It's so fucking bizarre. I like it when you scroll through some of the creators videos and they have the same three stock facial expressions pasted over and over onto different videos
RUN FOR YOUR LIVES 2025 Tour Thread *SPOILERS INSIDE*
- Thread starter Perun
- Start date
Sth2112
Ancient Mariner
I just came home from the gig in Trondheim. Since this was a early date, I decided to go offline from May 1st, other than work related, just to get the experience by not knowing the setlist. I can highly recommend that! No real big surprises, but great way to start with Murders in the rue morgue and so many epic long songs. I were hoping they were pulling out Tailgunner in the encore, but it was Aces high. Oh well.
Anyway, it was super nice to get to see Maiden for the third and last time. They are so tight, so good shape even if they are getting old, and they pure and simple just love to play live for us. What are they made off!? Bruce singing like a God, Steve pull the strings constantly on his bass for almost two hours, Dave flows away, Janick dance around and do his tricks, Adrian keeps it together, and newbie Simon do a solid job. Thank you guys
Anyway, it was super nice to get to see Maiden for the third and last time. They are so tight, so good shape even if they are getting old, and they pure and simple just love to play live for us. What are they made off!? Bruce singing like a God, Steve pull the strings constantly on his bass for almost two hours, Dave flows away, Janick dance around and do his tricks, Adrian keeps it together, and newbie Simon do a solid job. Thank you guys
Vaenyr
Ancient Mariner
As annoying and stupid as these faces are, they genuinely boost watching metrics by a ton. Many Youtubers have shown their data, where videos without those faces get half or even only a third of the views that those with the dumb thumbnails get.
Trust me, the content creators aren't happy about having to play these stupid games either.
DorotheaMe
Nomad
Couldn't that be changing? I indeed know people who once found it funny and clicked on it, but no longer.
But I also find the obsession with retirement funny. Was it just the rumours about Dave that triggered all this. Because it's not like that with other bands (Judas Priest, Scorpions...).
There can be so many reasons that Simon was cautiously announced besides that there are no further plans for Iron Maiden. For example, the management might have thought that Simon would get less hostility if he wasn't announced as a replacement for Nicko in the band, but as cautiously as possible.
But I also find the obsession with retirement funny. Was it just the rumours about Dave that triggered all this. Because it's not like that with other bands (Judas Priest, Scorpions...).
There can be so many reasons that Simon was cautiously announced besides that there are no further plans for Iron Maiden. For example, the management might have thought that Simon would get less hostility if he wasn't announced as a replacement for Nicko in the band, but as cautiously as possible.
Vaenyr
Ancient Mariner
While there are definitely a lot of people who are annoyed or turned off by those faces, there are millions upon millions of kids who find those funny and click on them. If it wouldn't work there wouldn't be so many youtubers who still did those types of thumbnails.
I've thought of that as well. This gives Simon a chance to win over a chunk of the fanbase who'd otherwise be hostile to him. Now we get to see how well he clicks with the rest of the band and how the performances are benefiting from his playing. Makes it harder to stay mad that Nicko's gone, when the difference between this tour and TFP is so stark.
Edington
Last Son of The Miracle
For videos directed at children the thumbnails make sense, but for a review of a metal show? Not to say that kids can't/don't listen to Maiden, but I wouldn't have thought they were the intended audience for this video.
Vaenyr
Ancient Mariner
Good point. There are probably plenty of teens or even adults who click on those videos. I mean, just look at some of the obviously fake stuff older folks tend to post on Facebook for example.
Personally I avoid videos with that type of thumbnails. They annoy me too much.
Adam Neely, a music theory youtuber, is doing a pretty cool thing, where the titles of his videos have some clickbaity question, but the thumbnail directly answers it. You don't have to wonder what the hell the answer is going to be, you watch the video to hear his explanation. Anti-clickbait if you will, it's pretty refreshing.
Isn't that just his regular voice at this point? He has better and worse days, but he's also a mid-60 year old cancer survivor who has been singing for decades. I don't think AH has such an effect on him. It does have a negative effect on my ears though.
matic22
Ancient Mariner
Not in the slightest. Bruce NEVER struggles with FOTD. It's in D minor and has only few high parts. Yesterday he did. He either has a cold, or he damaged his voice during Aces High.
We need videos from the main set to see what is happening.
Vaenyr
Ancient Mariner
I wouldn't say "never". Maybe we have different standards but there have been plenty of FOTD performances over the last 6 years where I'd say he was struggling.
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
Yes, he sounds quite rough singing a song that is usually a walk in the park for him.
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matic22
Ancient Mariner
FOTD is one of the easier songs in the set. Yes there were some minor struggles, but I haven't seen anything to this extent in last 5 years. Going for different lower melodies and going "jump jump jump" instead of singing the chorus.
Maybe he is ill. I can't say yet as this is the only video from the gig. In any case IMO, they should prepare Running Free to replace Aces in cases like this (but we know all about the stubbornes of S. P. Harris and P. B. Dickinson).
Vaenyr
Ancient Mariner
I'm not saying that this performance wasn't rough. I disagree that the issues are related to Aces High though. He has off-days and tends to fall sick during tour. That's a much more likely explanation imo.
And yeah, considering Aces High's animations they'll never drop that song on this tour.
Poto
Ancient Mariner
I think he was just annoyed at the crowd.
matic22
Ancient Mariner
Yup. As I said, it's hard to gauge at this point. We need a main set video first.
matic22
Ancient Mariner
Was it shit?
Poto
Ancient Mariner
Dead. I am sure the organiser was considering sending in more health care workers to resuscitate people. But they weren't dead after all.
Just shit.
He didn't struggle imo. He was ok, considering it was cold and it was at the end of the set. I don't think he damaged his voice at all. He sang the 1st verse of FOTD exactly like that in Budapest, which is different to what he used to do and it does sound weird.
The "jump,jump,jump" probably was his reaction seeing so many dead people in the crowd.
The "jump,jump,jump" probably was his reaction seeing so many dead people in the crowd.
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
Was it a festival crowd?
Poto
Ancient Mariner
Kind of. It's a one day festival, so there were a lot of people who go to the event to have a nice time with friends and just enjoy some good (and some bad) music. Although most people came for Maiden, there are a lot of casuals at these events. Which is nice too!