Written by bassist and founding member Steve Harris, the song is based on the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava 1854, which took place during the Crimean War and inspired by Lord Tennyson's poem of the same name. Also, this is one of the songs that defines Iron Maiden's galloping style and one of the most iconic songs in the history of Rock and Metal. An anthem, a timeless masterpiece.
Bruce is a beast, and this band is one of the BEST live shows going. Also, you gotta love the knowledge of history these guys put into their body of work
Yes, that rhythm is indeed the classic Maiden gallop. That you didn’t know that yet immediately identified the pattern and identified it by name proves how effective it is. Greatest metal song ever.
That rhythm is universally known as the gallop. It`s been around way longer than Iron Maiden has. "Barracuda" from Heart is one of the tracks that come to mind having a "gallop"
@@JamoZNL I don’t know that I or anyone was claiming Maiden invented it. Pretty hard to invent a rhythm at this point in human history. But Maiden is known for it as part of their signature. And it just happens to correlate with the story of the song in this instance. But yes, if it’s important to you to have acknowledged that Maiden didn’t invent it, you are correct.
"I don't know what the strumming pattern is, but it's giving that galloping feel." I fucking LOVE this sentence. To those of us already steeped in metal guitar, it's literally called a gallop riff. That you quickly reach the same conclusion having come at it from a different angle is a perfect showcase of how great minds think alike, even though they may have had drastically different inputs into their current thinking.
Sad fact: During the filming of the 1936 Charge of the light brigade, 25 horses were killed. Errol Flynn who stared in the movie, is said to have physically attacked the director when he found out. Happy fact: This prompted the US congress to pass laws protecting animals in films.
Hey lady there’s no lip syncing for Bruce Dickerson, that’s why they refused to do most TV as they wanted it mimed and they refused unless they could sing live, plus if you look for iron maiden German TV appearance you’ll see what they did on a rare Tv appearance where they surprised them with not being live
Up in his 60s Bruce still belts it out AND his energy level is off the charts. He is always active even when off stage he is being fitted for the next song costume and keeps going. I was exhausted for him just watching behind the scenes how much he is doing through the whole show. No time to rest. So truly even more amazing than what we even see.
my 5 year old was watching Live After Death with me and worried that the band was not drinking enough water' I told her not to worry they had plenty of water just off stage, that they were pros that actually took very good care of themselves - why they are still going strong
That's why he doesn't tolerate people smoking dope near the stage. I saw them in '03 and Bruce stopped the show to kick the pothead out from in front of the band. Some may see that as a dick move, but I understand he has to keep his energy.
To this day they are still one of the best live bands ever. If you would have chosen a recent live version it would still sound just as good as the studio version. I highly recommend if you get the chance to see them live to go see them. You will not regret it.
I love watching your reactions. Your technical observations often offer me new perspectives on my old favorite songs. And your positivity is absolutely magnetic. Wonderful!
They are still touring now and this song is a staple of their set list. Based on the poem 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' about the battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War. There are some good live clips of Bruce in the 80's on the 'Live After Death' and 'Maiden England' videos - all songs are on youtube. Love your reviews - More Iron Maiden and Devin Townsend please!!
Luckily, my brother was really into metal including Iron Maiden and he took me see them around 2005 or so. They pretty much sound flawless live. I would even say they sound better live. They're a bit theatrical live too and it fits their style and storytelling perfect.
I find that alot of Bruce's work is sort of a hybrid between singing and dramatic oratory, like he's recounting a grand story, creepy tale, or an epic poem to music. You could say that he has the spirit of a type of medeival bard or minstrel, who would put on a stylistic musical show of the latest news.
Saw Maiden many many many times in the 80s & 90s and they NEVER let me down. This is how Bruce sounded live, perfection, he is so talented and has always been in such great physical shape. Iron Maiden is perfection at it's most perfect, I love them, always have. Since the 1970s and the Di'Anno albums!
Iron Maiden practically invented the galloping rhythm and it is/was part of their sound. Once Dickinson replaced Paul DiAnno that signature sound slightly faded. Steve Harris, bass player and writer of most of both the lyrics and music evolved in his writing, as one does, and the music changed a touch. Dickinson's vocals also changed over the years. With getting older (and doing sometimes 300 concerts a year) his voice lost its sharpness, some of its edge, but at the same time his timbre got broader. Lovely reaction, as always. You're the only reactor I don't mind stopping the music to talk. Because, hey!, you've got something to say and your responses are sooo genuine. That's what I like most about you: your genuine love for the music, whatever music, you're listening to. That's a rarity among YT reactors. Most have ulterior motives and are faking at times, because they have "a job" to do. You however, are true as an arrow. It is appreciated.
