News:

Dream Theater Forums:  Still "a thing" since 2007.

Main Menu

"The Silent Man"

Started by Dream_Theater01, March 20, 2011, 06:42:30 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Dream_Theater01

I am hooked on this song.  It's a great song, and I was wondering who sings backup vocals on the chorus?  (Bold)

When there is reason
Tonight I'm Awake
when there's no answer
Arrive the Silent Man

If there is balance
tonight He's Awake
If they have to suffer
There lies the Silent Man

ThroughHerEyesDude6

I think it's Petrucci. He pretty much wrote the song, so it would make sense if it was him doing the backup vocals.

darkshot

I'm fairly sure it's Petrucci, because I don't think Mike started doing background vocals until SFAM? [citation needed]

Adami

Quote from: darkshot on March 20, 2011, 06:47:27 PM
I'm fairly sure it's Petrucci, because I don't think Mike started doing background vocals until SFAM? [citation needed]

Technically Portnoy was on The Mirror.

And yea those sound a lot like Petrucci. And at the very least he does them live.


The Silent Man is such a lovely song, I hope they do more like it. :)
www. fanticide.bandcamp . com

Metro

I read somewhere that John Purdell(The producer on Awake) sang them.

Tick


Perpetual Change

Quote from: Metropolaris on March 20, 2011, 07:14:48 PM
I read somewhere that John Purdell(The producer on Awake) sang them.

Yes, I've heard this too. The fact he has the same initials as John, is just credited as "John P." in the book, and John sings them live anyway seems to lead to confusion.

tri.ad

Quote from: Metropolaris on March 20, 2011, 07:14:48 PM
I read somewhere that John Purdell(The producer on Awake) sang them.

Same here, and it might be accurate - at least it's way more likely than JP himself doing the vocals. The voice doing the backing vocals is clearly different from JP's. I have to say, though, that JP doing backing vocals on this song on LSFNY gives it a nice touch. I'd love to see the "electrified" version in concert.

JayOctavarium

it wasnt Petrucci on LSFNY... it was overdubbed by someone else in studio. JP sang the wrong line or someting

tri.ad

Really? I didn't know that.

Adami

Quote from: JayOctavarium on March 20, 2011, 11:52:14 PM
it wasnt Petrucci on LSFNY... it was overdubbed by someone else in studio. JP sang the wrong line or someting

Where did you hear that? That's interesting.
www. fanticide.bandcamp . com

JayOctavarium

I do believe it was in Lifting Shadows. Watch it on the DVD, you can tell its overdubbed.

RoeDent

Petrucci 'sings' (mimes) the backing vocals in the music video too.

hefdaddy42

Quote from: Metropolaris on March 20, 2011, 07:14:48 PM
I read somewhere that John Purdell(The producer on Awake) sang them.
Pretty sure this is accurate.  I'm almost certain that no member of DT sang any backing vocals on any of their albums prior to SFAM other than JLB backing himself, but that clearly isn't JLB singing those BGV on The Silent Man.
Quote from: BlobVanDam on December 11, 2014, 08:19:46 PMHef is right on all things. Except for when I disagree with him. In which case he's probably still right.

kartmaze2

I must say that this John Purdell did an excellent job on the album in general.

Also, I love The Silent Man. It's my favourite DT ballad.

tri.ad

Quote from: hefdaddy42 on March 21, 2011, 03:45:39 AM
Quote from: Metropolaris on March 20, 2011, 07:14:48 PM
I read somewhere that John Purdell(The producer on Awake) sang them.
Pretty sure this is accurate.  I'm almost certain that no member of DT sang any backing vocals on any of their albums prior to SFAM other than JLB backing himself, but that clearly isn't JLB singing those BGV on The Silent Man.

MP and JP started doing backing vocals during the FII recording sessions; you can hear it particularly on Where Are You Now? and The Way It Used To Be.

ZKX-2099

Quote from: hefdaddy42 on March 21, 2011, 03:45:39 AM
Quote from: Metropolaris on March 20, 2011, 07:14:48 PM
I read somewhere that John Purdell(The producer on Awake) sang them.
Pretty sure this is accurate.  I'm almost certain that no member of DT sang any backing vocals on any of their albums prior to SFAM other than JLB backing himself, but that clearly isn't JLB singing those BGV on The Silent Man.

What about A Change Of Seasons?


Mladen

I thought this was another thread about John Myung.  ;D

wjc

Quote from: hefdaddy42 on March 21, 2011, 03:45:39 AM
Quote from: Metropolaris on March 20, 2011, 07:14:48 PM
I read somewhere that John Purdell(The producer on Awake) sang them.
Pretty sure this is accurate.  I'm almost certain that no member of DT sang any backing vocals on any of their albums prior to SFAM other than JLB backing himself, but that clearly isn't JLB singing those BGV on The Silent Man.

KM sang underneath JLB on Space-Dye Vest, if that counts?

IdoSC

Huh? Petrucci even sings it live and it sounds exactly the same...how can one doubt it's him o-o

Dream_Theater01

I thought it was Mike, but it probably is JP.

Zydar

#22
Quote from: Metropolaris on March 20, 2011, 07:14:48 PM
I read somewhere that John Purdell(The producer on Awake) sang them.

