Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon & Star One) is one hell of a composer and storywriter. He often gets his inspiration from his fans to these continuing stories (Arjen is very active on social media, and might respond here!!) Arjen has been working with more than 120 of the best musicians and singers from all over the world - here you met 11, but there are more on the album. He has been working with Floor since 2000 and her sister Irene a few years later (Irene is also a powerful top-singer) - and there are a few phenomenal duets with Floor / Irene and Floor / Simone and Marko /Floor among others, on Arjen's projects. Arjen's ear for putting the right people together, to get that specific and special effect he wants in the songs, are unique! And he sometimes 'draws the Floor Jansen card' to make the 'special touch'. Great 'first timer' reaction 👍
Ayreon is a prog rock/metal opera project of Dutch musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen. He writes the songs and invites guest singers and musicians. Mostly a studio project , there have been a few live shows put together, with another scheduled next month. He writes concept albums, telling a story across multiple records. The Source is the first chronologically in the story arc. Sir Joost van den Broek works with Arjen often, he's a musician and producer himself. He was the keyboardist in After Forever (04-09) with Floor, played with and produced ReVamp (Floor's band before Nightwish), and has produced the last 3 EPICA, and is playing in Arjen's new project Supersonic Revolution. He does a lot of work on the live Ayreon shows. Mike Mills character is a machine, the binary he sings translates to Trust Th-1, Th for his band Toehider. The 11 vocalists are : James LaBrie (Dream Theater) as The Historian Tommy Karevik (Kamelot, Seventh Wonder) as The Opposition Leader Tommy Rogers (Between the Buried and Me) as The Chemist Simone Simons (Epica) as The Counselor Nils K. Rue (Pagan's Mind) as The Prophet. Tobias Sammet (Edguy, Avantasia) as The Captain. Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian) as The Astronomer Mike Mills (Toehider) as TH-1 Russell Allen (Symphony X) as The President Michael Eriksen (Circus Maximus) as The Diplomat Floor Jansen (Nightwish, ex-After Forever, ex-ReVamp) as The Biologist. For more Ayreon, try a live performance. From the Ayreon universe show- Everybody Dies, Intergalactic Space Crusaders, Star of Sirrah, Valley of the Queens, or the show closer Eye of Ra with all 16 singers on stage. This show is a best of Ayreon and another of Arjen's projects ,Star One.
All packed & ready to go on holidays, but not before I squeeze in this last minute comment. About how to pronounce "Ayreon" (the blind minstrel living in 6th century England, who receives messages from the future via "time telepathy"). There's a decent compilation of reactions to this masterpiece, done by some obscure YT'er who just seems too lazy to submit his own reaction. The opening gives you an impression of the many ways ppl have pronounced the name. Here goes: "AYREON - REACTOR COMPILATION - The Day That The World Breaks Down - Part I" - czcams.com/video/6zbSUPha0gQ/video.html 😁 Most logical follow-up would be anything from the Ayreon Universe Live concert from 2017, especially "Everybody Dies", since it features many of the characters from TDTTWBD but first & foremost cuz Arjen's secret weapon, Ayreon's Angels are in it. Strap in for a journey spanning time & space. Cheers from Amsterdam! 🤘
the singers in order of appearance James LeBrie - Dream Theater (USA) Tommy Karevik - Kamalot and Seventh Wonder (Sweden), Tommy Rogers - Between The Buried And Me (USA), Simone Simons - Epica (Holland), Nils K. Rue - Pagan's Mind (Norway), Tobias Sammet - Avantasia, Edguy (Germany), Hansi Kirsch - Blind Guardian (Germany), Michael Mills - Toehider (Australian), Russell Allen - Symphony X (USA), Michael Erikson - Circus Maximus (Normay), Floor Jansen - Nightwish (Finland/Holland), Next try them live with there song "Everybody Dies" czcams.com/video/9AAXtUdM7xE/video.html&pp=ygUVZXZlcnlib2R5IGRpZXMgYXlyZW9u
Following the path of Everybody Dies, the Blake's tribute Intergalactic Space Crusaders, Valley of the Queens and Eye of Ra would serve you well. But Pink Beatles In A Purple Zeppelin really gets to Arjen's humor and deep respect for the past.
