Scenes From A Memory

Credit for TUMBOK

Album ini adalah sebuah cerita utuh. Setiap lirik dari lagu adalah bagian dari keseluruhan cerita yang berkelanjutan dengan alur maju mundur. Maka dari itu saya akan mereview album ini dalam 3 segmen : KISAH, REVIEW MUSIKALITAS dan CLOSING COMMENTS.

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I. KISAH

Seorang pria bernama Nicholas, belakangan ini mendapat mimpi-mimpi buruk yang yang memperlihatkan gambaran seorang wanita bernama Victoria dan kejadian pembunuhan. Nicholas menemui seorang psikoterapist untuk menghipnotisnya ke alam mimpi dan melihat kehidupan wanita tersebut yang seakan sangat nyata seperti kehidupan miliknya sendiri. Setelah dihipnotis Nicholas mulai lebih jelas bahkan dapat berkomunikasi dengan wanita tersebut.

Wanita yang bernama Victoria tersebut ingin menyampaikan sesuatu kepada Nicholas, suatu kejadian tentang dirinya pada tahun 1928 yang belum terkuak kebenarannya. Nicholas merasa entah bagaimana kehidupan Victoria sangat terkait dengan kehidupan nyata yang dijalaninya. Maka dia bertekad menemukan kebenarannya lewat mimpi-mimpinya agar dapat hidup tenang lagi.

Pada mimpi selanjutnya Nicholas bertemu dengan seorang pria tua yang memberikan informasi bahwa telah terjadi pembunuhan terhadap seorang wanita yang tak lain adalah Victoria yang belum terkuak kebenarannya sampai saat ini. Dari poin ini Nicholas mulai mengerti bahwa Victoria ingin Nicholas mengerti apa yang sebenarnya terjadi pada dirinya. Kemudian Nicholas menemukan sebuah koran yang memberitakan pembunuhan Victoria. Seorang saksi mata bernama Edward bercerita bahwa dia menemukan sang gadis ditembak mati dan kemudian penembaknya yang bernama Julian bunuh diri. Diberitakan bahwa insiden itu terkait dengan cinta segitiga. Tapi ada hal aneh dimana Julian menulis kata-kata “rather kill himself than live without Victoria“, sedangkan di tangan Victoria ditemukan sebilah pisau. Nicholas semakin mengerti ceritanya tetapi tahu masih ada yang tidak beres. Ia mengunjungi makam Victoria dan entah kenapa merasa sangat sedih akan insiden yang dialami Victoria.

Mimpi selanjutnya menceritakan bahwa Julian dan Victoria saling mencintai, akan tetapi saat ini Victoria sedang menjalin hubungan dengan Edward kakak Julian. Victoria semakin menjauh dari Edward dan mulai terjadi perselingkuhan antara Victoria dan Julian. Victoria khawatir seandainya Edward tahu tentang hal ini dia akan berbuat nekat membunuh adiknya.

Pada suatu malam Edward mengikuti Victoria dan menemukan dia bersama Julian sedang bercinta. Edward langsung kalut dan mencabut pistol. Julian dan Victoria berusaha melarikan diri dan Julian menghunus sebilah pisau. Akhirnya Edward menembak mati Julian dan Victoria. Sebelum menembak mati Victoria Edward berkata : “OPEN YOUR EYES VICTORIA!!!“. Kemudiani Edward yang seorang politikus ternama pada zaman itu memodifikasi TKP dengan meletakkan pisau di tangan Victoria dan pistol di tangan Julian. Kemudian di dekat mayat Julian ia tuliskan dalam selembar kertas bahwa Julian putus asa cintanya ditolak Victoria dan memutuskan untuk membunuh Victoria dan dirinya sendiri karena dia lebih baik mati daripada hidup sendiri. Dengan bukti-bukti tersebut Edward bebas dari dugaan pembunuhan karena dia juga mengaku sebagai saksi pembunuhan tersebut.

Nicholas yang telah mengetahui cerita yang sebenarnya akhirnya pun menyadari bahwa dirinya adalah reinkarnasi dari Victoria, makanya dirinya merasa sangat dekat dengan Victoria. Nicholas pun tidak bermimpi hal-hal aneh lagi. Kemudian Nicholas pulang ke rumahnya dengan tenang. Akan tetapi, di rumahnya telah ada seseorang dan seseorang tersebut adalah sang psikoterapist. Nicholas terkejut saat sang psikoterapist berkata : “OPEN YOUR EYES NICHOLAS!!!” (sang psikoterapist adalah reinkarnasi Edward !!)

