Classical Composer Reacts to Rhapsody in Blue (Liquid Tension Experiment) | The Daily Doug (Ep. 121)

[@wooliegeek]

Tony Levin on Chapman Stick is the instrument at the beginning (I believe).

[@manuelbarros4898]

I thought it was Petrucci tapping, but you’re right.

[@leddygee1896]

You are correct, Sir!!

[@donepearce]

He is indeed a master of the Stick. He plays bass for Peter Gabriel on his Secret World tour, which is up there with the very best live music performances.

[@wooliegeek]

@@donepearce and don’t forget King Crimson.

[@donepearce]

@Jim Bianco did I say he was the best?

[@dampersand]

18:44 Love that little bit of Elephant Talk Tony snuck in there.

[@collinbeal]

Holy shit

[@collinbeal]

Bicker bicker bicker BRUHAHA

[@090nj2]

*I knew that was the reference!* *prog as it's finest*

[@ViperRob]

Just lettin ya know Mike Portnoy watched this video! :D He Tweeted about it a while ago, awesome.

[@talaniel]

Oh, you're right! Quoting Mike: 1. The intro is Tony on the Chapman Stick (not JP on guitar) 2. We created this arrangement of RiB for LTE’s 2008 shows BEFORE BC&SL, so THIS middle section is what inspired TCOT (not visa versa)

[@johnrader5725]

I jammed with Mike Portnoy once...one of my top 3 moments in my musicial life...

[@petruccifanboi]

@@johnrader5725 you lie

[@johnrader5725]

@@petruccifanboi no, I was at a guitar center in Smyrna Georgia, I was trying out basses There was a drummer setting up a drum set... I'd play my weird off time stuff and he would play along with me... I would stop to try a different bass Or he'd stop to make adjustments... Turned out it was Mike Portnoy there to put on a drum clinic...

[@petruccifanboi]

@@johnrader5725 Awesome man , bet it was a memorable time for you! I am just jealous :D

[@HerbalistGuybrush]

18:44 is a King Crimson quote of ELEPHANT TALK. Tony Levin was in the 80s Crimson and still is in the band

[@Dan-C-71]

He's done some awesome work with Peter Gabriel as well, the entirety of Gabriel's solo career in fact.

[@HerbalistGuybrush]

@@Dan-C-71 Yeah, Fripp and Gabriel also were close and worked together. All those dudes are connected. Hackett was inspired in his gtr playing by Fripp for example.

[@rk41gator]

@@HerbalistGuybrush Really good musicians listen to other really good musicians. And why not?

[@HerbalistGuybrush]

@@rk41gator I have no agenda dude

[@rkress9349]

@@HerbalistGuybrush ?

[@davidcoulter1058]

I love how there's no pretentiousness about this. I'm sure there's some classical guys who would turn their nose up at some prog guys playing a classic rhapsody, but you loved it and weren't embarrassed about that at all. I'm the opposite - a rock, prog and metal focused drummer who has basically zero classical background. I don't know why KZbin recommended this video to me, but I'm glad it did.

[@onearthonelegion]

Classical + blues = metal

[@valebliz]

@@onearthonelegion meh, depends on the metal.

[@NoBody-tf7ib]

E

[@83169]

That's okay, Gershwin originally intended this to be a jazz piece. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnrWgmVverFpqqM

[@rk41gator]

@@onearthonelegion Classical + blues = Prog Rock

[@leddygee1896]

My mom used to play this a lot!! I'm 60 years old now and remember It so vividly... LTE kills it on this. Also, I'm total Dream Theater fan since their first album from 1989. Thanks for this Doug!! Subbed.

[@malawigw]

Best name

[@malawigw]

@M. Alwi Mujahid are you?

[@mvunit3]

58 here, been a fan since buying "When Dream and Day Unite" on LP when it debuted (still have it). A Progger since 1977, and Metalhead since 1981. And I guess a Prog Metaller since 1985-86 (Thanks Queensryche & Fates Warning).

