Savatage, Gutter Ballet - A Classical Musician’s First Listen And Reaction
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- Опубликовано: 23 авг 2024
- #savatage
With a surprisingly tentative, sensitive, hesitant, and flexible piano opening, I was instantly intrigued and drawn into this first-listen experience. There’s a lot of contrast and variety throughout the course of this song, and you will see that I enjoyed discovering some of these elements in “Rock Music” for the first time!
Here’s the link to the original song by Savatage:
• Savatage - Gutter Ballet .
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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.
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Credits: Music written and performed by Savatage
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Please write here your questions ONLY.
anyone suggested the fugs yet? they may be a bit too classical, jazzy and poetic for you, a bit like the 60's rock version of clown core, they were political in a time long ago, so we don't have to worry about the politics, we can be nostalgic about it.
I'm actually curious as to where you find the scores for all of these pieces!
Here's a very unrelated question: Have you ever watched the old Marx Brothers movies? Only ask because they often include a harp solo.
try the angel song by great white
@@ryandean3162 haha! And then there was Laurel and Hardy, with a bedspring substituting for a harp! 😄
One of the most criminally underrated bands in all of music.
Along with Fates Warning.
Well I mean they're making bank now as TSO, I'd say King's X is one of the most underrated, and someone below also mentioned Fate's Warning. There are a million great little known bands but I think most of the Savatage guys ended up getting paid in the end.
They are not under rated.
I loved it from the first sound. A friend dumped a few CD with various rock music & I was just trying to find something interesting to listen to.
Once I found Savatage, I was stuck on it for days.
So woke. Whats criminally underated
Jon Oliva is an amazing song writer and musician. Plays multiple instruments. His brother Chris who passed away, was a very talented and melodic player. There songs are deep and really enriched the musical landscape for years. Writing not just albums but rock operas. The story telling is superb.
Well said. Their covers were very unique as well. Not just the choices, but how they played them. Some of their ballads were surprisingly light as well, especially considering how heavy, and how dark some of their other songs are. Very flexible.
Chris totally influenced my guitar playing!
How wonderful to see you analyse this song! Savatage is an amazing band, and Gutter Ballet as an album is just brilliant. When The Crowds Are Gone might be one of my top 10 favourite songs of all time.
Right there with ya. By the end of that song my eyes are red and my cheeks are wet....RIP Jon
@@matthewgarrison-perkins5377 Jon Oliva is still alive. It was his brother Cris that died.
When the crowds are gone is one of my favourite songs of all time too.
For me, Gutter ballet is part of the Holy trinity of the prog Metal Albuns. Alongside Operation : Mindcrime and Scenes from a memory
Glad you react to this.
Savatage is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO underrated.
Great band.
Criss Oliva was an amazing melodic guitarist who died way too young.
When you were speaking about a prelude, it reminded me of a Savatage song called "Hall of the Mountain King" which has a prelude before it called "Prelude to Madness". The prelude is a metal version of the classical piece "Hall of the Mountain King". I would love you to react to both of these together of course with the prelude first.
I'm gutted that the first Savatage album on this channel wasn't Hall of the Mountain King, been searching for reactions to it, was disappointed that Doug Helvering just didn't seem to be that impressed. Hall of the Mountain king is my absolute favourite Heavy Metal Album
I would strongly recommend ‘when the crowds have gone’ from the same album.
WOW! GUTTER BALLET! I have been listening to this album and, many of their other ones for years. I never have seen anyone react to them yet. Thank you.
There are some reactions to Hall of the Mountain King (Kell 'n Rich, and others I didn't remember the name)
I'll check if there are some others now, who knows ?
The Daily Doug reviewed prelude to madness and hall of the mountian king. He also has a classical music background and reviews metal and rock through that lens. I will look in the kell and rich.
@@elemar8209 Yep, and iI fond a whole lot of other reactions for Savatage.
Kell n' rich reacttion to Chance is just excellent ;)
Vin and Sori reacted to the entire Streets album in the last few months.
