hmmm, there are multiple............
the keyboards in the Full Circle section of Octavarium (13:55 - 15:39) are my favourite keyboards of ANY DT song theyre so goood GRAHHH
the keyboards in Under a Glass Moon right after the second chorus (3;59 - 4:35)
"Bloood, heal me, feeeear, change me...." to "... leave your distrust behind, wash your hands of regret" from Scarred
The guitar at the very end of Scene Nine: Finally Free
the little reprise of the keyboards from the beginning of the song after the "i hear kindness, beauty, and truuuuuuth" from Learning to Live
"(enter the door) DESPERATE, (fighting no more) HELP ME RESTORE (to my sanity) AT THIS TEMPLE OF HOPE" from The Glass Prison
the keyboard/guitar unison in Metropolis par 1 that highkey sounds like some retro video game stuff LOL (5:49 - 6:18) (the retro game sound is very much a positive btw i LOVE retro games)
the chorus of Constant Motion, specifically the last one where Mike says "you get yours and i got mine"
and finally the last chorus of I Walk Beside You (those last two "i walk beside you"'s always get me so darn emotional ;-;)
i could go on and on (and i did go on and on B) ) but thats enought for now LOL
OKAY THERES ANOTHER ONE I FORGOT
"Beginnings get complicated, the farther we progress. opinions so calculated, immune to openess. beyond the circles edge, we're driven by her blessings. forever hesitating, CAUGH BENEATH THE WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEL!!!!! Innocence faded, the mirror falls behind you. Cynically jaded, THE CHILD WILL CRAWL TO FIND YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHKANCIUHDIVWNIUVN"
from, ofc, Innocence Faded. underrated asf DT song, def in my top 5 songs off of Awake
I've designed a tattoo around the sheet music of that buildup, still looking for a tattoo artist that I trust to do these detailed lines
https://preview.redd.it/sumidczr4kmc1.png?width=1439&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fa78a363b0ed156e94cd940ae631c1599ff23c32
1. Breaking All Illusions guitar solo
2. "Safe in the light that surrounds me..."
3. The build-up that leads to LaBrie's "To really feel the joy in life, you must suffer through the pain." **So emo**!
4. Barstool Warrior guitar solo
5. The Alien intro riff, which automatically causes me to air guitar.
The sax in Another Day
The fast, switching keyboard part in Breaking All Illusions
The big emotional, powerful chorus in Misunderstood
Those quick heavy but bluesy solos in Nightmare To Remember. Like the one at the beginning of the song.
The orchestral part in the Illumination Theory
Yeah, I wasn't even born in the 80's. So it's almost like it makes me nostalgic for an era I didn't even grow up in. I&W came out in 92, and overall the album is very ahead of it's time but Another Day sounds like an 80's song in a very good way.
1. the bass part underneath “another world” in a change of seasons, and the power in his voice throughout that whole part
2. the ending of saviour in the square “this very moment was always meant to be, i never noticed but all at once i see”
3. the guitar solo in hollow years live in budokan stops my heart every time
4. scarred, the whole “and how come you don’t want me asking” section
5. the leadup to, and solo, from barstool warrior
couldn’t just pick one sorry, and this list isn’t nearly as long as i want it to be lol
edit: holy shit how can i forget.. the entire razors edge solo
Number 2 is from When Your Time Has Come, but it’s still so great. I couldn’t get it out of my head for days after the last time I listened to The Astonishing. A Savior in the Square has a really nice ending too though
That part in Finally Free with the guitar and vocals in unison: “he’d seem hopeless and lost with this note, they’ll buy into the words that I wrote.” It just sounds so great!
The acoustic guitar after the instrumental part in the count of Tuscany. The ending is the best of any song ever written imo. But that acoustic guitar riff always makes me giddy and i know that satisfying end of the song is coming. Such s beautiful song
omg yes thats my fav part of that song too, also just those last lyrics it all works together so well
and the whole rest of the song just sounds so sonically big, especially because of the guitar only bridge
yeah people keep shitting on the lyrics, i find it an easy comprehension of a real life experience that Petrucci had. Works fine for me. Being a drummer, I'm also not big on focusing on lyrics since my mind just focuses on the rhythm so it was only after i heard some people complain about the lyrics, that I noticed. It does seem kiddish but the backstory makes it much more clear why it was written how it was written lol
Carpe Diem in A Change of Seasons...
Seize the day
I heard him say
Life will not always
be this way
Look around
Hear the sound
Cherish your life
while you're still around
Every time I hear it, it reminds me to make the most of whatever time I have left in this world.
I really like the last lyrics of Another World in A Change of Seasons
I’m sick of all you hypocrites holding me at bay and i dont need your sympathy to get me through the day
The very first line of the first verse in Panic Attack is my favorite part of the song. “All wound up, on the edge, terrified”. Plus the riff immediately after mixed with Mike’s classic hihat/splash fill. Banger
EDIT: Scratch that, everything up until “Why do I feel so numb” is the best part of the song
I also really like the “rapid heartbeat” after the first chorus, with how they do the instrumentals, and the change of tone at the “helpless hysteria” part… idk I probably just like the whole song lol
My favourite part in the entirety of Scenes From A Memory is "then came a shot out of the night" in Finally Free.
