Worst song to introduce someone to DT

[Darkstarshades]

You read it.
Not counting epics, because they're usually a matter of general opinion. Myself, for example, always gravitate towards a band's very long songs and they're usually what I search first when I discover a band.

I'd say it's probably Repentance. I can't imagine anyone's look at a 10+ minute song Like this.

[Train of Naught]

First thing to pop into my mind is Dance of Eternity, also, some of the really inaccesible songs for me at first were Scarred/Voices, Finally Free and Metropolis are also worth mentioning.

[TAC]

First thing to pop into my mind is Dance of Eternity, also, some of the really inaccesible songs for me at first were Scarred/Voices, Finally Free and Metropolis are also worth mentioning.

WHAT??

Those are probably some of the best songs that encapsulate what DT is all about.

[Darkstarshades]

Well, I actually agree with Train, Scarred is indeed extremely innaccessible and is more a test of patience than encapsulating what DT is about.
It's the only song from Awake that hasn't clicked me so far, I also thought of it, but eventually Repentance won out.

[Train of Naught]

Yeah, they're all great showcases of Dream Theater's style, it doesn't make them good introductions.

[Zyzzyva17]

Mike Thinks He's Dee Dee Ramone Introducing a Song Song

[JiM-Xtreme]

The Dark Eternal Night, because it ranks highly in the rankings of those who are more in favour of the metal side of DT. I am aware of people (metalheads)who have a casual interest in DT on the basis of this song. Obviously nothing wrong with that but I'd consider it a poor choice of song to introduce the band to somebody as it isn't really represent their overall style and they haven't really made any other song quite like it.

[YtseJamittaja]

Anything from WDADU, Enigma Machine, Repentance and most of the most complicated songs are maybe not the best choice.

[mrrct]

Anna Lee.  If somebody hears that as their first exposure to DT, that person will think that they are a late-eighties adult contemporary, VH1 band.

[PixelDream]

Anything from the debut.

Anything from SDOIT disc 2.. imagine introducing someone to DT with TTTSTA. Flurry of notes right from the start, not good.

This is the Life or one of their other recent sappy ballads.

[Crow]

Through My Words

[425]

"That's it? Man, this band makes such short songs."

[Train of Naught]

Regression

[Madman Shepherd]

Just Let Me Breathe because this is one of the first songs my friend played for me and I wouldn't get into DT for another few years when I finally heard good songs. 

[Crow]

ANTR is probably a bad song to introduce people with though for real 'cause of the awful solo section and ROOOAAARR and it being 16 minutes doesn't help either

[425]

and it's not about TGP it's about one of my top 5 DT songs

What about one of my top... 8 DT songs?

[jjfumbly]

Vacant, Wait for Sleep, Far From Heaven, Regression, The Silent Man and False Awakening Suite.

[Crow]

you're in the wrong thread now, 425

[Train of Naught]

Vacant, Wait for Sleep, Far From Heaven, Regression, The Silent Man and False Awakening Suite.

I actually used FAS once to introduce someone to DT, worked out great. 

[425]

you're in the wrong thread now, 425

Posts can have consequences that are bigger than any one thread.

Vacant, Wait for Sleep, Far From Heaven, Regression, The Silent Man and False Awakening Suite.

I actually used FAS once to introduce someone to DT, worked out great. 

I used FAS once to introduce someone to Symphony X. Was I not supposed to do that? 

[?]

Home because of the moaning... explaining that it's "just part of the concept" most likely wouldn't help!

Seriously though, You Not Me probably is the most obvious answer.

[hefdaddy42]

First thing to pop into my mind is Dance of Eternity, also, some of the really inaccesible songs for me at first were Scarred/Voices, Finally Free and Metropolis are also worth mentioning.

WHAT??

Those are probably some of the best songs that encapsulate what DT is all about.

This, especially Metropolis.  In fact, that is probably the best one to use.

Worst?  The Answer Lies Within

[wolven74]

The worst song to introduce someone to DT with would have to be YNM.... that song incapsulates the worst of the record company influence. Though the album does grow on you, I'd say that most songs off of FII would be a bad beginning.

[erwinrafael]

First thing to pop into my mind is Dance of Eternity, also, some of the really inaccesible songs for me at first were Scarred/Voices, Finally Free and Metropolis are also worth mentioning.

WHAT??

Those are probably some of the best songs that encapsulate what DT is all about.

This, especially Metropolis.  In fact, that is probably the best one to use.

Worst?  The Answer Lies Within

Metropolis was my intro to Dream Theater. It blew my mind because I have never heard anythong like it before.

[Shine]

The Dark Eternal Night, because it ranks highly in the rankings of those who are more in favour of the metal side of DT. I am aware of people (metalheads)who have a casual interest in DT on the basis of this song. Obviously nothing wrong with that but I'd consider it a poor choice of song to introduce the band to somebody as it isn't really represent their overall style and they haven't really made any other song quite like it.

