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Changes: Illumination Theory

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| Length = 22:17
  
| Length = 22:17
 
| Lyrics = [[John Petrucci]]
  
| Lyrics = [[John Petrucci]]
  +
| Music = Dream Theater
 
| Also = [[Breaking the Fourth Wall]]
  
| Also = [[Breaking the Fourth Wall]]
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| Previous song = Along for the Ride
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| Previous song = [[Along for the Ride]]
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| Next song = N/A
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| Next song = Descent of the Nomacs|Release = September 24, 2013|First = |Total = |Recorded = |Workingtitle = unknown|Music = }}
  
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|Release = September 24, 2013 (same as album)
  +
|First =
  +
|Total =
  +
|Recorded =
  +
|Workingtitle = unknown}}
  ⚫
'''Illumination Theory''' is the ninth and final track on [[Dream Theater]]'s self-titled [[Dream Theater (album)|12th studio album]]. It is very cinematic in sound, particularly the introduction. This song is also one of five songs in Dream Theater's discography that passes 20 minutes in length. It is split into five movements, of which two are instrumental. The movements are as follows:
   
  ⚫
* I. Paradoxe de la Lumière Noire (instrumental) (0:00 – 1:21)
⚫
'''Illumination Theory''' is the ninth and final track on [[Dream Theater]]'s self-titled [[Dream Theater (album)|12th studio album]]. It is very cinematic in sound, particularly the introduction. It is split into five movements, of which two are instrumental. The movements are as follows:
  
  ⚫
* II. Live, Die, Kill (1:21 – 6:55)
⚫
* I. Paradoxe de la Lumière Noire (instrumental)
  
  +
* III. The Embracing Circle (instrumental) (6:55 – 11:10)
⚫
* II. Live, Die, Kill
  
−
* III. The Embracing Circle (instrumental)
 +
* IV. The Pursuit of Truth (11:10 – 15:17)
  ⚫
* V. Surrender, Trust & Passion (15:17 – 22:17)
−
* IV. The Pursuit of Truth
  
  +
⚫
* V. Surrender, Trust & Passion
  
  +
John Petrucci recorded this song using a 7-string guitar tuned 1 whole step down (A-D-G-C-F-A-D).
   
 
==Personnel==
  
==Personnel==
 
===Band===
  
===Band===
−
* Mike Mangini - Drums, percussion
 +
* [[Mike Mangini]] - Drums, percussion
−
* John Petrucci - Guitar, backing vocals
 +
* [[John Petrucci]] - Guitar, backing vocals, lyrics
−
* John Myung - Bass
 +
* [[John Myung]] - Bass
−
* James LaBrie - Lead vocals
 +
* [[James LaBrie]] - Lead vocals
−
* Jordan Rudess - Keyboard, keytar
 +
* [[Jordan Rudess]] - Keyboard/piano
   
 
===Strings===
  
===Strings===
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==Lyrics==
  
==Lyrics==
 
<pre>
  
<pre>
  +
I. PARADOXE DE LA LUMIÈRE NOIRE
−
'''I. Paradoxe de la Lumière Noire'''
  
   
 
(Instrumental)
  
(Instrumental)
   
−
'''II. Live, Die, Kill'''
 +
II. LIVE, DIE, KILL
   
 
Consider this question,
  
Consider this question,
Line 75: Line 83:
 
Is never too far away
  
Is never too far away
   
−
'''III. The Embracing Circle'''
 +
III. THE EMBRACING CIRCLE
   
 
(Instrumental)
  
(Instrumental)
   
−
'''IV. The Pursuit of Truth'''
 +
IV. THE PURSUIT OF TRUTH
   
 
Mothers for their children
  
Mothers for their children
Line 101: Line 109:
 
Grace before glory
  
Grace before glory
   
−
'''V. Surrender, Trust & Passion'''
 +
V. SURRENDER, TRUST & PASSION
   
 
To really feel the joy in life
  
To really feel the joy in life
  +
(Feel the joy in life)
 
You must suffer through the pain
  
You must suffer through the pain
  +
(Suffer through the pain)
 
When you surrender to the light
  
When you surrender to the light
  +
(Surrender to the light)
 
You can face the darkest days
  
You can face the darkest days
  +
(Face the darkest days)
  +
 
If you open up your eyes
  
If you open up your eyes
  +
(Open up your eyes)
 
And you put your trust in love
  
And you put your trust in love
  +
(Put you trust in love)
 
On those cold and endless nights
  
On those cold and endless nights
  +
(Cold and endless nights)
 
You'll never be alone
  
You'll never be alone
  +
(Never be alone)
   
 
Passion glows within your heart
  
Passion glows within your heart
  +
(Glows within your heart)
 
Like a furnace burning bright
  
Like a furnace burning bright
  +
(Furnace burning bright)
 
Until you struggle through the dark
  
Until you struggle through the dark
  +
(Struggle through the dark
−
You'll never know that you're alive
 +
You'll never know that you’re alive
−
Never know
  