[@Lithuania8634]

I got see Octavarium. I'll keep recommending until the day I die

[@davidkit9987]

I agree! From 16’ octavarium mood is so alive!

[@victororozco192]

Best song Dream Theater have ever made!!!!

[@Juzernejmnakurov2]

Octavarium? So gay

[@michaelclements5793]

@@Juzernejmnakurov2 🤣🤣🤣

[@harveyb1963]

Why is your head the lex bus mate?

[@humenoid2566]

Doug: “This video could be 2 or 3 hours long” Me: let’s go 👍

[@twocatsyelling723]

Can't tell you how amazing it is to hear these folks playing together again.

[@dereksmith4509]

The first Liquid Tension Experiment album was supposedly recorded in less than a week. Unfreakinbelievable the talent that was assembled and the fruit that it bore. Both albums are just so disgustingly incredible. Acid Rain is without a doubt, in my mind, one of the absolutely best songs that showcase every single instrument equally in a single song.

[@Ytsejalvl]

I've been waiting 22 years for this new album... What a piece ! What a reference to music (any genre) ! 4 virtuosos ! Thx for this reaction !

[@aarnimiettinen5962]

Tony Levin, the bassist of LTE was interviewed by Thomann and he said that the intro's clarinet was replaced by him on the chapman's stick. Edit: also if I remember correctly, when LTE reunited for touring in 2007 they played rhapsody in blue and the count of tuscany's mellow part was inspired by it.

[@aaronhenning5184]

Actually that mellow section in the middle is an excerpt of a live recording of that tour in 07'. John Petrucci talked about how hard it would be to recreate it in the studio so they just inserted it from the live recording

[@troysmithfr]

Yes, it was a chapman stick.

[@JamesRussoMillas]

@@aaronhenning5184 Oh shit really? You'd never know!

[@MnyFrNthng]

​@@aaronhenning5184 Which section is that? Petrucci's three minutes solo between sections after 10th minute???

[@aaronhenning5184]

@@MnyFrNthng yes

[@incunemusic]

I can see Doug's enthusiasm just with the long explanation at the beggining! A classic and modern prog collision

[@TheMothmonsterman]

You can always tell when someone is really passionate about teaching. Thanks for all the great context!

[@egoequus6263]

Prog Rock is just the natural evolution of classical music concepts. Most of the original Prog Rock bands were heavily classically trained, so you really can't separate the two musical universes without calling it something else.

[@jaredgollnitz5258]

LTE stayed true to the spirit of the original while also taking some creative and improvisational liberties. Nothing short of a masterpiece rendition of a classic.

[@gregjetnikoff7124]

My dad was an audiophile when I was growing up ( 50's and 60's) and this piece was one of the standout things he used to play on his a lot. I was going to say it sounds like an updated version of the original, until I realized it is really makes it contemporary New York, exactly like the the original was a contemporary New York. Very true the the FEEL of the time of original. A sort of now is now ( if you get what I mean).

[@sianpodmore4988]

Well, that brought a smile to my face. Whoever recommended this...you guys have TASTE! Thanks Doug (your face is an absolute picture while you're listening to this BTW).

[@AslansAngel1]

Fan of Gershwin and Dream Theater.What magic is this?!?!?

[@DaMastaMynd]

I feel like there's actually a decent amount of crossover between prog metal fans and classical fans. I know Gershwin and DT are definitely among my favorite artists, anyway.

[@sophiaperennis2360]

@@DaMastaMynd There is between fans, but there really isn't between the music itself.

[@DanielVerberne]

@@DaMastaMynd I absolutely agree! I most definitely feel there's a prodigious and proggy attitude to this particular Gershwin composition anyway and of course, DT is a very capable band and I'm nothing but stoked that they would seek to cover something as exciting and interesting as 'Rhapsody'

[@carlosrobertoramirezfuente2524]

What a great commendation of a rock cover of a "classical" composer: "I think it was done in REVERENCE". I believe every prog rock group which have got into the task of recreating a classical piece have done it in true reverence of the original composer, because it is not an easy task to do. I loved your reaction. Thanks a lot.

