"The Great Debate" by Dream Theater has to be on your list. It got everything in it and it's quite essential. I believe the song is overlooked and extremely underrated, but it's on one of their more creative albums 'Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence'. It's also one of the few songs where they discuss a political matter. It's just very unique and quite the epic. Heavy, interesting, melodic, unconventional yet very DT in some ways, emotional and just fantastic.

I was there that night. I remember this being one of the best moments as I wasn't expecting this song. It's definitely one of DT's most underrated songs.

Seeing John and Mike on stage together again is going to be amazing.

"Octavarium" is by far my favorite Dream Theater album. Everything all fell into place. Their song writing, performances, recording quality. Everything was just perfect. This is their "Moving Pictures" in my book.

The best band ever by far. How can one band make so many songs that give you chills then make you tear up while also headbanging in the same song?

My man, you have, just HAVE, to go over the original Liquid Tension Experiment, specifically Paradigm Shift. It's a kinda fast and insane, but by far one of the most insane musical compositions ever created, in my opinion. Does nobody else feel this?

Hey Doug, Stream of Consciousness from the Train of Thought-Album would be a fun one for you. It's a instrumental song with lots of changing keys and timings.

One side note to this song that’s interesting. Dream Theater was set to release a live album “scenes from New York” on September 11, 2001. The cover art of the album featured the WTC with the flaming heart logo DT was using for everything related to “scenes from a memory” at the time, so it looked like the towers were on fire. Of course, they were immediately pulled from the shelves, and re- released a few days later with a different album cover, but a few copies made it out into the wild, and my coworker had one of them. That was a big topic of discussion that day as he’d brought the album to the store to play over the audio system (it was a mom/pop music store).

The melodic guitar solo accompanied by the orchestra is one of the most beautiful musical moments ever. It's Much better on the studio version.

The chemistry of this band is INSANE! I love DT

I was anxiously waiting for you to get to this track and hoping you'd use the live version of the song. This show was magical and hasn't really been replicated since. The impact of playing this song in NYC only a few years removed from the September 11th attacks, combined with playing the entire Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence & Octavarium epics with this orchestra still sends chills down my spine (Octavarium actually immediately followed Sacrificed Sons at the show). While the studio version of this song is alright, the live orchestra just brings so much more to this song that was missing. Despite the heavy material, I could see how much you enjoyed this track.

the best thing is Doug's "nasty" face when JP and JR burst out the solos.

You should do "In The Name of God", by DT as well. That and this one are two separate tracks, but I think they complete each other pretty well, in terms of theme. edit: forgot to metion a very important thing: it has probably one of the most amazing keys/guitar solo duets.

This song covered with fully orchestra by Symphonic Theater of Dreams is freaking amazing, and of course that Score version is also beautiful.

I remember my 9/11, even though I was in Moscow and never been to the US before. Exactly, it was the beginning of the academic year, we were partying in my apartment and my friend's girlfriend was in the US and all of a sudden someone turned on the TV and we literally freezed. The world changed since then, you're right. I still get tears when hearing this. My mom and dad who don't speak English well enough to get the lyrics say this is one of their most loved songs. How can someone start wars today, please stop this nightmare

if you could do the entire Perspective or Triumphant Hearts album, by Jason Becker, as a set, then that would be very beneficial to help Jason out. He wrote most of those with his eyes, and the tracks are amazing. Any attention we can get to his music would be really helpful for his medical help. It costs an arm and a leg just to keep him alive, and the world needs to hear him. Both his playing from his teens, but also his composing while only being able to move his eyes. Please do something like that to help contribute and help him out!!!

This is one of my all time favorites. The orchestra just makes it absolutely perfect.

I was at this show. Man was this intense. We where on our feet for this one and we where on the 2nd balcony! And yeah, this was always my favorite on this album. Cheers Sir!

I still get goosebumps from this song. Every time.

My wife and I got married a few days after 9/11. Needless to say, there were some changes to the wedding party as some out-of-town family and guests could not make it. While the tragedy was very much on everyones' minds, in a way it made us all appreciate the occasion even more. A bright spark in a dark time. Thanks for sharing your story and this reaction with us, Doug.

Hi Doug. Thank you so much for reacting to one of my favourite bands Dream Theater and this harrowing but brilliant track. You summary of the track said it all Doug. What happened on that day affected everyone around the world...and it still gives me chills when I see the coverage again. Peace and love from Liverpool UK 👍✌️☮️

I've always loved DT's music and I knew it was complex, but having you describe everything that is going on in their songs makes it just so much better! Keep it up! Hope you eventually get around to doing all their music!

just saw them last night for the first time. It was awesome. Although I'm not a fan of the last album, their sound live was mindblowing through all the songs. I really hope to see them again for a difrerent kind of tour with more of their previous albums.

