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Bupie

Started by Bupie, Mon, 2006-11-06, 10:47:31

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Bupie

Well, as a newbie here, I guess it seems rather logical to start with this post.

My favorite bands, apart from Arena, are Toto, Kansas, Dream Theater and Marillion (with a preference for the Fish's era but I am an old guy, so ...) ... and many others  :D

And, as you can notice with my avatar, I am a big fan of the two IQ's Menel period albums, that I find unfairly underrated (and even despised most of the time).

If I should make a list of ten albums I could pick on an isolated mountain after Contagion has spread all over the world, my choice would be :

Marillion : Misplaced Childhood
IQ : Are you Sitting Comfortably
Kansas : Audio-Visions
Toto : Turn Back
Joe Jackson : I am the Man
Dream Theater : 6DOIT
Dire Straits : Making Movies
Arena : Live and Life
Kino : Picture
Rush : Hold your Fire

But tomorrow I could pick ten others  ;)

Anyway I am glad I have joined this forum and I hope I will manage to contribute from time to time.

Bupie (Bruno)








johninblack

Welcome Bupie, there are plenty of older persons on here and even some of the younger ones are OK.

I'm gonna get flamed for that arn't I?

I fully agree that the Menel period IQ albums are underrated however my favourite would have to be Dark Matter.

Bupie

Quote from: johninblack on Mon, 2006-11-06, 11:32:28
Welcome Bupie, there are plenty of older persons on here and even some of the younger ones are OK.

I'm gonna get flamed for that arn't I?

I fully agree that the Menel period IQ albums are underrated however my favourite would have to be Dark Matter.

Well, looking at your avatar, I guess we must be in the same class of age !

By the way, when I was in high school, I played guitar in a band (play is a big word since I was really incapable) and we made a cover of Toiler on The Sea. A weird choice, when I think about it nowadays.

Teunis

Welcome to the forum Bupie. Hey, another Toto fan, very good! My favourite Toto album is 'Kingdom of Desire', the last album with Jeff Porcaro on the drums. And IQ is also a favourite band of mine, I would have picked 'The Seventh House' as my favourite album  ;). But you know: 10 people, 10 opinions, doesn't matter.

You'll enjoy it here.
'I will surrender my heart to the sky
Oh, our love doesn't end here, it lives forever on the wings of time'
-------------------------------------------------------
Toto - Wings of time (Kingdom of Desire)

debsss

Hey Bupie welcome...
Hope you'll enjoy it... ;)
Have fun!!!

Gr. Debsss

PH

Hi Bupie

If you like Kino you should check out Frost* if you didn't already.
And of course It Bites. But I think everyone knows It Bites by now.

Nice list.
Funny that you pick Menel over Nicholls, while picking Fish over H.
But no complaining here. As Teunis already said: 10 people, 10 opinions. It darkn't doesn't matter.

So far I've only heard The Seventh House and Dark Matter of IQ, so I can't comment on Menel (or the older Nicholls albums for dark that matter).
I like both Marillion vocalists though. It's funny that it's both good in it's own way.

Quote from: johninblack on Mon, 2006-11-06, 11:32:28some of the younger ones are OK.
What are you suggesting? ;D


Yup, welcome to the cage, mate.
I hope you will be able to post while being trapped in these cold and shattered rooms.

We're all trapped... :(
But as you all know: we've got to get in to get out.

*sigh* I'm talking to much nonsense, now I know why you told that about the younger people, JIB...

JJ II

QuoteSo far I've only heard The Seventh House and Dark Matter of IQ

shame, shame, shame  ;)

Without Subterranea and Ever your life is not complete....

I agree with Bruno on the Menel-album, thye're very much underrated, since some of their best material is on those two. Though as an album I think they're a bit inconsistent and -by now- a bit dated as well (IQ sounding like DuranDuran)....

But I do love them...

Bupie

Quote from: JJ II on Mon, 2006-11-06, 14:31:14
shame, shame, shame  ;)

Without Subterranea and Ever your life is not complete....

I agree with Bruno on the Menel-album, thye're very much underrated, since some of their best material is on those two. Though as an album I think they're a bit inconsistent and -by now- a bit dated as well (IQ sounding like DuranDuran)....

But I do love them...

Thanks to everybody for the warm welcome  :)

I went to see Clint Eastwood's last movie a few days ago and, getting out, I was thinking of IQ's War Heroes : I think the lyrics of this one are really brilliant. But I guess there are better places on the forum than this thread to discuss it. Maybe I will launch a few subjects on the coming days ...

