Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX
Kingdom Hearts Union χ
Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind
Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory

Vector to the Heavens

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Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
Vector to the Heavens
Theme Notes.png
Theme Notes.png
Arranger Yoko Shimomura
Composer Yoko Shimomura
Length 3:51
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX
Vector to the Heavens
Theme Notes.png
Arranger Yoko Shimomura
Composer Yoko Shimomura
Length 3:48
Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind
Vector to the Heavens -Xion-
Theme Notes.png
Arranger Yuki Kishida
Composer Yoko Shimomura
Orchestrator Yuki Kishida
Length 6:30
memória! ~ The Very Best of Yoko Shimomura
Vector to the Heavens
Theme Notes.png
Arranger Sachiko Miyano
Composer Yoko Shimomura
Length 5:46
Kingdom Hearts Orchestra -World Tour-
Vector to the Heavens
Theme Notes.png
Arranger Sachiko Miyano
Composer Yoko Shimomura
Length 5:46
Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary Event
Vector to the Heavens
Theme Notes.png
No known recording of this track exists.
Arranger Sachiko Miyano
Composer Yoko Shimomura

"Vector to the Heavens" is a musical composition by Yoko Shimomura that appears in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind. An new arrangment introduced in Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind is named "Vector to the Heavens -Xion-". It is the boss theme of Xion.

Development[edit]

The use of the word "Vector" in the title of the song was inspired by the term used in mathematics, as Xion's original name ("No. i") contains an imaginary unit, also a mathematical term.[1]

Appearances[edit]

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days[edit]

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX[edit]

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days[edit]

  • "Xion Attacks"

Kingdom Hearts Union χ[edit]

Medals

Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind[edit]

Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory[edit]

  • "KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days: Chapter 1"

Composition[edit]

"Vector to the Heavens" is approximately three minutes and fifty-one seconds long[KH Days], and five minutes and thirty-five seconds long in the piano collections version. Regardless of the source, the piece has a time signature of 4/4 time. The original in-game version plays at a tempo of 98 beats per minute for the introduction and first phrase, 160 beats per minute for the second phrase, and 83 beats per minute for the third phrase. The instrumentation for both the original version and the HD remake are piano and strings.

The piece is characterized by a moving sixteenth note pattern in the left hand (piano version) or moving eighth notes (in-game version). The main melody's rhythm is a variation of "Musique pour la tristesse de Xion", incorporating various parts of the theme into this piece. Several measures of this piece feature the melody from Kairi's theme and Dearly Beloved. Unlike Xion's original theme, "Vector to the Heavens" is played in the upper spectrum of dynamics, with the "louder" dynamics more in use than the softer ones.

Other appearances[edit]

Official websites[edit]

The album arrangement of "Vector to the Heavens" plays as the background music for the memória! - The Very Best of Yoko Shimomura album page on the Square Enix website.[2]

Kingdom Hearts Orchestra -World of Tres- music box arrangement.

Kingdom Hearts Orchestra -World of Tres-[edit]

An engraved music box was sold at the Kingdom Hearts Orchestra -World of Tres- concert and later distributed online. It features a short looping arrangement of "Vector to the Heavens". A similar music box containing "The Other Promise" was also produced.

Albums[edit]

Notes and references[edit]

  1. ^ Twitter (@KINGDOMHEARTS), Yoko Shimomura: "The title for this song was inspired by the fact that Xion's name is derived from mathematical imaginary numbers. The word "Vector" also originates from the mathematical term of the same name. As to what Vector means here... where do your thoughts and your heart go?"
  2. ^ memória! Japanese website