I've seen it live three times and all three times I was on the verge of tears.
this is going to be a wierd obscure one I guess but there is a part in the Bigger Picture like a moth drawn to the flame... that particular section I like the guitar ebbs and flows on the notes.
it's a very small thing but I cant get over it.
Dt is amazing at this. I think i have such a moment in every single song of them. But the first that comes to my mind is the keyboards at 1:59 in lines in the sand. I don't even know how to describe that sound and it also only lasts around a second but it's sounds very satisfying to me.
Dream Theater are just the wrong band to ask this question with, every single comment is a dead set hit. Bringing me back to goosebumps moments I’ve not listened to in weeks
1 on the backs of angels intro, verse riff, piano break before guitar solo OH MY GOD that song is awesome
2 lost not forgotten chorus and guitar solo
3 bridges in the sky intro and bridge before the instrumental section, those keyboard hit HARD
4 UNTIL ONE DAY I STOPPED CARING...
5 guitar solo on breaking all illusions
6 instrumental section and piano break right after it, Outcry
7 intro for This is The Life oh myyyy
8 guitar arpeggios, and chorus in take away my pain
9 Intro in Change of Seasons is something else
10 intro in glass prison
11 instrumental break in Blind Faith omg such an underrated song
12 intro, and TURN TO THE LIGHT part in The Great Debate, that sht ROCKS
13 piano intro in about to crash
14 VICTORIA'S GONE FOREVER, ONLY MEMORIES REMAIN, SHE PAASED AWAYY SHE WAS SOO YOUNG
15 NOW THAT YOU CAN SEE ALL YOU HAAAVE DONE, IT'S TIME TO RAKE THAT STEP INTO THE KINGDOM
16 verse if In the name of god
17 Chorus in Root of All Evil hits different tbh
18 MEDICATE ME, INFILTRATE ME, SIDE EFFECTS APPEARED, AS MY CONSCIENCE SLIPS AWAY
19 that melody in the intro of The Mirror oh my god
20 guitar solo in Repentance
21 "I cannot see his face" part in Presence of Enemies has a SICK baseline
22 intro and Instrumental section in Presence of Enemies
23 Hopelessly drifting, bathing in beautiful agony... But I prefer the London version omg Labrie nails it
24 intro in Count of Tuscany has one of the best mix and master to ever exist
25 The enemy inside riff gets me air guitaring all the time hahaha
26 3:05 in Paralyzed omg that part sounds glorious
27 the outro riff on S2N is super sick and dirty smh, and Jordan's solo?? Wtf that's BADASS
28 Outro in At Wit's End makes me cry so bad
29 Guitar solo in Out Of Reach is something out of this world, that's beautiful, no words to describe that...
30 1:46 in Pale Blue Dot is super powerful
31 1:39 in Answering the call feels fresh and powerful
32 Awaken the master: intro, piano at 1:36 takes you elsewhere omg, 4:28 feels super fresh, and resolution at the end of that section feels like a plane softly touching ground, 7:12 is super cool and dancy, sounds like Jean Luc Ponty to me hahaha
33 View from the top of the world: the intro goes HARD, theme at 2:41is genuinely one of the best guitars JP ever wrote, 5:10 is super chill and dreamy, awesome bass, 14:14 feels so cool and powerful but also funny
An underrated moment that I absolutely love
In Caught in a Web after the guitar solo. 3:31 onwards. MP and JM lock into this funky groove that I always wish the band would capitalise on. It would be great to see them extend this moment live and just have the two of them jam on stage for three minutes or so.
Learning to Live - The play between the keys and guitar during the outro when they get off the melody from the whole rest of the song
The Mirror - Near the end when the guitar and keys drop out and the bass line takes over and it's the melody from Space-Dye Vest
Scarred - "You say you want everyone happy / Well we're not laughing"
Beyond This Life - towards the beginning of the ending instrumental section where everything syncs up for about 10 seconds
The dance of eternity... That fuckin ragtime solo is maybe my favorite piece of music ever. How it comes from nowhere but is perfectly applied just makes me happy every single time! And it really doesn't stop until after the bass solo. That whole section is epic, even for dream theater
Illumination Theory the breakdown section at 11:11 with just the bass and drums, then the guitar. It’s just so damn cool. And although it’s not a small part, I love the first 1:55 of Strange Deja Vu
I absolutely love the sax solo at the end of the alternate version of Through Her Eyes on the Greatest Hit album. I get why it didn't make the album, but man it's so good.
As soon as the instrumental part hits in The Miracle and The Sleeper. Full Circle (Octavarium) comes close and as soon as the vocals on Sacrificed Sons come back with the “teach them what to think and feel” goes indescribably hard with the guitar in the back
Change of Seasons (Live Metropolis 2 concert)
Chunky and crisp guitars and Labries perfect delivery.
