Classical Composer Reacts to Refuge (Steven Wilson) | The Daily Doug (Episode 92)
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- Опубліковано 25 бер 2021
- #Reaction #HelveringReaction #StevenWilson #Refuge #RefugeReaction #StevenWilsonReaction
In this episode of #TheDailyDoug, I'm celebrating 25K subscribers by releasing a special double-listen reaction. Actually it's not a reaction. I heard this song the night before and was inspired to do a first listen as an analysis and a second listen as an added performer with the band. It was so much fun! I hope you enjoy, and thanks for subscribing and watching.
Reference Video: • Steven Wilson - Refuge...
Afternoon doug, I have been following for a while and loving every minute of it all. You have introduced me to Nightwish - love them but todays session has blown me away. Not only the song but you playing along on the second playing. Your summing up at the end was so powerful, moving and touching. Thank you for it all, many blessings to you and keep it up. Can I give a shout out again for you to look at Rival Sons song Jordon please
Thanks so much for your note! I'll put Jordon on the list.
@@Doug.Helvering Hello Doug!
Are you going to react to Epica, the heavier cousin of Nightwish? I'm pretty sure we've asked you a couple times but I can't recall seeing any answer.
Epica (formed in 2003) is a Dutch symphonic metal band with gothic tendencies and a little sprinkle of death metal on top.
Simone Simons is the lead singer with beautiful operatic soprano, though she usually uses mixed voice rather than pure head voice and she's really good at it. Epica also use choir.
Mark Jansen is the founder of the band. He is not related to Floor Jansen (Nightwish) but they were both in the same band called After Forever where Floor was the main vocalist. After the departure from After Forever, Mark formed Epica and Floor formed her band Revamp. Simone Simons was Mark's GF at the time when Epica was formed and she joined the band shortly after that. Simone and Floor are still good friends. In fact, Floor did some guest performances with Epica.
Most people would recommend to react to "Consign to Oblivion", but since you're a classical composer, I would suggest their magnum opus "Kingdom of Heaven", a 13 minute masterpiece. ua-cam.com/video/hFlgT4dny4k/v-deo.html
If you prefer to start with something shorter (only 9 minutes :) perhaps "The Phantom Agony" from their 2003 debut album: ua-cam.com/video/UAlRf9qf9d0/v-deo.html
Alternatively, you can start with some of their wonderful ballads if you wish. Just let me know and I'll pick something for you. Thanks!
If he loved Nightwish and Floor/Tarja, it's about time he give a listen to Epica with Simone Simons and Within Temptation with Sharon den Adel, these bands are two big figures in symphonic metal.
@@jimmyggs91 I've already asked him a couple times but seems like he's not interested.
I personally don't miss Within Temptation too much but Epica is incredible. That's some serious music!
As a Nightwish and Epica fan, I'm a bit sad that so many people ignore Epica and only focus on Nightwish. Epica deserves much more attention. I've never heard anything like that before. Maybe Therion comes close (I listened to Therion some 15-20 years ago) but it's still different.
Btw, both Westerholt brothers do great music but I would rather see Delain than Within Temptation. Sorry Robert :]]
@@cancelled_user Oh I completely have forgotten about Therion.... great band too.
My second favorite SW song after "Home Invasion / Regret #9", which has a guitar solo by Guthrie Govan that can't be beat. Your addition of analyzing the chord movements / structure and how they're used to invoke particular emotions really improves the reaction genre. Thanks Doug!
When you think of lydian, what comes to mind? Hope, yearning, longing, ambient wandering, leading to a new place, a long journey. This fits the idea of a refugee perfectly. As the song starts out, it's heavily centered around C(#11) which gives it a sense of it being the tonic, but not really. It's a repeated idea that grounds a tonal center, but it doesn't really feel like home. Then as the song progresses, you realize what we thought was "home" was actually the beginning (bVI) of a journey to a new home (e mi). Our new home still has that f# in the top voice, which is like a lingering reminder of the unsettled feelings that started the journey to begin with.
