Author Topic: Why no love for Build Me Up Break Me Down (Read 7754 times)

Madman Shepherd · « **Reply #70 on:** October 27, 2014, 03:22:05 PM »

Quote from: hefdaddy42 on October 27, 2014, 12:01:20 PM

Quote from: bosk1 on October 27, 2014, 10:49:13 AM
I know when this song came out, there were a lot of comparisons to Red. At the time, I was not familiar with Red, but after since becoming more familiar, I do not really see much similarity. Still a good song. But influenced by Red? Possible, but I'm not really hearing it.
It's not influenced by Red in general, but it sounds almost exactly like Red's song Feed The Machine. Not sure how you could listen to both songs back to back and not hear it.

Exactly?

Nope. Not hardly.

Similar?

Sure.

But to bring this back to basketball analogies, if ADTOE is an album full of Jordans with one Pippen, I would suggest that Far from Heaven is the BJ Armstrong of the group.

Dublagent66 · « **Reply #71 on:** October 27, 2014, 04:22:43 PM »

It's not bad. I like it just fine. I rank it higher than FFH and BTS, easily.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #72 on:** October 27, 2014, 05:18:22 PM »

I like Build me Up, Break Me Down way more than A Nightmare to Remember.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #73 on:** October 27, 2014, 05:19:10 PM »

Quote from: Madman Shepherd on October 27, 2014, 03:22:05 PM

But to bring this back to basketball analogies, if ADTOE is an album full of Jordans with one Pippen, I would suggest that Far from Heaven is the BJ Armstrong of the group.

Billie Joe from Green Day plays basketball in his spare time ?

PROGdrummer · « **Reply #74 on:** October 27, 2014, 06:01:28 PM »

fwiw, it wouldnt be the first time Dream Theater ~~stole~~ borrowed another band's riff/structure.

I'm pretty sure it's obvious what this song's intro inspired during the BC&SL writing sessions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5aB9bW5B00

SystematicThought · « **Reply #75 on:** October 27, 2014, 07:25:32 PM »

Quote from: PROGdrummer on October 27, 2014, 06:01:28 PM

fwiw, it wouldnt be the first time Dream Theater ~~stole~~ borrowed another band's riff/structure.

I'm pretty sure it's obvious what this song's intro inspired during the BC&SL writing sessions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5aB9bW5B00

Oh wow, never heard that one. That's extremely close

Rodni Demental · « **Reply #76 on:** October 27, 2014, 08:01:41 PM »

Well, to be fair. It's an incredibly common riff. Because it's essentially based on an arpeggiated 7th within the most basic ionian major scales, as it goes from the octave or tonic, to the major 7th then to a perfect 5th, relative to the tonic. Then you can change chord to the 4th 5th or 6th (or 3rd and 7th if you end up switching to the relative minor) and keep using the same riff! It's one of those patterns that's about as common as I V vi IV and funnily enough, say you were in F major, the notes F, E, C would consistently fit over that chord progression. This isn't even DTs first time playing with this pattern, and well before TCOT they used similar patterns in Hells Kitchen, Another Hand. I've heard the pattern in a lot of simpler mainstream songs aswell. Which is why I'd hardly even consider that pattern a ripp off of anything because it's so common. That being said, I can't deny that intro has a strong Count of Tuscany vibe to it. Just wanted to point out, DT have essentially used this riff a few times before though.

JediKnight1969 · « **Reply #77 on:** October 27, 2014, 08:05:44 PM »

adamack · « **Reply #78 on:** October 28, 2014, 11:40:48 AM »

I love the song. Awesome chorus, one of my favs from ADToE.

JR's work with the orchestral patches is awesome. Those stabs after James screams "Build...Me....Up..." are great.

It used to be my second favorite song from ADToE, but it has not aged as well as the rest. Now, my order would be something like:

1. Breaking All Illusions
2. Bridges In The Sky
3. On The Backs Of Angels
4. Outcry
5. Beneath The Surface
6. Build Me Up, Break Me Down
7. Lost Not Forgotten
8. Far From Heaven
9. This Is The Life

TheGreatPretender · « **Reply #79 on:** October 28, 2014, 11:43:25 AM »

Quote from: adamack on October 28, 2014, 11:40:48 AM

I love the song. Awesome chorus, one of my favs from ADToE.