  +
 
Never know
  
Never know
  +
Know that you’re alive
 
You'll never know
  
You'll never know
−
Never know
 +
You’ll never know
−
Never know
 +
You’ll never know
−
Never know
 +
You’ll never know
 
</pre>
  
</pre>
   
 
==Trivia==
  
==Trivia==
  +
If one is to listen to this track, they would notice that the actual song itself ends at 19:15, leaving roughly three minutes left. A good part of this space is silence, but starting at 19:48 is a duet between Jordan on piano and Petrucci on guitar. The music being played here is very melodic, as evidenced by the fact that it is very slow, and Petrucci's use of a volume pedal and Rudess' use of an acoustic piano. This eventually fades out to the end of the album.
−
On the DVD for [[Breaking the Fourth Wall]], before [[John Petrucci]]'s guitar solo at the end of The Pursuit of Truth, [[Jordan Rudess]] came out front from his keyboard stand to play a solo on the keytar.
  
  +
[[Category:Dream Theater Era]]
  +
[[Category:Songs over 15 minutes of length]]
  +
[[Category:Epics]]
  +
[[Category:7-string guitar songs]]

Revision as of 14:41, 20 December 2019

Illumination Theory
Dream Theater
Length 22:17
Working title unknown
Release date September 24, 2013 (same as album)
Lyrics John Petrucci
Music Dream Theater
First live performance
Total live plays
Recorded
Other appearances Breaking the Fourth Wall
Previous song Along for the Ride
Next song N/A

Illumination Theory is the ninth and final track on Dream Theater's self-titled 12th studio album. It is very cinematic in sound, particularly the introduction. This song is also one of five songs in Dream Theater's discography that passes 20 minutes in length. It is split into five movements, of which two are instrumental. The movements are as follows:

  • I. Paradoxe de la Lumière Noire (instrumental) (0:00 – 1:21)
  • II. Live, Die, Kill (1:21 – 6:55)
  • III. The Embracing Circle (instrumental) (6:55 – 11:10)
  • IV. The Pursuit of Truth (11:10 – 15:17)
  • V. Surrender, Trust & Passion (15:17 – 22:17)

John Petrucci recorded this song using a 7-string guitar tuned 1 whole step down (A-D-G-C-F-A-D).

Personnel

Band

Strings

  • Misha Gutenberg (Concert Master), Larisa Vollis - Violin I
  • Yelena Khaimova, Yevgeniy Mansurov - Violin 2
  • Aleksandr Anisimov, Noah Wallace - Viola
  • Anastasia Golenisheva, Valeriya Sholokhova - Cello
  • Len Sluetsky - Contrabass

Lyrics

I. PARADOXE DE LA LUMIÈRE NOIRE

(Instrumental)

II. LIVE, DIE, KILL

Consider this question,
Look deep inside
Deliver a true confession
What are you willing to live for?

Consider this question,
Open your eyes
Examine your own reflection
What are you willing to die for?

When your back's against the wall,
And your time's uncertain

Consider this question,
No standing by
When flesh and blood are threatened
What are you willing to kill for?

We seek to understand
We cry with head in hand

The bridges we build to connect
The distance that makes us forget
Hate dividing us
Love reminding us of our shared humanity

Hope can be a shadow fleeting
I would rather die believing
Chancing it all in a final act of faith

We seek to understand
We cry with head in hand

A story that needs to be told
An answer that begs to be found
The beauty we wish to behold
Is never too far away

III. THE EMBRACING CIRCLE

(Instrumental)

IV. THE PURSUIT OF TRUTH

Mothers for their children
Husbands for their wives
Martyrs for the kingdom
Fighting for your life

A soldier for his country
A junkie for the high
Teachers for their students
Vengeance for a crime

Rebels for their freedom
A tyrant for the praise
Cowards for salvation
Money, love and fame

Noble and brave
Lay down our lives for the cause
Death over shame
Grace before glory

V. SURRENDER, TRUST & PASSION

To really feel the joy in life
(Feel the joy in life)
You must suffer through the pain
(Suffer through the pain)
When you surrender to the light
(Surrender to the light)
You can face the darkest days
(Face the darkest days)

If you open up your eyes
(Open up your eyes)
And you put your trust in love
(Put you trust in love)
On those cold and endless nights
(Cold and endless nights)
You'll never be alone
(Never be alone)

Passion glows within your heart
(Glows within your heart)
Like a furnace burning bright
(Furnace burning bright)
Until you struggle through the dark
(Struggle through the dark
You'll never know that you’re alive

Never know
Know that you’re alive
You'll never know
You’ll never know
You’ll never know 
You’ll never know

Trivia

If one is to listen to this track, they would notice that the actual song itself ends at 19:15, leaving roughly three minutes left. A good part of this space is silence, but starting at 19:48 is a duet between Jordan on piano and Petrucci on guitar. The music being played here is very melodic, as evidenced by the fact that it is very slow, and Petrucci's use of a volume pedal and Rudess' use of an acoustic piano. This eventually fades out to the end of the album.

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