Steven Wilson is the composer who has evolved through his entire carreer and keeps evolving. I have been following him and Porcupine Tree and his other side projects through the decades. His music is my go to place to get my progressive rock shot. He is probably the most depressing lyricist I have encounter but he makes things work. As people mentioned below, his music can be confronting, painful and like a storm levels preconceived ideas and makes you thing again.
SW will take you on a journey through history, with themes of experimental drug use, radioactive toys, the sky moves sideways (my personal favourite), Sleep Of No Dreaming, Piano Lessons, A heart attack in a layby, Shemovedon, Arriving Somewhere but Not Here (which is simply mindblowing), I could list many more but you probably get the point.
Thanks for the improvisation to Refuge, it really made me realise how genious this song is.
I cannot keep from mentioning Marillion, their compositions are amazing. This Strange Engine is simply a rollercoaster ride of epic proportions.
Doug, your musical analysis has been amazing for me, but what has really impressed me is that you are such a real, loving, brilliant human being. This video and Nightwish's Great Show on Earth told me all I need to know about you.
Thank you for being you.
Much love. Thanks.
The whole album (To the Bone) has such a strong, pristine sound. It doesn't want to be Metal, it doesn't shy of pop, still retains lots of prog - and just sonically, it's clear, wide, brilliant and still warm.
Steven Wilson said, he wanted to make more a collection of songs than parts of a conceptual piece, but still it's so magical to listen through in its entirety.
Love it very much :)
One of my favourite song by SW. Such a powerful one. He just throw it in our faces that these people have a right to live and breathe just as anybody else. I sure loved to hear your take on it and then listen to your piano impro. Great touch!
Check out Marillion - Neverland! It's a great song.
Oh, and I do love Steven Wilson. Refuge isn't an exeption!
I love listening to music I already love, but then, when you hear with an expert like Doug, you find so many aspects you didn't perceive before. This is amazing. Thanks Doug
Wow! Thanks Doug, you really filled in the piece like a member of the band! You were great! I love your comments about the lyrics versus the music itself and how you feel and see a song as a global entity. Awesome!
Man, Doug. Hittin' me right in the feels with that ending. Keep up the awesome work.
Brilliant and heartfelt. Thank you Doug. You’re a mensch!!
Holy shit that was amazing! Never heard of Steven Wilson but I love him. Got me all in mah feels Bro.
Says "go to hell" in church lmao. Great videos Doug!! Please keep it up!
Or university recital hall?
Nope you're right, church! And the F-word, I do declare!
Nearly a year ago now, but awesome what You added to the song. Shows intuitive understanding and prudence of what is going on and what direction the song will take. Reminds me of the way I was trying to learn guitar without any teacher...
Your reaction and comments are always great Doug. Love when you play piano chords to make us understand. Good performance too on the second part. Bravo.
The harmonica solo is by Mark Feltham, whom Steven specifically recruited due to his fantastic work on "Living In Another World" by Talk Talk - you need to check the album version of that tune!
Talk Talk, another great artistic band with very good melodies.
This reaction is Amazon , please keep making more vids
I love your suddle accompanies on steven music, I really really love it somehow, thank you for these videos Doug!! Much respect 🙏
Thank you for that, you truly speak the language of music and your spirit is something wonderful!
your analyses are always great.... as i was 15 years old in school, we had a music teacher, who was a piano-player and he played the complete seventh son album for us kids from iron maiden on piano and told us, that everything is in minor. i remember this, cause for me it always was important, that a song is in minor, cause i hate or i thought long time, i hate happy music, but now i also know, there a lot of more emotions, too.. e.g. this optmistic chord you tell here... for example. for me it always was so strange, that people always thought, a fast song is a happy song automaticly and a slow song is maybe depressive. i always told them, that this isn't so. what is so important, that there are so many feelings between...
I enjoyed watching your analysis. I love your enthusiasm and I'm glad you found SW. Thanks for posting.