All that I can add to previous comments: I concur. Well, I do love that half note ascending at the end of the part of James Labrie at the start. Maybe Ayreon/Arjan needs a Gabriel Bardac, wonder what other people think of that.
Next has to be 'Everybody Dies' from the 'Ayreon Universe Live' concert. The whole concert is brilliant, so after that, just pick anything from the Universe concert. You can't go wrong.
Well, you’re in for a very deep rabbit hole. Apart from the Ayreon project (with the albums to date) Arjen Lucassen has many others projects (like Star One, Ambeon, Transitus, to name a few). As Tuomas Holopainen is currently recording Nightwish’s 10th album, Arjen has released his 30th album last May! So there is a lot to explore. I’d continue with the Live Shows: Ayreon Universe (titles of songs were already mentioned, f.i. Everybody Dies’ from The Source) and Ayreon The Electric Castle and other tales. In these shows you’ll also find Star One (3 albums released) songs, like the song Intergalactic Space Crusaders. Most of Arjen’s compositions are ‘earwurms’ and I’ve found his music also very versatile. What they have in common is that there is always a story involved. The Ayreon project is a scifi prog rock opera spanning multiple albums. The Theory Of Everything, The Universal Migrator, etc come to mind. By now your mind must be dazzling, sorry. I’m still exploring 😂, but definitely worth checking out!
many different singers all playing roles in the story. Also several different musicians. One constant. All compositions by the Dutch prog/metal genius Arjen Anthony Lucassen.
Ayreon is unique. The composer Arjen Lucassen is unique. The highest level of prog. rock. The highest level of composing skills. The best smorgasbord of talented top level singers and musicians. If you haven't heard of Ayreon, you haven't start living yet. It is the Pinnacle of epicness. Just one thing beats it. And that is seeing them live.... It is a pilgrimage you have to undertake.
I can only reccomend this, if you wanna know more about Arjen : Tea Time Interview: The greatest epic metal opera composer of all time! czcams.com/video/zNd6rtIaVr0/video.html nearly 2 hours, but i wasn't bored for a second when i watched 🤘🏼😲🤘🏼
Hello Kevin, the pronunciation of the name Ayreon is not that important, everyone can pronounce it as it suits him/her best. The man behind Ayreon is Arjen Anthony Lucassen. Still, I suspect that Arjen's first name was the source of inspiration for 'Ayreon', because the English pronunciation of this chosen project name is very close to the phonetic pronunciation of his Dutch first name 'Arjen'. That's why I want to say that you can best pronounce the 'Y' in Ayreon like the Dutch 'J' (just like with (Floor) Jansen: Yahn-Sen). As a suggestion I suggest: Ayreon - Valley of the Queens. czcams.com/video/TbebO5BZi-I/video.html live from Ayreon Universe (2018) with Floor Jansen, Anneke van Giersbergen and Marcella Bovio (Mexican, but has been working in the Netherlands for years, married to Dutch bassist Johan van Stratum). But also the version of 'Stream Of Passion' - Valley of the Queens - Live in the Real World (2006) czcams.com/video/EJgthkfxVjc/video.html with Marcella Bovio and her younger sister Diana Bovio (Mexican, now active as an actress) and of course also Arjen Lucassen.
Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon & Star One) is one hell of a composer and storywriter. He often gets his inspiration from his fans to these continuing stories (Arjen is very active on social media, and might respond here!!)
Arjen has been working with more than 120 of the best musicians and singers from all over the world - here you met 11, but there are more on the album. He has been working with Floor since 2000 and her sister Irene a few years later (Irene is also a powerful top-singer) - and there are a few phenomenal duets with Floor / Irene and Floor / Simone and Marko /Floor among others, on Arjen's projects.
