LM 89 [REACTION/ANALYSIS] AYREON - The Human Equation Day Five and Day Six

Рет қаралды 2,489

2 жыл бұрын

Spontaneous reaction to the songs / musical pieces "Day 5 - Voices" and "Day 6 - Childhood" from the album "Ayreon - The Human Equation"" in two versions (Lyrics video and live video ). The whole album will be covered : 1 hour and 40 minutes of music, divided in block of 10-13 minutes. Ten videos / ten weeks in the music of this exceptional artist.
According to Wikipedia, "Ayreon is a musical project by Dutch songwriter, singer, musician and record producer Arjen Anthony Lucassen. Ayreon's music is described as progressive rock, progressive metal and power metal sometimes combined with genres such as folk, electronica, experimental and classical music. The majority of Ayreon's albums are dubbed "rock operas" (or "metal operas") because the albums contain complex storylines featuring a host of characters, usually with each one being represented by a unique vocalist."
== The studio version of Day 5 - Voices :
• Ayreon - Day Five: Voi...
== The studio version of Day 6 - Childhood :
• Ayreon - Day Six: Chil...
== Official live video (2017) :
• Ayreon - Theater Equat...
Thanks to @Taycott for the amazing lyrics videos. He made my videos MUCH better. Most grateful thoughts from Canada :
• Ayreon - The Human Equ...
This video is part of the 'Lectio Musica' series started in April 2020.
== Presentation of the series (French and English subtitles) :
• LM. 00. Introduction '...
Passionate about rock music in all its forms, but also gospel, blues, Quebec and traditional music, The Franciscan friar Guylain spontaneously reacts, analyzes and comments on a song by a contemporary artist.
Facebook: Guylain Prince - Lectio Musica - English
Twitter: @gpofm
Instagram: @guylainprince
To subscribe to the videos of Fr. Guylain, click on 'Subscribe', below.
To be notified when new content is published, activate 'Notifications', by clicking on the bell on the right.
Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Пікірлер: 64

@Esmeagolly 2 жыл бұрын

What I love about Ayreon (or really all Of Arjen’s projects) beside the storytelling or musical composition, is the humanity, true humanity not rose coloured glasses.

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

I agree! It is excellent!

@SomeUnsoberIdiot Жыл бұрын

...he's singing about accepting being cucked in this album. The music is great, and often the lyrics are too, but the message/politics are wack

@maanvis81 2 жыл бұрын

When the organ kicked in I thought " Yeah he's gonna like it " and 2 seconds after you had a big smile on your face. So cool :D

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

For me, the keyboards of this era are associated with the "greatness" and "genius" of the '70. Nothing less. I could not hear and/or recognize this sound without having a BIG smile in my face. That is part of the journey, for me. Ayreon brings together my LOVE for Prog rock AND metal AND natural instruments AND great voices AND great stories. I CANNOT be more enthusiastic about a record, until now.

@TranScripting 2 жыл бұрын

You noted that it's interesting how Fear is the one to suggest that Me does in fact understand, but has been fooling himself and avoiding confronting the truth. Meanwhile Pride alternates between pushing Me to take action and dismissing seeking certain answers. It's something I really love about what Arjen did with all of these aspects of Me; even those typically considered negative are still capable of informing and guiding. Fear, Agony, Pride, Rage; each of them, whilst they do exhibit harmful tendencies in excess, are proving themselves important for a complete understanding (and person), and for driving necessary action. In particular, and I think it's exhibited in Day 5 well, the doubt that Fear introduces can serve as a check against Pride favouring ego-soothing over fact.

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent comment ! Yup! Extreme, or by themselves, they are harmful. But in dialogue with the others...

@leatheredlife4861 2 жыл бұрын

"Childhood" is such an epic piece of music... I absolutely adore it.

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed! T be frank, I haven't find a weak one until now. Let's continue our journey together.

@AntonNidhoggr 2 жыл бұрын

I find it interesting how Arjen uses sound design in the beginning of 'Childhood'. I think he used quite a big reflection time on the reverberation effect without adding to much of it in the mix, which gives the feeling of distance yet not making the sound too dark or muddy. And there are a lot of panned echoes (I can hear them clearly in the right ear and sometimes in the left). The synth lines (bass pad and melody) are clear yet rounded - they have a bit of attack (crescendo) so the brain can recall them with ease however can't pinpoint the exact moment when each note begins. I think it's a great sonic metaphor for the distant significant past i.e the childhood memories :-)

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

Perfect description, especially of the studio album. I adopt it. Wholeheartedly!

@JediRoberto 2 жыл бұрын

Amazing! Thank you for your video!

@GerardoDelaGarzachess 2 жыл бұрын

the instrument that sounds before Pride is an electric mandoline. really enjoying your analisis. Love to see more people into the world of Arjen ;)

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! It was perfect!

@margusgrenzmann3977 2 жыл бұрын

The story in this album is just so very well told. Thanks for listening to this as a whole, it's just a beautiful album and has a huge place in my heart. It might not have my favourite songs from Ayreon but it is my favourite album.