It is very pleasing to see Savatage go from "underrated" to more like known thru the years.Jon wrote this in the night after Paul bought him a ticket for the Phantom of the Opera in Broadway.Still the orchestra plays...
SO appreciate someone appreciating Savatage. And your appreciation of the art of the music and lyrics. I'll watch every Savatage reaction you do
Savatage started TSO, the Trans Siberian Orchestra. There is usually at least one of the members performing with them in every show.
Trans Siberian Orchestra originated as a side project of this band. The producer of this album along with the singer and guitar player were the main foundation of TSO with many other people sharing involvement over the years.
Sadly, the guitarist on this passed away before TSO.
As I understand it, Criss wanted to form TSO, but died before he could see it through.
Sadly forming the TSO meant the end of Savatag at the end. TSO payed the bills. Olivia even said this in an interview.
Criss never got to play in TSO unfortunately....and every member of Savatage except Criss has at some point played in TSO, well...and that one singer that the had for a really short time...
@@stephenpetrovich2383 That singer would be Zachary Stevens!
This was recorded at Morrisound Studios here in Tampa, FL and the piano is a Yamaha grand that has recorded several Grammy winning pieces, such as this one. I'm so glad you gave this awesome band a listen because they are incredible musicians that formed Trans-Siberian Orchestra (look them up for a mind-blowing experience). Wonderful job!
Thank you for giving Savatage a listen and this great feedback. Loved hear how your professional ears picked up things and how it felt. Savatage was way ahead of their time, and thus, never got the appreciation and recognition that they deserved. Jon Oliva (vocalist) is incredible in his music and lyrical writing; and Criss (the guitarist) somehow played conveyed so much emotion when he played - and he was sadly, taken from us way too early, due to a drunk driver slamming into his car. Thanks again for this.
Love savatage! Hard to find a bad song! More please!!
You've probably heard more from these guys than you realize since there is a spin-off band from this band called Trans Siberian Orchestra and every Christmas season we're inundated with their music.
Jon Oliva, the singer and founder of the band, his father was a pianist and Jon plays piano on this track and often when they performed live
Oh, how I ADORE your perspective on Savatage! ❤ Listening again to enjoy -- you are beautiful! My god, you even got the _picture_ that the band is painting musically! This song sounds just like what it's depicting; it's like scoring a movie! ✨😊✨I've never heard anyone else say this! It's the dance of life, and you have to know the style appropriate to the stage. 😘
*Trivia:* Jon Oliva -- the band's singer, co-founder, and songwriter -- was inspired in this musical direction after attending a production of *The Phantom of the Opera.*
❤❤❤
Criss Oliva's birthday is around the corner, and this reaction was precious to me. Really!🤘🖤🤘 I would love to hear your perspective/knowledge/reaction to * 'Zenith' by Ghost.*
The waiting is feel and emotion. Metal music is the most diverse and intricate type of music. You never know what you might hear when performed by talented Metal musicians.
I just found it amusing that I came across this video as it says it was posted 23 hours ago. (They also have a song called" 24 hours ago". Excellent tune. )
I really enjoyed hearing your perspective on this song by one of my favorite bands. And if you find the concept of a gutter ballet, perhaps you would find their album "streets: a rock opera" worth a listen. It's an amazing album that really takes the idea of a gutter ballet and runs with it. The story the album tells is that of a drug dealer who becomes a famous rock star, and the battles with all of his demons and addiction.
It sadly was also the last album that features both of the Oliva brothers before the incredibly talented guitarist and co founder, Criss Oliva was tragically killed in a head on collision with a drunk driver. He played in one more album after streets before his passing, but his brother Jon, the singer, had taken time off because doctors told him he needed to after he was coughing up blood from pushing his voice a little too far while touring for state streets. Which by the way, ",a little too far" is also an excellent song from the album streets.
I could go on for days about these guys, but I'll cut my ramblings short. Just glad you enjoyed hearing their music. Savatage is such an amazing group of people, their music will always have a special place in my heart for certain.
R.i.p. Criss and Paul. Your music continues to expand it's audience even today!
