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Dream Theater => Dream Theater => Topic started by: Zyzzyva17 on November 18, 2014, 02:37:14 PM

Title: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics (NEW SELECTIONS ADDED, PLEASE VOTE AGAIN)
Post by: Zyzzyva17 on November 18, 2014, 02:37:14 PM
Same poll as the JMX one, but for the other occasional DT lyricist.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: The Letter M on November 18, 2014, 02:40:10 PM
"Disappear", from my fave DT album, and one of my favorite tracks of theirs of all time. JLB's delivery and lyrics are astounding, and it gets me teary-eyed all the time.

-Marc.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: wolfking on November 18, 2014, 02:51:57 PM
Gotta be Blind Faith.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: Dublagent66 on November 18, 2014, 02:53:36 PM
BF easily.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: The Letter M on November 18, 2014, 02:58:17 PM
Also, the poll is missing "Speak To Me" (which is highly underrated) and "The Way It Used To Be".

-Marc.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: CharlesPL on November 18, 2014, 03:01:29 PM
The Way it Used to Be, Speak to Me?
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: JiM-Xtreme on November 18, 2014, 03:11:48 PM
Blind Faith by a huge margin.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: TheCountOfNYC on November 18, 2014, 03:18:07 PM
I went with Vacant. It may have the least amount of words, but he says so much in that song with so little. It's my favorite track on TOT and his lyrics and singing are the sole reason for that. Much like Mike with ACoS, James took a very personal and horrible moment from his life and turned it into an amazing song.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: The Letter M on November 18, 2014, 03:27:39 PM
The Way it Used to Be, Speak to Me?

https://www.discogs.com/Dream-Theater-Christmas-CD-1999-Cleaning-Out-The-Closet/release/2898166

-Marc.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: CharlesPL on November 18, 2014, 03:37:59 PM
The Way it Used to Be, Speak to Me?

https://www.discogs.com/Dream-Theater-Christmas-CD-1999-Cleaning-Out-The-Closet/release/2898166

-Marc.

Lol, i know this song, This was the question, just before you write a post :smiley:
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: TAC on November 18, 2014, 03:43:09 PM
"Disappear", from my fave DT album, and one of my favorite tracks of theirs of all time. JLB's delivery and lyrics are astounding, and it gets me teary-eyed all the time.

It's incredible. One of Dream Theater's greatest moments. Way undervalued in their catalog. Would love to see them bring this out on the next tour a la Space Dye Vest.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: TheGreatPretender on November 18, 2014, 03:58:20 PM
I voted for Disappear, but really, I think that The Way It Used To Be and Speak To Me should be on the list as well. And even Caught in a Web for being a partial JLB lyric. Especially if we cound BAI as a partial JM lyric.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on November 18, 2014, 04:52:28 PM
Disappear.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: the_silent_man on November 18, 2014, 04:52:51 PM
I hope labrie contributes at least 1 song (of reasonable length) on the next album. In the last 7 years, his lyrical contribution has been one 3.5 min song...

Anyway, Sacrificed Sons for me. Great, dark concept, seems really underrated to me
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: wolfking on November 18, 2014, 07:24:10 PM
I hope labrie contributes at least 1 song (of reasonable length) on the next album. In the last 7 years, his lyrical contribution has been one 3.5 min song...

That's just mainly due to his solo work taking priority in the lyric department.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: DarkLord_Lalinc on November 18, 2014, 07:29:18 PM
Blind Faith has the best JLB written lyrics in my opinion.


But the ones that have the most emotional impact in me are in Vacant.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: TheGreatPretender on November 18, 2014, 07:55:35 PM
I hope labrie contributes at least 1 song (of reasonable length) on the next album. In the last 7 years, his lyrical contribution has been one 3.5 min song...

