this game.

[@Amandaachen_official]

Thank you!!! That really means so much. Knowing that I’ve had an impact and have been able to touch so many hearts is definitely an “ok I can die happy” kind of career achievement! 💕

[@toriestrella]

@@Amandaachen_official Thank you so much for such a beautifully touching performance. 😭😭😭 If I gave you a dollar every time I've cried to 'Flow', you could buy a pretty expensive dinner with that donation alone.

[@CianaCorto]

@@Amandaachen_official Don't die too soon please I'm looking forward to many more performances that blow me away further than I could have ever expected.

[@mtkkk]

@@Amandaachen_official it really do be like that, thank you and congratulations on such a beautiful voice

[@ErakirPompop]

@@Amandaachen_official Just throwing in my voice to the mix - thank you for helping cap off the story I've been invested in for 8 years that I've shared with countless friends. Nigh every track in Endwalker left me blown away, but at the end of it I find myself coming back to your work on Flow and Flow Together the most. It's something truly special for us - thank you!

[@toriestrella]

Final Fantasy XIV: Prepare To Cry edition

[@tesleentwiceforgiven6063]

Well for me Shadowbringers was the Prepare to Die edition so I guess we can call it that.

[@itsjonesh]

... And there I go crying again. The crescendo in the middle of the song is the one part that really hooks me in and makes me go emotional. Achen's performance in that bit really evokes all of the emotional charge that the moments that Flow plays have. It's amazing and a true grace to be able to listen to it.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Mesmerizing isn’t it 🥰❤️she did an amazing job.

[@knightish]

It hits me every time. I’m reminded of a mother consoling a child telling him everything is going to be okay. I’m overwhelmed with emotion when I hear her voice singing this song.

[@kaybroughton4909]

sat here sobbing .. again .. I have this playing in my house in game and it always draws tears. Beautiful, beautiful song.

[@wintermoon244]

God just reading the comments here makes my eyes welling up again....

[@ramon6783]

I can't stop imagining Soken saying "I'm writing something for you~" in the way Amanda said it.

[@coolyeh1017]

This song was so impactful, that singer commented that the first time she had to sing Flow, she had to do multiple retakes because she was crying throughout the takes. Btw, it is so cool you managed to get the singer herself to comment.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Yes - she remembered afterwards

[@victorratier19]

You can even tell that she had to hold back a few times to not get emotional when listening to the song (on 5:13, for example). This is such an amazing and emotionally charged song, I can't help but cry every time I listen to it as well.

[@Amandaachen_official]

Yeah I cried a lot in the beginning! Had to kinda get it first out in order to record it!

[@daevien71]

@@Amandaachen_official your voice brings me to tears every time I hear you singing this song. Thank you

[@vegeta2998]

@@Amandaachen_official This song meant so much to our bond with Hydaelyn and what she had to go through. Her trust in us and her love. When this song begun when she faded away made me tear up even though I knew it was gonna happen this song combined with the scene made me cry

[@Ren99510]

Speaking on Soken and his sheer versatility, I cannot imagine FFXIV without him. It's just impossible for me. Very, very few times have I heard music in this game and it has not fit perfectly. The man has a way of dragging out of you whatever emotion he wants, whether its heart wrenching sadness or true joy and elation... sometimes in the same song.

[@OnibiTeru]

We all need a Soken in our life - I can gladly say that he is a literal treasure of humanity at this point. In a sense you could even say that the game itself echoes their cause and life itself and you can really feel a lot of it as you progress.

[@HoennAngel]

I don't have a good relationship with my mother - she is an emotionally abusive narcissist. However when I first heard this track I could see how it might feel to have something different; the kind of nurturing and gentle caring that only a mother can provide. It's difficult to properly articulate how this makes me feel

[@jackelewis6111]

YES! Thank you for putting it into words! This is exactly how I felt when I first heard this, and we first found Her. Grew up with the same with my grandmother, and even though I found my mother a few years ago, I still missed out on that emotion I felt from this song, from a game that became so much more.

