Rush refused to compromise their music and they almost lost their record label. They weren't interested in making number one records they just wanted to make songs challenging and good to them back in the day they were never played on radio the songs were to long and complex they survived by loyal fans like me that always loved them for their talent and not so called popularity or radio play. And neil peart is on every album except the very first one just titled RUSH.
I wish I had read this first. Ha! I told Daniel much of the same. I am glad you brought up their early troubles. I always found it ironic that they didn't have trouble anymore after 2112. Fans are great! 👍
I agree! The Spirit of Radio never gets old! Have you seen the official music video for it on Rush's channel that came out in the last few months? Definitely pulls at the heartstrings seeing Neil animated in the video after his passing earlier this year. :/
The end of this song is a nod to Simon and Garfunkle "Sound Of Silence". "For the words of the prophets were written on the subway walls, and tenement halls... and echo with the sound of silence."
You did a great job breaking this down - - far too many people hear it and just think it's happy, totally missing the statement it makes about the 'business' of music - - So many 'reactors' listen to the music, but don't give much time to lyrics ... you do, and I (for one) truly appreciate it!!
The transitions to different styles of music are you turning the radio dial to different stations, back when radios were analog and actually had dials :)
Imagine being a 15 year old kid who's never been to a concert before and you're older neighbor at about 5 in the evening asks if you'd like to go with a bunch of other guys to a general admission concert to see a band called Rush and you've never heard of them before. Of course I begged my mother to go, I was allowed to go and the rest is history they became my favorite band instantly. It was the Permanent Waves tour with Spirit of Radio just blowing me away. How could three people put out that much quality sound it was just amazing to me. Stage presence for each was amazing.
@@ginamarandino6451 agree on hooked for life HOWEVER, Steely Dan is known as the bands band. Meaning after the best rockers were done with a show and or wanted to chill... Steely Dan was the choice for most...
Hadn't realised that when I saw Rush live in 2013 it was the last time they came over to the UK to tour. So glad I bought that ticket now as I only got into them in 2007!
Ditto when they played America. When Rush concerts are part of your life (since 75', last yr of JHS), you expect them to always be there. 😏 Actually convinced myself there would be a 50th Anniversary Tour 😒 even though they retired. 😔 RIP Professor 🐰 #ENRGYZRBunny
Rush was always one of my favorites. three guys doing the work of a full orchestra. My husband's father was in a band in the 60s and 70s. He and his band still get on stage and play, rockin' it at 73.
Stopped the video before the music started to make some popcorn. Cause I’m old and I know what coming. 😁 One of their best songs. Keep in mind there was no Sirius radio or commercial internet when this was written. Radio. Over the air radio was all we had. It’s hard for you to understand perhaps. A radio. No pc’s, no smart phones. Your only connection to the world in general was a radio over which you had no control other than a basic selection of channel and even then you still had no feedback to the broadcaster. The spirit of radio is the essence of this connection. Finding the right channel. Who told you that subdivisions wasn’t Neil? It was Neil.
And our little radios had tin foil on the Antenna for better reception. Used up all mommy's tinfoil constantly until I was forced to use my allowance to by my own so she could hers for actual cooking purposes. 😂🤣😂🤣 Damn, I miss my little radio and struggling to get better reception for NJ & LI College radio stations. 🐰 #ENRGYZRBunny
That album came out just as corporate rock was starting to dominate everything. That very year, Peter Gabriel was dropped by his label cause they thought his 3rd album wasn't commercial enough. (It became his biggest hit, until then.) Same thing for someone like Van Morisson. So yeah, for the most part, labels became money machines run by salesmen who only try to replicate what they know, or what they think they know.
Yes, in the mid-seventies the mega-selling album became the holy grail of music corporations sparked by "Saturday Night Fever", "Frampton Comes Alive" and "Rumours". Tolerance for failure began to disappear. Back in the '60s bands like The Kinks had loads of failed singles and not big selling albums but were allowed to continue trying.