Anyway, Sacrificed Sons for me. Great, dark concept, seems really underrated to me

Holy crap. I can't believe it's been 7 years since Systematic Chaos... That's depressing.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: BlobVanDam on November 18, 2014, 08:00:34 PM
Tough call for me between Blind Faith, Disappear and Vacant.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: RaiseTheKnife on November 18, 2014, 10:10:38 PM
Caught in a Web?
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: Zydar on November 19, 2014, 12:23:14 AM
Disappear
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: RaiseTheKnife on November 19, 2014, 02:23:12 AM
I voted for Disappear, but really, I think that The Way It Used To Be and Speak To Me should be on the list as well. And even Caught in a Web for being a partial JLB lyric. Especially if we cound BAI as a partial JM lyric.

Agreed.  Also, based on the thread title shouldn't his solo stuff be listed as well.  I mean, they are JLB lyrics.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: BlobVanDam on November 19, 2014, 02:28:13 AM
This is the DT section, so it makes sense to stick to just DT, as that's what we can assume everyone will know. :tup
It's bad enough we're starting to include Majesty stuff, it's just wasting poll space. :lol
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: Mladen on November 19, 2014, 02:53:31 AM
Disappear, beautiful lyrics to the saddest song I've ever heard.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: wolfking on November 19, 2014, 04:20:49 AM
I voted for Disappear, but really, I think that The Way It Used To Be and Speak To Me should be on the list as well. And even Caught in a Web for being a partial JLB lyric. Especially if we cound BAI as a partial JM lyric.

Agreed.  Also, based on the thread title shouldn't his solo stuff be listed as well.  I mean, they are JLB lyrics.

No.  Did anyone actually expect his solo songs to be listed here?
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: sylvinception on November 19, 2014, 04:36:57 AM
"Disappear" lyrics are awesome, of course. :hefdaddy

I'm the only one who voted for "Anna Lee", because:
1 - I knew I would be the only one to vote for this song  :loser:
2 - I just love this ballad... :blush
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: The Stray Seed on November 19, 2014, 04:51:15 AM
"Isn't it time we care? And lose the hate... understand our fears" has been in my sig in all forums for years.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 19, 2014, 06:47:23 AM
Gotta be Blind Faith.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: TheGreatPretender on November 19, 2014, 07:10:03 AM
No.  Did anyone actually expect his solo songs to be listed here?

I'm pretty pedantic, but even I understood that "Favorite JLB Lyric" in this case referred specifically to "in Dream Theater". But that does still include The Way It Used To Be and Speak To Me, so those should be in the poll.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: mikeyd23 on November 19, 2014, 07:17:48 AM
Blind Faith all the way, its one of my favorite DT tunes and the lyrics are great.  Vacant and Disappear are both great as well though.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: BlackInk on November 19, 2014, 08:43:37 AM
Probably Disappear. It's not the best track on the list, but it has the best lyrics. Very touching, especially by the end.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: wolfking on November 19, 2014, 04:40:09 PM
No.  Did anyone actually expect his solo songs to be listed here?

I'm pretty pedantic, but even I understood that "Favorite JLB Lyric" in this case referred specifically to "in Dream Theater". But that does still include The Way It Used To Be and Speak To Me, so those should be in the poll.

Agree with all of this.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: Rodni Demental on November 19, 2014, 05:19:58 PM
I'm gonna have to be that guy that says Prophets of War. It needs some love. Think what you will of the song but, but the lyrics are spot on. I don't think anyone had a problem with the content so much as the presentation of the song but I could be wrong.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: Madman Shepherd on November 19, 2014, 06:45:34 PM
I really love the song Anna Lee.  When I got into Dream Theater around the year 2000, I had trouble getting into a lot of the music due to its complexity.  I always loved simple heavy metal. 

The softer songs on FII really helped bridge the gap between the heavy riffs I loved and the long technical tangents.  When I started to examine the songs more I found out that Anna Lee was about child prostitution and I had just seen a gut wrenching documentary about an undercover investigation/rescue mission from Cambodia (I think).  It actually gave me nightmares (and I dont really have a lot of nightmares if i see something disturbing). 

