Classical Composer Reaction & Analysis of Brothers in Arms (Dire Straits) | The Daily Doug (Ep. 486)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 พ.ย. 2022
- #direstraits #brothersinarms
In this episode of #thedailydoug, I'm returning to music by Dire Straits...and I was not disappointed! Brothers in Arms is the title track from their fifth album, released in 1985. It's an understated and emotionally rivoting song about the follies of war and of the comradery between its participants on the front lines. This song especially hit home for me, as it is just a few days after Veterans Day (Armistice Day). Peace to you all!
Reference Video: • Brothers in Arms
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Mark's voice is the narrator, Mark's guitar is the singer...
That’s a great way to put it. Around 1982 Mark was becoming more adventurous with his song compositions and his playing was becoming more intricate. By Brothers in Arms he had a much darker tone too that continued into On Every Street in 1991 and beyond. He even used Gibson guitars and the EMG kitted Pensa-Suhr super Strat.
Absolutely
Correct description sir.
100%
That is exactly that, great comment.
This song does an amazing job walking the line between honoring the soldiers while condemning the wars they are sent to fight. So many vets love this song.
This relates to ww1 butchery.
He might not want to honour soldiers involved in genocides like USA slaughter of native Americans
"We're fools to make war on our brothers in arms" is one of the greatest lines ever.
I was in the British Army at the time of the Falklands conflict. My Regiment were on 24 hour standby to deploy, fortunately we werent called upon.
Always brings a lump to my throat when I hear this masterpiece.
As a side note, my nephew was killed by friendly fire in the gulf war (I won't name the nation responsible for his death here). It's been well documented.
To all Brothers in Arms, I salute you.
Me too, although I was on a 'diplomatic' exchange with the navy during the conflict.
This album was played over and over in the barrack rooms/mess decks. Doug's good with his technical appraisal - major and minor this and that. Things I don't understand, or feel the need to explore. Dire Straights just write and play absolutely, unbelievable music.
Mark Knopfler is such a great musician and guitarist and his work with other artists, such as Chet Atkins.
Your comment just opened a nasty wormhole to my suppressed memory banks. I was unfortunate in that it was my duty to recover and tow a Warrior IFV belonging to the Fusiliers (3rd), that had just been hit with a Hellfire whilst stopped for a 'leg stretch' & 'tea break'. I will not go into the details, but it has haunted me 'til this very day! RIP to your nephew, and to the rest of his section.
@@rovcanada1 Apologies for that, such a waste of human life and for what.
My respects brother, anyone who has experienced a war scenario cannot help but cry listening to this song (I miei rispetti fratello, chiunque abbia vissuto uno scenario di guerra non può fare a meno di piangere ascoltando questa canzone)
It's all madness.....the English empire caused roughly the deaths of 100 million plus civilian deaths from war and famine
Mark's guitar playing is always touching and sensitive. With David Gilmour and Brian May, he's in my pantheon of guitar playing.
+1
Don' forget Greg Lake.
I totally agree. My three favourite guitarists, so charismatic and unique (and instantly recognisable).
75% agree. 25% is for Ritchie Blackmore
Mark's voice tells the story. The guitar expresses the pain.
My late brother in law had this played at his humanist funeral. It says a great deal about many aspects of life. far more meaningful than an empty hymn
Respect.
Wow I would have been crying like a baby
I don't agree that hymns are empty but this is one of my favorite songs. Your brother-in-law picked a great song.
The majority of hymns are the opposite of empty...
It is to bad you can,t just listen to the song .instead you have to play along and take away from it.
For me the guitar line that follows "let me bid you farewell" is the greatest line played in the history of man. It's so sad but yet full of hope. Pure perfection. It brings tear to my eye every time and i can't even listen to this song in public places because it shatters my soul every time.
You can tell that is the emotional high point of the composition.
For me that's the call to the response that comes after "Every man has to die", which for me is equally important.
What a phrase you used “shatters my soul” so perfectly descriptive .
Same, I _always_ tear up listening to Brothers in Arms. Although, for me, it's "It was written in the starlight / and every line on your palm / we're fools to make war / on our brothers in arms" that gets me. No lie, I have just started watching the video, haven't gotten to the song yet, and just _typing_ the friggin' line had me choking up. It's truly a work of art, this song.
OK, I was wrong, didn't even get there. "And though they did hurt me so bad / in the fear and alarm / you did not desert me / my brothers in arms" did me in first. 😭
"But it's written in the starlight
And every line in your palm
We're fools to make war
On our brothers in arms". That lyric gets me every time.
The reality of war is not that you as a soldier might die.