I feel Children of the grave is has a bit of a jazzier swing to it. But the only song that had a gallop rhythm would be the finale of William Tell Overture. But Maiden definitely originated the gallop as far as rock and metal goes.
Thanks for reacting to more Maiden. You were correct to hit on the tempo sounding like galloping of horses. they are masters of putting an underlying beat or tempo in relation to what they are singing about and every maiden song is a story telling adventure or a history lesson. In this case, the Charge of the Light Brigade. There's Alexander the Great, Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Loneliness of the long distance runner, Flight of Icarus, Run to the Hills, Dance of Death, Aces High...and the list goes on. Keep'em coming.
Saw them live once in US, California. We could not believe it, it was amazing! AND there was a freak thunderstorm that came out of nowhere: there was lighting in the sky directly above us and the stage! Most incredible thing I ever seen like that! Shame the people up front probable didn't see the lightning
Maiden is one of the few that studio is like rehearsal for live. So many absolutely brilliant live official albums and I am in heaven just listening to all the bootlegs. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
“A lot’s happened so far” Yup that’s Maiden always so much going on. 41 years listening to their music and I’m still finding stuff that I never noticed before. Greatest band to ever exist
That Galloping sound is the signature of Iron Maiden all their songs have this drive they're driving you driving you driving you hurting you to the precipice it's phenomenal and that's what makes them stand out amongst their peers
You nailed Steve Harris bass playing in the first minute of the song, well done. He is the galloping bassline master, used in MANY Iron Maiden songs through the years.
When you see them live the moment those first notes hit the energy in the crowd explodes. Then to hear 10’s (or 100’s at a festival) of thousands of fans singing the opening lines along with Bruce is amazing. I strongly urge you to go to see them on the “Future Past” tour hitting North America late next year. Yes, they’ve slowed down a little now that they are in their 60’s but they still do a great live show. You should check out the version from the “Legacy of the Beast” tour only because it gives you a great idea of their theatricality with Bruce having a sword fight with Eddie during the song. I would love to see you analyze the recent “Stranger in a Strange Land” live version from the current tour, the performance is from Wacken Open Air and the visuals are a compilation of stuff from the tour. It’s a great example of how Bruce’s voice sounds now, as well as giving a nice sense of the theatricality of a live Maiden show.
in 1980, I discovered two heavy metal bands that spurred my love of the genre, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. Rob and Bruce set a bar that few could match, let alone surpass, whether in metal or other genres. Thank you again for such a wonderful reaction video. Have you ever heard Nazareth do their version of Vigilante Man?
@@pllat0scave this is true. And iomagine what a revelation it was when Bruce came on board.. I loved many of the songs with Paul, like Prodigal Son, Remember Tomorrow, Wrathchild, Running Free, etc, but Bruce just took them to a different level, in my opinion.
I first saw Iron Maiden live back in 1985 when I was 14. I just saw them last month at Power Trip at my current age of 52. It's pretty awesome to see them get the recognition and validation by non fans. Not that they need it but it's great to see people react for the first time to songs that us fans have been listening to for 40+ years. I'd like to see more videos of you listening to other Iron Maiden songs.
The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936) is the film shown in this music video. During the filming of The Charge of the Light Brigade, 125 horses were trip-wired. Of those, 25 were killed outright or had to be put down afterward. The resulting public furor caused the U.S. Congress to pass laws to protect animals used in motion pictures.
Fantastic reaction, thanks👍 With many Iron Maiden songs, you get an accurate history lesson. The Trooper tells the account of a British soldier in the Battle of Balaklava during the Crimean War. Lord Cardigan led the British cavalry against Russian forces during this battle on 25 October 1854. Lord Raglan had intended to send the Light Brigade to prevent the Russians from removing captured guns from overrun Turkish positions. However, there was miscommunication in the chain of command and the Light Brigade was instead sent on a suicide mission charging straight at heavy Russian artillery which cost the lives of around 300 British soldiers. Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote a poem to commemorate this disaster and he called it "The Charge of the Light Brigade". The bronze that the recaptured guns were made from was used to make the Victoria Cross, a military medal of the very highest order that was awarded "for valour"and designed by Queen Victoria herself. Very few of these have ever been awarded, even to this day. Other great Iron Maiden history lessons you could check out.... Run to the Hills, Alexander the Great, Paschendale and Empire of the Clouds. I've been a Maiden fan since hearing their debut album in 1980 when I was 10 years old. I've seen them live every time they've played in London, their home ground and mine, and they never disappoint. Up the Irons!!!
