Forostar's Top 50 Iron Maiden songs

Forostar

Forostar

Ancient Mariner
01. Rime of the Ancient Mariner
02. Sea of Madness
03. Infinite Dreams
04. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
05. Powerslave
06. Deja-Vu
07. The Unbeliever
08. The Trooper
09. The Duellists
10. Genghis Khan
11. Only the Good Die Young
12. Alexander the Great
13. Caught Somewhere in Time
14. Mother Russia
15. Afraid to Shoot Strangers
16. Prowler
17. Blood on the World's Hands
18. Brave New World
19. The Evil That Men Do
20. To Tame a Land
21. Transylvania
22. The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner
23. The Clairvoyant
24. Hallowed Be Thy Name
25. Dance of Death
26. Ghost of the Navigator
27. Virus
28. Run Silent Run Deep
29. Brighter Than a Thousand Suns
30. Paschendale
31. The Fugitive
32. Aces High
33. Isle of Avalon
34. Fates Warning
35. Judgement of Heaven
36. 22 Acacia Avenue
37. Purgatory
38. Phantom of the Opera
39. Wasted Years
40. Starblind
41. Public Enema Number One
42. Lord of Light
43. Lightning Strikes Twice
44. Die with Your Boots On
45. Flight of Icarus
46. Remember Tomorrow
47. That Girl
48. Childhood's End
49. Sign of the Cross
50. Fortunes of War

- - - - - - -
To be honest, I was reluctant to do this at first. I thought these personal top somethings could take away the attention from the song topics in the Commentary section. I also doubted if I should do this, because not long ago I and many others did their best with writing reviews. So I hope you guys don't mind if I will use the same ones, unless a new thought has come up, or when my opinion changed somewhat.

But at the same time I like orders. I like lists. For me, this will be one of the most difficult lists to make. The problem is that I like many songs very much. So this is quite a challenge. Another reason to do this is that my list might be a little heretic. :)

So, thanks in advance for bearing with me. Here goes:

(the following song was no. 50 at first, but one day later I decided otherwise)

No. 51 - The Alchemist
(Gers/Harris/Dickinson, 2010 -> on stage-status: never played)

This really was the type of song I hadn't expected anymore. A short and strong song!
Maiden can still do it! Rainmaker was perhaps the last one of this level. That one had its own qualities, but this one has way more energy. A very fresh song.

In fact, I find it one of the best short songs (under 5 minutes) of this line-up. Yes, it does remind us a lot of "Be Quick or Be Dead" and "Man on the Edge" (some riffs, and the couplets), but this song has more melody in the chorus, and there's another aspect I admire: There are many different parts in this short and fast track. How did he come up with all this shit all of a sudden? Must be "strange alchemy!" I wonder why this wasn’t used as the title…

A lot of variation, great chorus, and some powerful guitar melodies. Janick: I am less happy with your other track, but thanks for this one! This is indeed what the album needed. :rocker:

Ranko said:
My dreams of empire from my frozen queen will come to pass - dreams of empire from his frozen queen? Who is this frozen queen, what empire did she dream of?
Click to expand...

I thought of the idea that this song is about Bruce himself. I know it's about Doctor Dee, but he says "I am Doctor Dee" and I see a double meaning in it. In this case, with "frozen queen" Bruce refers to his solo career which in fact is frozen, and is one of the few important aspects in his life he's still dreaming of, to continue it, at some point.

Bruce is a magus, an alchemist, who mixes all kinds of elements in his life to make it worth for him.
When he wrote "Taking the Queen" Bruce's solo career was injected with new life (or "alchemy" if you like), but at this time he has left his queen for a longer period... She is frozen.

In "The Alchemist" he writes: "Know this, I will return to this land.... ", and "chain up the demons set free", and "restore the knowledge memory", hinting at us that he still has the will to continue it one day.


