A Literalist Reaction to Neverland by Marillion

[@agr7879]

Another masterpiece from the most incredible band on the planet

[@simongrundy2208]

You can't turn back now. There are dozens of Hogarth era tunes that you have got to check out. From the album this track came from you have Invisible Man, Fantastic Place, and Ocean Cloud. Other Lp's contain gems such as Easter, Alone Again in the Lap of Luxury, Afraid of Sunlight, King , Interior Lulu, This Strange Engine, The Man From the Planet Marzipan, Sounds that Can't be Made, The Sky Above the Rain. All classics and I could add a dozen more to the list. At least.

[@LiteralistReactions]

Long list... all added and awaiting votes (by individual reply, not 'likes') - JD

[@JesperHellvik]

Out Of This World!

[@christopherriley1474]

Invisible Man, live please

[@rizwanuddin7564]

If My Heart Were A Ball It Would Roll Uphill, Separated Out, Freaks, Cannibal Surf Babe, Gazpacho, damn my memory isn't what it used to be!

[@BudsRPGreview]

Hey folks. This just popped up on my feed. Love that you both digged it. I saw this the first time they EVER played it live at the Minehead Fan Convention in 2004 (?). The audience were gobsmacked. To clarify the meaning of the song, it needs to be taken in context of the whole Marbles album. It all begins with the song The Invisible Man - about a ghost who realises nobody can see him. Someone who has come to the end of their life. The album has a number of tracks called Marbles - I-IV. Hogarth has explained that when he was a child he had a giant bag of marbles that he used to lose all the time, and he associated it with growing up and simultaneously getting to grips with that (lost his marbles). The album goes through various themes about growing up - Fantastic Place (falling in love), Drilling Holes (taking drugs for the first time), Ocean Cloud (the determination of proving yourself), and by the end of Marbles IV, all the marbles are gone - but he has grown up, so it doesn't matter. Then we get to Neverland. A song about Wendy Darling - a girl who *decided* to return home to grow up and Peter Pan - a child who chose to *never* grow up - bookending the album with the eternal youth, but ultimate loneliness of Peter and Wendy choosing to leave Neverland and us with the knowledge that she will eventually become The Invisible Man from the start. Nicely done on picking up the Peter Pan references throughout btw. I have been a fan of this band since 1985, and unlike some bands that just... decline... this band get better with each album. Marbles is my favourite one... and yes, my name is in the booklet! When people say they are Britain's Best Kept Secret... they're really not joking.

[@antmo1966]

I first saw them in 1984, and a few times aftee with Fish as the singer. When the split with the singer occurred i drifted away from them. The marbles album and particularly neverland brought me back. Seen them live about 5 or 6 times since then, and neverland is such a high point of the gig. Enjoy the discovery of old and new marillion, it's a treasure trove

[@Yesquire0]

The incredible Mr. Steve Hogarth, IMHO the greatest voice in contemporary popular music. "Neverland" is the greatest love song ever written for an older couple who've been together for years and maybe have forgotten the thrills when their love was new. The Peter Pan references are familiar, but they can be overemphasized. Neverland is just a metaphor for an amazing place once visited, and now maybe forgotten. Marillion is notable for the lack of personnel changes over the decades. They did dump the original drummer for the current one, Ian Moseley, way back around 1980 or so. The one sea change in the band happened in 1988 when the original lead singer, Fish, quit the band, to be replaced by "the new guy", Steve Hogarth, who is featured in this great video. Marillion had its greatest popularity with Fish at the helm. He was also the main composer for the band and was self-described as "being a poet, not a singer", which is an apt description of his main skills. Fish had a solo career that was well-received by his fans and kept making prog-oriented music until his retirement last year. Once again, IMHO, Fish cannot sing, but he does so with great passion. But the band has had exactly the same personnel since 1989. Whether you like a band or not is highly dependent on whether you like the singing. I obviously adore the voice of Hogarth, but I do have a caution to add to my liking of it. Hogarth has a tendency to favor a much more breathy head voice languishing in the area where it drifts in and out of his falsetto when he's in the studio. As a result, the studio recordings are rarely anywhere near as wondrous as the live performances where he seems to accept that he has to belt out the lyrics to be heard over the various instruments of his bandmates. In a fan poll last year, "Neverland" came in at #2. Marillion is really a new sytle of music that seeks to enter you through your ears and bore its way directly to your heart. Hogarth is a bit of a genius in both the writing and performing of these songs. You can be caught unawares by tears filling your eyes. This style works best with ballads, and I must confess that Marillion best works are not normally uptempo. Thanks for honoring my request. You want more? My next favorite song less than 15 minutes long is "The Great Escape". It is the original big finale` to the 1993 concept album "Brave" which tells the tale of a young girl who, after being regularly molested by her respectable father, runs away from home, gets apprehended, and when nobody belives her story, gets put in a psychiatric facility, then boarding school, from which she runs away again to the big city, where she falls in with some hip, callous people, finds love nonetheless, or so she thinks, only to have her heart broken, after which she throws herself off the Severn high suspension bridge to her death. Imagine the consternation of the band's record label back then when presented with a work about a young girl's suicide! They forced the band back into the studio to record an additional track, "Made Again", which shows the girl mentally healty and alive. In a compromise of epic proportions, the vinyl copy of "Brave" as originally released had two final tracks. The needle would meander into one or the other. One way you got the sounds of water lapping on the shoreline; the other way and you got "Made Again". With that introduction, gentlemen, I present for your consideration the 20th anniversay performance of The Great Escape". I saw this show in Montreal. This song produced the loudest ovation I have ever heard, and the most tears in the eyes of grey-haired men and women I have ever seen. The ovation lasted at least 10 and maybe 15 minutes. kzbin.info/www/bejne/poKaZXatjcifn68