The reality of war is that some of your brothers WILL die.
so well adressed in these lyrics.
I can't listen to this song without tearing up.
Another masterpiece by Mark Knopfler that shows his immense class of songwriter, poet and storyteller. The Gibson les paul in his hands sounds like a crying and sobbing cello. Pure art.
I was a British Soldier for 18 years (87 - 05) ... this is still the song I want at my funeral... and he is talking about all soldiers.... and I still have tears when I listen to it...
My dad was in the RAF and it was a song he wanted and had at his funeral. Hard song to listen to before, even harder since.
There is some sadness magic in that chord progression. This song makes me feel like weeping less than a minute in. So powerfully evocative.
I was lucky enough to introduce Dire Straits to my father when I was a student back in the 90s. He absolutely loved it and told me a couple of times throughout his life that he would like 'Brothers in arms' to be played at his funeral. And in 2020 I made sure that it was indeed played in his funeral. Such a wonderful piece of music.
Our local radio station always plays this on Armistice Day - 2 minute silence, then the last post, then this. Can't imagine the album finishing any other way than this song gently fading out in to the distance.
have you ever watched the live version they played at the mandela concert from wembley stadium in 1988 its way better than the studio version
@@reactionfan1448 Guitar solo makes my spine tingle !
Mark Knopfler had an uncle who served as a piper in the Black Watch during ww2 and died holding the line so that troops could retreat from Dunkirk. This inspired a song called "Piper till the End" which he released in 2009 one of his many solo albums "Get Lucky"
To the end. Not till. But it is my personal best. Thanks for the story not know.
@@martinezq1 oops.
I tear up everytime i hear that song
This song is about something Mark's father said about Falklands war. Mark is a great songwritter and musician. Im from Argentina, is allways going to be a very sad piece of our history to remember.
It's a sad piece of history on both sides, Blackysalamanka. A war that should never have happened.
One of the saddest and most beautiful songs I know. Some would say: "a masterpiece". I say: a revelation.
Doug says it so perfectly in this video. We ask our soldiers to sacrifice so much, but get so little in return when they come back home.
every US vet should cry about corea, vietnam and all the other wars every day... they were like animals there and helped the world not a little bit... usa ever only wanted to help themselfs and for that the whole world hates them... they are the new nzs from last few decades and did never something for others...
@@seelenwinter6662 name checks out.
@@seelenwinter6662 Korea was the UN; not the USA.
@Arrow2theACL
Yeah, typical german marxist/black bloc 🐀
The melancholy in this song is unreal, still it doesn't make me sad at all..a song with all kind of emotions. Knopfler is a genius.
The low note at 6:27 gets me every time. It's like a little glimpse of the horror the song is actually about.
Mark’s playing in this song is like a warm, soft wind caressing a wheat field.
Very few guitarists have what he has… his control, feel and tone is what makes him one of the best to ever touch 6 strings.
A true master ❤
Yes, he's playing with such a level of overdrive that he can control the dynamics from really quiet and soft to loud. Also he uses guitar volume knob probably to control the sound. Well obviously he's using it at least for the volume swells, but maybe other places too. For example when the solo kicks in he might turn the knob to full and other places keep it turned back a little bit. Just guessing so don't quote me on this :). But anyway the guitar playing is very dynamic and tasty.
one of the most beautiful songs ever written, one of the saddest, arguably the greatest guitar song ever, not technically complex, but that main motif, just a few notes, each one exactly right, even if you don't understand the language, it's so sad and beautifully moving, I'm hard pressed to think of anything that really compares in contemporary popular music.
Brothers in Arms is simply fantastic. I get teary every time I hear it. The album cut is sublime. Really powerful song. I love the way it builds....
It’s sung from the point of view of the mortally wounded soldier. Glad you enjoyed it it’s really a masterpiece.
brilliant song - Knopfler is clearly a master of tone, touch, technique, and emotion.
wonderful how he uses those guitar swells to build emphasis and genius phrasing
Mark is one of those few people who can really make a guitar sing. One of the all-time favorite songs.
Unlike Guitar George, who knows all the chords, but is strictly rhythm and does NOT want to make it cry or sing.
@@frigginjerk ironic, eh? ;)
I was there in 82. This album means a lot to me.
Bless you, Nick. It's so sad that politicians can cause so much pain
Thank you for your service, Nick. Can’t imagine how powerful this is for you.
your analysis is so beautiful , honest and on point .
The way you approach the piano just proves you didn't cheat with homework, Love you more Doug!
