Do You Like When JLB Deviates from Studio Vocal Melodies Live?

[ronrule]

I'm listening to Live Scenes from NY and there is just too much of this, especially for a classic like Metropolis Pt I. It annoys me, but how do you feel? I'd probably be fine with it if I thought it was an improvement or an interesting change, but it's rarely either for me.

On a brighter note, loving the bass on The Mirror during LSFNY!

[BlobVanDam]

For the most part I like it. In the case of LSFNY a lot of them add character to the performance and make it something unique to listen to instead of SFAM.

The only improv that I hated on it is when he didn't hit the F# in LTL and instead keeps singing over the guitar solo. Aside from that, none come to mind that I dislike.

[ronrule]

I can understand ones where he needs to stay low for voice reasons. I don't enjoy those, but I understand them. What annoys me are just random changes, often higher notes. Usually it's the last note of a phrase, landing on a different one for some reason.

[jsem]

For the most part I like it. In the case of LSFNY a lot of them add character to the performance and make it something unique to listen to instead of SFAM.

The only improv that I hated on it is when he didn't hit the F# in LTL and instead keeps singing over the guitar solo. Aside from that, none come to mind that I dislike.

This.

[Elsydeon]

Most  of his vocal deviations I do enjoy quite a bit. One example that comes to mind is in hollow years at budokan at about 6:55 (bury me in the saaaaaaaaand), I don't think he quite sang it like that on the past tours, but I really enjoyed how he sang that part on budokan. Most of the time I love how James plays around with the vocal melodies of songs.

[KevShmev]

No, but I hate when he talks over a cool instrumental part.  I remember when they did that extended instrumental section in Beyond This Life (on the Budokan DVD) and then went back into the regular end of it, right when they got to the end where Petrucci and Rudess both go crazy with a unison, he yells something about giving it up for these guys, which was trying to get applause out of the crowd, but he talked right over the climax.  

[wasteland]

Very, very often. Just like BvD, the only one time I hated his improvisation was when he took on singing over JP's guitar solo after the F#.

[Tipram]

For the most part I like it. In the case of LSFNY a lot of them add character to the performance and make it something unique to listen to instead of SFAM.

The only improv that I hated on it is when he didn't hit the F# in LTL and instead keeps singing over the guitar solo. Aside from that, none come to mind that I dislike.

I agree largely with Blob: it gives the song little changes that makes me want to listen to the live version rather than the studio version.
I have to disagree with Blob on LtL though, I really quite enjoy the alternative to the F# with the singing accompanying the intro to the guitar solo. LSFNY is the album that pushed my appreciation for Dream theater into overdrive, so I may be biased towards just loving everything about the album 
(Also, the mention of The Mirror has made me put the LSFNY version on, and I can vouch for the tastiness of the bass  )

[Connoc]

They aren't consistently good or bad enough for me to make a general rule but here are some of my favs:

LAB - Hollow Years - Bury me in the sa-aa-aa-aaand  (6:55ish)

LAM - Metro pt.1 - Find that it's caught up with MEEEEEH (3:28ish)

LAM - Killing Hand -  I'M IN THE VAAAALLEY (8:49ish) (all the way to the end)

LSFNY - Silent Man - When there is reaaaason (4:04ish)  I know it's the same melody, but I like the higher octave, even if he kinda falters on "Tonight he's awake")

OIAL - Learning to Live - Spread before you is your SOOOOOOUL! (3:03ish) I love that note he hits so much I almost wish he'd go back and overdub it in the studio.


(I absolutely agree with KevShmev that he REALLLY needs to stop saying "Mr. John Petrucci!" WHILE he's still blistering it up. Let the boys finish, then remind us what their names are)

[jonny108]

I love how he changes The Spirit Carries On - "Because I am no longer heeeeeerrreee"

[tri.ad]

I mostly like them quite a bit.

[Millais]

if i'm completely honest, i don't. of course every artist has freedom during live performances, but arghhh - this is quite a hard one to decide on!

[Metabog]

Yeah, I don't mind it except if it massively ruins something.

[obscure]

I enjoy deviations from the CD recordings... calls for a huge talent.. not every vocal can pull it off....
well I am quite a fan girl... I enjoy pretty much everything he does... 

[Sketchy]

Yeah, I really quite like it, especially the ones on LAtM and on the early bootlegs (particularly on UaGM on the New York '93 one... Yes, some bits he's off key and then there's the epic "Bear this honour in my... NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME" which makes me smile each time.)

[Metropolis pt.-1]

Most of the time I like it. For example in the early 90's when he would do those super high vocals, like in UAGM Live in Tokyo '93 where he sings "Bear this honor in my NAAAAAAAAAAAAAME!" and Metropolis Live at the Marquee where he sings "I find that it's caught up with me" as someone already pointed out.

[tgstk2]

I mostly like them quite a bit.

THIS. i just hate it when it's 100% as the CD, cause than there's nothing fresh/else to expect, I dont like adlibs'but I like it when he changes things from time to time, just as JP's sometimes changes a solo as a jam, as did MP and so on.
why should JLB be the only one who can't jam around his melodies/parts? it's all about fun......and fun is when going to a DT concert and not knowing what to expect.

