Dream Theater - Take Your Fingers From My Hair (Zebra)

[Dreadstad]

Seriously...a DOD whammy effect on this song?!?!? Pure cr@p.

[Dreadstad]

DT: take all that talent you have and trade it for an oz of soul...

[Dreadstad]

If I were Zebra I would ask these guys to never cover my songs again.  Lifeless.

[Zompetto]

vai john vai!!!!

[hartistry1957]

The fact that DT covers Zebra, proves Zebra was no flash-in-the-pan!

[patthedude]

Zebra was the very 1st live concert I saw when I was 13 in Poughkeepsie, NY in 1983. They shared the bill w/ Twisted Sister. That show had a HUGE impact on me as a beginning guitarist/ songwriter. My high school band even covered a few Zebra tunes! Through the 80s & early 90s, I cannot even recall how many times I had seen Zebra live. I've met Randy and Felix a few times & they were always super cool & down to earth. This tune is one of all time fave Zebra songs... just ask my parents!

[patthedude]

Dream Theater did a decent job with this cover. I think it's awesome that they did a great job. The precision is there like any DT song, but the 'feel' or groove is missing.... which has always been DT's persona. I've seen and met these guys too... Through their song catalog, it's easy to hear when the whole band were in the pocket vs. the tunes when they weren't.

[marcosrenan93]

7:29 a 7:53 impossible

[joseph47711]

daaaaaaam! at least zebra's music is thought of 2 be covered, zebra had many great songs its probably just an honor 2 b remembered in this way, ther'e jus a lil' old band from louisiania

[scullyy]

Do you think a cover is an attempt to beat the original song? Retards

[karlmoles65]

Good try, but the original owns it

[aasse]

6:00 absurdo

[dooterjean]

i'm sorry dude, but your heart just isn't in it...not the way the the bandmembers of zebra did it at all....you should have never remade....this is my most favorite song in the world..and the song i want played at my funeral...you just don't give it justice dream theater.

[jeffmobile3]

not even in the same class as Zebra

[somfp]

@jeffmobile3 seriously? I grew up on Zebra in LI, and I think DT does an amazing job, as expected.

[orlandofriend]

This is cool, but the Zebra original is way better sounding. Randy's vocals and guitar just work better. And these drums sound really stiff.... no groove.

[datinsky69]

Awesome cover. Goes to show you what a great song can become in the hands of superior musicianship.,. Although the keyboard affectations at the 3 min mark is unnecessary fluff that adds nothing to the composition.

[skimam]

This cover is great but classical problem Labrie... I can´t help myself but in the higher positions sounds like a screaming woman and the whole atmosphere is ruined for me.

Dream Theater should really think about him. Labrie is their weakest member and by my opinion the reason why DT still don´t have respect that they deserve.Btw forgive me my english, i still suck

[nairblizard]

i personaly know randy jackson he dated my aunt in highschool and they still remain good friends hes a really cool guy yay zebra

[SuperMegaUberGenius]

nice 14ths and sevenths and 19ths

[SuperMegaUberGenius]

allow me to say things that i forgot to say earlier: Zebra Zebra and Zebra Thank you. Zebra Zebra and Zebra Zebra Zebra and Zebra Zebra Zebra and Zebra Zebra Zebra and Zebra Zebra Zebra and Zebra Zebra Zebra and Zebra Zebra Zebra and Zebra Zebra Zebra and Zebra Zebra Zebra and Zebra Zebra Zebra and Zebra Zebra Zebra and Zebra

[SuperMegaUberGenius]

actually it'spretty awesome if you sync them up and watch floyd meets oz overture temples etc over this

[CavemanJesus4Life]

This also sounds like Ayreon, I guess thats where Arjen got his sound

[techfanatix]

This song is a holy masterpiece in my opinion, no matter which version, this (which i prefer) or the zebra version which is great too

Thumbs up if you agree!

[nyuu919]

i was dating this girl.. any way she ended it up with me and im feelin ok with this, i promised that ill dedicate a song on the radio to her

AND THIS IS THE ONE

dt 4 life

[glennw53]

A great song A great band (Zebra) and a great cover by DT, of course and again.

[quarkcsj]

compared to Zebra, this guy sounds like he's reading the lyrics, not feeling them. He doesn't put the pauses and accents in the right places sometimes. The guitar lick at the end is better though!

[quarkcsj]

compared to Zebra, this guy sounds like he's reading the lyrics, not feeling them. He doesn't put the pauses and accents in the right places sometimes.

[McDiddy99]

What's with all the comparing between DT and Zebra? DT COVERED this song, with great respects to Randy, and Zebra. Yet still a good job, only Dream Theater would be able to cover this well. Great props to Zebra as well. This is a great song.