Arjen's ear for putting the right people together, to get that specific and special effect he wants in the songs, are unique!
And he sometimes 'draws the Floor Jansen card' to make the 'special touch'.
Great 'first timer' reaction 👍
Ayreon is a prog rock/metal opera project of Dutch musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen. He writes the songs and invites guest singers and musicians. Mostly a studio project , there have been a few live shows put together, with another scheduled next month. He writes concept albums, telling a story across multiple records. The Source is the first chronologically in the story arc.
Sir Joost van den Broek works with Arjen often, he's a musician and producer himself. He was the keyboardist in After Forever (04-09) with Floor, played with and produced ReVamp (Floor's band before Nightwish), and has produced the last 3 EPICA, and is playing in Arjen's new project Supersonic Revolution. He does a lot of work on the live Ayreon shows.
Mike Mills character is a machine, the binary he sings translates to Trust Th-1, Th for his band Toehider.
The 11 vocalists are :
James LaBrie (Dream Theater) as The Historian
Tommy Karevik (Kamelot, Seventh Wonder) as The Opposition Leader
Tommy Rogers (Between the Buried and Me) as The Chemist
Simone Simons (Epica) as The Counselor
Nils K. Rue (Pagan's Mind) as The Prophet.
Tobias Sammet (Edguy, Avantasia) as The Captain.
Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian) as The Astronomer
Mike Mills (Toehider) as TH-1
Russell Allen (Symphony X) as The President
Michael Eriksen (Circus Maximus) as The Diplomat
Floor Jansen (Nightwish, ex-After Forever, ex-ReVamp) as The Biologist.
For more Ayreon, try a live performance. From the Ayreon universe show- Everybody Dies, Intergalactic Space Crusaders, Star of Sirrah, Valley of the Queens, or the show closer Eye of Ra with all 16 singers on stage. This show is a best of Ayreon and another of Arjen's projects ,Star One.
brilliant Chris, thanks👍🏽👏🏽👊🏽🫶🏽
All packed & ready to go on holidays, but not before I squeeze in this last minute comment. About how to pronounce "Ayreon" (the blind minstrel living in 6th century England, who receives messages from the future via "time telepathy"). There's a decent compilation of reactions to this masterpiece, done by some obscure YT'er who just seems too lazy to submit his own reaction. The opening gives you an impression of the many ways ppl have pronounced the name. Here goes: "AYREON - REACTOR COMPILATION - The Day That The World Breaks Down - Part I" - czcams.com/video/6zbSUPha0gQ/video.html 😁
Most logical follow-up would be anything from the Ayreon Universe Live concert from 2017, especially "Everybody Dies", since it features many of the characters from TDTTWBD but first & foremost cuz Arjen's secret weapon, Ayreon's Angels are in it. Strap in for a journey spanning time & space. Cheers from Amsterdam! 🤘
nice one, enjoy the Holiday, v jealous 😂🫶🏽
the singers in order of appearance
James LeBrie - Dream Theater (USA)
Tommy Karevik - Kamalot and Seventh Wonder (Sweden),
Tommy Rogers - Between The Buried And Me (USA),
Simone Simons - Epica (Holland),
Nils K. Rue - Pagan's Mind (Norway),
Tobias Sammet - Avantasia, Edguy (Germany),
Hansi Kirsch - Blind Guardian (Germany),
Michael Mills - Toehider (Australian),
Russell Allen - Symphony X (USA),
Michael Erikson - Circus Maximus (Normay),
Floor Jansen - Nightwish (Finland/Holland),
Next try them live with there song "Everybody Dies" czcams.com/video/9AAXtUdM7xE/video.html&pp=ygUVZXZlcnlib2R5IGRpZXMgYXlyZW9u
Following the path of Everybody Dies, the Blake's tribute Intergalactic Space Crusaders, Valley of the Queens and Eye of Ra would serve you well. But Pink Beatles In A Purple Zeppelin really gets to Arjen's humor and deep respect for the past.