JR's work with the orchestral patches is awesome. Those stabs after James screams "Build...Me....Up..." are great.

Those are the two parts that I DON'T like, haha. The riffs and verses are awesome though.

Nearmyth · « **Reply #80 on:** October 28, 2014, 06:01:51 PM »

I always thought the song was disjointed, the random transition from pre-chorus to chorus is really not so great to me, as well as the generic song structure.

It's still overall an okay song by DT standards, I actually really like the last little minute of strings as it fades out. It's a really badass thing in my opinion, but I just like little things like that

LTE3 · « **Reply #81 on:** October 29, 2014, 11:38:21 PM »

Because it is a bit corny and not very good by my ST standards. Seems like an attempt at a commercial sounding tune for them which is ok, but I just don't like it and skip it often.

Crow · « **Reply #82 on:** October 31, 2014, 09:24:52 AM »

still the worst DT song, I hate even thinking about it.

Lolzeez · « **Reply #83 on:** October 31, 2014, 10:14:21 AM »

Quote from: Parama on October 31, 2014, 09:24:52 AM

still the worst DT song, I hate even thinking about it.

same here

Dublagent66 · « **Reply #84 on:** October 31, 2014, 10:53:05 AM »

I always thought that Prophets of War, Never Enough and possibly You Not Me were in competition for DT's worst. I never saw BMU, BMD entering that equation.

hefdaddy42 · « **Reply #85 on:** October 31, 2014, 11:01:10 AM »

Quote from: Dublagent66 on October 31, 2014, 10:53:05 AM

I always thought that Prophets of War, Never Enough and possibly You Not Me were in competition for DT's worst. I never saw BMU, BMD entering that equation.

I would agree, adding The Answer Lies Within.

But I don't have BMUBMD much higher than that, either.

Dublagent66 · « **Reply #86 on:** October 31, 2014, 11:20:01 AM »

Yeah, I don't rank TALW too high but I wouldn't put it close to rock bottom either. Probably just below average. I actually like it a little bit.

took_the_time11 · « **Reply #87 on:** October 31, 2014, 12:03:09 PM »

I liked it. ADTOE and I&G were the first albums I listened to. They left the most profound mark on me.

Crow · « **Reply #88 on:** November 01, 2014, 12:38:52 AM »

Quote from: Dublagent66 on October 31, 2014, 10:53:05 AM

I always thought that Prophets of War, Never Enough and possibly You Not Me were in competition for DT's worst. I never saw BMU, BMD entering that equation.

I like TALW and Never Enough a fair bit really. Prophets of War isn't nearly as bad as everyone makes it out to be (it's better than, at the very least, Forsaken and TDEN off SC alone). You Not Me is bad but it's a safe bad. I don't like it and it's in my bottom 10 but I don't really "hate" it like I do their worst stuff.

BlobVanDam · « **Reply #89 on:** November 01, 2014, 12:57:59 AM »

Quote from: Parama on November 01, 2014, 12:38:52 AM

Prophets of War isn't nearly as bad as everyone makes it out to be (it's better than, at the very least, Forsaken and TDEN off SC alone).

I agree PoW isn't that bad, but no and no. Forsaken is a much better constructed short song, and TDEN is hugely underrated for how good it is.

I don't think any of these songs are as bad as the reactions indicate. You Not Me is pretty average, but it's inoffensive and unworthy of hate. Just skip it and be done with it. My only real criticism of it is that the chorus doesn't fit the song at all, but I don't think the chorus is bad in itself (and it's better than YOM).
Same with TALW. It plods along, but there's really nothing to hate about it. Regarding BMUBMD, it's a fairly average DT metal "single", but it's not bad either. I don't listen to it now, but I enjoyed it as part of the whole album. They kept it concise and to the point, and there's nothing about it I dislike.
Never Enough is the only one of these I really can't listen to any more, and would say it is among DT's worst songs, but even that has sections I like, there's just too much I don't like in it as well.

