Marillion, Estonia - A Classical Musician’s First Listen and Reaction

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  • Опубліковано 9 бер 2023
  • I’m always interested in how and what inspires artists in their creativity, and how they take and interpret - or re-interpret - these sources. This song, inspired by a chance meeting with a survivor (who was also a creative artist himself) re-casts a tragic event into something that communicates comfort and hope after loss. I enjoyed the rich string quartet, as well as the moments of sonic “painting” of a sea-scape within the music!
    Here’s the link to the original song by Marillion:
    • Marillion - With Frien...
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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.
    _________________________
    Credits: Music written and performed by Marillion
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 214

  • @VirginRock
    @VirginRock  Рік тому +3

    Please write here your questions ONLY.

    • @deanzona6503
      @deanzona6503 Рік тому

      Where is The Wall?????? plz....

    • @terrykennedy-lares8840
      @terrykennedy-lares8840 Рік тому +1

      l've never heard of Marillion. Where does Vlad keep coming up with these bands? I'm not understanding the reasoning here.

    • @henrymach
      @henrymach Рік тому +7

      Get something from their Fish era, like Misplaced Childhood

    • @felderup
      @felderup Рік тому

      @@terrykennedy-lares8840 maybe someone not from where you are has a different list, i'd choke her list with canadian stuff cause it's what i'm more familiar with as music on the side of better. check out 'pandas' by corky and the juice pigs or 'terriers' by the kids in the hall, you'll be certain there's something you've never heard that you'd like her to hear.

    • @felderup
      @felderup Рік тому +1

      how bout dimmu borgir? metal, but with full orchestra and choir on stage, probably 150 people.

  • @davidnoneyabiz1412
    @davidnoneyabiz1412 Рік тому +23

    Marillion is the worlds most undervalued bands. More people need to give them a listen

    • @ulfingvar1
      @ulfingvar1 5 місяців тому +1

      They are still active (as far as I know) and tour. How can they be undervalued? By critics maybe, but have they not always been very popular? One of the supergroups, really..

  • @jamsistired
    @jamsistired 9 місяців тому +10

    Wow! Marillion! They don’t get a lot of recognition nowadays but they deserve it

  • @Locksmiths-bristol
    @Locksmiths-bristol Рік тому +7

    Steve Hogarth the lead singer got into conversation with a Gentleman on a plane journey who was a survivor of the Estonia disaster, they had an in depth conversation about what happened and this song was born from that conversation. Hope this helps.

  • @jornfox3545
    @jornfox3545 Рік тому +6

    One of the greatest songs ever recorded.

  • @iantrott9152
    @iantrott9152 Рік тому +34

    Thank you for listening to Marillion, one of the best bands in the world with a huge back catalogue of 40+ years. They were the originators of the “crowd funding” model and are still very much active. They are just about to start their series of “Marillion Weekends” across the world :)

  • @linahmartinho6157
    @linahmartinho6157 9 місяців тому +2

    Mr H forever ❤❤❤Marillion

  • @mikes9305
    @mikes9305 Рік тому +25

    Steve Hogarth is one of my favorite rock singers, for expressiveness of feeling! 😥

  • @digibirder
    @digibirder Рік тому +39

    Thank you for the great reaction Amy! Marillion is the band that specializes in evoking images with their beautiful expressive music and lyrics. They specialize in the triumphs and tragedies of humanity in a spirit of getting through it all together. They have a vast catalogue of music covering over 40 years, and they are still going strong! They have a lovely line in one of their songs that I think you will appreciate now that you have a joyous new edition to your family: "Each baby - A human sunrise". If ever you need a song to tell you "It's going to be OK" Marillion has got it (because that actually is a lyric of theirs). They say that you should listen to their music "Loud, with the lights off". That is because of the subtleties, I think. Their songs get better with multiple listens. For another song I might suggest "Easter" considering the time coming up 🙂. It has their trademarks, including an epic solo by guitarist Steve Rothery that ties the two beautiful halves of the song together so masterfully.

    • @ianobrien3248
      @ianobrien3248 Рік тому +4

      I always liked "Blame it on me, you can blame it on me
      We're just sugar mice in the rain"

    • @djinnings
      @djinnings Рік тому +3

      That is a beautifully eloquent recommendation of Marillion to a new listener and just a lovely, thoughtful and positive comment all round
      And yes, Easter is a stunning and gorgeous song ♥️🤟🌈

    • @digibirder
      @digibirder Рік тому +1

      @@djinnings Marillion is unashamed to be beautiful. Which is why they have a song about that called "Beautiful". "Marillion Weekends" offer that as an experience.

    • @davidmullins8193
      @davidmullins8193 Рік тому +3

      Steve Rothery is my favourite guitarist.

  • @Bunhead2000
    @Bunhead2000 Рік тому +10

    I know this is a first reaction to songs channel ,but most of Marillion songs take a few listens to be apriciated .Hi from the UK.

  • @user-hf6qn4sr8l
    @user-hf6qn4sr8l 4 місяці тому +2

    This is a work of art, like so many from Marillion, and so is a work of art your analysis, and commentary. Parabens.

  • @langdalepaul
    @langdalepaul Рік тому +12

    I think the reason that the strings don’t carry on more noticeably through the song is simply that they were never there in the original song, but added for this version. It was part of a re-release of a number of their songs on an album called “Marillion - with friends from the orchestra”.
    On another note, Marillion didn’t become commercially successful with this kind of music, but with an earlier, much more rock influenced style. And yes, they have a hugely wide and varied catalogue of music; some of it simple, some of it much more complex.

