Stratovarius Community

Hey. First time visiting the forum, but I am an enormous fan of Stratovarius and have been for the past seven-ish years. I own all of the albums and Jens and TK are two of my biggest musical influences/idols. Finally, I have the chance to see them live.

My friends and I all bought VIP tickets to the upcoming Stratovarius show, which from what I'm reading says we get into the show early and get a meet-and-greet with the band. It's silly, but I'm pretty nervous because I don't want to come off like an obnoxious fanboy or jerk. What is the band like, and will they sign something if I bring it (I was thinking my Polaris limited edition or whatever, with the second version of Deep Unknown, or my copy of Episode, which was my all-time favorite Strato record before Polaris)? And what are the chances of getting a picture with Jens and TK?

Thanks for any help, I really appreciate it.

I'm sure Jens or maybe even Lauri will post in here. They are really nice guys and easy going, you don't have to be nervous about the meeting, act normally and you won't look like a silly fanboy if you aren't acting like one.

Good advice: bring something strong for Jens. And I'm not thinking of Mariusz Pudzianowski.

Haha, all right. Any idea what the setlist is like, or does it change every night? Can I expect Black Diamond, Hunting High and Low, Eagleheart? I'd die if they played Father Time, but maybe that's too straining on TK's voice these days.

I envy you

I think you can expect all of them from what I've seen posted on the forums. And those are some of the most popular StratoSongs as well.

That's what I thought. I'm just wondering if they'll do any of the songs where TK hits the really high notes - though I see he alters some of the singing in live performances, like in Hunting High and Low, I often see videos where he doesn't wail on that last note like in the studio performance. Understandable though, given the difficulty of his role in the band.

Empathica1928 wrote:Can I expect Black Diamond, Hunting High and Low, Eagleheart?

Yup. All of them, 99,9% chance. I have seen the band twice after the release of Polaris, and they played a pretty similar set, although they have been talking about taking some less known songs to the set now that the summer festival season is over and they do gigs on their own. And no Father Time. I heard it live in 2007 though, so, you never know...

TK is pretty okay live I think, but apparently he doesn't give all he's got, he's pretty secure. Sometime he's a bit rusty, but whenever I've heard him sing, he's been good. No, not the highest notes, and lazier versions that are on the records, that's a fact. Although I sure think - or hope - you won't be disappointed. I have never been for instance.

As you meet the band, act like they were people, not some music gods. Casually. That's what I think would be the best even though I haven't met the band...

Last, if you want to hear other pretty sure hits for the playlist of the night, I share my ideas (if they haven't changed it ): Deep Unknown, Higher We Go, Winter Skies, A Million Light Years Away, Visions, Will the Sun Rise?, Forever.

Best of luck for the meet, you lucky bastard! And enjoy the gig!

Thanks for the info! I'm sure this is going to be an awesome show. I can't wait to see Matias's chops live.

I'm looking into Pagan's Mind too, since I've heard about them for years but have never actually listened to them.

I hope Timo will give his singing a little more effort in the coming shows... He is doing quite good. But I think he can do better. Listen to a 2009 live version of Forever for example. He sing the words 'dust' and 'wind' in the chorus very strange. Like he can't reach the notes.

rikkertje wrote:I hope Timo will give his singing a little more effort in the coming shows... He is doing quite good. But I think he can do better. Listen to a 2009 live version of Forever for example. He sing the words 'dust' and 'wind' in the chorus very strange. Like he can't reach the notes.

Its called aging =/ happens to everyone, cant really do much about it.

Plisken wrote:

rikkertje wrote:I hope Timo will give his singing a little more effort in the coming shows... He is doing quite good. But I think he can do better. Listen to a 2009 live version of Forever for example. He sing the words 'dust' and 'wind' in the chorus very strange. Like he can't reach the notes.

Its called aging =/ happens to everyone, cant really do much about it.

But how is it possible then, that he reaches all the notes without difficulty on Polaris and Gather The Faithful. Those CD's don't sound like he has been edited by a PC. It sounds like he really reaches the notes. And then live he can't. I think it's strange...

rikkertje wrote:

Plisken wrote:

rikkertje wrote:I hope Timo will give his singing a little more effort in the coming shows... He is doing quite good. But I think he can do better. Listen to a 2009 live version of Forever for example. He sing the words 'dust' and 'wind' in the chorus very strange. Like he can't reach the notes.

