Classical Composer Reacts to RUSH: Signals (Side 1) | The Daily Doug (Episode 642) 

The nostalgia of Subdivisions literally hurts. When that song came out me along with how many others felt like it was not only speaking to us but for us.

Alex never gets enough credit for being a fantastic 70s guitarist that reinvents himself fantastically to fit as his band changes.

Subdivisions spoke to every outlier, every "nerd" or less-than-popular high schooler, every misfit and we all felt seen. It's an important song for exactly that reason. It's not just about home-based subdivisions, it's about the division of/by cliques in high school and junior high.

I was 14 in 1982. Subdivisions literally saved my life a few times. It let me know someone understood.

This is probably my 2nd favorite Rush album. The Analog Kid is one of the best songs ever written.

Wait until you hear Side 2. "Losing It" is absolutely stunning with, what happens to be, one of Neil's finest moments lyrically. And "Countdown," the last song, is just a total sleeper tune that has, what I feel, THE most characteristic Rush riffs to end the record. Just amazing!

I've been a fan since 1976, so 47 years and I never tire of this band, we grew together, and I miss the anticipation of a new Rush lp!

This Rush fan is happy they never stopped evolving. I love the 80's Rush. I vote Doug does Power Window next!

I bet most of us still remember whomever our fawn eyed girl with sun browned legs was back in 1982… This band wrote to so many - but this album literally spoke to us.

Alex reinventing himself here is critical to the progression of the band. He went from being this wailing shredder, to the guy who figured out how to make his guitar and chord choices sound like 5 guitars at once. His chord choices are so full and perfect. He only got better as time went on

Man.. i love this band so much. I can easily start to cry going in my head listening to this trio. So profound. I wish i could tell them how much they meant to me through my life!

I was a 15 year old sophomore in high school when this album came out and my first concert was this tour….life changing.

I was a latecomer to Rush in the sense that I’m 37, so was born in the middle of their 80s phase and didn’t fall in love with Prog until my mid-20s. Signals is one of my top 3 favorite albums and Subdivisions was written for those of us who weren’t in the cool crowd. I love these guys so much. RIP Neil

My first album, and Subdivisions my first song. Very much spoke to me personally, at age 14. Hooked ever since. Analog Kid remains my favourite Lifeson solo too.

I know Alex thinks his guitar got lost during this era...but I think it made him an even better player and his solos and rythm playing is top tier maybe untouched.

I remember back about this time in history - In a Guitar Magazine fan poll, Geddy was #1 bass player, Alex was #2 after Eddie, and Neil was #1 in Drummer magazine. That was a fan poll back in the day. How times have not changed...

Digital Man is one of the great underrated Rush songs. Brilliant playing by Lee, Lifeson and Peart!

They played Digital Man on their Snakes and Arrows tour. It was the highlight of the show for me

Signals was my first big arena concert on Feb. 18, 1983. Excellent set list: The Spirit Of Radio Tom Sawyer Freewill Digital Man Subdivisions Vital Signs The Camera Eye Closer To The Heart Chemistry The Analog Kid Broon’s Bane The Trees Red Barchetta The Weapon (With the “Count Floyd” introduction.) New World Man Limelight Countdown Encore: 2112 Overture The Temples Of Syrinx Xanadu La Villa Strangiato In The Mood YYZ Drum Solo Golden Earring opened the show! 👍🏻👍🏻

Such a masterpiece, this period was I introducing us to what Rush would become, A band under constant construction, growing, changing progressing. Neil was maturing as a lyricist, while Alex and Geddy spread their wings as musicians. Exploration, Expansion, and Excellence!

I remember when this came out and people were freaking out about how different it was, but it grew on people who didn't care for it at the time and has always remained one of my favorites.

Alex's guitar solo is straight fire...always was a super high point of their live shows when he would rip through that.

This is the album that really introduced me to RUSH. Still one of my faves. You can really hear the influence of the Police on the band in this period.

