Mikemangioy's 50 degrees of Dream Theater turbulence! (NUMBAH ONE)

[Crow]

TTTTTTTT is awesome.
Sacrificed Sons is good but not as good, though the crushingly heavy riff is pure awesomeness 

[bl5150]

I've never taken the time    to rate my fave DT songs but I can certainly agree with TTT in the top 10 

[jakepriest]

Take The Time imo doesn't deserve better than 50.

Sacrificed Sons  . I would go as high to rate it in my top 5.

[mikemangioy]

Next two!
08.Peruvian Skies (from Falling Into Infinity, 1997)
WHAT THE LEGIT FUCK, A SONG FROM FALLING INTO INFINITY IN THE TOP TEN??!?!?!!!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!
Yes. I like it. YOUR OPINIONS DON'T COUNT
kidding, btw.
I see this song as a strong tribute to Metallica, not only because of its structure (the first half is a ballad and the second is metal), but also because the first part of the song with its bluesy riff reminds me a lot of Load, especially of Bleeding Me, (which is the best song on that record, along with The Outlaw Torn) and the second part is totally Enter Sandman-like.
The best version is the OIALT one, with the inclusions of Have A Cigar (by Pink Floyd, but I think you might know that, we're all prog fans in here, I think) and, of course, Enter Sandman.
Great song, love the first half's feeling but also love the second half's heaviness.

07.Metropolis Part 1: "The Miracle And The Sleeper" (from Images And Words, 1992)
You all saw this coming, you knew that Metropolis was gonna be in the top ten, and it's where it shall be. I know that music is subjective, but if we would have to elect the single greatest DT song, it would either be this one or ACOS. It's just that good. The music is great (the instrumental section is one of the best moments of DT ever  ), and the lyrics are too, even if they are a bit cryptic and sometimes I can't understand them. James sings with passion in this one.
So, this is a classic masterpiece from DT, but I prefer 6 songs to it.

The question is..
what songs?
I now officialy take guesses.

[Crow]

Peruvian Skies is underrated yeah, maybe not this high but I don't mind seeing it here~
And Metropolis of course I can't complain about. Good picks, both of these 

[jakepriest]

WHAT THE LEGIT FUCK, A SONG FROM FALLING INTO INFINITY IN THE TOP TEN??!?!?!!!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!

If Trial of Tears isn't in the top ten I will be a sad panda.
Both of these songs deserve the rankings. I would rank Peruvian Skies a little lower, but it's still great.

[mikemangioy]

Ok, from now on one song per post..

06.Voices (from Awake, 1994)
This song is a beast. It sends shivers various times:
One is the infamous
"As I wait inside my head....
*creepy piano*
and then BOOM
LIKE A SCREEAM BUT SOOORT OF SILENT
LIVING OFF MY NIIGHTMAARES

another moment is the solo, plain amazing
And the last moment (major moment, because practicly all of the song sends shivers)
Is the last note
IT'S OONLYY IN YOUR MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIND
I don't know, there's something about it that is just beautiful.

Another thing I enjoy is the samples and the 9/8 riff.
It's pretty obsevissive an it captures well the lyrics, which talk about schizophrenia.
Masterpiece 

[Prog Snob]

 

[jakepriest]

Voices 

Imo Scarred is much better than Voices though. Still sad to see it at 22nd in your list. 

[Crow]

Not having Voices in your top 10 is basically a capital offense last I heard. Amazing song 

[mikemangioy]

05.Beyond This Life (from Metropolis Part 2: "Scenes From A Memory", 1999)
The top five opens with my favorite song from my favorite record, Beyond This Life.
This song has great power, especially in the opening riff.
I love the LSFN version, where Mike goes "WOOOOOOOOOO" and then Petrucci segues into a 
Amazing moment. Also, the Budokan version is godly. Dat solo and dat wacky keyboard
Speaking of that, this song has my favorite keyboard solo in it ( My fav guitar solo is in Peruvian Skies, I forgot to mention that).
Also, the instrumental section is amazing, I love the Zappa wacky unison and those guitar solos.
I also like the concept of the lyrics.
Masterpiece with the capital M.

[Prog Snob]

I was never the hugest fan of this song except for the instrumental section in the middle.  It probably wouldn't even make my Top 20.

[Crow]

Petrucci's solo is godly but the majority of the song is just "good", mainly the rest of the album overshadows it for me is why.

[jakepriest]

I'm not a big fan. It's actually the weakest song on SFAM imo (don't take me wrong it's still good). I like the riff that plays around 3:45 (She may have found a reason to forgive.. oh YEAH-YEEE  ) but otherwise the songs kinda drags on for too long and it's not that memorable.

[Outcrier]

Beyond This Life, maybe Top 10 for me (that would be Fatal Tragedy and Home) but definitely top 20 

[Sycsa]

I would rate BTL in my top 5 as well, every minute and every version of it is golden. I especially love the Deep Purple riff throughout and after the solo section (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqxkfhmWfjQ - but they kicked that riff around many places, most notably in No No No), being that DP were my favorite band when I first heard the song, it was a big hook.