The ending is sendup of the simon and garfunkel song- the sounds of silence. "The words of the prophets are Written on the subway walls And tenement halls And whispered in the sound of silence."
Okay, You are now ready for 'Natural Science', a hidden gem. Also, remember, Rush has been around for 40+ years so you have tons of material to get to!
Its written about the radio station in Brampton/Toronto CFNY 102.1 in the late 70's. This was a progressive station at the time when it was primarily pop & Classic rock
In my opinion the most underrated song in Rock and Roll history. Rush is known 4 Tom Sawyer and this song and a few others but the song is never on any greatest songs list. It's simply one of the greatest songs I've ever heard
Emotional feedback to me indicates the response that the music elicits from the individual listening to it. The emotional response is the gift beyond price. One other point of trivia,. Alex’s solo is supposed to mimic the clamoring blabber of the ‘Salesmen’. Genius!
Your idea of “do what works” makes sense. I know the frustration that occurs when what works isn’t particularly what’s desirable to do. I hope you find joy here.
Your analysis is pretty much spot-on. The first verse celebrates the "good" things about radio, while the 2nd verse is saying, "yes, but there's a gross commercial side to it".
I'm impressed by how quickly you interpret the lyrics within the context of personal meaning. I especially like the point about everyone listening to the same song simultaneously back in the radio days. In had never considered that before. I don't even listen to SiriusXM anymore. It's all totally individlized playlist and Spotify radio which includes a LOT of Rush. Their music is like a fine wine. When I exit this world I hope one of my favorite songs of theirs will be playing. Jacobs Ladder world be excellent to pass over on 😑. I've been watching a lot of Rush reaction videos lately and although I haven't searched for it, I haven't seen anyone do Anthem. A HIGHLY underated song in my humble opinion.
Haha - I've been listening to this song for decades. Your take, and your commentary, is in line with what I've always thought. Good job, dude. I love watching young people become Rush fans!
I read somewhere that the last segment where they changed tempo, went to reggae, back and forth, was meant to mimic turning the radio knob across the radio bandwidth tuning into different channels.
Oh wow!! Things got really serious and deep here. There is so much thought and insight in your analysis that I have to definitely watch it again. Had no idea about the change of perspective, for instance. Very educational experience for me!!!
Just so you know that was Neil on Subdivisions. Neil is on every single record after the first album. Their last tour was celebrating 40 years of the same lineup of people. Geddy Lee (Bass, Keyboards, and Vocals), Alex Lifeson (Guitar and Backup Vocals) and Neil Peart (Drums and Lyrics).
Great analysis. When he says "coldly charted", I think of the Top Ten or Top 100 charts. When he says "glittering prizes", I think of the Grammy Awards. Overall, you actually grasp what the song is about. It's about how synthetic pop songs get recognition and authentic artistic music typically gets overlooked. Rush did not get a lot of airplay when I was growing up. I was always upset with how other simpler bands got all the recognition.
Great call on the DJ! I think the first part is about the interaction listeners have (or had) with radio DJs. For lonely teens, ahem, music nerds like the Rush, that might be the most intimate relationship they had. DJs or music were the only things that understood them. But my favorite line is when they grow up and form their own band. “…but glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity.” First, the rhythm of the words. You caught it. It harkens back to the industry. Or a few years earlier when they were told to play radio-friendly hits or get dropped from their record label-to which they responded with “2112.”