For me, it is like 10th grade all over again. Trying to learn Neil's drum parts on my drum set. Playing Signals over and over. And, going to the concert in March 1983. Great times, great memories.

So many Rush fans lost their minds when Signals dropped, but I loved the way they evolved into the 80s. Moving Pictures was arguably their magnum opus, but Signals was such an important record for its time. Side one rocks, but Losing It and Countdown on side 2 are also high points on the record. God, I miss Peart...

I was a Senior in High School when Signals came out. I'd seen Rush on the Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures tours so I was already "ride or die" with Rush. But Signals, to this day, hits me differently. By far, my most nostalgic Rush album.

grew up with them in my back yard ... would see them around town ... Alex s son was in my primary school class ... saw this show as one of my first live concerts Best band ever

This being the last work Terry produced and every prior being the tapestry of my youth and the reason I became a musician, still weighs on my heart knowing Neil is no longer with us. Thank you for the insightful review Doug!

that analog kid guitar solo is complete fire

The amazing thing about Rush -- all of Doug's comments could apply to virtually every album. The musicianship is amazing, the lyrics are so meaningful and profound, the creativity and professionalism -- no band will ever touch Rush -- The soundtrack of my life.

Hope to see a full album reaction to my personal fav Rush album - Power Windows!

I think you're quite right that as rush moves into the 80s they are a mature and professional band. It really is the peak of their skill, creativity/art, and writing.

Man when Subdivisions video came out on MTV, WOW was like a life defining moment! Ah the good ole days……..

Chemistry is the sleeper for this album which I have always loved. In addition to your insightful comments, I always thought it also referred to the incredible chemistry between the three of them and how together, their music becomes so much more sublime than their individual virtuosity.

Excellent album!! 40 years old!! That makes me feel old. Lol.

This album came out in my first year of college. My best friend from high school was a writer and a dreamer and we called him the Analog Kid. I have never had to sleep much, and am usually moving at double speed, so we decided that Digital Man was about me. And Subdivisions was (and still is) a massively powerful song to those of us who do not fit into predefined categories.

Digital man is Rush's most underrated song and is the best song on this album, just slightly edging out subdivisions analog kid and the weapon. Your interpretation of the lyrics is spot on. I also see an intertwining of the themes of digital man and vital signs on moving pictures, the integration of life and technology, and what is preserved and what is lost. The words and the music are perfectly paired.

Subdivisions also refer to Peart’s drum parts getting increasingly complicated without changing meter as the song progresses

What's special about Analog Kid is how the main part of the song is fast but the chorus is slow which is the inverse of many rock songs.

The solos Alex put together are such gems that are often unrecognized as such. With the unusually exceptional but accessible bass and drums, folks often fail to realize the sonic creativity Lifeson brings to just about every piece.

Hands down my favorite album from my favorite band. Losing it is such an emotional song that always gets me

Neil was really a genius. The lyrics and all the music put together was just great

One of my very favorite Rush albums…been speaking to me since I was 16 and always will 😎❤️

I saw Rush and Primus back in the early 90s, I was listening to this song when the blotter kicked in. Best concert ever

You have a keenly astute understanding of much of these lyrics. The concept of this album was the restless spirit of youth from the drudgery of suburbia in “Subdivisions” to the ultimate escape to the stars in “Countdown”. Fun fact; the high school scenes in the video of subdivisions was shot a few km from my home in the Toronto suburbs. Thanks for this content. RIP Neil Peart.

I agree that this vocal range was Geddy’s best. It is one of the reasons this album is one of my favourites.

I believe that Subdivisions is also part of the Analog Kid / Digital Man pairing! They all describe different portions of the same person's life...

I cant even begin to believe where rush would have been without the professor.

First time I saw the band live was on this tour. Many more shows since then. Digital Man is top 5 all-time Rush songs for me. Great, great album.

This is my all time favorite Rush album. No exceptions this is the one.

