Songs that positively surprised you live

Darkes7 · June 30, 2010, 01:42:09 PM

[I wondered whether this should be here or Concerts & Setlists, but that seems to be rather dedicated to the current tour so decided for the main subforum]

This thread is about songs which turned out to be much better live than studio, surprisingly good live for some reason (meaning you expected them to turn out bad, and they didn't), or even went as far as improving your opinion about the song. I guess some, or all, of you had this experience, so I wonder if we'll find any common options here. Mine were...

A Rite of Passage - this is the most obvious one for me, as I had always considered it just "ok" and thought live it will be just a good heavier song. Well, thanks to a great performance by the band and incredible help of the audience, it was one of the highlights of the concert in Prague. I really felt like if we were some kind of brotherhood for a while, especially during the chorus...
Hollow Years - well, it not only made me love the new version of the song even more, it even entirely changed my opinion of the album version. I used to rate it as low as New Millenium, now I really like it. It sounded incredibly atmospheric and emotional, I'm glad they still play it.
The Spirit Carries On - I had preferred Through Her Eyes from the ballads on SFAM, but it changed when I heard it live for some reason. I can't even describe how emotional it sounds live, and I started to feel it much better on the album since then.

That's it from me...

Jamesman42 · June 30, 2010, 01:49:33 PM

Never Enough

Unfortunately, TMOLS is as terrible live as it is on the album.

TL · June 30, 2010, 01:52:23 PM

Though I already liked ANTR, it floored me at just how good of an intro song it was.
A Rite Of Passage was absolutely epic live. The energy of the audience definitely brought something to it. Again, I already liked it, but live it was just on a whole other level.

Hollow Years was great live, and they played it probably at the perfect point in that set. The fact that they played the original version instead of the album version was icing on the cake.

Also, finishing the main set with As I Am, complete with Jordan going center stage with the Johns with his Zen Riffer, and James ending the song on an improvised super-high note. It was quite something.

Also, not so much something the band did, but my brother came with us when a few friends and I went to see them this past August in Montreal. He's not really into DT per say, but he's very open to different kinds of music. After they played TCOT as the encore, he remarked that he really enjoyed "those few songs they played at the end", assuming that it had been two or three different pieces.

Dublagent66 · June 30, 2010, 02:01:20 PM

Pretty much everything on Score.

toro · June 30, 2010, 02:16:50 PM

AROP was just so energy, POWAh! it was epic.
And Hollow Years was so nice i was blown away cause it was full of feeling.

ariich · June 30, 2010, 02:25:10 PM

The Mirror - I like the song anyway, but I don't find it all that exciting, definitely in the weaker half of songs from Awake. But like it is just amazing!

Constant Motion - Again one of the weaker songs from it's album, but really rocking and energetic live!

Prophets of War - Easily the weakest song from SC, but surprisingly enjoyable live. Definitely one of their more fun live songs.

I Walk Beside You - Same as PoW. Pretty lame original song, but it has lots of energy live and is great to sing along to!

Hoppipolla · June 30, 2010, 02:30:55 PM

Hollow Years was beautiful live. After hearing it live I have a newfound appreciation for it.

Darkes7 · June 30, 2010, 02:39:23 PM

I'd be really interested in seeing Prophets of War and I Walk Beside You live, I wonder how they sound like. I can imagine them having much more energy than on the album.

tri.ad · June 30, 2010, 03:26:08 PM

I Walk Beside You definitely works well live.

toro · June 30, 2010, 04:01:24 PM

So does POW, the chanting males it better

Cool Chris · June 30, 2010, 04:15:10 PM

Quote from: ariich on June 30, 2010, 02:25:10 PM
Constant Motion - Again one of the weaker songs from it's album, but really rocking and energetic live!

I was disappointed to find out it was going to be part of the set opening for Maiden. One of my least favorite songs in their entire catalog. But both times I saw it on the recent tour I think it rocked live. Part of it for me was James was singing it more in his natural style, and less in the style he used on the album (can't think of a way to describe it).

Chagny · June 30, 2010, 11:56:03 PM

Pull Me Under.
I wasn't expecting James to pull it off so well. And the whole band gave it this kind of energy that you just can't get from any CD. And being no more than 25 feet from JM really added to it.

Dream Team · July 01, 2010, 05:45:43 AM

Quote from: Cool Chris on June 30, 2010, 04:15:10 PM
Quote from: ariich on June 30, 2010, 02:25:10 PM
Constant Motion - Again one of the weaker songs from it's album, but really rocking and energetic live!

I was disappointed to find out it was going to be part of the set opening for Maiden. One of my least favorite songs in their entire catalog. But both times I saw it on the recent tour I think it rocked live. Part of it for me was James was singing it more in his natural style, and less in the style he used on the album (can't think of a way to describe it).

Oh please James, sing it that way in Worcester on the 10th . . . (because I'm sure it will be played)

Mladen · July 01, 2010, 06:39:29 AM

The way James sings Constant motion on the album is remarkable. He can't pull that off live...

As for me, I think I was pleasantly surprised by Misunderstood live, I really enjoyed it, and Petrucci delivered that solo perfectly.

LTE · July 01, 2010, 07:34:56 AM

Quote from: toro on June 30, 2010, 04:01:24 PM
So does POW, the chanting males make it better

Fixed.

jingle.boy · July 01, 2010, 09:12:41 AM

Forsaken. Was disappointed when the keyboards starting off, but by the end, I was glad they did it. Much better than the impressions the studio version leaves on me.

Mebert78 · July 02, 2010, 08:49:58 AM

Quote from: Jamesman on June 30, 2010, 01:49:33 PM
Unfortunately, TMOLS is as terrible live as it is on the album.

Hmm, I actually think it's the most beautiful song on the last two albums.

My answer is "Voices." It's a great song and when I heard it live ir really drew me in and blew me away.

BRGM · July 02, 2010, 11:33:27 AM

ANTR, alrdy loved it, but when I was sitting there and they thunder started...I started shaking ^^ through the entire song

toro · July 02, 2010, 04:14:25 PM

Quote from: LTE on July 01, 2010, 07:34:56 AM
Quote from: toro on June 30, 2010, 04:01:24 PM
So does POW, the chanting males make it better

Fixed.

LOl typo.

Rafael Guerra · July 02, 2010, 04:27:43 PM

A Rite of Passage and Wither. They were both really awesome live!

Arcaeus · July 02, 2010, 07:26:41 PM

Quote from: Jamesman on June 30, 2010, 01:49:33 PM
Never Enough

Unfortunately, TMOLS is as terrible live as it is on the album.

This. Never Enough was actually great live when I saw them, but I struggled to stay awake during The Ministry Of Lost Souls.

Darkes7 · July 03, 2010, 03:34:06 AM

Actually I've always really liked Never Enough but was quite disappointed with it live back in 2007.

skydivingninja · July 03, 2010, 06:23:24 AM

I'm not a Constant Motion fan at all, yet its a very fun live song.

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Songs that positively surprised you live