# Looking for some (good) melodramatic rock **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 11, 2007, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828 "2007-09-11T20:06:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/21 "2007-09-13T15:52:31Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > That was so dorky it became cool, then went dorky again, took a left turn into super-cool (chick in armor on unicorn) and then… Well, you pretty much summed up my experience. A friend of mine sent it to me, and at first I was all, “What the hell is this?” Then, “Aw, hell yeah.” Then, “Oh, come on.” Then, “Fuck, this is exactly what I want life to be like.” (Obviously I would be the hot blonde.) And just because it cracked me up, here is what my friend said when he sent me the link: > [@](#): > > 1. Shooting laser beams at random things and starting them on fire? Check. > 2. Totally sweet kung fu? Check. > 3. Eagles? Check. > 4. Slo-mo fighting? Check. > 5. Holograms? Check. > 6. Be’horse-backed Vixens on unicorns? Fucking check! > 7. More lasers? Check. One of the YouTube comments is that 4:14 is where you throw up your horns. I fully agree. OK, I will stop talking about it now. I am off to watch Exo Politics to see if I like it as much. P.S. Lots of fun suggestions in this thread. Good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/22 "2007-09-13T17:22:28Z")
[QUOTE=picunurse] [Suite Madame Blue](http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Styx/Suite-Madame-Blue.html) by Styx? [/QUOTE] Just about anything by Styx might work. “Come Sail Away” is a great one. It’s like it was written specifically to be covered by Tenacious D, and I love it. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/23 "2007-09-13T17:54:35Z")
Dangit, sweepkick beat me to recommending Queensryche’s OPERATION MINDCRIME. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/24 "2007-09-13T18:04:44Z")
[QUOTE=3acresandatruck] _Bohemian Rhapsody_ by **Queen**? [/QUOTE] I’ll see your Rhapsody and raise you by 70% with “The Prophet’s Song” on the same album. ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/25 "2007-09-13T18:12:10Z")
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ] Look at the entire genre called “prog rock.” It’s guys in capes and leather pants playing keyboards and 20 minute guitar solos and whatnot, being overly dramatic. 🙂 [/QUOTE] They don’t _all_ wear capes, anymore. 🙂 You could try [The Tangent](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf-EYhyU4_g) (trailer for a DVD I’m still waiting for) or [Transatlantic](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIxOq-kL_8M) or [Spock’s Beard](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77B0LTxG5bM) (same singer, different band) or [Dream Theater](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k1ogfdsOyo) (practically defines “melodramatic”) You might like [The Flower Kings](http://www.myspace.com/cosmiclodge) And of course there is always the classic [In The Court Of The Crimson King](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agroJlGhDiY) I don’t know how “cheesy” you’ll find any of them to be, but I’m sure somebody will. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/26 "2007-09-13T18:16:31Z")
I’ll list a few myself: Styx, “The Grand Illusion” and “Castle Walls” from _The Grand Illusion_ Meat Loaf, “Bat Out of Hell”, from the album of the same name Yes, “South Side of the Sky” from _Fragile_\* Pink Floyd, “Welcome to the Machine” from _Wish You Were Here_\* Alan Parsons Project, “The System of Dr. Tarr & Professor Fether” from _Tales of Mystery and Imagination_ Bloodrock, “DOA”, from _Bloodrock 2_ Deep Purple, “Smoke on the Water” Mind Over Matter, “Shangri-La” from _Palace of Winds_ King Crimson, “Court of the Crimson King” from the album of the same name - yeah, I know, I could compile a knee-deep list just from Yes and PF ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/27 "2007-09-13T21:37:29Z")
The Darkness and more recent The Killers. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/28 "2007-09-13T21:45:39Z")
A lot of good suggestions. Most people have already mentioned the first things that popped into my head. How about: Emerson Lake & Palmer “Brain Salad Surgery” Rush “2112” Supertramp “Crime Of The Century” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/29 "2007-09-13T21:48:08Z")
I dare say if the Smashing Pumpkins don’t qualify as melodramatic rock, I don’t know who does. I’d say Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness are worth exploring if you want melodrama and can get past Billy Corgan’s voice (which I hated at first, but now I actually think it quite fits the music well). I’m not sure I’d consider them “slightly cheesy,” but lyrically they are very much of that angsty-13-year-old-scrawling-in-his-notebook ilk. ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/30 "2007-09-13T21:58:09Z")
