The Day 'The Count of Tuscany' Became My Life Anthem
A personal story about surviving the daily grind of Jakarta, a crazy economic train ride to Solo, and how a 20-minute Dream Theater masterpiece became my ultimate spiritual journey.
I’ve listened to a ton of music throughout my life.
I’ve dipped my toes into so many different genres.
Some tracks just make me go, “Woah, yeah, this is dope,” and then I never play them again.
But others? Others actually leave a mark.
In fact, they stick with me so deeply that they become the ultimate anthems of my life.
Out of all those songs, “The Count of Tuscany” easily takes the crown as one of my personal anthems.
This 20-minute masterpiece by Dream Theater holds a genuinely special place in my heart.
If you want to listen to the song, here’s the link:
Why?
Because this song instantly takes me back to the days when I was out there, grinding and trying to survive the harsh reality of Jakarta.
Just picture this:
Back then, I was commuting back and forth from South Jakarta to Tangerang Regency every single day on a motorcycle.
Trust me, that is not a short trip on a bike.
But during those grueling rides, music was my escape.
Riding my bike, blasting music, weaving through towering skyscrapers under the evening sky while the sunset reflected off the glass buildings…
Man, that was a magical feeling I will never, ever forget.
And one of the main songs that kept me company during the early days of my career was “The Count of Tuscany.”
The long distance combined with the epic length of the track actually allowed me to embrace every single moment on the road.
Navigating through the soul-crushing traffic of Polri, SCBD, Slipi, Tomang, all the way to Pesing and Kalideres.
Some days were great, but honestly, a lot of days just felt like absolute shit.
The high pressure at work, the endless life problems, plus the physical exhaustion of the commute, it all combined to make me absorb the song on a whole different level right in the middle of gridlock.
So, why does “The Count of Tuscany” hit so hard for me?
It really comes down to the melody and the lyrics.
The intro kicks off with John Petrucci’s guitar plucking, which feels incredibly soft and soothing.
Then, bit by bit, the drums and bass join in, complemented by Jordan Rudess’s piano work, making the whole musical composition feel instantly dense and rich.
Throughout the track, you’re basically taken on an emotional rollercoaster.
Until finally, it hits the grand finale.
James LaBrie greets you with the line, “Could this be the end?”.
Then it transitions into Jordan Rudess’s piano exchanging melodies with John Petrucci’s guitar.
The guitar tone there is so thin and distinctive because he was using the piezo pickup on his Music Man guitar.
The moment the drums and bass kick back in together…
Man, at that exact point, the arrangement becomes profoundly majestic.
I swear to god.
You should check the isolated keyboard parts for this section, how can you not get goosebumps listening to something that grand while riding a motorcycle through the Jakarta sunset atmosphere I described earlier? :(
My deep connection with this song reached its absolute peak thanks to a crazy, spontaneous decision.
I’ve been a massive Dream Theater fan since my college days.
As luck would have it, right around the time I started working, they announced a concert in Indonesia, specifically at Manahan Stadium, Solo.
I traveled to Solo on pure impulse, booking a cheap economy class train ticket.
I had only one thought in mind: “It’s now or never.”
I mean, the guys are getting old, right?
I bought the ticket without a second thought, fighting off all my anxieties just to see them live.
I spent hours cramped in that economy train, knees literally touching the passenger opposite me.
Then, the night of the concert finally came.
Since they were touring for a new album, they obviously played their new material.
But the absolute biggest surprise of the night?
They dropped “The Count of Tuscany” as the encore song!
I was ecstatic, but at the same time, completely overwhelmed.
I wept like a baby, crying my eyes out.
To make it even crazier, I managed to get into the front row, just the second line from the stage.
Masya Allah, I was just so incredibly happy.
All the exhaustion from working my ass off felt like it vanished into thin air.
Because for the longest time, whenever I felt depressed or down at work, this was the song that pulled me through.
Seeing them perform it live felt like a literal dream.
I couldn’t believe my eyes, especially since I never expected them to play it, considering it’s not exactly one of their mainstream hits.
This song became the silent witness to the dawn of my career.
Right up to the moment I resigned from my very first office to move to a new company.
On my very last commute home from that job, I deliberately blasted this song one last time.
My relationship with this track has evolved into a spiritual journey; it’s no longer just a piece of audio.
Especially when I hit a brick wall at work, the lyrics would completely undo me:
"I don't understand
I don't feel that I deserve this
What did I do wrong?
I just don't understand"This specific part perfectly captured what the beginning of my career felt like.
There were so many things about life that I just couldn’t wrap my head around.
Yet, at the same time, I had to face everything standing on my own two feet.
I truly didn’t understand what I was doing wrong back then.
And then it transitions into:
"It took me for a ride
Promising a vast adventure
Next thing that I know
I'm frightened for my life"These lines mirror the feeling that the road ahead of me is still incredibly long.
I often found myself anxious and terrified of what the future held for me.
It resonates so deeply with my reality as a member of the sandwich generation.
Until it all culminates in the final lines:
"Go and tell the world my story
Tell about my brother
Tell them about me
The Count of Tuscany"And right after that lyric…
Bam!
Petrucci’s guitar solo drops.
Holy shit, it’s absolutely mind-blowing!
Literal goosebumps, I swear.
It just goes to show that for me, this song isn’t just background noise passing through my ears.
It has transformed into a spiritual journey, a core memory, and the ultimate anthem of my life.
So if you ever find yourself drowning in gridlock, lungs thick with exhaust, mind heavy with questions you can’t answer, roll down the window, find that one song, and let it carry you.
Let the melody stitch your broken pieces back together.
Let the solo remind you that beauty still exists in this chaotic world.
Let it be more than just noise. Let it be your anchor.
For me, that anchor will always be “The Count of Tuscany.”