[@LiteralistReactions]

I watched the video - Hogarth is certainly a showman. The passion he puts into acting as he sings is impressive. It sounds a bit too much like Neverland for that to be a next reaction for Dave, but I'll find something that strikes me.

[@Yesquire0]

@@LiteralistReactions The "song" which took #1 last year's fan poll was a bit of a cheat, I thought, but beloved nonetheless, and known as "The Trilogy". It is actually three songs, supposedly related due to all being about a male hustler. "This Town/The Rake's Progress/100 Nights". I don't think there is a professionally done video upload on YT, but there is a fine CD upload to be found here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJzZkKqhaN-UZqc

[@MrSinnerBOFH]

Hogarth, on live performances, “lives” each song, so much passion and heart put in each performance! Genius!

[@christopherriley1474]

If you want something that is nothing like "Neverland," try "Gaza." The band has a professionally produced concert video on KZbin for this one.

[@MrSinnerBOFH]

Awesome reaction! Neverland is probably my favorite band of the best band you’ve never heard: Marillion. Either with Hogarth era (like this song) or the early era with Fish (the original singer), you’ll never be wrong. Late nineties, Marillion invented crowdfunding, the firsts to do so. They have “Marillion Weekends” , when they stay at a hotel with fans for a weekend, go running, bicycling,… and of course a few concerts. Some really cool songs from them, from both eras: Invisible Man, Forgotten Sons, Brave, Market Square Heroes, Hard As Love, Assassing, Sounds That Can’t Be Made, the whole Misplaced Childhood concept album, the whole F.E.A.R concept album, Grendel, Be Hard on Yourself… Have fun with them and become a “Marillionaire”.

[@LiteralistReactions]

Suggestions added or vote counted, thanks! - JD

[@tonyfurminger8308]

Wee interesting nugget of info, Marillion are the band credited with inventing Crowd Funding with their album Anoraknophobia (it's known as The Marillion Model in business circles). This is an amazing band, Britain's Best Kept Secret

[@andrewrodger775]

Welcome to the UKs best kept secret. By the way, the confetti launch is down to me...I wrote to the bands management offering pyrotechnics as I was in the pyro industry back then, they showed an interest and we worked with them ever since. Glad you enjoyed the best UK band since the Beatles.

[@katierootham]

Marillion are a wonderful band, had only 2 singers, with 2 very disinct sounds and I absolutely love em.😍 Got into them in 95, obviously H era, but love the early Fish albums too. They are the unsung heros in the UK, they have crowd funded their albums since about 2000, so been free of record companies and still tour. Check out more of their songs, I'm sure you will like them. 😎👍

[@digibirder]

Marbles was one of their greatest albums. It has so many incredible tracks! "Invisible Man" opened the album and it blew me away when I first put it on the old CD player back in the day.

[@matthewlewis9424]

Like the last post, this one just showed in my feed. Glad you enjoyed “Neverland” as your intro to the band. You may have looked up more about them since this episode, but if you haven’t I think you would enjoy their contribution to the creation of crowdfunding. Mr. Doh also mentioned their multiple changes to the band. Most all of those were before they broke it with their first major album in ‘83. Since then, they have only switched drummers one year later and then had the big change from Fish to Steve Hogarth (a.k.a. h) as the front man in ‘89. The five members have remained unchanged since then. Thirty four years later, h is still often referred to as “The New Guy”.