I love the fact that Digital Man and Analog Kid were consistent bumper music for Lakers broadcasts on KCAL 9. Chikie baby and Stu... Japanese provides the best word: natsukashi desu

Moving Pictures to Power Windows is peak Rush.

Man this album is haunting. So many memories from that time. This concert killed it.

First live concert with Rush in Toronto in November 1982 \,,/

That was an astute connection you made between Analog Kid and Digital Man. Neil always had a way of expressing what seems emotionally complex, yet is so common to most everyone...we all feel it inside, and around the edges of our own separate realities, but only he can put it into words that speak to all of us together.

My favorite Power Trio album! Perfect and brilliant songs!

On side two, you will find one of their most haunting tracks called “Losing It”. Growing up, listening to it as a young adult, and then hearing it now in my middle age… It takes on much deeper meanings for me. In terms of emoting feelings, it is probably the most emotional track that you’ll come across from them. It is absolutely brilliant and beautiful, It may not be one of their arena rock hits or complex prog rock anthems, but for sheer melancholy and bringing the stark reality of life to song, and hearing it now after knowing what Neil went through… I won’t spoil it by saying anything else.

Always liked Signals, I like the way Doug peels back the music and lyrics, look forwards to part 2.

Doug breaks down lyrics better than any reactor I have seen on here. Keep up the great work Doug. Totally agree with Doug also that Geddy's 80's melodic/lower register vocals blow away his screaming/screechy vocals of the 70's. Rush hit their STRIDE in the 80's starting with Permanent Waves.

I have been waiting for this reaction video for so long. This is one of my favorite albums! I got to see them on their R40 tour and seeing them play losing it live was a very emotional experience.

It really felt like this album was going into different territory for RUSH when I bought it way back then. Applying their mastery to a whole new set of sounds and the music that came from them. Your comment about mature musicians was spot on Doug. Wait til you get to side two... "Loosing It" is my favourite RUSH song.

You can't lose with this album. It's so great

My favorite album by this amazing band!

Signals is the first studio album after I discovered Rush…via Exit Stage Left. Analog Kid was and still is one of my favorites. It was High School for me and moving beyond playing football after school with friends, riding bikes etc. it was a time where I reminisced about a few years prior, in a other home, laying on the hillside looking up at the clouds.

The time-signature shifts on Subdivisions are wild - back and forth between 7/8, 8/8, 6/8 and a bit of 4/4. I never realized it before this listen, I just knew it was somehow really rhythmically satisfying.

Hahahahaha! Doug, your reaction to Geddy’s playing @ 25:38 was the SAME reaction I had waaaay back in 1983. I must’ve replayed that section a million times since. When I shared this song with some of my fellow musical enthusiasts who had a more funk/R&B sensibility, they ALL expressed a very similar contorted face and utterance- “ooooo!!!!” Play that again!!! Who IS that playing? Geddy who?????”

This album marked the start of the "electronic keyboard era" for Rush. Many fans disliked this at first and moved on to other things only to find out later that left field Rush is still much better than the majority of the other bands. I like Rush's 80s period as much as the 70s. Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows and Hold Your Fire are also pretty good. After that they returned to a more guitar centered sound which is also excellent. I enjoyed their evolution as musicians and am proud that their songs and songs from other well known progressive bands became the soundtrack of my life.

Rush didnt release too many flops that I am aware of. I heard Rush for the first time in 1983 when I was in the Army, All The Worlds A Stage. Have been hooked pretty much ever since. Rush really appealed to my intellectual side which I did not realize then, and then of course they had the best chops. As I have seen more things about the band they seemed like family men, but they kept that away from the press, which I respected alot. They didnt seem to be the typical fratboy get loaded and lay everything with 2 legs kind of band which I also appreciated. They also all seemed very humble and not alot of ego got in the way. All together a great band, the likes of which we will likely never see again. As I heard Geddy put it once 3 kinda nerdy guys who got together and formed a band. Also Id like to say Doug you are very good at unpacking Neils thoughts as you listen, you have given me insight into his thinking that I didnt have before. Thanks Doug.