It's impossible to pick a favorite Iron Maiden song but this most definitely in my top 3. They have so many bangers I can't count & Bruce Dickenson is the real most interesting man in the world and they're still touring in style.
One of my favorite songs, strongly influenced by one of my favorite poems. In the late '80s, a lot of us tankers would play this song on our Walkmans® getting hyped up to do our Tank Table VIII gunnery runs (and in the field otherwise, as well).
2:08 Yes, it was indeed intended. Furthermore, "The Maiden Gallop" has been used in quite a few other songs too and in time it became a trade mark of the band along with guitar harmonies of course.
yeah you right that's Harry's baseline signature right there also the galloping drums beat fits with the storytelling battle that they are taking about and of course Bruce range vocals is insane one of the greatest showman of all of the time.
Your analysis of these bands rings very true. Many reviewers rely a lot on fluff, not you. You're generally interested in evaluating a performance. Well done! 🎸
Refreshing that you reacted to the studio version. Bruce Dickinson year 1983 was the best version of him, Bruce at the peak, 25 years young. Not the unpolished diamond as on the previous record, just bright raw power from the bottom to the top. The whole Piece Of Mind album is one of the best sung albums of all time, IMO. And talking about live performances and stamina, as always, I recommend The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner, amazing, long song, where Bruce goes everywhere, a lot. From a young Bruce from Live After Death 1985 or more recent from 2008, take your pick, they´re both fantastic performances.
I got stuck writing a book report on the Rime back in High School. Didn't make any sense. Iron Maiden comes along with "She-Life In Death, she lets him live, her chosen one." It made some stupid sense. Got an A
I remember being into them. They were one of my favorite bands. It’s great to see people reviewing some bands from my early days of listening to rock. You have a great smile. I’m sure you get this all the time but if you haven’t heard it today. You are so beautiful. Anyways, great video. Loved your reaction. Iron Maiden’s Mascot Eddie is Legendary. They don’t ever disappoint. Great band.
Saw them live October 22 in NC. Even in his 60s, Bruce Dickinson went HARD for two hours. Their prowess, engagement with the crowd, and love of their music is UNMATCHED.
Maiden! Maiden! Maiden! Up the Irons. The movie being shown is "Charge of the Light Brigade" starring Errol Flynn. 25 horses were killed during the charge scene. Errol Flynn attacked the director after the scene was filmed and ultimately Congress passed legislation to protect animals in movies.
I saw them last year and they were so awesome live. What a great experience I was able to share with my daughters who are in their early 20's. They were high energy from the start to finish. So so good!!!
I still think Maiden is one of the most underrated for their musicality. The harmonies of both guitars and the bass. Almost every instrument sings. The drums and then of course Bruce's vocals. The solos are iconic. Not just shredding but tasty...so typical of the 70s and 80s. I love her and her reaction. I wish she was my music teacher.
I saw them live for the 'Somewhere in Time' concert and remember Bruce singing this song, there is a reason they call him the Air Siren!! The show was at the Oakland Coliseum, and I still have my ticket stub:, Sat, Feb 21, 1987, at 7:30 p.m., another Bill Grahm show, with a ticket price of just $16.50. Those were the days!!
I've seen Iron Maiden live probably a dozen times since 1987. They consistently put on an amazing stage show. One of the all time great metal bands. Their music is historical, literary and philosophical. They are the thinking man's metal band.
Generally when doing a music video the band plays live to the amplified recorded track to mimic it, so likely those are Bruce's actual singing mouth movements for those parts
YES!Im also very effected by the horses falling over.Idk but I'm guessing it was made for that type of reaction.What I love about Iron Maiden is their lyrics have great meaning and high impact amazing vocals grab my attention.
No, it was not made for that type of reaction. This song is about the ugly realities of war. I find it interesting that your heart bleeds for the fallen horses and not the fallen men. The same with the lady uploader. This is one of the reasons why the west is collapsing. WOMEN love & care more about animals than they care about men, and their husbands. Today, women will kiss their dogs on their mouths and lick their tongs before kissing their own husbands. So tragic this pit of cold-hearted depravity against men women have descended to. Back when this song was written, the targeted audience is MEN. This song is written for issues concerning MEN because it's MEN that get drafted to go to war. If women got drafted to go to war, and to be used as cannon fodder on the front line, IMO you would not be putting the concerns of horses over human beings. I'm probably wrong about that though, .... you ladies would still be looking at and crying over the dead horses as two f8cks are not given for the men and women blown into 20 different pieces on the battle field. Then, just a few clicks away from this video are videos from women uploaders complaining about how men are no longer interested in getting married, or even asking them out on dates .... while proclaiming they don't know why. A man's dog loves him more than any woman ever will. A man's dog will sob with compassion when it sees it's man owner is in pain. A man never gets that kind of affection from his wife or girlfriend. No, what his wife or girlfriend will do is call him a p&ssy. Women of the west are cruel vicious monsters. Despite the fact that none of what I'm saying is probably resonating with you, both the coldhearted sentiment both you and the lady vocal coach expressed over the horse as the both of you ignore the suffering of the men on that battlefield to protect you is proof of everything I said here. ..
