Classical Composer Reacts to Octavarium (Dream Theater) | The Daily Doug (Episode 134)

#DreamTheater #Octavarium #OctavariumReaction #DreamTheaterReaction

In this episode of #TheDailyDoug, I'm listening to Octavarium by @dreamtheaterofficial. I was blown away by this amazing piece of music. Strap in and go along for the ride...it's a long episode but totally worth it!

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[phatalx]

Imagine Doug doing the whole Metropolis Pt.2 Album. I would legit pay for that.

[DanielVerberne]

I think Octavarium deserves to be stored with the national archives, for its significance to music. Truly.

[NecroVMX]

Fun fact - you actually listened to a pre-release version of the song, which leaked out onto the internet a week or two before this album came out - the flute solo at the very end is only present in that demo version, in the actual released version, the flute solo is not there, and is replaced by the first few notes of the first song from the album - this was done for two reasons, firstly to make the album go full circle, as that's a huge theme of Octavarium, and secondly due to the fact that Dream Theater wanted to end the "meta album" concept, their 6th album began the static noise from the end of the previous one, then the 7th album began with the fadeout from the 6th reversed, and the 8th album, Octavarium, opened with the same piano note that ended the 7th (which Jordan played with his nose). So basically everything from "Scenes from a Memory" up through "Octavarium" are one continuous work. They wanted to end that as it put a lot of pressure on them to begin the next album in a specific way, so by ending Octavarium with it's own beginning, they got out of that loop pretty well.

[otaconpsn]

This Is far more than a reaction, this Is a lesson

[deadmous]

As Dream Theater began working on what would become Octavarium, Portnoy noted that it would be their eighth studio album and that they had recently released their fifth live album, Live at Budokan. This sequence mirrored the octave of a keyboard: each octave contains eight natural and five accidentals. Portnoy suggested to the band members that they would compose the album following this concept. While writing, the group assigned each song a different key. To connect the various songs, some sound effects have been applied: for example The Root of All Evil, written in F, and the following track, The Answer Lies Within, written in G, are linked through a sound effect composed in F sharp major. The lyrics and song titles also refer to this concept. Some examples cited by Portnoy are the titles of the opening piece The Root of All Evil (from "root", the root note of a chord) and the closing piece Octavarium ("the octave of an octave").
Octavarium begins with The Root of All Evil, whose initial note is the same as the one with which the song In the Name of God, present in the previous album, ends. This characteristic had already been applied by the group also with As I Am, the opening track of Train of Thought which begins with the last note of the title track of Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, and with The Glass Prison, opening track of Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence which begins with the same audible rustle at the end of Finally Free, the final track of Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory. This feature was born out of Portnoy's inspiration from the Van Halen album Women and Children First, in which the ending of the final track of the album ends with a new riff that is played while a fade occurs; the drummer remembered hoping that the next Van Halen album would open with that final riff, but was disappointed when they didn't do that. He later realized he had "dug a hole where we expected to do it every time", but he solved the problem with Octavarium, where the title track finale ends with the introduction of the first track. This made the album a cycle in itself, allowing the group to have a clean start with their next album.

[JCbeatProductions]

Octavarium is also exactly 24 minutes long, the number hours in day. ("So secure content to live each day just like the last", "Trapped inside this Octavarium", "This story ends where it began")

[TexasGuitarist]

This is not just a reaction channel. This channel is a true journey into the depths of the most intricate nuances of the individual artists of songs you are reacting to. Harmonically, technically, rhythmically, lyrically, and melodically. What a journey my friend. I leave each of your videos inspired and excited about music. Really good. Invaluable insights!

[skybluemarshall]

The "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" influence is just dripping from that intro.

[ketchupnsketti]

They played this live on their "score" 20th anniversary concert dvd and everyone should watch that.

[timbaker]

Thank you Doug for actually reviewing and reacting to songs and not just sitting like a lump or making uninformed comments. Thanks for being real! And intelligent!

[Zafersernikli]

28:45 This entrance of the strings still brings tears into my eyes after 20 years.

[peforce]

It's like showing your favourite band to a friend and them being really hyped about it instead of shrugging it off and changing subject.
I was crying by the end with your reaction. Thank you.

[caseyjazz]

Most in depth High IQ reaction channel on the internet. Love it Doug.

[salvon.]

Doug is not only excepionally skilled in explaining the concepts of harmony, he is also extremely good at intepreting the lyrics.

[Cactustone]

Just noticed, the birds in the artwork are the black keys on the piano, the spheres are the white keys, which makes the notes F to F

[jarlysteinrvde]

I would LOVE a 1 hour special with you reacting to Six degrees of inner turbulence (SCORE verison). Absolute masterpiece

[olivierpeartnoy]

This is the perfect song to put on when you think your own music is good and you need a dose of humility.

[chessbrainiac]

IMHO this is Dream Theater's finest moment. This song alone encapsulates everything the band stands for musically. While you're at it btw...doing DTs long songs that is, you HAVE TO do A Change of Seasons.

[williamscolaro]

He did it! Seriously I’m so happy you enjoyed this. Many have already posted recommending Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. It’s an even bigger time commitment at over 40 minutes but it would be fun!

[imehandle]

I normally dislike reaction videos, but you actually take time to absorb the music, you explore the background and you teach your audience about everything you've discovered. From musical theory to explanation and your own interpretation of lyrics. Super cool, thank you Sir! I've learned so much from this video.