  • @carstenhorn5075
    @carstenhorn5075 Рік тому +17

    I love Marillion since 1985. Even though they have gained more attention again thanks to the last two fantastic albums, they are still one of the most underrated bands.

  • @Bunhead2000
    @Bunhead2000 Рік тому +15

    Another Marillion water related song would be recommended is Ocean Cloud .Also another true story of the struggles of an ocean rower who was first person to row across the Atlantic single handedly. Epic track just like this channel!

  • @justinbarnes8834
    @justinbarnes8834 Рік тому +5

    Note this is not the original version of this song but a later version with the quartet added in. There exists a video of both the original version and this version live in concert. In my opinion the live versions portray Steve Hogarth's emotion better than the album versions.

  • @helenespaulding7562
    @helenespaulding7562 Рік тому +21

    Utterly beautiful. One of the most lovely songs that I’ve recently discovered. I will have to delve more deeply into Marillion

    • @tonyfurminger8308
      @tonyfurminger8308 Рік тому +6

      Helene, I suggest Care by Marillion then. Unpack the Kleenex first though

    • @musicman5724
      @musicman5724 Рік тому +7

      Neverland ( live 2009♥️🧚‍♀️)
      Somewhere else (live)
      Sounds that can't be made (live)
      Gaza (live)
      Out of this world
      Ocean Cloud

    • @w.geoffreyspaulding6588
      @w.geoffreyspaulding6588 Рік тому +3

      @@tonyfurminger8308 thanks for the suggestion. I will.

    • @w.geoffreyspaulding6588
      @w.geoffreyspaulding6588 Рік тому +3

      @@musicman5724 thank you!

  • @playbassken
    @playbassken Рік тому +4

    First off, congratulations on baby Liesel! It was so nice to see you listen to Marillion, one of my favorite bands. They are exceptional and so is your analysis.

  • @stevem-h3562
    @stevem-h3562 Рік тому +3

    This is such a huge song, so important to so many people, especially the Marillion core fanbase.... it has taken on a life of its own, it truly has.

  • @ymykhal1975
    @ymykhal1975 Рік тому +9

    Amy, thank you for this reaction. In terms of rock history heritage, though, I think you certainly need to check something else from them in your journey, not necessarily for UA-cam. "Estonia" is a very nice song, but probably the worst choice to get the first impression about the band's musical craftsmanship. Also - this particular version of "Estonia" is from their recent album titled "With Friends From the Orchestra". As the name implies it was the attempt to blend their older original material with invited people from the orchestra. Maybe it's why you figured out some imbalance between strings and the vocal parts - the original songs were built in a different way. "Estonia" is very simple indeed, and very different from what made Marillion "the most successful neo-progressive band in the eighties". Marillion hooked me 30 years ago with music complexity and very airy and melodic guitar solos by Steve Rothery. These hooks are missing here, although I love this song very much.
    Even this "With Friends From the Orchestra" album features a few more musically elaborate and interesting compositions, like "Seasons End", "This Strange Engine", or my favorite "Ocean Cloud". Please one day listen to some more material from them. Band Rush has some "intro-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus-outro" songs as well, but they also have "La Villa Strangiato" and "Xanadu", you know :-) Similar story here...

  • @kevingunning7569
    @kevingunning7569 Рік тому +7

    Over the recent years Marillion (on occasions) have toured with 'In Praise of Folly' (am all-female string quartet) plus a flautist and French Horn player. This is a studio recording of the band with the six tour guests, and the arrangement that was written for the ensemble. The original recording did not have the additional musicians, meaning that the 'meat' of the song is played by the band with incidental lines for the ensemble. The intro and middle eight have been arranged especially. Kindest etc

    • @Northerntaff73
      @Northerntaff73 7 місяців тому +1

      Yes all absolutely correct, and tbh, I’d personally expect someone doing a UA-cam reaction video to be equipped with all this knowledge in advance of listening. You’d therefore then have more context to provide to the musical development of the piece. It would for example have been better to first listen to the original album version without strings, and then listen / watch the adaptation version with PoF. Just to say also…the person Steve H met on a plane was the only British survivor from the Estonia sinking.

    • @kevingunning7569
      @kevingunning7569 7 місяців тому +1

      @@Northerntaff73 Thanks for your thoughtful message. I wrote mine 7 months ago and had to refer to it to understand your comment! So many reactors seem to think that going-in 'blind' makes it an authentic reaction. This isn't always true though, as this occasion proves. Happy Days Taff. Tidy. 😆

  • @mirandak3273
    @mirandak3273 Рік тому +7

    They were not “very commercially successful.” That’s not the same thing as what they were, the most commercially successful artist of their sub-sub-genre.
    The sub-genre of progressive rock was not dominant in the 80s. The bands that were progressive in the 70s that were commercially successful in the 80s stopped being full on progressive and became more pop rock: Genesis, Yes, Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel as a solo artist, the supergroup Asia, & Steve Winwood as a solo artist.
    The sub-sub-genre of neo-progressive rock was basically not commercially successful but Marillion had some commercial succes. Some songs charted and a few were top ten. In the overall comparison of all musical acts they were also rans. But in their particular sub-sub-genre they were the “most commercially successful.”
    In the U.S. they had no hits on the Billboard 100, their best showing was one song getting to a ranking of 74, which means no radio play on top 40 radio. This is why I, a U.S. music freak NEVER HEARD OF THEM.
    Does NOT mean they aren’t great artists. But thinking you’re reacting to a “very commercially successful” artist is a misunderstanding.

  • @CaptainWaschbaer
    @CaptainWaschbaer Рік тому +3

    You should listen to Marillions Ocean Cloud too.

