Is Iron Maiden's Magic touch Bruce

Forostar said:
And you have heard all other Sabbath albums?

To me Toni Iommi is the man, 100%. His own style and especially own sound carried Sabbath on through the years. The fact that Ozzy was there is a fact, and yes his voice is characteristic. But if someone else would have been there Sabbath's music might have been groundbreaking as well.

While Sabbath's music developed, they still kept their own sound, and the music became more diverse and imo better.

Wow, I can't we agree on something... well this has to be the second thing, but still... that's what I keep telling many metalheads. By the time Dio arrived Sabbath's songwriting improved, it was tighter and better produced. That in no way is a bad thing either for the band, metal or the fans, quite the opposite.
 
Without Harris, there is no Iron Maiden. Maiden produced many great songs (and one awesome album) after Bruce and Adrian left. This goes to show that whatever the magic about Maiden is, the core of it lies with the vision of Steve Harris. Having said that, I think Maiden reaches its creative peak with this line-up...although perhaps my favorite scenario would be Blaze on the song-writing team but Bruce doing the tours (due to his superior performance on stage). In answer to the original question, no, I don't think Bruce is Maiden's magic touch.
 
I'm not really a fan of Blaze's songwriting.  I think the only really good songs he wrote are The Edge of Darkness and Como Estais Amigos.  Bruce, on the other hand, wrote Revelations, Powerslave, and 2 Minutes to Midnight in his first years.  Overall Bruce seems to be a much better songwriter, better singer (and I do like Blaze), and better frontman.  No other man in the world can make 45,000 people follow one single seagull.
 
That introduction has to be the greatest he did before "Rime..." on this tour. ALBATROS! ... Oh, no - seagull! Albatros! PANG!

If we define "magic touch" as something that makes Maiden attract big audiences all over the world and all that, it is obvious that Bruce is if not the entire magic touch, at least a big part of that touch. He is a much more charismatic frontman than Blaze. I also have the impression that Bruce is the one that takes on the media when they are touring or getting publicity for other reasons. Having said that, Maiden have been great before Bruce, with Bruce and with him out. Great in terms of making songs and performing them live. And 'Arry should naturally have much of the credit for that. He is the main songwriter, the leader, the man with the visions for the band - he is the man that has picked the other band members and asked them to join.

To make a footballing parallell, let's say Bruce Dickinson may be a star player of the team - but Steve Harris is the playing manager, who in addition to contributing on the pitch also has made the team. It's obvious that the one that gets the headlines is the star striker who gets 25 goals each season, but he cannot do that without a good team around him. And the manager is the man who has built that team.
 
Natalie said:
Without Harris, there is no Iron Maiden.

Hell yeah.

Natalie said:
Maiden produced many great songs (and one awesome album) after Bruce and Adrian left.

Hell yeah.

Natalie said:
This goes to show that whatever the magic about Maiden is, the core of it lies with the vision of Steve Harris.

Yes, 100%.

Natalie said:
Having said that, I think Maiden reaches its creative peak with this line-up...although perhaps my favorite scenario would be Blaze on the song-writing team but Bruce doing the tours (due to his superior performance on stage). In answer to the original question, no, I don't think Bruce is Maiden's magic touch.

I agree very much with your post, except I don't find that Blaze is a better songwriter, but for the rest it's very well said!

I have seen Maiden on two tours without Bruce and Adrian. Maiden still rocked the house down, it was magic to experience these guys, with these songs.
 
When I say Blaze on the song-writing team, I don't mean that excludes Bruce from it :). But since that is unrealistic, the current line-up is the best possible scenario.
 
*scrapes throat*

Magic Touch

click

Steve's got the magic touch
He’s writin' his songs in his dreams
Steve's got the magic touch
Oh no, but it ain't what it seems
You feel there's a fire burnin'
When Steve runs on the stage
But you still want it much too much

One day when Steve takes a big break
You won't be satisfied (won't be satisfied)
Until you feel his magic touch
The magic touch, the magic touch, the magic touch

Steve's got the magic touch
And you're under a spell that Steve's cast
Steve's got the magic touch
Oh no, but how long will it last?

He's keepin' his love for Maiden
To blind you from the rest (blind you from the rest)
But you still need it oh so much

And when Steve says he's leaving
That's when you realize (when you realize)
How much you need that magic touch
The magic touch, the magic touch, the magic touch

And in the night in the crowd
He'll be there
Or he wanders through th’East End
While your dreams fade away

Steve's got the magic touch
And you're walkin' around in a dream
Steve's got the magic touch
Oh no, but it ain't what it seems

One day when he'll end this great band 
You'll miss it oh so much
Until you feel the magic touch (feel the magic touch)
The magic touch, the magic touch
(Feel the magic touch), the magic touch

Steve's got the magic touch, I really want that
Steve's got the magic touch, and I still need that
Steve's got the magic touch, I really want that
Steve's got the magic touch, and I really want that
Steve's got the magic touch, and I still need that



;)
 
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