Thank you for covering this song, and the band Savatage, and providing your insights. Great reaction. ... I think you would also like the song "When the Crowds are Gone" from the same album. I'd also recommend checking out the songs "This Is the Time" and "This Isn't What We Meant" (from their rock opera album about the mid-90s war in Sarajevo) and the songs "The Wake of Magellan" and "The Hourglass" from another concept album a few years later. ..... The band Savatage -- which evolved into Trans-Siberian Orchestra -- is a rare gem on the music landscape. Totally unique. And magnificent.
Savatage is an interesting band in that they put out three conventional metal albums, and then got assigned a new producer by their label. The producer found out that the band like classical music and they started adding classical elements to what is otherwise straightforward metal. As many have noted, they eventually sort of morphed into the Transiberian orchestra (so named because Jon Oliva had quit Savatage to write a musical about the Romanov dynasty and so had been thinking about the Transiberian railroad).
This idea of wedding classical elements to metal goes back before Savatage, though. Deep Purple had classically trained musicians and some elements. Probably the most influential metal song with classical elements is Ozzy Osbourne's Diary and a Madman which really does deserve a listen. (Mr Crowley has more obvious classical elements). And before Savatage, Iron Maiden was already playing with time signatures, although they claimed to draw this more from Genesis than from classical music. Before Savatage gets its classical elements (with the Hall of the Mountain King) Spinal Tap was already making fun of the links between heavy metal and classical music with Nigel's classically inspired Lick My Love Pump.
Savatage is huge on allegory. The line about "Sirens" is a recurring theme across many songs and albums, sometimes referencing the mythical creature that would lure sailors to their death with their piercing song, as well as sirens on Emergency vehicles (police, ambulance, fire etc) that still usher people to their death.
Even though this is one of their few albums that isn't based on a central concept and over-arching storyline, there are a lot of little details like that which you wouldn't pick up on from a single song. They reprise concepts across multiple songs to give them a sense of continuity and deeper meaning, even when the songs don't go together.
As others have mentioned, these guys are the original core of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. You might like their album "Beethoven's Last Night". It's a rock-opera, telling of the death of the eponymous composer. The base story is that in the final day of his life, the devil approaches Ludwig, and tells him he's there to collect his soul. Ludwig has led a wretched life, and cannot be redeemed for his sins. However, the Devil is willing to make a deal... He will renounce his claim to Beethoven's soul, if the composer consents to allowing the devil to erase his music from the memories of humanity. So he's left to reflect on his life and music, and weigh it's value against his soul in an impossible choice as his final hours count down. The music is pretty decent, obviously inspired by a lot of Beethoven's compositions, and outstanding Mozart song, but the heavy metal versions of them. However, most of the songs are original and just borrow some of those melodies to give continuity to the story. It's TSO's best album, but also the most under-appreciated. Christmas songs are more commercially viable, but this one is a hidden gem.
Vocalist Jon Olivia's solo albums are good, but his album "Maniacal Renderings" is a heavy-metal masterpiece. "Timeless Flight", "Holes" and "Reality's Fool" are the best tracks on that album.
If you're looking for more Savatage, I think you'd enjoy "The Wake Of Magellan". It's a concept album, telling of an old sailor who is nearing the end of his life, and regrets his choices. He gave his life to the sea with his career, instead of pursuing the woman he loved. So for a fitting end, he decides to set himself adrift on the ocean in a storm, and truly give his life to the sea with his suicide. But fate intervenes in a chain of dramatic causality that bring together the lives of disparate strangers, alive and dead. That one also uses a lot of allegory and symbolism and every track is a completely different style, befitting that character. Stylistically and compositionally, it is in absolutely no way "opera". But the story-telling elements at least are. Within that specific context, it's probably the closest rock-opera to true opera comparison I can think of. But again, totally different musical style. I'm speaking purely of the story structure underlying the music, and not the music itself.
I think you might really enjoy their "The Wake of Magellan" album.
I love that album!
If not they'll be a complaint in the system!