[@mspaffles9665]

I never had a mother figure who was caring, only what I experienced in exactly the same way you described yours, emotionally abusive narcissist. However this song always brings me close to tears making me think I understand what it should feel like.

[@FlorenceFox]

I really feel you there. My mom is... complicated, and so is our relationship. I love her, and I know she cares about me, but she's also a terribly unsupportive, ignorant, stubborn asshole, and that's really prevented us from ever having the kind of relationship I think that most of us want to have with our parents. This song, and everything about its context in the game, damn near broke me with how much it just hit me with those feeling of "this is what a mother is supposed to be like."

[@danilooliveira6580]

this music didn't hit me as hard, but mostly because I had some problems with how they wrote Venat and Hydaelyn in EW compared to the direction they were going in ShB, so the music being about her love for the people just makes me remember that I didn't enjoy what they did with her and the amaroutians, thought thinking about it growing up without a mother may have had a part in it, since this motherly love doesn't get to me that well, I grew up with a good father and two amazing brothers, so I never missed it. but Tomorrow and Tomorrow gets me every time, again, loving ShB maybe be most of the reason, but the theme of the song may have a good part in it. not saying its not amazing, because it is a great song, its just the theme that doesn't work for me. i

[@BL33NB]

Lol i can deeply relate...

[@achoi2669]

it always just hits different, no matter how many times i listen to it…

[@MarcoMeatball]

I haven’t even finished yet and it hits harder each time I listen to it

[@MarcoMeatball]

I somehow was able to avoid watching the bulk of this video since I haven't finished Endwalker yet, lol. :D !Do note sometimes the internet drops and there is some freezing!

[@hopefulmonsters4407]

I'd love to know if you finished 6.0. If so, try to give the "Answers" video, "Tomorrow and Tomorrow", and this video a listen in order, as they are a kind of trilogy. All together, they encompass the core storyline of most of the game. It'll wring all the tears and snot out of you at once. It's why you must "Hear, Feel, Think". I just really want to know your feelings about it. "In the same fleeting moment Thou must live Die And know"

[@daemeonx]

Flow was the song that emotionally destroyed me in End Walker. The vibrato and message are stunning.

[@Er404ChannelNotFound]

I completely agree regarding imperfections in a vocal recording. Inhaled breath, slightly off sounds, hell I'd even argue voice breaks add a lot of character to a song where a "perfect performance" with state of the art engineering and editing would take away from. One of my favorite examples of this has to be Nier Automata's Japanese version of Weight of the World sung by Marina Kawano. In the recording she actually cries at one point because of the lyrics and melody she's singing but she keeps going with her voice breaking. She wanted to re-record the song but Yoko Taro found it to be perfect and kept the voice break in XD.

[@danilooliveira6580]

not saying that trying to achieve perfection is not a worth endeavor and worth of praise, but, at least for me, something that feels legitimate and personal, as if the creator itself was enjoying the process, feels a lot better than something mechanical, and its valid for any kind of art. that is also why while I think classical music is amazing, I rather listen to jazz on my average day.

[@michaelbart7014]

Ive not played any nier games, but I just listened to that recording and wow. That voice break and raspy emotional singing is amazing for the song.

[@JayBigDadyCy]

Too many people are use to hearing vocals adjusted in post on Tik Tok and stuff now. Amanda is absolutely astounding. My whole life I've been around musicians (I am one myself) and vocalists. I've never met someone with Amanda's talent and ability. Her control and complex texturing is just insane. As far as being slightly sharp or flat at times, it actually can sound better and a lot of the time then being computer perfect and does sound better with the correct vocalist 100% of the time. It's emotion. It's human.