Yup it is, confirmed by MP on the 5YIAL DVD commentaries.

Tick

Quote from: Orion1967 on March 21, 2011, 05:38:05 AM
Quote from: tick on March 20, 2011, 07:16:45 PM
Who is the silent man?

He can't say.
Serious question. Does anyone know who the silent man is in the song? I have drawn my own conclusions in the past but I'm curious as to the origin of the story?

JasonScandopolous

Quote from: tick on March 21, 2011, 07:30:54 AM
Quote from: Orion1967 on March 21, 2011, 05:38:05 AM
Quote from: tick on March 20, 2011, 07:16:45 PM
Who is the silent man?

He can't say.
Serious question. Does anyone know who the silent man is in the song? I have drawn my own conclusions in the past but I'm curious as to the origin of the story?

I haven't thought about it that much, but I thought it was (an uncaring/non-existant) god?  When there is balance/reason, god is great, when things go to shit, you are praying to the silent man (e.g. he doesn't do anything to help you).  I'm probably missing something though, as these thoughts are based only on the chorus.

jdprsaga

I do think A Mind Beside Itself is about religion and God. and i think the silent man is not about a "no present god" but about a God that is quietly behind everything and is always there for us but we do not acknowledge him.

hefdaddy42

Quote from: ZKX-2099 on March 21, 2011, 04:57:19 AM
Quote from: hefdaddy42 on March 21, 2011, 03:45:39 AM
Quote from: Metropolaris on March 20, 2011, 07:14:48 PM
I read somewhere that John Purdell(The producer on Awake) sang them.
Pretty sure this is accurate.  I'm almost certain that no member of DT sang any backing vocals on any of their albums prior to SFAM other than JLB backing himself, but that clearly isn't JLB singing those BGV on The Silent Man.

What about A Change Of Seasons?
What about it?
Quote from: BlobVanDam on December 11, 2014, 08:19:46 PMHef is right on all things. Except for when I disagree with him. In which case he's probably still right.

Progmetty

I love JP's back vox on Voices and Silent Man on the LSFNY but I remember someone saying that he didn't sing it on the album, it was the producer or something, don't remember.
Whoever he was he did a great job, both in Silent Man chours and on Voices at these exact lines "Is there fantasy in refuge?, God in politicians?, Should I turn on my religion?".

Occasional_Madman

Quote from: hefdaddy42 on March 21, 2011, 09:02:59 AM
Quote from: ZKX-2099 on March 21, 2011, 04:57:19 AM
Quote from: hefdaddy42 on March 21, 2011, 03:45:39 AM
Quote from: Metropolaris on March 20, 2011, 07:14:48 PM
I read somewhere that John Purdell(The producer on Awake) sang them.
Pretty sure this is accurate.  I'm almost certain that no member of DT sang any backing vocals on any of their albums prior to SFAM other than JLB backing himself, but that clearly isn't JLB singing those BGV on The Silent Man.

What about A Change Of Seasons?
What about it?

"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may" near the end of the song I believe was either Mike, John, or both.

reneranucci

Quote from: Adami on March 20, 2011, 11:54:28 PM
Quote from: JayOctavarium on March 20, 2011, 11:52:14 PM
it wasnt Petrucci on LSFNY... it was overdubbed by someone else in studio. JP sang the wrong line or someting

Where did you hear that? That's interesting.
Petrucci himself overdubbed his vocals in the studio.
https://www.mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/12.aspx#312

Lowdz

Quote from: jdprsaga on March 21, 2011, 08:42:31 AM
I do think A Mind Beside Itself is about religion and God. and i think the silent man is not about a "no present god" but about a God that is quietly behind everything and is always there for us but we do not acknowledge him.

I don't think AMBI is at all "about"  religion other than as an expression of the person's schizophrenia. Schizophrenics often become fixated on religious themes and references and I think this is the meaning behind those references in the songs. Just how I see it and I could be wrong.

Adami

Quote from: reneranucci on March 21, 2011, 09:56:51 AM
Quote from: Adami on March 20, 2011, 11:54:28 PM
Quote from: JayOctavarium on March 20, 2011, 11:52:14 PM
it wasnt Petrucci on LSFNY... it was overdubbed by someone else in studio. JP sang the wrong line or someting

Where did you hear that? That's interesting.
Petrucci himself overdubbed his vocals in the studio.
https://www.mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/12.aspx#312

Ah that makes more sense. Thank you.


Also, is MP not officially confirmed as the backing vocalist on The Mirror?
www. fanticide.bandcamp . com

Progmetty

Quote from: reneranucci on March 21, 2011, 09:56:51 AM
Quote from: Adami on March 20, 2011, 11:54:28 PM
Quote from: JayOctavarium on March 20, 2011, 11:52:14 PM
it wasnt Petrucci on LSFNY... it was overdubbed by someone else in studio. JP sang the wrong line or someting

Where did you hear that? That's interesting.
Petrucci himself overdubbed his vocals in the studio.
https://www.mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/12.aspx#312

That's pretty surprising, it was really well fitted with the video cause I never had the impression something JP's vox were overdubbed, especially on Voices..

John94

I always thought it was KevMo.

Moonchild

On a related subject don't you think The Silent Man is similar to this song at 1:12. I can sing the chorus over it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW-TGOdR_yw