skydivingninja's Top 50 Dream Theater Songs! (Starts at Page 9)

[Gorille85]

I want to know the next song!

[skydivingninja]

3. Octavarium-Octavarium
This song was pretty instrumental in solidfying my status as a DT fan.  I loved the nuggets.  I can see pretty clearly now that they're very gimmicky, but they worked, dammit!  I can still recite the lyrics to "Full Circle" on command.  I like how musically, it starts off fairly calm, very Floyd-like, but then once "Medicate" finishes it turns into a retro-prog fest, but here's the kicker: it doesn't sound like retro-prog the way Spock's Beard or Beardfish do.  It sounds fresh, and modern, and I can't shove it into another band's sound.  Jordan's playing is at its absolute best, the instrumental section between "Medicate" and "Full Circle" is probably the catchiest one since "Metropolis."  Of course, the ending also signifies everything I love about the band, the buildup to the climax, followed by "Razor's Edge" and the big, majestic, epic ending, followed by MOAR NUGGETZ ZOMG.  It is a quintessential Dream Theater song and should not be looked over by anyone.

[Mladen]

I would put it at the exact same spot. 

[AwakeFromOctavarium]

Awesome choice. Though it's not that high on my list anymore, it's still deserving.

[Marvellous G]

My number 1, but a fair enough spot nonetheless. Is Learning To Live coming up I wonder?

[hefdaddy42]

I would put it at the exact same spot. 

[Silver Tears]

Great spot for Octavarium

[Gadough]

The only negative thing I can say about Octavarium is that Petrucci doesn't really get to shine until the end.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

My number 1, but a fair enough spot nonetheless. Is Learning To Live coming up I wonder?

TRIAL OF FUCKING TEARS

[Nic35]

You just perfectly described why Octavarium is my favorite song of all time.

[PlaysLikeMyung]

My number 1, but a fair enough spot nonetheless. Is Learning To Live coming up I wonder?

TRIAL OF FUCKING TEARS

This. Hands down my favorite DT song

[zxlkho]

Maybe I'm weird, but I never cares for Octavarium that much. I like listening to it, but won't go out of my way for it.

[Birch Boy]

Maybe I'm weird, but I never cares for Octavarium that much. I like listening to it, but won't go out of my way for it.

You're not alone.

[KevShmev]

The only negative thing I can say about Octavarium is that Petrucci doesn't really get to shine until the end.

Eh?  I think his understated playing is stellar throughout; he doesn't have to be soloing or playing a lead to be shining, ya know.

As for the song, it would be borderline top 20 for me.  I don't slobber over it like a lot of peeps do, but I still dig it like crazy.

[?]

Maybe I'm weird, but I never cares for Octavarium that much. I like listening to it, but won't go out of my way for it.

You're not alone.

I wouldn't rank it very high, either.

[tri.ad]

The only negative thing I can say about Octavarium is that Petrucci doesn't really get to shine until the end.

Eh?  I think his understated playing is stellar throughout; he doesn't have to be soloing or playing a lead to be shining, ya know.

Words of wisdom right here. People seem to keep forgetting that while JP is an amazing soloist, he's also a very good rhythms guitarist.

[Pirate]

I would put it at the exact same spot. 

8-5=3.

[Marvellous G]

The only negative thing I can say about Octavarium is that Petrucci doesn't really get to shine until the end.

Eh?  I think his understated playing is stellar throughout; he doesn't have to be soloing or playing a lead to be shining, ya know.

Words of wisdom right here. People seem to keep forgetting that while JP is an amazing soloist, he's also a very good rhythms guitarist.

His 12 string work in Someone Like Him is also actually technically pretty impressive too, it just doesn't sound like it is.

[moffatt]

Nice to see it so high, would be my number one.

[Mladen]

8-5=3

Whoa, you nailed it! However, I must ruin your theory, since I realized I would put Octavarium at 4th place, actually. 

[skydivingninja]

So close to number one now...

2. Learning to Live-Images and Words
By now I don't think I have to mention the James LaBrie famous F# special, though I guess I just did.  So what?  Fuck off.  It starts off with the 80s synths that will deceive you at first into thinking this song might be...bad, even though the melody is just fine, but despite the initially somewhat dated sound, the sound meanders through so many different sounds and moods.  You have the semi-ominous bassline as the vocals begin, the triumphant sort of intro, the flamenco bit, the climatic solo, and so on and so on.  Petrucci's solo is one of his best, behind "The Best of Times," "Under a Glass Moon," and "A Certain Song That Shant Be Named Yet" for me.  These are also John Myung's best lyrics, you can actually get some kind of relatable meaning out of them, whether or not you knew the song was meant to be about AIDS, whereas I still don't really know what "Lifting Shadows Off a Dream" is about.  Its absolutely brilliant, and I wish DT would return to the lighter, but still rockin', side of modern prog a bit more than they do now.

