Blind Guardian, The Bard’s Song - A Classical Musician’s First Listen and Reaction

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Жыл бұрын

Vlad was right: it was indeed a pleasant surprise in more ways than one, which I hadn’t really expected. Yes, I enjoyed The Bard’s Song, and it caused me to remember musicians, performances, books, and music that I studied in my music-student days.
Here’s the link to the original song by Blind Guardian:
• BLIND GUARDIAN - The B...
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Amy Shafer, LRSM, FRSM, RYC, is a classical harpist, pianist, and music teacher, Director of Piano Studies and Assistant Director of Harp Studies for The Harp School, Inc., holds multiple degrees in harp and piano performance and teaching, and is active as a solo and collaborative performer. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, she teaches privately, presents masterclasses and coaching sessions, and has performed and taught in Europe and USA.
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Credits: Music written and performed by Blind Guardian
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#blindguardian

Пікірлер: 318

@VirginRock Жыл бұрын

Leave your questions ONLY here, please!

@pissofectasy Жыл бұрын

my question might sound like a critique, but I don't intend it to be. Anyway, I'm a rock fan for many decades, and the songs you are covering seem somewhat obscure selections. not completely, pink Floyd, Metallica or obviously popular bands, but the songs from them are not the top handful of songs I would of thought would of been recommended. Stairway to heaven is a exception of course. My question is basically how are you choosing you selections, there are a million songs out there, and I was curious.

@pthaynes Жыл бұрын

Do you have any plans to check out Opeth?

@varningforvanheden2774 Жыл бұрын

it's time to introduce her to Children of bodom - Kissing the Shadows. Love your channel!

@martinmurawski9011 Жыл бұрын

I really liked your video about this song and would like to recommend this live version to you, Maybe you find the time. Though they are usually heavier, this is raeslly one of the most popular songs of that band over here in Germany 😊 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/n5N5lruQx8nHdpc.html

@wandajames143 Жыл бұрын

whats the difference betwwen an improvised melody and an nonimprovised melody? Aren’t all Melodie’s improvised? I understand improvising on a theme, but that’s not really what a guitar solo does usually. Confused 😐

@NPK476 Жыл бұрын

You gotta go live with this one, nothing like hearing 75K people sing along with it and humm the guitar parts.

@Metzwerg74 Жыл бұрын

indeed

@meddner Жыл бұрын

Normally the studio version is better, but you're 100% right, the live version is incredible.

@charlesgrybosky1916 Жыл бұрын

One day I will experience this live...

@paakoopa Жыл бұрын

@@charlesgrybosky1916 i think they're doing a festival tour this and next year. I was at one of their concerts without having heard anything from them before and it sure is a treat.

@jindas4217 Жыл бұрын

Yes! "Valhalla/The Bard's Song" live @wackenopenair is a must watch/hear

@Bobbias Жыл бұрын

You're absolutely right about singing along. Probably the best known video of them playing live, which is a combination of this song followed by their song Valhalla, had the crowd singing as much of the lyrics on their own as it has him singing. It's a wonderful way to build anticipation in the crowd before they launch into the much louder and faster song that is Valhalla. I do think it's a bit of a a shame you didn't get the whiplash of hearing Valhalla immediately after, because it is a drastic change in tempo, sound, and texture since Valhalla is very much a heavy metal song.

@communications23 Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I love how she's so often more spot on than she realises. I grinned when she said that, knowing the live versions.

@BayushiTawa Жыл бұрын

Though I doubt she´d enjoy Valhalla...

@sarumanork-orphanage5612 Жыл бұрын

deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, (and as the band neared the end of the chorus deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, the crowd kept on singing...) deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, (it was so enthralled, it wouldn't allow the band to move on) deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, (and so it kept repeating...) deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, (and some say they are still singing today...) deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, deliverance, have you ever forgotten me? Valhallah, ....

@Bobbias Жыл бұрын

@@BayushiTawa yeah, it's probably too heavy for her. I still think her reaction would have been amusing to see though.

@itshel2677 Жыл бұрын

What you have to keep in mind when listening to Blind Guardian is that their songs are based in myth and fantasy literature rather than history which makes this one especially more magical. Almost like a piece of this world slipped into ours.

@MegaShadow2 5 ай бұрын

Deep my guy

@pedrofelipefreitas2666 4 күн бұрын

With the exception of A Night At The Opera, which is based on more historical themes, like Nietzsche, Galileo, The Iliad, etc.

@music2seeconcertphotograph457 Жыл бұрын

As other mentioned already: You should have a look at this song live from Wacken 2016 One of the most insane moments of crowd interaction. If you pass Wacken grounds and listen carefully, you can still hear the crowd singing! :-)

@dutchman7623 Жыл бұрын

Be a witness! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/n5N5lruQx8nHdpc.html

@bluebehir Жыл бұрын

I saw Blind Guardian in Melbourne, I think it was 2004. We sand the Bard Song, but we also sang Valhalla, and we just would not let the song end. We kept that chorus going maybe fifteen or twenty more rounds!

