"The Best of Times" Discussion Thread

[rumborak]

@the people who don't think the similarity to Spirit Of Radio is that big: The other half of the section is essentially "Red Barchetta", which is partly about remiscing about a departed uncle...

rumborak

[orcus116]

Never really got into Rush so I wouldn't know.

[staveoffzombies]

This one is taking time to grow on me...if it doesn't it'll probably be my least favorite track on the album...but there is a lot to like there.

[Chico]

By far my favorite track on the album.

[TimmyHiggy]

i have to say that on first listen i thought this song was a bit sub-standard compared to the rest of the album, but with each listen i like it more, and now think that the only sub-par song is AROP

[MS394]

The solo gave me a Santana-esque vibe, dunno why (especially that part around 11:10). Still, a great solo, and an incredible song. One can really sense the feeling of Mike Portnoy towards his dad leaving.

One thing to note is the song structure, which is great IMO. First the musical introduction to present the musical themes of the song, and then it gets all fast and happy when it talks about their happy days and Mike Portnoy´s childhood, and then the song talks about the call and everyone getting sad, and the music and lyrics get really melancholic, but somehow at the end one can sense a feeling of accepting that his dad is away and that ``the spirit carries on´´.

Regarding the similaritie of the intro riff with the riff of ``The Spirit of Radio´´ of Rush, If my memory doesn´t fail me (it does a lot), I read somewhere that Mike´s dad was an announcer in a radio show, and since The Spirit of Radio talks precisely about the radio, I personally think it´s a great tribute to his dad. It also talks about that in the lyrics (Morning shows on the radio...).

A great song IMO.

[Adami]

Wasn't all of the music to this album finished BEFORE his dad died?

If it was, I'm pretty sure there's no connection between anything musical and his day dying.

[MS394]

Wasn't all of the music to this album finished BEFORE his dad died?

If it was, I'm pretty sure there's no connection between anything musical and his day dying.

Mmm I think you´re correct. I guess I, as a newb, was very happy overanalyzing for my first time  heh. Still, I think the music and the lyrics fit surprisingly well.

[Crow]

AMAZING HOLY CRAP EPIC solo.

[Nic35]

AMAZING HOLY CRAP EPIC solo.

[Super Dude]

Wasn't all of the music to this album finished BEFORE his dad died?

If it was, I'm pretty sure there's no connection between anything musical and his day dying.

Because his dad died of cancer, I'd have to guess that MP probably knew for some time beforehand that his father's time was becoming short.

[staveoffzombies]

Wasn't all of the music to this album finished BEFORE his dad died?

If it was, I'm pretty sure there's no connection between anything musical and his day dying.

Because his dad died of cancer, I'd have to guess that MP probably knew for some time beforehand that his father's time was becoming short.

That's the impression I got as well.

[LTE3]

Disappointing and unfortunate. The lyrics really drag this one down. Otherwise, great song.

What are you talking about the lyrics drag this down? You must be nuts. Hello they are about his dad that just died.
The lyric's make want to go hug my dad. to each his own I guess.

[Otnip]

This song doesn't really catch my ear, it's heartfelt and pretty in some places, but for whatever reason JP's solo at the end just doesn't do much for me either 

Still, a good solid song, I just would rank it lower as far as BC&SL tracks go.

[Ultimetalhead]

This song doesn't really catch my ear, it's heartfelt and pretty in some places, but for whatever reason JP's solo at the end just doesn't do much for me either 

Still, a good solid song, I just would rank it lower as far as BC&SL tracks go.

Dude... 

[Crow]

This song doesn't really catch my ear, it's heartfelt and pretty in some places, but for whatever reason JP's solo at the end just doesn't do much for me either  

Still, a good solid song, I just would rank it lower as far as BC&SL tracks go.

You... you like Dream Theater, right?... Why... why would you say that?

[j]

Wasn't all of the music to this album finished BEFORE his dad died?

If it was, I'm pretty sure there's no connection between anything musical and his day dying.

Mmm I think you´re correct. I guess I, as a newb, was very happy overanalyzing for my first time  heh. Still, I think the music and the lyrics fit surprisingly well.

This made me  .

-J

[BlobVanDam]

Wasn't all of the music to this album finished BEFORE his dad died?

If it was, I'm pretty sure there's no connection between anything musical and his day dying.