The lyrics, "She keeps holding on, holding on to you" remind me of when they finally rescued this child and she was hysterically crying, wanting to go back to the strangers that abused her as she held on to the person rescuing her because she didn't know any different. 

Powerful stuff. 


But anyway, I chose Blind Faith because that song kicks more ass than any other Dream Theater song  :lol
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: TheGreatPretender on November 19, 2014, 10:05:14 PM
Anna Lee is very underrated. It wasn't until I did it at Karaoke that I realized not only how beautiful the song is, but just how much fun it is to sing.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: RaiseTheKnife on November 19, 2014, 10:14:03 PM
I'm just being pedantic, but if we are truly looking at the value of the lyric, shouldn't it be regardless of who performed the music?   If I were an author I would feel slighted if half of my creative body of work were dismissed because it was released via a different band, publisher or other means.  Are his solo lyrics no less valid or valuable as a form of written expression than those he wrote for DT? 

But yeah, I get it.  This is a DT forum, and you folks just want to focus on the DT related things you know about.

I'm looking at it from an artists perspective and pointing out that this poll is an incomplete evaluation of JLB's creative output.  But you already know that.  Same could be said for the KM poll (for those of you who appreciate his Chroma Key and other lyrics). 

I guess I'm just a formalist and like to broaden the paradigm wherever possible.  Even with informal polls.
Title: Re: Which Dream Theater song has the best lyric written by JLB?
Post by: TheGreatPretender on November 19, 2014, 10:23:05 PM

I'm looking at it from an artists perspective and pointing out that this poll is an incomplete evaluation of JLB's creative output.  But you already know that.  Same could be said for the KM poll (for those of you who appreciate his Chroma Key and other lyrics). 


Not if we're talking about that artist's creative output within the band. Although I see nothing wrong with discussing how you think their lyrics in DT songs compare to your favorite stuff from their solo works.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: Mosh on November 19, 2014, 10:29:48 PM
Disappear easily. Not only is it JLB's best, but it's up there with DT's best lyrics. I get chills every time listening to it, I wish DT did more in the way of emotionally impacting songs like that.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 20, 2014, 07:45:51 AM
I'm just being pedantic, but if we are truly looking at the value of the lyric, shouldn't it be regardless of who performed the music?
This is the DT subforum.  Any topics discussed here are DT band-related.  Solo stuff is discussed in the General Music Discussion subforum.

If I were an author I would feel slighted if half of my creative body of work were dismissed because it was released via a different band, publisher or other means.
Nothing is being slighted.  This is a small poll on a fan forum.  Besides, being an author is a solitary activity, no band involved, so it doesn't seem like a good comparison.

Are his solo lyrics no less valid or valuable as a form of written expression than those he wrote for DT? 
Nothing is being dismissed.  It's just that this is the DT subforum.  Any topics discussed here are DT band-related.  Solo stuff is discussed in the General Music Discussion subforum.

But yeah, I get it.  This is a DT forum, and you folks just want to focus on the DT related things you know about.
We know about JLB's solo stuff, and we love it.  But this is the DT subforum.  Any topics discussed here are DT band-related.  Solo stuff is discussed in the General Music Discussion subforum.

I'm looking at it from an artists perspective and pointing out that this poll is an incomplete evaluation of JLB's creative output.  But you already know that.  Same could be said for the KM poll (for those of you who appreciate his Chroma Key and other lyrics). 
Many of us love his Chroma Key and OSI stuff.  But this is the DT subforum.  Any topics discussed here are DT band-related.  Solo stuff is discussed in the General Music Discussion subforum.

I guess I'm just a formalist and like to broaden the paradigm wherever possible.  Even with informal polls.
Well, as long as you aren't being pedantic.

 :)
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: TheGreatPretender on November 20, 2014, 07:50:32 AM
Wait, which subforum is this again?
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: BlobVanDam on November 20, 2014, 07:52:46 AM
Wait, which subforum is this again?