[@GrimdourTheRampager]

This, plus Tomorrow and Tomorrow have completely made me cry everytime it came up in-game. Before this I've never sobbed in a videogame, in my 20+ years. I've had tears, yes. But Amanda, Soken and the team have done something magical here. There's a whirlwind of emotions that y'all captured and it's... God it's so beautiful. FF wouldn't be the same without your work, Amanda. And thank you Marco for getting this out there ♥️

[@Ktjnn]

Amanda has actually made the past 2 expansions so much more impactful with her vocals. She is a brilliant performer and singer (and WOW at her Fan Fest performance). This song is very spoilery but she plays the part of the one speaking in it super well. Would love to hear you review the alternate band version also.

[@chaolihai-innit]

It's nice to know that not only she's talented as hell, but she also such a lovely person. I hope Square got her to sing for XVI as well and other projects.

[@monchismo]

I had the absolute privilege of hearing Amanda sing this at LV FanFest 2023, and the way she just embodies every song and FEELS every word was a truly magical thing to see. Not a dry eye in the house after Flow.

[@DifunctedReble]

Her and Keiko on Day 1, then hitting us with "Flow Through" on Day 2. It was as you say magical. I can't wait for Forge Ahead blu-ray to be released.

[@lucca5367]

My mother passed away in January of this year. It's been almost a year, and this game, this story, and especially this song has helped me throughout this dark time. This song never ceases to make me tear up and cry my eyes out time after time again but It's impossible for me not to come back to it. No matter what happens, and how dark things get, Things like this help me realize how much love my mother has for me, and how it's stil right here in my heart. With me. How hard I need to press on. How much I need to never give up , and continue pushing forward as much as I can. This song reminds me of the love my mother has for me. Thank you so much for that, Amanda . I'll never forget this song. It's one that will be with me for the rest of my life.

[@thehsushoe]

I was wondering if you could get Tea, the singer for ‘In The Balance’ that came out in the latest patch? I loved this video and Amanda is such a bubbly personality, she’s amazing and I can’t wait to hear more of her!

[@MarcoMeatball]

Ive asked 🤞

[@thehsushoe]

@@MarcoMeatball Letsssgoooooooooo!!

[@GreyEyedRaven]

This song still manages to make me cry everytime. 😭

[@lunaamoryffxiv]

SHE ABSOLUTELY TRANSLATED IT BEAUTIFULLY THRU HER SINGING. SHE CRIED TOO WHEN SHE SANG THIS. OMG WHAT AN ANGEL. sorry all caps im just fangirling

[@rexcyjones9416]

when that part where you call her Venat and chorus kicked in...that almost got me to actually cry. my heart just shakes from that scene and still am now.

[@vegeta2998]

Same. I absolutely had to call her by her real name plus her shed her tear as well and Hydaelyn reaction to hearing us call her that. Goodbye Venat 😭

[@SorceressRose]

Flow + Tomorrow and Tomorrow were two songs I greatly and deeply enjoyed from FFXIV. Close in the Distance is another. FFXIV's music legit is some of the best music ever heard in gaming. The songs with lyrics really hit well and are just soooooo perfect to listen too. Honestly, FFXIV is truly a legendary game.

[@TheBongReyes]

Surprisingly, when I was doing MSQ this song didn’t affect me much. But whenever I watch a streamer or reaction and Flow kicks in. Feels appear. The lyrics hit harder, more emotional now more so then before.

[@Riyshn]

I had the same thing happen with both Flow and Close In The Distance. I blame the balance between lyrics and instrumentals making it difficult to make out what's said. (And also the distraction of the fight the first time you heal Flow.)

[@Vesperwow]

This sort of happened to me as well, it was a very memorable song, but I didn't feel emotional at the time but in retrospect with all the context when I am watching someone else it just destroys me.

