1000 Words

“1000 Words” (1000の言葉, 1000 no Kotoba?, lit. “1000 Words”) is the name of the ballad Yuna sings from atop the Celsius at the concert on the Thunder Plains in Final Fantasy X-2. It was written by Kazushige Nojima, Noriko Matsueda, and Takahito Eguchi. The Japanese version is sung by Koda Kumi, and the English version by Jade Villalon from German pop group Sweetbox.

The original Japanese version is included on the single “Real Emotion/1000 no Kotoba”. A different English version was also done by Kumi, released on her single “Come With Me”. The “Come With Me” single also includes a remix titled: “1000 Words” (DJ 19 Remix). An orchestrated Japanese version is included on Koda Kumi’s album Grow into One as a bonus track, alongside the original version.

“1000 Words” has three versions on the game’s original soundtrack: the version Yuna sings on the Thunder Plains, an instrumental piano version, called “A Wish That Spans the Ages” in the Luca sphere theater, and a longer, orchestrated version, that plays during the game’s ending credits.

Story

While Yuna sings the song, Lenne and her memories of Shuyin and Zanarkand are displayed, summoned by the Songstress Dressphere Yuna is wearing. In the English version Yuna sings a duet with Lenne towards the end of the song. In the original Japanese version, the concert FMV does not feature a duet. Instead, Yuna transforms into Lenne and performs a solo.