Which is funny, because this is the first DT song that I heard. I used to listen to Metallica and Dragonforce, and The Dark Eternal Night instantly clicked with me. Over time, and as my musical tastes developed, I've almost completely turned from a fan of the metal side of DT to a fan of the prog side. Whereas my first favorite of theres was TDEN, my favorites now include Learning to Live and Voices. Interesting how these things work.

[TheCountOfNYC]

I would say any of the long songs would be a bad idea because of their generally inaccessible nature. Instrumentals would be a bad idea as well because of their lack of JLB (anything from WDaDU would be bad for the same reason). It's tough to pick just one because they have a discography mostly comprised of extremely inaccessible songs. I guess The Dance of Eternity would be the worst one but there's so many other songs that could be considered the worst for introducing someone to the band.

[Outcrier]

Depends on what they listen to. If they like metal, something from FII. If they like prog, something from FII too 

[bl5150]

I would say it depends entirely on the introducee.   A few of my all time favourite artists have albums I would call perfect (or close to) as well as some of my lowest rankings ever.  DT and Queensryche both fit the bill there.

If you introduced me to DT right now via the bloat on ToT or SC I never would've bothered to dig deep enough to find what is basically my all time favourite album (I&W). DT are a hard band to just introduce someone to without knowing at least a little about what they like.

[AboutToCrash]

I walk beside you, too commercial, could easily have got radio play and barely gives anyone an idea of what DT stands for. Mike Portnoy even said it could've done well as a single but people could've got the wrong idea about the band. Still love the song, but still....

[erwinrafael]

If a persom can not handle Metropolis as an introduction, then I don't think he is the type who would become a real convert.

[Rodni Demental]

I would not play Space-Dye Vest to anyone. Better chuck Beneath the Surface and Far From Heaven in there too. Nothing strongly against those tracks, they're... fine for what they, maybe even great, but they're especially not something I'd ever use to sell the band. Infact I'd play someone Prophets of War or The Best of Times anyday. You or Me or Anna Lee, fuck yeah! But never SDV.

[Train of Naught]

If a persom can not handle Metropolis as an introduction, then I don't think he is the type who would become a real convert.

False, someone introduced me to DT with Metropolis, and it was probably the worst song he could ever pick, I'm not usually into prog music, so that once again proves that it really depends on the introducee.

[Calvin6s]

Well, I actually agree with Train, Scarred is indeed extremely innaccessible and is more a test of patience than encapsulating what DT is about.

Whoa.  Whoa. Wait. Hold up.

Back when you actually used to go into a store and try out audio/video equipment, Scarred was the song I popped in to test if I really liked the speakers/receiver/CD player ... whatever.

Without fail, somebody would come up to us and ask what they were hearing.  And it wasn't long haired metal heads or dudes wearing metal shirts.

Then Voices and Eve (all on Awake) would seal the deal.  Especially Eve.

[SuperTaco]

Repentance is the first thing that comes to mind. I imagine a first time listener falling asleep by the time that "Ahhh" section hits. It's not really a knock on the song itself, but if you don't understand the subject matter behind the song, it might be quite confusing and uninteresting.

[Sycsa]

I'd say any ballad (Wait for Sleep, Space-Dye Vest, Hollow Years, The Spirit Carries On, Beneath the Surface etc.) would be a bad introduction. People who expect technical proggy stuff would be turned off, as well as people who want some heavy riffing and shredding. Many people who enjoy those ballads (and that type of music) right off the bat probably wouldn't appreciate DT's technical & heavy side that much. So it's a lose-lose situation.

I think the vast majority of DT fans were drawn in by either the prog or the metal side of DT. The ballads are a good added bonus and can be a nice change of pace if you enjoy them, but I usually skip them when I listen to DT (except for TSCO and Budokan Hollow Years, which are saved by the guitar solos, but both songs took a lot of time to grow on me otherwise).

I always thought that many DT ballads don't really fit in their catalogue seamlessly, oftentimes they stand out like a sore thumb amidst all their intricate, technical and complex instrumental passages and heavy riffing/shredding. This aspect reminds me of ELP, where Keith brought his modern keyboard arsenal and wrote 20 minute heavy and virtuoso prog epics, while all Greg Lake wanted to do was to sing 3 minute long acoustic ballads. Two completely different worlds, different sides to the same band, which didn't really match or create a cohesive whole. Radio listeners who heard Lucky Man might have thought that ELP was this really soft, delicate band (except for the ending, which is a great musical joke and it's an appropriate metaphor to show off the clashing, dissonant nature of the band), while prog fans could end up dismissing and ignoring all the Lake-stuff.