RUSH is like a fine wine. It matures with age. Each album gains new subtle notes, progressively gaining quality.

I loved watching Geddy play synth on Subdivisions then pop back to the bass in concert, they recorded it the same way in the studio.

This Album was the soundtrack to my highschool days. I guess that's why it is my alltime favorite and will always be. It carried me through.

R.I.P Niel Peart, the greatest of all .

Signals... Yes, that was my first encounter with Rush. Sometime in 1982 on the radio. And since then it's been one of my top bands . Every song on this album is exceptional. The chemistry that she played now is great.. But... I love The Weapon... ❤❤❤

Rush Fans Forever. Enjoying Rush throughout all their albums is life at it's best.

Signals came out while I was in my sophomore year of high school, and Subdivisions was practically a carbon copy of what I was going through. Looking forward to Side 2, although Losing It may be blocked because of copyright issues related to guest violinist Ben Mink; and BTW, the visualizer for The Weapon, which was released alongside this 40th anniversary edition, shows the dalmatian peeing on the Facebook logo. Have a good evening, and Rush on everyone! 🎤 🎹 🎸 🥁 🎸 🐐 🐐 🐐

My first Rush concert was the Signals tour. I was hooked from that moment.

If you get to side 2 you will find the emotional song " Losing It"! It always reminds me of all the bright lights of hope, joy, and love that have passed away in my life! For no man is an island to himself! "John Donne" meaning each man's death does change our world and our lives! Don't ask for whom the bell tolls! It tolls for thee!

Permanent Waves was my first Rush. I then bought Moving Pictures and Exit… Stage Left when they came out. Loved them all. Could not wait for Signals. And I was not disappointed. I love this album! And this tour was the one and only time I got to see these music gods live. The best concert I have ever seen. I have since bought every Rush CD since. And they are all great. But, those first four albums I bought remain special. You side check out side three of Exit… Stage Left. It flows from Broon’s Bane to The Trees to Xanadu so smoothly. It might be my overall favourite album side they ever put out.

This album is just incredible! One of my favorites 👍🏻

It is awe inspiring that conceptually Neil collated those companion songs Analog Kid and Digital Man, and they should be seen as the young and older phase of the same metaphorical person. At that time 1982 it can be argued that music, culture, and society and technology at large were in that very process of growing up and growing out of analog youth, and the digital progress with all its un-humanness was upon us all irreversibly.

I feel like this has been remixed somewhat. The Analog Kid may be my favorite Rush track. I used to crank it on cassette in the car and when it gets to the chorus, or the "You move me, you move me" section, there was a MASSIVE synth swell sound which here seems to be replaced with pleasant synth pads but nowhere nearly as goose bump inducing as I remember it. Maybe it's just not coming through on RU-vid. A lot of people hated the synth era of Rush, but I loved it. I think it was their most polished era and all the songs are finely crafted gems.

The strange thing about Rush album’s is when I listen to any of them I think, that is in the top five Rush albums. Every time, every one. 20 studio albums and they are all in the top 5. Go figure.

Consider also that electronics (and subsequently electronic music) first came in analog form, and later digital. Makes sense analog is 1st on the album. Neil is one of those great writers that speaks on so many levels you can't keep track of them all.

Amazing album. The last with Broon. I do like later albums but the mixes with Terry are undeniably awesome.

Rush is brilliant. In every aspect. Best 3 person band ever and for me best rock band ever regardless of the number of people in the band. Signals is superb like all their stuff. Analog kid being my favourite on this album

This album is classic and one I was so looking forward to hear. I remember the day that I got it. I couldn't wait to hear what they would come out with next. It took a while but still, right after Moving Pictures, that had to have been a lot of pressure to live up too, or I should I say, play up to that other classic. So yes, that was the big thrill about RUSH, you never knew what they would come out with next. But on top of that you listen and fall in love with music and especially the lyrics. Anyway, after seeing you hold up the 40 anniversary album, I just had to subscribe and give a thumbs up. Thanks for sharing and I'll be looking forward to your next review.