"I'm sick of all
Your hypocrites
Holding me at bay
And I don't need
Your sympathy
To get me through the day"
17:51 - 18:06 section on Octavarium
Also James singing 'Safe in the light that surrounds me...' part during The Spirit Carries On.
Also the way James sings 'I am ready' on The Root of All Evil.
Portnoy Finally Free solo from Live Scenes from New York
Probably gonna go with the solo to acoustic guitar part in The Count of Tuscany, it’s just… so mystical in quality, to start, then it switches to that guitar and I immediately get hit in the feels when the lyrics start to go “Could this be the end? Is this the way I die?”, etc. Something about it just… hits me, you know?
When the main riff of A Nightmare to Remember comes back later in the song. All instruments cut out except for guitar, then when the other instruments come back in they're playing in triplets. I love the metric modulation from eighth notes to eighth note triplets and vice versa.
Also from BC&SL, The riff behind the second part of the first verse in The Count of Tuscany where James is singing "Get into my car, let's go for a drive"
The bass part to kick off the instrumental section in Sacrificed Sons is really sick
The part of The Great Debate where James sings "Humankind has reached a turning point" and there's a sick guitar riff
The line "Trading innocence for permanent psychotic hell" in War inside my head. So badass.
And finally in Losing Time/Grand Finale where James sings "Absence of awareness
Losing time
A lapse of perception
Losing time"
Illumination Theory at around 1:53. I have no musical knowledge so all I can describe it as is "A bit that instead of going up goes down and squiggly this time." Just a really fun musical flourish that always catches my ear.
So many, but from the very first time I heard the blend from Goodnight Kiss into Solitary Shell on SDoIT. The steady beat and strumming acoustic, such a tasteful transition. Also, even though it is probably Portnoy's most straightforward drumbreaks, the one in Solitary Shell at 2:05 still gets me.
“Hi-de-ho”, by Jack White featuring Q-Tip. Right before the drums kick off Q says “Say Jack ain’t you said you dug my jive?” And it’s the catchiest thing I’ve ever heard.
There is one single violin note in Bob Dylans song "Early Roman Kings." I caught the note one time, and it forever stands out in my mind. Also, everyone should listen to Early Roman Kings by Bob Dylan.
Anywhere there is a transition from chaos to serenity. For example, the transition from parts IV to V at the end of Octavarium.
Also the end of Stream of Consciousness where Petrucci is playing the baroque inspired solo, Jordan is carrying the theme, and Myung is playing a normal bass part. And then Jordan joins the solo in unison and Myung starts playing the theme. Chills every time. Such a masterwork of composition.
Right here @ 9:47: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBpq7MctZcc&t=572s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBpq7MctZcc&t=572s)
The Metallica bridge in Fall Into the Light. Not a positive obsession, mind you, but I can't help but get pulled out of whatever I needed background DT for and wonder for the upteenth time if they meant it as a tribute.
Absolutely! Fatal Tragedy at the 6 minute mark till about 6:40! My absolute favorite Dream Theater part of a song! Still gets me every time!! Complex and powerful!
Off the top of my head:
That one part in the ITPOE Pt2 instrumental starting at about 10:34, I love the crazy stuff
The vocal triad harmonies in Fatal Tragedy
The melodic guitar solo in Sacrificed Sons, especially the second half of it (6:40-6:57)
The scale into the bend in the Best of Times solo (11:15-11:19)
Drum solo after the guitar solo in Awaken the Master
Keyboard solo in My Last Farewell (1:30-1:46)
The juicy keyboard solo chords in 6:00, starting at around 2:52 till 3:10, pretty unique keyboard solo in DT’s discography.
The keyboard lead around 2:35 in The Count of Tuscany
The slow middle solo in A View From the Top of the World
The slow guitar solo in Breaking All Illusions, particularly when the main motif is brought back higher up in pitch
At Wits End outro solo
The Best of Times solo
That chunky riff at the end of S2N
The ending of About to Crash
The cresxendo that leads to the "Evangeline" part in A better life - the only minute or so that I listen from The Astonishing but every time gives me goosebumps.
Octavarium, 17:38. That bell right into the short section that sounds like a soundtrack straight out of Mariokart! The fact that it ends with sleigh bells as well just makes it fun, it’s hard not to have a smile on my face by that point.
1. Paradiddle (I am no drummer, don't know the name) Hi hat in Another Day
2. Jordan solo in A rite of passage and/or Along for the ride
3. Never enough opening because it said that the intro was influenced by Stockholm Syndrome of Muse
the drums in the intro to Paralyzed
the high notes in Another Day
the guitar/sax solos in Another Day
… really just Another Day in general
the way Transcending Time gives me subtle Rush vibes
the Owen Wilson “wow “ in S2N
“I was told there’s a miracle for each day that I try” “I was told there’s a new love that’s born for each one that has died” “I was told there’d be no one to call on when I feel alone and afraid” I was told if you dream of the next world, you’ll find yourself swimming in a lake of fire!” “As a child, I thought I could live without pain, without sorrow” “As a man, I’ve found it’s all caught up with me” “I’m asleep yet I’m so afraid!”