Today this masterpiece is adopted as the anthem for numerous battalions of many armies around the world. In addition to impeccably describing the brotherhood that is created between soldiers of the same army, it reminds us of how absurd war is. It doesn't matter if we are friendly or enemy soldiers because in any case we are brothers, brothers in arms but brothers. Young men and young women who die to please some madman who plays war. In the song it is a young soldier mortally wounded who reminds us of this madness. Absolutely nothing has changed since 1982 and today we once again witness human madness. Every time I listen to this song I cry thinking about my brothers died on mission.
It's hard to think of anyone who didn't hear this song before... but man, how much do I envy you for hearing this for the first time! Did you hear a more beautiful duet ever before?
Yea i dont believe it either. Everybody has heard brothers in arms. They still play it like hell on the radio.
Do you really believe in so called "first reaction" videos?
He sure seemed to know the lyrics well having "never" heard it...even quoted some lyrics before he actually heard them!
@@Bruce_Peters could have the lyrics opened of coure
Want really listening either a bit disrespectful unfortunately
Dire Straits is like Steely Dan, in that there is not a single bad song in their catalog.
A marvellous lyric about being away from home and out of place, in a strange land that has become somehow familiar; the dying ,man addresses first his own comrades who have stuck by his side, but in the beautiful middle eight and last verse turns to acknowledge that all of the combatants are in the same case, and have to share the same world: "we were fools to make war on our brothers in arms". And thtoughout the understated beauty of the vocals is counterpointed by the plangent, emotive guitar. A true masterpiece, and a timely one. Thanks for the analysis, Doug.
This is my favourite song of all time. I've listened and re-listened to it more than any other ever since I was a teenager back in '85. I don't know why I love it so much, but there is something profound in both the music and lyrics that I never tire of. I read somewhere that music can be a kind of sorcery - I don't know if that's true, but this song is pure magic.
I first heard this on the Miami Vice episode "Out Where the Buses Don't run". The climax of the storyline, the interplay of the characters, and the aching guitar was the most melancholy, haunting thing I'd ever experienced.
Only someone who was under direct fire in a combat zone can truly understand the meaning of this song.
Salute to all my brothers in arms, no matter where you are. "After all we are only ordinary men. God only knows it's not what we would choose to do"
Such a beautiful tribute to fallen soldiers. I've played this song every November 11th day for 40yrs.
Years ago, I read somewhere a soldier’s account when engaging the enemy. He was able to scramble to his position on the ground when shortly afterwards he heard the first live round fizzing past his head. He froze.
He explained that no amount of training could prepare you for the realisation that you are suddenly facing death.
Obviously he came home and he probably thought about the futility of war due to his harrowing experience.
No more war!
This album was my first introduction to Dire Straits when I was 15. I received it new when it first came out because my parents didn't know what I liked, but they knew I liked "That MTV song".
I practically wore it out, from start to finish-- it's an AMAZINGLY diverse album. And as you say, impeccably produced and performed. Some other "must hear" songs from this one:
"Why Worry" - Long, quiet, understated song about-- spoiler alert-- not worrying too much.
"Your Latest Trick" - Really neat song that paints a picture of the life of a gigging musician and his untrustable romantic partner.
"One World" - Straight groove material.
One of the albums that made me fall in love with music and guitar.
One of those songs that gets me teary-eyed every single time.
this music goes past the intellect to speak to the deepest part of us - it is that rich and full in it's, as you rightly put it , in it's understated way. the less definitely brought the more in this powerhouse piece. it is timeless for that reason because it's beauty in the vocal and musical delivery are both so perfectly intertwined. knopfler is a master in his songwriting and of his guitar. they obey his heart and this and many other gorgeous sounds just flow. epic. truly....
Mark understands space in music, with his vocals and guitar playing and overall production. I've heard this repeatedly in many of his songs and it is one reason why I've always been a fan of Dire Straights and also his solo work (and movie soundtrack work).
This song is amazing, and Mark Knopfler's guitars are pure perfection. One of the greatest.
I would really love to watch a Mostly Autumn song reaction someday. Such an underrated Band, with so many beautiful songs.
This is a song my parents would often play in the car, along Pink Floyd and Peter Gabriel albums. It's a perfect work of songwriting and arrangement. The whole album is pretty great too, though my favorite song of theirs would have to be On Every Street.
Your choice is very curious but it's true that On every street is underrated song and album.
You might be a brother of mine. Grown to the same music on my parents' car. It brings so many memories listening to these masterpieces and im so grateful to be able to appreciate them from such a young age.
But arent we all brothers in the end?
Beautiful songs with real messages.
Brother in Arms is one of my favorite albums. Every song is really good, especially the one’s that don’t get on the radio. Some good ones to react to are “your latest trick” and “So Far Away”.