I was about to say this, in response to rumborak's comparison with some song about a dead uncle. The music was written before they decided what lyrics were going with it. Not that I am denying any similarity, as I haven't heard the song, but the lyrical connection would be a coincidence.

[ariich]

I'm not sure about that, I mean Mike already knew he wanted to write a song about (and to) his dad as he was already dying from cancer. It's not much of a stretch to suggest that they wrote the music to TBOT with that in mind. In fact, I'd say it's very likely, as what if nothing particularly emotional had been written? Would he have had to pen lyrics to some loud metal song?

[BlobVanDam]

It is possible, but from various MP interviews that's not the impression I got. He made it sound like they'd happened to write a very emotional sounding song and he chose that one to write some lyrics abut his father to. Maybe they had that in mind the whole time though, as either way they write lyrics after the music.

[Fuzzboy]

This song doesn't really catch my ear, it's heartfelt and pretty in some places, but for whatever reason JP's solo at the end just doesn't do much for me either 

Still, a good solid song, I just would rank it lower as far as BC&SL tracks go.

You... you like Dream Theater, right?... Why... why would you say what?

God, I feel like a lusær for saying this, but that solo doesn't do much for me either. I think it's a great solo on a great song, but it (solo) doesn't "do anything" for me either, unlike a few others on the album.

[Crow]

I noticed that the ending of the song on the instrumental mix does not include the fade out...
I'm curious as to what JP was playing during this ending.

[The Letter M]

I noticed that the ending of the song on the instrumental mix does not include the fade out...
I'm curious as to what JP was playing during this ending.

For those with the Stem Mixes, it's shown that he plays the same thing, it just ends right when the band moves out of the groove and into the closing hits they play. He simply ends the solo! I think it's better with the fadeout as it is.

-Marc.

[Sixtease]

After studying the lyrics, I can certainly see why Portnoy was reluctant to hand it over to James. How he managed to sing it to his father is even more touching.

Where is this information from, that he was reluctant to hand it over to James?

[ReaPsTA]

After studying the lyrics, I can certainly see why Portnoy was reluctant to hand it over to James. How he managed to sing it to his father is even more touching.

Where is this information from, that he was reluctant to hand it over to James?

In one of the many video interviews he did before the album, he talked about how after doing his vocals over the song, it was really tough to let JLB sing something personal.  Something like "I had to do it, James is the voice of the band, and he did it better than me, but it was really tough to let it go."

[Crow]

AMAZING HOLY CRAP EPIC solo.

[Scurvy!Dreams]

In one of the many video interviews he did before the album, he talked about how after doing his vocals over the song, it was really tough to let JLB sing something personal.  Something like "I had to do it, James is the voice of the band, and he did it better than me, but it was really tough to let it go."

I'd be very interested to hear Mike sing it.

OUR LIIIVES CHANGED FOREEEEVERMOOOORE
into the night!
Blistering!

It could be a phrase on Wheel of Fortune's "before and after"!

I'm gonna download Audacity and attempt to mash those two up.

[Scurvy!Dreams]

Double post

[ReaPsTA]

In one of the many video interviews he did before the album, he talked about how after doing his vocals over the song, it was really tough to let JLB sing something personal.  Something like "I had to do it, James is the voice of the band, and he did it better than me, but it was really tough to let it go."

I'd be very interested to hear Mike sing it.

Same. He said someday he'd probably put it out there. I can understand wanting to wait.

[antigoon]

In one of the many video interviews he did before the album, he talked about how after doing his vocals over the song, it was really tough to let JLB sing something personal.  Something like "I had to do it, James is the voice of the band, and he did it better than me, but it was really tough to let it go."

I'd be very interested to hear Mike sing it.

OUR LIIIVES CHANGED FOREEEEVERMOOOORE
into the night!
Blistering!

It could be a phrase on Wheel of Fortune's "before and after"!

I'm gonna download Audacity and attempt to mash those two up.

Oh God. Yes.

[erik16]

To me TBOT is the best track on BC&SL. It is so beautiful, so I&Wish, majestic and soothing. Mike really poured his soul into it and LaBrie delivers the lyrics wonderfully. I liked it from the first listen and I like it even more now.

[Zydar]

Couldn't agree more!

[Wrath42147]

2:46-3:30 kind of similar to the spirit of radio

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

2:46-3:30 kind of similar to the spirit of radio

Yes. It is.

[erik16]

Random guy: Is this Dream Theater?

JP: Yes. It is.

Fixed