@@JohnnyNoPocketsnice reference!
You HAVE TO check out the band Savatage turned into Trans-Siberian Orchestra. They started out doing Metal versions of Christmas Carols then some Concept albums! They, Savatage and TSO, are the Progenitors of Symphonic Metal!
It must have made an impact. I don't think I have heard you talk as much after a song as this one. I got to see Savatage live when they were touring for this album. It was a great show in a tiny club.
Some of the core people from Savatage went on to form the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. These guys do a HUGE tour every year in November/December. I highly recommend seeing it. They even have a string section. I have seen them about 5 times. Their most well known song is "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24", which actually is a Savatage cover.
When the crowds are gone from savatage. His voice is amazing on the song.
Great lyrics, song writing
I've been a huge fan of Savatage ever since I first stumbled onto them (through this song) back in the early 1990s. They never really got their due, for a variety of reasons: first and foremost, the tragic death of lead guitarist Criss Oliva & subsequent struggles for his brother (and lead songwriter & singer at this stage), Jon. Then there was the fact that they were moving into realms that heavy metal music rarely ventured into at the time (as you noticed), and which even now are fairly niche within the genre. And of course, Nirvana and the pushback against "hair" bands which followed the grunge movement of the early 1990s. I'm happy to see that now, through many reaction channels like yours, the band is finally beginning to receive some recognition while (most of) the key members are still alive.
Savatage's catalog contains *numerous* standout efforts, including multiple album-length rock operas. You can also trace the progression of the band over the course of their discography, from the early days of trying to be yet another power metal band, through their first forays into the classical and operatic worlds, on to their slick & well-produced middle years music which attempted to tread the line between radio rock and album-oriented progressive metal, and then to their natural conclusion as the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Through TSO they have also (finally!) started to revive some of the Savatage tracks from over the years, such as "Believe" and "Chance".
I hope that you will continue to wade into Savatage's music, for your own listening enjoyment if not for future reactions. While the band retains a loyal and quite vocal fan base, Savatage reactions are never going to get you the same hit counts as more mainstream bands will; not saying that is your intent with these videos, but acknowledging that it has be a consideration for any content creator putting this much effort into their uploads. And I did enjoy that effort quite a bit! 🙂
So pleasantly surprised you’re reviewing Savatage… you may consider their song Hall of the Mountain King sometime down the road. Metal Church’s song Metal Church might be another piece of the puzzle you’ll need to experience at some point
You mentioned the band Queen.
When I first gave Savatage a listen, which consisted of this song, and the album Dead Winter Dead - they reminded me of what would happen if Queen combined with Metallica.
Thank you so much for doing a Savatage song It is a rabbit hole you won't regret going down . Such a criminally under-rated band or as some say just in the wrong place at the wrong time or far ahead of their time as i feel. Their type of music didn't stand a chance in the 80's with bands like AC/DC , Scorpions, Motley Crue basically the whole hair metal army of bands. their song were longer so they didn't get airplay. Since they have become TSO everyone knows who they are by their most famous song Christmas Eve ( Sarajevo 12/24) which was released on the Savatage Dead Winter Dead Album another concept album about the war Yugoslavia. Dead Winter Dead is the album where you can really hear the transition towards becoming TSO really heavy on the classical vibe with a metal sound where the classical is more prevalent than the metal.
The title song 'Gutter Ballet' deals with the contemporary reality in the streets of every major city and how basically there's nothing you can do about it. It's not touchable. The problems out on the streets, on the other hand; you see them in front of you daily. It's especially about how un-friendly the streets can be, how confusing and how violent. But on the other hand, the streets can also be very beautiful, cozy and moving. Savatage plays "Progressive Rock" which is much more complex than most other genres of metal.
Progressive Rock blends the powerful, guitar-driven sound of metal with the complex compositional structures, odd time signatures, and intricate instrumental playing.
Maybe you could check out "when the crowds are gone" from the same album. Not as theatrical, not as symphonic. But a fan favourite .Gutter ballet is kind of building up to when the crowds are gone on the album😊
Probably one of the bands i listen to the most last year.