———-

II. REVIEW MUSIKALITAS

—

1. Act I: Scene One: Regression – 2:06 (music and lyrics by Petrucci)

Dimulai dengan bunyi detik jam dan kata-kata psikoterapist. Labrie kemudian memasukkan vokal yang menyentuh diiringi gitar akustik yang manis dari Petrucci. A nice start, amazing rock comes forward!

[Hypnotherapist:]

“Close your eyes and begin to relax.
Take a deep breath, and let it out slowly.
Concentrate on your breathing.
With each breath you become more relaxed.
Imagine a brilliant white light above you,
focusing on this light as it flows through your body.
Allow yourself to drift off as you fall deeper and deeper,
into a more relaxed state of mind.

Now as I count backward from ten to one,
you will fill more peaceful, and calm.
Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six.
You will enter a safe place where nothing can harm you.

Five. Four. Three. Two.
If at any time you need to came back,
all you must do is open your eyes. One.“

[Nicholas:]

Safe in the light that surrounds me
Free of the fear and the pain
My subconscious mind
Starts spinning through time
To rejoin the past once again

Nothing seems real
I`m starting to feel
Lost in the haze of a dream

And as I draw near
The scene becomes clear
Like watching my life on a screen

Hello Victoria so glad to see you … my friend

—

2. Act I: Scene Two [1]: Overture 1928 – 3:37 (Dream Theater, instrumental)

Full instrumental dengan mengandalkan harmonisasi dan lick dasar dari keseluruhan album. Di tengah lagu sinkronisasi maut dari keempat instrumentalist DT dibawakan dengan sangat cepat dan brillian. Good flashback melody!

—

3. Act I: Scene Two [2]: Strange De Javu – 5:12 (Dream Theater, Portnoy)

Backing vokal yang dilakukan oleh Portnoy patut diacungi jempol. Dengan ketukan birama yang sangat progressive dan riff yang sedikit berbau heavy metal lagu ini menghentak dengan vokal prima dari Labrie. We’re just gettin’ started here!

[Nicholas:]

Subconscious strange sensation
Unconscious relaxation
What a pleasant nightmare
And I can`t wait to get there again

Every time I close my eyes
There`s another vivid surprise
Another whole life waiting
Chapters unfinished, fading

Closer now – Slowly coming into view
I`ve arrived – Blinding sunshine beaming through

There`s a house I`m drawn into
Familiar settings, nothing new
There`s a pathway leading there
With a haunting chill in the air

There`s room at the top of the stairs
Every night I`m drawn up there
There`s a girl in the mirror
Her face is getting clearer
Young child won`t you tell me why I`m here?

In her eyes – I sense a story never told
Behind the disguise – There`s something tearing at her soul

[Victoria:]

Tonight I`ve been searching for it
A feeling that`s deep inside m
Tonight I`ve been searching for
The one that nobody knows
Trying to break free

I just can`t help myself
I`m feeling like I`m going out of my head
Tears my heart into two
I`m not the one the sleeper thought he knew

[Nicholas:]

Back on my feet again
Eyes open to real world
Metropolis surrounds me
The mirror`s shattered the girl

Why is this other life
Haunting me everyday
I`d break through the other side
If only I`d find the way

Something`s awfully familiar
The feeling`s so hard to shake
Could I have lived in that other world
It`s a link that I`m destined to make

I`m still searching but I don`t know what for
The missing key to unlock my mind`s door

Today I am searching for it
A feeling that won`t go away
Today I am searching for it
The one that I only know
Trying to break free

I just can`t help myself
I`m feeling like I`m going out of my head
Tears my soul into two
I`m not the one I thought I always knew

I just can`t help myself
I`m feeling like I`m going out of my head
Uncanny, strange Deja Vu
But I don`t mind – I hope to find the truth

—

4. Act I: Scene Three [1]: Through My Words – 1:02 (Petrucci)

Lagu ini dibawakan dengan piano yang sangat indah dari Rudess sebagai pembuka untuk Fatal Tragedy diiringi vokal rendah dari Labrie. Get ready for the next action!