[@arpeggioblues5924]

Return to Forever : "Romantic Warrior" feat. Al DiMeola, Lenny White, Stanley Clarke Chick Corea (rip) - phenomenal fusion) Spock's Beard : "Snow" (full concept album... amazing, and a sleeper classic) Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young : "Suite__Judy Blue Eyes"

[@oogalieboogalieboo]

Snow is a big shout, love that. Such a phenomenal, victorious finale.

[@purpledynasty]

I've watched several Doug videos, and Romantic Warrior by Return To Forever is EXACTLY what I was thinking as well. I still haven't decided which album by Frank Zappa... Perhaps The Grand Wazoo - Cletus Awreetus Awrightus deserves listening. Also - after his reaction to Suppers Ready, he's ready to be introduced to The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway - all four sides over the course of 4 consecutive days...although one session really is the best way to appreciate it.

[@andrewsitek190]

Mike Portnoy said that they had written this arrangement before they started recording the album that the Count of TUscany was on and he definitely used this section in that song. I'm sure these guys were big into Gershwin and this song especially because John and Mike Portnoy are both from New York, went to Berklee, and Jordan went to Juilliard so they know their classical pieces

[@gabrielnascimento161]

That was great! Besides the reaction to the song itself, we got a whole lot of a background on the brilliant Gershwin's piece and that's the kind of stuff that separates this from other reaction channels. We really learn more about the music after watching these videos.

[@aaroneliprice]

I don’t have to be a trained musician or composer to love Mike. John, Jordan and Tony. Loved their music as a plebeian for many years.

[@urmomsaivilo4783]

I just noticed, at 18:44 Levin plays a dew notes of the beginning of Elephant Talk bt King Crimson. Never noticed that until now

[@javifa69]

Please, I want Rush's hemispheres reaction, is the best!

[@abandinship]

I'm so glad you said that about Count of Tuscany. Was the first thing I thought of when this part came around. it's almost the same guitar melody at the beginning of the phrase.

[@LeonThomasian]

I was waiting to see your reaction at 22:00 perfect 😆 I LOOOOVED that part when I first heard it. Great video!!

[@AdamHDrums]

I can't stop listening to the recording of this song and the album for that matter. I love all of the information you covered about the original, all the musical theory and your reaction in this video. Big thumbs up from me!

[@DanielVerberne]

Doug, you are just terrific company on this reaction, just an absolute joy to rock out and share the music in your presence!

[@jcolpean]

Wow.....metalhead here that discovered this song in 1989 by chance...version was Los Angeles SO wtith conductor Leonard Bernstein...it changed me....and for the better. So wonderful to hear modern interpretation

[@ArtGuitarLTX]

@20:09 god damn... JP's licks always blow me away! STILL killing it!!!!

[@aprofessionalcitizen9030]

Love the history lesson! Amazed you kept the video to

[@mlwsf]

The face you made at Tony Levin's first obvious Stick lick.

[@bwaredapenguin]

Dude! Jjust last week I was recommending a particular performance of Rhapsody in Blue to a friend who was gushing over The Four Seasons by Vivaldi! I actually had to go check because I made a request on your last Devin Townsend video and it was a toss up between that or Snarky Puppy - Lingus, apparently I flipped a coin and settled on Lingus! But anyway, I'm super excited to check this out. Thanks for sharing with us!

[@HerbalistGuybrush]

Lingus is perfect for reacting. Cory's solo is the defining keyboard solo of the last 10yrs imo

[@Bobbias]

I'd love to see him react to Lingus. Even ignoring that solo, there's a lot of great stuff going on. But that solo definitely elevates it to something way more.

[@lucasgandelini9834]

Im so glad you got to Liquid Tension

[@samsmithbr]

Beautiful! Gershwin, would be pleased!!