I don't disagree that these are among DT's weaker songs, but I don't get the outright hate for a lot of them either. Most of them are not songs I'd go out of my way to listen to, but if I'm listening to the album, I can listen to them and enjoy them. For as long as WDADU exists, none of these songs is truly in competition for DT's worst song.

mrrct · « **Reply #90 on:** June 06, 2015, 12:04:28 PM »

I think that the effects in the intro and especially the drum machine-sounding loops may turn some fans off a little. I didn't like the song when I first heard it, but it grew on me with time.

KevShmev · « **Reply #91 on:** June 06, 2015, 12:37:00 PM »

I like this song, but I don't love it. I think the drum loops at the beginning are great, and I think Rudess some does great work in this tune. I like the verses a lot, with the vocal effects and those keyboard flourishes after every few lines. The chorus does sound like it missed the mark a tad, but it's not bad or anything, just not notable.

As I Am · « **Reply #92 on:** June 06, 2015, 09:49:49 PM »

Definite bottom 5 DT song IMO

Mladen · « **Reply #93 on:** June 07, 2015, 05:15:32 AM »

I still think this song is fantastic, the melodies are as memorable as the riffs and all the heavy bits. James shines with the screams, and the unison section is truly gorgeous. The electronics are a nice touch, it's always good when the band goes with something different.

Not to mention the song was so much fun live, I'd love them to bring it back at some point.

nicmos · « **Reply #94 on:** June 07, 2015, 10:18:30 AM »

if it were on DT12, I'd like it more than the majority of the album. maybe 3rd best behind IT and STR. Love the song.

Mebert78 · « **Reply #95 on:** June 08, 2015, 01:08:20 PM »

Quote from: Dream Team on September 15, 2011, 12:51:33 PM

Scotty Pippen wasn't as good as Michael Jordan, but he was a hell of a player. BMUBMD is the Pippen on an album of 8 Jordans, no shame in that.

I'm thinking more BJ Armstrong than Pippen.

King Postwhore · « **Reply #96 on:** June 08, 2015, 02:54:32 PM »

Quote from: Mebert78 on June 08, 2015, 01:08:20 PM

Quote from: Dream Team on September 15, 2011, 12:51:33 PM
Scotty Pippen wasn't as good as Michael Jordan, but he was a hell of a player. BMUBMD is the Pippen on an album of 8 Jordans, no shame in that.

I'm thinking more BJ Armstrong than Pippen.

. Yup.

hefdaddy42 · « **Reply #97 on:** June 08, 2015, 02:56:41 PM »

Dave Corzine.

bosk1 · « **Reply #98 on:** June 08, 2015, 02:59:13 PM »

Get out.

TAC · « **Reply #99 on:** June 08, 2015, 04:51:30 PM »

I'm thinking the ball boy, maybe.

Rattlehead · « **Reply #100 on:** June 08, 2015, 07:54:14 PM »

I've always liked the chorus, but I dislike the rest of the song so much that it's not worth listening to for me.

TheAtliator · « **Reply #101 on:** June 09, 2015, 01:27:45 AM »

These kids seem to like it! https://vine.co/v/eMDajjebDKP

nicmos · « **Reply #102 on:** June 10, 2015, 09:19:06 PM »

Is that sample in the beginning taken from the Spore video game? sounds like it to me.

ReaPsTA · « **Reply #103 on:** June 12, 2015, 12:41:12 AM »

One of the lines in Tik Tok by Kesha is "You Build Me Up, You Break Me Down." I wonder if it's an intentional reference. On one hand, I can't imagine JP ever listening to Kesha. On the other hand, I can imagine him seeing the music video, seeing the pop star crucifixion cycle ready to begin anew, and finding that particular set of lines rather poignant. The vocal melodies are fairly similar.

News: The Gift of Music official video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fae4FQ4McSY

Author Topic: Why no love for Build Me Up Break Me Down (Read 7754 times)