------- below: added on 23-1-2016 -------

My 6 year old son's top 100! A while back he started out with pointing out his favourite songs. These were 16 songs standing out above the rest. 15 of these were 4 stars rated (indicated with one asterisk *). 1 had 5 stars (indicated with two asterisks **). That's his number 1: Aces High! Then he wanted to continue. At some point he had 57 songs and the idea arose to post them here. I did that. I think CriedWhenBrucieLeft saw it but accidentally it got deleted. Now he continued and made a top 100 and wanted me to post it here, again. So here it is! Below the top 100 you see some stats. (The Fear of the Dark album did really well!)



01. Aces High**
02. Rime Of The Ancient Mariner*
03. Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son*
04. The Clairvoyant*
05. Run To The Hills*
06. Powerslave*
07. The Trooper*
08. Speed Of Light*
09. Fear Of The Dark*
10. Deja-Vu*
11. Be Quick Or Be Dead*
12. Brave New World*
13. Ghost Of The Navigator*
14. Judas Be My Guide*
15. The Man Of Sorrows*
16. Blood Brothers*
17. 2 Minutes to Midnight
18. Caught Somewhere In Time
19. Invaders
20. Dance Of Death
21. Wasted Years
22. Flight Of Icarus
23. The Prisoner
24. Prowler
25. The Evil That Men Do
26. 22, Acacia Avenue
27. Alexander The Great
28. Bring Your Daughter... ...To The Slaughter
29. Tailgunner
30. The Wicker Man
31. Holy Smoke
32. Flash Of The Blade
33. Afraid To Shoot Strangers
34. Journeyman
35. Hallowed Be Thy Name
36. Still Life
37. The Nomad
38. Sea Of Madness
39. Sign Of The Cross
40. Heaven Can Wait
41. Coming Home
42. The Talisman
43. Transylvania
44. Phantom Of The Opera
45. The Clansman
46. The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner
47. If Eternity Should Fail
48. Running Free
49. The Book Of Souls
50. Satellite 15...The Final Frontier
51. When The Wild Wind Blows
52. When The River Runs Deep
53. The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg
54. Brighter Than A Thousand Suns
55. Empire Of The Clouds
56. These Colours Don't Run
57. Moonchild
58. The number of the Beast
59. Only The Good Die Young
60. Futureal
61. Total Eclipse
62. Run Silent, Run Deep
63. Stranger in a Strange Land
64. Out Of The Silent Planet
65. Wildest Dreams
66. To Tame a Land
67. Revelations
68. Die With Your Boots On
69. Sun And Steel
70. Dream of Mirrors
71. Where Eagles Dare
72. Quest For Fire
73. Infinite Dreams
74. Can I Play Madness
75. The Prophecy
76. Back in The Village
77. No prayer for The dying
78. Purgatory
79. Mother Russia
80. Wasting Love
81. Children of the Damned
82. Rainmaker
83. From Here To eternity
84. The Red and The black
85. Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)
86. Gangland
87. Childhood's end
88. Ides of march
89. Fear is The Key
90. Different world
91. Murders in the Rue Morgue
92. The Duellists
93. No More Lies
94. Public Enema Number One
95. The Fugitive
96. WeeKend warrior
97. Lord of the Flies
98. The pilgrim
99. The Apparition
100. The Fallen Angel


Album + amount of songs: chronological order

Iron Maiden: 4 (4 in top 50; 1 in top 25; 0 in top 10)
Killers: 3 (0 in top 50)
The Number of the Beast: 9 (5 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
Piece of Mind: 9 (3 in top 50; 2 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
Powerslave: 8 (5 in top 50; 4 in top 25; 3 in top 10)
Somewhere in Time: 8 (7 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son: 8 (3 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 2 in top 10)
No Prayer for the Dying: 7 (3 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
Fear of the Dark: 11 (4 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
The X-Factor: 2 (1 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
Virtual XI: 2 (1 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
Brave New World: 8 (4 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 0 in top 10)
Dance of Death: 5 (2 in top 50; 1 in top 25; 0 in top 10)
A Matter of Life and Death: 5 (0 in top 50)
The Final Frontier: 4 (3 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
The Book of Souls: 7 (4 in top 50; 2 in top 25; 1 in top 10)