This is one of my favorite songs of theirs, and I was particularly hit by the idea of the title. Even though the monsters who flew those planes committed grievous evil, they truly believed in it, and many of their fellow believers were just as proud of them as we were of the first responders who gave their lives to save the victims. It's a sobering perspective I hadn't considered.

Hey Doug when you said that everyone has a story related to this crazy day it couldn't be more true. I am french and lived in France all my life but it happens that one of my aunt married a New Yorker. They had a child that was 6 months younger than me. So my cousin Greg was working as part of his last year of college training in the World Trade Center tower 1. I was not working in the lab for my PhD that day and I said to myself I want to hear some English so I turned on the TV and start to watch CNN it took me 4 or 5 seconds to realize that the image I was seeing was the smoking hole of the WTC first tower to be hit by a plane. So I witnessed the second plane hit my cousins tower live. So You can imagine how horrific this is and I know this feeling is unfortunately shared by many other people. Anyway thank you for reacting to this song and as an early days fan of DT I obviously listened to it many times thinking of my cousin that was my friend too. Music is so important for cleansing our souls. I hope you and everyone has a great day full of joy and music. Peace

This song gives me goose bumps still today. Thx for releasing this reaction vid, Doug.

Man you’ve got to react to Learning to live from Dream Theater, would be great to hear your thoughts and breakdown on it!

Glad this video got unblocked, that part at 10:18 always gets me. Gonna be another shameless commenter and spam a metal Monday request for Periphery's Satellites for someone that really appreciates vocal harmonies

I never thought I’d see this video. I remember seeing this on KZfaq in 2006 and it was the first time I ever heard prog rock and Dream Theater. Seeing them up there with a full orchestra blew my mind.

Not particularly a fan of Dream Theater (mainly because I didn't know them until recently). But this is a w e s o m e !!!

God, Score is so good. If you ever plan on another DT long play, I'd love for you to do this concert.

I was there (waaaay in the back), and yeah, we were all on our feet! It was an amazing show, and that was an amazing performance of that song. Traveled all the way from IL to NYC to see it, and don't regret a bit.

Doug, I appreciate you giving some light to one of DT's most profound compositions. In the truest fashion of progressive rock/metal, the lyrics are especially pensive-when scrutinized, the lyrics are not unidirectional. The imagery is obviously evocative in a very particular way in the U.S., but can also be interpreted with validity from the ordinary people in countries which bore the brunt of the response to the terror attacks. It can read as a cautionary tale against holy wars, given that any "side" can start them. Another artists take whom you may appreciate is *Tori Amos* . She was aboard a flight above NYC during the attacks. Her song *"I can't see New York" (**kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pJ9hebOhvr3NlWg.html)* tells some of this story. This song-if not Tori herself-is well worthy of being on your channel also.

Doug, if there is EVER a live album for you to do a full review of then it. Is. Score.

I am German and have no affiliation with the USA in any way, but the memories and scenes still move me to tears. I remember how my brother called me and said „Quick, turn on the TV“, and I couldn’t believe what I saw. I have never felt like that before or ever again, it felt like Armageddon was near. It really was a moment that changed the world. But I also remember the mood over the next days. There was so much love all around, it felt like you could go into the streets and hug whoever you came across without creating a weird situation. So in a way it showed both ends of the spectrum of what humans are capable of.

Dough please, I'm Italian and I don't always understand what you say, so please add subtitles whenever you review a DT song, I like watching you because you give some interesting musician opinions and above all I really like your reactions! Thanks a lot!

Each time I hear this I'm transported to the morning of. I was 37 years old. I remember all too well. I felt the same three years ago, today is January 6 2023. It still rings true.

The best live concert video of the band to date. Love Score and you gotta love the album Octavarium. Top 5 DT albums for me

This song is absolutely incredible! Often overlooked I think because it’s the track before octavarium

This might be my favorite DT song. The one I listened to the most. Definitely every year, often many times.

Next masterpiece you need to schedule from Dream Theater is At Wit's End, from their 2019 Album "Distance Over Time"

I love the extra camera angle for the keyboard!

