Reaction-Analysis to "The Day that the World Breaks Down" as performed live by Ayreon 

Oh I'm SO GLAD you got the chance to react to this masterpiece! I kinda wish you would check the music video for this one as well, but I know it's a bit hard to just do the same song twice - I'd definitely recommend seeing it for your own enjoyment anyway if you haven't already, the mastermind behind this project has a few fun little details about the piece and the people involved, it's really good! plus, the differences from the live performance and how it was made in studio are really interesting, including the original singers/characters that couldn't make to the live show). Also, you HAVE to check out Everybody Dies too, from their previous live show, it's part of the story too! the live set for that one was WILD too (I mean, I actually would love to see you do the whole catalogue, and then all the projects of all the musicians and singers involved!! ;-)). They're all so talented, I love it! And I lovelovelove seeing your breakdowns, you got the characters so spot on (including the smarmy president, lol!)

Next the 6th extinction from the same concert

I love Ayreon and Star one (another project of Arjen's). Yes you are correct that the different singers are representing different characters. On the album The Human Equation the different singers actually represent different emotions! It's amazing stuff and really reignited my love of the art of music 15 years ago when I first heard Ayreon.

Recommended Video’s Ayreon - The Sixth Extinction (01011001 - Live Beneath The Waves 2023) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HAJ0zTMLClQ.htmlsi=G195amAeDnYt-PrS Ayreon - Everybody Dies (Ayreon Universe) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9AAXtUdM7xE.html Ayreon - Star of Sirrah (Universe) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3dEHQNAZsIo.html Ayreon - Intergalactic Space Crusaders (Universe) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mDjomu33Xzc.html Ayreon - The Eye Of Ra (Universe) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-odcO0SciTUY.html Ayreon - Twisted Coil (Electric Castle And Other Tales) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gcHn0kCgmAs.html Ayreon - And The Druids Turned To Stone (Ayreon Universe) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lR-foGKsus0.html

You're welcome! And yes, the concerts were amazing. I was lucky enough to get tickets for the dress reheasal and the Saturday evening show. They played five shows from Friday to Sunday and the recording is from the last show of that marathon. In addidtion Damian, Mike and Marcela were playing small(er) acoustic gigs on Friday and Saturday. That whole weekend was quite an experience and I'll definitely be back for next year's shows. As you might have seen, the whole Beneath The Waves show is up on Arjen's channel. If you need some months worth of content. 😎 If thät's not enough the other two concerts are on youtube as well and there are playlists for them (Ayreon Universe and Electric Castle And Other Tales live). Sorry for nagging you for so long but I was sure you would like Ayreon. And I have a feeling you had a little bit of fun with this one.. 😀

All the Live Ayreon concerts are incredible... Ayreon Universe... The Electric Castle Live.. worth watching them all the way through!

This was cool.. I had heard glimpses of Ayeron, but not very familiar with it. This certainly begs for digging more into this music.

Not only are they "singers," but most of them front their own bands.

Keep on doing AYREON / Star one . Great stuff ! Greetings from a swedish Ayreonut

Floor was supposed to be there too, but she got pregnant to her own surprise. After collapsing after a Nightwish concert, she had to take some time off to give birth to her second daughter Lucy anyway. 'Star Blade' is the name of the spaceship the survivors will flee on after their world breaks down. The character of Michael Mills is TH1 the computer. The translation of the binary code he sings is 'Trust TH1'. If that trust is justified you find out at the end of the album this is coming from called 'The Source'. The video Arjen made of this song explains more of the beginning of the story. Worth a watch also.

Thanks for this... There's so much pure *Theater* in this, it almost (or does?) counts as Opera!

I flew from Australia for this

It would be great to see more Ayreon analyzing.

I am glad you are reacting to Ayreon, Arjen is a brilliant composer. I truly enjoy bands like Epica and Blind Guardian, and that's how I have discovered this song a few years ago.. Totally mind blowing! and I always love your r&a videos to VoicePlay so this is a fun change.. Thanks David!

Believe it or not, it is the studio version of this that is the recommended first listen. Arjen provides a running commentary describing what is going on, how it was recorded, who the musicians are etc. Well worth watching that as well and you'll meet several other musicians 😊

This song is not on the album 01011001 but on the album The Source

Thanks David 😊

a most enjoyable reaction. Thank you.

Thanks for that - the music video is the one most reactors do first, but in that one Arjen does half your job for you, so I reckon this is better for your channel! Do check it out for your own enjoyment tho (personally I had trouble with the number of input streams at first, but it is very informative). It'll show how well you read the various characters (credit to you, Arjen, and the performers). Incidentally, "the only one who can save us" is the Captain, and _his_ _ship_ is called Starblade.

Oh dear David, bucket up... Ayreon is such an experience. Live is amazing, especially because they don't do this often. Fans from all over the world come to the Netherlands to see this project. Tickets go sooo fast. People are so excited it is amazing. There are rumors there will be an Arjen project live next year. 🙏 It is definitely worth the trip to NL. 😊

Ayreon tends to open many rabbit holes. Enjoy the adventure!🤘🎸

I hope your friend Marcus explains to you why you watched the wrong version of this song. Had you watched the original you would have had some knowledge of the whole performance. Your description of Anneke is quite frankly insulting. She is the inspiration for Floor Jansen, Simone Simons and virtually every other female Dutch singer for the last 30 years.

This reaction was almost as epic as the performance. There are always going to be the "wrong video" comments from such a dedicated group of fans, but I haven't watched Ayreon before so appreciate seeing a live performance to gain a feel for the energy and presence of a band.

Check out the album video version

Change of vocalists from the album version.

This is not the version to start with. Studio should be starting point