Peter

Arriving somewhere, but not here....

Nicky007

Hi again, Bupie. I have had great pleasure reading S&S. Thanks again for sending it.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see how much music we share. Well, I guess we'd kinda be the seniors in this forum. (And on top of it, you're peon and I'm broomstick, so you're my master.)

Yeah, just like for you, Contagion has become my musical sanctum. What a gripping album. And the concluding Ascension simply transports me to heavenly abodes. Those Arena guys have a religiousness that is profoundly unique.

Maybe we should start a Contagion fan club ;-)

I also share with you a great enthusiasm for Misplaced Childhood and Picture. Dire Straits I used to listen a lot to many years ago (was it the 19th or 20th century), but I find that there's come so much more exciting music since.

I'll have to check up on Are You Sitting Comfortably. I like Dark Matter a lot, although it's not groundbreaking.

I guess I'm a bit more to the heavy side. I'm a great enthusiast of Redemption, Zero Hour and Thought Chamber.

American music tends to be harder and wilder than British (for obvious reasons, visavis their society), but they sure have a lot of creative musicians over there too.

What's going on with the Frenchies? How come they can't turn up with some rock music of international merit?

Nicky.
So you've come of age
And so you want to meet God
Sure you can
He's right here next to me

PH

Hi Nicky,

Indeed, the Frenchies don't really have international "famous" prog bands, although Nemo seems to be one of the best French prog bands...


I feel a nice topic coming up.

Nicky007

See, what I don't understand is, why the Swedes and Norwegians can nurture prog bands that make top-notch music that's up there with the best British and American groups, and why the Danes and French cannot. Where's the difference in culture, mentality, or whatever. I mean, Sweden has A.C.T, Andromeda,Seventh Wonder, Opeth, Flower Kings, Pain of Salvation, Dark Tranquility; Norway has Circus Maximus, Pagan's Mind, Spiral Architect, Gazpacho, Jørn Lande; bands that really have something to offer the world.

Most Danish heavy groups are doing Helloween-type stuff, which doesn't get me rocking. The Frenchies, I don't know about, but you don't see them mentioned much in prog forums. There's Magma, who are doing weird stuff that's more avant-garde than prog. Then there's Nemo, who I haven't heard yet, but certainly will check up.

If I try to find a difference in mentality between Danes and Swedes, I see the Swedes much more internationally minded; therefore Swedish proggies are probably more active searching for excellent music worldwide, and the Swedish groups want to compete with the best groups in the world.

A poll was made recently, concluding that Danes are on average the happiest people in the world. Well, we certainly have a great social order here in Denmark (and probably the most beautiful girls in the world). The reverse side of the coin is that Danes are rather self-sufficient.

Well, although the French society is not as well-ordered as the Danish, the French seem even more self-sufficient than the Danes. So, I guess, they just can't imagine that anyone not French can make great music. Exaggerating here, but isn't that the point?

Nicky.
So you've come of age
And so you want to meet God
Sure you can
He's right here next to me

Bupie

Frankly, I don't think that French feel self-sufficient musically.

We buy and listen to a lot of foreign stuff. Of course, in stores the prog shelf is very tiny but I guess it's the same thing everywhere else in the world (except maybe In Netherlands or Germany ?).

I would have to add that most prog-metal bands are classified in the heavy metal category ... which seems rather logical because bands like Evergrey, Threshold or Van den Plas have very few prog elements : to me, it's not much more than hard rock with keyboards. That also could be the subject of another topic  ???

Coming back to french prog bands, I must admit that I am not a specialist. Magma is the main reference in the genre. The only other big act who is classified (electronic) prog by most prog websites is Jean-Michel Jarre but it's not my cup of tea at all ...

PH

Quote from: Bupie on Wed, 2007-05-09, 11:12:51Frankly, I don't think that French feel self-sufficient musically.

We buy and listen to a lot of foreign stuff. Of course, in stores the prog shelf is very tiny but I guess it's the same thing everywhere else in the world (except maybe In Netherlands or Germany ?).
The Netherlands have Ayreon. Focus, For Absent Friends, errmm... anymore? Germany is a big prog exporter indeed. InsideOut is in Germany.

Quote from: Bupie on Wed, 2007-05-09, 11:12:51I would have to add that most prog-metal bands are classified in the heavy metal category ... which seems rather logical because bands like Evergrey, Threshold or Van den Plas have very few prog elements : to me, it's not much more than hard rock with keyboards. That also could be the subject of another topic  ???
Hmmm difficult. Maybe you're right. Prog Metal are more metal than prog most of the time. But I don't think that's the case with Threshold! Threshold is more than hardrock with keyboards.