  • @simongrundy2208
    @simongrundy2208 Рік тому +2

    As I understand it after meeting Paul Barney, the film maker who survived the Estonia Steve Hogarth received a request from a friend. The request was to write a song about losing someone to death-in this instance the passing of a father. Steve Hogarth I believe put the two ideas together to write the lyric to this song. Hence the chorus 'No one leaves you when you live in their hearts and minds.'

  • @Soundbrigade
    @Soundbrigade Рік тому +5

    Interesting to find Marilliun on the playlist. I just recently found this band as it had been "labelled Hard Rock" in Sweden (and maybe elsewhere). There's even an episode in a Swedish humour program where a hard rock family is told that Marillion actually is a prog rock band .... 😱😱😱😱
    I guess there are Fish-people and Hogarth-people. I am not fond of the music from the Fish-period but love the music in later days, counting 13 albums. One of my favourites is the song Invisible Man which is SOOOO chilling ... haver to listen to it right now. Have to!

  • @charlesberton2581
    @charlesberton2581 Рік тому +3

    Amy, I love how your eyes light up when you like something. You really have a love for life, and I admire that.

  • @a2zme
    @a2zme Рік тому +8

    They had some serious radio air-play when I was a kid .. that tune 'Kayleigh' has a ridiculous hook .. really interesting band.
    #rockOnAmy

  • @MrJohnnysaintjohn
    @MrJohnnysaintjohn Рік тому +15

    Oh now you've done it! Although very simple and repetitive, "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot, is perfect as is. Please do this tribute to the 29 lost men in this 1970's tragedy. A folk/rock song told by one of our great story tellers that is revered by Americans and Canadians alike. We would love it.

    • @denise0223
      @denise0223 Рік тому

      Just thought of that song yesterday. Great suggestion.❤️🙏🏽☮️

    • @MrJohnnysaintjohn
      @MrJohnnysaintjohn Рік тому

      Thanks to your videos, I would say the melody is full of the the " Scottish snaps". 😏

    • @altair8598
      @altair8598 Рік тому

      Several tracks on King Creosote/Jon Hopkins' Diamond Mine reflect the dangerous lives of fishermen and the whole album is beautiful.

  • @Mylo_74
    @Mylo_74 Рік тому +3

    Your harp playing is truely wonderful. Regarding the questions you asked about if the song came from someone who had experienced the tragic event or is it a broader view of the event. The answer is both. Steve Hogarth (lead singer) met a survivor on a flight back home. They got talking and Steve was told in great detail of this man's account of the incident.

  • @mattrink2112
    @mattrink2112 Рік тому +2

    Marillion is remarkable. Especially their '85-'94 era. Thank you for this reaction! Beautiful song. Kindof an unfair advantage that you were able to hear this song twice, though!! ........ Side note: My top ~4 bands of all time are Savatage, Marillion, Rush, and Dream Theater. You've hit 3 of the 4 -- so, time for a Dream Theater song! Please do something from them. I'll recommend "The Count of Tuscany".

  • @manlioyllades
    @manlioyllades Рік тому +5

    Great choice! Great Song! Great reaction! :)

  • @aerotacto
    @aerotacto 6 місяців тому +1

    Please go into the first phase of Marillion, i.e., the first 4 studio albums and their related material.

  • @guitarstringman7403
    @guitarstringman7403 Рік тому +1

    Awesome videos and commentaries. I'll be back to watch more!

  • @lanemeyer663
    @lanemeyer663 Рік тому +6

    I wouldn't say Marillion were hugely successful (If you are an American, odds are you've only heard of them if you are a Gen-Xer as well as a fan of the genre), other than being very popular in the UK, Netherlands and Germany. But they also aren't anything close to "obscure" as another commenter put it. They have a long history spanning over 40 years and around 20 studio albums. They sold out the Royal Albert Hall within minutes on the tour before last.
    They seem to illicit three types of reactions among music fans:
    1. Boredom/yawns/disinterest
    2. People who instantly fall in love with them and develop a deep personal and emotional connection with their music
    3. Older fans who were in love with them during the era when Fish was the singer (the 1980's) and can't stop tediously droning on about how the band has never been the same since he left (which was over 30 years ago... seriously)
    They have great, consistent albums with both Fish (highlights are Misplaced Childhood and Clutching at Straws) and Steve Hogarth (Brave, Afraid of Sunlight, Marbles and F.E.A.R). The lesser albums usually have at least 1/3 to 1/2 masterpieces of songwriting but the subpar tracks can become rather boring.
    Though I love the song, Estonia is just one piece of a long, varied career. Some other recommended listens would be "Warm Wet Circles" and "Sugar Mice" from Clutching at Straws and "Easter" from Season's End (which has one of the most beautifully constructed guitar solos I've ever heard, courtesy of Steve Rothery).

    • @malkane316
      @malkane316 Рік тому

      I'll add myself as a 4th kind of fan; I knew of them growing up, but never listened to them. I listen to all types of music, and when I learned that Paul Rose (a writer I have always liked) was doing a new song by song podcast about the band, I thought I would listen along and write about my experiences in my blog. We're up to Happiness Volume 2 for currently. The podcast is called Between You And Me, and worth listening for any Marillion fan if you don't already know about it.
      I wouldn't say I fit in any of your categories - they have a lot of great music that I have enjoyed, they have songs I don't particularly care for, but they haven't reached the point where I'm obsessively won over.

