Classical Composer Reacts to Various DT Songs

[pg1067]

I'll make the analogy of going to the movies with a friend. Would you rather go with a friend who knows a bit about the film going in, like who the stars are, maybe the director or producers, the studio, the composer, and is mostly silent throughout the viewing? Or a friend who goes in completely blind and has to ask questions through the whole thing, especially if it's a film you know and are showing them for the first time?

I'm quite puzzled by this analogy.  If I go to a movie, I want the people I go with to be quiet, regardless of their prior knowledge of anyone involved with the movie.  If I go to a movie with someone who sits there and asks questions through the whole thing, it'll likely be the last time I attend a movie with that person.

Doug Helvering does homework (I don't think he did for his earliest reaction videos, but he certainly has for quite a while).  He makes no secret that he does that, and I don't see how it diminishes things.  I don't think he listens to songs ahead of time, though.  There are, of course, some songs he's reacted to that he's heard before (e.g., I think he reacted to Back in Black for some reason), and he says so when that's the case.  For bands like Rush and Dream Theater, he doesn't react the same way as when he first listened to them because he's become somewhat familiar with their style (compare his reactions to LVS and Octavarium with any of the more recent reactions).

[PMSummer]

No one has ever asked me who the director of the movie is during the movie and that would be pretty silly.

I used to enjoy big doug's reactions for their genuine, raw responses. Learning that he does research beforehand does give his analyses more depth, but it does take away from the authenticity of the initial reaction. It's like finding out your favorite magician's tricks – it makes you question what's genuine and what's staged.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

if you're watching a movie and you don't know who the director is, are you even watching it? 

[bosk1]

I don't care whether a reactor has heard a song before or done research before.  It's only "staged" or "fake" when they say or imply that they haven't, when in fact they have.  Personally, I love it when a reactor says "I've heard this song before," or "I've seen this movie before," or "I've done some research beforehand so I can make some educated comments."  Nothing wrong with that whatsoever.  Just be honest.  I've heard some really insightful reactions from many who are upfront about already being familiar with the content they are watching.  Those kinds of videos and the analysis and discussion you get are just as valid as those where the person is experiencing something for the first time and just having something that is truly a "reaction."  They're both fun, for different reasons.

What kills me is the ones that are lying.  I remember a video awhile back where someone was reacting to Pisces, and like most other reaction videos, swore they had never heard the song before.  There were a few tells they were lying, but the funniest was when their timing was off, and they did the obligatory eye-pop and jaw-drop--a split second BEFORE Tatiana started growling.   

Anyway, as far as Doug's channel specifically, I grew tired of it a long time ago and dislike it for other reasons that have nothing to do with him having done research.  But good for him that he is doing something he likes, and is building a community of devoted supporters and making a bit of money from doing that. 

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

I grew tired of it a long time ago and dislike it for other reasons that have nothing to do with him having done research

is it the ganja? 

[bosk1]

Don't think I ever saw that, so no, not directly.  But it doesn't help his case. 

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

Don't think I ever saw that, so no, not directly.  But it doesn't help his case.

ah, ok. yeah the first time i saw doug light up a bowl during a review (the other day when energythief shared the video, see above) i was a little shocked, lol. i don't have a problem with it but i probably wouldn't do it in my videos if it was me personally

[The Letter M]

Don't think I ever saw that, so no, not directly.  But it doesn't help his case.

ah, ok. yeah the first time i saw doug light up a bowl during a review (the other day when energythief shared the video, see above) i was a little shocked, lol. i don't have a problem with it but i probably wouldn't do it in my videos if it was me personally

When I first saw him do that a year or two ago, it definitely caught me by surprise but I initial reaction was more along the lines of "Oh...so he's THAT kind of music fan. Nice." and every time he's done it since, it doesn't bother me much. Heck, some songs/bands are enhanced by that and I don't blame him for taking that into consideration when listening to music. It's legal in many states now anyways, so it's not like he's breaking any laws. He's also partaken in many beers and liquors while reacting as well, and I'm sure a lot of folks here have done that themselves, or know people who have, so I don't begrudge Doug for doing it himself.