Both of those songs were radio hits!
The understated vocals make sense if the protagonist of the song is a mortally wounded soldier. These are his last thoughts, his last words. He is slipping away, and the soft lyrics indicate this. The music is his spirit leaving him. I haven't listened to this in years, thank you for reminding me of it.
You've got two really good but overlooked songs on the B-side of Brothers in arms. "Ride across the river" and "The man's too strong". The whole album is great but I really like those two song that never get any praise. They're for sure two hidden gems!
absolutely! please give the man's too strong a listen Doug
Not long after this came out, I was stationed in Florida (US Military), lonely for my family. I had this CD, and would listen to it on my long walks while on base and on deployments. This song would always tug at heart strings, standing late at night in a sub-tropical field as storm clouds rolled in (they were ALWAYS rolling in). This song is as clear a picture of the plight of warriors as I've ever heard delivered. I was so curious about your analysis (you did amazing), I listen to this song only when I feel I can handle it. It's a gorgeous, tragic song and story.
First time I heard this song I was a kid watching Miami Vice moved me so much. It took me 10 years to find the song and 20 years in the military to understand it.
The whole album is incredible from start to finish.
From track 4 to finish in my book
Surprised you had not heard this before,one of my fave DS songs,Mark is a true musical genius.
I guess the video they made to this song underlines the story much more than any words. Mark´s musicianship and humbleness is still unbelievable. One of the nicest persons and musicians I know. Thanks a lot Doc for this!
There is a Brothers in Arms Memorial Park near Zonnebeke in Flanders. The owner of the nearby cafe " The Anzac Rest" commisioned it himself. It is a beautiful and sombre place near to Polygon wood, where the British and Australians fought the Germans in WW1. Some of the words from the song are engraved on a large stone slab, in a way that makes you take your time to read them and think about them.
This one and “Romeo and Juliet” are the songs of Dire Straits that I have on constant rotation.
I love the piano outro for Romeo and Juliet.
Check out the Indigo Girls version, it is awesome.
john check both these songs live from wembley stadium in 1988 form the mandela concert the best Saxaphone playing ive ever heard on Romeo and juliet
@@dan082476 Professor Roy Bitton, East Street Band.
Most excellent. This, ..... as well.
th-cam.com/video/9i7E4DroMPk/w-d-xo.html
I remember one night driving with my wife early in our marriage (here we are 40 years later...) and Romeo and Juliet on a mix tape we had in the car caused such a wave of emotion in me that I had to pull off the road and sob. Music can be so powerful, and MK is an artist of the highest order.
There is SO MUCH to cover with Dire Straits, and Mark's solo work which is vast. He is so consistently great!
You have at least 40 more years of Knoffler's music to experience .
Doug. The 'on the night' version of brothers in arms is by far the best version of this song.
No. Mandela tribute concert. )
This is true👍
Doug, I am so glad you heard this song. Mark is in full force on this one. His guitar playing, much like his singing, is very understated and yet so powerful. The usage of the volume on his guitar to create an almost violin like texture is downright beautiful, haunting and awe inspiring. You hit the nail on the head when you said:"Dire Straits are always tasteful..." I've been saying the same thing for years now. Dire Straits, and by necessity, Mark is one of the most precise and tasteful song writers/guitar player out there. I don't think the man ever played an extraneous note in his life! Two more songs to check out from this album, right away, would be "Your latest Trick" and "Why Worry", both very different from "Brothers in Arms". "Your latest trick" has this noir sensibility/ambiance that just draws you in, while "Why Worry" is just a song of pure joy.
My favorite song of all time. And I was lucky enough to see them live playing it in the early 90's. No words to describe the experience!!!
Thanks for your reaction. Right on point, as usual.
Mark Knofler is one of the best minimalist guitarists in music. May be top 2 with Gilmore.
I wouldn’t call Sultan’s of Swing minimalist
@@69msyt compared to Kirk, Jimi, Stevie Ray, Randy Rhodes...minimalist is not an insult, but a compliment....Gilmour is also, and one of the best guitarists, period, ever
I own Brother in Arms on CD and found tears flowing while I listened to your review of this song. I forget how deeply it affected me. I haven't heard this in years. Thanks for your relevant comments on the lyrics as well as the music.
Many thanks Doug. I was lucky enough to see them on the album tour at Wembley Arena. Just before Live Aid next door at the stadium. Phillips were pushing their new fangled CD in the lobby areas🙂.
One of my very top favorite songs of any artist. It gives me the chills every time. The mournful tone of the guitar is second to none.