    • @jimstewart8122
      @jimstewart8122 Рік тому

      I loved Marillion in 80's, but they've never been the same since Fish left.
      There's nothing wrong with that statement. Fish is a once in a generation lyricist and a huge loss to the band. Afraid of Sunlight, Brave and various other songs across their discography are good/excellent, but they were are definitely not the same without Fish. 😝

    • @Yesquire0
      @Yesquire0 Рік тому +2

      @@jimstewart8122 Just to present the opposite opinion, Fish's inability to sing his fine lyrics is what limited Marillion's success in the '80's. He drove away so many people that nobody was truly willing to give the new Marillion fronted by Steve Hogarth a fair chance. The Fish worshippers abandoned the band, and the rest of the world pretty much had dismissed it an not worthy of a listen. It would have been far better if the band had adopted a new name in 1989.

  • @Forest_Fifer
    @Forest_Fifer Рік тому +7

    Worth noting that this isn't the original version, this is the rerecorded version from the "With Friends from the Orchestra" LP. The original version doesn't have strings and horns on it.

    • @rocknroller81
      @rocknroller81 Рік тому

      And in my humble opinion the original album version is much more successful in conveying the emotion of the song.

  • @MattLathrum
    @MattLathrum Рік тому +3

    The original 1997 album version of this song had no strings - that was added for this "With Friends from the Orchestra" remake, 22 years later in 2019. The quartet intro wasn't in the original song at all.

  • @chrisredlich7075
    @chrisredlich7075 Рік тому +6

    An awesome song...deep. But you must visit renaissance and hear what they have to offer,

    • @altair8598
      @altair8598 Рік тому +2

      Yes, Renaissance - Turn of The Cards or Scheherezade albums...classically inspired prog rock.

  • @andreasrademacher5715
    @andreasrademacher5715 Рік тому +3

    I was allowed to be the singer of a Marillion tribute band for a couple of years. My last gig was with Steven Rothery. Only knew "Kayleigh" before that. Fantastic band, gotten better over the years. Even though I like all periods and am more of a Fish type myself.

  • @MartinJones92
    @MartinJones92 7 місяців тому

    I really enjoyed your video and I hope you explore more of their music.

  • @-Cinderman
    @-Cinderman Рік тому +3

    I just never could get into Marillion post-Fish. I am glad, however, that they have gone on to see great success.

  • @stenekedahl4446
    @stenekedahl4446 Рік тому +1

    I´ll never forget the Estonia disaster. I woke up that moening listening to the horrible news on the radio. At first iwas difficult to grasp the magnitude of the disaster. A few days later I learned that I knew three of the 852 who died. In Sweden this disaster is still kind of a national trauma.

  • @PaulHattle
    @PaulHattle Рік тому +24

    Glad you've done Marillion, Amy. You have to do the earlier, Fish, material. A Script for a Jester's Tear, Fugazi, Chelsea Monday etc. That is poetry in music - beautiful.

    • @joebocci5756
      @joebocci5756 Рік тому +4

      agreed, it wasn't marillion after fish left. lavender blue, dilly, dilly!!!!!!!!

    • @nectarinedreams7208
      @nectarinedreams7208 Рік тому +2

      Misplaced Childhood and Clutching at Straws are the best of the Fish years

    • @captainbadger1013
      @captainbadger1013 Рік тому +1

      ​@@joebocci5756 Totally disagree. Seasons End was a great album with songs like Easter, Hooks in You and Univited Guest.

    • @rocknroller81
      @rocknroller81 Рік тому +2

      Nah. Fish era is great, but Hogarth era Marillion has more personality, originality, freshness and is also more relevant lyrically.

    • @traceylloyd4343
      @traceylloyd4343 Рік тому

      @@joebocci5756 - I used to think that, but my other half kept up with the group and not knowing who he was listening to at any one time, I kept asking him, "Who's that doing that amazing song?" Getting rid of my pre-conceptions helped my ears to get it! Though I should warn you, it can be habit forming.

  • @Hartlor_Tayley
    @Hartlor_Tayley Рік тому +3

    Good band. Not a lot going on in this one but I liked the lyrics and vocals. Im partial to the early albums with Fish but I do like most of their later stuff too. Great reaction. Your harp playing is making me think that this song could have been done quite well with just a harp and voice.

  • @chickenflavor9880
    @chickenflavor9880 Рік тому +6

    PLEASE LISTEN TO A DAY IN THE LIFE BY THE BEATLES

  • @waldmeister0815
    @waldmeister0815 Рік тому +5

    Marillion? Grendel!
    Absolutely love this 20 minute song.

    • @nectarinedreams7208
      @nectarinedreams7208 Рік тому

      I love Marillion but Grendel is a poor man's Supper's Ready. It's basically a straight ripoff. Some great moments in it, but yeah.

  • @Whizzer
    @Whizzer Рік тому +3

    I think there's a different explanation for why the the quartet's instruments aren't as easily identifiable in the chorus. Since it comes over you as a wave, or a warm blanket on a cold winter night, it has to be one big, smooth sound. One can't distinguish the droplets of water in an ocean wave, or the individual strands of cloth in a blanket either.

  • @davidclark3603
    @davidclark3603 Рік тому +1

    I'm so glad I just stumbled across your channel. I instantly subscribed. You are brilliant. You have a wonderful modern open mind, very likeable.

  • @didididi71
    @didididi71 Рік тому +1

    Fantastic song…and Avery serious and detaild listening

  • @mikeconway9849
    @mikeconway9849 Рік тому +1

    Great reaction Amy.

  • @ErikMCMLXV
    @ErikMCMLXV Рік тому +4

    At 25:06, when she says that it makes her want to sway with it, I wonder if she realized that she was swaying with it

  • @captainprototype187
    @captainprototype187 Рік тому

    There is this song, Hope without water or something . This reminds me of that. Split Enz or a band like that.