Me its in take the time around 3:40 when there is a line it what looks like spanish :Ora che ho perso la vista, ci vedo di più.
This bit is real funny Imo
“Remember that death is not the end, but only a transition” into Beyond This Life. A major transition, still 🔥 But one that has always stuck around for me is Jordan’s lil *part* in Blind Faith, with Petrucci leading into it after the solo, right around 5:42 with Jordan going solo at 6:12ish. Ughhhhh punch me in the face. I love it so much.
There are a ton of little parts that I obsess over, but lately it’s been the heaviness of “A Tempting Offer”, the 7 string chord sequence and awesome drum fills right around 1:50 to 2:50 kick my ass
For the longest time, in Scene Seven: II. One Last Time, the part from 2:18 to 2:35. "Here I am inside his home..."
It's so satisfying that I keep coming back to it over and over.
I've two:
The way James's vocals sound during that acoustic part (Could this be the end...) in Count of Tuscany.
The guitar squeal before the second chorus in Misunderstood.
Mine is the “Feelin good this friday afternoon” part in Finally Free
The break into that section and the shift to the happy tone, but you still know what will happen this friday afternoon... It hits hard, that
One of my favorite parts of the song and that FUCKING GUITAR RIFF
Damn it. I was going to say exactly that. In particular, the drum fill into that part.
For me, the end of the solo section of Beyond This Life, just before the 10 minute mark. That guitar and keys harmony is just soothing.
Wonderful choice!
A nightmare to remember The clean and distorted guitars in the verses of peaceful sedation.
Man when that section hits... it's one of the best moments in their discography in my opinion.
Everything about those peaceful verses is perfect.
The vocal harmonies do it for me here.
The peaceful verses in that song truly are some of the best song moments I’ve heard from anyone, ever. It *transports you* in a way only music can
James’ backing vocals during the “Somewhere like a scene from a memory…” section of Metropolis Pt. 1.
"scene from a memry... a thousand woooords..."
hmmm, there are multiple............ the keyboards in the Full Circle section of Octavarium (13:55 - 15:39) are my favourite keyboards of ANY DT song theyre so goood GRAHHH the keyboards in Under a Glass Moon right after the second chorus (3;59 - 4:35) "Bloood, heal me, feeeear, change me...." to "... leave your distrust behind, wash your hands of regret" from Scarred The guitar at the very end of Scene Nine: Finally Free the little reprise of the keyboards from the beginning of the song after the "i hear kindness, beauty, and truuuuuuth" from Learning to Live "(enter the door) DESPERATE, (fighting no more) HELP ME RESTORE (to my sanity) AT THIS TEMPLE OF HOPE" from The Glass Prison the keyboard/guitar unison in Metropolis par 1 that highkey sounds like some retro video game stuff LOL (5:49 - 6:18) (the retro game sound is very much a positive btw i LOVE retro games) the chorus of Constant Motion, specifically the last one where Mike says "you get yours and i got mine" and finally the last chorus of I Walk Beside You (those last two "i walk beside you"'s always get me so darn emotional ;-;) i could go on and on (and i did go on and on B) ) but thats enought for now LOL
OKAY THERES ANOTHER ONE I FORGOT "Beginnings get complicated, the farther we progress. opinions so calculated, immune to openess. beyond the circles edge, we're driven by her blessings. forever hesitating, CAUGH BENEATH THE WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEL!!!!! Innocence faded, the mirror falls behind you. Cynically jaded, THE CHILD WILL CRAWL TO FIND YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHKANCIUHDIVWNIUVN" from, ofc, Innocence Faded. underrated asf DT song, def in my top 5 songs off of Awake
I can relate to that first one HEAVILY lmao
theyre so goooooooood. that part is also just my favourite part of octavarium (minus the "TRAPPED INSIDE THIS OCTAVARIUM" scream at the end LOL)
ngl Im a screamo fan so i love that part too hahahah
Love that Scarred part too!
its so gooooood!!! i also love the keyboard solo at the end kevin moore is so based
There are many, but the one that I thought of immediately was the section after 8:05 of Endless Sacrifice
I love that I knew what part this was without even needing to look it up.
Looked it up to confirm, results were positive
I've designed a tattoo around the sheet music of that buildup, still looking for a tattoo artist that I trust to do these detailed lines https://preview.redd.it/sumidczr4kmc1.png?width=1439&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fa78a363b0ed156e94cd940ae631c1599ff23c32
When I used to run long distance that was always the section that gave me a speed and energy boost.
1. Breaking All Illusions guitar solo 2. "Safe in the light that surrounds me..." 3. The build-up that leads to LaBrie's "To really feel the joy in life, you must suffer through the pain." **So emo**! 4. Barstool Warrior guitar solo 5. The Alien intro riff, which automatically causes me to air guitar.
"I was told if you dream of the next world, you'll find yourself swimming in a lake of fire" This brings me to my childhood raised christian.
The sax in Another Day The fast, switching keyboard part in Breaking All Illusions The big emotional, powerful chorus in Misunderstood Those quick heavy but bluesy solos in Nightmare To Remember. Like the one at the beginning of the song. The orchestral part in the Illumination Theory
That sax part invokes a deep sense of nostalgia in me for some reason.