Its called aging =/ happens to everyone, cant really do much about it.

But how is it possible then, that he reaches all the notes without difficulty on Polaris and Gather The Faithful. Those CD's don't sound like he has been edited by a PC. It sounds like he really reaches the notes. And then live he can't. I think it's strange...

Its a very different situation. Stratovarius are on Tour, they doing shows like what every day. Singing for hours a day everyday. He doesn't have enough time to fully rest up his voice. While on records he probably hasnt sang for a month or 2 and has had ample time for rest. Reaching those notes shouldnt be to big of a problem.

As a side note there is almost always reverb and a little chours added to vocals on records(live too) so they are emphasized better.

Plisken wrote:

rikkertje wrote:

Plisken wrote:

rikkertje wrote:I hope Timo will give his singing a little more effort in the coming shows... He is doing quite good. But I think he can do better. Listen to a 2009 live version of Forever for example. He sing the words 'dust' and 'wind' in the chorus very strange. Like he can't reach the notes.

Its called aging =/ happens to everyone, cant really do much about it.

But how is it possible then, that he reaches all the notes without difficulty on Polaris and Gather The Faithful. Those CD's don't sound like he has been edited by a PC. It sounds like he really reaches the notes. And then live he can't. I think it's strange...

Its a very different situation. Stratovarius are on Tour, they doing shows like what every day. Singing for hours a day everyday. He doesn't have enough time to fully rest up his voice. While on records he probably hasnt sang for a month or 2 and has had ample time for rest. Reaching those notes shouldnt be to big of a problem.

As a side note there is almost always reverb and a little chours added to vocals on records(live too) so they are emphasized better.

That's true. But still I think he van do it live too. If he tries a little harder.

rikkertje wrote:

Plisken wrote:

rikkertje wrote:

Plisken wrote:

rikkertje wrote:I hope Timo will give his singing a little more effort in the coming shows... He is doing quite good. But I think he can do better. Listen to a 2009 live version of Forever for example. He sing the words 'dust' and 'wind' in the chorus very strange. Like he can't reach the notes.

Its called aging =/ happens to everyone, cant really do much about it.

But how is it possible then, that he reaches all the notes without difficulty on Polaris and Gather The Faithful. Those CD's don't sound like he has been edited by a PC. It sounds like he really reaches the notes. And then live he can't. I think it's strange...

Its a very different situation. Stratovarius are on Tour, they doing shows like what every day. Singing for hours a day everyday. He doesn't have enough time to fully rest up his voice. While on records he probably hasnt sang for a month or 2 and has had ample time for rest. Reaching those notes shouldnt be to big of a problem.

As a side note there is almost always reverb and a little chours added to vocals on records(live too) so they are emphasized better.

That's true. But still I think he van do it live too. If he tries a little harder.

I hope so too when they come to Los Angeles, it will be my first stratovarius show!

Plisken wrote:

rikkertje wrote:

Plisken wrote:

rikkertje wrote:

Plisken wrote:

rikkertje wrote:I hope Timo will give his singing a little more effort in the coming shows... He is doing quite good. But I think he can do better. Listen to a 2009 live version of Forever for example. He sing the words 'dust' and 'wind' in the chorus very strange. Like he can't reach the notes.

Its called aging =/ happens to everyone, cant really do much about it.

But how is it possible then, that he reaches all the notes without difficulty on Polaris and Gather The Faithful. Those CD's don't sound like he has been edited by a PC. It sounds like he really reaches the notes. And then live he can't. I think it's strange...

Its a very different situation. Stratovarius are on Tour, they doing shows like what every day. Singing for hours a day everyday. He doesn't have enough time to fully rest up his voice. While on records he probably hasnt sang for a month or 2 and has had ample time for rest. Reaching those notes shouldnt be to big of a problem.

As a side note there is almost always reverb and a little chours added to vocals on records(live too) so they are emphasized better.

That's true. But still I think he van do it live too. If he tries a little harder.

I hope so too when they come to Los Angeles, it will be my first stratovarius show!

Cool! The 9th of january 2010 will be my second Stratovarius show! hope TK will be as good then as when I saw them in 2004!

Ah... 2004 must have been extremely gold. Too bad I couldn't see them back then yet.