[zxlkho]

LTL is my personal favorite. 

[Quadrochosis]

LTL is amazing.

[PlaysLikeMyung]

can we get a list of the 49 so far?

[Quadrochosis]

can we get a list of the 49 so far?

[ScioPath]

50: Forsaken
49: Wither
48: Misunderstood
47: Only a Matter of Time
46: Scarred
45: Hollow Years
44: Repentance
43: The Silent Man
42: One Last Time
41: Ytse Jam
40: The Great Debate
39: Disappear
38: 6:00
37: A Fortune in Lies
36: Innocence Faded
35: Another Day
34: Sacrificed Sons
33: Fatal Tragedy
32: Raise the Knife
31: As I Am
30: Peruvian Skies
29: The Root of All Evil
28: Speak to me
27: To Live Forever
26: Surrounded
25: Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
24: The Shattered Fortress
23: Erotomania
22: Under a Glass Moon
21: Pull Me Under
20: New Millennium
19: Finaly Free
18: Lifting Shadows off a Dream
17: The Glass Prison
16: The Count of Tuscany
15: A Change of Seasons
14: Voices
13: Hell's Kitchen/Lines in the Sand
12: The Spirit Carries On
11: Metropolis
10: The Best of Times
9: These Walls
8: Overture 1928
7: Take the Time
6: In the Name of God
5: WOMP WOMP
4: Blind Faith
3: Octavarium
2: Learning to Live
1:

[antigoon]

My number 1, but a fair enough spot nonetheless. Is Learning To Live coming up I wonder?

TRIAL OF FUCKING TEARS

This. Hands down my favorite DT song

[MetalManiac666]

Yup, I'm gonna go with "Trial of Tears" as the number 1 song, as much as I disagree.

[emindead]

2. Learning to Live-Images and Words
These are also John Myung's best lyrics, you can actually get some kind of relatable meaning out of them, whether or not you knew the song was meant to be about AIDS

He may have said it on an interview, but there's no evidence whatsoever in the lyrics that this song is about AIDS.

[Plasmastrike]

Huh?

[?]

Nice to see LTL in your top3! 

[tri.ad]

2. Learning to Live-Images and Words
These are also John Myung's best lyrics, you can actually get some kind of relatable meaning out of them, whether or not you knew the song was meant to be about AIDS

He may have said it on an interview, but there's no evidence whatsoever in the lyrics that this song is about AIDS.

... so? Are you implying that the lyricist is wrong about what he wrote the song about?

[AwakeFromOctavarium]

46: Scarred
43: The Silent Man
38: 6:00
36: Innocence Faded
35: Another Day
26: Surrounded
23: Erotomania
22: Under a Glass Moon
21: Pull Me Under
18: Lifting Shadows off a Dream
14: Voices
11: Metropolis
7: Take the Time
2: Learning to Live
1:

All of I&W except Wait For Sleep are present while most of Awake are missing.

Yup, I'm gonna go with "Trial of Tears" as the number 1 song, as much as I disagree.

[hefdaddy42]

So close to number one now...

2. Learning to Live-Images and Words
By now I don't think I have to mention the James LaBrie famous F# special, though I guess I just did.  So what?  Fuck off.  It starts off with the 80s synths that will deceive you at first into thinking this song might be...bad, even though the melody is just fine, but despite the initially somewhat dated sound, the sound meanders through so many different sounds and moods.  You have the semi-ominous bassline as the vocals begin, the triumphant sort of intro, the flamenco bit, the climatic solo, and so on and so on.  Petrucci's solo is one of his best, behind "The Best of Times," "Under a Glass Moon," and "A Certain Song That Shant Be Named Yet" for me.  These are also John Myung's best lyrics, you can actually get some kind of relatable meaning out of them, whether or not you knew the song was meant to be about AIDS, whereas I still don't really know what "Lifting Shadows Off a Dream" is about.  Its absolutely brilliant, and I wish DT would return to the lighter, but still rockin', side of modern prog a bit more than they do now.

Fantastic choice.  This song is pretty much always in my Top 2.  It's exact place rotates sometimes with ACOS.

[Marvellous G]

Yep, LtL is my number two as well. I agree with whoever said that ToT will be number 1, even though it's not in my top 10.