@@SS-rr7by if you still care: Masterpiece Theatre has 3 musical motifs, each of the masterpiece theatre songs adding one here we have from 1:03 which is a motif that gets presented in II and gets carried on to III as well. Then we have from 1:11 which is present like pretty much all throughout III . Then at 1:27 which is firstly introduced in I and once again gets carried throughout II and III. Pretty sure there are more instances of these motifs throughout but these are just the first time they appear in this song
1:10-3:08 has to be one of the best musical experiences i've ever had, holy *shit*. it's been on my mind all day. i think one of the best things about mtrench is their self-reference. they are not afraid to reuse motifs, lyrics, and other cues from past albums. i can't think of a band that does it more that marianas trench, come to think of it. they're so good at it, it's rewarding to be a long-time fan when you listen to their music because you just keep noticing the way they work their past into the present. we've Got That Here. in a VERY cool way. it starts with that callback to masterpiece theatre, with the xylophone (i think that's a xylophone anyways). that's already good enough, but the descending masterpiece theatre notes are soon being echoed by the ascending vocal motif from ever after. sounds fuckin' beautiful, it's already enough to make you emo, but it gets better. "here's everything that lead me here / our future still remains unclear". now, i know this refers mostly to the journey of the album, and josh and amanda's tumultuous relationship (like it says in the annotation on the genius lyrics page. i don't disagree with that). but to have that lyric sung over that mashup of masterpiece theatre and ever after is so subtle, yet phenomenal. once you notice it, you'll never un-notice it. it wasn't just the songs on astoria that brought him here, to this moment in this song; it was every album before this one, too. i remember josh saying somewhere that all of marianas trench's work is about *her*. every single song has brought them to this point: the end. and then the lyrics pick up, and josh gets more intense as he challenges the concept of "astoria", and this love that he feels he needs to leave behind. tells astoria to "face the music" (WHICH HURTS REAL GOOD OHOHOHOHO). "face the music when it's dire"; another cue from ever after rings in the background as he gets ready for his "fight" with that love. and he screams "goodbye, astoria", and masterpiece theatre and ever after crescendo with him, like a movie (~~lol duh like the album~~). and for icing on the cake, the music does something i totally wasn't expecting... *it sounds like the theme from back to the future*. all voices disappear, it's just an orchestra playing a tune that's heavily reminiscent of bttf. and we conclude that part of the "past", and we go back to the new compositions for the astoria album. and yeah, there are TONS more callbacks throughout the rest of the song, but it just feels so... neat, here. so well executed. if you read this far thanks for listening, lol. marianas trench are really on the ball when it comes to creating a multilayered *experience* with their music. even after listening to these albums a hundred times over, you can still find new easter eggs yo7 never noticed. i just tore apart two minutes of this song; there's like six more minutes to look at otherwise. and i'm certain i didn't even catch everything in the two minutes i DID yap about. basically shoutout to mtrench because they're fuckin AWESOME at crafting their songs. jesus christ. you could write essays on these guys (even longer than i just did).
I've never met someone who described their songs as multi-layed experiences and I am SO GLAD someone finally understands what I mean!! I'm always trying to show my friends and family and they don't seem to understand just how amazing it is!!! Like this is why I love music, if I had to pick one artist or band to listen to for the rest of my life it would be marianas trench because I already do listen to them constantely! I've been to almost 2 handfuls of concerts and THRIVE in every single bittersweet second of each performance!!! Just waiting for them to play the 'forgotten' songs rather than all the radio songs. That will make my life complete. Wish they could do concerts for each album (i.e. Edmonton: August 7: Fix Me August 8: Masterpiece Theatre August 9: Astoria August 10: Ever After August 11: Phantoms But I know that would be so exhausting for them. But if I had all the money in the world, I would try to beg and pay them to do it 😁 I think that would be the ultimate dream come true for me!!! Anyways, thanks for your well-worded analysis/thoughts on this song, I thoroughly loved reading it!!!
I also wanted to point out that in the background of the super awesome part, there’s the callback to This means War in the same album, you can hear the “fire in the - fire in the” part, it is awesome!
I primarily listen to metal, and this is probably one of my favorite songs of all time. I found these guys after Ever After and have been an enormous fan since, having seen them live multiple times with my wife. Josh Ramsay is a real deal vocalist, like an absolutely monstrous talent. Freddie Mercury would listen to Josh Ramsay & MT.
For the longest time I was afraid that this would be the end of the band, that for whatever reason, they were gonna break up. I couldn't bring myself to listen, let alone enjoy this song, when it brought me to tears at the thought. It still brings me to tears, but its more thru the merit of the song than the thought of the disbandment of my favorite artists. This is now one of my favorites of theirs.
WHY DONT THESE GUYS HAVE MORE RECOGNITION??? this band is the reason why i keep living. if it wasn't for marianas trench i would be dead right now. this is the absolute best song in the intire universe in my opinion. i love every single marianas trench song with all my heart but this one just really made me fall in love with the band 100 times more. it basically encompasses a bit from every single one of their songs and it's beautiful. ik it seems long to some people but time just stands still when it plays. josh ramsay's talent is out of this world. this man is a musical genius and he really takes the time to make sure everything in all of his songs is just perfect.
One last cue From love true To final ado Hearts will break For future's sake But mine just won't take Can't love if you don't I can't try if you won't Oh I know, please let me go My dear, cause I'd stay near And lose myself here Astoria I'm warning you I'm coming for I'm coming for you It's do or die for you and I And I'll never be taken alive Here's everything that led me here But our future's still remains unclear I tie my fate to Astoria So get up and face me Astoria Come and face the music Astoria It's about fucking time Astoria I'm wasting away here Astoria Goodbye Astoria I'm so afraid of trying something new Cause every start begins With saying goodbye to you Our heart divides an unrequited view But my heart is overdue I feel so ashamed Wish this was easy I want you to know This never was the man I hoped to be By now (How did we survive) We went through hell in Astoria (How did we survive) We lost ourselves in Astoria (How did we survive) I gave in to sickness Can you find forgiveness For a dear old friend So Astoria can end It's time Astoria It's time now Astoria I'm in over my head This is our goodbye (Never say die in Astoria) This is our goodbye (Never say die in Astoria) This is our goodbye (Never say die in Astoria) If we shadows have offended I hope your heart can still be mended I hope you know that I don't blame you My dear friend Always will Love you still But Astoria must end.
4:50 hit me in the heart for some reason. Like, I waa driving and listening to the album and this part had my eyes tearing up. No idea why it hit me like that.
Maybe because it reminds you of Porcelain, it uses the same melody. "When your heart releases, you won't fall to pieces, and your breath comes crashing in, like perfect porcelain"
"I gave in to sickness, can you find forgiveness? For a dear old friend, so Astoria can end" shares a melody/sound? with Porcelain "When your heart releases you won't fall to pieces. When your breath comes crashing in, like perfect Porcelain"
Pffffft naw. It's closure to their first 4 albums, a big wrap up. Though I do hope we hear some callbacks on their upcoming album. That Ever After motif always hits
![Marianas Trench - End of an Era [Official Audio]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