Anyway, since I'm not a singer and I don't rightly know about these things anyway, I'm having lucky guesses. How does a voice remain good in the first place even though you get older? By singing. You can't just go record an album if you haven't sung in a month or so, you have to do it all the time, like, especially when you really need to be at your best, like in the recordings. It requires much voice opening beforehand, and they normally don't have time or can't bother to do such before a show, at least not as much as is needed. You just have to prepare your voice to go both as high and as low you need it to get, still remaining strong. I bet most rock singers at least don't do this, they take it as either with good feeling or it's just a basic evening at work, no need to work miracles.

Although Kotipelto really sings a little too high-pitched stuff for his (supposedly) baritone voice, has done it for ages, so it isn't easy anyway for a 40-year-old to keep this up night after night on tour, as there, as said, ain't enough time for the voice to recover - possibly mostly because of it isn't even prepared for those nights, no or too little voice opening. Controlled and careful use of voice is mostly needed.

And, you don't have to move in the recordings, run, sway, feed up the fans. You can remain still and concentrate only on singing. AND if it still goes wrong, you can have a new take, etc. Those are not possible in live action. And I bet they have edited the voice afterward whatsoever.

Again, I don't really know about these things. Just saying what I feel this is.

I'd like to actually even know something about these things, so a singer or someone who actually knows something of it would enlighten me a bit... Do many rock singers really skip the voice openings? Does their preparation for a tough spot (i.e. album recordings, gig recordings, big gigs...) differ from their normal preparation? Mostly I'd like to know what is TK's way to just go there and sing. Does he just do it or does he prepare for it some way or another?

Just to ask is there any chance to meet the band with signing secession apart from metal festivals?

Like Empathica1928 I'm also seven/eight-ish year fan of Strato, and I went to their live (with Firewind and Eden's curse) in London in May, for the first time. However after the show the band didnt meet the fans and security guys asked us to leave.

In bloodstock metal festival, I heard from an Estonian guy that his friend in Dublin was able to meet the band after the show in the largest metal pub there. Is this the only viable option of meeting the band after a show?

supertonic wrote:Just to ask is there any chance to meet the band with signing secession apart from metal festivals?

Like Empathica1928 I'm also seven/eight-ish year fan of Strato, and I went to their live (with Firewind and Eden's curse) in London in May, for the first time. However after the show the band didnt meet the fans and security guys asked us to leave.

In bloodstock metal festival, I heard from an Estonian guy that his friend in Dublin was able to meet the band after the show in the largest metal pub there. Is this the only viable option of meeting the band after a show?

huh I know that for there US part of the tour they are doing meet and greet's which is awesome! Cant wait to meet them, especially Jens! he is my biggest inspiration as a keyboardist =)

Argh

I'd love to meet Stratovarius. Though I do tend to come over all shy and weird (I'm a bit of a fanboi, I guess ). So it's probably best I don't.

I'd die if they played Father Time, but maybe that's too straining on TK's voice these days.

Oh, dont worry about that, Timo is still and will forever be the greatest vocalist ever alongside Roy Khan and he can sing every Stratosong!

But there is one song that they never play and I'd love to hear live, it's Coming Home, otherwise, theit setlist includes all of their classics!

EDIT: well, actually, sure, Timo's voice is not the same live than in the records, sure, his voice must be tired and overused during the touring, and age must be somehow involved, but it doesnt really matter, cause he alter his voice in a way that he gives something a little bit different to the song, something that render the songs truly "live" and not "studio", dont know if I'm making myself clear, but well...

Intiaani wrote:
so it isn't easy anyway for a 40-year-old to keep this up night after night on tour, as there, as said, ain't enough time for the voice to recover -

Tell that to Dio. He seems to do it easily and he's over 60.

Intiaani wrote:
I'd like to actually even know something about these things, so a singer or someone who actually knows something of it would enlighten me a bit... Do many rock singers really skip the voice openings? Does their preparation for a tough spot (i.e. album recordings, gig recordings, big gigs...) differ from their normal preparation? Mostly I'd like to know what is TK's way to just go there and sing. Does he just do it or does he prepare for it some way or another?

Well, each vocalist has there own way to prepare, obviously. I know a lot of them do spend time warming up and opening their voice. I arrived at a gig early once and heard Timo warming up, so I think it would be safe to assume that he usually does.

Aldaron wrote:

Intiaani wrote:so it isn't easy anyway for a 40-year-old to keep this up night after night on tour, as there, as said, ain't enough time for the voice to recover -

Tell that to Dio. He seems to do it easily and he's over 60.