Hey Doug, I'm a big fan of your knowledge and wisdom!! This may seem a little bit out of the blue lol, but I kinda want to say Thank You for doing this video to commemorate 9/11. My dad died in the North Twin Tower that morning (his name is Alvin Bergsohn) and it honestly has always made this song extremely hard for me to just... listen to, on my own, due to the PTSD that came with the day, and the constant reminders of it. I really want to thank you, because beyond appreciating all of the different analyses that you offer on so much music that I love, you always do it in a very positive and uplifting way, and with the absolute best and most genuine intent and energy. That element is something that I've always needed to accompany this song for me personally, because of the my PTSD from 9/11. I haven't listened to this song willingly, since the album first came out in 2005, until I saw that you chose to do an analysis on the song. As a die hard Dream Theater fan, this is my first time willingly listening to "Sacrificed Sons" by Dream Theater, since about 2005, and I appreciate you helping me take a small, but important step in continuing to grow stronger. Thank you so much, Doug. You are a brilliant musician and a blessed human being.

10:17 This song is so many years old, but each time I hear this melodic part of the solo, I have goosebumps. EACH TIME!

Can't wait to see John and Mike next month at Berklee where they went to school! I think it's their third or fourth show.

You gotta do something off of Awake. I would suggest the "A Mind Beside Itself" trilogy, The Mirror/Lie, or Space Dye Vest.

I saw this live during the Octavarium tour in San Francisco at The Warfield. Was a great show!!

I like how he casually has a Whirlwind vinyl in the background

21:04 "… and this is as effective as anything that I've heard" I don't know, it sure beats the crap out of the happy-go-lucky "Only Time" by Enya

The crazy thing is that I am not an American (Israeli, from the other side of the world), and I was only 6 years old in that day - and I remember where I was in the moment I've heard about it. Our people suffers from terror actions for years, I really can FEEL your pain. Thank you for the video ♥️

Love your comments and analysis Doug, this one's my favorite from Octavarium. I would love to see an analysis of Communion and the Oracle by Symphony X!

You did good! Score is the best live together with Budokan, from octavarium I really advice "these walls", not the most genius harmony construction, but one of the best song speaking about research in sound quality and sound ideas (the drums are insane beautiful)

I can't relate to it, since I'm living far and was only 6 years old, but the song is still (I mean after 100 times) great, and I enjoyed listening to your reaction/explanation.

Wasn't expecting this, I enjoy all you videos and even though there are some videos of yours that I felt confused by at times, I always ended up understanding them.

Amazing!

I always loved the last riff/outro to this song 🤘

Doug should do all of the astonishing lol, it can be split up in two parts, i really think he would like it.

This is a life-changing performance. Life-changing.....

Interesting thing about the Octavarium album: In between each of the tracks are sound effects in the accidental keys. Example: The previous track before this one (Never Enough) is in D, as you mentioned.

Always a pleasure to hear you Doug. I'm certainly not american but I can still relate to those feelings, it was undoubtedly a life changing experience for america and even the world I would say. And of course, Dream Theater made such an incredible work, it navigates all the emotions in a single piece of music. Sacrified Sons is one of my favorite ones of DT for sure.

Excellent song/video/experience. I will be seeing the solo tour with Meanstreak as well! DT rules btw\m/

I expect you’ve heard John Adams’s On the Transmigration of Souls? Very good tribute, as well.

Was an amazing show, was lucky to be there

Heading into work, listening to Mike and Mike on ESPN. Greenberg was talking and I was mind-blown. Then, pissed, then heartbroken thinking shout those people and especially the kids. My oldest was 4.

Such a great tune

Haha we always used to joke about LaBrie when instrumental parts comes in. We joke about things that he might be doing backstage.

Man I have this dvd.... need to revisit

Best live DVD in history....period!!!

I was 8 and still remember where i was. And i'm not even american. I can only try to imagine what that day meant for you guys on the other side of the Atlantic.

I remember it vividly. I was 25 at the time, getting ready for work and just on my way to the door when my girlfriend at the time called me on my phone. I was halfway down the hallway right next to our family calendar and she tells me somebody flew a plane into the WTC and I needed to turn on the tv. My initial thought was that some idiot had tried to fly a small plane between the towers like you could do in Flight Simulator so I just went to my car and started going to work. The only thing on the radio was news reports, and it quickly became clear to me it was a passenger jet… and then the second plane hit and I heard it live on the radio. I got to the store I worked at and sat in the parking lot stunned for a time, then went in. I wasn’t the first one in, though I was on opening shift the owner and my manager were there before me, and they hadn’t heard what was going on until I told them. The rest of the day, we spent taking shifts watching the news at a pizza place next door and reporting back as more events unfolded. An experience I will never forget.

One of their greatest songs!