[@chrisgennett7219]

What an incredible recording. I will definitely purchase this album

[@Danceforthedevil]

So happy to see LTE on this channel, hope to see more!

[@jah9253]

This is pretty sweet! I grew up playing Gershwin's preludes on the piano. Melding of classical jazz, progressive, and classical music. Nice!

[@devilopment3291]

22:43 is the best part. Petrucci solo coupled with Tony deep melodic bass. truly eargasm inducing.

[@GodmanchesterGoblin]

I missed this video when first posted. Caught up when browsing. this was great! I have LTE 1 and 2 on CD already, so LTE 3 just got added to my wish-list...

[@rockonileva]

Have you waited long enough! You were digging the history lesson so much that I didn't see the time pass!

[@BusyRaf]

Love the background about the piece Doug! I played this in high school once on trumpet 3, and another time on percussion 👍👍

[@DeckardRJ]

Another great video, Doug!! So much info of the background of this piece!! Great!! LTE is amazing and they do a great job not only in this cover but in their own material too. Thank you so much again for the very "educational time" with great music!!! Well done!! All the best!!

[@stevepreskitt283]

15:39: "I'm trying not to stop the piece and let the whole thing just sort of flow..." [ad pops up] :-D

[@ivyevans7714]

21:40 That drums though！

[@Darkest_of_Winter]

YUSSS!!!!!! Great choice man! Again, suggesting Rope Ends by Pain of Salvation (if you can get the lyric version so you can follow along)... what an emotional piece of music!

[@Zenweaponry]

How did I never know about Liquid Tension Experiment's Rhapsody in Blue? Back when I played a ton of clarinet that was always my favorite iconic solo to play, it was one of my favorite concert experiences when I got to play lead clarinet with the solos and one of my friends played the intensely difficult piano part, and I never knew that one of my favorite prog groups covered it. Why can't that appear in my recommendations? I'm really glad that I discovered this piece through your video Doug because I don't think KZbin would have put it in front of me otherwise.

[@pulpfan1933]

I’m a DT fan but also a big fan of Gershwin stuff. I’ve heard a lot of versions from different eras of this piece. I never thought I’d like a rock version of RIB, but this is fantastic. Gotta check out the new LTE album.

[@aleksgodson5125]

circa 18:47 Levin plays the same lick from that he played with King Crimson on Elephant talk...

[@christianrojas3357]

Great background information. When the Water Breaks and Biaxident are two songs that I'd really like that you look into.

[@flapjackson6077]

I went back and listened to the original before I listened to LTE’s take on it. It was worth the time. Doug, I enjoy your analysis as much as I enjoy the songs you analyze. I’m not theory savvy, but the way you describe theory and chord progressions are fascinating. You’re knowledge of music history, and context are free education! Huge respect for you! Thanks for another great video!

[@Verdant_Eternity]

Great insight and background info!

[@rog2224]

This REALLY reminds me of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer...

[@jedinxf7]

John Myung and James Labrie should record an album as a duet named Solid Relaxation Experiment

[@craigterranova3083]

he should not be surprised at the level of detail on these pieces. Jordan was in Juilliard School of Music when he was 9. He is a master

[@leeDs718]

Hey Doug, I think it's time you listened to "When The Water Breaks" (studio, if possible). This is the grand daddy of anything LTE has ever recorded (in my opinion, and most). This is their magnum opus. We do hope you take a listen real soon!

[@OthmaneTheSkills]

Exactly .. the best song LTE ever wrote

[@fernandofresnobustos8810]

Something from genesis would be incredible, of course Supper's Ready would be the bomb!

[@smgoethe]

Yeah, man, I totally subscribe to this. Or Watcher of the Skies with the intro, the fountain of salmacis, the epic parts in The lamb, a big etcetera :-). I just joined the channel and was about to make this suggestion, glad I went through the comments first!

[@Kylora2112]

I second Supper's Ready.