We need more of this! Doug, go for it, I loved this video!
Welcome to the club! I was sure that you will be hooked by SW and his unique way to compose music. I know, it happened to my a few years back and, since then, it’s one of my favorite composers EVER. Great VID! You need to watch his last Blu-ray, it’s on primevideo as well. It’s called HOME INVASION. It’s mind blowing.
Steven Wilson is one of best inspirational minds in music right now and has really make unbelievable music at his Projects but and from his band Porcupine Tree and at any participatioons he make with Opeth, Riverside, No Man and many others he is an absolutely genius in composing great music at so many levels !! I see your reaction and how exciting he can to make you feel with this amazing song and think...yeah this is Steven !!!
Your insight about the music i like is amazing, thank you so much Doug. I would love to see a reaction for Ancestral, is one of my favourites of Steven Wilson. Regards from Chile!
Hi Doug, your words about refugees is the best part of this video. I love Steven Wilson.
A big hug from Italy, thanks for your great job ! George
Boss, that was awesome...your playing is incredible, the ending was absolutely beautiful... Your knowledge of music and your ear is crazy. I don’t comment much because your music knowledge way over my abilities. I just make things up, I can write two maybe three songs a day in my head...just wish folks could hear what I hear... I really dig your channel... thanks....
Can only say I hope you get to play with Steven Wilson someday ❤️
Best track on the album and an absolute favourite of mine. That three-stage rocket solo section with the harmonica, guitar and the moog synthesizer is totally mindblowing!
New song for me too, that was amazing!!!
This song is heartbreakingly beautiful. Thank you for making this video. Love your channel.
Good job, i enjoyed the run through and the performance equally. Well done on 25k too.
Best channel ever, been following you for about a month and im learning a lot, i just enjoy your content. Keep it up, best wishes from Bolivia
My most favorite part of this song is when the drums fits like a puzzle piece in this song. It doesn't over play and still giving the other intruments an audible sound although it is rock but still the smoothness of the groove.
Wonderfully beautiful! Thanks for a "great live show" 😊
Real music! Fantastic. Greetings from Transsilvania Romania.
I'm hoping for Home Invasion Regret #9. I have a feeling you'll adore that one.
When I heard "Refuge" for the first time, three years ago, I was just blown away, caught in some of the harshest memories of my childhood, when I first dealt with the concept of mortality and the possibility of losing someone I needed. And every significant part of this song (the drums, the harmonica solo, the whole crescendo thing) became part of these memories.
Thanks for choosing this masterpiece and for sharing your impressions. Been watching your channel lately, it's very cool.
great video... this is definitely what makes your reaction channel unique, and i love it
This is my favorite song off of the "To the Bone" album. Not my favorite album from him, but this song is gold! And the harmonica solo gives me goosebumps! So moving!
Your analysis, play-along, and closing statement were all fantastic. Thanks for putting it all out there.
This is a great song, with a great message, live it was a spiritual experience!
Definitely keep these analysis videos going 🤘🏻
Amazing work Doug, I'm new to your channel, and not being a musician myself, hearing you explain why some of my favourite songs work so well has been fascinating. I don't know if you take requests, but there's a song called Graves by Caligula's Horse that is an all time favourite of mine, would be awesome to see what you make of it!
I'm going to keep watching your videos hoping that one day you'll get around to a track--any track!--from SW's "Hand Cannot Erase" album. Thank you!
His finest work.
When I first played ‘Hand Cannot Erase’ I was in the car driving up for a weekends climbing in the Lakes. I pulled over on the top of Kirkstone Pass. Stunning beauty all around… and in my ears.
Is one of fav songs from Steven Wilson. Great composer 🙃
I'm at home...I connect, just love this...keep going Doug
the harmonica solo slays me every time
This is what i 'am in my ears but not on the keyboard. It's like a super power! coming from tons of hard work and discipline... Respect!
So intense... Thx Doug, that was amazing! ... Please, do more double listenings like this one.
It brought tears to my eyes.