-Marc.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

Don't think I ever saw that, so no, not directly.  But it doesn't help his case.

ah, ok. yeah the first time i saw doug light up a bowl during a review (the other day when energythief shared the video, see above) i was a little shocked, lol. i don't have a problem with it but i probably wouldn't do it in my videos if it was me personally

When I first saw him do that a year or two ago, it definitely caught me by surprise but I initial reaction was more along the lines of "Oh...so he's THAT kind of music fan. Nice." and every time he's done it since, it doesn't bother me much. Heck, some songs/bands are enhanced by that and I don't blame him for taking that into consideration when listening to music. It's legal in many states now anyways, so it's not like he's breaking any laws. He's also partaken in many beers and liquors while reacting as well, and I'm sure a lot of folks here have done that themselves, or know people who have, so I don't begrudge Doug for doing it himself.

-Marc.

totally. i guess i just wouldn't film myself smoking weed on a monetized platform. not a judgement call, i smoke plenty of herb lol, but just something of myself i wouldn't want out there in public generally. again, it's not something that turns me away either but i am always like "huh" when i see it lol.

[pg1067]

if you're watching a movie and you don't know who the director is, are you even watching it? 

Aside from Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark movies (and probably a few others), I doubt I've ever known who directed the movies I've seen.  I've seen three movies in the theater this year and have watched several others at home, and I have no idea who directed any of them.

I don't care whether a reactor has heard a song before or done research before.  It's only "staged" or "fake" when they say or imply that they haven't, when in fact they have.  Personally, I love it when a reactor says "I've heard this song before," or "I've seen this movie before," or "I've done some research beforehand so I can make some educated comments."  Nothing wrong with that whatsoever.  Just be honest.

Bingo.  When Doug did side 1 of Blizzard of Ozz, he noted that he had, of course, heard Crazy Train before, but he noted that he had never given it a critical listen.

[Wim Kruithof]

Doug did a reaction on In the Presence of Enemies, pt. I & pt.II. "They gave it the good old Shine on You Crazy Diamond-treatment, by splitting it up." Very nice reactionvideo.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

Doug did a reaction on In the Presence of Enemies, pt. I & pt.II. "They gave it the good old Shine on You Crazy Diamond-treatment, by splitting it up." Very nice reactionvideo.

is that a new video?

[pg1067]

Doug did a reaction on In the Presence of Enemies, pt. I & pt.II. "They gave it the good old Shine on You Crazy Diamond-treatment, by splitting it up." Very nice reactionvideo.

is that a new video?

New as of today.

[Dublagent66]

Awesome.  I'll have to check that out later tonight after I self medicate.  lol   

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

Awesome.  I'll have to check that out later tonight after I self medicate.  lol   

can i hear an amen!

[Wim Kruithof]

is that a new video?

New as new can be...

[Wim Kruithof]

The Doug is doing another one this monday and let us choose which one,

- A Nightmare to Remember
- In the Name of God
- The Best of Times
- The Big Medley

I chose The Big Medley, which is obviously not gonna win. Looking forward to the reactionvideo, from probably In the Name of God.

[pg1067]

I really hope it's ITNOG.  It'll be fun to see him catch the Battle Hymn of the Republic at the end.

[axeman90210]

I really hope it's ITNOG.  It'll be fun to see him catch the Battle Hymn of the Republic at the end.

Assuming that ITNOG wins, he may end up doing the live version from Budokan

[The Letter M]

I really hope it's ITNOG.  It'll be fun to see him catch the Battle Hymn of the Republic at the end.

Assuming that ITNOG wins, he may end up doing the live version from Budokan

Isn't ITNOG one of the few album epics he hasn't done yet for a DT Video? Probably that and the AMBI suite are all that's left.

-Marc.

[hefdaddy42]

I really hope it's ITNOG.  It'll be fun to see him catch the Battle Hymn of the Republic at the end.