  • @vonVile
    @vonVile Рік тому +3

    Amy, for progressive rock listen to the band Goblin, who did soundtracks for Italian horror director Dario Argento. As for song suggestions; "Profondo Rosso", "Suspiria" or "Tenebrae".

  • @Yesquire0
    @Yesquire0 Рік тому +1

    All rock bands, who all get a bit bored offering the same songs over and over again in concert, evenually come around to inviting an orchestra, or a smaller group of classical musicians, to play along with them. The result is rarely richer or better than the band playing the song by themselves. The strings, flutes, etc. just recreate the melodies and harmonies that the keyboardist adds to the songs. Synths have progressed so far these days as to faithfully reproduce the sound of just about any musical instrument. Perhaps having multiple players with many hands at work can produce a more varied version than what one man with two hands can produce on a keyboard, but the changes tend to be subtle, and if not done right, can muddle up a compelling melody.
    To experience success at the highest level, every member of a team must bring something exceptional to the game, then blend those special talents to create something magical. In the case of Marillion, the main composer and lead singer, Steve Hogarth, has a unique gift to craft lyrics which, when combined with the instrumentation, elicit waves of strong emotion in the listener. The band does not seek to excite you with technical virtuosity. They intend to move your heart. It's what makes Marillion unique in the world of popular music, that and the wonderful voice of Mr. Hogarth that manages to completely convey the emotions of the song.
    Marillion is not really "commercially successful". They have labored in obscurity for decades and have trouble filling a 2,500 capacity venue when they tour. But they have a fervid group of fans worldwide who treasure those concerts, and each new CD. The band has no record label (except their own) and has had no benefit of a large corporate label to promote them and get their songs played on the radio. They have thrived artistically for about three decades with no corporation to dictate the style of music they must play , but will never be able to inspire the young people whose tastes dominate popular music. They are old men now, and other than a few grannies, will never be the sort of heartthrobs that excite young girls to buy music.
    When cubby-holed by progressive music nerds, they are pushed into the "symphonic prog" category, which is as good a stereotype as might be possible to describe their music.
    What amounts to an entirely different version of Marillion had greater commerical success with a string of poppy radio hits with an entirely different style of music and a different singer-composer back prior to 1989.

  • @franckb8279
    @franckb8279 Рік тому +1

    Nice reaction and analysis. This song was realeased in 97. But not in this version, which is a version made later for an album with a classical quintet which had accompanied the group during one tour back in 2018. The original version is more rock.

  • @richardj9016
    @richardj9016 Рік тому +3

    A pleasant track to wind down to at the end of the day. Then I remembered the actual incident of the sinking. Didn’t connect the two.

    • @Yesquire0
      @Yesquire0 Рік тому +1

      Steve Hogarth had a chance meeting with the only English survivor of the Estonia's sinking. He heard the story and was moved to compose this song. If by chance anybody reading this is unaware of that tragedy, it still ranks as the second most deadly peacetime ship sinking in the Atlantic basin, afterThe Titanic. 852 people died that day.

  • @JoseSantos-eg2oz
    @JoseSantos-eg2oz 9 місяців тому +1

    Seasons End, the full album...

  • @mikes9305
    @mikes9305 Рік тому +7

    Amy - As someone who ignored most popular music for nearly 10 years from 1986 to 1994 while I immersed myself in the world of classical music, and then came back to rock music after remembering that bands like Yes were very high quality, I have noticed what I consider to be an important split in musical opinions about pop/rock. There are many fans who feel that live performances have something "special" and there are those like me who feel that the pinnacle of pop/rock music is found only in the extremely polished and perfected sounds of the official studio recordings. Those who enjoy live performances more tend to either like the spectacle of spectators and the "feel" of a big collective event, or to be someone focused on a specific player (or singer) and eager to see things they could not hear on a recorded album. But I feel that at least 99% of all pop/rock bands sound worse in live performance compared to their studio recordings, and certainly the live recordings suffer from inferior sound mixing in comparison. Estonia was released as a studio track in the late 1990s, and even though this version has no live audience, it is effectively a live version with the classical instruments added in, with an introduction not present in the original song, and with enhancements that probably were not written by the band itself. Although this is a pretty good version, it has faults like all live rock seems to. I practically cringe that the lyric "laughing and in no pain" is mangled in this version, nearly unintelligible each time it's sung. I have no idea why, but whenever anyone recommends some live performance to you, please think twice unless it was the live version that was the original hit (e.g. Frampton's "Do You Feel Like We Do). Most live versions are simplified because the speaker systems and live performers can't recreate what they did in the studio during live performance. Those who want to clearly hear and analyze the music compositionally should stick with the original studio versions. That's my strongly held opinion.

    • @felderup
      @felderup Рік тому

      there's also the special bands that are good either on studio recording or live. several of my fave bands are terrible live, they're still great bands, some are better live cause they're trying to sound raw in the studio and someone else is in charge of the sound system when live. similar when it comes to videos, sometimes the video is what makes a song worth listening to more than once, i'd suggest 'come to daddy' by aphex twin, not worth listening to on its own, it's loud, angry and hurts the ears, worth a good dozen lower volume listens while watching the video, there's always an interesting detail to pick out.

    • @langdalepaul
      @langdalepaul Рік тому

      Agreed.