One of my favourite songs from these guys is, Mozart and madness from the album, dead winter dead, love how they put that one together with all the shifts and diffirent tunes
Savatage had his own "Bohemian Rhapsody"!!! "Chance" from the album HANDFUL OF RAIN... you need hear it
Or morphine child from poets and madmen
Yes yes yes. And they were able to reproduce live. I saw it happen
@@PaulyV56 Indeed!
The Hall of the Mountain King album has lots of great songs on it. Sirens is another great album from the band Savatage.
Haven't watched yet, but thank you, sincerely, for reacting to Savatage.
Thank you so much for elucidating the flexibility of time in the opening of the song. I've heard this song hundreds of times and the time has always intrigued me. Now it makes perfect sense and I realize Jon utilizes this in other songs too.
This band is absolutely beautiful. Jon Oliva is amazing.
Come here to see your reaction to the song but ended up with loads of classical music knowledge. Thank you!
Oh man, this is one of my FAVORITE songs!
impossible to get sick of it after listening it to for hours and hours on end.
I really enjoyed this piece, along with your analysis and reaction. I don't think I have heard it before, but there were times it sounded familiar. I think the familiarity is from it having elements from other songs and artists. I hear The Who at certain points, and there were parts in the vocals that reminded me of Dio. I can also hear parts that remind me of Dream Theater. A good blend of a classic hard rock and metal styles. At the same time it sounds very 80s, and yet timeless, lol.
Yeah, I've never heard of this band, either. I can definitely hear a bit of Dio in there now that you mention it. It does remind me of some other band, also, but can't put my finger on it. (I myself disliked this song quite a bit, but I loved the analysis as always.)
@@Marnee4191 I went back and listened to it again, and I still really like it. In fact I added it to my playlist. I wouldn't call myself a metalhead, but there is a lot of metal I like and appreciate. Although, I would call this metal light, with more of a symphonic hard rock sound (particularly the parts reminding me of the The Who). I just checked out a few of their other songs which are heavier in the metal aspects that I also really like. But the fact that I was unaware of them prior to this probably disqualifies me from ever being considered a metalhead, since apparently (from a quick Wikipedia read) they are consider influential in the metal world, confirming what Amy said.
@@LeeKennison I wouldn’t say they’re the kind of band that ANY metalhead would know about even if it’s not their type of metal (personally not my type at all). I don’t know if they’d qualify as a niche band but I’d say they’re definitely not one of the really big names.
As a longterm fan of progressive rock, this song seems solid but doesn't seem to break any new musical ground. In that sense, I also found that it sounded "familiar."
Haven’t heard this in years. I am not really a Savatage fan but, a lot of my friends I grew up with in the 80s are so I’ve heard their music through hanging out with them back then. Not really picking up on the Dio, but I do hear quite a bit of Iron Maiden in this, especially in the guitars. Considering the timeframe it was released, it’s too early to make Dream Theater comparisons as they were relatively unknown at that time, though their first album came out the same year as Gutter Ballet. Still, I understand the comparison and to be honest I think is more of an Alice Cooper and Styx influence coming out there.
"I don't know if this kind of music has a different word for [rubato]"
In guitar tablature and sheet music for rock and heavy metal, it usually tends to be notated as "free time". But I've also seen "rubato" from time to time in rock sheet music. I actually find the differences between rock and classical notation to be interesting sometimes.
edit: The "let ring" notation, in rock music, usually instructs musicians to sustain all of the notes in an arpeggio, or let a note drone underneath a melody line... it's essentially the same as notating the use of a sustain pedal on piano.
Superb! It’s been a long time not hearing this one. Great choice!
I really enjoyed your analysis and review of this song.
I have been listening to Savatage since a friend lent me his tape of their 1987 album Hall of The Mountain King.
As you might guess from that title, yes, Grieg's composition of the same name was used as the 3 minute instrumental introduction to the album's title track, but renamed as "Prelude To Madness". Should you decide to check this one out, be sure to review Prelude To Madness and Hall Of The Mountain King as one 8-minute piece (they are linked without interruption by storm ambiance sound effects).
