When the Wild Wind Blows

[Forostar]

Listening again now, I actually think there is some Afraid To Shoot Strangers in here as well. One particular variation of the main guitar melody, to be precise - the one done after both solo parts. First right after the 5 minute mark, and then again at 9:04-9:26. It reminds me a lot of the part from 5:42 in ATSS.

In this clip:
5:03 - 5:43
6:03 - 6:23

(around a minute in total)

Not just the guitars. The rhythm/accents is samey as well.

 

[Number 6]

Not just the guitars. The rhythm/accents is samey as well.

I can hear a few similarities, but those parts in WTWWB are different enough from ATSS to rise way above the rehash level. It's not that similar to me, far from that. Some people claim it immediately stood out to them, "that's 'Afraid To Shoot Strangers'!", but I just don't see how. I would never have noticed if no one had pointed it out.

 

[Jer]

Not just the guitars. The rhythm/accents is samey as well.

Yeah, that particular bit is probably 3/4 the same as the bit from ATSS, albeit in a different key. But like @Number 6 said, it's not so much the same that it would have leapt out at me, like the intro of "Face In The Sand" rehashing the vocal line from "Dance Of Death".

 

[Edington]

Now you've mentioned that section from ATSS, I've noticed the beginning is the same as the "Mist is in the trees" melody from Empire of the Clouds.

REHASH.

 

[Number 6]

 

[KidInTheDark666]

Such a great emotional song. Unfortunately it lacks a real highlight so I can only give it 9

 

[Diesel 11]

From a storytelling perspective, "When the Wild Wind Blows" is a pretty great song. From a musical perspective, it's still pretty good. This is the most obvious Steve Harris epic 'Arry has ever written, but it works quite well, introducing characters, the setting, and takes you on a little journey before reaching a pretty shocking plot twist at the end there. It isn't among the band's best epics, but it's a strong closing to an inconsistent album. 7

 

[Kalata]

The start of the song really suits it. Beautiful intro. The verses are some of Maiden's best. Janick shines in this song. The harmonies are again very good. Great solo from the Adrian and the melody after it is amazing (done by Janick). Dave's solo is not bad. Janick's one is good (typical solo from him) and suits the atmosphere of the song (like in The Talisman). The whole song is full of melodies, tempo changes, great riffs. The end is calm (just like the start - typical Steve) - and it's great. Maybe the song is a bit too long, but I can't give it something different from 10/10.

 

[Colonel Trautman]

Raymond Briggs, illustrator and author of 'When the Wind Blows' (amongst numerous other classics), has died aged 88:

Snowman author Raymond Briggs dies aged 88

Beloved creator of Fungus the Bogeyman and Father Christmas brought a distinctive strain of melancholy to the genre

www.theguardian.com

 

[TheMercenary]

Raymond Briggs, illustrator and author of 'When the Wind Blows' (amongst numerous other classics), has died aged 88:

Snowman author Raymond Briggs dies aged 88

Beloved creator of Fungus the Bogeyman and Father Christmas brought a distinctive strain of melancholy to the genre

www.theguardian.com

Coincidence or not, he just died few days after Bruce has announced that Maiden will be Somewhere In Time, Somewhere On Tour. However, it turns out that the band interpreted the musical theme of The Snowman during the Somewhere On Tour as an intermission between "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" and "Heaven Can Wait" in 1986...

 

[TheMercenary]

You can listen to The Snowman theme at 50'17 in this video.