Author Topic: Short song which best represents Dream Theater (Read 4032 times)

fischermasamune · « **on:** February 17, 2016, 11:04:49 AM »

If you could use a single song from their repertoire as a synthesis of the whole career of the band, which one would it be?

I know some easy choices would be Octavarium, 6DOIT, possibly Metropolis, mainly due to their length and epicness. So we'll restrict the choices to "short" songs.

To define what is short, let's establish the longest song in TA, A New Beginning is the longest of the shortest, so 7:41 is the maximum length allowed.

So, which short song (7:41 tops) would best characterize Dream Theater?

PS: A thread some time ago asked for the best song to introduce someone to the band. This is different, as it doesn't have to be accessible, but represent Dream Theater the best.

fischermasamune · « **Reply #1 on:** February 17, 2016, 11:11:23 AM »

My choice would be Fatal Tragedy. Because it has three styles of JLB singing (the "spoken" in the start, the "normal" in the verse, and the more "melodic" in the chorus), it was written by the line-up which survived the longest, it has a instrumental part which includes an unison, a keyboard solo and a guitar solo, and is killer overall. It is also in their most acclaimed album, and personally in my top 15 if not top 10.

MirrorMask · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2016, 11:56:19 AM »

Under a Glass Moon, The Mirror (even though is a bit too heavy) or Strange DejaVu.

SebastianPratesi · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2016, 12:13:19 PM »

I think "Behind The Veil" does a great job. It features electronic/orchestral wizardry, killer solos, a catchy chorus, different time signatures (both odd and 4/4), heavy and mellow sections, a short JM moment, lyrics by JP (the main lyricist), etc.

chaossystem · « **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2016, 01:56:02 PM »

For me, three possibilities could be Surrounded, About to Crash and Forsaken.

BlackInk · « **Reply #5 on:** February 17, 2016, 02:04:23 PM »

Even though it's not really my favorite, I always see Strange Deja Vu as the Dream Theater song, long songs included. Don't know why that is, I've just come to see it as the perfect example and definition of their style.

ASacrificedSon · « **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2016, 02:07:40 PM »

AROP
Thanks to this song, I aced my vocab test

chaossystem · « **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2016, 02:11:32 PM »

Quote from: ASacrificedSon on February 17, 2016, 02:07:40 PM

AROP
Thanks to this song, I aced my vocab test

A Rite of Passage? I thought the time limit was 7:41! If I'm allowed to go over eight minutes, I'm changing my "vote" to The Root of All Evil!!

ASacrificedSon · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2016, 02:17:44 PM »

NOOOOOO! 안데요! 아이유!
I guess I have to change it then.

Hmmm, 모를할까??

Wither.

Enigmachine · « **Reply #9 on:** February 17, 2016, 02:21:13 PM »

Quote from: BlackInk on February 17, 2016, 02:04:23 PM

Even though it's not really my favorite, I always see Strange Deja Vu as the Dream Theater song, long songs included. Don't know why that is, I've just come to see it as the perfect example and definition of their style.

Interesting, considering SDV doesn't have any solos. That seems to be a large part of who they are, while that song is quite restrained in that regard.

I'd probably say Under a Glass Moon or The Gift of Music.

Train of Naught · « **Reply #10 on:** February 17, 2016, 02:22:18 PM »

I don't really think Wither really captures what Dream Theater is all about too well

Gonna go with Strange Deja Vu aswell

thosava · « **Reply #11 on:** February 17, 2016, 02:39:51 PM »

I would go with either The Gift of Music or Strange Deja-Vu.

pdurbin22 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 17, 2016, 02:49:45 PM »

"Caught In A Web" was always a go-to for me. Everyone seems to love that song and rightfully so!

pcs90 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 17, 2016, 03:50:23 PM »

Either Under A Glass Moon or The Gift Of Music, I think.

cramx3 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 17, 2016, 05:34:07 PM »

I like Fatal Tragedy

A few others I haven't seen mentioned yet:

Surrender to Reason
Peruvian Skies
Moment of Betrayal

erwinrafael · « **Reply #15 on:** February 17, 2016, 06:06:55 PM »

To represent Dream Theater, I think, means that the song:

1. Should be melodic
2. Should have some heaviness
3. Should have some JLB soaring vocals
4. Should have a good instrumental, with a killer JP solo
5. Should have changes in time signatures
6. Should have thematic changes throughout the song

Given this criteria, I would say the following short songs would best represent DT:

The Gift of Music
Surrender to Reason
Peruvian Skies
Fatal Tragedy

TheCountOfNYC · « **Reply #16 on:** February 17, 2016, 10:42:46 PM »

These Walls, Under a Glass Moon, Peruvian Skies, The Spirit Carries On, and Forsaken would all be good choices.

Crow · « **Reply #17 on:** February 17, 2016, 10:58:50 PM »

i'd disqualify Fatal Tragedy because the full song is 7:51 long

BlobVanDam · « **Reply #18 on:** February 18, 2016, 12:41:33 AM »

Quote from: Parama on February 17, 2016, 10:58:50 PM

i'd disqualify Fatal Tragedy because the full song is 7:51 long

If anything, I'd count the start of Fatal Tragedy as still Through My Words rather than combine them. Fatal Tragedy is a good choice regardless.

For other options, maybe UAGM, These Walls, CIAW, TGOM. Several others that just miss out based on time restriction. It's impossible to summarize DT within that length of time, but these are all fine options. If we're going by tracks, I'd maybe also throw in either ATC, although they're not self contained.

Pax · « **Reply #19 on:** February 18, 2016, 08:43:06 AM »

In fact, The Gift of Music does a pretty good job

JediKnight1969 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 18, 2016, 09:58:12 AM »

Another day.

That song has it all.

Tick · « **Reply #21 on:** February 18, 2016, 10:32:59 AM »

Strange Deja Vu is perfect!

Scorpion · « **Reply #22 on:** February 18, 2016, 10:43:01 AM »

Fatal Tragedy is a good pick, as would be About to Crash and Under a Glass Moon.

EDIT: I see most people seem to think similarly to me in that regard. Sorry for being repetitive!

hefdaddy42 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 18, 2016, 10:50:46 AM »

Fatal Tragedy or Under A Glass Moon

Zirreall · « **Reply #24 on:** February 18, 2016, 12:25:19 PM »

Surrounded

ASacrificedSon · « **Reply #25 on:** February 18, 2016, 01:20:43 PM »

Quote from: Zirreall on February 18, 2016, 12:25:19 PM

Surrounded

Surrounded is really nice choice.

:

ThatOneGuy2112 · « **Reply #26 on:** February 18, 2016, 01:32:29 PM »

Regardless of what some might say about TA, TGOM does a pretty good job with representing DT's overall sound concisely.

Hats off to Strange Deja Vu as well.

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Author Topic: Short song which best represents Dream Theater (Read 4032 times)

SebastianPratesi