Album + amount of songs: total songs order
Fear of the Dark: 11 (4 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
The Number of the Beast: 9 (5 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
Piece of Mind: 9 (3 in top 50; 2 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
Somewhere in Time: 8 (7 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
Powerslave: 8 (5 in top 50; 4 in top 25; 3 in top 10)
Brave New World: 8 (4 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 0 in top 10)
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son: 8 (3 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 2 in top 10)
The Book of Souls: 7 (4 in top 50; 2 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
No Prayer for the Dying: 7 (3 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
Dance of Death: 5 (2 in top 50; 1 in top 25; 0 in top 10)
A Matter of Life and Death: 5 (0 in top 50)
Iron Maiden: 4 (4 in top 50; 1 in top 25; 0 in top 10)
The Final Frontier: 4 (3 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
Killers: 3 (0 in top 50)
The X-Factor: 2 (1 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
Virtual XI: 2 (1 in top 50; 0 in top 25)


Album + amount of songs: top 50 order
Somewhere in Time: 8 (7 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
Powerslave: 8 (5 in top 50; 4 in top 25; 3 in top 10)
The Number of the Beast: 9 (5 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
Fear of the Dark: 11 (4 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
Brave New World: 8 (4 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 0 in top 10)
The Book of Souls: 7 (4 in top 50; 2 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
Iron Maiden: 4 (4 in top 50; 1 in top 25; 0 in top 10)
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son: 8 (3 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 2 in top 10)
Piece of Mind: 9 (3 in top 50; 2 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
No Prayer for the Dying: 7 (3 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
The Final Frontier: 4 (3 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
Dance of Death: 5 (2 in top 50; 1 in top 25; 0 in top 10)
The X-Factor: 2 (1 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
Virtual XI: 2 (1 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
A Matter of Life and Death: 5 (0 in top 50)
Killers: 3 (0 in top 50)


Album + amount of songs: top 25 order
Powerslave: 8 (5 in top 50; 4 in top 25; 3 in top 10)
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son: 8 (3 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 2 in top 10)
Somewhere in Time: 8 (7 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
The Number of the Beast: 9 (5 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
Fear of the Dark: 11 (4 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
Brave New World: 8 (4 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 0 in top 10)
The Book of Souls: 7 (4 in top 50; 2 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
Piece of Mind: 9 (3 in top 50; 2 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
Iron Maiden: 4 (4 in top 50; 1 in top 25; 0 in top 10)
Dance of Death: 5 (2 in top 50; 1 in top 25; 0 in top 10)
No Prayer for the Dying: 7 (3 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
The Final Frontier: 4 (3 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
The X-Factor: 2 (1 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
Virtual XI: 2 (1 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
A Matter of Life and Death: 5 (0 in top 50)
Killers: 3 (0 in top 50)


Album + amount of songs: top 10 order
Powerslave: 8 (5 in top 50; 4 in top 25; 3 in top 10)
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son: 8 (3 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 2 in top 10)
Somewhere in Time: 8 (7 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
The Number of the Beast: 9 (5 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
Fear of the Dark: 11 (4 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
The Book of Souls: 7 (4 in top 50; 2 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
Piece of Mind: 9 (3 in top 50; 2 in top 25; 1 in top 10)
Brave New World: 8 (4 in top 50; 3 in top 25; 0 in top 10)
Iron Maiden: 4 (4 in top 50; 1 in top 25; 0 in top 10)
Dance of Death: 5 (2 in top 50; 1 in top 25; 0 in top 10)
No Prayer for the Dying: 7 (3 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
The Final Frontier: 4 (3 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
The X-Factor: 2 (1 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
Virtual XI: 2 (1 in top 50; 0 in top 25)
A Matter of Life and Death: 5 (0 in top 50)
Killers: 3 (0 in top 50)
 
Last edited:
Re: Forostar's Top 50 Iron Maiden songs

I also wanted to do this, but I gave up because I was literally writing an article for every song, it was damn hard  :bigsmile:

Alchemist is my least favorite off TFF, and nowhere near Top 50 but still is a cool, energetic song.
 