    • @Yesquire0
      @Yesquire0 Рік тому

      This version of Estonia is a highly polished studio recording, done in many takes with multiple track recordings and carefully edited afterwards. You are listening to a studio recording, not a live performance. The visuals are nice to watch while you listen to the studio recording, but that's about it.
      In the case of Marillion, changes in how Steve Hogarth sings in a live performance dictate that every listen must be to a concert recording rather than the studio version. In the studio, Hogarth seems to prefer a more nasally style with more falsetto singing, and the result can be a weak, whiny presentation. In concert, he belts out the songs with his chest voice to be heard over the PA and the amps of the rest of the bands, and the result is stunning.

    • @mikes9305
      @mikes9305 Рік тому

      @@Yesquire0 interesting. Although this is an example of where your preference for live performance involves a concentration on that performer, rather than an assessment of the composition. 🤔

    • @mikes9305
      @mikes9305 Рік тому +1

      I guess I stand corrected about this specific piece being live, then. The video gave the impression it was done in a single live "take," including what I perceived as a glitch in the vocals. I'm a fan of Hogarth's studio work and disagree with your characterization of it. One of the key innovations of the late 20th Century was to explore all aspects of the voice that modern sound engineering could allow. This gives no inherent advantage to "chest voice" anymore... 🤔

  • @avoiceuk
    @avoiceuk 7 місяців тому

    Wow the Fish-ites are out in force. Let it go guys. As a very long time Marillion fan I would suggest some of their slightly later compositions. More mature writing and Steve Hogarth’s voice is easier to listen to than Fish. Most underrated band and deserve far more commercial success than they have.
    Try ‘Out of this World’ about Donald Campbell’s Bluebird crash or Ocean Cloud.

  • @matthart1234
    @matthart1234 Рік тому

    Hi Amy. The bach influence youmention also reminds me of Toccata and Fugue in D Minor BWV 565

  • @centrasseptyni8277
    @centrasseptyni8277 Рік тому

    Harp very interesting resonate to voice

  • @jokerrullz9237
    @jokerrullz9237 Рік тому

    Hello #virginrock I am a huge fan of your content, I'm from UK and I love the diversity in your choices for the videos, the in depth information and opinion about the songs that you're listen too and I have a big recommendation for your next video. I know you already experienced Nightwish but the song I'm going to address today is one singed by their ex vocalist soprano Tarja and this composition is played by an orchestra and what is cool about it is that the composition is actually made by the Nightwish band, back when she was still in it. You can listen the the official version but I reccomend this more because of the intensity of her true voice. I home you will see my comment and you will consider giving this a try for one of your videos. From the little community of fans here in UK we wish u all the best, and thank your for your experienced ear analysis of all those songs you picked up.. you're doing an amazing job. P.S. the composition is called swanheart. Enjoy listening
    ua-cam.com/video/TvFVdET3ng4/v-deo.html

  • @MiguelBaptista1981
    @MiguelBaptista1981 Рік тому +1

    WHOAH!

  • @PeterBuwen
    @PeterBuwen Рік тому

    The beginning reminded me a bit of Gorecki's 3d Symphony. I wonder if that was intentional.
    Marillion is surely on of the great bands who came up in the 80s. But this is the 90s.The "Estonia" sank 1994 und the song came in 1997. The world had to mourn 852 drowned. 😢

  • @jpwwilson430
    @jpwwilson430 Рік тому +2

    "Fish" a gentleman's excuse me, would be a great track for you to listen to.

    • @jimstewart8122
      @jimstewart8122 Рік тому +1

      Having only recently listened to Fish's solo stuff, I'd recommend Credo or Man With a Stick. 👍👍

  • @lynnmartin906
    @lynnmartin906 Рік тому

    Thanks I forgot this band. My hawkwind days.

  • @addickkelders2265
    @addickkelders2265 Рік тому +2

    I see your new First Listen here on YT. I was a big fan of your analyses. But I quit after seeing the 80’s analyses with Carl, i disagreed every inch, and all the choices of the 70s and 80’s. Such a pity. But I wish you all the best on your popjourney and other activities.

  • @hansmolders1066
    @hansmolders1066 3 місяці тому +1

    Please check out 'This strange engine'

  • @mrfairycake4333
    @mrfairycake4333 Рік тому

    Have a listen to any of these Marillion songs from the days of Fish.... Lavender, Bitter Suite, Hearts of Lothian, Wide Boy. poetry in motion

  • @robertunderdunkterwilliger2290

    Estonia was sunk in the Baltic, there is not really salt water that far up in the Baltic Sea, its brackish. If you gonna listen to Marrillion I suggest you grab some of the earlier stuff with lead singer Fish. Clutching at Straws is one of may favorite albums, but I don't think you can listen to just one song off it, its a concept album. Like so many Prog rock albums are.

  • @sebaheresi
    @sebaheresi Рік тому

    It's time to react to Yes. Someday you have to do Close to the Edge! Hope you give it a try soon

  • @J0hnC0ltrane
    @J0hnC0ltrane 11 місяців тому

    Too bad I've never heard this song before or the group. Such a satisfying composition. The vocalist and lyrics could have been a Stephen Sondheim creation.
    Amy you really ask the hard questions which are a little off putting, but actually it very necessary in informing a deep critique of the music.

  • @WindmillChef
    @WindmillChef Рік тому +1

    Hmm! Strange that I don't know the band or the piece, I consider myself to be adequately versed in modern music, but I like it. I like a lot of music that is easy on the ears, easy on the mind. We are not always super focused, very intense when we listen to music, there is such a thing as casual music listening.
    I sense the similarity between your Bach piece and the section of the song, perhaps not a strong enough similarity to outright declare that the section had the Bach piece as a foundation.
    Amy, your questioning thoughts about the production choices, about modern music production, that is a very very very deep rabbit hole to dive into. Did I write "very" enough times, I do mean a very deep rabbit hole.
    Modern music production fulfills the function that orchestral arranging does in classical music does but that's the start, it involves so much more; what team of talent has been put together, how do they work together, does the artist take a lot or little agency in the production, contractual obligation, time and location constraints, money matters, how will the final production sound when replayed through car speakers in a carlike acoustic environment (yes, this is a huge consideration), how to make it sound dynamic when it isn't in reality, and on, and on and on.