Much of the Savatage catalog prior to and including 1987 is largely the standard metal formula of guitar/bass/drums (and some occasional synthesizers in the background) yielding heavy sounds that can be fast, moderate, or slow, sometimes even lighter and more melodic. Hall Of The Mountain King (specifically, the intro track, Prelude To Madness) was the first experiment with classical music merged with metal, which would be explored deeper in the next two albums Gutter Ballet (1989) and Streets (1991). This progressive direction continued, with more acoustic incorporation of piano & vocal, and acoustic guitar pieces. This continued right up to the band's conclusion in 2002, but carried on with Trans-Siberian Orchestra, from its conception in 1996 to their final studio release in 2015, with the passing of the mastermind behind it all, Paul O'Neill, producer and co-songwriter for Savatage and the TSO.
TSO utilized much more classical influences, developing what is considered Symphonic Rock, and has reiterated many tracks from the Savatage catalog since their dissolution in 2002. Prelude To Madness was revisited in 2009 as a standalone track, receiving another title change to simply The Mountain. TSO's fist 4 albums were comprised of 3 holiday/Christmas albums, collectively referred to as the Christmas Trilogy. This trilogy begins in the first and second albums, and concludes in the fourth album, being interrupted by the 3rd album which is a concept story about Beethoven's "9th Symphony"which was lost to time following his final hours on this earthly plane. This 2000 release is called Beethoven's Last Night. The Christmas Trilogy, as you might guess, features not only some classical pieces, but a lot of traditional holiday carols as well, the most famous being the one that launched them into popularity right out of the gate in 1996, Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24/1990), based on Carol Of The Bells.
This song actually originated on Savatage's 1995 release, Dead Winter Dead, a concept album whose story revolves around fictional events during the war in Yugoslavia shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall (a story synopsis is outlined on the Wiki page for Dead Winter Dead). The reason it was released a second time an another album under another name is simply because O'Neill tried to promote the song under Savatage, but radio stations at the time refused to play metal (judging solely by the name, not even listening to it). So, O'Neill used subterfuge, and crafted an entire new story around the song (a story that theoretically could intersect with the one told on Dead Winter Dead) and came up with the moniker of TSO under which to promote it. The next time he presented the song - unaltered, other than artist name and album title - the stations played it without a problem, and listeners were blown away. Radio station switchboards lit up like Christmas trees with people calling to get the name of the artist and the song title (as it was entirely instrumental). This success urged O'Neill to continue with more TSO albums which included the Christmas Trilogy (Christmas Eve & Other Stories, 1996 ; The Christmas Attic, 1998 ; The Lost Christmas Eve, 2004), and their non-holiday concept albums (Beethoven's Last Night, 2000 ; Night Castle, 2009), an EP (Dreams of Fireflies On A Christmas Night, 2012 - which is leftover tracks from the Night Castle sessions), and a quasi-concept album (Letters From The Labyrinth, 2015).
TSO still tours regularly, especially during the holiday months, but have not released any new albums (studio, live, or otherwise) since 2015.
Sorry for the long comment - I didn't mean to overwhelm or bore you, but only to provide as much info as possible for future considerations from Savatage/TSO for your channel . 🙂
I look forward to any you might select.
What a great surprise! I was 17 almost 18 when this came out. They were actually more underground at the time, but their contributions and influence of later metal is adequate for an episode. Plus, 80's hard rock/heavy metal consisted of HUNDREDS of bands signed to lables. So there were A LOT more of this genre than most time framed genres. It's well deserved that a genre this big gets an extra dose. I don't even think New Wave had as many bands as this signed to lables in this era.
Savatage was a Tampa, Florida band and I was lucky enough to be a high school student in the 80's there and got to witness their start as nobody's to a few years later becoming Atlantic Records recording artists.
Someone once said, "Classical Music is just like Metal - without Electricity "
There's so much more to find in this kind of genre.
