My thoughts on 'Dream Theater' (***SPOILERS***)

[RMGadelha]

in every one except illumination theory and the instrumentals, the song names are prominently displayed as the centerpiece of the chorus.

Does that mean that he says the name of the songs in the middle of each chorus?

[aXygnus]

in every one except illumination theory and the instrumentals, the song names are prominently displayed as the centerpiece of the chorus.

Does that mean that he says the name of the songs in the middle of each chorus?

Let's not go down that road again 

[jonny108]

Hey Noxon, unsure if anyone has asked this yet but do you know which song has the JM lyrics? 

[JayOctavarium]

From the The Bigger Picture chorus:

The Bigger Picture, The Bigger Picture
The Bigger Picture, The Bigger Picture
The Bigger Picture, The Bigger Picture
The Bigger Picture, The Bigger Picture

[aprilethereal]

in every one except illumination theory and the instrumentals, the song names are prominently displayed as the centerpiece of the chorus.

Damn. I hate how DT always does that.

Yeah, that's so mainstream

[illusionist]

Noxon,which song has the best perfomance of each of the band members-in your opinion-?

[illusionist]

Oh,and how would you describe JP playing on the album?Does it have new elements or is it something noteworthy?

[aurorablind]

in every one except illumination theory and the instrumentals, the song names are prominently displayed as the centerpiece of the chorus.

Damn. I hate how DT always does that.

Come on.. It´s not like they´re Maiden or something 

[ariich]

in every one except illumination theory and the instrumentals, the song names are prominently displayed as the centerpiece of the chorus.

Damn. I hate how DT always does that.

Why? Isn't that what most bands do?

[Nick]

I always point back to Bridges in the Sky. The Shaman's Trance was the PERFECT title for that song, but it got replaced with something that just seems so generic in hindsight. I'm not suggesting that most titles should be a little different, but it would be nice to see a little variety.

[Deve]

I always point back to Bridges in the Sky. The Shaman's Trance was the PERFECT title for that song, but it got replaced with something that just seems so generic in hindsight. I'm not suggesting that most titles should be a little different, but it would be nice to see a little variety.

I totally agree with this. I still think of it as The Shaman's Trance whenever it comes on.

[Dark Castle]

I've always preferred Bridges in the Sky. It sounds much more fascinating and not cheesy like The Shaman's Trance.

[ariich]

I've always preferred Bridges in the Sky. It sounds much more fascinating and not cheesy like The Shaman's Trance.

Agreed, Bridges in the Sky is much more interesting and poetic.

[OsMosis2259]

I've always preferred Bridges in the Sky. It sounds much more fascinating and not cheesy like The Shaman's Trance.

This.
I'm glad they changed the title too. The Shaman's Trance sounds very out of place compared to the rest of the titles.

ADTOE had their least "cheesy" song titles in my opinion which was a nice change.

[CodyWanKenobi]

I thought they should have called it "Bridges In The Sky (The Shaman's Trance)". Tons of bands have songs like that. Van Halen has "Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do), Avenged has "Unbound (The Wild Ride)", Symphony X has "Prometheus (I Am Alive)" and "Inferno (Unleash The Fire)" (amongst others). I think that would have been kinda cool.

[Nearmyth]

I've always preferred Bridges in the Sky. It sounds much more fascinating and not cheesy like The Shaman's Trance.

This.
I'm glad they changed the title too. The Shaman's Trance sounds very out of place compared to the rest of the titles.

ADTOE had their least "cheesy" song titles in my opinion which was a nice change.

Agreed.

Also, I usually don't mind when a name is said in the song.. but it's a lot more interesting when it isn't said as prominently, an example being Breaking All Illusions. Or songs where the name isn't said at all, but just alluded to or referenced (The Great Debate comes to mind, but that song's original title was actually said in the song )

[CodyWanKenobi]

I've always preferred Bridges in the Sky. It sounds much more fascinating and not cheesy like The Shaman's Trance.

This.
I'm glad they changed the title too. The Shaman's Trance sounds very out of place compared to the rest of the titles.

ADTOE had their least "cheesy" song titles in my opinion which was a nice change.

Agreed.

Also, I usually don't mind when a name is said in the song.. but it's a lot more interesting when it isn't said as prominently, an example being Breaking All Illusions. Or songs where the name isn't said at all, but just alluded to or referenced (The Great Debate comes to mind, but that song's original title was actually said in the song )

The Test That Stumped Them All is another one. 

[Whatsername]

Agreed.

Also, I usually don't mind when a name is said in the song.. but it's a lot more interesting when it isn't said as prominently, an example being Breaking All Illusions. Or songs where the name isn't said at all, but just alluded to or referenced (The Great Debate comes to mind, but that song's original title was actually said in the song )

Panic Attack? I don't think they ever specifically use the line in the song, even though the entire song is about it. I don't know what the original/working title might have been so I could be totally off-base here.

The Test That Stumped Them All is another one. 

No it is: "Hoping to find in me the answer to the test that stumped them all".

[Nearmyth]

Agreed.

Also, I usually don't mind when a name is said in the song.. but it's a lot more interesting when it isn't said as prominently, an example being Breaking All Illusions. Or songs where the name isn't said at all, but just alluded to or referenced (The Great Debate comes to mind, but that song's original title was actually said in the song )

Panic Attack? I don't think they ever specifically use the line in the song, even though the entire song is about it. I don't know what the original/working title might have been so I could be totally off-base here.

