Anna Lee

RoeDent · September 30, 2012, 10:47:04 AM

Why does everyone hate this song? That chord progression in the chorus (especially after the key change at the end of the song) is one of the most beautiful things Dream Theater have ever produced! It should tug at your heartstrings and give you goosebumps. It's the song that made me buy the album.

Are there any fans of Anna Lee out there? I can't be the only one, surely!

BlobVanDam · September 30, 2012, 10:50:28 AM

There should be plenty of fans of Anna Lee here! FII is my 3rd favourite DT album, and I think it's a great song. Not one of my very favourites, but still a very nice ballad.

Zydar · September 30, 2012, 10:51:02 AM

Another fan here. I've always loved this song, Derek does a great piano performance here and James is great as always.

Destiny Of Chaos · September 30, 2012, 10:52:06 AM

I love Anna Lee. I think of DS when I hear it, much as people think of KM when they hear SDV.

Dublagent66 · September 30, 2012, 11:25:44 AM

Everyone hates this song?

I like it.

Scorpion · September 30, 2012, 11:39:09 AM

Love it. The solo is pretty cool and very tasteful. Definitely one of my favourite on FII.

DarkLord_Lalinc · September 30, 2012, 11:42:18 AM

Actually, that song is pretty much loved around here (and with foremost reason).

Ħ · September 30, 2012, 11:42:25 AM

I don't hate it but it sounds like a very generic ballad.

hefdaddy42 · September 30, 2012, 12:41:06 PM

Great song. JP rocks the slide solo on the Talman. Fantastic, great, awesome. Wish they would bring it back for live sets.

Grinch · September 30, 2012, 12:51:11 PM

Love it, especially the slide solo, but I have to say my favourite part is the piano intro, love it. They have to start playing it again.

MoraWintersoul · September 30, 2012, 02:03:06 PM

Fucking love it. One of the best things DS did, and JLB's lyrics are beautiful. I wish they brought it back!

wasteland · September 30, 2012, 02:17:42 PM

I like it. Very good and underplayed to a fault (althought I must say that I understad the band's (or MP's ?) resolution to retire a song that was so closely connected to a past member).

WildeSilas · September 30, 2012, 03:32:37 PM

This is one of the songs that adds huge points to FII for production quality. Listen to the compression on those drums, the slide solo, the Lennon-esque tone of JLB's reverb, etc. It's a party in your ear - by far their biggest tip of the hat to The Beatles and they need to do it more often. God, how I wish they'd kept DS around.

Grinch · September 30, 2012, 03:53:23 PM

They should have, instead of just getting rid of Derek all together, started a second DT.

Madman Shepherd · September 30, 2012, 04:35:05 PM

Absolutely love it and I told Derek that when I met him.

Since the lyrics are about child prostitution and/or incest, I can't help but think of this special I saw on the Discovery channel (I think) about an undercover sting at a brothel in Vietnam where there was some two dozen kids that were victimized. It's heart wrenching (and they were rescued) but the song captures the emotion so perfectly.

TheGreatPretender · September 30, 2012, 04:50:31 PM

I like every DT song to some extent. I just don't find it all that interesting compare to their other ballads.

VioletS16 · September 30, 2012, 05:21:51 PM

I'm aware of the hate but don't understand it. The song is brilliant and needs to be brought back.

Nekov · September 30, 2012, 06:17:33 PM

Beautiful and touching song

Jaq · September 30, 2012, 06:43:38 PM

Love it, amazing song. I didn't think it was hated around these parts-hell if anything, DTF seems to like FII a lot more than DT fans I run into every where else, though that could just be the fans I run into...

Adami · September 30, 2012, 06:47:20 PM

Possibly my 2nd favorite DT ballad after SDV.

theseoafs · September 30, 2012, 08:37:30 PM

Good tune.

voncorn · October 01, 2012, 01:17:07 AM

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Kwyjibo · October 01, 2012, 04:55:29 AM

Very much love this song. Very underrated, they should have played it more often.

I think some people just hate it out of principle because it's not prog or metal.

The Letter M · October 01, 2012, 05:00:34 AM

Great song and easily one of my favorites on the album!

Like others have said, I wish they would bring it back to the stage. I think it's about time some of the FII tunes return, be recorded and released for posterity before they are lost and forgotten by the band.

-Marc.

Jaffa · October 01, 2012, 07:43:32 AM

It never used to do much for me, but lately I've been enjoying it more.

OsMosis2259 · October 01, 2012, 07:46:38 AM

Quote from: theseoafs on September 30, 2012, 08:37:30 PM
Good tune.

? · October 01, 2012, 08:35:52 AM

I've never liked Anna Lee much, I simply find it bland; I can't believe they included it in the FII tracklist instead of Speak to Me, that's a great song and so much better IMO.

MetropolisWatches · October 01, 2012, 09:23:35 PM

Great song- and the guitar lead is amazing. One of my favorites on FII.

obscure · October 02, 2012, 04:45:45 AM

It took me a lot of listens to truly appreciate it, if I'm honest... love it to pieces now... seeing it live, on the other hand literally floored me...

AngelBack · October 02, 2012, 04:55:26 AM

Have always loved it. Beautiful song, moving lyrics, love the backing vocals.

voncorn · October 02, 2012, 09:49:09 PM

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Ben_Jamin · October 02, 2012, 10:01:25 PM

Quote from: ? on October 01, 2012, 08:35:52 AM
I've never liked Anna Lee much, I simply find it bland; I can't believe they included it in the FII tracklist instead of Speak to Me, that's a great song and so much better IMO.

Although I really enjoy Speak to Me, it's more bland than Anna Lee. The latter has lots more color, while Speak to Me is more atmospheric and simple. It's a shame they didn't include it.

manticore999 · October 03, 2012, 10:50:39 AM

I prefer 'harder rocking' songs, but actually enjoy Anna Lee. Other than YNM I really like FII. Still listen to it pretty regularly.

Polis · October 03, 2012, 05:56:58 PM

I've come to really love this song... being right before the orgasmic trial of tears helps too

ytserush · October 04, 2012, 07:08:15 PM

My least favorite Dream theater song ever although I had to seriously reconsider that when Systematic Chaos came out.

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Anna Lee