So much to explore.
Queensryche...
Fates Warning...
Crimson Glory (wich were close Friends)
Dreamtheater...
O.S.I. (Office of Strategic Influence)...
Manowar (Lead Vocals by Eric Adams)...
And so many many more...
But just only a few are real Geniuses.
A true rabbit hole.
So I would like to recommending Queensryche - Silent Lucidity.
Thanks for sharing your Video.
I really really enjoyed watching it.
Wishing you nothing than the best 🥰
It is amazing you are reviewing an underrated band like Savatage. This is one of their best, along with "When the crowds are gone"
Great song. I really enjoyed it and I liked what you said about baroque music. Thank you.
I don't know if anyone has said so...but I heard some interviews with the Oliva brothers...their father was an Orchestra Conductor...they took their cues from him...and all he had introduced them to of classical music and applied it to their own....
Even if you don't do a review of it, take some time to listen to the entire "Streets: A Rock Opera" album by Savatage. You will greatly enjoy it.
Brilliant video!!!!!!
Well explaind...... Music and Lyrics
As an old rock drummer, and a apprentice piano player from Brazil, I need to say that you videos were perfect and knowledge increase
Thanks, keep doing
Excellent reaction / review, thank you. Check out "When The Crowds Are Gone" by Savatage for your own enjoyment. What a beautifully sad song. Pure genius.
The riff at 7:35 reminds me of Iron Maiden's Hallowed Be Thy Name.
I hope Jon will be able to see your insight & interpretation of his musical style because I learned a lot & found it very rewarding !
It's amazing to see your reaction to this song. How you got from kinda "wtf is this?" to really appreciating this masterpiece! Savatage is my favorite band ever!
finally some prog metal after rush i'm just waiting for that dream theater - octavarium reaction, one day it will happen.
Music Is At The Whim Of The Artist... That odd metering at the beginning on the Piano is what endeared me to this band. The whole album is gold...
So good to see that your pregnancy goes well and you look happy and healthy!
This is a blast from the past. I haven't listened to this since I had a working record deck
Great reaction Amy! I've listened to rock music since the late 60s, but I must say that I've haven't heard this before. But then again, I wasn't a big fan of 80s music. However, I really enjoyed ths song and your analysis. I will have to listen to more by them.
My favorite band of all time
I am learning so much by listening to your channel
This album was the start of Savatage's shift from raw heavy metal into a rock opera style. Personally I much prefer the early style like on the "Dungeons Are Calling" EP and the Hall of the Mountain King album. Savatage sets itself apart with the rawness of their heavy metal output and Jon Oliva's powerful voice and unorthodox abrupt shrieks.
"Sirens" - the opening track off their debut album is one of my absolute most favorite songs. It's simply one of the rawest songs ever made and encapsulates what most metal tries to aim at yet not getting even close to what Savatage succeeds in. Hall of the Mountain King is of course a very classic Savatage track with one of the greatest build-ups and climaxes I know.
The rock opera album "Streets" which follows Gutter Ballet is actually a concept album about the Gutter Ballet song's theme. I love its doomy opening track along with some other songs off it. I haven't listened that much to the later Savatage material but the song "Morphine Child" is a highlight, a longer song with darker atmosphere and the usual rock opera style of later Savatage.
To be honest I don't know if I'd call Savatage that infuential. They're not actually that well known a band outside the traditional heavy metal community. Their early material is definitely some of the best heavy metal ever recorded and while Jon Oliva's vocals are unique, stylistically the material isn't that different from all the other great heavy metal bands of the early 80's. With their later rock opera style I can definitely see them being a stepping stone and confidence boost for bands like Virgin Steele and Avantasia with their rock opera styles. And even for the symphonic metal bands. But really, Queen already laid the foundation for that much earlier.
Awesome. I bought this album when it came out.\m/
I grew up with this band and you are very close on the song content. Well done.
I believe that the opening rubato echoes the gutter rat's balletic movements across the abandoned piano's keys, as seen in the music video. Inspiration can come from literally anything!
