I love the original Tubular Bells, and Tubular Bells 2003 wins because John Cleese announces the instruments. Tubular Bells III is quite good. The Orchestral Tubular Bells is outstanding, not as good as the original, but still has some great moments. Tubular Bells II, however, not so good. The little girl / mommy conversation in the second half is... yeah, I didn't like it. "What's that, Mommy?" "I don't know." It's avant garde to say the least, especially when the monster voice is groaning before and after the lines, but it just took me completely out of the song and made me aware that I was listening to a song again, whereas the other arrangements all kept me in a state of suspended belief for the entire time.
I love the original Tubular Bells, and Tubular Bells 2003 wins because John Cleese announces the instruments. Tubular Bells III is quite good. The Orchestral Tubular Bells is outstanding, not as good as the original, but still has some great moments. Tubular Bells II, however, not so good. The little girl / mommy conversation in the second half is... yeah, I didn't like it. "What's that, Mommy?" "I don't know." It's avant garde to say the least, especially when the monster voice is groaning before and after the lines, but it just took me completely out of the song and made me aware that I was listening to a song again, whereas the other arrangements all kept me in a state of suspended belief for the entire time.