[jyoung320]

I'm liking what he is doing with TCOT now that Portnoy left.

[Bone_Daddy]

I really like it on Home live.

[JayOctavarium]

I'm liking what he is doing with TCOT now that Portnoy left.

this. I finally watched a vid of TCOT with Mangini and... I manginied.

oh and "these days bring new questions" on LTL instead of "the 90s brings new questions." not quite on topic but yea

[Fiery Winds]

Sort of related, but does anyone know why James always cuts out a word from this line in UAGM?

"I argue with the clouds stealing beauty from my eyes".

[BlobVanDam]

Sort of related, but does anyone know why James always cuts out a word from this line in UAGM?

"I argue with the clouds stealing beauty from my eyes".

To take a breath. The original phrasing makes it a little hard to take a breath if he's using it all up to belt out those higher notes.

[lelanddt]

I believe he did something like that on Score, during the Root of All Evil, he changed a few parts, and several times during that concert he yells "cmon New York!"

oh and the marillion Sugar Mice part of Surrounded Live from Chaos in Motion! I loved it 

[The Presence of Frenemies]

Yeah, I almost always like it when he changes these. Obviously there's the legendary early-90's updates to TKH and the like, but there's also that incredible TSCO bridge from Score that somebody mentioned, and a lot of new ones from the ADTOE tour, too, like:

"Moments wasted, isolated, time escaping, endless SAAACRIFFIIIIICE" (in the final chorus)

"Pra-ay for TIIIIIIIME to disappear" (every chorus)

"Fly aWAAAAAAAAAAAYYY with me tonight"

"Battered and bruised, AAAAAAAALLLways confusing the love that she's losing"

"Life to save LIIIIIIIIFE" (alternatively "LIIIIIIIFE to save life," he's done it both ways)

Those are the crazy high things he's done this tour. He's also messed slightly with a couple of the melodies in UAGM, Forsaken, and OTBOA.

As others have said, I love them all except for the LTL C# in LSFNY.

[Ħ]

Usually not.

[ronrule]

I'm kinda surprised at the response and I'm not sure if y'all are noticing how often he does this!

I'm not talking about one creative interpretation per song. More like every other line has some seemingly random notes! Here's LSFNY with most changes in rhythm or melody noted with a *. I'd be fine with maybe 2 of these, but a whole song of this is just off-putting (especially see: "Somewhere like a sce*ne from a memory" section) Ugh, I think I'll go watch the Split Screen cover of this instead now to cleanse my palate.

Metropolis Part I:

The smile of dawn
Arrived in early May
She carried a gi*ft from her h*ome
The night shed a tear
To tell her of fear
And of sorrow and pain
She'll never out*grow

Death is the first dance, eternal

There's no more freedom
The both of you will be
confined * to* this mind

I was told there's miracle for
each day that I try
I was told there's a new love
that's born for each one that
has died
I was told there'd be no one to
call on when I feel alone and
afraid
I was told if you dream of the
next worl*d
You'll find yourself swimming
in a lake of fire

As a child, I thought I could
live without pain without
sorrow
As a man I've found it's all
ca*ught up with m*e
I'm asleep yet I'm s*o afraid

Somewhere like a sce*ne from a
mem*ory
There's a picture worth a
thousand w*ords
Eluding stares from fac*es
be*ore *me
It hides away and will never be
hea*rd *of again (messes up harmonies b/c of changes)

Deceit is the second without end

The city's cold blood teaches us
to survive
Just keep your heart in my eyes
and we'll stay aliv*e

The third arrive*s...

[lame talking..."especially special"!]

Before the leaves have fa*lle*n
Be*fore we lock the doors*
There must be the third and
last dance
This one will last forever
Metropolis watches and
thou*ghtfully smiles
She's taken you to your ho*me

It can only take place
When the struggle between
our children has ende*d
Now the Miracle and the
Sleeper know that the third
is lov*e

Love is the Dance of Eternity

[Ben_Jamin]

I absolutely don't mind it. Since most bands don't do it exact anyways. Bruce doesn't sing as high anymore, yet people don't bash him when he sings newer songs, it bugs me when singers have the audience sing a certain part. Unless they say "sing it"

my favorite is in Surrounded '07 on CiM, "but I will HOOOld this one up hiiigh" and TMOLS "your suffering was all in Vaaiiiin" (the way he holds the vain is amazing)

[The Presence of Frenemies]

my favorite is in Surrounded '07 on CiM, "but I will HOOOld this one up hiiigh"

Well, there's something I wouldn't expect anyone to say.

[JayOctavarium]

TMOLS "your suffering was all in Vaaiiiin" (the way he holds the vain is amazing)

THIS


Its kinda chilling

[Ben_Jamin]

my favorite is in Surrounded '07 on CiM, "but I will HOOOld this one up hiiigh"

Well, there's something I wouldn't expect anyone to say.

Yes I'm weird like that. But it's something that I enjoy him doing.

[MajorMatt]

I always love it when he belts out passages higher than the recorded ones, most have been mentioned, but recently the endless SACRIFICE (G#5) is pretty awesome too

Matt