Absolutely love when you dissect the musical brilliance of RUSH and the brilliance of Neil's writing!!!

I've got to add one more thing, and that's about the lyrics. Neil always had something to say that was almost always meaningful and on a few occasions, very philosophical. That would always get him in trouble when he did interviews. Neil hated doing interviews and he didn't do that many. I remember listening to one of those interviews he did on the radio and it did not go well for him. I read somewhere that he actually got kicked out of the studio by the DJs. I can identify with many of the song lyrics that he writes. I'm a big fan of his writing which why I have most of his books. That's all I have to for now but I have a knock at the door, s......

Doug! I can’t tell you how happy you’ve made me in getting to Signals. It’s an album that continues to blossom for me even after decades. I love hearing the band’s growth as artists and you pointed that out quite poignantly. Oh but I really can’t wait for your take on Losing It on Side 2 😊. Thank you for your great take on this fantastic album.

I saw this tour. Absolute peak time to see them.

The Signals album is by far my favorite album by Rush. Of course I was 14 when it came out and really shaped my young mind.

My all time favorite RUSH album with Subdivisions being my favorite song by them. I didn't know about the existence of that 40th anniversary picture disc I have absolutely got to get a copy of that!

This is actually my favorite Rush album, and fortunately, I saw them on this tour in Albuquerque in 1982! I love their rockier songs, but I love this as well! All 3 of these guys are geniuses! My favorite song from Rush is Red Sector A! Looking forward to side 2!

I'm glad you're 'taken' by the lyrics. That song is amazing. This was my first purchase at 13 yrs old I couldn't find moving pictures after seeing vids on MTV so bought signals. Was so weird. Like an adjustment at first but this album is so fckng good after you immerse yourself in it. Thanks for doing so much Rush. I love you Dr Doug

Happy 70th Birthday Alex Lifeson August 27th. Doug, thank you so much for keeping Rush's music alive and appreciating their musicianship and lyrics. Subdivision is one of my favorite lyrics.

'Signals' IS the 1980's for me!🤟🎸🔥

The album that introduced me to Rush and reeled me in! Imagine the courage it took to go to more synths after the success of Moving Pictures. Alex is right that his guitar was drowned out on Subdivisions, but this album is awesome in every way. I am hoping the live stream is the reason the video kept fast forwarding as the video misses part of every song and your commentary, which we al love to hear. Thanks for finding Rush.

This album speaks to me. It was released when I was born, has a dog on the cover and has subject matter that I've personally experienced. Thank you, Doug for covering it with your channel!

First concert I ever saw Signals tour 82... The way Neil keeps time in these 4 songs is amazing... All of them rock really. Great thoughts on lyrics Dr. D. When I was younger I preferred Subdivisions now that I am older I prefer Digital Man... Love how ther drums and bass jump right in no messing around. All are great songs though.

Signals was my second concert to see from Rush- The record was a very interesting progression from MP. I love all of the music on this album but if I had to pick 2 it would be Digital man and Losing it. They are so different from each other. Digital man is almost Funk, Jazz meeting Prog, it is all over the place and yet as in true Rush form they can take elements like in cooking- you normally would not mix certain ingredients but it works and works very well. Another classic staple of Alex's guitar playing is the "Hemispheres" chord- that F sharp Major flat 4 added 7 in Digital man combined with F sharp 7 makes a unique texture as he swaps back and fourth between in the main verse. I loved this Signals immediately, did not require too much time to process - when you are young/ in high school you hear Subdivisions, you immediately connect to the metaphor and statement about being young in packaged processed culture yearning for originality to stand out, the angst of youth! That was a amazing concert, and this album is my favorite depending on which day of the week. Thank you DD