[DBOEvilCondomn]

this solo is one of the best solos i have ever, ever heard... i know its not petrucci's, but the way this vrs sounds... jesus...

[ls1arh]

Better then the original BY WAYY FUCKING FAR!!!!!! I really like zebra but DT killed them at thier own song sorry Randy

[clayopalstar]

@ls1arh,

This awesome cover pays great respect to Randy Jackson and Zebra.

Your comment does not.

Randy's voice kills on TYFFMH, La Brie tries his best, but cannot hit ANY of the high parts!

And more notes in a solo DON'T make it better... the feeling does. Randy's solo (especially in the '78 demo where it's not faded out like the album) is so much better "BY WAYY FUCKING FAR!!!!"

Three guys from 'Nawlins, even with a demo, smoke the huge prog rock monster Dream Theater.

Sorry Is1arh.

[cheetahfish]

@clayopalstar "Three guys from 'Nawlins, even with a demo, smoke the huge prog rock monster Dream Theater." ahahahaha oh lawd...

[clayopalstar]

@cheetahfish,

As I always say, even to the misguided, all opinions welcome.

Dream Theater's first show was at Sundance in Bay Shore, New York opening Zebra!

They must think very highly of Zebra to even attempt to cover Take Your Fingers From My Hair, and they did a good job without adding too many "proggy" frills, except for the guitar solo after 7:29 when it goes astray a bit... and then DT fade it out, without all the ending riffs, just like the studio version.

[clayopalstar]

@cheetahfish,

Zebra is a POWER TRIO.

Dream Theater is a PROG ROCK BAND.

Cool to compare, but which is better?

Doesn't really matter.

I grew up with Zebra. A fan ever since I heard their demo tape in 1979.

I stood in front of Randy in a club in 1980 listening to Zebra play this song. It will never be that good again, no matter who covers it. Even Dream Theater.

Dream Theater deserve much respect for this Zebra cover. I wouldn't have made the video and posted it if I wasn't impressed.

[egcroan]

@clayopalstar They are a power trio in the same vein as Rush.

[ls1arh]

@clayopalstar At this point im not arguing, but your comparing recent Labre with a 1978 Randy Jackson.. I think he does an excellent job as with the rest of the band.

[clayopalstar]

@ls1arh,

Point taken - James did have a higher register in the "Pull Me Under" days. Not as "growly" as today.

I wouldn't have done this Dream Theater video if I didn't think it was an excellent cover!

However I am a Zebra fan first, and will always love the first version I ever heard, from the raw '78 demo tape.

Also, remember Zebra did it with only three members...

And though Zebra does this song better (imho), they are not a better band than Dream Theater.

Could Zebra cover DT...?

[egcroan]

@clayopalstar Could Zebra Cover D.T> ? The better question is could D.T. cover Led Zeppelin, The Moody Blues, or Rush which I have seen Zebra do on many occasions with fantastic results. I like D.T. but their style is really different, and although I have seen them cover others with sometimes good results they have a really hard time going slow and soft with really sounded forced.

[FallingPT2003]

@egcroan Cover Led Zeppelin or Rush? They have plenty of that. They are fantastic players. They can do what they want in just a couple of hours. Did you see they cover Iron Maiden´s The Number of The Beast and some of them were learing the songs the day before? Portnoy learn 20 songs of Overkill when he was asked to play it live, in just 1 day.

[egcroan]

@clayopalstar Well Put !! The solo is really much more soulful on the Zebra version as Randy uses a little more delay and lets the solo become a little less stated , airy, and just a little haunting just for effect. I very seldom find this quality in DT. I understand this was a tribute, and as such it is a great one. I don't know why the other person had to get all up in everybody's face about DT being better than Zebra.

[clayopalstar]

@egcroan,

Well put yourself!

We are all here through the love of a great song, "Take Your Fingers From My Hair."

Whether you found it through Zebra or are a Dream Theater fan discovering it for the first time, we all have that in common. The rest is all opinion. And as long as you're not too rude, don't curse me or attack someone else personally for their comments here, say what you will.

(I have had to block over 200 people who couldn't manage it...)

[egcroan]

@clayopalstar Good point about Randy's feel on the guitar because I was at first drawn to Zebra because of just how catchy and soulful Randy's guitar playing was in addition to great song writing and musicianship by all three players in the band. I know a lot of critics from the day have attacked the keyboard playing, but let's face it it was just the right feel for the songs. The fact Felix also didn't drop the bass when he played keys but played it on one hand meant excellent rhythm section.

[paintit411]

@ls1arh Yeah I disagree. 30 yrs later Randy Jackson can still sing this song at approx 50yrs old. Covers rarely out do the original.