[mikemangioy]

04.Learning To Live (from Images And Words, 1992)
This song is another staple of everyone's top ten (except for some of the admins, If I remember correctly..)
Great closer to the beast of an album which is Images And Words. This song has really everything strumentally speaking: the technical stuff (the intro still gives me troubles sometimes), the heavy side, the more soft side and the epic side. Along with the two best things in this song (the lyrics and the F# moment including the solo after it) there's a nice Wait For Sleep reprise, which is a nice touch.
Once again, I hate to be repetitive but.. MASTERPIECE 

[Crow]

Personally I've always found it overrated, not because it's bad or anything, but... it just doesn't do that much for me half the time. All the instrumental bits except for the outro I more appreciate than enjoy.

[Outcrier]

Definitely top 10.

[jakepriest]

Personally I've always found it overrated, not because it's bad or anything, but... it just doesn't do that much for me half the time. All the instrumental bits except for the outro I more appreciate than enjoy.

The outro is the weakest part of the song.

[Prog Snob]

Easily a Snob top 10 song.

[Ruba]

Definitely top 10.

[Zydar]

My #1 DT song.

[Viking of the Sagas]

I actually hate the guitar in the beginning of LTL. It's so darn... irritating. The chord, the sharpness, the everything.

Otherwise probably somewhere in top 15 at least.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

This has been going on well past a month. Please wrap it up.

[mikemangioy]

Yes, I'll do the podium in the next three days starting now, don't worry.

[mikemangioy]

Gentlemen, like Evile would say..

ENTER THE PODIUM

03.The Spirit Carries On (from Metropolis Part 2: "Scenes From A Memory", 1999)
Ok, I said that Beyond This Life was my favorite on SFOAM. But this is just not that. It's not a song. It's more. It's a feeling.
It's a mix of sadness, happyness, hope and fear.. it is everything that a song can offer emotionally speaking. There's never been a time when music made me cry, but I think this is a close situation.
Just, a perfect way to end SFOAM (well, before the epilogue of course, which is Finally Free). The lyrics, the melodies... just 
I want this at my funeral. It's perfect.

[Nearmyth]

I like this song, but I do think it's overrated. Doesn't make my top 50. The guitar solo, however, is in my top 10 Petrucci guitar solos. One of his best.

[jakepriest]

Very overrated imo. Through Her Eyes >>>> TSCO.

[Crow]

Very overrated imo. Through Her Eyes >>>> TSCO.

no.

Amazing fantastic song by the way 

[mikemangioy]

Number two GO

02.Octavarium  (from Octavarium, 2005)
Another top ten staple, this is the best Dream Theater epic, IMO. It might not be as cohesive as ACOS or ITPOE but I like it more than those two.

Intro:The intro of this song is kinda boring, although I love the continuum sound. It sounds like a lapsteel, and given that there's even spacey keyboards in the intro, Pink Floyd influences all over the place. Until..
BOOM
the main theme hits. It's so beautiful and epic  .

I.Someone Like Him: The first section of 8VM is very nice, I love the lyrics in this one. The build up to the last chorus is greatly performed.

II.Medicate (Awakening): This is my least favorite part of the song, but the groovy bass just 

III.Full Circle: This is where I think that the real Octavarium starts. The lyrics are very clever although the melody kinda gets stuck in your head.

Instrumental section: I love this part, it's one of my favorite instrumental sections by DT. The riff are very frantic and it's very fun to play. Love the jingle bells reference. 

IV.Intervals:
*groovy 7/8 riff*
..root..
Our deadly sins feel his mortal wrath
Remove all obstacles from our path..

..second..
Asking questions
Search for clues
The answer's been right in front of you..

..third..
Try to break through
Long to connect
Fall on deaf ears and fails muted breath..

..fourth..
Loyalty, trust, faith and desire
Carries love through each darkest fire

fifth!
Tortured Insanity
A smothering hell
Try to escape but to no avail

sixth!
The calls of admirers
Who claim they adore
Drain all your lifeblood while begging for more

SEVENTH!
INNOCENCE VICTIMS OF MERCILESS CRIMES
FALL PREY TO SOME MADMEN'S IMPULSIVE DESIRES

OCTAVE!
STEP AFTER STEP WE TRY CONTROLLING OUR FAITH
WHEN WE FINALLY STARTED LIVING
IT'S BECOME TOO LATE

TRAPPED IN-SIDE THIS
OC-TA-VA-RI-UM

TRAPPED IN-SIDE THIS
OC-TA-VA-RI-UM

TRAPPED IN-SIDE THIS
OC-TA-VA-RI-UM

TRAPPED IN-SIDE
THIS!
OC-TA-VA-RI-UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!
*epic synths sound*

best moment in DT's entire career.

V.Razor's Edge
The epic conclusion to this epic song! Great lyrics, moving melodies and the final solo 
the last note always gives me goosebumps.

No words for this masterpiece. No words.

Any guesses for the number one?

[Viking of the Sagas]

Your mom.

[Xersiz]

Your mom.

OMG I LOL'D SO HARD! 

[Viking of the Sagas]

Such joke! Wow!

Also shouldn't your name be Mike Mantoy, mikemangioy?

[Crow]

Wouldn't call it the best moment in their career, but Intervals is at least the best part of 8VM and damn awesome. Totally worthy of its spot.