Quote from: Bupie on Wed, 2007-05-09, 11:12:51Coming back to french prog bands, I must admit that I am not a specialist. Magma is the main reference in the genre. The only other big act who is classified (electronic) prog by most prog websites is Jean-Michel Jarre but it's not my cup of tea at all ...
So in the end France doesn't bring much prog on the market. Indeed, alot countries don't, but France is as big as Germany. How does it come that Germany has a lot of prog bands and France doesn't...

JJ II

QuoteThe Netherlands have Ayreon. Focus, For Absent Friends, errmm... anymore?

How can you forget Kayak!?  *horns*

Maybe Flambourogh Head deserve to be mentioned here as wel....

Nicky007


> The Netherlands have Ayreon. Focus, For Absent Friends, errmm... anymore?

Don't forget Sun Caged, who are top-notch, and together with Ayreon the two internationally renowned Dutch prog groups.


> Frankly, I don't think that French feel self-sufficient musically. We buy and listen to a lot of foreign stuff.

That I'm very happy to hear, Bupie. But then, why aren't there French prog musicians who say, we want to be as good as the best American, British, German, and Swedish groups, and then really do something about it? Is it really that hard for a French singer to learn English properly? (Alternatively, he can growl, which seems to be a solution for many Swedish singers; then you don't hear their linguistic flaws.) There's also the possibility that French groups use French lyrics, like Israeli Orphaned Land singing in Hebrew, and they do it very convincingly.


> I would have to add that most prog-metal bands are classified in the heavy metal category ... which seems rather logical because bands like Evergrey, Threshold or Van den Plas have very few prog elements : to me, it's not much more than hard rock with keyboards.

I agree very much with you on that matter. I think it's very much a generational matter: People our age (ca. 50) don't need to / like to get our brains blasted wtih loud thrash and other repetitive stuff; instead we're looking for melody, new expression, subtle changes, and the like (exaggarating again, sorry).


> ... Jean-Michel Jarre, but it's not my cup of tea at all.

He was interesting twenty years ago, but now he's been overtaken by several groups who do much more exciting stuff within that genre.

Nicky.
So you've come of age
And so you want to meet God
Sure you can
He's right here next to me

Bupie

#16
Well, too many quotes to answer properly to ... A few remarks, though.

I know very few french bands that sing in english convincingly ... and frankly, I find more logical, apart from the commercial aspect, to sing in your first langage.

I don't say that there are no prog bands in France at the moment : I just say that I don't know them because none is very famous but I guess there are as many prog bands here than elsewhere. If you go on Progarchives, for instance, you'll find many names ... But we don't have successful prog metal bands like Evergrey or Threshold (are they really successful, anyway ?).

To Nicky007 :  you already gave my real name that I had kept secret on my profile  :-[ (not a big deal) and now you want to give my age !?! Let's stay that I'm more in my early 40's than in my 50's but the time will come  :D And I still like hard rock or heavy metal but I guess that I am less indulgent with some clichés that 20 years ago ...


Nicky007

> To Nicky007 :  you already gave my real name that I had kept secret on my profile

Sorry, Bupie, it's just that I've had a lot of trouble getting used to all the cloak-and-dagger stuff on the internet. I myself have never had any problems with revealing my full identity (that may seem naive, but that's the way I am), but I'll allow that other people would have their reasons to conceal their identity (particularly women and children), and I'll try to be more observant in the future.


> ... successful prog metal bands like Evergrey or Threshold (are they really successful, anyway ?).

I'd like to add my mustard to the discussion on Threshold that's running in several places in the Room. I haven't yet heard Dead Reckoning sufficiently to comment on it here. It's considered to be heavier than the previous T-albums, which is not necessarily an advantage seen from my perspective. Probably Critical Mass is my favorite T-album. Songs like Round and Round, Avalon, and Critical Mass warm my heart as much as the best Arena songs, and Mac is a killer-singer.


> I know very few french bands that sing in english convincingly ... and frankly, I find more logical, apart from the commercial aspect, to sing in your first langage.

I find French one of the most beautiful languages (and I'm conversant in it), but I don't know how it would work with English and American type heavy. Maybe a path could be to take elements from various other countries' prog and try to conceive something entirely new. I don't know whether that's happening.

Nicky.

So you've come of age
And so you want to meet God
Sure you can
He's right here next to me

PH

#18
Quote from: Bupie on Thu, 2007-05-10, 09:41:16I know very few french bands that sing in english convincingly ... and frankly, I find more logical, apart from the commercial aspect, to sing in your first langage.