[@christianwilliamson9752]

Live from 1975 i think. Best version i ever saw on youtube may be bataclan

[@christianwilliamson9752]

Agreed. I cant stop listening to lamb lies down. Past 2 weeks. I carry my speaker and blast in public too. Lmao

[@pitimutisgmail]

Absolutely agreed. Doug, Genesis time!

[@LeicaFleury]

Dude if you like this you NEED to react to Octavarium. You NEED to. You NEED to!

[@jcmatias]

he did

[@arennabong2740]

FINALLY!! I was waiting for this reaction for ages....THANKS

[@rachelandryan]

Informative introduction about Rhapsody in Blue. Great reaction Doug, thank you.

[@veselinmarkov9933]

My God that was unbelievably good.

[@tmayne220]

I had no idea of the origin of this one. thanks for the background

[@Tintop]

wow great. I also requested it in the comments and am glad that you listened to your friend :)

[@notsoamateur2439]

I love so much how you enjoyed the piece, how you're into it, man!

[@AjustedeGuitarrasGBRCenter]

Yeah! Finally LTE! I Knew you’d like them! Great reaction video 🤘

[@ConceptJunkie]

18:45 - A nod to the King Crimson song "Elephant Talk", right?

[@robbiburrell1168]

Definitely

[@gscott32]

Absolutely wonderful. Glad LTE is back!

[@angelomoshopoulos4369]

Beautiful version. It brings back memories of me turning the pages of Rhapsody in blue for son when he young. Thanks for introducing me to LTE.

[@sethkaicer319]

Rubina's Blue Sky happiness would be Satriani circles as well would be great

[@Dave_Shredder]

I couldn't agree more!! ...And "Time" ...And "Crying"

[@claudioas]

love that song

[@Gaviaion]

Echo

[@donaldpruitt6787]

Jordan , Mike , Tony all monsters and in charge of their instruments .... a master class in music

[@LiquidEyeGuy]

That little nod to Elephant Talk from Levin made me smile.

[@timenkraak01]

Thanks for doing this! Been listening to this a lot lately, so it's great to have your context to go with it.

[@ironpony42]

Can you imagine if Gershwin sat in a venue and witnessed this being performed before him. What would his reaction be? What would he think about the instruments, the sounds, the technology, and the fact they're playing something he wrote 100 years before. The electric guitar patent to the Electro String Corporation was issued in 1937, for a guitar known as the Rickenbacker Frying Pan, the year Gershwin passed. Had he heard an electric guitar before his passing? I'd guess probably not. This was a lot of fun, and I never would have found it without you Doug. Thanks!!!

[@geronimo6377]

Interesting version of the famous Rhapsody in Blue. Fun fact is that George Gershwin played the piano part of the Rhapsody in 1925 for piano roll and in 1976 the conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and the Columbia Jazz Band made a recording combined with Gershwins piano roll recording. The recording appears on CBS/Sony and i'm sure that this recording is available on different streaming-sites. This version has a duration of 13:41 minutes.

[@maloneyboloney9377]

This reaction put me in tears. I love these guys, and George Gershwin was one of the first composers I ever was exposed to.

[@lowdz68]

Yes. I requested this recently and so happy you’ve done it.

[@digibirder]

Great reaction Doug! Very informative as usual. Really does make you want to play both versions.

[@melodic777]

That intro wasn’t a guitar. That’s the Chapman Stick on the melody side. The guitar joins a few bars in with the wah pedal 😊

[@edwardthorne9875]

I never knew I needed this. Thank you so much!

[@adriangarside3879]

It's just a joy to watch your reactions and to listen to your comments keep up the good work

[@carlosnascimento9269]

Hi. First time watching one of your videos. I'm a huge LTE fan and this video was very informative and insightful. Thanks.

[@HBSanta]

I haven't watched the video yet but I listened to this song a few days ago and it blew me away. Very excited to watch you go through it and break it down.

Fiirst! Loved LTE3, waited soooo long for it 😊

[@hm_nn_5633]

Bless you my friend. You are one of those who really understand what its all about. Kudos to you my friend.

