Story of Scenes from a Memory
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Music Lounge
Forum Description: General progressive music discussions
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10954
Printed Date: January 22 2025 at 09:47
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Topic: Story of Scenes from a Memory
Posted By: G_Bone
Subject: Story of Scenes from a Memory
Date Posted: August 31 2005 at 15:15
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Hi, I recently bought Dream Theater's Scenes from a Memory (Metropolis
Part 2), incredible album, but I'm not very smart when it comes to
comprehending the meaning of a story, poem, etc. so the whole story of
this thing kind of went by me 1.) The main thing I don't get was the murder, the way I see it one of two things happened: Julian killed both Edward and Victoria, then placed the letter on them and made up a story about the crime, how Edward had killed Victoria and then himself, thus making Julian "The Witness" that was spoken of earlier. In this case what happened to Julian? The other possibility I see is that Julian killed Victoria and then killed himselfk, and the witness that was spoken of was just that, a witness. In this case what happened to Edward? With the above, I also thought of the possiblity that the old man at the beginning was either Edward or Julian 2.) Apart from the actual murder, am I understanding it correctly that the point is that Nicholas is like a reincarnation of Victoria? (since he speaks so much about the sole carrying on) 3.) Then theres the miracle and the sleeper, what is the significance of these names. I undestand it relates to the original Metropolis (whihc I didn't understand the meaning), I was thinking these were spirits or something, but they are actually just two of the characters involved in teh murder. Is there any significance in "THe Miracle" and "The Sleeper" If someone could explain this to me I'd appreciate it, Thanks |
Replies:
Posted By: stripthesoul
Date Posted: August 31 2005 at 15:20
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I've heard that "Scenes From a Memory" is meant to be a retelling of
the myth of Romulus and Remus. Don't know if this is true or not.
------------- "Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings." --Cheris Kramerae |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: August 31 2005 at 15:51
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If you like the album, you should also get Live Scenes from New York (DVD). Listening to the audio commentary is quite entertaining, and together with the videos the story becomes quite easy to follow.
------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa/aoty-2024/vote" rel="nofollow - 2024 Release Poll Listened to: 
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Posted By: Ed_The_Dead
Date Posted: August 31 2005 at 16:58
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Reffering to numer one... The 1st option of the murder is correct, me thinks... I dident quite think bout the old man in the story.. thought of him as some sort of backup character... Nicholas is NOT a reincartanion of Victoria... Nicholas is the Reincarnation of The Miracle, THe Killer...... ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/ed_the_dead/?chartstyle=asimpleblue5"> 
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G_Bone wrote:Posted By: Syntharachnid
Date Posted: August 31 2005 at 17:26
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While we're all inquiring, what's happening at the very end of the album when we suddenly hear the Hypnotheripist say "Open your eyes Nicholas" again? Isn't Nicholas already awake by this time? If so, what's the hypnotheripist doing in Nicholas's house? ------------- 
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Posted By: Pseud0
Date Posted: August 31 2005 at 17:31
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you fools the hyptherapist is the reincarnation of julian while the
main guy is the reincarnation of edward - hypno guy kills him at the
end to keep the secret the album is overrated anyway the story is terrible  |
Posted By: Bryan
Date Posted: August 31 2005 at 17:35
I'd say this pretty much sums it up. |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: August 31 2005 at 17:53
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Which prog concept album story doesn't suck? Think about it, they're ALL cheesy in some way. They don't have to be brilliant, they're just there to inspire the music. The Human Equation for example ... just look at the song titles. The story is just an excuse for making music about emotions. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa/aoty-2024/vote" rel="nofollow - 2024 Release Poll Listened to:
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Posted By: stripthesoul
Date Posted: August 31 2005 at 18:05
That's not at all true; plenty of concept albums have good stories. Shadow Gallery's "Tyranny" and "Room V" have a good story about corporate power. And don't say Pain of Salvation stories are cheesy. "Be" is more intellectual than many books I've read. ------------- "Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings." --Cheris Kramerae |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: August 31 2005 at 18:12