@jbouduin 21 күн бұрын

Good thing: that magic will happen again in two weeks ❤❤❤

@sonicgems Жыл бұрын

"No one should ask you for the name of the one who tells the story"... I love that line. Makes me think of how bards were not like modern pop stars. There was no cult of personality, just the song and the story.

@lemiras Жыл бұрын

And that's not true. For sure there are not famous im a modern way, cause of the lag of media to distribute their work. But they had fans and they sponsored their lives. Like, one or the most famous in Germany Walther von der Vogelweide. Who was sponsored a lot by Bishop Wolfger von Erla

@samael7867 Жыл бұрын

@@lemiras Walter von der Vogelweide will always be remembert for his very true sentence, Wes Brot ich ess des Lied ich sing, (whos bread i eat whos song i sing, i think would be good transaltion, but pls correct me if i am wrong)

@galadballcrusher8182 Жыл бұрын

@@samael7867 i would translate it as "whose bread i eat his song i sing"...dessen lied...or "the song i sing" das lied... Not sure whicĥ "des" is closer to

@randomname4726 Жыл бұрын

I thought that the bards were famous, but that the stories they sang were more important. So not like pop singers today, who are more about fame than substance. And they had more purpose in their craft.

@galadballcrusher8182 Жыл бұрын

@@randomname4726 actually same as most painters will most certainly sign a painting, most bards who composed a piece had often some stanza where they added a reference to the narrator, the one who tells the story, etc and when it comes to scalds in norsemen they also often doubled because of travelling and extensive heraldry knowledge as well etiquette and protocol familiarity as masters of proceedings or protocol or ceremony in many cases where a let's say more rural lord had other nobles as guests and had a bigger event planned and did not want to embarass himself showing his ignorance so he relied on a well travelled bard or skald to organise the pomp. And of course singing ability and talent differences aside a composer singing his own song usually adds something special to it.

@HH-hd7nd Жыл бұрын

If you watch Blind Guardian playing this song life you'll notice that the entire crowd sings along. Blind Guardian is known for their amazing crowd interaction - and it is indeed something special when a crowd of 80,000 people sings along to a song. Usually the vocalist, Hansi Kürsch, only sings a few lines every now and then, while the crowd sings the entire song. Blind Guardian is one of the most well known Power Metal bands which means that most of their songs are indeed a lot heavier, however they have a few other songs like this one as well (Mordred's Song and The Wizard for example). But even with the heavier songs the crowd oftentimes sings along as well, at least in some parts. I'd say there's no one out there who is better in crowd interaction than Blind Guardian. PS: They have performed at the Wacken Open Air a few times (the world's largest anually held open air Metal concert, held in the village of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany each year in August. Wacken has less than 2000 inhabitants, but each year during the festival 80,000 metalheads come to the village...and to many people's who are unfamiliar with Metal surprise it is one of the most peacefull events ever). Blind Guardian's Wacken concert in 2016 in particular is legendary, and the Legend says that if you stand on that field in Wacken, close your eyes and listen you can still hear the crowd sing even today. PPS: There are quite a few Metal bands performing what is known as Medieval Metal. You'll often find these bands using instruments that are not in widespread use anymore (like harpsichords or backpipes) alongside the typical modern instruments.

@FantasKanal Жыл бұрын

Wacken is only the largest in the number of bands in attendace, no small part in thanks to the Metal Battle. However, there are quite a few Festivals larger in the number of attendees, like GMM, Hellfest and Copenhell since they all have 80K paying visitors, Wacken only has 75K with a few thousand attendees from other sources.

@Crazael Жыл бұрын

This is one of my favorite Blind Guardian songs and every time I hear it, I cannot help but sing along. Hearing them play it live was an experience that will be with me for the rest of my life. They also have a version of this same melody with their full instrumentation that tells the story of The Hobbit.

@dontanton7775 Жыл бұрын

When I suggested the song on ko-fi I wasn't sure if I should take the live version (because it shows the "hymn" character of 70.000 ppl singing along) or the studio version (for the pure experience and analysis of the song). Anyway, I am glad you liked it, and maybe you just check the live version on your own. Your take on the "sing-along" chorus was absolutely spot on. The Bard's Song has become a highlight in any Blind Guardian show, where the vocalist let's the audience do like 60% of the singing. It has become a classic in the metal world (even though, as you pointed out, it is not metal), but what connects the song to the rest of the harder music is the theme of fantasy. Musically they have made a metal song, that is kind of the sister song of this one, called "The Bard's Song - The hobbit" which is about Tolkien's hobbit, but I am not educated enough to see how they connected the songs in terms of harmonics and keys. Both songs are also directly next to each other on the album. So maybe one day you can check out how that metal song musically relates to this ballad kind of song. Anyway, great video!

@ThiagoAraripe Ай бұрын

Excellent video! Loved the teachings about History and blind Welsh harp players, thanks a lot for all the context!