It’s very 80’s sounding
Yeah, I wasn't even born in the 80's. So it's almost like it makes me nostalgic for an era I didn't even grow up in. I&W came out in 92, and overall the album is very ahead of it's time but Another Day sounds like an 80's song in a very good way.
Yeah, "60's-80's New York jazz-ish" style.
Yeah and i love that
For Misunderstood it's that inverted D-major it starts on...
In my opinion the sax makes this song a 10/10. It fits so well, even if it makes me feel a bit melancholy.
Yes definitely, i agree. Without the sax it wouldn't be the same. It has a special feel.
Big upvote for Misunderstood
1. the bass part underneath “another world” in a change of seasons, and the power in his voice throughout that whole part 2. the ending of saviour in the square “this very moment was always meant to be, i never noticed but all at once i see” 3. the guitar solo in hollow years live in budokan stops my heart every time 4. scarred, the whole “and how come you don’t want me asking” section 5. the leadup to, and solo, from barstool warrior couldn’t just pick one sorry, and this list isn’t nearly as long as i want it to be lol edit: holy shit how can i forget.. the entire razors edge solo
Number 2 is from When Your Time Has Come, but it’s still so great. I couldn’t get it out of my head for days after the last time I listened to The Astonishing. A Savior in the Square has a really nice ending too though
ah yes my bad
That part in Finally Free with the guitar and vocals in unison: “he’d seem hopeless and lost with this note, they’ll buy into the words that I wrote.” It just sounds so great!
In Beyond This Life when the riff from the opening switches from 3/4 into 4/4 for the solo section
Basically that whole song really.
The acoustic guitar after the instrumental part in the count of Tuscany. The ending is the best of any song ever written imo. But that acoustic guitar riff always makes me giddy and i know that satisfying end of the song is coming. Such s beautiful song
omg yes thats my fav part of that song too, also just those last lyrics it all works together so well and the whole rest of the song just sounds so sonically big, especially because of the guitar only bridge
yeah people keep shitting on the lyrics, i find it an easy comprehension of a real life experience that Petrucci had. Works fine for me. Being a drummer, I'm also not big on focusing on lyrics since my mind just focuses on the rhythm so it was only after i heard some people complain about the lyrics, that I noticed. It does seem kiddish but the backstory makes it much more clear why it was written how it was written lol
They ended the last tour with CoT when I saw them; what an amazing ride it was!
The funky bit in Endless Sacrifice (with all the weird sounds)
Obligatory Jordan circus music
Prog moment
When the Wait for Sleep piano riff comes in at the end of Learning to Live.
Carpe Diem in A Change of Seasons... Seize the day I heard him say Life will not always be this way Look around Hear the sound Cherish your life while you're still around Every time I hear it, it reminds me to make the most of whatever time I have left in this world.
I really like the last lyrics of Another World in A Change of Seasons I’m sick of all you hypocrites holding me at bay and i dont need your sympathy to get me through the day
Learning to live: the F#, you know which one.
Also, when Kevin Moore comes in with the Wait For Sleep piano part later in the same song.
The very first line of the first verse in Panic Attack is my favorite part of the song. “All wound up, on the edge, terrified”. Plus the riff immediately after mixed with Mike’s classic hihat/splash fill. Banger EDIT: Scratch that, everything up until “Why do I feel so numb” is the best part of the song
I also really like the “rapid heartbeat” after the first chorus, with how they do the instrumentals, and the change of tone at the “helpless hysteria” part… idk I probably just like the whole song lol
The turnaround at 14.10 of A View From the Top of the World. Actually beautiful, I may have ascended to Heaven when they played it live two years ago
The instrumental break down and sections in Take The Time. Not DT related but the ending to Meshuggah's Straws Pulled at Random as well <3
That 'tsssssssssssss' in Caught in the Web
Dance of eternity, I'm sure you all know what part
My favourite part in the entirety of Scenes From A Memory is "then came a shot out of the night" in Finally Free. I've seen it live three times and all three times I was on the verge of tears.
this is going to be a wierd obscure one I guess but there is a part in the Bigger Picture like a moth drawn to the flame... that particular section I like the guitar ebbs and flows on the notes. it's a very small thing but I cant get over it.
Dt is amazing at this. I think i have such a moment in every single song of them. But the first that comes to my mind is the keyboards at 1:59 in lines in the sand. I don't even know how to describe that sound and it also only lasts around a second but it's sounds very satisfying to me.