I do not agree. I think Dutch is an awful language to sing... (Dutch is my native language)
I cannot imagine Ayreon in Dutch, that would just sound stupid......
To be honest, I hate most Dutch-sung bands.

Only English for me and sometimes German, which I think is also a nice language...

Quote from: Nicky007 on Thu, 2007-05-10, 10:58:48I find French one of the most beautiful languages (and I'm conversant in it), but I don't know how it would work with English and American type heavy. Maybe a path could be to take elements from various other countries' prog and try to conceive something entirely new. I don't know whether that's happening.
Well... I'm not really in love with the French language to be honest...
Probably because of the fact that most French talk too fast. :D
(I'm also not really good in speaking French)
And it sounds too... ehhmmm... I don't know... slimey...


Wha, wrong word, I don't know.


EDIT: You know, I just realised that we're having a whole discussion in a listening profile... which is (if I remember well) against the forum rules...

Nicky007

> EDIT: You know, I just realised that we're having a whole discussion in a listening profile... which is (if I remember well) against the forum rules...

We risk destroying the discussion, if we move it. And besides, it has a lot to do with Monsieur Bupie being French


> I think Dutch is an awful language to sing...

Well, I wouldn't want to sit in the front row at a concert where they're singing in Dutch, with all the spitting going on (sorry, PH).


> And it [French] sounds too... ehhmmm... I don't know... slimey...

It's only because all French have a chronic cold.


> Only English for me and sometimes German, which I think is also a nice language...

I love singing in German (of course, when it's done well) in Bach, Beethoven and Wagner's music. In fact, anything else sounds phony in my ears.

Krautrock in German, hm, never heard anything convincing. However, I like several German bands that sing in English: Sieges Even, Dreamscape, Vanden Plas, and RPWL.

Nicky.
So you've come of age
And so you want to meet God
Sure you can
He's right here next to me

Peter

Quote from: Nicky007 on Tue, 2007-05-08, 22:20:32
See, what I don't understand is, why the Swedes and Norwegians can nurture prog bands that make top-notch music that's up there with the best British and American groups, and why the Danes and French cannot. Where's the difference in culture, mentality, or whatever.

From what I've heard, the Skandinavian countries, Sweden in front, do "real" music education starting in school, and a vital part of it is that every student needs to play an instrument, not only listen to what the teacher says... That might be the cause for the higher musicality in these countries.
Arriving somewhere, but not here....

Nicky007

Yeah, in fact you're right about that, Peter. I know about it, because my fiancé lives in Malmö, and I'm there a lot of the time.

The Swedish teachers do much more than the Danish in teaching the kids to play instruments properly. That's probably a major factor.

My fiancé's son recently finished his education at the Music High School in Malmö, and we were all present at the valedictory ceremony. I was really impressed at the very high standards and motivation of the young musicians.

So it would seem to me, that if people within the pedagogical system want to get some inspiration, they could look to Sweden.

But then there is also the self-sufficiency matter: I would characterise the Danes and French as rather self-sufficient.

Nicky.
So you've come of age
And so you want to meet God
Sure you can
He's right here next to me

Bupie

Quote from: Nicky007 on Fri, 2007-05-11, 13:52:18
Yeah, in fact you're right about that, Peter. I know about it, because my fiancé lives in Malmö, and I'm there a lot of the time.


??? You mean fiancée, I presume. Well, it would not be a problem for me if it was actually fiancé but since this thread is partly about french language ...  ;)

Nicky007

Caught me there, Bupie. You're right, mine is a fiancée, fortunately. Not that I mind other combinations, just leave me out, cause I think women are lovely (also the French women, but now I have a lovely Swedish one, for life).

Touché: In English, French is written with a capital F, just like i.a. Sunday, July, when used specifically.

Nicky.
So you've come of age
And so you want to meet God
Sure you can
He's right here next to me

PH

Quote from: Nicky007 on Fri, 2007-05-11, 15:27:25Caught me there, Bupie. You're right, mine is a fiancée, fortunately. Not that I mind other combinations, just leave me out, cause I think women are lovely (also the French women, but now I have a lovely Swedish one, for life).
Dutch ladies are awful... :o (I'm not very patriotic, chauvinistic, whatever...) except for my girlfriend of course! She's lovely!!! ;D

Quote from: Nicky007 on Fri, 2007-05-11, 15:27:25Touché: In English, French is written with a capital F, just like i.a. Sunday, July, when used specifically.
Hahaha :D