@keithpadgett2817 Жыл бұрын

Folk rock. Steeleyespan, Fairport convention and Pentangle spring to mind

@dr.alimpije511 Жыл бұрын

Pentangle are one of my favourite bands ever.This a call real music.I didn't know about them up until few years ago

@yuryliv Жыл бұрын

Sometimes heavy metal bands play "quiet" and calm acoustic songs, which are called ballads. This is one of those (same as Rammstein's song you heard), and usually, it has little to do with the band's regular sound. You will most likely find them more pleasing to your ears, but you should not judge the group as a whole based only on them (and vice versa). Moreover, people who recommend songs to you will try to choose those that have a high chance of being liked. This can create an unrepresentative sample of the repertoire for many groups. Especially now, in the beginning, when each group is 100% associated with only one song you listened to.

@NewAeonWarlord Жыл бұрын

interestingly enough, I think this song actually managed to pick up what Bard's songs used to be in a way that might be unexpected to some peoplel. This truely is a "classic" for huge audiences. At their concerts, EVERYONE knows this song and will sing along. It is the piece (probably more than any of their other songs) that brings people together and enjoy the athmosphere and a good time together, like what Bards might have done in ancient times.

@oliverdecker1625 Жыл бұрын

the live performances of this song are a very special experience. i would recommend live at wacken 2016

@dam2508 Жыл бұрын

I think it's reaaaally appropiate your point about the chorus as a kind of part of the song where everybody sings along in the castle with the bard....because this song is a must in every BG concert and it's mostly sang by the crowd. And it's one of the most touching moment in every concert and a song that really bonds people with the band. Deffinitively you should take a look to some live performance. It's lovely the engagement they have with fans live

@fenrisulfur842 8 күн бұрын

What a wonderful reaction! I know and love Blind Guardian for over 3 decades now. THIS very song was the first one I ever heard. A friend of mine had his Discman and a new CD with him, and so I first heard The Bards Song. In a School Bus ;)

@jovana_r Жыл бұрын

Well, their sound is much heavier. This is one of their balladish songs, so I agree with the choice of the song, because I really don't think you would be able to fully understand and appreciate some of their regular songs. However, this one is very popular. You should check the live version and hear the crowd singing it. I had the pleasure to go to their concert long time ago and experience it myself and it was really beautiful. Can't wait for the analysis. I am very curious what you will say about the song. And also it would be wonderful to hear you play a part of it on harp. 🖤

@LeeKennison Жыл бұрын

Good job. Having watched the In-Depth, it looks like you were successful in getting Amy to watch a live performance of this song.😀

@Thorneblade Жыл бұрын

Nightfall in midle earth is a good album, based on Tolkien's universe, but their heavier sound can afraid our Virgin Rock, except some tunes like Noldor, The Eldar or Harvest of sorrow.

@jovana_r Жыл бұрын

@@LeeKennison Well, to my defense, I was not the only one suggesting it, lots of people did it in the anauncement video. 😁 But anyway, it surely couldn't hurt her. And she said herself that it feels like you want to sing along, so I thought she might wanted to see people actually doing it. 😊

@SysterYster Жыл бұрын

I think, personally, that a LOT of people are missing out on a lot of great songs because of their ideas about what metal is and how it sounds like. I played some stuff at work, and some were like "Is this metal? I had no idea. This is good." But people think everything is just the wildest death metal or something. XD And no, these kinds of songs are not unusual within the metal genre at all. Most bands have at least one or two per album.

@bluebehir Жыл бұрын

I used to get that all the time. These days metal is more accepted in the broader community, so now people listen to harder stuff than me and they still don't care what I listen to! haha

@SysterYster Жыл бұрын

@@bluebehir Yeah, it's really changed over the years. That's good. :)

@antaresthirdeldenlord4840 Жыл бұрын

Man, I love when everyone reacts to Blind Guardian but everyone just does The Bards Song. Id reccomend doing Skalds and Shadows (Its similar) and Noldor Dead Winter Reigns.

@EbefrenRevo Жыл бұрын

I would prefer some more variety.

@Smonserratm Жыл бұрын

Noldor is SOOOOO good. And much more representative

@RodneyABrubaker Жыл бұрын

While I enjoy metal, I love the slow ballad type songs the most from metal bands. Or the songs that contrast the soft and hard. My favorite Blind Guardian song is Nightfall from their album Nightfall On Middle Earth. While their music may have a traditional folk influence, it is portraying a fantasy setting. Many metal groups are influenced by modern writings of fantasy, scifi, and horror. Blind Guardian has does a full album that is orchestra only called Legacy Of The Dark Lands. It under the project name Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra because the lead singer is the only member that plays on the album. It is a rock opera that is based on a fantasy novel. I hope you return to Blind Guardian and listen to some of their heavier sound.

@peterpike Жыл бұрын

I agree about Nightfall. That and Wheel of Time are my two favorites.