A great band. Glad you heard them.
Enjoy guys! I've been on hiatus for the last few but Ill keep checking in!
One of the greatest metal songs of all time.
Savatage WHEN THE CROWD ARE GONE....gooooosebumps song😊
Looks like Amy is starting to learn to headbang!!
I have loved this song since it came out. Band is amazing. Been a fan for a long time
Your channel is like some kind of a breeze of fresh air in the somewhat RUclips chaotic universe. It brings joy and knowlegde at the same time.
I have all their CD’s. I have always been a bit different. Must listen to When the crowds are gone.
After finishing the album, the other bandmembers left studio, except Jon and Criss Oliva. They recorded Gutter Ballet alone, with Jon on Keyboards, Drums and Vocals, and Criss on Bass and Guitars.
Great breakdown reaction, thank you!
Hi Amy,
"Let it ring" in guitar language is a bit (not entirely) similar to "Pedal" in piano. The player has to allow the notes to continue and ring together instead of muting them when striking the next note. It differs from the piano pedal a bit because it can only be done when the successive notes are on different strings.
It is the orchestrated chaos found in the gutters of major cities, like New York, LA, and San Francisco. Beautiful and emotional.
Great band. The similar like them are Merciful Faith and King Diamond (80's metal bands) or Shadows Gallery and Symphony X (90's progmetal bands) IMHO.
Unfamiliar with this band, I must admit that I do appreciate this music. The ballet allusion is very apropos as you explain it, bringing another perspective. Bringing in Upton Sinclair (1906) is brilliant.
Seen them back in the 80s. They were great!!!!!!!
Thanks for doing this reaction. I listened to Savatage a lot back when this came out, but haven't listened to them in quite a while. They were very influenced by classical music as well as earlier hard rock and heavy metal bands. Their prior album, Hall of the Mountain King, incorporated music by both Grieg (of course) and Holst.
SAVATAGE CHANCE IS A SONG I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO REACT TO
It has classical sensibility and I think you relate to it almost subconsciously.
John has experienced a very dark tragic life, losing his brother early and other family tragedy, so a lot of his writing reflects anger and loss, so has well has tso, he has a band "John Olivia pain.
This is not a song, it’s the symphony of metal!!!
"Preferred sound world". That's a great phrase, Amy!
Gotta do "When The Crowds Are Gone" it's from the same album. You'll like that one.
Savatage is sophisticated metal.
So underrated. Great reaction.
Savatage is one of the greatest bands ever.❤
In music as a composer you want to have the push/pull to bring the listener in, so flexibility in the timing and/or the tonic is essential. Check out this album in it's entirely or Streets A Rock Opera!!! Just sit back and enjoy, then listen again and critique.
Metal has 2 schools - Classical and/or Blues. A distorted Guitar playing chords sounds like an Orchestra, especially when layered, and Guitar Solos sound like a soaring Violin. I love Neo-Classical Metal! Michael Schenker's Bijou Pleasurette is a GREAT example!
One thing many non-Metalheads (and even some Metalheads) might not know is that one of the main Roots of Metal is Classical Music. The others being Jazz and The Blues. But the reason Metal got such a negative vibe back in the 70s, and especially in the 80s, was that it was such a brand new style of music and a huge departure from the styles of music leading up to it. Nowadays we've got nearly 50 years of having Heavy Metal as we've known it, and therefore many different to subgenres where there's practically something for everyone, so people aren't so put off by it now as they were 30+ years ago. Because prior to the early 80s, what did we have? Disco, Soft Rock, and Southern/Acid/Psychedelic Rock of the 60s and 70s. You got from Disco to something like Quiet Riot and it's a head turner for sure. Know what I mean?
I'd recommend "Hounds" from same album wait, about the whole album and all their other albums.
Uli Jon Roth has said that a difference between rock and classical is that classical is a pulse and rock is a beat. You really should look into Uli who has a depth of understanding of both genres beyond most.
Ah, great song and I wish you'd listen and/or react to their song "Morphine Child" which I believe might surprise you even more.