👍🏽👌🏽
All that I can add to previous comments: I concur. Well, I do love that half note ascending at the end of the part of James Labrie at the start. Maybe Ayreon/Arjan needs a Gabriel Bardac, wonder what other people think of that.
really liked my first dip into Ayreon, just made me want more so all good👍🏽👌🏽
Next has to be 'Everybody Dies' from the 'Ayreon Universe Live' concert. The whole concert is brilliant, so after that, just pick anything from the Universe concert. You can't go wrong.
Well, you’re in for a very deep rabbit hole. Apart from the Ayreon project (with the albums to date) Arjen Lucassen has many others projects (like Star One, Ambeon, Transitus, to name a few). As Tuomas Holopainen is currently recording Nightwish’s 10th album, Arjen has released his 30th album last May! So there is a lot to explore. I’d continue with the Live Shows: Ayreon Universe (titles of songs were already mentioned, f.i. Everybody Dies’ from The Source) and Ayreon The Electric Castle and other tales. In these shows you’ll also find Star One (3 albums released) songs, like the song Intergalactic Space Crusaders. Most of Arjen’s compositions are ‘earwurms’ and I’ve found his music also very versatile. What they have in common is that there is always a story involved. The Ayreon project is a scifi prog rock opera spanning multiple albums. The Theory Of Everything, The Universal Migrator, etc come to mind. By now your mind must be dazzling, sorry. I’m still exploring 😂, but definitely worth checking out!
top comment, thank you🫶🏽
Your journey has just got so much bigger! Enjoy what is to come.
👍🏽
many different singers all playing roles in the story. Also several different musicians. One constant. All compositions by the Dutch prog/metal genius Arjen Anthony Lucassen.
nice one👍🏽👊🏽
Ayreon is unique. The composer Arjen Lucassen is unique. The highest level of prog. rock. The highest level of composing skills. The best smorgasbord of talented top level singers and musicians. If you haven't heard of Ayreon, you haven't start living yet. It is the Pinnacle of epicness. Just one thing beats it. And that is seeing them live.... It is a pilgrimage you have to undertake.
enjoying every second🔥👍🏽🫶🏽
🤗🍒🤘🏻 well done , surprise?!
😂👌🏽👍🏽🙌🏽
I can only reccomend this, if you wanna know more about Arjen :
Tea Time Interview: The greatest epic metal opera composer of all time!
czcams.com/video/zNd6rtIaVr0/video.html
nearly 2 hours, but i wasn't bored for a second when i watched 🤘🏼😲🤘🏼
❤
Hello Kevin, the pronunciation of the name Ayreon is not that important, everyone can pronounce it as it suits him/her best. The man behind Ayreon is Arjen Anthony Lucassen. Still, I suspect that Arjen's first name was the source of inspiration for 'Ayreon', because the English pronunciation of this chosen project name is very close to the phonetic pronunciation of his Dutch first name 'Arjen'. That's why I want to say that you can best pronounce the 'Y' in Ayreon like the Dutch 'J' (just like with (Floor) Jansen: Yahn-Sen).
As a suggestion I suggest: Ayreon - Valley of the Queens. czcams.com/video/TbebO5BZi-I/video.html live from Ayreon Universe (2018) with Floor Jansen, Anneke van Giersbergen and Marcella Bovio (Mexican, but has been working in the Netherlands for years, married to Dutch bassist Johan van Stratum).
But also the version of 'Stream Of Passion' - Valley of the Queens - Live in the Real World (2006) czcams.com/video/EJgthkfxVjc/video.html with Marcella Bovio and her younger sister Diana Bovio (Mexican, now active as an actress) and of course also Arjen Lucassen.
Cheers Papa 👍👌🙌