Re: Forostar's Top 50 Iron Maiden songs

I'm not a big fan of The Alchemist. Second weakest song from the album.
 
Re: Forostar's Top 50 Iron Maiden songs

Prediction for the next song (based on a part of your post you edited out ;)): Paschendale.
 
Re: Forostar's Top 50 Iron Maiden songs

It was a mistake, so I removed that part, sorry. The song after the next one will be a very popular one. You'll see which one it is.  :)

By the way: all these songs I've given a 9 or 10 -maybe one or two an 8- so the differences between them is often minimal.
 
Re: Forostar's Top 50 Iron Maiden songs

You really like that edit button, Forostar.
 
Re: Forostar's Top 50 Iron Maiden songs --> No. 49

Yep. I keep editing the top 50 as well in my Word document. I'll try to refrain from that in this topic.  :D

edit: (the following song was no. 49 at first, but one day later I decided otherwise)

No. 50 - Fortunes of War
(Harris, 1995 -> on stage-status: last time in 1998)

Very strong first half. That slow pace (quite unique in Maiden) is exactly what I adore here. Threatening and heavy as fuck. I love the build-up, and Blaze does a phenominal job during those verses.

I hear voices in my head
Could I really be going crazy
In the night the visions seem so real
Do you care if you live or die
When you laugh are you really crying
You're not sure what's real anymore

Magnificent stuff, not only the vocals, but also these intriguing lyrics ! :notworthy:

The later instrumental part with the galloping rhythm and the guitar lines did set a trend, for later songs to come.
Dream of Mirrors, The Talisman: These parts are echoes of
Fortunes of War, Fortunes of War, Fortunes of War, it's all done before.
 
Re: Forostar's Top 50 Iron Maiden songs

Foro, I share your feeling about the commentary and your love of lists, and I appreciate your conclusion.
Thanks for opening the door.

The Alchemist — A kickass throwback that could have fit in perfectly on Powerslave. Compact, well-structured with a breakneck pace, cool lyric, nice chorus, and ripping solo — everything a rocker should be. For me, 27th.
(I was surprised to to see this is the most-played Maiden track on my iTunes. That's probably because both my daughters love it.)

Fortunes of War — A not-as-good sequel to Afraid to Shoot Strangers. It shares most of the qualities that make that song so outstanding, but you really have to pay attention to notice. Study it enough and you’ll fall in love. Study it a little more and you’ll be forced to admit this sequel lacks that star quality that defined its predecessor. Like its protagonist, this song is slow to find its way. Another good, not great piece, and therefore a seven. PS: Love the heavy guitar sound when the martial beat kicks in at 2:00. Wish TXF used that more often.
This one drops in at 92 on my list.
 
Re: Forostar's Top 50 Iron Maiden songs

Thanks mckindog! Pretty cool that both your daughters like Maiden.
By the way, did I miss your top 100? I might have forgotten it, or at least I don't recall it. I guess you have worked it out since Vala started this "trend"?

100 or more songs, that's really tough!  :)
 
Re: Forostar's Top 50 Iron Maiden songs

I haven't posted a thread with my personal list.
But I took LC's daily song threads pretty seriously.
I ranked all 144 tracks as we went along and kept all my comments on a word document.

And having the kids love Maiden has been really great.
Taking them to the Somewhere Back in Time tour is one of my favourite dad experiences.
When the Final Frontier tour came through, there was no way they were staying home.
 