Assuming that ITNOG wins, he may end up doing the live version from Budokan

That would also be excellent.

[pg1067]

I really hope it's ITNOG.  It'll be fun to see him catch the Battle Hymn of the Republic at the end.

Assuming that ITNOG wins, he may end up doing the live version from Budokan

I hope not.  There have been several songs where he's picked live versions.  He really ought to do the studio version.  We'll see in a few hours next week, I guess.

[axeman90210]

I really hope it's ITNOG.  It'll be fun to see him catch the Battle Hymn of the Republic at the end.

Assuming that ITNOG wins, he may end up doing the live version from Budokan

Isn't ITNOG one of the few album epics he hasn't done yet for a DT Video? Probably that and the AMBI suite are all that's left.

-Marc.

Pretty much. I've been banging the drum for Awake to get the same treatment he did for I&W where he breaks the album up into sides over a couple episodes.

I really hope it's ITNOG.  It'll be fun to see him catch the Battle Hymn of the Republic at the end.

Assuming that ITNOG wins, he may end up doing the live version from Budokan

I hope not.  There have been several songs where he's picked live versions.  He really ought to do the studio version.  We'll see in a few hours, I guess.

He might well do the album version, but at least one or two people in his Discord have been lobbying for the live version.

[pg1067]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggrYzHpH3ko

Studio version.  Decent analysis.  Lots of focus on the lyrics.  I really wish he'd stop the recording once in a while to try and pick up on some of the timing nuances.

[Dream Team]

Yeah that wasn’t one of his best. Lots of head banging, air drumming, and lyrical commentary.   

[Wim Kruithof]

Decent, but surely not one of his best. Illumination Theory, The Count and Octavarium (studio version), those remain his best I would say... all downhill after that.

[hefdaddy42]

Doug air-drumming to any song is the whitest white man shit I have ever seen.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

if anyone was interested in Doug's DT take. maybe the youtubers should have invited him to join DTF!

[Lonk]

Haven't look at his channel in a while. Decided to look today and he just posted Trial of Tears

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZYoih2gFRg

[Wim Kruithof]

Thank you Lonk, was an enjoyful reactionvideo.

Strange although it seems, but Falling Into Infinity is one of their least albums for me, but it surely 's got some pearls in their tracklist there. I just can't really connect to it as a whole. With When Dream and Day Unite the two albums I do not listen on a regular base, Trial of Tears however is a really beautiful piece.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I want to like Doug's videos more but I dropped off because I found a lot of them to be lyrical analysis and air drumming. There hasn't been much musical analysis in the videos I watched. It made me question why am I watching this and why does it matter that he is a classical composer when he isn't talking about the music.

[Dream Team]

The epics contain his best musical breakdowns by far.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

i definitely prefer the daily doug to guitargate's crying on stream videos

[pg1067]

I want to like Doug's videos more but I dropped off because I found a lot of them to be lyrical analysis and air drumming. There hasn't been much musical analysis in the videos I watched. It made me question why am I watching this and why does it matter that he is a classical composer when he isn't talking about the music.

Exactly!

I watched his "Battle of Evermore" video, and it was nothing but him sitting there smiling and reading the lyrics.  He also seems to be spending more and more time before the video talking about the background of the song and they at the end of the video summing up the lyrical message.  And he has said he doesn't want to stop the music to talk because he doesn't want to make the videos too long.

Every once in a while, I go back to some of his earlier videos, and there was so much more meat to them.  I like Elizabeth Zharoff's ("The Charismatic Voice") style so much more than what Doug is doing now, but I'm not as interested in the vocal focus.  If she had Doug's overall musical knowledge, it'd be perfect.

[TAC]

Every once in a while, I go back to some of his earlier videos, and there was so much more meat to them.  I like Elizabeth Zharoff's ("The Charismatic Voice") style so much more than what Doug is doing now, but I'm not as interested in the vocal focus.  If she had Doug's overall musical knowledge, it'd be perfect.

I think it was her that pointed out how Michael Kiske stands while he's singing and how it affects his ability to sing.