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Of course there are some good stories ... but the stories don't have to be on the same level as those of movies or novels. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa/aoty-2024/vote" rel="nofollow - 2024 Release Poll Listened to:
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Posted By: G_Bone
Date Posted: August 31 2005 at 18:28
Thanks, well that was at least the most informative post, but you kind of contradicted yourself. In the first option I listed had Julian as the killer, but at the end of your post you said that the Miracle (Edward) is the killer? I get the main point of the story, its the small (but major) details that are confusing me And anyways the story mite not be great, but it kept me thinking throughout the album (trying to figure it out). I thought it was decent enough considering the albums for the music and not the story. At least its not like Green Day trying to make a movie out of the crappy story of their so called "rock opera" |
Posted By: Syzygy
Date Posted: August 31 2005 at 18:37
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The murder was committed by Colonel Mustard in the conservatory with the lead pipe. Either that, or the butler did it. ------------- 'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom |
Posted By: cobb
Date Posted: August 31 2005 at 18:46
| G_Bone: check out the DVD as mike pointed out. It puts the story into easily understandable pictures and gives the whole thing more credence. The combination of story in the lyrics and pictures turns it from chessy lyrical to art spectacular. You may even be emotional overwhelmed in some of the scenes as I was, the first time I watched it. |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: August 31 2005 at 19:02
Nicholas is most definitely the reincarnation of Victoria!!! ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: G_Bone
Date Posted: August 31 2005 at 21:31
ill see if i can get it sometime then |
Posted By: Tanuki
Date Posted: September 01 2005 at 05:16
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the concept was killed with poor execution. it's not worth trying to follow. just enjoy the music |
Posted By: richeym
Date Posted: September 01 2005 at 10:48
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for every Dream Theater question you'll ever have:
http://www.dtfaq.com/ and how can anyone NOT understand the SFAM concept.... it's not exactly highbrow.... |
Posted By: Ed_The_Dead
Date Posted: September 01 2005 at 11:25
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But its quite complicated... And it would've been far easer if English was my mother laungage ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/ed_the_dead/?chartstyle=asimpleblue5">
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Posted By: G_Bone
Date Posted: September 01 2005 at 15:02
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http://www.dtfaq.com/question/1032 its all here, trhat halped me a lot thanks |
Posted By: BePinkTheater
Date Posted: September 02 2005 at 00:14
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Why must everyone be so ignorant. Actually Im sorry, maybe someone did clear this all up already, but as soon as i saw the post screaming that nicholas isnt the reincarnation of victoria i freaked out and hit post reply to save everyone form the incorectness. Nicholas( prestent time) is the reincarnation of Victoria( 1928) Victoria and Julian, or the sleeper(1928) are lovers.Julians brother Edward, or the miracle(1928), is in love with Victoria and is spiteful because julian is a reckless person who drinks and gambles and treats victoria poorly. blah blah blah... what actually happened in the murder was ( this is told in finnally free, the true story of the murder) Edward knew that Julian and Victoria aranged a meeting to start seeing eachother again( after they broke up and victoria had sex iwth edward) . Edward, out of jealousy and anger, went and shot them both.....howerer in beyond this life, we are told the story of the murder form the point of veiw of the newspaper artical about it. The article is all flase because Edward was the one who gave the newspaper the facts. What the newspaper says is that julian and victoria got in a fight, and he killed her, and than, in anger wiht himself, killed himself and then at the end. The Hypno therepist( present) comes in to Nicholas's home and kills him. THis is beacase he is actually the reincarnation of Edward, and he carried on the feud with him.
and to whoever said this album sucks, i really don't like you very much
------------- I can strangle a canary in a tin can and it would be really original, but that wouldn't save it from sounding like utter sh*t. -Stone Beard |
Posted By: BiGi
Date Posted: September 02 2005 at 04:18
ROTFL!!!  ------------- A flower? 
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Posted By: Ed_The_Dead
Date Posted: September 02 2005 at 11:00
Ow dear, I fu**ed up a bit on that one... Well, at least I understand everything now ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/ed_the_dead/?chartstyle=asimpleblue5">
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Posted By: Bryan
Date Posted: September 02 2005 at 12:23
Well, that settles it then. Next topic... How 'bout those mellotrons, eh? (oh if only Peter came by these parts anymore) |