Official top 75 Iron Maiden songs thread!! (Top 2 revealed on 07/15!!)

[425]

I mean, the chorus is a crucial element of a song, and if it's not good that really can short-circuit the rest. Octavarium is three times as long as Heaven Can Wait, but if the six seconds right at the climax weren't good, it would have negative impacts that redound through the entire song, which is structured to build up to that point. Whereas if there were six bad seconds in the continuum part at the beginning (or six bad seconds in the instrumental break of Heaven Can Wait) it would not matter as much.

[pg1067]

Octavarium is three times as long as Heaven Can Wait, but if the six seconds right at the climax weren't good, it would have negative impacts that redound through the entire song, which is structured to build up to that point. Whereas if there were six bad seconds in the continuum part at the beginning (or six bad seconds in the instrumental break of Heaven Can Wait) it would not matter as much.

If only there were only six bad seconds in that part!

[The Realm]

I mean, the chorus is a crucial element of a song, and if it's not good that really can short-circuit the rest. Octavarium is three times as long as Heaven Can Wait, but if the six seconds right at the climax weren't good, it would have negative impacts that redound through the entire song, which is structured to build up to that point. Whereas if there were six bad seconds in the continuum part at the beginning (or six bad seconds in the instrumental break of Heaven Can Wait) it would not matter as much.

I agree the chorus is a crucial element of a song, but the real key is that it is a repeated motif, so not just 6 seconds. If like me, you don't like the chorus of Heaven Can Wait you hear the '6 seconds' recurring throughout the song it isn't just one and done. I just don't think it works well and like you said  in your write up of the song 425 (which was very similar to mine) Bruce possibly can't do it justice live anyway, the word 'wait' can be a tough one to get the vowel right for a vocalist even one as good as Bruce.

[wolfking]

As you saw, Judas was number 6.  It's a song that stuck instantly and never let go.  Dave written tune again, nice D minor key and a short fast, melodic rocker with ripping leads.  There's some interesting stuff going on here too for the short running time.  It's perfect in my opinion, a shame it's never been played live.

HCW did not rank.  I agree with Tim, it's aged pretty well.  I used to dislike it and thought it was a blemish on SIT, but I've grown to appreciate it a lot.  Still ended up at 131 for me.

TCDR - Had it at 90.  Simple song, E/C/G/D chord progression again, but some nice melodies and a great driving rhythm when the song gets going.  Adrians' solo here is tasty.

[Dave_Manchester]

Forgot to mention in my 'ranking post' that if and when Dream Theater ever decide to do another deluxe edition covers bonus disc (a la Black Clouds) my #1 Maiden track I'd like them to tackle is Judas Be My Guide. I listened to it a couple of times today and each time I thought "I'd love to hear JP take a crack at these guitar solos".

[nick_z]

Judas Be My Guide (#46)

As noted by many (well, those who actually like the song  ), this is a small, underrated gem on Fear of the Dark. Nothing groundbreaking in the song per se, but everything works so well in the package...great intro, solos and chorus...

Heaven Can Wait (#67)

Very close to the aggregate ranking. As it turns out, it's my second-lowest ranked from Somewhere in Time. Lots of cool things going on in the song, actually. Even the "whoa-oh-oh" part has some neat guitar playing underneath. Chorus maybe not the best, but what can you do. For me, it does suffer in comparison to most other songs on the record, though. I think subconsciously I might be resentful that it was "parked" in a live spot for so long, taking away from other songs on SiT.

These Colours Don't Run (not in my top 75)

I did rank this one, around the 100th spot. Not a bad song, just kind of nondescript musically. There isn't a ton going on, and it's not one of my favorite Bruce moments in the chorus. The instrumental section is good, though.

[wolfking]

Forgot to mention in my 'ranking post' that if and when Dream Theater ever decide to do another deluxe edition covers bonus disc (a la Black Clouds) my #1 Maiden track I'd like them to tackle is Judas Be My Guide. I listened to it a couple of times today and each time I thought "I'd love to hear JP take a crack at these guitar solos".

Not quite DT, but Aussie band LORD do a great cover of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=683enoMdg7Q

[Dave_Manchester]

Forgot to mention in my 'ranking post' that if and when Dream Theater ever decide to do another deluxe edition covers bonus disc (a la Black Clouds) my #1 Maiden track I'd like them to tackle is Judas Be My Guide. I listened to it a couple of times today and each time I thought "I'd love to hear JP take a crack at these guitar solos".

Not quite DT, but Aussie band LORD do a great cover of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=683enoMdg7Q

Thanks for posting 

[TAC]

Forgot to mention in my 'ranking post' that if and when Dream Theater ever decide to do another deluxe edition covers bonus disc (a la Black Clouds) my #1 Maiden track I'd like them to tackle is Judas Be My Guide. I listened to it a couple of times today and each time I thought "I'd love to hear JP take a crack at these guitar solos".