The Spyro Gyra subforum.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: Madman Shepherd on November 20, 2014, 03:51:19 PM
Wait, which subforum is this again?

The Spyro Gyra subforum.

...and theres another subforum for... Bear Tracks, right?

Anna Lee is very underrated. It wasn't until I did it at Karaoke that I realized not only how beautiful the song is, but just how much fun it is to sing.

 :o

What freakin' karaoke place has Dream Theater??!?!  I've never seen that!
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: TheGreatPretender on November 20, 2014, 04:21:33 PM
:o

What freakin' karaoke place has Dream Theater??!?!  I've never seen that!

Hahah, the place my friend hosts. I brought the song in, so no, it wasn't actually a part of his selection.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: MoraWintersoul on November 20, 2014, 05:32:46 PM
But yeah, I get it.  This is a DT forum, and you folks just want to focus on the DT related things you know about.
Eh man, our freaking out over the solo albums in the JLB solo thread over at General Music brought Matt Guillory and Peter Wildoer to discuss it at length with us but what do we know :lol
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on November 20, 2014, 06:17:06 PM
seriously. A lot of folks here like JLB's recent solo stuff better than DT's. :lol  (myself among them)
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: RaiseTheKnife on November 20, 2014, 07:04:59 PM
I'm just being pedantic, but if we are truly looking at the value of the lyric, shouldn't it be regardless of who performed the music?
This is the DT subforum.  Any topics discussed here are DT band-related.  Solo stuff is discussed in the General Music Discussion subforum.

If I were an author I would feel slighted if half of my creative body of work were dismissed because it was released via a different band, publisher or other means.
Nothing is being slighted.  This is a small poll on a fan forum.  Besides, being an author is a solitary activity, no band involved, so it doesn't seem like a good comparison.

Are his solo lyrics no less valid or valuable as a form of written expression than those he wrote for DT? 
Nothing is being dismissed.  It's just that this is the DT subforum.  Any topics discussed here are DT band-related.  Solo stuff is discussed in the General Music Discussion subforum.

But yeah, I get it.  This is a DT forum, and you folks just want to focus on the DT related things you know about.
We know about JLB's solo stuff, and we love it.  But this is the DT subforum.  Any topics discussed here are DT band-related.  Solo stuff is discussed in the General Music Discussion subforum.

I'm looking at it from an artists perspective and pointing out that this poll is an incomplete evaluation of JLB's creative output.  But you already know that.  Same could be said for the KM poll (for those of you who appreciate his Chroma Key and other lyrics). 
Many of us love his Chroma Key and OSI stuff.  But this is the DT subforum.  Any topics discussed here are DT band-related.  Solo stuff is discussed in the General Music Discussion subforum.

I guess I'm just a formalist and like to broaden the paradigm wherever possible.  Even with informal polls.
Well, as long as you aren't being pedantic.

 :)

Haha, okay.  Can the poll at least be updated to include JLB's entire DT lyric catalog?
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: TheGreatPretender on November 20, 2014, 07:07:19 PM
Haha, okay.  Can the poll at least be updated to include JLB's entire DT lyric catalog?

This.
Spin it any way you want but The Way It Used To Be and Speak To Me are both Dream Theater songs, the lyrics were written by James LaBrie, and they're both great, so they definitely deserve a spot in the poll, and frankly, my vote.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: ? on November 21, 2014, 02:10:28 AM
Could Caught in a Web be added as well? If BAI is in the JM lyrics poll, I think CIAW should count as well. I've read James talk about the meaning of the song, which gave me the impression it was mostly written by him.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: TheGreatPretender on November 21, 2014, 04:46:51 AM
Could Caught in a Web be added as well? If BAI is in the JM lyrics poll, I think CIAW should count as well. I've read James talk about the meaning of the song, which gave me the impression it was mostly written by him.

