# Nominations / discussion for new game - Epic Song Madness **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 23, 2011, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominations-discussion-for-new-game-epic-song-madness/582900 "2011-05-23T14:28:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominations-discussion-for-new-game-epic-song-madness/582900/1 "2011-05-23T14:28:07Z")
I’ve held a couple of these games before - [Led Zeppelin Madness](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=462618&highlight=madness), [AC/DC Madness](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=464541&highlight=madness), [Wack Pack Madness](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=490936&highlight=madness) (best to forget that one). I want to find out what would win a competition between “Epic” type songs. These tend to be, but are not necessarily, longish, and are maybe more “dramatic” than your standard rock songs. I have some songs that are definitely in the contest, but am not confident that I have a complete-ish list. These are songs that are **definitely in** : Stairway to Heaven - Zeppelin When the Levee Breaks - Zeppelin Kashmir - Zeppelin Achilles’ Last Stand - Zeppelin American Pie - Don McLean Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen Hotel California - Eagles In the Court of the Crimson King - King Crimson Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd Hey Jude - Beatles A Day in the Life - Beatles One - Metallica November Rain - Guns N Roses Layla - Eric Clapton Cowgirl in the Sand - Neil Young & Crazy Horse War Pigs - Black Sabbath Iron Man - Black Sabbath Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath Funeral For a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding - Elton John No Woman, No Cry - Bob Marley Dream On - Aerosmith There are some that I am uncertain about: Hocus Pocus - Focus - Novelty song, instrumental Captain Jack - Billy Joel - Meh Scenes From an Italian Restaurant - Billy Joel - I just realized how much I hate parts of this song _ **I’m sure I’m forgetting some. That’s why I haven’t posted the contest yet** _. Some Notes: I know I could put more from Metallica in there - any specific suggestions? Maybe Fade to Black? I want at least _something_ by Iron Maiden - the options are numerous. I’m NOT looking for obscure metal songs that nobody has ever heard of. I’m NOT just looking for simple “Story Songs.” That said, I would like any and all suggestions for songs to be included in the contest. Thanks. Joe ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominations-discussion-for-new-game-epic-song-madness/582900/2 "2011-05-23T14:46:51Z")
You need a few Yes epics. Start with: “And You And I” “Starship Trooper” “Close to the Edge” Maybe a few long Pink Floyd Tracks, like: “Shine on You Crazy Diamond (Parts 1 & 2)” “Dogs” “Sheep” Maybe a few Rush songs like: “Jacob’s Ladder.” A few of Bob Dylan’s longish “story” songs, like: “Isis” Other long songs: Gordon Lightfoot - “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” Traffic - “The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys” Bruce Springsteen’s “Jungle Land” The Doors’ “The End” Deep Purple’s “Child in Time” Led Zeppelin’s longest track, probably, is “How Many More Times” ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominations-discussion-for-new-game-epic-song-madness/582900/3 "2011-05-23T14:59:59Z")
What no “Inna Goda Divida” yet? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominations-discussion-for-new-game-epic-song-madness/582900/4 "2011-05-23T15:28:36Z")
In the old days, Genesis had some epics like: “Dancing With the Moonlit Knight” “Supper’s Ready” “Firth of Fifth” Add in Jethro Tull’s “Thick as a Brick” And Meat Loaf’s “Paradise By The Dashboard Light” Plus a bunch of ELP songs like: “Pirates” “Karn Evil 9: First and Third Impressions” ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominations-discussion-for-new-game-epic-song-madness/582900/5 "2011-05-23T15:31:25Z")
I’d go with _Enter Sandman_ as the Metallica entry. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominations-discussion-for-new-game-epic-song-madness/582900/6 "2011-05-23T15:52:56Z")
I absolutely meant to include “Paradise by the Dasboard Light.” It’s one of my favorite songs, just missed it. Probably “Bat out of Hell” also. I also missed “Thick as a Brick,” though I don’t like it all that much. I meant to ask for suggestions on Rush entries. Sorry, no on Enter Sandman. Just doesnt’t fit, unless a lot of others disagree. Joe ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominations-discussion-for-new-game-epic-song-madness/582900/7 "2011-05-23T15:54:30Z")