@philippebelhumeur7484 Жыл бұрын

Blind Guardian is one of the best in this style. Very respected by it’s peers. Indeed, they incorporate some of their folk roots into the 2000 . Miss, super first impression reaction and output. Keep up the good work. Respect.

@killingfields07 Жыл бұрын

I heard them perform this song live. I love Blind Guardian.

@sarumanork-orphanage5612 Жыл бұрын

Oooh Blind Guardian! A more contemporary reaction! How daring! After Nightwish I didn't think we'd be coming back all too soon 😂😂😂

@Wok_Agenda Жыл бұрын

I love your nickname

@sarumanork-orphanage5612 Жыл бұрын

@@Wok_Agenda Thanks man! Very much appreciated! I thought after the war of the rings those 10,000 dead Urûk Hai must have left a lot of poor orphans behind, so the least Saruman could do would be to open an Orthanc Orphanage Foundation or Saruman's Orc Orphanage 😅

@HotQahwe Ай бұрын

wow this takes me back to my youth - as most of these reactions, you chose the music I really grew up on. I'm glad you have made a career out of music, when I was young it was my dream and it always pulls on my heart stings since I came into music as a passion far too late (well, I would assume) to make it a real career, and instead, I chose the sea and sailing as a career. This is what really makes me emotional, the fact that in another life I can be a musician, but in this one I really love it - I'd rather go blind. I'm fully committed to what I do now, and music will always be there for me to use as a crutch in tough times, but I will always dream of being on the stage , as opposed to being in the audience. This is why I'm glad for your breakdowns, it helps me see it from your perspective and I can learn from this. Thanks for doing this music.

@Hartlor_Tayley Жыл бұрын

Great song and reaction. Reminds me of sixties folk rock.

@DennisTrovato Жыл бұрын

Another interesting Metal ballad you could check out is *"Manowar - The Crown And The Ring"* The pipe organ is very prominent in this one.

@ShadowWizard123 Жыл бұрын

Now you all know The bards and their songs When hours have gone by I'll close my eyes In a world far away We may meet again But now hear my song About the dawn of the night Let's sing the bards' song Tomorrow will take us away Far from home No one will ever know our names But the bards' songs will remain Tomorrow will take it away The fear of today It will be gone Due to our magic songs There's only one song Left in my mind Tales of a brave man Who lived far from here Now the bard songs are over And it's time to leave No one should ask you for the name Of the one Who tells the story Tomorrow will take us away Far from home No one will ever know our names But the bards' songs will remain Tomorrow all will be known And you're not alone So don't be afraid In the dark and cold 'Cause the bards' songs will remain They all will remain In my thoughts and in my dreams They're always in my mind These songs of hobbits, dwarfs and men And elves Come close your eyes You can see them too

@isheetfromaswhole3657 Жыл бұрын

The lyrics seem to be all over the place.

@isheetfromaswhole3657 Жыл бұрын

If I had a student that wrote this song, I would ask him to explain it all and then, if it all makes sense, I would tell him to put what he explained in the song.

@ShadowWizard123 Жыл бұрын

@@isheetfromaswhole3657 I agree that the second verse in particular has a really awkward part. The chorus washes it all away though.

@bryanbaker6040 Жыл бұрын

Settle down guys, he's writing lyrics in his second language. Give the guy a break.

@bluebehir Жыл бұрын

I really feel like you captured well what this song is for me, with all the elements you notice and picked out. I agree it's definitely not celtic music, but it still takes me back to a simpler time (just not so far back as medieval time). The truth of the matter, as per some interviews in a TV show called Metal Evolution (episode 10), is that Blind Guardian - who are German - grew up in places where a music called Schlager was common. It's really simple melodic crowd based music to get a pub crowd to just sing along to. Blind Guardian (so they have said) keep this element of melodic rhythms and so forth in their mind when they write songs, so that the crowd can either join in, or in many cases just take over the vocal melodies of the song, and for the band it is just pure magic to hear that. If you're still reading this and would like a little bit more folk elements to listen for, there is a band called Rhapsody of Fire (previously just known as Rhapsody). They include a lot of folk elements in their music, for example they have a piccolo in "Village of Dwarves". They have instrumental tracks that really are more folk, some are just a flute. Personally I skip them, they aren't metal enough for me ;) If you're interested and reply, I will definitely be more specific.

@andressen Жыл бұрын

This is a song you need to experience live. This is a quite powerful singalong song and highly popular because of that. The audience knows every line, every word and every note. And in the end it’s about what music means to one personally (in my thoughts and in my dreams always on my mind) - but also about coping with angst and fear off the future - and about company and music connecting people even if they are separated.

@beawsbiz Жыл бұрын

It does sound renaissance to me. Blackmore Night do this type of thing so well. The vocals sound a little like Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull.

@trabersisc9377 Жыл бұрын

It's great to have a perfect understanding of the composer's intentions and how the listener will perceive it on first impressions. Check out the video of them singing along with the audience in concert.