[QUOTE=Beadalin] Seconding **Crusoe** , because the first thing that popped to mind was this COMPLETELY AWESOME video. I [heart] it so much: ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/jV1bRfLHA3A/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/jV1bRfLHA3A?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque [/QUOTE] I’m not able to get this video to load from this link, and I’m dying to see what everyone is talking about. I like lasers and unicorns! What search terms could I use on YouTube to find it? Just searching “crusoe” isn’t helping. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/31 "2007-09-13T22:02:00Z")
Oh, I meant Crusoe the poster – we’re talking about the band Muse’s song “Knights of Cydonia.” Try searching for those words. Sorry the link doesn’t work for you. ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/32 "2007-09-13T22:06:57Z")
Okay, _duh_. Of course. I’ve even seen that video, and it’s awesome, and I was thinking, “Someone else made a video like that? Truly, we are living in a golden age!” I blame my being way too busy with work to fully concentrate on the Dope. I hate when that happens. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Fireclown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f19dbf/32.png) [@Fireclown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fireclown)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/33 "2007-09-14T05:06:09Z")
Manowar. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/34 "2007-09-14T06:49:43Z")
[QUOTE=Fireclown] Manowar. [/QUOTE] _Hail and Kill_ and _Call to Arms_ are two songs I like, but everything else of theirs that I’ve heard hasn’t matched up with those two. Is there any other songs by them on the same level as these? ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/35 "2007-09-14T14:31:27Z")
[QUOTE=Beadalin] One of the YouTube comments is that 4:14 is where you throw up your horns. I fully agree. [/QUOTE] Hehe, I was instantly skeptical and guarded :dubious: when I started watching this after reading these posts. At that same moment, I actually yelled “Yes! Woo!” and threw my arms up in the air. That is the greatest heavy metal video moment since Joe Elliot was waving the giant glowing sword around in Rock of Ages. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/36 "2007-09-14T18:15:35Z")
[QUOTE=Gut] Dragonforce for some high speed metal drama. Just do a search on YouTube for a sample. [/QUOTE] I love them, cheesy as they are. Great for working out. Try “Through the Fire and Flames” as a sample of everything they’re about, and I guarantee most of the other songs sound pretty damn similar to it. I also like Nightwish, a Finnish “power metal” band featuring the lovely opera-trained female singer Tarja (who was recently booted out). Their stuff is very melodramatic as well. Both bands conjure up mental images of viking warlords or armored knights standing on the edge of a cliff or chasm, ready to defend against the approaching forces of darkness and evil, with the fate of the universe hanging in the balance. Epic stuff, drenched in cheese, but lots of fun nevertheless. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/37 "2007-09-14T18:28:10Z")
[QUOTE=Beadalin] Seconding **Crusoe** , because the first thing that popped to mind was this COMPLETELY AWESOME video. I [heart] it so much: ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/jV1bRfLHA3A/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/jV1bRfLHA3A?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque [/QUOTE] That’s just about the best video I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/38 "2007-09-14T19:05:05Z")
[QUOTE=cbawlmer] Just about anything by Styx might work. “Come Sail Away” is a great one. It’s like it was written specifically to be covered by Tenacious D, and I love it. [/QUOTE] What, no love for Eric Cartman’s version? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/39 "2007-09-14T19:13:23Z")
[QUOTE=cochrane] What, no love for Eric Cartman’s version? 😃 [/QUOTE] No, though I respect the compulsion to sing it all the way throgh to the end. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828/40 "2007-09-14T19:35:19Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] Anything by **Meat Loaf**. You can’t get more bombastic or emotional than that. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=AHunter3] Meat Loaf, “Bat Out of Hell”, from the album of the same name [/QUOTE] It’s not really Meat responsible for the melodrama here - go with _anything_ written by Jim Steinman, including his solo album. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-melodramatic-rock/418828.md?page=3)