[@DogiTheWallcrusher]

To be fair, Venat is kicking your ass for it

[@cammokyle]

Props to you for getting to talk to her! She is handsdown one of the hidden driving forces of the music, and the game as a whole. I don't know anybody that doesn't enjoy "Tomorrow and tomorrow" or "Flow"! Very impactful

[@gshimon]

THIS SONG, is just like they took the feeling of a very important moment in the game and then infused it in the song the most they could, from the vert first note you get that same feeling and the more the song progresses the harder is the hit of the feeling, this is probably the song a lot of the players asosiate endwalker to and is the perfect song for it, every time i hear it i get hit by the feeling all over again, like the very first time and is still the same intensity, it didnt get so overwhelmed by emotion everytime i hear it i wold have it on repeat a lot

[@alexandregiaccheri]

Hey Amanda, THANK YOU for bringing one of the best (if not THE best) songs I've ever heard to life! Seriously, thank you. Now I understand why Hydaelyn's message felt so human and emotional in this song.

[@Amandaachen_official]

Gaaahhh that’s amazing, it truly is a remarkable piece. Such an honor 💕

[@BronzeApparathus]

Took me a full 3 whole ass days to fully emotionally recover from EW and flow has been stuck in me head ever since. What a great song.

[@sheikaitheblueberryelf4938]

I made it 20 second into the song before I started crying 😭 between this and "Tomorrow and Tomorrow".... *chef's kiss* I played trumpet for 7 years in grade school and, to this day, music just hits me so much deeper than most people. These FFXIV tracks hit right in the feels... many of them in my soul.

[@ChakraX2]

Up until 5:17 I was listening to the song normally just fine. And then 5:19 hearing that last note, the chorus coming forward, the instruments taking center stage got me teary-eyed. And then at 5:41 I started crying as the vocals kicked backed in. All the emotions of the expansion just kicked back into gear as the song hits the most iconic and memorable moments, which correlates on how they use that part in the game. It is just filled with so much passion and emotion, it's made me into has an almost Pavlovian effect.

[@Sieg3465]

There it is. There goes the tears again. The journey I experienced, the music itself, together no heart is safe.

[@xleaselife]

What's so amazing to me is how synergistic not only Amanda's voice and style(s) is with Soken's, but even her personality and general energy are a lot like Soken's. Just that sweet, genuine, almost manic excitement for the craft. Thank you for everything, Amanda. You have moved so many of us in so many ways. I hope you and Soken continue to work together long into the future.

[@Amandaachen_official]

Oooo I love that!! Thank you!

[@xleaselife]

@@Amandaachen_official I was wondering... would you ever consider doing a cover of Close in the Distance?

[@DamascoGamer]

This music is the definition of motherly love. I haven't cried in a while, but that music touched my heart really hard.

[@sopranophantomista]

I remember reading a tweet that went along the lines of, "'Flow' is the 'thank you' to the 'I'm sorry' that is 'Answers'" and I think about that a lot.

[@robikkupegasus7039]

The perfect sendoff for every WoL's crystal mom...what a wonderful song! ♥ " Has your Journey been good? Has it been worthwhile? " Yes...yes it has. ;w;

[@firedrake110]

Flow has me fucked up every time I hear it. I adore the song, definitely downloaded a "totally legit, not questionable" youtube rip of it the day I finished 6.0 (I think it was either the third or fourth day of it being live, I went HARD fighting my way through the Queue trenches lol). I like listening to it in the grocery store, and doing my best not to cry while surrounded by strangers XD

[@Mindlessfun100]

Thank you for this! As a vocal music teacher who loves FF14, it’s been really difficult to find much discussion about the vocal technique and music in the game that involves some deep technical terminology/discussion! You still make it approachable though! And Amanda’s work really deserves to be acknowledged in all of its facets, she does a LOT vocally that might go under the radar for most people, but is SO impressive.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@MRorizs2]

This is something I love about how this song was recorded, it's just so honest and so comforting. It feels like a motherly embrace, guiding us to new heights, she's been there the whole time, watching us grow, and this is the moment she's the proudest, watching us become a beautiful person who's going to change the world.