@1matrix9 Жыл бұрын

It’s fascinating to see a trained mind react to various forms of rock / jazz etc. From my perspective I would love to watch your reaction to Gentle Giant for example far more then Black Sabbath (who I love btw). Gentle Giant, the Dixie Dregs (Night meets Light is a masterpiece) would surprise you with their complexity and compositional skills. Thanks for sharing your time; it’s a refreshing approach.

@scratchingthesurface3481 Жыл бұрын

I can't wait for þe follow up video

@nicodemogawronski2052 Жыл бұрын

I went to see Blind Guardian in 2006 in Milan where I am from. Loved to sing this song with so many people

@nyobunknown6983 Жыл бұрын

You're one up on me. I never heard of this band!!!!

@Meddler1510 Жыл бұрын

In addition to the metal and the ballards, Blind Guardian has also released an orchestral album after more than 20 years of work. Blind Guardians Twilight Orchestra - Legacy of the Dark Lands, I would warmly recommend listening to "Beyond the Wall" or "The Great Ordeal", as they experimented with taking classical music in a whole new direction

@pgnfz Жыл бұрын

There’s only one song left in my mind, and it is this one

@thenomad4123 Жыл бұрын

I always got the medieval feel more from their another similar song called "A Past and Future Secret". There is even a great flute section. Of course now I realize I don't know much about actual music played in medieval times, so that is probably more modern medieval as you put.

@fafolaw Жыл бұрын

Great song, Blind Guardian is usually a heavier band, but they almost always have one or two ballads in their albums, and they're usually really good, to have a better idea of their actual usual sound I recommend Mirror Mirror, probably their most iconic song

@kago2k907 Жыл бұрын

Rhapsody when? :) Thanks for your videos!!

@applecofe778 Жыл бұрын

It's quite remarkable that you brought up the band Queen because that band was a big influence on the Blind Guardian. In the 90s, their sound was compared to how Queen and Metallica would sound on a recording together.

@scratchingthesurface3481 Жыл бұрын

Þis song means so much to me. Wiþ regards to þe opening, a more atmospheric progression would, I þink, ruin þe image in my head of a small hamlet inn, reminiscing about older times

@mortykun Жыл бұрын

Love BG, would be interested in your take on the acoustic version of "Mordrid's Song" from blind guardian.

@JohnnyJoe Жыл бұрын

I´m a huge fan of Blind Guardian and their music. The lyrics to all their song are written by the singer Hansi Kürsch and are mostly inspired by the fiction of fantasy authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Robert Jordan, Stephen King, Michael Moorcock, George R. R. Martin, Hans Christian Andersen, Andrzej Sapkowski, and as well as traditional legends and epic poems. Some other slower songs by them are: "A Past and Future Secret" ("Imaginations from the Other Side", 1995) "Harvest of Sorrow" (Bonus track on "A Night At The Opera", 2002) "War of the Thrones" ("At The Edge Of Time", 2009) "Lord of the Rings" ("The Forgotten Tales", 1996) "Nightfall" ("Nightfall In Middle-Earth", 1998) "The Maiden and the Minstrel Knight" (Bonus track on "A Night At The Opera", 2002) "The Eldar" ("Nightfall In Middle-Earth", 1998) "Miracle Machine" ("Beyond The Red Mirror", 2015) "Mordred's Song" ("Imaginations from the Other Side", 1995) Hansi Kürsch also had a side project band, Demons & Wizards, from 1998 to 2021 with American guitarist Jon Schaffer from Iced Earth (he was arrested for it). They made three very good albums, but ut it ended in 2001 because Schaffer was photographed among the protesters who stormed and ransacked the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Hansi Kürsch then left the band out of disgust, said that the collaboration was over and that he distanced himself from any kind of violence regardless if applied against institutions or persons.

@eduffreitas Жыл бұрын

Therion - Via Nocturna

@benjaminborrero1022 Жыл бұрын

Blind Guardian, one of my favorite bands of all time.

@dahrrg 8 ай бұрын

It's the center piece of an album which combines stories of different bards that came together and shared them amongst each other.

@rarelycares8416 Жыл бұрын

A while back you asked the question 'will we meet the next Bach?'. I believe there may have been several composer/songwriters over the decades that could fit the bill. I feel the masters of the classical age would be composing in the popular music style today if they were alive now. The one that rises to the top for me is Billy Joel, he is different than most modern songwriters in that he composes his music first, lyrics/songwriting comes later. Much of his music has classical hints to it, he has actually said he draws a lot of his inspiration from Chopin among others. Did you know that Beethoven has a modern songwriting credit? Billy Joel gave L.V.Beethoven a co-writers credit as he used part of Pathetique Sonata as his chorus in the song "This Night". He is also a pianist of the highest level. Since he stopped releasing albums he says he has been writing mostly classical music...for his own ears only. I only hope that someday some of this music will make it to the public.