That Black Clouds version of To Tame A Land was so frustrating. I wish the vocals were redone in the Black Clouds sessions when James recorded the other covers.


If I could pick one Iron Maiden song for DT to cover, it would be Phantom Of the Opera.

[425]

Phantom of the Opera would be interesting.

I think if I could pick literally any song, I would choose Starblind. Among the songs that they would be likely to actually do, I'd say Phantom or Seventh Son.

[TAC]

I think Starblind is a great choice. Even Isle Of Avalon.

[nick_z]

Phantom of the Opera would be interesting.

I think if I could pick literally any song, I would choose Starblind. Among the songs that they would be likely to actually do, I'd say Phantom or Seventh Son.

Starblind is fantastic. I agree it would be interesting to hear DT's take on it - the guitars especially are so cool.

[nick_z]

And absolutely yes to Isle of Avalon too. The solo section starting around 4:15 is so different for Maiden...and then about a minute later, around 5:15 it could totally be Alex Lifeson...gives me a Grace Under Pressure-era Rush vibe...

[Cool Chris]

Not to pick on you all, but I can't understand why anyone wishes for DT to cover a specific song. They just end up sounding like the original with different vocals.

[nick_z]

Oh, I think this was just an excuse to dig up some interesting songs  You are right though that DT end up not being super-adventurous in their re-interpretations...

[Cool Chris]

That's the thing... they aren't re-interpreting anything.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

67 Judas Be My Guide
Appeared on 12 of 27 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 2
Highest Ranking: 6 (wolfking)

Cool intro, but seems pretty average after that to me.  The chorus is kinda catchy, I suppose.


66 Heaven Can Wait
Appeared on 14 of 27 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 1
Highest Ranking: 7 (Dream Team)

This dropped for me over time, landing at 70.  I think it is really good, but the main hook (when Bruce sings the titular line) is kinda weird.  With a stronger line there melodically, this could have been a top song as the rest of the song is pretty damn great.


65 These Colours Don’t Run
Appeared on 15 of 27 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 1
Highest Ranking: 10 (DTA)

Ah yes, another good one from A Matter of Life and Death.  I had it at 55.  That melodic guitar lead that comes in later in the intro is tremendous, and the entire instrumental section is money.

Judas Be My Guide - Not a bad song, but I just don't see what Wolfking sees in it. It ended up at #96. I do like the melodic guitar solos in it though.

Heaven Can Wait - I had a hard time figuring out how to rank this against other songs. Sometimes I get annoyed by the repetitiveness of the chorus and other times I love it. In the end I ranked it at #26....possibly too high, but ehhh...

These Colours Don't Run - This one landed at #42. As JamminDude said, this would be a perfect song to show someone what the Reunion era is all about, just a great song front to back. And if there's one thing Iron Maiden do well (well at least 90% of the time), its song intros that build up and grab your attention.

[KevShmev]

Minor hints: tomorrow morning's update will be enjoyable for those who want something really new and something really old.

[TAC]

Minor hints: tomorrow morning's update will be enjoyable for those who want something really new and something really old.

So...not Blaze??

[Deadeye21]

“Something old? Something new? Something from our Jurassic period! WRATHCHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILE!”

Bruce Dickinson, Rock in Rio 2001.

[425]

Prowler and Hell on Earth. Easy.

[Glasser]

What is your ONE desert island Maiden album? (No live albums).

Mine is Powerslave.

[Cool Chris]

Tough. Right now with their material fresh in my mind... A Matter of Life and Death.

[Setlist Scotty]

That's the thing... they aren't re-interpreting anything.

True - and that was the issue I had with most covers DT did: too close to the original. That said, I loved how they did change up some of the sounds, such as JR using piano in Children of the Damned and sitar in To Tame a Land.

I've already posted it elsewhere, but I'd love to see DT do their own version (in other words, not a straight copy) of Prodigal Son. A runner up would be Alexander the Great.
 
 

What is your ONE desert island Maiden album? (No live albums).

Somewhere in Time

[jammindude]

Tough. Right now with their material fresh in my mind... A Matter of Life and Death.

Agreed. Although Senjutsu is giving it a run.

[The Realm]

Prowler and Hell on Earth. Easy.

It's in my top 75 but I am not sure I see Prowler making it, hope I'm wrong though..

[425]

I was mostly kidding with those two, since it's the first song on their oldest album and the last song on their newest. I think we still have a little while longer before Hell on Earth appears, but I could see Prowler showing up right around now (I think it's kind of now or never for that one).

[WardySI]

What is your ONE desert island Maiden album? (No live albums).