@sjeses 2 жыл бұрын

I wholeheartedly agree. Although Day Sixteen is high up in my list of favorites, other albums have a higher ratio of songs that fill my brain with landscapes beyond my capability to describe their wonder. This story, however, has had the most value in providing me with perspective when I needed it. Catharsis, comfort, understanding; no matter in what stage of grief I am or what it was that caused it, this album has something helpful to offer.

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

Since I LOVE sci-fi themes, I will love the rest of Ayreon repertoire. But this album holds a special place in my friends' heart, both from a prog rock point of view and human/meaning point of view. They thought that I would love the album and the topic. Until now, they were right. You confirm what my friends told me.

@margusgrenzmann3977 2 жыл бұрын

@@GuylainPrince Glad to hear that you're enjoying it. It gives me the fuzzies to see others enjoying something nice.

@ShadowhispersBand 2 жыл бұрын

The folder... well... no, I won't spoil it. Anticipation is better. You're asking the right questions though. Again, I really enjoy these reactions. Feeling kind of nostalgic but it's a good feeling. THX for also including the Theater Equation versions

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

Most welcome, dear friend. I know how a live version will have a little something. And, of course, the reading of the director of the show is always interesting.

@robynturnham2706 2 жыл бұрын

Really enjoying your analysis. I know the story, but you are making me look at it again and see so much more. Thanks you. Glad you are enjoying this masterpiece

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

You are right : I enjoy it A LOT!

@weaseldale 2 жыл бұрын

The change in voice for Fear is one of the most controversial parts of the live show! Personally I really like both choices and the way they interact with the emotion they represent. Album Fear sounds like someone you might be afraid of, especially in at least one song later in the journey, while live Fear sounds like someone who might be afraid. Also I'm really glad you pointed out that characters are preceded by their own musical motif sometimes! It's one of my favorite things Arjen does that really makes the whole rock opera thing apparent. I think my favorite examples are on Into the Electric Castle for that, it's where I first noticed it on my own Ayreon journey

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, very identifiable. And this is good composition habit. As for the change, I know nothing about it. On thing is : I was surprised by the difference. You are right : it is another energy. I prefer a bit the one on the album, but the live version has its merits.

@marcusfranconium3392 2 жыл бұрын

One of the wonderfull things of Ayreon Arjen Lucassen does not only have characters but he also has different instrumenals for each character and mood. of the songs. Painting a picture with sound. Your on a wonderfull journy in the universe Arjen created.

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

I can see that, dear friend. Thanks for being there!

@aidanumpherson 2 жыл бұрын

Your analysis of this album is such a pleasure to contemplate, I have listened to The Human Equation over and over and your take on things is making me look at some of it in a different way which is an unexpected gift. Thanks so much for the honest indepth reactions which go above and beyond basically any other have seen on youtube. Great stuff.

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

You are most welcome! Well, my field of work is text analysis. And here, this is what I do in a leisurely fashion. Hope you like it in the future as well. Welcome to you!

@renevw5812 2 жыл бұрын

Again a wonderful reaction. I really love your analyses. But also beautiful songs

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

Aren't the melody gorgeous? Wonderful and personalized work by Ayreon. Great stuff!

@thisismyvanced3738 2 жыл бұрын

Looking forward!

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

Yessss!

@olicorrivo3289 2 жыл бұрын

Merci pour cette série de vidéo monsieur Prince. Comme vous l'avez mentionné, je suis l'un des nombreux heureux de voir quelqu'un qui a décidé de faire une analyse détaillée de cet opus, probablement le plus important dans le catalogue de Ayreon. J'ai une question et une recommandation. Ma question est celle-ci: Après avoir écouter tous les album d'Ayreon, celui-ci est certainement le plus touffu en terme de passages classiques, de passages utilisant des instruments classiques. Je me demande pourquoi c'est le cas et la réponse la plus plausible m'apparait être le fait qu'il tente de traiter de la nature humaine dans toute sa complexité. Or, cette nature humaine, comme la musique classique, est relativement immuable, du moins à l'échelle de la culture. J'aimerais bien connaitre votre perspective sur ce sujet, ma conclusion et mes prémisses. Enfin, pour ma recommandation, je vous suggère des écouteurs "closed back" comme cela ce dit en anglais. Je veut dire, des écouteurs qui englobent toute l'oreille. Ils créés une sorte de chambre accoustique et, selon moi, elle fait toute la différence.

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

Je n'ai plus d'écouteurs "closed back" du calibre des "in-ear" que je possède et qui sont des moniteurs de studio (4 drivers, etc.). De plus, j'utilise un DAC DragonFly, Cobalt. Pas mal certain que la qualité est au RV, mais ce n'est pas, bien sûr, du matériel "high end" comme il en existe. Je comprends le principe acoustique dont vous parler, mais avec des lunettes, je n'ai jamais trouvé un "fit" qui me convenait. Quand je les ai utilisés en studio (des jours durant), je devais enlever mes lunettes. Pour ce qui est de la quesiton des instruments / influences d'Ayreon, votre opinion m'apparaît des plus plausibles. Je ne pourrais pas commenter sur les autres albums; je le ferai sans doute un jour. Revenez-moi avec ce sujet lorsque je commenterai un autre album de Arjen. Au plaisir d'en reparler!