> [@Wargamer](#): > > What no “Inna Goda Divida” yet? Eh. It’s long, but it doesn’t fit, in my mind. I’ll include it if there’s enough support. Joe ---
**Author:** ![MHaye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbe5ce/32.png) [@MHaye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MHaye)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominations-discussion-for-new-game-epic-song-madness/582900/8 "2011-05-23T16:08:11Z")
Suggestions for Rush entry : 2112. Other possibilities include Xanadu and By-Tor and the Snow Dog. The Who : Won’t get fooled again. I’m fairly sure this has been done here before, but not for three years or so. It’ll be interesting to see how tastes change. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominations-discussion-for-new-game-epic-song-madness/582900/9 "2011-05-23T18:23:07Z")
“Pull Me Under” by Dream Theater (their one and only hit and featured on their compilation album _Greatest Hit_) (this is the dark horse candidate). If songs without lyrics are allowed, “Fire on High” by The Electric Light Orchestra and “Frankenstein” by The Edgar Winter Group would work nicely. “Roundabout” by Yes (though I’ve never been much of a fan of that song). As far as Jethro Tull, “Aqualung” would work as well. Queensryche has a few good songs from _Operation: Mindcrime_, though I don’t recall which were released as Singles. Also many of the tracks from _Empire_ would work as another dark horse candidate, including the title track, which was probably the least well known of the singles which included “Jet City Woman”, “Another Rainy Night (Without You)”, and their best known song “Silent Lucidity”. Another possible Rush suggestion would be “Tom Sawyer”, which is probably their most radio-friendly single. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominations-discussion-for-new-game-epic-song-madness/582900/10 "2011-05-23T19:36:49Z")
Shangri-la - The Kinks ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominations-discussion-for-new-game-epic-song-madness/582900/11 "2011-05-24T22:02:58Z")
Not totally sure if these fit your criteria: Baba O’reilly - The Who Come Sail Away - Styx Grand Illusion - Styx Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac Don’t Stop - Fleetwood Mac Roundabout - Yes How is what you are asking different from so-called Rock Anthems? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominations-discussion-for-new-game-epic-song-madness/582900/12 "2011-05-24T22:28:39Z")
> [@Moonchild](#): > > How is what you are asking different from so-called Rock Anthems? I don’t want to speak for the OP, but in my understanding, some songs that qualify as “rock anthems” are too homogenous or one-dimensional to be “epic.” An “epic” song, as I understand it, takes you on a journey. You end up somewhere different from where you started the song—or else you end up back where you started after having gone somewhere else. Building to a crescendo or abruptly switching gears is often involved. There’s got to be at least some element of over-the-top-ness, but usually also some low-key-ness as well. So, of the songs you listed, I’d say “Come Sail Away” is a great example; “Go Your Own Way” not so much. I’ve thought of a couple of other nominations: The Prophet’s Song\* - Queen Band on the Run - Paul McCartney & Wings \*I just now looked up this one on YouTube. The first comment: "I looked up the word epic on dictionary.,com and it was just a link to this song. " ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominations-discussion-for-new-game-epic-song-madness/582900/13 "2011-05-25T02:20:16Z")
**Thudlow Boink** has my idea right. I’ll have the game up tomorrow, with additions of several peoples’ suggestions. Joe ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominations-discussion-for-new-game-epic-song-madness/582900/14 "2011-05-25T03:23:21Z")
I ran this exact tournament before: [Epic Song Madness](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=476771) [Round 2](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=477659) [Sweet Sixteen](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=478374) [Elite Eight](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=479230) [Final Four](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=480374) [Championship](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=480912) ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominations-discussion-for-new-game-epic-song-madness/582900/15 "2011-05-30T05:38:13Z")
You should consider including “Knights of Cydonia” by Muse. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominations-discussion-for-new-game-epic-song-madness/582900/16 "2011-05-30T07:04:18Z")
The live version of “Stay”-Jackson Browne