Those special Gabriel-moments (in songs)

Oh, there are plenty ... for me

One I do remember when I listened to UP for the first time - when Peter sings the line "I can hear the same voice calling" and then the following seconds until the Blind Boys come in ...

then, from i/o, the final section of Playing For Time ...

Without doubt, San Jacinto:

I Hold the Line.

It might be obvious but

You can put out a candle

but you can't put out a fire

from Biko. Also the way he sings the names in Games Without Frontiers. I never tire of it. I will have to think of others.

When illusion spin her net

I'm never where I wanna be

And liberty, she pirouette

When I think that I am free

Confessing all the secret things

In the warm velvet box

To the priest, he's the doctor

He can handle the shocks

All my instincts, they return

And the grand facade, so soon will burn

Without a noise, without my pride

I reach out from the inside

I'm always affected by this part;

Though you may disappear

You're not forgotten here

And I will say to you

I will do what I can do

I went to the pre-PG3 tour and was blown away by the opening, with the drum track of Intruder booming out and PG entering via the back of the auditorium, sweeping a hand-held spotlight across us. When I later first heard the album, the opening took me back to that night and was a definite moment for me. Really, that whole album was and remains a 'moment' but that opening was special.

Also on the same album:

If you don't get given you learn to take

And I will take you

Quote from rkive

When illusion spin her net

I'm never where I wanna be

And liberty, she pirouette

When I think that I am free

Confessing all the secret things

In the warm velvet box

To the priest, he's the doctor

He can handle the shocks

All my instincts, they return

And the grand facade, so soon will burn

Without a noise, without my pride

I reach out from the inside

Display More

Those are all brilliant, although 'liberty she pirouette' is so awkward it lowers the effect. But the 'all my instincts' verse is a masterpiece.

Don't Give Up is like this throughout. If I had to choose one section:

Drove the night toward my home

The place that I was born, on the lakeside

As daylight broke, I saw the earth

The trees had burned down to the ground

Also the chorus of In Your Eyes, especially 'I see the doorway to a thousand churches'.

Interesting thread!

From his older tracks, it's probably Humdrum - "out of woman comes the man ..."

From his new album i/o, it's when he sings "this edition is limited" during "So much" and the great finale of "Live and let live"

The offhanded feel of "TV dinner, TV news"

The resignation of "It feels like dying... letting go of life" against the later determination of "I hold the line"

The impassioned "Turn up the signal... WIPE OUT THE NOISE!" crystallising a song that really speaks to me.

Quote from Backdrifter

The impassioned "Turn up the signal... WIPE OUT THE NOISE!" crystallising a song that really speaks to me.

Ooh that's a good one.

Quote from Backdrifter

The offhanded feel of "TV dinner, TV news"

The resignation of "It feels like dying... letting go of life" against the later determination of "I hold the line"

The impassioned "Turn up the signal... WIPE OUT THE NOISE!" crystallising a song that really speaks to me.

For Signal to Noise, I prefer the orchestral version. His voice is more natural than the UP’s version.

I don't know how to stop - No Self Control

I just like how he delivers that line.

Also the weary resignation of 'digging in the dirt/stay with me, I need support' after the anger and pain which starts the song.

The whole "out on the moors" part of Father Son is very moving in a song that's overall very touching, heartfelt and personal. I found it hard to listen to for some time after my dad died but I'm glad I now can although it's very emotional.

We're understandably quite focused on lyrics but a big musical moment for me has always been Humdrum's shift into the big keyboard chords of the final segment, and the lovely change near the end at "liebe schön". It's one of the rare PG solo moments that sounds close to Genesis.

Quote from Ben

For Signal to Noise, I prefer the orchestral version. His voice is more natural than the UP’s version.

agreed, although there is one "rock" version (on the Songs For Tibet II sampler), that features electric guitars. And this moment, when the guitar comes in, is one of my special moments.

I'm useless at describing musical moments but I'm sure if I just say the 'surge' of the chorus in Here Comes The Flood that will make sense.

For me, it's still Family Snapshot, when the song enters its fast section. And it was a great show effect during the 2013 tour, when the house lights were turned off.

For me it’s I Grieve… a perfect song, a strong effect on the second part…