[@fetteranton]

Achen says that it's not perfect, and that is understandable as any artist of any kind wishes they could keep on fine tuning their work to absolute perfection. But what is the entire soul of the song is that it is a perfect representation of the happiness, melancholy, struggles and endless hope and love that the story conveys. It is such a perfect song to wrap up the story with as it hits the same emotional beats that our entire journey was. Achen did an amazing work in conveying the complexities and the emotions of the ten year long journey, and at the same time, conveying the warmth and homely feel of hope. Thank you for this interview!

[@banggugyangu]

Before the song starts, my reaction is: she has such a fun bubbly personality. Incredibly talented vocalist. My favorite of the tracks she did was return to oblivion.

[@SephirothSpirit]

She is an amazing singer. Nothing but respect for her.

[@proy3]

What's really neat is how the song plays and you can kind of see Amanda re-singing it in her head.

[@Amandaachen_official]

Yeah I was actually trying not to just lip sync along the whole time lolol

[@proy3]

You definitely should have. Love you and all your amazing work with FF14!

[@maihan_]

Lovely interview! I can't listen to Answers, Dragonsong, Flow, Close the Distance, or Hopeful Dynamis without bursting into tears lol

[@XemnasTM]

I was so hoping you would eventually listen to this song. Imo it's easily the most beautiful piece of music in the entirety of FFXIV.

[@HeliumHe]

Love that you always go an extra mile for all the reactions in your own way. To have Amanda also add more insights to it is a cheery + goodies on top of an already amazing cake. Well done on this one.

[@MarcoMeatball]

That literally means so much.

[@Maloviel]

That opening piano just makes me weep. So many, MANY incredible memories from this music. Not just from this expansion, but from the last 10 years of playing this game with my old friends, and making new friends.

[@Selkie15]

Watching Amanda listen to this was awesome. At so many points it looked like she was singing in her head and her body was going along with it. Seen this with so many vocalists when listening to things they know or have performed themselves; if you watch their throats even while they're quite, you can see them going along with it as if they're singing. And then there's Marco's reaction to the line, "hush love, close your eyes." 5:40 Love it.

[@piferchu]

Flow is just one of those songs that makes you cry, no matter what. Thanks Amanda for this interview. For any future interview, it would be great to have tea, who sings In The Balance, or the singer from Nier Automata J'Nique Nicole.

[@MarcoMeatball]

I don’t know them but I can try 🥰

[@Kermie_Frogman]

Musically and Lyrically the song captures the feeling of a mother's love but also a sense of an adventurous peer sharing their passion for exploring the beauty and sorrow of the world. It's such a neat bow to tie up the end of the story. Hits me in the heart every time.

[@KevinTangYT]

I really loved Dragonsong and Answer without knowing anything about FFXIV which were the last songs I heard without context from this game. After listening to Flow tho, it definitely is something I would listen to without context to FFXIV. Amanda is such a joy to watch as well!

[@VTWitch90]

I finished Endwalker so quickly when it released and I thought it had emptied me of my tears I cried so much but as soon as you started playing the song and I heard her voice BOOM! waterworks all over again 😭❤️ she is just so beyond talented and nobody was better suited to sing this song.

[@Khelleyne]

A long time Final Fantasy fan here and a fanatic of FFXIV in particular since the beginning. Flow hit me so hard, after all these years, the incredible story that took so much time to unfold finally arriving at it's end, it blew me away so bad I had to stop playing because I couldn't see anything, the tears flowing from my eyes so much. She's really talented, she got me.

[@buttermilkpancakes916]

Ffxiv was the first ff I've ever played. Stared back in 2017. I have really bad anxiety and am an introvert. So I didn't have a lot friends. I've always been a gamer. And especially love games where I can create my character. When I started xiv I solo all the way to storm. Then when I switched servers (due to work schedule) that's when I met a lot of friends. I didn't even know Discord was a thing until they taught me. I met my partner in 2019 and I would take breaks to play other games because I didn't know about savage raids until he told me. He encouraged me to try saying I was a good healer. Which at the time I wasn't confident in my skills. But I did it and loved it. Took a long break then came back for Shadowbringer and Endwalker. When I first heard Flow it brought back a flood of memories. From the beginning of this journey to the end. I play bdo now, but always listen to xiv music while I play. I was able to finally get my older brother to get the game. And he hasn't started and keeps saying he isn't going to like it. I keep telling he he hasn't tried it and is sitting on a masterpiece. So excited for this weekend because he says he gonna create his character. I'm gonna make an alt and do it all over again.