@Youknowwho1964 2 жыл бұрын

Sorry no time to attend today, I'll watch later. Have fun and see you next week GPO.😉

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

It was fun. Make sur you listen to it very soon!

@jaapblaauw3735 2 жыл бұрын

Three of Ayreon's albums are more or less stand alone albums, ( actual fantasy, The theory of everything and the lastest ayreon Transitus) and not connected to the lager story that connects all the other albums.

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Jaap! I will consider these later.

@gwaer123 2 жыл бұрын

Great episode! thank you! about the voices, i agree that they are hearing the voices from outside! I hear you plan to do day 7,8,9 and 10 next week; i suggest to do only 7,8 and 9, and keep 10 and 11 toghether, but, it’s only an advice! keep going, it’s great!

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

I have to think in terms of length of music. I know now that 10 is the ending of the first half, and 11 the beginning of a new chapter. I will manage to make that clear.

@eugeniojasso3387 2 жыл бұрын

Remember you are comming from day 4: Mystery, so sometimes they are talking about what the best friend and wife were singing about

@pedroteran5885 2 жыл бұрын

It's quite possible he got it but just won't be doing spoilers or speculating before it is brought to the lyrical forefront.

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

@Eugenio and Pedro : I open all the possibilities that the text gives us, and then, by the end of each "song" I kind of "bring together" the elements to build meaning to the whole. This is when I will make connection with the other songs. So Yes, I do exactly what you said, both. First is like Pedro describe, and second, like Eugenio said.

@GerardoDelaGarzachess 2 жыл бұрын

the song childhood refers to the father of "me" that was abusive. The father tought that the boy was a disapointment as a son.

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

Yup! Got that from the second listening. It was not obvious in the first. Now, it is clear. In the analysis, I have to keep all options open.

@GerardoDelaGarzachess 2 жыл бұрын

their guity sighs refers to wife and friend

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

Yup! Got that from the second listening as well. Very clear in the live vid.

@erickvermeulen9734 2 жыл бұрын

The project name Ayreon is not directly related to the name Arjen. He had a song with the protagonist name Aries (the horoscope sign) but it was pronounced different than he thought, with only two syllables. He needed a name with three syllables, preferably a bit medieval and a bit futuristic (like proton, neutron) and thus the word became Ayreon.

@mikeschmidt2816 2 жыл бұрын

Yall?

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

Oh? Interesting!

@marlonvanwijland1428 2 жыл бұрын

The folder probably holds some repressed memories he (the me character) has to face if he wants to beat this. And Anneke van Giersbergen as Fear is amazing.

@pedroteran5885 2 жыл бұрын

Anneke manages to rebuild parts of Åkerfeldt's melancholic style in her voice, which is so unexpected and good.

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

Here is my though : the folder is "facing reality". Both outside : the medical information about his condition, AND his repressed memory. [Pride] does not want him to access "reality", to face the truth. How does that sound. It is not one or the other, but both!

@LongandWeirdName 2 жыл бұрын

And here we begin to understand what happened in his life that made Me grow up the way he did. An abusive father leading him to develop an overgrown ambition? Who just left one day? Yeah. That will leave a mark on Me's psyche.

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

That is what I get at this point, yes... Isn't that a GREAT journey?

@LongandWeirdName 2 жыл бұрын

@@GuylainPrince A compressed summary of Me's life. Just the parts that shaped him. Indeed, a fine journey. Especially that he's getting in touch with his emotions at the same time, so he might come out of it a better person. So far, with that "My father didn't come back home. I sure won't miss being hit and laughed at. Good riddance." comment, he's only becoming a bitter person. There is so much ahead of us, still though. We are only on day 6 of 20.

@intipontt7490 2 жыл бұрын

J'ai hâte de voir votre analyse pour quelques chansons de cet album. Sans rien spoiler, cet album a 2 actes et le premier acte termine avec Day 11. Je me demandais si cela pouvait changer votre rythme de 2 chansons par vidéo.

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

Non, car j'ai divisé en fonction de la musique, la durée. Donc, la prochaine vidéo aura les jours 7-->10 pour 12 minutes de musique.

@LongandWeirdName 2 жыл бұрын

I especially can't wait for days 17-20. The big reveal, the epic finale, and, most of all, the last line Fear utters.

@GerardoDelaGarzachess 2 жыл бұрын

the day five refers to the voices outside, the friend and the wife. They are talking about something they suspect could have something to do with the accident, but "me" doesn't understand what they're saying

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

Yup! Understood. After live version, yes, it was clear.

@diegoquilodran4150 2 жыл бұрын

save in your memory the words that "fear" says on day four, as the story progresses you will understand them

@diegoquilodran4150 2 жыл бұрын

and why is fear who says them

@GuylainPrince 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip! Yup! I was distracted by the change of voices about [Fear]: loved the male one on the studio recording. Surprised by the female one in the live one (very soft and delicate). I will follow your lead on this one!