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What is your favorite DT song title, and why

Started by The Stray Seed, August 27, 2013, 02:20:54 PM

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The Stray Seed

We started a discussion about song titles in another thread. I found it interesting and decided to start this topic. I still have to think what's mine... Still undecided between AMBI and LSOAD.

TheGreatPretender

That's a good question.

Looking over all of them, I'd have to say that for me it's "The Ministry Of Lost Souls", the title of the song is way cooler than the actual subject matter of the song.

And if there wasn't already a band called Ministry, I'd say, "The Ministry Of Lost Souls" would make for a kick ass band name as well.

Whatsername

Quote from: TheGreatPretender on August 27, 2013, 02:26:31 PM
That's a good question.

Looking over all of them, I'd have to say that for me it's "The Ministry Of Lost Souls", the title of the song is way cooler than the actual subject matter of the song.

This. Or In the Presence of Enemies, because I appreciate the religious imagery that invokes.

RMGadelha

Can't think of a favorite right now, but the badassery of In the Presence of Enemies comes to mind.

EDIT: Myung'd by Whatsername ☼_o


FourthHorseman


Obfuscation

Either In The Presence of Enemies or Octavarium.

nicmos

Build Me Up Break Me Down, and A Nightmare to Remember are a couple of my favorites.

why: BMUBMD- it's sort of clever and I like the idea conveyed in that short phrase, plus it has that direct contrast between the two subphrases.
ANTR- I like the idea that it reminds us how powerful scary dreams can be.  it's sort of a play on things that we want to remember, but nightmares usually aren't.  so I think it's clever.

wasteland

Trial Of Tears -> I like the alliteration
The Dance Of Eternity -> A stormy, apocalyptic title. Preludes to something out of the ordinary
Under A Glass Moon -> Dreamy and evocative. The ultimate title-metaphor
Lifting Shadows -> Another mood setting title.
Enigma Machine -> ??????

Sycsa

I love 6:00 because if I happen to look at the clock at that time (which occurs surprisingly often, both am and pm), it always starts playing in my head.

Enigma Machine sounds cool, just gotta overcome the urge to call it Enigmachine.

Ytse Jam is also neat and it was a big revelation when I found out what it actually stands for. They should have shelved the idea at that point though, Raw Dog is a sin.  :)

Lucidity

Learning to Live, The Dance of Eternity, Lines in the Sand, Under a Glass Moon, to name a few.

425

There really are a lot of very good ones. I think I'll have to agree with In the Presence of Enemies, The Ministry of Lost Souls, Trial of Tears, 6:00 and Octavarium as contenders. I also have to add to the list Metropolis Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper, Bridges In the Sky, A Change of Seasons, and To Live Forever.

Also, a couple of controversial picks: Constant Motion and The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun.

But I think the winner for me is ITPOE. It really sets a standard for a level of awesome that is almost attained by the song (damn you, Reckoning). For months before I'd ever heard the song, whenever I looked at a list of DT songs or the tracklist of SC and saw that name, I remember being so excited to hear what the song could be about and how good it would sound. And that is the mark of a great song name, IMO. It should get you intrigued in the song (and sometimes by extension, the band). As you can tell from my list, all of the ones I like are somewhat mysterious and don't come right out and tell you what they are about. While I love the song, "Learning to Live" doesn't really conjure a lot of imagery or leave much to the imagination. And titles like "Panic Attack" or "The Great Debate" are just downright boring IMO (I think the latter would have been far better off with the original title of "Conflict at Ground Zero," but they really couldn't use that one in 2002, so I definitely don't hold that one against them).

Tomislav95

Lifting shadows off a dream and Space-dye vest were always cool to me. I like abstraction.

Lolzeez

Lines In The Sand and Bridges In The Sky.
Learning To Live is really badass too.

wolven74

Off Existing Albums

Learning to Live
Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
Octavarium
The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun

Off DT12

False Awakening Suite
Enigma Machine
Behind The Veil
Surrender to Reason
Illumination Theory

krands85

Quote from: Obfuscation on August 27, 2013, 02:40:04 PM
Either In The Presence of Enemies or Octavarium.
This.

Also fond of Breaking All Illusions, On the Backs of Angels and A Fortune in Lies.
Whoaaaahh, ohhh, ohhhhh. Whoaaaahh, ohhhhh, ohhhhhh. Waaah, ahhh, haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaowwwwww

Jaffa

Most of my favorites have already been mentioned, so I'm just going to show a little love for As I Am.

bosk1

Lots of good ones, but I think I'll have to go with Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence.  Very clever word play in taking an existing pop culture phrase and making it very unsettling.  And I love how the twist at the end of the song turns back to the Six Degrees concept in a very surprising way.  This has to be, far and away, my favorite.