[@RBNinja]

Always happy to hear more from Amanda. Her not knowing the context for Flow makes her performance so special and Soken's use of that performance in the game is used so well that it emotionally destroys everyone whenever it's used.

[@OmegaMetroid93]

This is by far my favorite main theme in FFXIV, and one of my all time favorite songs in general. Amanda is an incredible singer, it's so cool that you got her on for this video! It doesn't matter how many times I listen to this song, it never fails to get me choked up, and her voice is a very big part of that. I also adore the lyrics. FFXIV has tons of songs with really well written lyrics, and this one's definitely one of the more raw and emotional ones. I saw Amanda lurking around in the comments here, so if she reads this, I just want to say thank you so much, you really made these songs what they are, and I can't tell you how many times I've listened to them each, and how they brighten my day. It's really something special.

[@orsonsnow1228]

My favorite part about this video is watching the expressions on Amanda's face. On specific parts you can see the "Nailed it" expression. Love it.

[@kitfox-tech]

The sinking deeper part gives me chills every time

[@markb1170]

Completely agree on what you said about not needing context to enjoy something. Me and my partner recently went to the Distant Worlds concert in Berlin after my insistence as an absolute FF fanboy. My partner, although a gamer, has NEVER played a single Final Fantasy but they completely ADORED the music. Case in point: they didn't need to know the context behind "The Sending" from FFX, but they loved it the most and gave them chills.

[@koagz]

This song fits so perfectly in FF14. It's one of the couple songs that brings me to tears every time.

[@sanctus9857]

Endwalker was fucking amazing. So many feels when I listened to this... and watching you react with the singer herself was epic!

[@Baal93Ash]

She's beautiful, she's crazy, she's soooo cute and HER SINGING IS PERFECT.... I can't believe perfection exist.

[@Solera1412]

KZbin recommendations working well today. Great vid!

[@JayBigDadyCy]

Her voice is absolutely insane. I've played in bands and sung my whole life, but I can't even compare to how amazing Amanda is. Just superb. I honestly don't think the average person realizes how complex some of the stuff she does is and how hard it is to execute. People talk about pop singers and stuff, but this is what the absolute upper echelon of vocalists sound like.

[@Spirited282]

Absolutely incredible song so glad you had her in. Such a beautiful voice

[@KittyScythe]

Amanda's voice singing the words "Stand Tall, my friend." Lives in my mind rent free every. Single. Day.

[@baseballfan4877]

What an amazing song. Cry almost every time I listen to it.

[@EnvyTooGoon]

Her voice is beautiful. She hits all the feelings we all felt during Endwalker.

[@lifebykain]

Not much music can affect me the way flow does, I literally tear up every time I hear it. Thank you Amanda and thank you Soken.

[@akumuyami9128]

Hearing this in the game and the messsage it conveys while playing and the things happening in the game as they do. This was perfect, hit right in the feels and did what it was supposed to do. Incredible work.

[@baalofbabylon3022]

I haven't been able to get this song out of my head since I first heard it. No words of how amazing it is on all angles.

[@dffagundo]

This was such a beautiful conversation, the reactions of both of you, the insights you shared 💯 Oh, and Amanda's such a lively and knowledgeable person!! She's really great 😄😄 Marco, thank you for doing this!

[@krysmphoenix6010]

The songs from Hydaelyn's point of view are always so heart wrenching. Your voice truly carries a vast ocean of emotions, of pain, of suffering, of comfort, of hope. I've been singing so much along with this, fighting back tears each time. It fits perfectly in my comfort range at it's base, and the falsetto is just barely in my capacity. It's such a powerful aria, a perfect thank you and farewell to our Crystalmom. Also double chair wiggles for the Song of Hope again, teehee.