@feroxk.9266 Жыл бұрын

we propably have a few that can compose and produce massive music like classical orchestrations are. 2 that come to my mind come out of the progressive metal scene. Ne Obliviscaris for example (And plague flowers the kaleidoscope as song example) or Persefone (their records have one story and all songs are meant to be listened in line, early records might be too harsh for most people tho.) Devin Townsend stands out amongs everyone else :)

@djpetuh 5 ай бұрын

When I was a teenager and one of my friends first discovered Blind Guardian for me, even I was really shocked and impressed with this "celtic" influence or "vibe" as they call it nowadays. Still remaining a heavy metal or even thrash/speed (power) metal band by its guitar and drum tracks and styling Blind Guardian managed to create an absolutely unique metal genre. Till now (i'm now almost 41) it is one of my favorite bands. There are actually more of "bard" like ballads in their albums. For example much more medieval sounding - The Past and Future Secret. You can actually find even bagpipe tracks in some of their songs (for example Somewhere far Beyond). And these "strange" folk or classical musical instruments sound really in harmony with generally aggressive distorted guitars and fast dense drums. They also made some amazing cover songs which, to my mind, sound way better, then the originals. One of them Spread Your Wings (Queen) and To France (don't know the original creators of this song, but it uses some unusual instruments, like flute, and the guitar solo sounds slightly celtic or "medieval").

@Thorneblade Жыл бұрын

There's a band you can enjoy because the guitarist is the Deep Purple's lead guitarist and the style is a folkish medieval oriented one (but also with rock) : Blackmore's Night. For exemple, you can listen "locked within the crystal ball" (i can be wrong, but i hear some harp in the middle of the song)

@tinkerwithstuff Жыл бұрын

Next to this bardic element, the song has a bit of a sea shanty quality, too

@gerrydantone6834 Жыл бұрын

For the best interpretation by a rock band of traditional English folk music it would have to be "John Barleycorn Must Die" by Traffic. it's beautiful.

@01VASB Жыл бұрын

Awesome! You should definitely check the live versio at Wacken.

@jorgmuhlberg3632 5 ай бұрын

This song describes the mood of bards wich were acting in Tolkiens Lord Of The Rings. At the end you can hear it. And realise, Blind Guardian is a Metal Band. But with the intention of Bards to tell stories. Just like Tolkien, Stepen King and other writers of that style. And that's fascinating. They are creating moods where I get goosebombs. So you have to listen to a live version of this song to understand what I'm meaning. And you have to know that I'm a sixty years old metal bastard who listen's to this music since nearly 44 years. I've seen many good live shows but The Bards Song live means pure goosebumps. It's undescribeable. You have to be there live to realise what I'm telling. I've seen it five times live. 🤘🏻🤘🏻And excuse my bad English. I'm German just like Blind Guardian and it's Saturday evening and German beer is very tasty. 😇😇

@alexm.6996 Жыл бұрын

"you wanna sing along to"...Yes! Check Out the live Version of this Song! It ist awesome.

@BuildEnvironmentTV Жыл бұрын

The first time I heard this song it was actually Van Canto's cover of it, which was done a cappella. It's certainly a sparser arrangement and the contrast always makes me feel like Blind Guardian's arrangement is a bit more boisterous while Van Canto's is maybe a bit more dynamic and contemplative. An interesting exercise in arrangement. Van Canto is a power metal band from Germany with 6 vocalists and a drummer, originally I saw them being discussed as a bit of a novelty and they do sing a lot of covers of Iron Maiden songs but their original material is _very_ good. While most of their work is not strictly without accompaniment since they have a drumkit, most people just describe them as the a cappella metal band. Power metal as a subgenre in general has a lot of positive and humanistic tendencies which can certainly brighten one's day if you're ok with a few bands singing about dragons.

@sebastianteterra Жыл бұрын

Blind Guardian's "The Bard's Song (in the forrest)", what's the full title is a classical accoustic guitar song. I nearly know the song now for 20 Years and it's my absolute No. 1 Ballad and brings me goosebumbs when i hear it. But you definitely have to watch it live! Go for "Blind Guardian The Bard's Song & Valhalla Live at Wacken Open Air" here on youtube to get an ultimate experience. And i would say this Gig in Wacken was one of the best Shows of BG i have ever visited.

@tinkerwithstuff Жыл бұрын

Their name "Blind Guardian" is likely due to the album "Awaken the Guardian" by the band Fates Warning, the last and best album with their first singer, Jon Arch. They were fans of that band (at least of that period, before they changed their style a lot).

@forest_hobo 10 ай бұрын

Although Blind Guardian is my all time favourite band and I love to see people to react to their songs, it would be nice to see more reactions to many other songs and not always just Bard's Song. Yes its one their best songs but all of their songs are great! No song is bad by any means! 😄

@EarlRedclaw Жыл бұрын

You are quite correct on most of your analyses. I would like to think that the band meant it to be this way, but regardless you hit the nail right on its head.