Daso

Oh jeez, a lot to mention in this one. I really like, in album order, A Fortune in Lies, Under a Glass Moon, Learning to Live, Lifting Shadows off a Dream, Space Dye Vest, Hollow Years, Lines in the Sand, The Dance of Eternity, Blind Faith, Stream of Consciousness, The Root of All Evil, The Answer Lies Within, On the Backs of Angels, Bridges in the Sky, Breaking All Illusions, Far from Heaven, Beneath the Surface, Surrender to Reason and Illumination Theory.

I'll keep it short to that and rather not say why to all of those  :lol

(nothing)

Quote from: bosk1 on August 27, 2013, 03:29:38 PM
Lots of good ones, but I think I'll have to go with Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence.  Very clever word play in taking an existing pop culture phrase and making it very unsettling.  And I love how the twist at the end of the song turns back to the Six Degrees concept in a very surprising way.  This has to be, far and away, my favorite.

100% Agreed.

m0hawk

The Dance Of Eternity. Without hearing or knowing the context of the song, it is the most ambiguously satisfying title the band has created yet. Is this "dance" meant to be about a romance between two people for all of eternity? Or is it an eternal struggle between enemies? How on earth DO they do whatever they're doing for all time? Oh my god! Is their dance salsa? Or ballet? SO MANY QUESTIONS, FUCK.

FourthHorseman

Quote from: m0hawk on August 27, 2013, 04:26:28 PM
The Dance Of Eternity. Without hearing or knowing the context of the song, it is the most ambiguously satisfying title the band has created yet. Is this "dance" meant to be about a romance between two people for all of eternity? Or is it an eternal struggle between enemies? How on earth DO they do whatever they're doing for all time? Oh my god! Is their dance salsa? Or ballet? SO MANY QUESTIONS, FUCK.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it is meant to symbolize sex. Sex is the "Dance of Eternity"

RuRoRul

Hard to really separate the titles from the songs as there are certain song titles that sound great but probably only because of their association with the song, e.g. In The Name Of God wouldn't sound bad ass at all if it was from some Christian rock album.

My list of ones that are great, as they pop into my head:

The Glass Prison
Breaking All Illusions
Lines In The Sand
Octavarium (despite being a made up word it just seems so fitting for such an epic)
In The Presence Of Enemies
Honor Thy Father (maybe a case where it is only good because I know it is a dark song, and not a hymn or something).
Stream Of Consciousness
The Ones Who Help To Set The Sun (to be honest I barely listen to this but the title is cool quite cool)

Tom Bombadil

Have to agree with ITPOE. I also think Misunderstood is a great song name. Off DT12 I think if they dropped the "Suite" in "False Awakening Suite" it would be really cool. "False Awakening" is a badass song name. Of well...

Outcrier

The Dance Of Eternity
Octavarium
Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence
Ytse Jam

Tis BOOLsheet

Goodnight Kiss because it's so romantic  :'(



In all seriousness though, I'm not sure. There have been some great song titles over the years.

adastra

Lifting Shadows Off A Dream  .  I've always liked it :3

adamack

Some honorable mentions for me are Endless Sacrifice, Erotomania, and Wait For Sleep.

Erotomania just sounds really creepy to me. It sounds like some sick form of insanity. I think my brain associates "Eroto" with words like "erode" and "rot" and makes me think of some kind of deteriorating sense of reality, or even a physically eroding brain or something.  ???  But that is what makes it cool.

Wait for Sleep I like personally, because I have struggled with insomnia for at least 10 years, and those words sum it up perfectly. I always find myself lying around just waiting and waiting to doze off.

Endless Sacrifice is cool because, at first glance, you could interpret that as being something religious (sacrifice), or just something based on reality.

Ħ

Most of titles are pretty decent. But my favorite title would probably be The Glass Prison.

RaiseTheKnife

Metropolis, Part One - The Miracle and the Sleeper:  try to remember the very first time you all saw this title-- it carries a majestic and mysterious allure.

Erotomania - love the concept, the weirdness and it sooo fits the music.





TheGreatPretender

The only thing I thought of when I saw that title was, "Yay, prequel to SFAM!"

Enlil36

My favorite song by Dream Theater? I can't decide between The Count Of Tuscany and Learning To Live
TCOT - Love the lyrics,the lenght and the final part (Could this be the end?...)
LTL - Still because of the lyrics that Myung wrote and DAT BASS AT 10:02 :O

TheGreatPretender

This is about the actual titles though, not the songs themselves.

Enlil36

Quote from: TheGreatPretender on August 28, 2013, 12:04:51 AM
This is about the actual titles though, not the songs themselves.

Oh,my bad....
My favorite song title then is The Shattered Fortress ;D

aprilethereal

I'd say 6:00, Bridges In The Sky, Space-Dye Vest, The Glass Prison, Endless Sacrifice, This Dying Soul