Re: Forostar's Top 50 Iron Maiden songs

Glad you did 50 Forostar, as a 100 is like (not quite, but feels like it!) just listing everything in preference order. Here, at least we don't have you listing stuff which you don't really like; comparatively speaking of course. It's Maiden: I know you love it all! And, nice start. Love the lead work in both; especially FoW --love that little Janick gallop. And, Davey's sound (for the lead) is so rich; almost doesn't really fit with the sound that everyone else plumbed for.
 
Re: Forostar's Top 50 Iron Maiden songs

I loved Fortunes of War, I remember there being alot of hate for it on this forum.
 
Re: Forostar's Top 50 Iron Maiden songs

Will be following! Love Fortunes of War and The Alchemist. Although the Alchemist wouldn't be that high for me.
 
Re: Forostar's Top 50 Iron Maiden songs --> No. 49

I am going to do something stupid: I forgot about a certain B-side that I really find better than some of the 50 I've selected, so I am going to change the no 50 and 49: Number 50 will be 51 (and thus it is out of the top 50) and number 49 will be 50. I promise this will be the first and last change in the order.
Cool that you guys are following!

CriedWhenBrucieLeft said:
Glad you did 50 Forostar, as a 100 is like (not quite, but feels like it!) just listing everything in preference order. Here, at least we don't have you listing stuff which you don't really like; comparatively speaking of course. It's Maiden: I know you love it all! And, nice start.
Click to expand...

I am afraid the next one won't be that nice.  :D

CriedWhenBrucieLeft said:
Love the lead work in both; especially FoW --love that little Janick gallop. And, Davey's sound (for the lead) is so rich; almost doesn't really fit with the sound that everyone else plumbed for.
Click to expand...

I don't think the sound isn't that terrible at all on The X-Factor. I especially dig the drums, which sound quite live, not as live as No Prayer but still... :)

mckindog said:
I haven't posted a thread with my personal list. But I took LC's daily song threads pretty seriously.
Click to expand...

So did I. I did put quite some effort in most reviews.

mckindog said:
I ranked all 144 tracks as we went along and kept all my comments on a word document.
Click to expand...

OK, we'll see how far apart our choices are going to be, starting with this horrendous no. 49.  :innocent:

mckindog said:
And having the kids love Maiden has been really great.
Taking them to the Somewhere Back in Time tour is one of my favourite dad experiences.
When the Final Frontier tour came through, there was no way they were staying home.
Click to expand...

That is really brilliant. I am afraid my 2,5 year old son is too young for this (unless the boys are continuing for some more years than expected).


No. 49 - Sign of the Cross
(Harris, 1995 -> on stage-status: last time in 2001)

My wife has this song in her top 5, and I bet most of you have this in your top 10 or 20(?).

Sign of the Cross was higher in my ranks for a long while. It's so epic with its enthralling intro, I really love that Gregorian choir. Just like the no. 50 in this list, the first half is amazing. I actually like the parts with the vocals better than the instrumental section. In fact, I find that instrumental section a bit lengthy, because some parts are a bit repetitive, especially that one with guitar melody, before the last chorus. It draws the power a bit out of the track imo. And that's the reason why other songs have lasted a bit better. Big chance that my opinion will change again if Maiden will bring it back to the stage. It's really a magic moment in concert and a highlight on the Rock in Rio DVD.

*ducks for first round of tomatoes*
 
Re: Forostar's Top 50 Iron Maiden songs

Im a bit of a fan of fortunes of war, missed out on my top 50 by 15 but its still full of great melodies and an energy that Blaze can carry brilliantly. I love the tone in it and janicks great in it, along with the brilliant galloping and lyric.
 
Re: Forostar's Top 50 Iron Maiden songs

So this is now a top 51 thread! Sign of the Cross is fairly early, but I dig what you're saying.
 
Re: Forostar's Top 50 Iron Maiden songs

Alright. Yeah, I rather had just 50, but I didn't want to entirely delete the song from the thread, especially not since some people had already reacted.  :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top