@BayushiTawa Жыл бұрын

Amy, what you mention about the chorus and siging along wiht it... minute 9, minute 11... Well... You should see a live performance of this song... Blind Guardian is one of the top representatives of european power metal, sometiimes whimsical, many times dealing with fantasy topics (BG has an entire concept album dedicated to JRR Tolkien´s Silmarillion), many times uplifting as you commented... If there is an "uplifting" subgender of metal, that probably is power metal, in which it is very common to find that uplifitng feelling with some degree of camaraderie. That is why I said this song was somehow representative of BG wihtout being actually metal, aggressive, fast etc.

@EmelRaines 7 күн бұрын

Its called Symphonic Metal. I'm surprised no-one else has commented about the genre name. There's tons of bands that play in the genre. And even a few popular mainstream metal bands have had a few Symphonic Metal songs

@vonVile Жыл бұрын

Amy, react to "Three King Fishers" by Donovan. It's a truer version of the bard style. And if you want the hard rock version do Monster Magnet's cover. Actually, it would be great to see you react to both to compare.

@randominc.2251 Жыл бұрын

I prefer the Monster Magnet version , but only because I never heard the original...I think MM is the advanced course of Rock , which I would surmise is a couple levels above where she is at...

@carlosaugustomonteironeto4558 Жыл бұрын

@bernhardkrickl3567 Жыл бұрын

This song is actually the first half of a two-song suite. It is actually called "The Bard's Song - In the Forest". On the album "Somewhere far beyond" it is directly followed by "The Bard's Song - The Hobbit". In my mind, those two always belong together. You may have noticed, that this first song doesn't resolve its harmony. That is because it leads into the second song which picks right up in the same key, tempo and meter but the second song is definitely Metal.

@JayTor2112 Жыл бұрын

The Hobbit probably wouldn't be in her wheelhouse stylistically. They can stand alone, even though there is a melody from the first part that briefly appears in the second.

@matttyree1002 Жыл бұрын

This was one half of the song. This part is the bards song: In the forest. Part 2 is The bard's song: the hobbit. That song is actually heavy

@Hanna1968 Жыл бұрын

Well, I got my first shoes in Heavy Metal with Manowar. Manowar play very melodic Metal and that helped me to develop a sense for the more complex theme repetition in Heavy Metal music. If you want to start with Manowar, I would suggest "Spirit Horse".

@joaogarcia6170 Жыл бұрын

I think i would pick nightfall because it's more representative of the sound the band usually goes for while still not being too heavy, but i understand why this one was chosen, although I'd still like you to react to their more intricate pieces.

@timfeeley714-25 Жыл бұрын

Rock out dude!

@headheartandhips Жыл бұрын

I recommend the eclectic music by GENTLE GIANT. A truly amazing experience!

@freedom_aint_free Жыл бұрын

In the 70's there was (I don't know if they are still around) band called "Gryphon" that actually played pretty medieval sounding songs, and of course, Gentle Giant had some pretty medieval elements to some of their songs, specially the vocal ensemble. Manowar's "Triumph of the steel" has the long song about Hector and Achilles, is pretty much how I depict a Greek Rhapsode poet telling the story, minus the really heavy heavy metal rendition!

@altair8598 Жыл бұрын

On the medieval theme, try Gryphon, who do use unusual medieval instruments from the period in an interesting way. Love Midnight Mushrumps! Less forced than Blind Guardian's attempt.

@brunobio-marino2352 Жыл бұрын

this is the first of a two part song. you should also listen to "The bard's song - The Hobbit" in case you are interested in understanding how the band compose their Metal songs

@PeterPetermann Жыл бұрын

as others mentioned before, not going for a live version takes away a large part of the experience, it is said about blind guardian, that they are playing the audience, making it another instrument, and from my experience that description is quite real.

@davidpax Жыл бұрын

You should try Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen or some songs by E.L.O. (Electric Light Orchestra) like Mr. Blue Sky or Tightrope. They are almost opera.

@brettswanson Жыл бұрын

For the Winter months, please investigate the "Trans-Siberian Orchestra" masters of the 'Rock-Opera'. They are most well-known for Christmas and Winter music; however, I think their best Opera is "Beethoven's Last Night" where they imagine Beethoven making a deal with the devil on his final night in order to gain enough time to complete his final symphony.

@brettswanson Жыл бұрын

I recommend watching the live performances

@helge666 Жыл бұрын

Great song, but what happened to the audio? It's severly distorted, as if treated poorly with a digital limiter (you can even see it in the scrolling wave form: an acoustic-style song should never look like a solid block). Apart from that, Blind Guardian are an awesome band from near where I live. I've seen them live several times, and The Bard's Song has become a ritual where the crowd sings along with Hansi. It's magical!

@allisonal Жыл бұрын

One of these days we’ll get to a song that grabs Amy and carries her away and shows her why people love rock as much as she loves classical. I mean, I suspect most of us put on music for entirely that purpose. I guess there’s no predicting which song/band will do it… could have been this one!