[egcroan]

@ls1arh First I want to know what drugs you were one that you for even a moment thought the singer from Dream Theater is half as good as Randy Jackson, and just forget the fact the original had actual Three Part Harmonies. LOL !! No doubt this guitarist is areal shredder, and I have listen to DT for years, but the whole arrangement shows just how difficult it is for DT to do a soft song. It is obvious that you like shredders and screamers so I doubt we will agree on much when it comes to much.

[DeathToNewbie]

A very melodious and emotional solo at the end of the song. It's like when you're helpless against something and you really can't do anything about it and you emit this powerful emotion from the bottom of your heart then you make it into a brilliant piece of music.

[Thycid]

This song should have a billion views by now

[smilingpug]

Dream Theater is like Kansas. Arcane but forgettable.

[HopNPlop]

All DT fans would love Zebra

[POTRADS]

nice try, but Randy Jackson smokes 'em. I think DT will agree.

[tatertottattum]

To be honest, this is one of the few covers of a song that I like more than the original :P

[ohmerdesign]

Dream Theater without Portnoy? i can't bear to imagine it.

[tatertottattum]

@ohmerdesign They're still going on with it.

And not to sound negative, but there are many drummers out there that are equally skilled as (if not more than) Portnoy. Not gonna lie, Portnoy practically made Dream Theater what it is. And you may think that Dream Theater might not be the same, but Petrucci practically writes everything for them. They'll survive without him.

[Thycid]

@tatertottattum You have to remember that Portnoy did more than drum for DT, he started the band, scheduled tours, oversaw alot of production, he was very busy behind the scenes. So yes he can be replaced but they are replacing more than a drummer.

[tatertottattum]

@Thycid Oh, I know that. That's what I meant when I mentioned "He practically made it what it is".

[PwnYouAtSoccer]

i was entranced by the album covers.

[borntorun1970]

Wow! I LOVE Zebra, and that was an absolutely incredebly detailed and wonderful cover of this amazing song! I really loved how they retained the feel of the song and also how John played Randy's outro solo basically note for note, but added his own flair as well. I hate when bands cover a song and change it so much that you can't really "feel" the original intent of the song. This is one of Zebra's best, and I can't imagine a better cover of this great song! Time to play my guitar now... :)

[dbage46]

Check out my outro unison cover!! Awesome song!

[gangsterthomas1000]

epic ending FTW

[fi6fo]

From 6:00 onwards...eargasm.

[vivamusone]

nice!

[DeathToNewbie]

Explosive dramatical ending.

[MrGionata1972]

perfect song by Zebra very very niceeeee

[jek21]

Dream Theater, thank you for introducing me to Zebra.

[lorettakeane]

Thanks to Dream Theater for the great cover!

Personally, I still prefer Zebra's version (maybe cause I used to go see them on Long Island). Hard to believe 3 guys could make so much beautiful music. Long live Zebra! 35 years and still rocking =)

<3 LI girl

[themetalchef]

@lorettakeane I love Zebra as well. I grew up just south of New Orleans and had this cassette and LP and saw them many times.. The best underrated band of all time. Zebra's version is the best but man what a COVER...

[countrysamurai]

This is the finest Progressive Metal/Rock band on the planet...they did this song justice and introduced "Zebra" to a whole new generation of fans.

Thanks for this killer vid...you Rock!

[furnto78]

Great song !!!

[blackfifo]

The ending guitar solo is .... O---M---G

[Tedericoe]

Such a powerful sounding acoustic

[ironsabbath18]

I know none of you care, but this song was the best thing to listen to after my ex broke up with me.

[clayopalstar]

@ironsabbath18 For me, it was my wife, and "October Rust" from Type O Negative that helped me deal with it...

[77eggman23]

@ironsabbath18

For me it was "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead"

[Stahrmaster]

@ironsabbath18 Yeah I think I had this on repeat for about 3 weeks when that happened to me. Definitely an EPIC song either way!

[Meethetroll]

@ironsabbath18 Well I always care to hear such story,some how I find peace for me by sharing! I had my drama as well and This song was vas rinnging constantly in my mind trully I believe not love but Music will save the world!

[Meethetroll]

@ironsabbath18 Well I always care to hear such story,some how I find peace for me by sharing! I had my drama as well and This song was rinnging constantly in my mind trully I believe not love but Music will save the world!

[thepoofer]

@ironsabbath18 dude.

[NailsForDinner]

@ironsabbath18 I can empathize:[

[RRioGio]

@ironsabbath18 I know that feel bro. I know it all too well.

[mauijaws11]

@ironsabbath18 I feelya ironsabbath, one of my all time fav deeper cuts for much of the same. to see the DT cover of it is like my 2 favorite music worlds eclipsing, regarding dream theater and zebra.....