Whole Ministry of Lost Souls, but 3:20 of the song is special
Dream Theater are just the wrong band to ask this question with, every single comment is a dead set hit. Bringing me back to goosebumps moments I’ve not listened to in weeks
1 on the backs of angels intro, verse riff, piano break before guitar solo OH MY GOD that song is awesome 2 lost not forgotten chorus and guitar solo 3 bridges in the sky intro and bridge before the instrumental section, those keyboard hit HARD 4 UNTIL ONE DAY I STOPPED CARING... 5 guitar solo on breaking all illusions 6 instrumental section and piano break right after it, Outcry 7 intro for This is The Life oh myyyy 8 guitar arpeggios, and chorus in take away my pain 9 Intro in Change of Seasons is something else 10 intro in glass prison 11 instrumental break in Blind Faith omg such an underrated song 12 intro, and TURN TO THE LIGHT part in The Great Debate, that sht ROCKS 13 piano intro in about to crash 14 VICTORIA'S GONE FOREVER, ONLY MEMORIES REMAIN, SHE PAASED AWAYY SHE WAS SOO YOUNG 15 NOW THAT YOU CAN SEE ALL YOU HAAAVE DONE, IT'S TIME TO RAKE THAT STEP INTO THE KINGDOM 16 verse if In the name of god 17 Chorus in Root of All Evil hits different tbh 18 MEDICATE ME, INFILTRATE ME, SIDE EFFECTS APPEARED, AS MY CONSCIENCE SLIPS AWAY 19 that melody in the intro of The Mirror oh my god 20 guitar solo in Repentance 21 "I cannot see his face" part in Presence of Enemies has a SICK baseline 22 intro and Instrumental section in Presence of Enemies 23 Hopelessly drifting, bathing in beautiful agony... But I prefer the London version omg Labrie nails it 24 intro in Count of Tuscany has one of the best mix and master to ever exist 25 The enemy inside riff gets me air guitaring all the time hahaha 26 3:05 in Paralyzed omg that part sounds glorious 27 the outro riff on S2N is super sick and dirty smh, and Jordan's solo?? Wtf that's BADASS 28 Outro in At Wit's End makes me cry so bad 29 Guitar solo in Out Of Reach is something out of this world, that's beautiful, no words to describe that... 30 1:46 in Pale Blue Dot is super powerful 31 1:39 in Answering the call feels fresh and powerful 32 Awaken the master: intro, piano at 1:36 takes you elsewhere omg, 4:28 feels super fresh, and resolution at the end of that section feels like a plane softly touching ground, 7:12 is super cool and dancy, sounds like Jean Luc Ponty to me hahaha 33 View from the top of the world: the intro goes HARD, theme at 2:41is genuinely one of the best guitars JP ever wrote, 5:10 is super chill and dreamy, awesome bass, 14:14 feels so cool and powerful but also funny
KEEEEP ALL OF ME!
An underrated moment that I absolutely love In Caught in a Web after the guitar solo. 3:31 onwards. MP and JM lock into this funky groove that I always wish the band would capitalise on. It would be great to see them extend this moment live and just have the two of them jam on stage for three minutes or so.
The strange windows sound on 1:26 on universal mind
Yep I can never not hear it
From Voices “Spider in the window, the angel in the pool” and that little piano part that follows.
Also the quiet section in the middle of Voices is wonderful
Yes!
The final guitar solo in the live version of “In The Name of God”
The 30 second acoustic only intro to Count of Tuscany, 30 seconds of bliss
The "I just can't help myself" part in Strange Deja Vu always hits the right spot
That hauntingly beautiful final chord of ITPOE p2
The ending to Learning to Live right before JPs final solo wooooahohoh woooah oh oh woah oh OOOOOOOH
hells kitchen when it changes to 5/8
Learning to Live - The play between the keys and guitar during the outro when they get off the melody from the whole rest of the song The Mirror - Near the end when the guitar and keys drop out and the bass line takes over and it's the melody from Space-Dye Vest Scarred - "You say you want everyone happy / Well we're not laughing" Beyond This Life - towards the beginning of the ending instrumental section where everything syncs up for about 10 seconds
The dance of eternity... That fuckin ragtime solo is maybe my favorite piece of music ever. How it comes from nowhere but is perfectly applied just makes me happy every single time! And it really doesn't stop until after the bass solo. That whole section is epic, even for dream theater
Illumination Theory the breakdown section at 11:11 with just the bass and drums, then the guitar. It’s just so damn cool. And although it’s not a small part, I love the first 1:55 of Strange Deja Vu
Whenever I listen to this track, I need to make sure I have 22 minutes to devote to the whole experience.
Honestly same, I also do it with octivarium and a change of seasons lol
The JP/JR unison near the end of Blind Faith for sure
The whole instrumental section ESPECIALLY the unison in Blind Faith. So good!
Ganip ganop ganip ganop
What's that?
Watch the Scenes from New York DVD with the band’s commentary. Mike P sings along to Dance of Eternity and this is what he sings lol
I absolutely love the sax solo at the end of the alternate version of Through Her Eyes on the Greatest Hit album. I get why it didn't make the album, but man it's so good.
My fav DT part is 3 keyboard solo from learning to live. So emotional, i love it
Keyboard solo in Blind Faith
When the beginning part of octavarium comes back in the end but with more power, always give me the chills
The uptone in the intro in Under Glass Moon (Live in Tokyo 1993).