[Nicholas:]

All your eyes have ever seen
All you`ve ever heard
Is etched upon my memory
I spoken through my words

All that I take with me
Is all you`ve left behind
We`re sharing one eternity
Living in two minds
Linked by an endless thread
Impossible to break

—

5. Act I: Scene Three [2]: Fatal Tragedy – 6:49 (Dream Theater, Myung)

Lagu ini adalah lagu terakhir yang diciptakan Myung sampai saat ini untuk Dream Theater. Awal lagu masih merupakan permainan piano dan vokal yang sangat harmonis. Kemudian muncul riff-riff progressive tempo sedang ditambah backing choir. Akhir lagu adalah instrumental yang mungkin salah satu contoh utama dalam memainkan musik progressive. Ketukan dan perubahan riff yang tidak gampang untuk dihafalkan memamerkan kepakaran Portnoy dalam mengatur tempo dan ketukan birama ditambah dengan solo maut dari Petrucci dan Rudess saling bersautan. Myung pun tak ingin ketinggalan dengan memainkan variasi nada pentatonik yang super cepat di akhir lagu. One of the best song of The Album!

[Nicholas:]

Alone at night
I feel so strange
I need to find
All the answers to my dreams

When I sleep at night
I hear the cries
What does this mean?

I shut the door and traveled to another home
I met an older man, he seemed to be alone
I felt that I could trust him
He talked to me that night;

“Lad did you know a girl was murdered here?”
“This fatal tragedy was talked about for years”
Victoria`s gone forever
Only memories remain
She passed away
She was so young

Without love
Without truth
There can be no turning back

Without faith
Without hope
There can be no peace of mind

As the night went on
I started to find my way
I learned about a tragedy
A mystery still today

I tried to get more answers
But he said, “You`re on your own”
Then he turned away and left me
As I stand there all alone
He said, “You`ll know the truth
As your future days unfold”

Without love
Without truth
There can be no turning back

Without faith
Without hope
There can be no peace of mind

[Hypnotherapist:]

“Now it`s time to see how you died. Remember that death
is not the end but only a transition.”

—

6. Act I: Scene Four: Beyond This Life – 11:22 (Dream Theater, Petrucci)

Diawali dengan lick heavy metal yang dibumbui lick progressive khas DT. Lagu ini lebih menonjolkan solo gitar dan keyboard yang menakjubkan dari Petrucci dan Rudess. Lagu ini juga diselingi dengan vokal bertempo lambat dari Labrie sebagai “pemecah suasana” antar verse. Amazing Solo Play!

[Headline:]

“Murder, young girl killed
Desperate shooting at Echoe`s hill
Dreadful ending, killer died
Evidently suicide“

A witness heard a horrifying sound
He ran to find a woman dead and
Lying on the ground

Standing by her was a man
Nervous, shaking, gun in hand
Witness says he tried to help
But he`d turned the weapon on himself

His body fell across that poor young girl
After shouting out in vain
The witness ran to call for assistance
A sad close to a broken love affair

Our deeds have traveled far
What we have been is what we are

She wanted love forever
But he had another plan
He fell into an evil way
She had to let him down
She said “I can`t love a wayward man”

She may have found a reason to forgive
If he had only tried to change
Was their fatal meeting prearranged?

Had a violent struggle taken place?
There was every sign that lead there
Witness found a switchblade on the ground
Was the victim unaware?
They continued to investigate
They found a note in the killer`s pocket
It could have been a suicide letter
Maybe he had lost her love

I feel there`s only one thing left to do
I’d sooner take my life away than live with losing you

Our deeds have traveled far
What we have been is what we are

All that we learn this time
(What we have been is what we are)
Is carried beyond this life

—

7. Act I: Scene Five: Through Her Eyes – 5:29 (Dream Theater, Petrucci)

DT memperagakan permainan yang sedikit jazzy yang kental lewat backing vokal bernada tinggi seorang wanita dan variasi bass Myung. A touching heart Mellow!

[Nicholas:]

She never really had a chance
On that fateful moonlight night
Sacrificed without a fight
A victim of her circumstances

Now that I`ve become aware
And I`ve exposed this tragedy
A sadness grows inside of me
It all seems so unfair

I`m learning all about my life
By looking through her eyes

Just beyond the churchyard gates
Where the grass is overgrown
I saw the writing on her stone
I felt like I would suffocate

In loving memory of our child
So innocent, eyes open wide
I felt so empty as I cried
Like part of me had died

And as her image
Wandered through my head
I wept just like a baby

As I lay awake in bed

And I know what it`s like
To lose someone you love
And this felt just the same

She wasn`t given any choice
Desperation stole her voice
I`ve been given so much more in life
I`ve got a son, I`ve got a wife

I had to suffer one last time
To grieve for her and say goodbye
Relieve the anguish of my past
To find out who I was at last

The door has opened wide
I`m turning with the tide
Looking through her eyes

—

8. Act II: Scene Six: Home – 12:53 (Dream Theater, Portnoy)

Permainan variasi Dorian Scale bernada khas Timur Tengah adalah andalan lagu ini. Walaupun terjadi pengulangan riff yang cukup sering, Petrucci menunjukkan bahwa dia juga ahli bermain sitar! (atau mungkin dia menggunakan efek suara sitar pada gitarnya). Hebatnya, permainan sitar Petrucci diikuti dengan sangat fasih oleh Rudess dan Myung di penghujung lagu. Kelemahan lagu ini mungkin suara desahan wanita yang ditimpali dengan suara narator berita di tengah lagu yang cukup mengganggu konsentrasi mendengar lick-lick sitar Petrucci. Anyway, this is The show of Tallent!