[@niamhdorrian4163]

Misplaced childhood... Marillion. Enough to keep you busy....supreme lyrics

[@WokeBegone]

The Great Escape is a terrific (live) song from Marillion.

[@jmurray2018]

Wowz that’s the greatest live band I’d wanna be part of like to hear more of them

[@LiteralistReactions]

And you will! - JD

[@stephenhaunch3468]

I have to say Gaza live is amazing by Marillion. I also enjoy The Space live at the Royal Albert Hall.

[@LiteralistReactions]

Added and voted on, thanks! - JD

[@paulharcourt7775]

Plus one for the official live video of Gaza - serious goosebumps again!

[@niedeutschermeister1]

In the 80s Marillion was incredibly successful in Europe. They had a very charismatic singer named Fish, who didn't have as great a voice as Steve H., but an incredible presence on stage. He left the band, because it all got "too big" for him and formed a quite remarkable solo career afterwards. Maybe check on him as well. "Vigil in a wilderness of mirrors", "The company", "garden of rememberance" are some songs, I would consider masterpieces. So, you are misled, if you think, crowdfunding of the Marble album was caused by lacking interest of a music company. In the 80s they played all the big festivals and after Fish splitting, they have been playing to smaller crowds, but their fanbase is really hardcore and loyal to the grave.

[@coffeemanandy1966]

anything live by these guys is incredible, but Gaza, Ocean Cloud and Invisible Man are musts - they have been the soundtrack to my life for 40 years.

[@LiteralistReactions]

All votes added, thanks! - JD

[@littlerjk4551]

This is absolutely the best Band around the World. Amazing Songs, amazing Lyrics and amazing Musicians. The world needs to experience this Band much much more often.

[@MartinJones92]

You're now one of the most privileged people in all the world because you've been introduced to this band!

[@SiriuslyCold]

Steve Rothery is grossly underrated, imo

[@JesperHellvik]

Only by those who don't know who he is and never heard him play ;-)

[@dafdaffer1]

what a truly fantastic breakdown of this amazing song, i didn't even pick up the references and i've heard it so many times.

[@GeeVanderplas]

With the delayed vocals I think another point is that when he breaks out of it with "but when you're gone" it just hits that much harder. Really great and inventive cocal approach. Definitely a highlight, especially since I was there for it!

[@LiteralistReactions]

Too cool! - JD

[@coils4foil537]

Had heard of them but also not familiar. That’s why I come here and now have a new group to explore.

[@fugmanz]

There are a couple of highlights for innovation in the band. First they invented crowdfunding and many of us fans have prepaid for albums way before the concepts, lyrics, arrangements have ever even been thought of! You also need to check out a few things for instruments that have been utilized, the dreaded gloves were amazing, but didn't last that long due to the fact that He's sweat made the connections wonky. Then he now uses a cricket bat with switches, when he was in Canada, he used a hockey stick with switches. They have many die hard fans, and some people known as "Marillionaires" pretty much follow them on tour and see multiple shows throughout the tour. These people see them in 10-12 cities on a tour. Welcome to an eye opening experience, those who love the band, reaaaaaaaly love the band!

[@mrbickity]

Fish era is worth a good listen. Especially, something off of Misplaced Childhood and Clutching At Straws. I saw them live a couple times opening for Rush and I was hooked.

[@LiteralistReactions]

I've heard "Kayleigh" a whole lot of times but not as familiar with the rest of that album... Kayleigh is a bit poppy and dated but I will give the album a go before turning it over to Dave. - JD

[@LiteralistReactions]

Really enjoying Clutching at Straws. I've heard this before but really digging the Genesis-esqueness of it.

[@SiriuslyCold]

@@LiteralistReactions Misplaced Childhood is possibly one of my favourite concept albums... Kayleigh is a hit but doesn't do justice to the lyrics and music of the rest of the album

[@mohamedfarouk824]

Great song ❤❤❤

[@juan9029er]

Excelente grupo ojala puedan verlo en vivo es increíble el sonido de esta enorme banda!los sigo desde 1992

[@mrb.5610]

Brave. That's a bloody good album ! For a single, Season's End (studio version) would get my vote for some really excellent lyrics and for showcasin H's vocals. But it's honestly impossible to pick out a favourite ! I'd also check out any band interviews - they're just a really nice bunch.

[@LiteralistReactions]

Suggestion added, thanks! - JD

[@emiliavideira2676]

Saudades 90,01,02,Marilion sempre.

[@theturtleproject]

pure magic

[@antoniocastro6345]

Marillion is the best band in the world!

