What song would 1,000 bards sing together?

[Korahir]

nitpick: mozart not motzart ;)

and:
I never realized the liberty of the english translation of dies irae. it's not even close to the original, but it is one hell of a song anyway.

I'll just translate the first part:
days of wrath, this day will dissolve the world in ash as testimonied by David and Sybilla.

[The Vagabond]

nitpick: mozart not motzart ;)

and:
I never realized the liberty of the english translation of dies irae. it's not even close to the original, but it is one hell of a song anyway.

I'll just translate the first part:
days of wrath, this day will dissolve the world in ash as testimonied by David and Sybilla.

Yeah, went with the more poetic version, primarily because it helps sell the idea of how awesome it is (In the classical sense of the word). Poetics help there.

And apologies, posting this from my phone.

[lytokk]

It might just be me, but I think "Hooked on a Feelin" would be pretty awesome sung by 1000 bards.

[Corgamesh]

Do they have instruments?

[dysprosium]

West Side Story is the perfect source for song-and-dance routines designed for large groups of people mobilizing with the express intent of murdering other large groups of people. Specifically, the song "Cool" - where members of the Jets are revving themselves up for an impending rumble with the Sharks - is amazing for this. The show also has some good pieces with a multiple part harmony (see e.g. the "Tonight Quintet" towards the end of Act I, in which five different songs are being performed in brilliant and riveting counterpoint).

I'm imaging all of the Bards approaching the enemy while snapping their fingers. Just be careful that the enemy does not do the same.

Definitely, though as a runner up, imagine 1000 people singing Libera Me from Hell.

Yes. Yes! YES!!!!

[zyggythorn]

Give them the blanket skill Perform: Symphony and go nuts with songs by Two Steps from Hell. Adjust song to note combat formations and bardic music effect being used.

[Jeff the Green]

Ooh, how about this?

[animewatcha]

Would Guile's theme fit?

Or this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcYvIteffXw?

[commander panda]

if you can get a ton of them playing instruments (especially bagpipes) this will induce mass pants-soiling in any army.

[RhoTheWanderer]

if you can get a ton of them playing instruments (especially bagpipes) this will induce mass pants-soiling in any army.

NOOO!!! ANYTHING BUT THE INFERNAL BAGPIPES!!! (My sincerest apologies to those who actually enjoy bagpipes, but I personally can't stand the sound of the things.) I'm seconding The Imperial March as well as pretty much any song by Van Canto. I was thinking Duel of the Fates, but now that I think about it, I'm not so sure about it. If they're divine bards you could maybe try something like A Mighty Fortress Is Our God?

[TypoNinja]

More Queen could work, too: How about Princes of the Universe? Heck, just break out a "Best of Queen" album and go to town.

Or almost anything by Van Canto. Metal a capella? Yes please. (Seriously, Van Canto's cover of Manowar's Kings of Metal fits this so well.)

Dio's Holy Diver, perhaps?

Van Canto's approach to music would definitely be fitting here having some of the singers be backing vocals and a beat would be great.

While not my favorite song (That honor is reserved for their cover of Fear of the Dark which sounds amazing) I'd have to say Stormbringer is good fit for a marching army.

And If I'm not mistake, you can march to it fairly easily.

[commander panda]

NOOO!!! ANYTHING BUT THE INFERNAL BAGPIPES!!! (My sincerest apologies to those who actually enjoy bagpipes, but I personally can't stand the sound of the things.)

well they were originally intended to intimidate enemies before entering battle. so thats kinda the idea.

[Nibbens]

O Fortuna....

Yeah, this.

OR....

Any Haka could be terrifying. Their purpose being to make the opponents shat themselves before combat, like bagpipes. :)

[Shining Wrath]

"Saturday Night's All Right for Fightin'". The Who's version, not Elton John's; let's face it, Elton's a great musician, but absolutely not a guy you'd be afraid to fight.

[Red Fel]

Van Canto's approach to music would definitely be fitting here having some of the singers be backing vocals and a beat would be great.

While not my favorite song (That honor is reserved for their cover of Fear of the Dark which sounds amazing) I'd have to say Stormbringer is good fit for a marching army.

And If I'm not mistake, you can march to it fairly easily.

To combine this with an earlier suggestion, Van Canto did a reasonably epic cover of Holding Out for a Hero. That minor-key opening is appropriately funerary.

Also, they did a decent cover of The Final Countdown. The build-up is something you could totally hear as the army of bards rises over the crest of the hill.

[RhoTheWanderer]

To combine this with an earlier suggestion, Van Canto did a reasonably epic cover of Holding Out for a Hero. That minor-key opening is appropriately funerary.[...]

Yes. Just yes. You could keep a few units of multiclass bard/marshals as cavalry. Then proceed to have the army start singing this if the battle starts to go against them as a signal for the cavalry to ride in and save the day.

[Plaguemask]

The Smile Song.
Nah, not really, I would suggest something like Indestructible from Disturbed or Dragula from Rob Zombie, if you want it more classy, try with Devil's Dance-Floor or hell, if you want to strike terror into them, anything from Dragonforce will do, personal suggestions: Through The Fire and Flames, Fury of the Storm, Soldiers of the Wasteland.