Or Bruce Dickenson. Or Biff from Saxon. Or Ian Gillen.

You cant Kill my Dreams, you cant Kill my Spirit. I was Born to be Free!

If only they could play it live once...yeah, I know it has nothing to do with the rest of the thread, but we were talking of the setlist, and it's sad that I walk to my own song isnt often played cause it's the best song of both the Elements!

Gillan of those especially isn't special nowadays, as judging from the calmer material on Rapture of the Deep album and my recent live experience of him (July 18th). What it comes to Dio, it's more like "nearly 70" than "over 60" because the last time I checked, he was 67. And he's more bogey than before, but thus only gotten a new aspect for singing. He can still be high and clean if he only wants to, whereas he can be more brutal than in his younger days. Believe it or not, he has become even better with age.

And Byford's voice has changed. Although not necessarily for the worse. He sings more roughly than before, whether he wants in or not, but it kinda suits Saxon's music. Bruce is like he always was - superb.

Before anyone throws in the Halford card, I must say that he's having a hard time with high pitches already. And he cannot sing nearly as good as ten, twenty, thirty years ago.

I've noticed some marks about slowing down on Kotipelto already though. His singing was easy back in the end of the 90s. Now he looks to be in agony singing his loudest and highest parts. Just see some old and new clips on YouTube and you get the picture. The same goes especially with Andi Deris. Just check the High Live DVD made somewhere in 96-97 and compare his casual singing to the struggling he's needing in Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy World Tour 2005/2006.

Intiaani wrote:I've noticed some marks about slowing down on Kotipelto already though. His singing was easy back in the end of the 90s. Now he looks to be in agony singing his loudest and highest parts. Just see some old and new clips on YouTube and you get the picture. The same goes especially with Andi Deris. Just check the High Live DVD made somewhere in 96-97 and compare his casual singing to the struggling he's needing in Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy World Tour 2005/2006.

Indeed. Although I still don't think he is as horrible as everyone says he is singing those songs.

As seen live this year, Timo Kotipelto is as magnificent as ever. I attended Sauna Open Air. Father Time should be on set! It's a fucking disgrace it is not.

As a curious side note, i recently watched Iron Maiden's "live after death" dvd... By god, Dickinson sings horribly and sounds absolutely forced on the Aces High. Their prime also that tour some might say.

FindYourOwnVoice wrote:As a curious side note, i recently watched Iron Maiden's "live after death" dvd... By god, Dickinson sings horribly and sounds absolutely forced on the Aces High. Their prime also that tour some might say.

I actually have that DVD, and yes, in the two, or was it three, first songs, Dickenson is very... flue-y. He's horrible in Aces High (a very hard song to sing), and only gets better somewhere in The Trooper / Revelations. The difference is huge. I think there might be one good example for a singer not opening his voice before the gig, but I'm only guessing. Maybe his motor is just slow to warm? Although the rest of the DVD is pure vocals gold, trademark Bruce. And that was in 1985, so it really has nothing to do with age catching a singer up.

^ Yup. Have you seen Maiden's new DVD flight 666? Dickenson is phenomenal at every stop and it makes me wonder how he is so good when the dvd makes it seem like he doesn't even sleep! Even if you aren't a Maiden fan, I think that DVD shows that as long as you have the drive, you can rock, sing and tour just as hard in even in your later years!

Well, let's just hope Timo K. will keep his voice the longest possible and yes, Bruce is definitly an amazing singer!

Oh, and also, about another singer: On the last Kamelot album, I think that Roy Khan have some difficulties in reaching the high notes, especially on Nights of Arabia and Moonlight, but it may be just me, dont know!

Arkash wrote:Well, let's just hope Timo K. will keep his voice the longest possible and yes, Bruce is definitly an amazing singer!

Oh, and also, about another singer: On the last Kamelot album, I think that Roy Khan have some difficulties in reaching the high notes, especially on Nights of Arabia and Moonlight, but it may be just me, dont know!

You mean the One Cold Winter's Night DVD? I agree. Whenever I watch it, I'm always just a little disappointed with his performance on Nights of Arabia, especially when he comes in too early at the start... yikes! I think he's just lost some of his range, honestly, but Khan is one of the few singers who I think does much better with his dramatic middle range than his higher notes. His voice and Kamelot's music just fit together so well that it doesn't matter to me!