    • @petebateman143
      @petebateman143 Рік тому

      No reason you should be aware of them. Marillion peaked in the public consciousness in the 1980s. Were not marketed much if at all thereafter because they refused to make much in the way of radio friendly pap. Then in 2000 they abandoned the music industry and became completely independent, thus cutting themselves of from the majority of modern radio channels which are effectively the advertising branch of the music industry. Mostly you hear what they want to sell you.

    • @mikes9305
      @mikes9305 Рік тому

      @@petebateman143 They are still well-known in Britain, where they're from. 🤔

    • @petebateman143
      @petebateman143 Рік тому

      @@mikes9305 I'm British. And been a fan for about 39 years. They don't get radio play and when mentioned people have either never heard of them or know them as "the guys that did Kayleigh" or "that Scottish heavy metal band". Well-known they are not.

    • @mikes9305
      @mikes9305 Рік тому

      @@petebateman143 Oh! Thanks for the info. I had heard their albums had started charting but from what you've said, this means that charts mean far less now than they used to, at least in rock. 🤔 Thanks for the perspective!

  • @redstonemachineryllc1287
    @redstonemachineryllc1287 Рік тому

    We all had great hopes for Marillion at the time but it turned out to be OK, short of expectations but not a bad band after all.

  • @petebateman143
    @petebateman143 Рік тому +5

    Nice to see you're being introduced to some of the more esoteric corners of rock music rather than allowing yourself to be corralled by the tiny-minded gatekeepers who will insist that only the mainstream mass produced radio friendly rock that they like is "acceptable".

  • @dr.alimpije511
    @dr.alimpije511 Рік тому +2

    nice song ..it should belong to some movie ,you watch the movie and listen to the song ,it serves the purpose ,and then you forget about it.....but amy remains a rock virgin ,still

  • @abranco4523
    @abranco4523 19 днів тому

    ❤❤❤🇧🇷

  • @typxxilps
    @typxxilps Рік тому +2

    That ferry had been built here long before by a shipbuilder who later became famous for the big ocean cruiships.
    And of cause germany was a kind of second home for Marillion in the years before theoir breakthrough, the Fish years that lead from Script for tears and Fugazzi to the Berlin era during the hight of the cold war with the Misplaced childhood album. Still love these vinyl albums that survived so many journeys.

  • @henrymach
    @henrymach Рік тому +5

    Get some older Marillion stuff, from the Fish era. I think the album Misplaced Childhood is their best

    • @richey4287
      @richey4287 Рік тому +2

      Yes. Clutching at Straws and Brave are excellent too.

    • @classifiedtopsecret4664
      @classifiedtopsecret4664 Рік тому +1

      Misplaced Childhood and Clutching At Straws are masterpieces. .Hogarth is boring.

  • @debbiecatrambone4266
    @debbiecatrambone4266 Рік тому

    I’ve read a lot of the comments some asking is this rock and roll? I left this video and saw Days of Future Past pop up and put it on, 1967 Moody Blues had a orchestra play on a album and many others have since so I say yes it is…..

  • @maxmillar2723
    @maxmillar2723 Рік тому

    Am I allowed to suggest a song here? Sorry if not, but otherwise, I suggest you react to 'Sleep' by Godspeed You! Black Emperor. It is truly a beautiful song, and is one of my favourites ever made.

  • @treyhutchison
    @treyhutchison Рік тому

    Would love to see your review of Led Zeppelin’s “Rains song

  • @lsbill27
    @lsbill27 Рік тому

    Just waiting for the day you react to Yes. Hopefully it will be Roundabout or Yours is no disgrace.

  • @newmoon766
    @newmoon766 Рік тому +2

    The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" is a more straightforward storytelling ballad of a famous shipwreck in Lake Superior. ua-cam.com/video/PH0K6ojmGZA/v-deo.html

  • @captainprototype187
    @captainprototype187 Рік тому

    I always classified Marillion as symphonic rock instead of neo progressive rock. I guess its the same thing.

  • @rogierrumke
    @rogierrumke Рік тому

    how can i make a request

  • @larryfontenot9018
    @larryfontenot9018 Рік тому

    This is purely a guess on my part, but I suspect that when this song was mixed in the studio, they chose to make the synthesizer dominate the strings because they wanted to be able to make the song sound the same when being played live. Presumably they wouldn't want the expense of paying, feeding, housing and transporting the classical musicians every time they toured.

    • @keithbond9423
      @keithbond9423 Рік тому

      This version with the quintet is not the original version of the song. It was a re-interpretation (along with some of their other songs) for an album "With Friends From the Orchestra". They did a small tour with the orchestra about the time this version was released so it wasn't a touring reason. Perhaps they wanted this version to sound more like the original, or perhaps some other reason.

  • @jjohnston7837
    @jjohnston7837 Рік тому +1

    Is this still "Rock n Roll"? Just checkin.

  • @danielfox6907
    @danielfox6907 Рік тому +1

    Listening to rock/roll music since 1954, I would ask, what is this? However, allowing that 90% of my exposure is from top 40 radio and free form FM station programming, I admit being restricted to those filters.So now I ask, what constitutes popular? I would consider this as arcane/ esoteric,( limited, discerning audience). Hardly as fundemental to Rock history. We are using much different filters.