I've watched about 10-20 of your videos, but this one was an instant subscribe/alert. As a musician and music nerd, your interpretations make the most sense to me.
Loving your channel and (most!) choices. Steven Wilson is a genius who is not afraid to step out of his comfort zone, something that can upset some of his fan base.
Easily the best and most informative reaction channel I’ve come across. Keep it up! All the best from Scotland.
Throw in the live in Tilburg or Anesthetize DVD HD version of Way Out Of Here, Steven and Porcupine Tree will blow you away with the Harmonies and organic progression of this Prog jam session.
This was brilliant. Love your reaction and playing along. Good combination
Another great dose of the Daily Doug! Steven is one of my faves and I know Doug he is now one of yours.
I've never listed a harmonica solo before, pretty neat. And nice play along on the piano, even as a rock/metal fan I think it's one of the coolest sounding instruments ever, such an unique timbre and high playing range that goes along with any musical genre.
That's Mark Feltham on harmonica, which makes me think... When's Doug going to do some Talk Talk? (If you wanna talk well recorded, produced & mixed acts Doug, you want them on your show... something from Spirit of Eden, maybe?)
My favorite song off of To The Bone!! Incredible analysis as always Doug. I love your insight, as an amateur musician with decades of experience there is always so much more to learn.
I really hope the next steven wilson song you react to is Anesthetize, Porcupine Tree! It is that bands masterpiece in my opinion.
Wow! Your playing is so lovely!
I know you from your review-videos and never heard you playing like that, this is incredible!!
18:48 "Gosh, that was fun" - Yes, it was!
Thanks!
Great video Doug. On-point analysis followed by a really enjoyable 'tambourine' section you added in there ! Great to see you playing and expressing yourself. You should do more of these where you watch/analyse first, then join in with your own playing afterwards! Stay safe buddy
Nice done Doug! Important words afterward! Good! :)
I love the work that they did with this song! its totally hopefull and sad at the same time, awesome 🧡🧡
Oh man!! your content is just perfect!!!! Love it!
Nice comping Doug you have great sensitivity as well as great ears
You must be an amazing music teacher!
Have You heard the duo/group Jade Warrior? I like what I hear, well performed on album Floating World from 1974. It is dynamic and goes from just the wind to distorted guitarr and big drums.
This is my favourite song from Steven Wilson,it’s a masterpiece of lyric and music.
Best track of this album! The Harmonica solo is AMAZING!! Nice to listen to your take on it!!
Great song and cool improvisation!
That Tritone the harmonica player holds in his solo as long as possible before releasing it into the 5 kills me. Only maybe matched by the trumpet in minnie the moocher
Pretty cool! I especially liked what you played over the solos, gave the harmonica solo a different feeling / groove. Kudos! I'm going to mention Haggard Eppur si Muove again, hope you react to it.
Your explanations are great. Thanks for that. Also is great to see that even though you can understand pretty much everything that is happening in a song, you don’t lose the essence of music and you still have those chills in great solos like the harmonica in this song or Alex’s solo in La Villa Strangiato. That’s what it’s all about. Let me challenge you to do a reaction on the recent Hypersonic by Liquid Tension Experiment #3. Keep it up
Awesome work!!! Thnx!!
That was awesome! I have been hoping you would get into Steven Wilson. I love that song, but wouldn't even put it in my top 40 of his songs, he is that great! I was hoping you would start with listening to Luminol or Watchmaker, two of my favorites by him. I hope you do those next. Then Arriving Somewhere but Not Here by Porcupine Tree.
Steven Wilson is a genius, but so you are, Mr. Helvering
I hope you're next SW reaction is Routine. IMO, even better than Refuge.
The video for Routine makes it even more heartbreaking
Yep.
The chord changes and the feel of this song is a lot like Routine
Such a tragic yet, amazing song! Times the video has not made me cry... still at zero.
Also Pariah. These three songs are outstanding
Lo más hermoso que he escuchado! Gracias! ❤️
Thanks a lot for, once again, great video. The song Refuge really is a masterpiece.
