Speak to Me

[hefdaddy42]

I had the pleasure of witnessing this song live on the octavarium tour and it is a good one  

Ditto.  

Is there a bootleg or official release with this?

The song in general, or, specifically from the Octavarium tour?

A live version is available on the 1998 fan club cd (and the 5 Years in a LiveTime video/dvd), while the original demo is available on the 1999 fan club cd and the FII Demos cd.  

That's the unplugged version, right?  I mean the Octavarium tour version.

There is no unplugged version of Speak To Me.

[Ħ]

Isn't that the version on the Five Years in a LIVEtime DVD?  Where they have all the candles and everything?  I know it's not actually "unplugged" but from what I recall, that concert is referred to as the Unplugged concert.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Well, the "uplugged" version is exactly the same as the studio version 

[hefdaddy42]

Isn't that the version on the Five Years in a LIVEtime DVD?  Where they have all the candles and everything?  I know it's not actually "unplugged" but from what I recall, that concert is referred to as the Unplugged concert.

No, it's not referred to as the Unplugged concert.  It was just a fanclub show, that was the deal with the candles, to make everything more intimate.  They did a few songs unplugged, but most of the show is quite plugged.

[Samsara]

I think this is probably one of DT's most beautiful songs. I think it needs way more appreciation than it recieves 


Here's me hoping it will recieve rotation next tour. Seeing this song played live would make my life complete.

Kickstarting this thread, as I just listened to the FII demo set today, and remembered how much I love "Speak to Me." It is also one of my favorite Dream Theater songs, and I agree about its beauty. It was the first song played at the holiday show in 1998 that I attended at Irving Plaza, and I was so glad I got to hear it.

For those that know DT's setlist history better than me, was it ever in regular rotation outside of those holiday shows?

If not, I really wish DT would consider it. Such a great song.

[hefdaddy42]

If memory serves, it was played initially only at those few shows, and then was brought back as one of the rotating FII-era choices on the Octavarium (along with Raise The Knife and Peruvian Skies).

[Samsara]

If memory serves, it was played initially only at those few shows, and then was brought back as one of the rotating FII-era choices on the Octavarium (along with Raise The Knife and Peruvian Skies).

Wow, so it has been quite a few years now since it has been played live at all, much less with any regularity. Thanks for the info, Hef. 

Have the band members (present or past) commented extensively about the tune? I'd love to learn what they think of it, generally. I have the Xmas 1998 gig at Irving Plaza that I went to, but it was the lead track, so there wasn't any real commentary about the song...

[MirrorMask]

Always loved the song since I've heard it on the Once in a Livetime video. I would have put it on the album in place of Take Away My Pain and/or Anna Lee.

[bosk1]

...was brought back as one of the rotating FII-era choices on the Octavarium (along with Raise The Knife and Peruvian Skies).

Wow, I did NOT remember that.  I only remembered Peruvian Skies.  But a quick check of the set lists from back then confirms that you are right.  And not only that, but they played it in S.F. on 3/11/06.  Why I didn't go to that show, I'm not sure.

[goo-goo]

I absolutely love the Once in a Livetime video version. Way better in my opinion than the official bootleg version.

[Setlist Scotty]

For those that know DT's setlist history better than me, was it ever in regular rotation outside of those holiday shows?

As hef mentioned, it was included as one of the songs to represent FII during the 20th Anniversary tour. But it also was played a number of times throughout the first half of 1998. In fact, the May 18, 1998 official bootleg from Los Angeles includes that song.

[hefdaddy42]

I absolutely love the Once in a Livetime video version. Way better in my opinion than the official bootleg version.

Agreed.

Also, while I am SO glad that they performed Raise The Knife for the SCORE show, I wish they had also played Speak To Me.  I know that would have kind of ruined the format, but I'm just sayin'.

[MirrorMask]

At my gig during that tour I got a "proper" FII song, Peruvian Skies, and a "bonus" song, Raise the Knife. Not complaining at all, 'cause the song is wonderful, but I have a little and anyway very minor regret that I didn't get Speak to Me instead.

[KevShmev]

I absolutely love the Once in a Livetime video version. Way better in my opinion than the official bootleg version.

Agreed.  Same goes for Cover My Eyes, which was great as an acoustic song, but just okay in the electric version (in the demo).

[hefdaddy42]

I absolutely love the Once in a Livetime video version. Way better in my opinion than the official bootleg version.

Agreed.  Same goes for Cover My Eyes, which was great as an acoustic song, but just okay in the electric version (in the demo).

Same

[MirrorMask]

I absolutely love the Once in a Livetime video version. Way better in my opinion than the official bootleg version.

Agreed.  Same goes for Cover My Eyes, which was great as an acoustic song, but just okay in the electric version (in the demo).

Same

Joining the bandwagon. The acoustic setting was just perfect for Cover My Eyes.

[Setlist Scotty]

I absolutely love the Once in a Livetime video version. Way better in my opinion than the official bootleg version.

Agreed.  Same goes for Cover My Eyes, which was great as an acoustic song, but just okay in the electric version (in the demo).

Same

Joining the bandwagon. The acoustic setting was just perfect for Cover My Eyes.

I'll be of the dissenting viewpoint. While I'm not a huge fan of the demo (something just doesn't sound right - I think the guitars are overpowering in the mix), I can't say I like the acoustic version a lot either. But what I enjoyed were the versions played during the '98 Home for the Holidays shows. It's interesting, because the first time they did it, it was fully acoustic. Second show was a hybrid between acoustic and electric, and the last time was fully electric. This last version (fully electric) has a pretty cool instrumental jam in it where JP incorporated part of Tarantella Napoletana into it and is my favorite version.