The Test That Stumped Them All is another one. 

No it is: "Hoping to find in me the answer to the test that stumped them all".

Yes Panic Attack, and correct me if I'm wrong but also The Root of All Evil? The list could go on, point being it simply makes the song more interesting for me This makes me excited for the theme/story that's going on with Illumination Theory.

[Whatsername]

The Root of All Evil says that phrase as well. But I get your point. Sometimes it's fun, but if it gets to the point where they sound like they're trying to avoid saying it it wouldn't work. Likewise if they're trying to pigeonhole the title into the lyrics it won't work.

[JPX]

You knew with DT as soon as they said the song was called The Enemy Inside, that the last line of the chorus would be 'the enemy inside'.

[CodyWanKenobi]

The Test That Stumped Them All is another one. 

No it is: "Hoping to find in me the answer to the test that stumped them all".

You're fuckin right. How did I forget that? What about ACOS. All that's said is "seasons change" right? And Regression, I don't think it does in About To Crash, nor do I think it does in ITPOE or HTF. But that's just off the top of my head. I could be wrong again. Hmmmm..

[Whatsername]

I generally having trouble remembering the ones that don't say it, since it always sticks out to me when it does. However, like I said, I generally like it. It has a nice symmetry to it or something. Similar when I used to write and I'd try to include the title of my story somewhere within it. Except DT is talented and I'm not.

[noxon]

False Awakening! The Enemy Inside is looking through the Looking Glass into the Enigma Machine looking for the Bigger Picture hoping to see Behind the Veil, so that he won't have to Surrender to Reason while he's Along for the Ride learning about the Illumination Theory.

[RMGadelha]

I've always preferred Bridges in the Sky. It sounds much more fascinating and not cheesy like The Shaman's Trance.

This.
I'm glad they changed the title too. The Shaman's Trance sounds very out of place compared to the rest of the titles.

ADTOE had their least "cheesy" song titles in my opinion which was a nice change.

Heh, it was the opposite with me. ADTOE's song titles were the ones that disappointed me the most when they were announced, and sounded really cheesy to me =P I learned to liked them after the album was released and I've listened to the songs.

EDIT: And the self-titled album is the one which I was most pleasantly surprised with the song titles.

[Sycsa]

Also, I usually don't mind when a name is said in the song.. but it's a lot more interesting when it isn't said as prominently, an example being Breaking All Illusions. Or songs where the name isn't said at all, but just alluded to or referenced (The Great Debate comes to mind, but that song's original title was actually said in the song )

Under a Glass Moon is another good example for the first (good thing they didn't call it Praying for Time) and Scarred for the second. A Nightmare to Remember is the only song off the top of my head which starts and ends with the same phrase. Are the any others?

[RMGadelha]

Also, I usually don't mind when a name is said in the song.. but it's a lot more interesting when it isn't said as prominently, an example being Breaking All Illusions. Or songs where the name isn't said at all, but just alluded to or referenced (The Great Debate comes to mind, but that song's original title was actually said in the song )

Under a Glass Moon is another good example for the first (good thing they didn't call it Praying for Time) and Scarred for the second. A Nightmare to Remember is the only song off the top of my head which starts and ends with the same phrase. Are the any others?

Another Day is ALMOST like that. Starts with "Live another day" and ends with "so try another day".

[The Stray Seed]

https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=38738.0

A somewhat related topic.

[(nothing)]

Maybe I've got the meaning of "cheesy" wrong but how's "Bridges In The Sky" not cheesy?

[Dark Castle]

Maybe I've got the meaning of "cheesy" wrong but how's "Bridges In The Sky" not cheesy?

Even if it were cheesy which it's not, how could it be more cheesy than The Shaman's Trance?

[GasparXR]

Maybe I've got the meaning of "cheesy" wrong but how's "Bridges In The Sky" not cheesy?

Because it's your opinion that it's cheesy. It has not a whole lot to do with whether your definiton of 'cheesy' is correct.

[RMGadelha]

Maybe cheesy is in the eyes of the beholder?

[(nothing)]

Maybe I've got the meaning of "cheesy" wrong but how's "Bridges In The Sky" not cheesy?

Even if it were cheesy which it's not, how could it be more cheesy than The Shaman's Trance?

I made no comparison but "Bridges In The Sky" just sounds really generic to me, therefore it's cheesy. Love the song though

[425]

I just can't see that song title as generic. How many other bands would write a song called "Bridges In the Sky"? To me, it is a title definitely in the vein of a few of their classic song titles like "Under a Glass Moon" or "Lifting Shadows Off a Dream". And it is distinctly Dream Theater.

"The Shaman's Trance" is not an awful title but it sounds like a better name for a movie than a song. "Bridges In the Sky" is very evocative, to me. It's very striking imagery. Much like the aforementioned UAGM and LSOAD titles. To me, those types of titles are very romantic, unashamedly intellectual, and in the case of those three in particular, quite uplifting.

The song titles on ADTOE were a definite improvement IMO over those from BC&SL which, to me, were not that great (only "Wither" stands out). However, SC has what are probably some of their best song titles ("In the Presence of Enemies", "The Ministry of Lost Souls", "Constant Motion", "The Dark Eternal Night", with only "Prophets of War" as one I don't particularly like). You can tell a lot about the emotional content of those songs from the imagery in the titles.

[m0hawk]

I still maintain that the album should have been named "Bridges In The Sky" and the song named "The Shaman's Trance".