Ayreon - Valley Of The Queens

Electric Castle Live and Other Tales
Recorded September 13-15, 2019
Released March 27, 2020
Genre Progressive metal, progressive rock, rock opera
Label Mascot Label Group / Music Theories
Producer Arjen Anthony Lucassen

[@gandalf8216]

It's psychologically impossible to not cause the shedding of tears while listening to this song. The guy at 1:13 gets it

[@Ari_K.]

I believe Thijs van Leer is such a great match in the Ayreon family

[@thejuiceweasel]

A true Dutch rock legend, he fits in really well.

[@RolasCR]

1:13 that's the biggest tear i have ever seen

[@pietkeizer5279]

What a surprise…Thijs van Leer (Hkcus Pocus of Focus) on the flute and Anneke seems happy😊

[@michaelvedal1907]

There is something about Anneke that makes this performance superior to the one with the trio. I am not sure what it is, but her voice is simply mesmerizing. Can listen to this one for hours on end, no probs.

[@painlord2k]

She is a queen singing her last journey The trio is not a single voice (it is fantastic anyway)

[@mihailfelixdumitresc]

I am not sure ''superior'' is the right word here. It's just lovely the way it is. On a technical side, her voice is not constricted at all and the vowels are free. In the ''trio' version, as you put it, Floor uses more vibrato into her voice, which is in contrast to Anneke's singing style. Basically, in this version you don't hear any vibrato. But Anneke's singing style was the same in either version.

[@treintje1001]

@@mihailfelixdumitresc No vibrato? I don't know what you have in your ears, but I think they are broken. Listen again.

[@mihailfelixdumitresc]

@@treintje1001 "I don't know what you have in your ears, but they are broken"........There is no need to be a jerk; you may have your opinion, you may disagree with mine, but don't be a jerk.

[@FGG850]

Absolutely agree. I watched, and listened off course, both of them several times but this one is my absolute favorite. First of all it's a monologue, 3 voices doesn't fit. Second, I think Annekes voice carries the dramatic more than Floors voice. Look at the expression on Annekes face on 1:16, "The time has come to die". In the version with the other 2 ladies they are actually smiling themselves into the grave... By the way, this is ni criticism on the voice of Floor or Marcela. Absolutely fabulous voices.

[@T1hitsTheHighestNote]

I love how every new stage production is completely different.

[@cosmintudureanu9561]

I see people saying this version that version... none of the versions are less... Marcela with her sister Diana and Stream of Passion , Anneke with Marcela(this one), Anneke, Floor and Marcela... all of them are special

[@BrendonChase_2015]

Anneke with Marcela and Dianne (van Giersbergen). And also Floor 'solo' with Star One: "Star One feat Floor Jansen Valley of the Queens". Cheers!

[@BMW02463]

Thijs van Leer !!!

[@TheMateriaalkunde]

@Peter Ang So did I...

[@grassrootsflshp]

Had goosebumps over this short but extremely mystical and haunting masterpiece! Music is such a time machine and this one brings its listener beyond one's lifetime, into eras past, and into eternity....

[@menacosta275]

Anneke....a diva with the voice of an angel.....I can listen to this song on a loop for hours.....

[@pietkeizer5216]

How nice….I see the flutist Thijs van Leer. I am a big fan of his band Focus. Saw the group in the seventies and four years ago. I hope to see Focus after Corona. Anneke and Marcella are great…but that we knew.

[@minaha1975]

I played all kinds of flutes back in the days. It was always in classic pieces. Psychotic Waltz and this for example... I regret I quit.

[@user-io4jl4jx9q]

cried like a baby... so beautiful...

[@Blues666]

01:13 I feel you, bro!

[@juandavidcaicedo5696]

How come Anekke looks more beautiful with the pass of the years? How is that possible?

[@chadbennett7873]

Goddesses defy nature.

[@syvysarvida5164]

R. I. P. Egyptian

[@philipopruesse4259]

This is a great song and Anneke is a great singer. Both underrated.

[@Blauwoogjexxx]

Not here in the Netherlands! She is very well respected as so is Thijs van Leer.

[@Blisterdude123]

How dare this performance be so fantastic.

[@chadbennett7873]

While this is Anneke's song, Marcela has become such an important part. In another version, she adjusts her harmonies to match both Anneke and Floor, which only a vocal master can do. Anneke is simply a goddess, and I love when she performs Ayreon live. She seems so at home.

[@krokus5714]

In love!

[@Trololomanist]

Oh, heerlijk. Mooie stem en -ik zeg het nog eens - prachtige vrouw.

[@viktorpavlov5008]

OMG и Марсела е тук... Павлине, аз не вярвам в бог, но благословен да си за този ъплоуд!!!! xD

[@user-in8nr3xv4e]

wow~ so beautiful song!!

[@dragluian]

Marcela does an amazing cover of this song with Stream of Passion.

[@minaha1975]

I really like Marcella. Have to investigate.

[@humannature9713]

Great song

[@RolasCR]

Marcela should be side to side with Anekke

[@peterang6912]

That is a other version of the song, with Marcela and Floor

[@RolasCR]

@@peterang6912 i know, there are a lot of versions of this one, even marcela with stream of passion on a heavier version, really awesome

[@leoneikendal]

The song with Anneke is the original

[@mymemeplex]

1:12 sterk hè, die fisherman’s friends...

[@tumbamarch89]

No one is filming. That says it all. Unreal Concert!

[@Trololomanist]

Oei Anneke, wat prachtig. En wat zie je er fantastisch uit.

[@j_muller]

Thijs van leer still playing the flute. I'll always remember his 1973 appearance with Focus playing Hocus Pocus. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWXSpoN9fLF8bLM

[@AntoniahCH]

He is still playing the flute. And he is 72 years !!!

[@j_muller]

@@AntoniahCH He plays it in Ayeron - Electric Castle live with Anneke singing.

[@hansevers8605]

Really a long time ago.

[@leoneikendal]

@@j_muller also the original studio album plays thijs van Leer the flute and Anneke van Giersbergen sings.

[@paulchapman2569]

I didn't realise who he was, everyday a school day.

[@hansevers8605]

Is that that Diane van Giersbergen in the back ,together with Marcela?

[@floydpinkerton7395]

yap, she is

[@teguharifandi3489]

sad death of egypt queen 🥲

[@epoxje]

Oh this Thijs at least acts and moves more as the score needs, the other one, (Jeroen?) - world class but it felt like he didnt feel the song was about leaving to death - he was moving like it was about some jolly party.

[@christinaalgate4899]

Any body know who is up there with Marcela.

[@gauthierm.3010]

That is Dianne Van Giersbergen (Ex-Libris, ex-Xandria)

[@stoyanpetrov4567]

I guess it's Caroline, but I'm not sure.

[@Kullioking]

@Peter Ang they are cousins

[@andredalu]

Dianne I knoww!!!!

[@maranathashalom9402]

0:25 she sings 'end' instead of 'edge' and 0:31 'light' instead 'lies'. At this point I give up on knowing the 'real' lyrics of the damn (beautiful) song.^^ Either must've been a while since she last performed it and thought she got this, OR the sound guy put a frickin pantyhose over the mic and runs attack filters all over the place. Option c: my headphones suck.

[@user-zo9fd7oo4c]

Anneke is not a good singer. Anneke is a Magical Singer. And there lies the difference!

[@gwenseal332]

I love Arjen's work, but I am really not a fan of Anneke's voice.