[@martonszentkiralyi2251]

There is a song later on during the 6.1 raid, its called "In the ballance", for some reason I've bursted out in tears as soon as I began to make sense of the lyrics, its just so uplifting

[@samniel]

Amanda Achen is such a wonderful performer, I saw her performances at FanFest and she was amazing: she nailed the playfulness in What Angel Wakes Me and the desperation in Return to Oblivion, and Flow is just... wow. I hope to hear a lot more of her in the future.

[@Wiwii1999]

So... My dad died from a heart attack the very last day of august, Endwalker and Flow helped me to going through my pain of the loss of my figure. So thank you, Miss Achen...! Thank you very much for that

[@diamondsofsix]

one year after this was made I finally see it. I've heard and cried to this song so many times but tonight I really bawled. Previously it has been in the context of the game, but so many crushing things have happened in my life in a short amount of time that I really experienced catharsis tonight. Amanda is so right, to sing this without context allows her to interpret and make her own performance, and that causes ripple effects way outside the boundaries of the game. Thanks for doing this! I loved to listen to her explain, she's so much fun.

[@Blitz0506]

I convinced myself that Tomorrow and tomorrow and Shadowbringers can not be topped and set the bar too high but here we are with Flow and it was performed perfectly and I can see Hydaelyn herself singing it. What an expansion and way to cap years of storytelling. Thank you Amanda! and to Soken!

[@crazygirlyeah]

This song is so emotional once you get to know the whole story 😢 so beautifuly sung too ❤️

[@sher5od]

It’s insane to me you think your performance was anything less than perfect. This song has had such an impact on my life and I appreciate your performance so much ❤️

[@davidguerrero4519]

Amazing Interview! loving the energy Amanda gives, it feels good to know about the behind of many things. Also she is so talented.

[@MarcoMeatball]

She’s extremely pleasant and intelligent

[@Harrowing999]

Learning that Amanda Achen was the vocalist for Shadowbringers got me super interested in her singing. Return to Oblivion remains one of my favorite songs. Knowing she was singing in Endwalker as well just added even more hype to the game and soundtrack. As before, she was absolutely phenomenal. There were many tears to be had

[@prollybee]

i love that in the year of our lord, 2022, soken is still composing and sharing concepts in midi 😂

[@Noelle668]

I love the thoughtful/blissful expressions of you both ;-; you’re such a gem to YT, thank you for your content 💎💎💎 Edit- Her Soken crush gives me LIFE lol!! I’m right with her! 😂

[@TarundiMC]

I'm totally shipping them now!

[@abrucoconu1611]

have to admit everyone crushing on soken

[@midlanderhyur6035]

@@abrucoconu1611 definitely! No one can escape the charm Soken and his music have!

[@Ella-dd3vz]

even i would propose to soken 😅

[@roseharvey6859]

Yup. I have a list with my favourite singers and I definitely added Amanda Achen to it after Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Singing is something a lot can do, but conveying emotions, is something entirely different. I'm very glad Soken worked with Amanda for the past two expansions, that was a wilde ride. Thank you for the feels 🤩

[@captainjustin]

I literally can't listen to the rising and falling of her voice in the crescendo of this piece without tearing up, no matter how many times I hear it in Old Sharlayan. Truly a perfect voice and performance. Thank you for gifting this to us, Amanda and Soken!