Oh yes, that one too, most definitely.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: BlobVanDam on November 21, 2014, 04:52:26 AM
seriously. A lot of folks here like JLB's recent solo stuff better than DT's. :lol  (myself among them)

Myself also definitely included. But this is DT side, so DT it is!
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on November 21, 2014, 06:59:57 AM
fight the power, man.

Voted Disappear.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 21, 2014, 07:59:00 AM
Haha, okay.  Can the poll at least be updated to include JLB's entire DT lyric catalog?

This.
Spin it any way you want but The Way It Used To Be and Speak To Me are both Dream Theater songs, the lyrics were written by James LaBrie, and they're both great, so they definitely deserve a spot in the poll, and frankly, my vote.
I agree with that, and I could edit the poll (or I suppose the OP could do that), but would it matter at this point with so many votes already cast?
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: TheGreatPretender on November 21, 2014, 08:03:48 AM
I agree with that, and I could edit the poll (or I suppose the OP could do that), but would it matter at this point with so many votes already cast?

It may not make a difference in terms of which song will be winning, but I think it would be interesting to see how many people would consider one of those songs to have their favorite JLB lyrics.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 21, 2014, 08:05:12 AM
OK, added.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: TheGreatPretender on November 21, 2014, 08:06:30 AM
Wait, is there a way to reset vote count? Or allow people to change their votes?
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 21, 2014, 08:46:53 AM
Wait, is there a way to reset vote count? Or allow people to change their votes?
I don't think so.  That's why I asked what I asked.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 21, 2014, 08:47:40 AM
Wait, is there a way to reset vote count? Or allow people to change their votes?
I don't think so.  That's why I asked what I asked.

EDIT:  I can reset vote counts to 0.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: TheGreatPretender on November 21, 2014, 09:24:14 AM
EDIT:  I can reset vote counts to 0.

Is that going to allow people to cast their votes again?
Sorry, lol, I had no idea it was going to be that much trouble. I though once you add extra entries, it would reset the votes automatically.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 21, 2014, 09:56:45 AM
Is that going to allow people to cast their votes again?
I dunno, let's find out.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics (NEW SELECTIONS ADDED, PLEASE VOTE AGAIN)
Post by: TheGreatPretender on November 21, 2014, 10:00:32 AM
Awesome! I voted The Way It Used To Be. I've always identified with them a lot.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics (NEW SELECTIONS ADDED, PLEASE VOTE AGAIN)
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 21, 2014, 10:04:00 AM
Woo-hoo!

Still voted for Blind Faith.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics (NEW SELECTIONS ADDED, PLEASE VOTE AGAIN)
Post by: The Letter M on November 21, 2014, 10:08:08 AM
"Disappear", from my fave DT album, and one of my favorite tracks of theirs of all time. JLB's delivery and lyrics are astounding, and it gets me teary-eyed all the time.

-Marc.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics (NEW SELECTIONS ADDED, PLEASE VOTE AGAIN)
Post by: mikeyd23 on November 21, 2014, 01:34:52 PM
Woo-hoo!

Still voted for Blind Faith.

Haha exactly!
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics (NEW SELECTIONS ADDED, PLEASE VOTE AGAIN)
Post by: BlobVanDam on November 22, 2014, 04:45:09 AM
Well that was a whole lot of inconvenience just for two throwaway tracks.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics (NEW SELECTIONS ADDED, PLEASE VOTE AGAIN)
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 22, 2014, 04:56:08 AM
Well that was a whole lot of inconvenience just for two throwaway tracks.
I must agree.
Title: Re: Favorite James LaBrie Lyrics (NEW SELECTIONS ADDED, PLEASE VOTE AGAIN)
Post by: Nearmyth on November 22, 2014, 01:45:20 PM
I think Disappear's lyrics are just okay. I love the song and it gets a ton of praise, but to me its just a bunch of sad words. They're touching but don't do terribly much for me. JLB has done better poetically in my opinion, which is why I went with Blind Faith