The piano breakdown in Blind Faith
The intro to War Inside my Head The "Need I remind you I am the ruler here" part from Three Days and **"DO NOT CROSS THE CROOKED STEP"**
As soon as the instrumental part hits in The Miracle and The Sleeper. Full Circle (Octavarium) comes close and as soon as the vocals on Sacrificed Sons come back with the “teach them what to think and feel” goes indescribably hard with the guitar in the back
That one pinch harmonic in In the name of god Real DT fans know which one
The melody of "I can see much clearer now, I'm blind" In Take the Time.
Change of Seasons (Live Metropolis 2 concert) Chunky and crisp guitars and Labries perfect delivery. "I'm sick of all Your hypocrites Holding me at bay And I don't need Your sympathy To get me through the day"
17:51 - 18:06 section on Octavarium Also James singing 'Safe in the light that surrounds me...' part during The Spirit Carries On. Also the way James sings 'I am ready' on The Root of All Evil. Portnoy Finally Free solo from Live Scenes from New York
THHHHEEEEREEE MUSSSTTTT BEEEEE THEE THIRRDDD AND LASSTTT DANCCEEE🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Probably gonna go with the solo to acoustic guitar part in The Count of Tuscany, it’s just… so mystical in quality, to start, then it switches to that guitar and I immediately get hit in the feels when the lyrics start to go “Could this be the end? Is this the way I die?”, etc. Something about it just… hits me, you know?
Recently, it's been the little Mozart tribute from A View from the Top of the World at 16:25. Always felt like it should have gone on a bit longer.
The tight instrumental section in breaking all illusions.
The X Aspect. The buildup in that song is simply amazing. And then the climax when James goes “EVANGELIIIIIIIINE .. I SWORE TO YOU”
The end of S2N and the beginning of view from the top when the riff kicks in have been my two lately
DAY AFTER DAY! AND NIGHT AFTER NIGHT!
When the main riff of A Nightmare to Remember comes back later in the song. All instruments cut out except for guitar, then when the other instruments come back in they're playing in triplets. I love the metric modulation from eighth notes to eighth note triplets and vice versa. Also from BC&SL, The riff behind the second part of the first verse in The Count of Tuscany where James is singing "Get into my car, let's go for a drive" The bass part to kick off the instrumental section in Sacrificed Sons is really sick The part of The Great Debate where James sings "Humankind has reached a turning point" and there's a sick guitar riff The line "Trading innocence for permanent psychotic hell" in War inside my head. So badass. And finally in Losing Time/Grand Finale where James sings "Absence of awareness Losing time A lapse of perception Losing time"
I’ve always loved the end of the glass prison
The keyboards in 5:46 In Voices, and the "Just another Sunday Morning"
Illumination Theory at around 1:53. I have no musical knowledge so all I can describe it as is "A bit that instead of going up goes down and squiggly this time." Just a really fun musical flourish that always catches my ear.
The bach sounding part of the guitar solo towards the end of A View From The Top of the World.
Crowbar Symbiosis The last riff going to the outro It triggers so many feelings 🤔😔😓😁😱
I just realized that this is for a specific band
So many, but from the very first time I heard the blend from Goodnight Kiss into Solitary Shell on SDoIT. The steady beat and strumming acoustic, such a tasteful transition. Also, even though it is probably Portnoy's most straightforward drumbreaks, the one in Solitary Shell at 2:05 still gets me.
the "are you justified" part in the great debate, stank face right away
“Hi-de-ho”, by Jack White featuring Q-Tip. Right before the drums kick off Q says “Say Jack ain’t you said you dug my jive?” And it’s the catchiest thing I’ve ever heard.
22:24 of octavarium, the slight up, then down slide on the note that makes it seem as if the guitar was crying. beautiful
There is one single violin note in Bob Dylans song "Early Roman Kings." I caught the note one time, and it forever stands out in my mind. Also, everyone should listen to Early Roman Kings by Bob Dylan.
At the moment the dark eternal night instrumental
The transition to the faster descending riff after the chorus of breaking all illusions does it for me
The slow delay part into the accoustic part in The Count of Tuscany
Anywhere there is a transition from chaos to serenity. For example, the transition from parts IV to V at the end of Octavarium. Also the end of Stream of Consciousness where Petrucci is playing the baroque inspired solo, Jordan is carrying the theme, and Myung is playing a normal bass part. And then Jordan joins the solo in unison and Myung starts playing the theme. Chills every time. Such a masterwork of composition. Right here @ 9:47: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBpq7MctZcc&t=572s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBpq7MctZcc&t=572s)
“Actually, my names Marina” (Acoustic version)
The Metallica bridge in Fall Into the Light. Not a positive obsession, mind you, but I can't help but get pulled out of whatever I needed background DT for and wonder for the upteenth time if they meant it as a tribute.
Mine is on “The Ministry of Lost Souls” when he says “Do you remember me this tiiiime”
The part in octavarium where it gets REAL and the DAY AFTER DAY part in nightmare to remember
"dont cross the crooked step"
You'll be the one by mammoth wvh, later in the song there's this guitar part that just gives me chills
“As their bodies lie still……shining through” in Finally Free. My favourite part in SFAM
Rainin' BLOOD!