Bruce Dickinson is an amazing vocalist. I have seen Iron Maiden live and it was a great experience. Don't worry about the horses because these are specially trained stunt horses for movies. In my country there is an training academy for such horses.
Bruce has that absolute powerhouse voice, but knows how to control the dynamic. Saw Maiden for 5 consecutive tours back in the day, starting with Number of the Beast - ALWAYS a great show, top musicianship. Love that they are still bringing it!
The harmonies are from the bass player. His name is Steve. Iron maiden was created by him. All the songs are written and arranged by him and he also has a pretty good voice.
The gallop feel is what was termed as NWOBH, new wave of British heavy metal. Classic sound of the time. I remember when this came out and this was the first concert tour that I saw Iron Maiden live. It was an amazing show.
2:11 That was indeed what was intended for the bass line to mimic the sounds of horses galloping. Basically, the song is making reference to the battle of balaclava which took place during the Crimean War
I was lucky enought to see these guys live once. They were freaking incredible. My buddy refused to leave the floor to go take a piss and just pissed in empty cups. Yup, concert times.
To see Iron Maiden live is a true live music experience...The band relys on the crowd for the back up singing and evey Maiden fan knows this going in. I have never been to another concert that has the crowd energy and participation that Maiden has. It adds a whole other level to the Live Music experience. To have thousands of people signing at the top of there lungs crammed into a small space standing shoulder to shoulder totally invested in the show and participating in the songs....You just cant beat the experience. If you ever get the chance to see them live just do it, it is something you will never forget.
Happily I saw them in 1985 at the Halifax Metrocentre. Twisted Sister opened 😂 One of the greatest shows I’ve ever seen. They were so incredible. I was just several rows from the front, general admission for the floor those days remember that, in front of Dave Murray. He smiled the whole show. It was amazing! 🤟
The official video of "Flight of Icarus" has Bruce in the studio. You can probably see his mechanics much better. I think you would enjoy. It's their first big radio hit too.
Bethany, of all the vocal "experts", you're the one I like best. For your "technical knowledge" of the highest quality, for your friendliness, your respect for the artists (without unreasonable irony or sarcasm), for your charm, for your beauty (inside and out), for your power of concision, for your charisma. Make as many videos as possible of excellent heavy metal bands with exceptional vocalists. Some examples of bands/songs/vocalists: Deep Purple ("Child in Time" - Ian Gillan), Black Sabbath ("Snowblind" - Ozzy Osbourne), Soundgarden ("Jesus Christ Pose" - Chris Cornell), Deep Purple ("Burn" - Live in California 74 - California Jam concert - David Coverdale: lead vocals - Glenn Hughes: backing vocals)...Your analysis and reaction to the song "Painkiller" by Judas Priest is epic! You were clearly impressed, amazed, surprised, ecstatic with the overwhelming performance of the band and the "alien" Rob Halford, the lead singer...
This is the studio version. It's the best performance of the song that he ever gave, in my opinion, and it still sounds like he's he giving it everything he's got to hit the notes and sustain them in that key (Dm). It definitely doesn't sound effortless to me; it sounds effortful. The performances on The Number of the Beast, by comparison, sound effortless, like he's coming from a place of true power, of bottomless reserve. On this track, "Where Eagles Dare," and others on Piece of Mind, it sounds like he's holding on for dear life. There's something in the timbre of his voice that gives it away. The difference is very subtle, but it's there. They are all still legendary vocal performances by one of heavy metal's greatest vocalists. I say all of the above as a lifelong fan, btw. Theirs was one of the last arena shows I saw just before lockdown in 2020 and it was spectacular. Thanks for doing this one.
You nailed that bass vibe. Definitely "Bonanza" like with the galloping horse impressions. "The Four Horsemen" is a good one too. When I was a young army Ranger we used to sing "The Trooper" quite often in the back of the 5 ton on the way to the range.
Such a good song..do yourself a favour and listen to the insane cover of this track by the 2 Cellos duo, it is exceptional in its quality of tribute to the track, from the emphasis of horses charging in to battle by the rhythm to the guitar solos literally note for note played on cellos.. is insane..