    • @richey4287
      @richey4287 Рік тому +1

      Neo Prog. They've been going for 40 years and released a new album recently. Worth checking them out more.

  • @thomasmeyer8798
    @thomasmeyer8798 Рік тому +2

    10 likes - what a shame!

    • @ulfingvar1
      @ulfingvar1 Рік тому +2

      It's new, damn it. Give it time!!!

  • @citizenkane4831
    @citizenkane4831 Рік тому

    When MS Estonia sank there was all kindks of speculations why it sank. Some said a bomb had expoded on the car deck.There where roumers that on the ship there was secret military transport that hadn´t put in the report they did of why it sank. Other said the car port wasn´t closed due to the stormy weather that night, and it was leaking water on the car deck unditl the boat sank. It has been an long ongoing debate about why MS Estonia actually sank. And it didn´t made it any better after that documentary that showed there was an hole in the hull. It only led to a new debate that there have been an secret militare transport on it that have exploded. If your doing an follow up, do some research around the actuall accident. It´s quit enterresting.

  • @simonivarsson5325
    @simonivarsson5325 Рік тому

    Recommended: ua-cam.com/video/Tm0KyIHSW8A/v-deo.html

  • @tubaviewa2624
    @tubaviewa2624 Рік тому +1

    Mhh... Maybe have a look at Fellini Days by Fish... ;)

  • @RJTheBikeGuy
    @RJTheBikeGuy Рік тому +9

    I wish you had done a Fish era Marillion song. Fish was the original singer of Marillion. Their album Misplaced Childhood is a masterpiece.

    • @Forest_Fifer
      @Forest_Fifer Рік тому +9

      I'd rather go with the guy who's been in the band for 34 years, tbqh.

    • @mikes9305
      @mikes9305 Рік тому +6

      So tired of hearing about Fish. 😡

    • @RJTheBikeGuy
      @RJTheBikeGuy Рік тому +2

      I actually got to see Marillion when they were touring for Misplaced Childhood. Fish was still with the band. They played the album beginning to end. It was amazing.

    • @jimstewart8122
      @jimstewart8122 Рік тому +1

      I still listen to Misplaced Childhood to this day. And Clutching at Straws. Both classics, IMO. Who suits the band better? It's hard to argue that Fish has a better singing voice, but it is just so down to earth that it's hard not to connect with it and, without doubt, he is the superior lyricist.

    • @petebateman143
      @petebateman143 Рік тому +4

      @@mikes9305 Yep. You wonder how some families can have grudges that are inter-generational and you think "how the hell does that happen?" Then someone brings up Fish after 34 years and you thing "Oh!....that's how....". Get over it FFS.

  • @notthistimenet
    @notthistimenet Рік тому +1

    Another band I've not heard of.

    • @richey4287
      @richey4287 Рік тому +1

      Check out their back catalogue 40 years long.

    • @notthistimenet
      @notthistimenet Рік тому

      @@richey4287 I saw that. This particular song did not inspire me to listen further though.

  • @roberthoyle3744
    @roberthoyle3744 Рік тому +4

    Of all Marillion's back catalogue of great songs this is one of most instantly forgettable, strange choice

    • @wildviolet3973
      @wildviolet3973 Рік тому +1

      I don't agree, one of their best.

    • @30110CKs
      @30110CKs Рік тому

      Disagree. Not up there with the best but a solid track.

  • @JG-lx5pm
    @JG-lx5pm Рік тому

    Commercially successful????? maybe in Europe, but I don't think in the American continent, this is the first time I hear of that band, or song so that tells me they were not as successful since true success means all the continents, so so in this song.

  • @handy905
    @handy905 Рік тому

    This choice was a weak and, yes, obscure version of a pleasant enough but musically uninspiring song. Both the Fish and Hogarth era Marillion have much better to offer than this. Both versions of the band were/are brilliant story tellers lyrically and musically. Despite some of the comments to the contrary, both singers are incredibly poetic and emotional - but in very different ways.
    The band may not be successful on a traditional, commercial scale but they have a significant and passionate global fan base. They are the pioneers of crowd-funded music, with their fans (orignially in the USA but now globally) pre-financing tours and albums so they no longer need a record label behind them. They are therefore free to make the music they want to and have been doing so for over 40 years and 20 studio albums. They sell out venues such as the Royal Albert Hall in London. Every 2 years they run a series of weekend conventions in Europe and North America - filling resorts such as CenterParcs in The Netherlands with 3000+ fans for 3 full sets. Always oversubscribed.
    Yes, it's important to cover the big superstars of Rock but surely there can be room to explore bands that were less successful - they still have lots to offer.

  • @RythymBeast
    @RythymBeast Рік тому +1

    Bloody brilliant!

  • @intellectualchaos7997
    @intellectualchaos7997 Рік тому +3

    I personally liked the Fish era Marillion much better. I find something about Hogarth era to be utterly forgettable. And it wasn't just Fish. The entire band seemed more inspired.

  • @davedem4107
    @davedem4107 Рік тому +2

    If you want to listen to Marillion, nothing is better than their earlier compositions when fish was the singer. "Script for a Jester's tear", "sugar Mice" or "Fugazi".

    • @dawnfranks9293
      @dawnfranks9293 Місяць тому

      More recent stuff richer, more relevant

  • @joseaimperial512
    @joseaimperial512 Рік тому

    Marillion without Fish...

    • @stevem-h3562
      @stevem-h3562 Рік тому +2

      .... is better of for it. He was with them for 8 years. Hogarth has been with them for 34. For Crying Out Loud, let it go and get over it.