[Sleeper:]

Shine-lake of fire
Lines take me higher
My mind drips desire
Confined and overtired

Living this charade
Is getting me nowhere
I can`t shake this charade
The city`s cold blood calls me home
Home it`s what I long for
Back home where I belong

The city – it calls to me
Decadent scenes from my memory
Sorrow – eternity
My demons are coming to drown me

Help – I`m falling, I`m crawling
I can`t keep away from its clutch
Can`t have it, this habit
It`s calling me back to my home

[Miracle:]

I remember the first time she came to me
Poured her soul out all night and cried

I remember I was told there`s a new love that`s born
For each one that has died

I never thought that I
Could carry on with this life
But I can`t resist myself
No matter how hard I try

Living their other life
Is getting them nowhere
I`ll make her my wife
Her sweet temptations calls me home
Home it`s what I long for
My home where she belongs

Her ecstasy – means so much to me
Even deceiving my own blood
Victoria watches and thoughtfully smiles
She`s taking me to my home

Help – he`s my brother, but I love her
I can`t keep away from her touch
Deception, dishonor
It`s calling me back to my home

[Nicholas:]

Her story – it holds the key
Unlocking dreams from my memory
Solving this mystery
Is everything that is a part of me

Help – regression, obsession
I can`t keep away from her touch
Leave no doubt, to find out
It`s calling me back to my home

—

9. Act II: Scene Seven [1]: The Dance of Eternity – 6:13 (Dream Theater, instrumental)

Lagu ini penulis nilai sebagai instrumental terbaik dari Dream Theater. Mengembangkan lick nada dasar keseluruhan album, DT berimprovisasi dengan sangat mengagumkan. Solo gitar, keyboard, dan bass ditambah dengan kejeniusan gebukan drum Portnoy sangat kental di lagu ini. Kemahiran permainan DT dalam riff super cepat dibuktikan dengan sangat gamblang. Rudess bahkan sedikit “nakal” dengan memasukkan semacam nada sirkus pada tengah lagu. What an Incredible Instrumental Song!

—

10. Act II: Scene Seven [2]: One Last Time – 3:46 (Dream Theater, LaBrie)

Kembali diawali oleh permainan piano yang sangat manis oleh Rudess. Keseluruhan lagu kembali membawa pendengar kepada lick dasar album ini setelah digeber dengan instrumental-instrumental maut. Nice way to get back on track!

[Nicholas:]

It doesn`t make any sense
This tragic ending
In spite of the evidence
There`s something still missing

Heard some of the rumours told
A taste of one`s wealth
Did Victoria wound his soul?
Did she bid him farewell?

[Victoria:]

One last time
We`ll lay down today
One last time
Until we fade away
One last time
We`ll lay down today
One last time
We slowly fade away

[Nicholas:]

Here I am inside his home
It holds the many clues
To my suspicions
And as I`m standing here right now
I`m finally shown what I have always known

Coincidence I can`t believe
As my childhood dreams slowly come true

Are these her memories
Awakened through my eyes
This house has brought back to life

An open door
I walk on through
Into his bedroom

Feeling as cold as outside
The walls disappear
To some woman who`s screaming
A man pleads forgiveness
His words I cannot hear

—

11. Act II: Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On – 6:38 (Dream Theater, Petrucci)

Mungkin adalah lagu paling populer milik DT. Dengan lirik universal yang menyentuh hati dan melody maut dari Petrucci, ditambah backing vokal prima dari seorang wanita, lagu ini mungkin mewakili keseluruhan pesan moral dari album ini. Encouraging Soul and Passion!

[Nicholas:]

Where did we come from?
Why are we here?
Where do we go when we die?
What lies beyond
And what lay before?
Is anything certain in life?

They say ” Life is too short”
“The here and the now”
And ” You`re only given one shot”
But could there be more
Have I lived before
Or could this be all that we`ve got?

