Thank you for that. I assume an official studio produced version would have much better sound quality than a live performance but the studio version has written information on top and I did not want to be distracted from the music. Because I enjoyed this performance so much I now look forward to the official. Peace

@@BemusingBill Well I consider Arjens comments as the icing on the cake. And don‘t hesitate to stop and go back in your reactions if you‘re getting distracted. Most of the people viewing reaction videos enjoy watching people giving a proper reaction. If they want to enjoy the music they go directly to the source And it‘s not only the audio quality: The 2023 live version lacks the binary sound of Michael Mills (you‘ve seen his head in the walls). I am not quite sure if it was John Cuijpers singing that part and he did it well. But far from the original. (At least to my opinion) And the live version seems to be a little „condensed“, I missed some parts of the track. BTW: There is a nice video about the background singers Arjen often uses for his shows (Lisette van den Berg, Marcella Bovio, Irene Jansen) also known as „Aryeon Angel“, nothing to react to, I suppose but a nice documentation for music nerds: m.kzfaq.info/get/bejne/lZ2PlrmludnXops.html&pp=ygUNQXlyZW9uIGFuZ2Vscw%3D%3D

And on Everybody Dies!

@@BemusingBill Ah, there are many live examples of this song/show, but they sometimes include full professional sound recording and camera... so yes, it is good to go for live recording, no problem with that, but it would be good to take one of those with good audio quality... And since they invite SO many star singers/musicians on stage, the result is that each event has different "team composition", so by choosing different venues/years you get slightly different results. BTW, about half of the musicians are (as Arjen is) usually coming from Netherlands (like Jansen sisters etc.) so their big shows are kind of "who is who" in Dutch metal scene...

Can't wait to check it out❤️

Please do a reaction of that - if you didn't already watch it ❤ ​@@BemusingBill

And Marcella Bovio

Sorry i didn't call out Marcella, her adapting to the two voices was stellar , she made it look ease but i'm sure it wasn't

You were there!! I wish I could have been there with you. What a performance! Thanks for watching! Much love❤️

Yeah, the quality of this bootleg is not that good. But I enjoy Irene getting her share…

I thought the quality was just fine. I completely enjoyed watching it. It would have been impossible for me to not read the commentary. I read everything! But now that I am so impressed by this performance I'm looking forward to watch the official. Thank you!

I grew up exchanging bootleg cassettes recorded in mono at the back of some club. It was the way to check out bands before laying down hard earned cash. That bootleg blew them all away! Now i can jump into the official video, Thanks for watching!

I will I promise. I just didn't want distractions from the music. If I'm reading the screen it means my brain is not taking in the music. But I loved that performance and want more. I hope you come back when I do watch the official. Much love

@@BemusingBill certainly will. Any Ayreon, Star One music.And Nightwish featuring Floor Jansen plus her solo work and other bands and guest appearances as I love her voice.

Thank you so much! Yes I chose that video purposely because I did not want to be distracted by reading the commentary. I thoroughly enjoyed this performance so much that I did react to the official video. Please check my channel and you will find it. There will be much more from Ayreon in the very near future. Much love❤️❤️

I CONCURRRRRR!!!!!! I hope you watch that one with us. Bye!

Absolutely! I loved this version and can't wait for more.

I appreciate you at least acknowledging the fact that I don't know. And remember, I really have no idea who any of these people are. When I saw the video with the commentary I just didn't want the distraction. It would have ment a lot of pausing and that already bothers a bunch of people. But from my perspective and from my background, I'm ok watching any type of recording and I fully get (probably better than most reactors since I am a metalhead and I'm old school). But this I vow to you: I will be watching the official video and many more Ayreon videos very soon. I was blown away and want more. Thank you for sticking it out with me and responding with kindness. Much love🤘🤘

You got it!

Thanks, but I enjoyed it. I will be doing the official video soon. 🤘🤘

I was thoroughly amazed. I can only imagine how incredible it must have been for you! AND with your kids!! That's wonderful! Thank you for sharing and watching❤️

Watch the whole thing. Not my reaction to it, the whole thing. It's live music. It's not perfect but it's killer. This is how I enjoy music. I'll be doing the official soon, no worries.

I definitely prefer live music. That means to be there in the crowd. If I can't make it there, I'll watch official live recording (Btw, Ayreon has some good live DVDs released). This here does not give even a fraction of what the aforementioned variants offer and I would also never choose that spot on the balcony :D @@BemusingBill

I will happily check out the official but as i stated in the video, i enjoyed this experience entirely. In fact, if you enjoy this under these circumstances then you know the band is great. Official videos with editing and the highest production values are always going to be great but from a guy whi grew up on bootlegs, this was a fantastic representation of what it would have been like to actually be there. Thank you for your comment.

@@BemusingBill Don't get me wrong. There is nothing that beats seeing a band live. I was just worried that the video you choose may have turned you off from this amazing group. Happy to see I was wrong about that. In this day and age some people would rather hear a band at their best and sometimes that means even live the band may be actually playing to a recorded track and extra vocal layering added as well. What is accepted today back in my day was frowned upon and even ended some careers. I bet you remember Milli Vanilli. What they did would be no big deal today. Anyway you are a purist and that is OK with me.

Listen, I get it. I know. Yeah, everyone and their mom has been telling me just that. Apparently, no one listened to what I said in the beginning of the video. But let me ask you, if I really enjoyed it and it made me want to dig deeper and listen to more, isn't that the point? Isn't that a good thing? A testament to the band? I saw the beginning of the official video and decided I didn't want to be distracted reading when I wanted to be listening. To me, it was like sneaking into the arena and watching from a hiding space in the balcony. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Now, I don't mind watching the official and reading everything. Does any of this make sense to you?

Hey man, I didn't mean to appear harsh, it was just when I heard you said no I don't want to see the quintessential version, I was screaming in my car "nooooo! you have to see it". This might say something about me but the first time I heard it I think I listened to it 20 times.

Please my friend, there is no reason to apologize! i loved it. It was like I snuck into the venue when no one was watching the back door and I had no idea what was going on. I loved it! And because of that I will happily do much more. Ayreon rocks!!

If you loved this you will be blown away by the office live concert recordings.

That is so cool! Thank you for that. Didn't know she had a sister in the 'biz'. NIce🤘🤘

@@BemusingBill "lost children of the universe" is also an Arjan Lucassen composition from his project "Star One" ,still give me chivers down my spine

Thank you!! ❤️

NICE!!

Thank you! Trust in this old metal head. That's all I ask.

yea seriously had no way to know because I am new to this band... but I have to say, I really love it! If it can catch me with a supposed low quality... that's pretty frickin great🤣