I'm seeing the Petrucci show in OKC! Happy Birthday to me!

Very well said sir

Me and my wife had woken up and I saw smoke on the TV. I thought Mt. St. Helens had blown again. Went to the living room and my jaw fucking dropped. I was getting updates through the old MP Forum. And it hit fucking hard. Reading everyone's posts from that area. My heart sunk so hard. Placed our big screen so I could watch the TV and stay on the forum with all my friends. I still cry when I hear this song. I was supposed to pick up their live album that day. But it had New York in flames and was pulled.

It would be nice a video about some rudiments of music theory, at least the bits that could be useful to understand your analysis.

Fun fact DT released a live album the morning on 9/11 that was coincidentally titled live scenes from New York that had a picture of the twin towers with fire around it. Of course it was pulled and the art work changed afterwords.

I love the guitar solo by Mr Petrucci in this song. It's great! It's kinda unique! The first part is so weird (in a good sense). Can't remember anything similar from him in other songs. It's like a scream. And then the second melodic part is so much beautiful, sounds like an emotional explosion. Great-great solo!

best band out there... just got a tattoo of their logo few days ago

I think the "funky meter" part is 3 measures of 15/16 followed by one of 19/16 ... I could be wrong though.

I would love to see you react on Empires of Loneliness by Swallow the Sun. It's not a popular or accessible song by any means but it has very dark of darkest theme and lyrics. Alot of spoken parts and one of them pierces my soul every time i hear it. Vocals are pretty rough so i recommend pulling up the lyrics to be able to follow along. Asking this is probably a long shot and i doubt anyone will ever be asking this song besides me. Especially on a dream theater reaction comment section

Doug and I were abducted by aliens and loved every minute of it.

I wasn't sure about this song when it came out, but it seems to have aged well. Particularly this live performance sells it better than the album version.

The thing that I noticed in the days following, was no car horns. Drivers were being ultra polite to each other.

You should react to Ministry of Lost Souls from their systematic chaos album. The chord progression in that song is heavenly

Bruce Springsteen album The rising is an extremely touching tribute to that day also.

I have yet to see anyone react to "I Walk Beside You", also off of Octavarium. I think it would resonate with you Doug. It's one of DT's more uplifting, accessible radio-friendly songs.

I was in middle school. School paused for the announcement around 10 am and had a moment of silence as the news aired and no one really understand or knew what the trade center was as kids. When I was leaving a drum lesson that day we had a TV in our old ford van and they were repeating the footage around 5pm. Which is right before “building 7 collapses”. I just remember seeing the towers collapse on tv and was like this is bad. Even at that age I was well versed the theater of war politics. I knew what it meant. PS: Portnoys live drum sound is unrivaled.

You have listened to 3 songs of 8 from Octavarium and I think you should just straight up listen to it in full at this point, because you're missing out on some fantastic stuff, including the first song I've heard from them and is still my favorite, Panic Attack. In my opinion, nothing can compare to the pure bad-ass which is that song, except their seventh studio album, Train of Thought, which is their heaviest. Side note: I love your reaction to Octavarium, it's just fun to see a composer being happy, impressed and blown away all at the same time by one song. (Also I'm still waiting for In the Presence of Enemies Pt.1 and 2...)

Nobody talks about A Change of Seasons

Thank you for reacting to the live version of this song. The studio version just doesn’t hold a candle to the band playing live in front of an emotionally invested hometown NYC crowd.

will you react to The Astonishing album? It may not be a fan favorite but I think you will like it because it contains orchestra, opera, and album storyline

It was an inflection point that is for sure😢

SKY OVERTURE by Uli Jon Roth!!!!!!!🎸

Hey Doug. Love your stuff. I’m really hoping at some point that you’ll review the song Endless Dream by Yes from their amazing 1994 album Talk. Endless Dream is the three part suite that ends the album. To this day each listen gives me chills and raises the hair on my arms. Pease consider reviewing this Epic masterpiece. You won’t be disappointed.

This song slaps

One of the best in Dream Theater

Next, The Astonishing by Dream Theater. You gonna love it.

Doug, I know I'm late to this party but, I was wondering if anyone else commented on the duality of meaning to this? How both sides praised the sacrifices of their sons ("ALL praise their sacrificed sons"). The firefighters and police officers who gave their lives in their attempts to rescue people from the rubble should be the ones who are praised above all else.

My fav

James LaBrie made lyrics to 2 songs about 9/11. This one and the song “smashed” off of his solo album “elements of persuasion” that came out the same year. While this one is dramatic and almost angry, smashed is more sad and reflective