[@sergepepin1948]

meet the whole band in quebec and montreal they are anwsome!!

[@stephanevilleneuve9450]

Another great choice guys 🤩. From a huge Marillion’s fan, it’s very hard to made recommandations for the next song. As you said, 43 years of musics with so different eras. For my personal taste, I´ll recommend Hotel Hobbies/Warm Wet Circles/That Time Of The Night suite from the Fish era (former singer). For a more radio friendly song, try Keyleigh or Easter. Finally, for more proginess, Incubus from Fugazi or The Great Escape from Brave (their masterpiece record IMO).

[@LiteralistReactions]

Added! Thanks, Stephane! - JD

[@rizwanuddin7564]

Brave is epic!

[@rizwanuddin7564]

First time here. Great reaction. Another song by them and in a similar vein is WAITING TO HAPPEN. Beautiful lyrics and always sung with lots of emotions. I'd appreciate your reaction. Thanks in advance.

[@LiteralistReactions]

Added to our list, thanks! - and Welcome to the Fellow humans club. - JD

[@HuckFinn212]

They are the real. Love em since '83. Relevant, honest, meaningful, human! In Europe they are well known and loved for decades!!! First time a reactor recognizes the Peter Pan references - great! Listen to how the song deconstructs in the end, like an awakening or dissapearing from Neverland or something... Just don't get the Journey comparison...in fact their lyrics go way deeper to the human core, are more poetic...

[@siloagrain2176]

Wow ..why am i Always crying like a baby when i m hearing that ??? This IS crazy?

[@LiteralistReactions]

Music evokes tears in me vs. films at a rate of roughly 10 to 1. Beethoven, Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, all easily drive me to tears at the beauty and emotion evoked. - JD

[@robinzuiderveld]

Nice reaction, thanks. By the way, they haven't had any personnel changes since this 'Hogarth-era' started in 1988. Pretty contant line-up after all, I would say. ;-)

[@MrSinnerBOFH]

Absolutely, even though “h” will forever be “the new guy” lol

[@robinzuiderveld]

I tend to see Fish more like the old guy… ;-)

[@LiteralistReactions]

Thanks for the info! I was thinking Dream Theater. - JD

[@djlaino]

I admit to not being a big Marillion fan. I was introduced to them when they opened for Rush in September 1983 at Radio City Music Hall in NYC, and admit I was impressed and it got me to listen to the Misplaced Childhood album. I distinctly recall the lead singer mimicing a machine gun using the mic stand during "Forgotten Sons". Good show, but I got too consumed with Rush to follow Marillion any further. Thanks for the reintroduction.

[@theturtleproject]

they were touted as music's best kept secret , by NME i think it was, but it sums them up perfectly

[@Womberto]

Subbed for the inevitable Misplaced Childhood reaction. Probably the best album of the 1980's.

[@LiteralistReactions]

Very cool, thanks! - JD

[@MattLathrum]

Marillion is my second-favorite right behind Genesis. Some incredible moments for you to discover. Neverland is one of their best, and so is that whole double album, Marbles. Two more extended journeys on Marbles are Invisible Man and Ocean Cloud (a tribute to Don Allum). I also suggest digging into their concept album Brave about a girl's troubles that lead her to a bridge contemplating suicide.

[@LiteralistReactions]

Added to the list, thanks! - JD

[@Jesusistheway5724]

Nice reaction 👍🏻👍🏻 Check out: The Invisible Man (same album Marbles) Ocean Cloud (about Don Allum 🌊🚣‍♂️🌊) Gaza (live) ☮️ White Russian (where do we go from here 😏) Sugar Mice

[@LiteralistReactions]

All added or voted on, thanks! - JD

[@JesperHellvik]

I'm trying to come up with Marillion song suggestions - but it's futile. I could go on forever...

[@franckb8279]

Now you're in, you have a wonderful journey to discover the fantastic place that's Marillion's music ;-) I'm a huge fan, went to see them live more than 20 times, I've my name on 4 of their last albums on de luxe booklet. Yes they have been there for a while. But they were always prog influenced. Fish was their first singer a giant from Scotland with poetic and crazy lyrics. Then in 89 Steve Hogarth took the place when Fish left. Another style, more subtle but with a voice full of emotions. They realeased plenty of masterpieces of albums.... Too many to quote them here. But as you wish songs with time signature changes, I'll recommend you songs like: The Space, The great escape, Ocean cloud, This strange engine, Interior Lulu, the Invisible man, Gaza, Care, The man of thousands faces...