[VinylKidReborn]

DT covered Zebra? OMG, awesome!

[rokndj]

Good but by no means "far superior".

[Pedro4k]

@rokndj "far superior" to what, ya dumb fuck?

[rokndj]

@Pedro4k You may want to read the rest of the comments to figure that out. No need to start name calling. All that does is show your immaturity.

[Pedro4k]

@rokndj I know what 2 versions clayopalstar is comparing. Have u figured it out yet??

[Rgarza847]

Music wise: Awesome! Vocal wise: Could have been better. The singer did not nail it!! He's off from the beginning of the song. He starts the song trying to sound like Randy, then he puts his own voice (bridge), then back to Randy (chorus). WTF??? You either make the song your own, or just a an exact tribute cover...

[damillionmalania]

@Rgarza847 Take your rules of thumb with my middle finger ,,!,,(O.o),,!,, If you don't like the song you're free to say so, but don't give musicians rules to play by.

[TheCandygod]

@Rgarza847 Well, the thing is the vocalist actually did sing more like randy in dream theaters early years.

More recently though he's used a more growly vocal aproach, but he still can sing like he used to quite well.

[Fartacus46]

holy crap! did anyone else notice how freaking fast the double bass was at the end???!!!

[Galctic49]

@Fartacus46 Yeah, the drummer for Dream Theater is incredible!

[nickbarkerdt]

@Fartacus46 I do, since the first time I heard

[lukas210994]

This Song great I loved by Zebra but I think It sounds much better by Dream Theater!

Dream Theater Forever From Austria!!!

[shadowself1120]

Thank YOu for posting! at the same time... Shut the F#@k UP!

"Far superior to the Demo"?

[clayopalstar]

I said the video response, Zebra's demo of "Take Your Fingers From My Hair", was "far superior to the 1983 Zebra LP"... so learn to f@ckin' read!

This cover is good, but I first heard Zebra in 1978, and saw them live in 1980.

The early live and demo versions of Take Your Fingers From My Hair, Who's Behind The Door, As I Said Before, Wait Until The Summer's Gone and The La La Song that I posted are all FAR superior to the 1983 Zebra LP!

[metalfiend124]

@clayopalstar I'd love to hear the 1978 demo, where can you get it? Why was the 1983 album so inferior to the demo in regards to recording quality?

[Pedro4k]

@clayopalstar there are a lot of dumb fucks on the internet, aren't there?

[Pedro4k]

@shadowself1120 YOU shut the FUCK UP! You retart -go get glasses or learn to read ya dumb dick! You must feel like such an ASS-HOOOOOOOLE!!! LOL!!

[crisdecordoba]

esto de pon tus dedos en mi pelo me motiva

[themetalchef]

The best cover by any song by any band. period..

[Gspdox]

@themetalchef

this is awesome but the best? dunno. Maiden "Crosseyed Mary" and my all time favorite Realm "Eleanor Rigby" rank.  Slayer's cover of JP's Dissident Aggressor too.

[themetalchef]

@Gspdox yeah bro, but this song just hits me. especially the drums at 5:39 just gives me chills then the guitar.. WOW..

[drmhyde]

music sounds great but I don't like James' vocals, personally. I'm a HUGE zebra fan. LaBrie's voice is hit or miss for me but the band is amazing

[angmar11]

What do u think of Labries singing here?

[Zusik12900]

the drum section at the end KILLED!

[kuzinit]

Great Song Writing, Great band Covering ,Wonderfull to hear all the Delay on the solo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[edzick917]

these guys are so tight-sounds great-genius-props to zebra 4 creating such great music

[andrw85]

The solo at the end blow up my mind

[Prosopagnosia11]

trivia : when dream theater started they opened up shows for zebra

[aprilemily]

1986

[aprilemily]

This is an awesome song written by the Band Zebra covered by this extrrodinary Band Dream Thearter.rock on you old Long Island Followers of Zebra ,,, Hammer Heads , Speaks !!. Man those were the days

[bigbigjoel]

Wow, nice job!

[drmhyde]

this is bad to the bone!! Thanks for posting. I'm a HUGE Zebra fan since 82. They did this justice for sure.

[dreamtheater9352000]

Clay, LOVE the vid montage! Portnoy and Petrucci own this one-Randy J, you rawk, dude. The "Zeebz" great ear candy!! Thanks for the posts, you all.

[slapshot121212]

Awesome cover!!!!

[riverrun61]

We saw Randy Jackson Friday, Nov 6th 2009. He hits the notes just like in the 80's. This is an awesome tribute to my favorite band.. ROCK ON Dream Theater.. Cover them all....

[IbanezjemJSX]

This is there best covers, the solo over mixolydian blows me away every time