[@CorSmit]

Rhapsody in Blue also inspired Woody Allen to write and direct his award winning film Manhattan, which celebrated its 42nd anniversary this week

[@DartWinger]

11 minute yap fest? HELL YES! Dude I love learning new things! Bring on the 2 hour raw version! :)

[@DMEB]

I am so glad I got to hear my first tune off this album with you. Love your enthusiasm and your introduction really made this worth while. Been too long since liquid tension experiment got an airing. I miss hearing portnoy and petrucci together. Wonderful video. Thank you for brightening up my evening here in Dublin. Ps. LOVE THE MAIDEN VIDEOS. UP THE IRONS!

[@boggo3848]

18:44 is like 1 second of I think Elephant Talk by King Crimson lmao

[@kellynine7438]

I was the youngest of 6 kids, and we were spread out over 3 decades. My dad grew up on big band and jazz, and never really got into rock music, and the kind of music he did enjoy never got played on 80s radio, at least not locally, so he never had music playing in the car. One day, though, while we were running errands, he pulls out a casette and pops it in, and it's a recording of this that he'd picked up. I had just joined the middle school band, and he wanted me to hear it -- not just hear it, but listen to it. I was enthralled. It was legitimately the only piece of music that he and I ever saw eye to eye on, and it became a bit of a bonding moment, if we were out running errands together, this was playing. If he were still around, I'd make him listen to this. He'd likely hate it because he didn't care for rock music in general and HATED metal, but I think he'd appreciate that the classics still survive.

[@mikeynma]

Well, it's 11.20pm here in the UK, I was about to go to bed...a 29 minute Daily Doug? Why the hell not! Edit: Man, I wish I had this level of internet when I did my History of Music degree back in '95

[@Doug.Helvering]

The quick availability of music recordings these days is a true game changer. Thanks for making my vid your nightcap!

[@hellfromshiryu]

Greetings from Brazil

[@eddiebranden1]

When I wrote my final paper in college that compared/contrasted Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody and Rhapsody in Blue, I NEVER thought I'd hear this piece like this.

[@barrygorsky3901]

I recently had surgery and was surfing youtube and happened upon your channel! I am a big prog fan and this track is my favorite on the new LTE LP. I have also enjoyed your videos on YES and RUSH! Thank you! ✌

[@5050spec]

You mention the pandemic and using that as an opportunity to do some work in the studio. This prompted me to want to pass on this information along to you: John Petrucci, solo album Terminal Velocity Recorded March-May 2020 Released August 28, 2020 Liquid Tension Experiment 3, Released April 16, 2021. I read somewhere that Dream Theater has completed the recording of a new album and now just waiting for the release. That would be 3 albums for John Petrucci in about 9 months.

[@inkubuzz]

Actually LTE3 was composed and recored in two weeks. Las week of July and first of August 2020. Two weeks to compose, arrange and record all that!!! Damn...

[@Egoblivion]

I can't wrap my head around that even being possible. Given his already extensive catalogue, one might think it would tale longer to...you know come up with new shit! 😂

[@21centuryhippie61]

View from the top of the world :]

[@victormats949]

And the quality shows. His solo album is amazing, LTE is good but nowhere near the quality of the first 2 albums and the DT album is uninspired and on the edge of being irrelevant

[@user-oy7gz5bf2h]

Love your attitude and insight.

[@sokar9537]

Hi doug, I must say I'm impressed how smart and clever you are. At 16:15, you"re refering to the count of tuscany. Actually, they created their arrangement of Rapsody for a live in 2008 as you mentioned. The story is while they were writting the Black Clouds album which came up in 2009, they wanted a section in Count of Tuscany that sounded as that Rapsody section !

[@quag311]

“Trying not to stop the piece and let the work flow…” [16 min ad break] Oof. I haven’t sat down to listen to LTE3 yet. Thanks for the video.

[@GuitarooMan93]

that "Cool" at the end XDD 25:06 very funny and yet really interesting reactions, really love this :D Gonna definetely watch the other vids