@beawsbiz Жыл бұрын

I thought that was the case with “Child in Time”

@leoguzman2104 6 ай бұрын

At the end of the day is beer song to sing to with friends and love ones and that’s what is so great on a campfire and they will remember the day on the most basic explain i can think off 😂

@LittleBombbuilder Жыл бұрын

Please listen to "the bard's song + valhalla" live at wacken . This video contains 2 songs , showing Hansis voicerange , the musical mastership of all other bandmembers , the crowdcontroll of them over 75000 people , and the love of a crowd which came to Wacken for differend bands but they all are united by Blind Guardian. Everyone knows "the bards song" . Just an epic video . 🤘🤩

@captdread2013 Жыл бұрын

There is a you tuber who goes by the handle "Shred". He is a very talented rock guitarist with great insight into the connection between heavy metal rock music and classical composers. You might find him interesting.

@carlnielsen3477 11 ай бұрын

A big surprise! - Not what I expected from a band, that had been compared with Ramstein. Reminded me of The Incredible String Band.

@agustinuscao Жыл бұрын

You should listen to Genesis' Supper's Ready. I know it's a long song (about 25 minutes), but you'll see why I recommend this song.

@mikek0135 Жыл бұрын

I never heard this song before. It's beautiful! And, I got to learn a little about the history of Bards. I'm absolutely enjoying your journey. Still hoping you'll react to/analyse The Doors: Riders on the Storm, and/or Ozzy Osbourne: Diary of a Madman, and/or some Janice Joplin. I'd love to hear what you have to say about those.

@pauld5665 Жыл бұрын

You've only listened to the first part of the song (the Forest), the second (the Hobbit) rock/metal part follows right after that...

@satortenet Жыл бұрын

There are only few songs that get me emotional. Usually I can tell why. But not for this one.

@jensr.3409 Жыл бұрын

in blind guardian, the guitarist always plays the same thing as the singer, and not just in this song but in all of them, they've always done it that way, it's their trademark

@pthaynes Жыл бұрын

She needs some Opeth in her ears.

@bludgeon1081 Жыл бұрын

Does Opeth use death growls? She probably isn't ready for that at all lol.

@pthaynes Жыл бұрын

@@bludgeon1081 they have plenty of songs with clean singing.

@felderup Жыл бұрын

yah, my mention of them being influenced by tolkien, you see now what i mean... at least in part. heavy metal is one of those genres that has absorbed medieval song styles, some even older, nothing quite like that happens with other genres. i'd suggest for stuff to dig through... 'in the final moment' by sirrah, 'only dust moves' by thy serpent, 'pagan' by cruachan, vlad should have a HUGE list of songs to dig through by now, so, here's more.

@swapticsounds Жыл бұрын

The song has a heavier part 2, directly following on the album: "The Bard´s Song: The Hobbit" (You have listened to: "The Bard´s Song: In the Forest") Part 2 is harmonically and melody-wise building up on part 1 song, also in 3/4 or 6/8. As a classical musician, you should maybe listen to both songs in a row, they are meant to be played like this and this is also how they play it live. Here are both together: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/q7mEfMyisN62oYU.html

@mikeduncan3953 Жыл бұрын

Blind harpers you say? Oh, you're going to love Jeff Healey

@marcmulligan9357 Жыл бұрын

should watch the live version see everybody singing as you said

@orcaflotta7867 Жыл бұрын

The cħoir in refrain sounds a bit like sea shanty. ;)

@metallusmelandril7380 Жыл бұрын

UH YES YOU DID IT

@AndrewMoore58 Жыл бұрын

Once was enough

@rr-pe1ev Жыл бұрын

WATCH IT LIVE WACKEN 2016 SOUND AND CROWD IS AMAZING

@bukeksiansu2112 Жыл бұрын

They make this song from JRR Tolkien book.

@astragalusson Жыл бұрын

Which version is this? This is not the common studio version I know.

@lishan6971 Жыл бұрын

Why is Dream theater not mentioned yet?

@ronforeman2556 Жыл бұрын

Dream Theater HAS been mentioned, repeatedly, but I'm guessing her husband and primary influencer either hasn't heard the band or simply isn't interested in them. Our only hope is that by some accident they get included in an upcoming popularity contest, the most recent of which led her to experience "Child In Time" from Deep Purple's "In Rock" album (1970).

@bludgeon1081 Жыл бұрын

@@ronforeman2556 her husband has great music taste though so I trust his opinion lol.

@phillipharrison7283 Жыл бұрын

William Shakespeare is referred to a "The Bard". This does sound a little medieval, maybe renaissance.

@lauscho Жыл бұрын

Wanna get a bunch of Dungeons and Dragons players going? Bring an acoustic guitar and bust out this tune. Is it authentically medieval? No. But does it play the part in a fantasy universe? Heck yeah! And that's its appeal. And just in terms of the songwriting and vocal performance... Blind Guardian has got it. You don't need to really think too hard about it's authenticity to appreciate the mastery of melody and accompaniment Blind Guardian hit on with this track. Anyway. I have a suggestion for a track to cover. Another "progressive metal" track that might go over better than the Caligula's Horse one. Haken's "Cockroach King". Willing to give that one a try?