If I die tomorrow
I`d be alright
Because I believe
That after we`re gone
The spirit carries on

I used to be frightened of dying
I used to think death was the end
But that was before
I`m not scared anymore
I know that my soul will transcend

I may never find all the answers
I may never understand why
I may never prove
What I know to be true
But I know that I still have to try

If I die tomorrow
I`d be alright
Because I believe
That after we`re gone
The spirit carries on

[Victoria:]

“Move on, be brave
Don`t weep at my grave
Because I`m no longer here
But please never let
Your memories of me disappear“

[Nicholas:]

Safe in the light that surrounds me
Free of the fear and the pain
My questioning mind
Has help me to find
The meaning in my life again

Victoria`s real
I finally feel
At peace with the girl in my dreams
And now that I`m here
It`s perfectly clear
I found out what all of this means

If I die tomorrow
I`d be alright
Because I believe
That after we`re gone
The spirit carries on

—

12. Act II: Scene Nine: Finally Free – 11:59 (Dream Theater, Portnoy)

Dream Theater kembali membuktikan bahwa mereka adalah jenius dalam menciptakan lick-lick progressive dengan variasi yang sangat enak didengarkan. Finally Free mengakhiri keseluruhan album dengan permainan drum cepat dari Portnoy dan mendengarkan suara dari sebuah peristiwa di akhir lagu.
Ending lagu ini adalah suara gemerisik gelombang radio yang masih terus berlanjut sampai intro awal album berikutnya DT : Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (2001). Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa DT benar-benar mempertimbangkan dengan sangat masak setiap album yang sedang dan akan dibuatnya. BRAVO!

[Hypnotist:]

You are once again surrounded by a brilliant white light.
Allow the light to lead you away from your past and into this lifetime.
As the light dissipates you will slowly fade back into consciousness,
remembering all you have learned.
When I tell you to open your eyes you will return to the present,
Feeling peaceful and refresh.

Open your eyes Nicholas.

[Miracle:]

Friday evening
The blood still on my hands
To think that she would leave me now
For that ungrateful man

Sole survivor
No witness to the crime
I must act fast to cover up
I think that there`s still time
He`d seem hopeless and lost with this note
They`ll buy into the words that I wrote

This feeling
Inside me
Finally found my love
I`ve finally broke free
No longer
Torn in two
I`d take my own life before losing you

[Victoria:]

Feeling good this Friday afternoon
I ran into Julian
Said we’d get together soon

He`s always had my heart
He needs to know
I`ll break free of the Miracle
It`s time for him to go

This feeling
Inside me
Finally found my love
I`ve finally broke free

No longer
Torn in two
He`d kill his brother if he only knew
Their love renewed
They`d rendezvous

In a pathway out of view
They thought no one knew
Then came a shot out of the night
“Open your eyes, Victoria“

[Sleeper:]

One last time
We’ll lay down today
One last time
Until we fade away
One last time
We’ll lay down today
One last time
We fade away

As their bodies lie still
And the ending draws near
Spirits rise through the air
All their fears disappear
It all becomes clear

A blinding light comes into view
An old soul exchanged for a new
Familiar voice comes shining through

[Nicholas:]

This feeling
Inside me
Finally found my life
I`m finally free

No longer
Torn in two
I learned about my life by living through you
This feeling
Inside me
Finally found my life
I`ve finally broke free

No longer
Torn in two
Living my own life by learning from you
We`ll meet again my friend
Someday soon

[CNN report:]

“… their lead story, all anticipating the outcome of the man considered to be a member of American nobility. And as you can imagine, as the skies have grown darker here over Washington. The moon has grown darker as well and people here are beginning to resign themselves to the possibility that they are witnessing yet another tragedy in a long string of misfortunes. Reaction from everywhere, from Washington and certainly from around the world has guess…”

[Hypnotist:]

“Open your eyes, Nicholas‘”

[Nicholas:]

“AAAH!“

———-

III. CLOSING COMMENTS

Album ini adalah jawaban DT untuk fans-fans yang bertanya kelanjutan dari “Metropolis Part I : The Miracle and The Sleeper” pada album Images and Words (1992). Akan tetapi dari sisi cerita mungkin DT sedikit memaksakan dengan beberapa kesamaan lirik dan judul antara lagu tersebut dengan keseluruhan album. Namun, secara musikalitas, album “Metropolis Part II : The Scenes From A memory” adalah sebuah “kitab” wajib buat seluruh penggemar Progressive Rock sepanjang masa. Album ini akan lama dikenang sebagai salah satu karya “classical” dalam sejarah Progressive Rock.

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