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Your favourite Rock Operas?

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    Posted: February 14 2024 at 16:48
Jeff Waynes War of the Worlds makes my list, so does Quadrophenia, The Lamb, Tommy, The Wall, etc
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote richardh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 14 2024 at 16:45
As I seem to be the only resident Kayak fan I have to mention
Merlin: Bard Of The Unseen
Nostradamus: The Fate Of Man
Cleopatra: The Crown Of Isis

the first was an extension of their popular early 80's album 'Merlin', you can find a DVD of the performance which used a back video screen with an orchestra and a couple of ballet dancers front of stage. Sadly the narrator (and joint founder and drummer of the band) Pim Koopman is no longer with us. Due to the poor health of the other joint founder Ton Scherpenzeel they played their farewell tour last year. It's unclear whether the 2021 album release Out Of This World will be their last. Despite not being much talked about, all of their 18 albums have solid ratings. No stinkers!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote octopus-4 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 14 2024 at 15:59
In terms of movies, I'd like to watch Peter Watkins' "Privilege" again. I've seen it only once many years ago, but I'm sure that Roger Waters has taken inspiration from it for "The Trial" in "The Wall" 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote octopus-4 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 14 2024 at 15:56
I've just watched and enjoyed Tommy this afternoon, after years from the last time. My fav is still JCS, anyway. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Valdez1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 13 2024 at 15:07
Tommy and Quadrophenia and Lamb...

Tommy and Lamb (when released) were masterpieces that may not have withstood the test of time so well.  I cringe a little now at the "concepts"... But when younger they were really something.  Quadrophenia holds up better. Never cared much for War of the Worlds but people like it.  Ouch

I thought "The Wall" was Pink Floyds biggest slice of cheese the day I first heard it.  but it has a few tracks that work on their own.

JC Superstar Andrew Lloyd Weber...  a brilliant album as far as Rock Operas go.


Edited by Valdez1 - February 13 2024 at 15:12
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote essexboyinwales Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 13 2024 at 12:39
My favourites would be:

War Of The Worlds
The Human Equation
The Theory Of Everything
Into The Electric Castle
01011001
Ghostlights
Moonglow

Yes, I am a big fan of Ayreon and Avantasia (more so the former!)😎

I also love Tommy, but have only heard the studio album version, not the soundtrack. For me, a true rock opera has to feature different vocalists. But that’s just in my head, not from any rigid definition😀
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 12 2024 at 07:35

The Pretty Things' S.F. Sorrow may be a lesser known Rock opera but is much appreciated, and I'm very fond of it myself....as long as 
I don't begin to think of Oasis Wink. Anyway, here's a sample for those who are not familiar with it:



Edited by David_D - February 12 2024 at 08:46
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote omphaloskepsis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2024 at 18:03
The Who "Tommy"
Pink Floyd- "The Wall" 
Gandalf's Fist- " The Clockwork Fable"
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2024 at 12:44
This looks good to me too:

"The use of various character roles within the song lyrics is a common storytelling device."

( Quoted from  https://rateyourmusic.com/list/siLLy_puPPy/rock-opera-albums-the-complete-list/ .)

But I guess it could be possible too to tell a fairly strong and complete story within the lyrics without any characters, 
so characters are maybe not crucial for being considered as Rock opera.


Edited by David_D - February 08 2024 at 14:33
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2024 at 12:31
Originally posted by moshkito moshkito wrote:

An opera does has a fairly strong and complete story to tell, and the different vocalists are the various characters in it.

That looks good to me. Thumbs Up

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote moshkito Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2024 at 11:24
Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

Originally posted by MikeEnRegalia MikeEnRegalia wrote:

Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

so what's the difference between a rock opera and a concept album? Confused

Concept and vocals. I think the main aspect of a Rock/Metal opera is having a concept involving a narrative with several characters who are singing dialogues, usually with different vocalists. 

oh, got it. Confused
By this definition, Tommy is not a rock opera. 
But most of Ayreon are rock operas. Confused LOL

Hi,

And, in general, the majority of "concept" pieces are sung by one person, and it becomes a "make believe" thing for the audience. An opera does has a fairly strong and complete story to tell, and the different vocalists are the various characters in it.

In general, "rock opera" is a term that is slightly mis-used, since just about everything listed here is sung by one person with the exception of a choir/chorus type of moments added. It doesn't exactly, make for a "rock opera" ... since rock bands have very limited use of vocals, by more than one person.

The idea, is good ... the reality is bad and not on par with the music history and its story, where opera has been, generally, very strong and with excellent voices carrying it. I still think of TURANDOT as the best one as it features (in recordings) some insanely beautiful work by Renata Tebaldi and Birgit Nilsson. I don't think that a rock band will ever come close to creating something like that ... in general, rock music is way too simplistic to make the grade.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote siLLy puPPy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2024 at 11:11

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cristi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2024 at 10:14
Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:

Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

Isn't a concept a story in itself?!

By "story", I mean like a short story with some plot, beginning, action and ending, also like classical operas.

Yes, that's what I meant. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2024 at 10:12
Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

Isn't a concept a story in itself?!

By "story", I mean like a short story with some plot, beginning, action and ending, also like classical operas.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Grumpyprogfan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2024 at 09:59
^How are any Magma's stories coherent? Unless you speak Kobaïan the lyrics are nothing but gibberish.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2024 at 08:39
Originally posted by Sean Trane Sean Trane wrote:

Would one consider Magma's many opus' as rock operas?

If looking at it from the perspective of RYM's definition ("A hybrid of rock and, sometimes, musical theatre stylings with heavily rock-tinged songs combining to tell a coherent story. "), they're telling a coherent story - as far as I've heard - but the question may be if they're enough heavily rock-tinged.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MikeEnRegalia Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2024 at 07:59
^ Concept/theme ... an album about the four "elements" for example might be a concept album for some, while for others it merely has a theme. 

Personally, I like to use labels that are literally true. The word "concept" does not in itself imply a storyline, it's only through usage in the context of albums that this notion emerged. But it did Smile 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cristi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2024 at 07:52
Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:

Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:

RYM's definition says: "A hybrid of rock and, sometimes, musical theatre stylings with heavily rock-tinged songs combining to tell a coherent story. "
So I'd say, the difference is that concept albums don't have to tell a coherent story like Rock Opera albums are supposed to.
Incoherent story?! Totally disagree here. An incoherent story will make the whole album flawed, lacking any kind of flow, which is essential to a concept album. 

Mike has cleared up the difference, it makes sense. 

I meant basically that concept albums don't have to tell a story, and yes, RYM's definition is quite in line with Mike's conclusion concerning Wiki's definition.

Isn't a concept a story in itself?!

The difference is that in a rock opera, there is a cast of vocalists doing characters, or at least a single vocalist doing all sorts of characters (like King Diamond does in his concept albums). 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2024 at 07:32
Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:

RYM's definition says: "A hybrid of rock and, sometimes, musical theatre stylings with heavily rock-tinged songs combining to tell a coherent story. "
So I'd say, the difference is that concept albums don't have to tell a coherent story like Rock Opera albums are supposed to.
Incoherent story?! Totally disagree here. An incoherent story will make the whole album flawed, lacking any kind of flow, which is essential to a concept album. 

Mike has cleared up the difference, it makes sense. 

I meant basically that concept albums don't have to tell a story, and yes, RYM's definition is quite in line with Mike's conclusion concerning Wiki's definition.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MikeEnRegalia Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2024 at 06:23
^ We said so, but we do not have magical power over every person on the planet to make them agree with our decision. Some may decide that some themes can be called concepts even without a proper storyline. LOL
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