Dream Theater's most beautiful ballad.

[Wim Kruithof]

Although I love Dream Theater the most for their prog-experience, some of the ballads they made are as beautiful as pieces can be. I don't know if there's an order specific out there which one is and which one isn't a ballad, but to me those song where you can take that deep breath and open a beer, are.

The most beautiful ballad I think they made is Beneath the Surface. The lyrics are fine, it's truly emotional and LaBrie's voice is absolutely outstanding, especially with the final "and began to forget." I can't hear that song enough (which counts for the whole Dramatic Turn of Events).

[JLa]

"Disappear" for me.

[BeatriceNB]

Anything from The Astonishing for me. But if I really had to chose one, Begin Again.

[DoctorAction]

I've been reaching for Out Of Reach ever since DoT came out. My go-to DT ballad.

Beneath The Surface is another frequent flyer. Great lyrics, vocal and one of Jordan's best solos.

Disappear probably takes my top spot.

[Dream Team]

Wait For Sleep most beautiful. Disappear is probably the highest quality though.

[DTA]

Definitely Disappear. Really heartbreaking with such a bleak vibe. Out of Reach was a great surprise on d/t and probably my second favorite.

[Logain Ablar]

Difficult to choose. Disappear is excellent, but Lifting Shadows would be my favourite.

[pg1067]

I think the universe of DT "ballads" is as follows:

Another Day
Wait for Sleep
The Silent Man
Lifting Shadows off a Dream (?)
Hollow Years
Anna Lee
Through Her Eyes
One Last Time (?)
The Spirit Carries On (?)
Disappear
Vacant
The Answer Lies Within
Repentance (?)
Wither
This is the Life
Far from Heaven
Beneath the Surface
Along for the Ride
-- a bunch of songs on TA --
Out of Reach

Someone else can fill in the TA songs, but did I otherwise miss any?

Out of those songs, my top 5, in no particular order, are probably Wither, Along for the Ride, One Last Time, Hollow Years, and Lifting Shadows.

If "beautiful" means something other than "favorite," I'm not sure I totally appreciate the distinction.

[Trav]

I'm probably alone on this.

The Silent Man

[Peter Mc]

The Spirit Carries On by a country mile.

[Kotowboy]

I <3 The Answer Lies Within and This Is The Life.

Wither is really good too. Hollow Years is a bit poppy but I do like it.

Beneath the Surface. The Spirit Carries On...

[Dittomist]

They have so many beautiful ballads but I think Goodnight Kiss might be the most beautiful of them all. Beneath the Surface, Anna Lee, Through Her Eyes, Disappear, Far from Heaven, and Out of Reach are some other standouts.

[erwinrafael]

Would you consider Chosen as a ballad? Because if it is, runaway winner for me. Disappear is next, that made me tear up.

[TAC]

The Spirit Carries On by a country mile.

I feel like this is the correct answer. I favor Disappear though.

[jammindude]

Beneath the Surface

[TAC]

Beneath the Surface

Tremendous track.

[Ben_Jamin]

I'd have to second Chosen.

I guess I'd have them...

1. Chosen
2. Disappear
3. Beneath The Surface
4. Begin Again
5. Another Day

Losing Faythe is up there as well.

[BeatriceNB]

I think the universe of DT "ballads" is as follows:

Another Day
Wait for Sleep
The Silent Man
Lifting Shadows off a Dream (?)
Hollow Years
Anna Lee
Through Her Eyes
One Last Time (?)
The Spirit Carries On (?)
Disappear
Vacant
The Answer Lies Within
Repentance (?)
Wither
This is the Life
Far from Heaven
Beneath the Surface
Along for the Ride
-- a bunch of songs on TA --
Out of Reach

Someone else can fill in the TA songs, but did I otherwise miss any?

Out of those songs, my top 5, in no particular order, are probably Wither, Along for the Ride, One Last Time, Hollow Years, and Lifting Shadows.

If "beautiful" means something other than "favorite," I'm not sure I totally appreciate the distinction.

The Answer (although I consider it a transition track rather than a ballad of its own)
When Your Time Has Come (I don't think it's a ballad, but rather just a happy song or something)
Act Of Faythe (I don't consider it a ballad, but it's pretty much one, depends of who's judging)
Chosen
Begin Again
Losing Faythe

The rest of the album is through-composed Prog, definitely not ballads, in my opinion.

[Buddyhunter1]

How the hell has the Live At Budokan Hollow Years not been mentioned yet?

These Walls isn't really a ballad but if it counts that gets my vote.

[WilliamMunny]

Anna Lee gets my vote, with This is the Life a very close second.

[erwinrafael]

Anna Lee is beautiful.

[wolfking]

The Spirit Carries On by a country mile.

Agree.

[Sebastián Pratesi]

"Begin Again". It starts sorts of sad, but it ends with the sweetest section the band has recorded.

[Architeuthis]

Chosen

[lovethedrake]

Spirit carries on by a mile but I feel like that doesn't really fall into the DT ballad category.

Anna Lee would be my favorite of the true ballads

[Skeever]

Does "Take Away My Pain" count?

Father in law passed away a few years ago and I can't listen to it without crying a bit...

[Dellers]

Not a fan of ballads in general, but The Spirit Carries On is among my favorite songs. Usually I'd prefer albums to have zero ballads.

[Stadler]

I'm not 1000% sure that some of the songs mentioned are true "ballads" (lyrics do play a part in that for me) but for me it's "This Is The Life".

[Trav]

I had no idea that Chosen was so popular around here. I love it, but I'm surprised by the number of people "choosing" it.

[hefdaddy42]

I'm not 1000% sure that some of the songs mentioned are true "ballads"

Same for me.

Any way, this is difficult.

[erwinrafael]

I had no idea that Chosen was so popular around here. I love it, but I'm surprised by the number of people "choosing" it.

The guitar solo did it for me. It is full of love.

[hefdaddy42]

I had no idea that Chosen was so popular around here. I love it, but I'm surprised by the number of people "choosing" it.

The guitar solo did it for me. It is full of love.

Chosen is so tasty.

[Logain Ablar]

Yip, Chosen is right up there too.

One of the most accessible and single-like songs on TA. I put it in the same bracket as Wither, as in, it could be a good introductory song for a new listener. Wither was one of those songs that go me into DT back in the day, and my appreciation for the more complex stuff came later.

[HOF]

Lifting Shadows Off a Dream for me.

[TheCountOfNYC]

Beneath the Surface.