Thank you for playing this Doug! A stunning track, my favourite Dire Straits track by far, There is a very touching live video, where the audience all had glow sticks, as a symbol of peace and also a symbol of unity.
Doug, it makes for riveting viewing when you go to your keyboard and add to the instrumental side with so much evident skill.
One of the masterpieces ever written. The waste of war. When will mankind ever learn?
There is a amazing cover of this by the Royal Marine Bands and I cannot recommend it enough and think it is really worth reacting to as it's warriors covering a song about there warrior forefathers and it makes me emotional every time I hear it. It's just one singer and one guitarist along paying respect that paid the ultimate price
Yeah I’ve heard that … goosebumps
This is my favourite song from my favourite album. Tears me up every time.
One of the greatest songs ever written for veterans of conflict. We will always be brothers in arms............no matter which nationality.
I forgot how absolutely brilliant this song is.
Thanks a lot taking up this song. And also your considerate words at the end. Makes one think.
Goosebumps. Every... Fucking... Time.
Thank you for the choice of this song. 40-year anniversary for the Falkland War this year. I have been working with Islands for last 17 years and visit them often have friends there who witnessed war. Veterans often go there, and an incredible job done by UK to help identify those remains of Argentinian soldiers that had no records.
Oh I love Dire Straits. Best Wishes from Poland!
Absolute masterpiece of a song, sustained and powerful in the same time, and the way he sings, the sound of his guitar are so beautifully provided. Timeless masterpiece!!!!
From a fantastic album, on my top 10 best albums of all time, and this song on my top 5 best ever rock song.
Absolutely a gem of a person and channel. I’m getting deep into theory and you are helping more than you know
One of the best songs ever recorded!
One cannot really understand how profound this song is, unless you have been in an army fighting a foe, and you do not know whether tomorrow is you last day alive.
This song was inspired by the Falklands War, which was going on when Dire Straits lead singer Mark Knopfler wrote the song. The Falklands War was a conflict between Argentina and the UK over islands off the coast of Argentina that each country claimed rights to. The islands are British territories, but in 1982 Argentina tried to reclaim one of the islands. Britain reclaimed their territories, but lost 258 soldiers in the conflict.
I remember this as the first album I heard on CD. Jaw-dropping music in perfect clarity.
I bought this album when it came out and has remained one of my favourites. I love playing Brothers in Arms, on the keyboard. Their live album Live Alchemy, is well worth a listen.
Beautiful? Yes!!!!!!
This song is the score for the best (and final) scene of the best episode of the best TV series - The West Wing. Every time I hear it now I always think of that scene.
Same here!
"We live in different worlds" also ties in with what I'm exploring about simulation theory. We are alone on "Earth" playing a video game called life. Scoring points by gaining experience, virtues and wisdom. We have others in this simulations, versions of others at least, having their own simulation just intersecting with ours on this occasion. We can hack the simulation through consiousness, belief and intent. All the prophets and sages say similarly.
Thank you Doug, your additional notes really finished off the song in a way I’ve never heard before , awesome ❤
Thank you for doing the full length version.
I always felt that the guitar was weeping in this song. My favorite Dire Straits song. To my thinking a similar song, as far as the guitar weeping goes, is SRVs Life Without You.
Beautifully simple. Simply beautiful. Never fails to move me.
Thank you for pointing out the subtlety of this,showing that understatement can often when done well ,be very powerful .
Agreed. Such a gorgeous, beautiful, sincere and yet vulnerable piece of music.
Your added piano piece works so well, thank you. Love Dire Straits.
Thanks for your comment. There is a very good live version of Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits from 1988 in honor of Nelson Mandela (London, Wembley Stadium). It is very interesting how Mark Knopfler delivers his playing in direct, with Eric Clapton in rhythm guitar.
I recently found your channel and I’m enjoying very much. I appreciate your analysis and the research you do beforehand.
Really well presented. Thanks for speaking about this classic and under-appreciated song. You really covered a lot of ground in this video.
after almost 40 years this is still THE song that gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it.
Had the cassette of this Dire Straits album. When I came to and first heard Brothers In Arms it deeply touched and moved me. I was like wow what is This. Did not expect that kind of song at all. Completely caught me of guard! Don't forget So Far Away from me was a hit single off this record as well. Mark Knopfler! 1985.
6:44 The perfect note 👌
I get chills every time I hear that opening synth
Dire Strait have been, to a degree, the soundtrack to my life and I have heard it countless times. You actually released this video when I was deployed to the Falklands. I went to some the battlefields and it is an interesting place.
I have always loved this song but seeing it through your eyes Doug has made it more special I often listen to Dire Straits when I can't sleep when life gets me down