[@LiteralistReactions]

Suggestions/Votes added, thanks! - JD

[@andrewrodger775]

Please do a review of An Hour Before It's Dark side 3. Not a dry eye in the house. Incidentally, the confetti on the Neverland review was down to me personally. I kid you not. In 1990 something, I randomly emailed the marillion publicity team (I was working for a pyrotechnics company part time) I was contacted back by Jens who is their technician amongst other jobs. He invited me and a colleague to do a confetti launch ( their 1st ever) at the weekender in Leamington Spa UK 🇬🇧 so my friends. I met my heroes and worked with them. Halcyon days.

[@BilboFromTG]

Great reaction, really enjoyed it, thanks! More Marillion would be great. Their song "White Russian” ("where do we go from here?")😎👍

[@LiteralistReactions]

Added!

[@eliesalloum8750]

I always say: marillion is god s music since 1982

[@stevejarvis4174]

Give out of this world live h d version a listen , it's about Donald Campbell who died breaking the speed record on water in a machine called bluebird , its awesome dudes , long live marillion

[@LiteralistReactions]

Your suggestion has been added to the list, thanks! - JD

[@urbanveg]

Try The Great Escape live or The Space, also live. You will not be disappointed

[@didididi71]

There are so many fantastic Marillion songs you can test…..Gaza for example….or you can play every song from the 2022 record “an hour before it’s dark” fantastic songs on this lp

[@LiteralistReactions]

Vote Counted! Gaza is doing well on the vote count. - JD

[@didididi71]

@@LiteralistReactions very pleasant...it makes me smile...but Gaza live ,means :not a dry eye in the house !!

[@TS4hundo]

Check out their song ‘This Strange Engine’!!!!

[@LiteralistReactions]

Tom, your vote has been added to our master list. Thanks! - JD

[@basildog007]

Wait... Was that cream-chipped beef? Have you tried the hash-brown/chipped beef in horse cream combo can? Best can for the money

[@LiteralistReactions]

I have not. - JD

[@nepabum]

Hogarth is the only change since the early 80's. He joined in 89.

[@MattLathrum]

He's still called the new guy!

[@ChrisEchoes]

1. They certainly did not go through many changes from their debut album on, just one change from lead singer Fish to Steve Hogarth 2. Marillion, or actually their keyboardplayer Mark Kelly were the first band to use the power of the internet to get an album crowdsourced. An idea that actually was inspired by a whole bunch of American fans who set up a fund and started to collect money to pay for an American Marillion tour when the band’s label at the time would not support a tour.

[@LiteralistReactions]

I stand corrected as I was thinking of Dream Theater regarding revolving band members. - JD

[@ChrisEchoes]

​@@LiteralistReactions is that revolving door type of changes? Certainly not on the same level as Yes ;-)

[@arthurmol6875]

What a band, I like your reaction. Please check The New kings from Marillion

[@LiteralistReactions]

Added, thank you! - JD

[@juergenblaas6573]

Where do we go from here .....White Russian by Marillion

[@juergenblaas6573]

recommend to react, awsome song with awesome lyrics

[@shawnmagnusson2618]

Love Marillion! Although I really like Hogarth, I personally prefer the Fish Era. Fish, in my opinion, wrote better progressive rock lyrics. Both H and Fish are great singers, but Fish to me has more swagger, like early Peter Gabriel when he was in Genesis.

[@SiriuslyCold]

"Where you kissed your prince and found your frog..." Fish era lyrics were arresting

[@GeeVanderplas]

Fish was like Gabriel with a punk attitude. I actually prefer the h era a little more, but honestly, it's just a long continuum of great music.

[@gmckeown6334]

Peter Pan references

[@adammclennan2627]

please do ",Ocean cloud" by the same or my pet favourite "Happiness is the road"

[@1183newman]

easily their best album is marbles imo

[@progpuss]

Totally agree , but they have never been cool , whatever that means

[@johnhussey63]

For goodness sake listen to MARILLION. By that I mean Fish era. They really should have renamed themselves when Steve Hogarth took over. I've tried and tried to accept this style but to me it's completely gutless. Perhaps it's down to me being a Dream Theater junkie but so much that I've heard is him warbling over a band that is incredible when playing in the earlier style. PLEASE do the first four album's stuff (plus the Market Square Heroes EP - Grendel is their Supper's Ready).

[@LiteralistReactions]

Your suggestion is added. We currently have 30+ Marillion songs on our suggestion list. None have reached our threshold of votes for immediate reaction. Currently, the most votes are present for Ocean Cloud, Invisible Man, and Great Escape. - JD