You should also check out Drive Home and Raven That Refused to Sing (both are on the album named by the latter). Very emotional and amazing pieces of music.
I guess it is not an amateur trick to add a piano improvisation to an already awesome track ;-)
Well done!
When we have music pasion? When you made a video, and don't turn down the volume for speak about, lol!!! I love this song, and love the Doug videos. Thank you very much for share your knowledge.
Great song, great reaction, great playing.
Hey Doug! Congrats on 25K subs. Please react to Death - Voice of the Soul next!
Excelente, ahora Ancestral o Luminol.
There are several SW's songs that you should listen and review! Luminol, The Raven That Refused to Sing, preety much the whole Grace For Drowning album. The guy is absolute genius!!!
There is an excellent documentary about the recording and production of To The Bone, it can also be found on UA-cam and i highly recommend it. Its amazing to see.
Some tidbits of information:
1. The dude who played the amazing Harmonica solos on this album did all of it first take and i think he's real class. Wanted moody lighting in the room and then just ripped these solos from god knows where.
2. This song especially has been strongly inspired by the European Refugee crisis that started in 2015 (read on wikipedia for details but tl;dr, civil wars in Syria, Afghanistan ind Iraq displaced millions of people fleeing from bloodshed and fighting leaving all their posessions, family and lifes behind) and is still going on to this day.
I don't know how much of this reached American news but the reaction to this has been different from almost every state in europe.
Here in germany at first it was a hopeful "we will help everyone fleeing from war who is looking for a new life" and a few years in people stopped caring and perception shifted a bit. Especially since focus of the political efforts shifted to not taking people in but paying EU border countrys to keep the people there.
It is detestable behaviour. These are people who lost everything. My mother works together with some of these refugees on a farm and most of their storys are incredibly tragic. Some don't know if any of their relatives are still alive and probably will never find out because they can't go back. Some lost everyone and everything and have incredible PTSD from the fighting and cruelty they witnessed.
So, going back to the song. I admire Steven Wilson for many reasons but especially in his lyrics he has an incredible way of empathizing with the people he is writing about. You can feel the sadness and distress, not only in the lyrics but also in the music itself.
Brilliant!
It would be so fantastic if you could react to Frost*. “Hyperventilate” (an instrumental), “Black Light Machine”, or the massive “Milliontown”. If you like Steven Wilson you totally be on board with this band.
Wait a minute: you called out the harmonica solo without mentioning that it was performed by Mark Feltham, of Nine Below Zero. Amazing musician.
Thanks Doug for this incredible journey
Wonder what other pieces well have the added pleasure of getting the "enhanced" or "layered" version (piano and rock were great friends as Jerry Lee Lewis demonstrated) before I was born
This was as much fun as tasty and informative :)
Harmonica solo reminds me of Michael Lee Firkins in the 80s
Thanks for this video and for helping me get a greater appreciation for this song! To me, I always kind of "tolerated" the first half of the songs, just waiting to turn up the volume when those massive drums kick in. I'd go as far as saying that this part used to fall flat to me on what is probably my favorite SW album(*). This video shed a new light on things.
(*) Before HCE fans go and call blasphemy on me: hey, at least I'm not sitting in a church telling people to go to hell. Also, I adore HCE, but TTB hits me emotionally.
Wow this was special!
Steven Wilson surrounds himself with the best musicians much like Steely Dan did.
This song is gorgeous! I haven’t heard this from SW before so thank you for enlightening me.
Edit: I had listened to “To The Bone” a couple of years ago and forgot this was one of the pieces. “Hand. Cannot. Erase.” is quite good as well if you haven’t listened yet.
amazing!
Paul Stacey is a brilliant guitar player.
Some old quote to do with: the first time it's a mistake, the second time its improv, the third time it's an arrangement ..
Great job Doug.
Who is your favourite guitar hero - Some harmonica player on a Steven Wilson record :D