[@blackmage567]

Great video guys. As others have pointed out, as soon as we hear the first couple of notes, and recognize the song, it has a huge impact on people. I hope Amanda is aware of this fact: she is a part of a song that has a huge meaning and importance in A LOT of people's lives (not just this song btw)

[@textbookidiocy3896]

I struggle with crying, i was taught that crying was for the weak and that men do not cry; the words of my abusive stepfather. Final fantasy 14 has been one of those games that have helped me cry, granted it has done so through continuously sucker punching me with emotional damage, but i don't fault it for it one bit. Then there is Flow. Something I do is that I live myself into everything i play, i become my role in a theatrical sense. And so, when she (speaking of in universe here) sings these words to me, knowing what she has gone through.. from the very words: well come and well met, I have tears in my eyes. That is powerful to me. So, Amanda, if you ever read this; thanks for giving me more emotional damage i guess!

[@GimmeTOKYO]

This was magical. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this with Amanda. The fact she called herself a derp made me laugh so hard I was having trouble breathing 😂 💕

[@Amandaachen_official]

United we DERP!

[@GimmeTOKYO]

@@Amandaachen_official Stand tall, my derp! Our dorkdom will NEVER end!!

[@sam.246]

This is great content! Thanks for the interview, she's amazing

[@vmichial]

I have listened to this song more times than I can count, it has absolutely captured my heart. I have never seen Ms. Achen before! So this is the face that goes with the voice I've heard many a night. Thank you so much for your hard work, for whatever flaw you may have seen, it is a gem! an Absolute gem. Thanks Marco for this video, I have now subscribed!

[@Amandaachen_official]

Yes hello, I have a face and here I am. 😋 I actually really want to connect with you all and will be reaching out to others for more interviews and am planning to release a jazz guitar “cover” of Flow soon. 🎶 haha, is it possible to cover oneself? We shall find out!

[@DarukaEon]

@@Amandaachen_official Yo!? A jazz version? I'm excited!

[@eightleggedbird1474]

this is awesome, love how at 31:05 the subject hits at the same idea you bring up so often, that feeling can precede familiarity and it can be such a wonderful thing

[@XxguaxinimxX.]

That was an awesome interview!

[@Eilanzer]

Amazing interview!

[@hansfriedemann4194]

Amazing interview and listening party :) She's awesome!

[@SilverforceX]

Such a beautiful song, brilliantly sung!

[@serisothikos]

Fantastic interview. I always love the technical insight!

[@sebastian192]

this song is so powerful... just listening to it made my eyes water from all the emotions, i love it!

[@shinobirecords2018]

Amanda Achen: "Greetings and salutations!" Those who don't know: :D Those who know: D:

[@Tackleberry61]

Indeed!

[@Amandaachen_official]

Wait, is there something I should know?! Enlighten me!

[@Tackleberry61]

@@Amandaachen_official it's what our little blue bird says. :)

[@midlanderhyur6035]

@@Amandaachen_official to think Amanda wasn't aware that "Greetings and salutations!" is how Meteion greeted us in the game but coincidentally greeted the same way gives me the chills 😆

[@kami-oshi.kronii]

Man this song hit me so hard during my play through, and I’m really happy to see this video with the singer. Thanks!

[@defiantgremlin]

No words, just chills and flow of tears every time I hear this song! Loved this video too.

[@SoraRikuHeart]

Marco, i love your reactions, and listening to Flow after having beating Endwalker about a month or so ago, and seeing both you and Amanda's reaction tugged at me. Thank you so much for this.

[@XavierAliatos]

For Amanda: Thank you so much for giving your all for your performances in FF14! Like you said, it really is about personal interpretation, but there's still so much to be said about a competent (understatement, I know), thoughtful interpretation being presented to someone, in this case your interpretation of the music that was put to recording, that helps drive it home so much harder. I can proudly say that Flow is one of the songs that never fails to bring me to tears when I really listen to it, right up there with Answers. (Also the band arrangement was sick!) For Marco: Thank you for all that you're giving us, and the message that you're sending through your channel! It's so cool that you got the chance to talk with Amanda here, and you both brought up some amazing points. I truly appreciate the sort of almost insider PoV you bring to your analyses, not only as a talented vocalist, but as a performer and storyteller. One of my favourite VGM reaction channels by far.

[@MarcoMeatball]

That means so very very much to me Xavier. Thank you.