Mine is Powerslave.

Honestly would struggle to take just one.  If I were forced right now having gone through the catalogue for this 75 thread I could narrow it down to just 5 in no particular order, Seventh Son, Somewhere in Time, Brave New World, Senjutsu and (drum roll) X Factor but that could well change day by day.

At a push I might say Senjutsu based purely on it being new and still fresh but Ugh it's a tough choice...

[Deadeye21]

What is your ONE desert island Maiden album? (No live albums).

Mine is Powerslave.

A media player with all of them because this answer is too damn hard!

[KevShmev]

Okay, focus, people, it's countdown time!

Today's songs:

64 If Eternity Should Fail
Appeared on 15 of 27 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 1
Highest Ranking: 9 (senecadawg2)

Okay, this is something still sorta new rather than really new ,. so there ya go.  This snuck in late for me, landing at 73. This is another song from the last two albums that feels like would have been better with a less muddy sound, almost like the modern day, blah production is holding it back a bit.


63 Prodigal Son
Appeared on 15 of 27 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 1
Highest Ranking: 10 (Setlist Scotty)

This one came in at 54 for me, which was lower than I thought it would have finished, as I liked this a lot from the start.  It feels like this kind of vibe is one they never really tried to recapture once the original singer was gone from the band. Bummer.


62 Wrathchild
Appeared on 15 of 27 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 0
Highest Ranking: 17 (Cool Chris)

That intro with the bass guitar alone makes this worthy, and the whole song is really enjoyable. I had it at 56.

[Deadeye21]

Okay, focus, people, it's countdown time!

Today's songs:

64 If Eternity Should Fail

63 Prodigal Son
It feels like this kind of vibe is one they never really tried to recapture once the original singer was gone from the band. Bummer.

62 Wrathchild

If Eternity - didn’t rank. Came in at 80 the second time and 118 the first time. Great intro, especially live, but it’s a bit of a slouch.

Prodigal Son, I again didn’t rank. 157th on my second list, 142nd the first time. I highlight your comment here, as I feel like Journeyman from Dance of Death came pretty close in it’s original electric version ( https://youtu.be/Vf_Yj9N4zcU). Still, this is the type of song I wish they would’ve done again once Bruce arrived for Beast. It’s a really unique song in the catalogue, kept so when Journeyman was changed.

You know I was kinda joking when I quoted Rock in Rio, but it’s funny I was right. This landed at 51 for me. Definitely one I prefer Di’anno singing though. Such a punky vibe.

[The Realm]

64 If Eternity Should Fail
Appeared on 15 of 27 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 0
Highest Ranking: 11 (Cool Chris)

63 Prodigal Son
Appeared on 15 of 27 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 1
Highest Ranking: 10 (Setlist Scotty)

62 Wrathchild
Appeared on 15 of 27 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 0
Highest Ranking: 17 (Cool Chris)

Two great ((or should I say killer(s)) songs today, one not so much..

If Eternity Should Fail - unranked by me and not really close. Like most of The Book of Souls album this one is a slog to get through these days for me.

Prodigal Son - 16 for me. This song has such a unique and awesome vibe for Maiden, I have always been a big fan of it. I wasn't really sure it would make the countdown  the Killers album doesn't seem to get much love at all) and now it has I'm also surprised I wasn't the high ranker! Well done Setlist Scotty.

Wrathchild - 22 for me. Another awesome song from the Killers album. I do enjoy Bruce singing this one but Dianno is also great on this, feels disappointing only 15 lists ranked this one, I'm not sure what isn't to love here, kind of thought this one may have ranked a bit higher.

[wolfking]

67 for me in regards to PS.  Adrian's solo makes the song what it is.  One of his finest moments.

The other two didn't rank for me.

[WardySI]

If Eternity Should Fail #42
Prodigal Son NR
Wrathchild #38

Eternity was difficult for me to rank. On one hand love the song, epic and a fantastic opener yet on the hand it's so Bruce solo I find it a little frustrating and kinda wish it had been left that way.  Weird I know and realise he is actually talking of using it again for his forthcoming album which makes huge sense to me but yeah, could only rank it about middle of my list for that reason...

[nick_z]

Ha! A double dose of Killers, today!

If Eternity Should Fail (#35)

My favorite from The Book of Souls. If would be even better if they trimmed the ending a bit. But the moment when the whole band comes in with the main riff is absolutely fantastic. Love this song.

Prodigal Son (#60)

Close to the aggregate ranking. Very happy this made the overall list. It's such a cool tune, based on acoustic guitars, but with plenty of energy.

Wrathchild (#63)

Also close. I always think this is an old "classic" that I don't really need to hear. again...but every time it comes up I enjoy the hell out of it. The energy is undeniable and that main riff is so good.