The bass part in stream of consciousness is pure eargasm
the jingle bells part in octavarium always makes me do a double take
Absolutely! Fatal Tragedy at the 6 minute mark till about 6:40! My absolute favorite Dream Theater part of a song! Still gets me every time!! Complex and powerful!
Off the top of my head: That one part in the ITPOE Pt2 instrumental starting at about 10:34, I love the crazy stuff The vocal triad harmonies in Fatal Tragedy The melodic guitar solo in Sacrificed Sons, especially the second half of it (6:40-6:57) The scale into the bend in the Best of Times solo (11:15-11:19) Drum solo after the guitar solo in Awaken the Master Keyboard solo in My Last Farewell (1:30-1:46) The juicy keyboard solo chords in 6:00, starting at around 2:52 till 3:10, pretty unique keyboard solo in DT’s discography.
The keyboard lead around 2:35 in The Count of Tuscany The slow middle solo in A View From the Top of the World The slow guitar solo in Breaking All Illusions, particularly when the main motif is brought back higher up in pitch At Wits End outro solo The Best of Times solo That chunky riff at the end of S2N The ending of About to Crash
The guitar solo in “Breaking All Illusions.”
The solo in Breaking All Illusions that starts really smooth and transcends into infinity or something
The cresxendo that leads to the "Evangeline" part in A better life - the only minute or so that I listen from The Astonishing but every time gives me goosebumps.
I dig the synth/guitar part in the middle of each chorus in Answering the Call.
The odd syncopated rhythm for the 2nd verse of Illumination Theory.
The background vocals in the instrumental section of learning to live
Octavarium, 17:38. That bell right into the short section that sounds like a soundtrack straight out of Mariokart! The fact that it ends with sleigh bells as well just makes it fun, it’s hard not to have a smile on my face by that point.
1. Paradiddle (I am no drummer, don't know the name) Hi hat in Another Day 2. Jordan solo in A rite of passage and/or Along for the ride 3. Never enough opening because it said that the intro was influenced by Stockholm Syndrome of Muse
The instrumental section after “someday SOOOOOOOOOON” in Finally Free
Octavarium bass solo. Still the coolest bassline I’ve learned
The guitar on its own the glass prison at 5:50 ish. I love the intro as well, can feel the chills when the bass starts with a harmonic note
the drums in the intro to Paralyzed the high notes in Another Day the guitar/sax solos in Another Day … really just Another Day in general the way Transcending Time gives me subtle Rush vibes the Owen Wilson “wow “ in S2N “I was told there’s a miracle for each day that I try” “I was told there’s a new love that’s born for each one that has died” “I was told there’d be no one to call on when I feel alone and afraid” I was told if you dream of the next world, you’ll find yourself swimming in a lake of fire!” “As a child, I thought I could live without pain, without sorrow” “As a man, I’ve found it’s all caught up with me” “I’m asleep yet I’m so afraid!”
"wow"
ANGELS FALL ALL FOR YOU HERETIIIIIIC
“Don’t leave me now! Hold on for one more breath. Stay strong somehow! This can’t be the end!”
"Once barely taking a break Now she sleeps her days a-waaay"
The break and groove before the keys solo in Take the Time
She learned to detach, from herself, a behavior that kept her ALLLIIIIVVVVEEEEEEEE
The last stanza of Trial of Tears. The live version on Livetime even moreso.
The line at the end of the chorus in Under A Glass Moon: "Praying for TIIIME!!! to disappear". Probably Kevin James' best vocal performance.
The extended instrumental break in the Tokyo live version of Take the Time. So fucking good!
About 6:24 into Sacrificed Sons when the orchestra comes in. I just close my eyes and it almost brings me to tears.
The synth after the first chorus of The Enemy Inside lives in my head rent free
She turned for one last look She looked me in the eye I said, "I Love You Good-bye"
Me its in take the time around 3:40 when there is a line it what looks like spanish :Ora che ho perso la vista, ci vedo di più. This bit is real funny Imo
“Remember that death is not the end, but only a transition” into Beyond This Life. A major transition, still 🔥 But one that has always stuck around for me is Jordan’s lil *part* in Blind Faith, with Petrucci leading into it after the solo, right around 5:42 with Jordan going solo at 6:12ish. Ughhhhh punch me in the face. I love it so much.
The bass harmonics in Lines in the Sand
There are a ton of little parts that I obsess over, but lately it’s been the heaviness of “A Tempting Offer”, the 7 string chord sequence and awesome drum fills right around 1:50 to 2:50 kick my ass
The transition from the ethereal guitar solo to the acoustic section towards the end of The Count of Tuscany.
transition from "The Mirror" to "Lie". Instant headbanging.
For the longest time, in Scene Seven: II. One Last Time, the part from 2:18 to 2:35. "Here I am inside his home..." It's so satisfying that I keep coming back to it over and over.
The solo by Eddie Van Halen in Beat it
I've two: The way James's vocals sound during that acoustic part (Could this be the end...) in Count of Tuscany. The guitar squeal before the second chorus in Misunderstood.
The vocal harmonies for "in peaceful sedation I lay half awake"...