Thanks man for thanking us respect to you mate hope this channel keeps growing for you.Glad you like the mighty Rush they take you on a journey like no other band and you never want the ride to end.RIP Professor Neil there will never be another like him.For more proof listen to nd watch the incredible live performance of these 3 masters of musicianship pm Exit Stage Left and in particular the mesmerising sublime Xanadu it will blow you away.Thanks
YYZ live in Rio,Tom Sawyer,Red Barchetta,ByTor and The Snow Dog,Xanadu,Cinderella Man,La Villa Strangiato,Marathon,Turn The Page,Prime Mover,Second Nature,Time Stand Still,Open Secrets,Territories,Mystic Rhythms,Middleton Dreams,Driven,Animate,Virtuality,Dog Years,Color Of Right,Stars look down,How it Is,The Garden,Passage to Bangkok, 2112(Full 20 minutes) The Necromancer,In The End,The Trees,Natural Science,Circumstances just to name a few
@@svenidol I always felt when he was singing that song, he was singing to his family, like his mom & dad, or his brother & sister.... 'We're linked together by such slender threads'
Hi Daniel, love your reactions. I've been in the music industry for forty years. To maintain any level of integrity you have to compromise on your potential degree of success. To maintain my own integrity I've worked in : radio, music retail, musical instrument manufacturing, technical production, teaching, recording jingles and soundtracks all while trying to have a performance and recording career. It has been challenging but I love my life! Once the world sorts out this virus and musicians can make plans I'll be back out there. Not so much chasing a dream as living it. Take care, be well. I hope your dreams extend beyond RU-vid. And yes, Rush is a lyrically/musical goldmine. You might also enjoy another Canadian trio, Triumph. Very positive, hard rock with great musicianship and vocals.
Nice job noticing the parallel between the sound of the music and the idea of radio waves. If you go back to listen again, focus closely on Geddy's vocals in the chorus when he sings "Invisible airwaves crackle with life..." You'll hear a static sound that was the result of a defective or loose mixing cable. It wasn't intentional, but the band left it in the final mix because it so perfectly fit the song. Loved your analysis. New subscriber here!
Lovin’ the reactions. Extremely interesting commentary and observations. I’m not a musician or in the industry , but I’m at an age where I realize that pretty much everything is driven by greed and the almighty dollar. Being from Canada , I grew up on Rush as a teenager. They were a progressive band that liked to experiment. Their record label wanted more radio friendly hits ... to make more money. Popular opinion is that they put out the album 2112 as a way of thumbing their nose at their label. Hope to see you react to the 20 minute song “2112”. It actually a song made up of seven “segments” that tells a story way ahead of its time.
I'm a little late to your post. As a "boomer" who grew up immersed in music of all genres and flavors, Rush sits atop of thousands of relevant music in my heart and playlists, accumulated over 50 years. An avid reader and follower of the music industry behind the scenes, I can honestly say RUSH, in the pantheon of Rock music, is the one band who epitomized the battle between Corporate and the "honest" music that explodes from the collaborative hearts of these masters at their craft. Critics, much to mine and Rush fans consternation and anger, have been especially brutal on Rush. Execs threatened them with "cancellation" out to pasture if Rush didnt "conform" to the tone deaf, greedy plight of the labels "subjective" ideas as to what is in fact "relevant". "2112" became their corporate ultimatum. Do or die! The execs were NOT impressed and quickly became relegated to the fact that this was NOT what THEY wanted and would probably be parting ways. But the heart wants what the heart wants and today, "2112" is arguably the best concept, prog ish, Rocking, smart, ethereal piece of musical art to ever invade my soul. You must (if not already) do 2112 in its entirety. What a glorious "Fuck you" to all that's wrong with the music industry, then....and especially today. Good analysis. Spot on. I'm in, brother.
You should watch Alex play that opening riff (he refers to it as “Celtic” sounding). There are videos on YT where he teaches how he plays it. His fingers are just mesmerizing to watch.
Keep in mind the time. In 70s you listened to the radio to hear something OTHER than your own limited record collection, 8trac if you're cool. The radio was and it WAS controlled, coldly. And much more vital than you might think. And they bucked the system and gave the nay-sayers the finger with 2112. Thanks
My eternal happy music! This is the song and album that grabbed my teenage brain 🧠 and pulled me into the Rush world - obsession soon followed. Yes - Subdivisions is Neil!!! There are only 8 old hard rock songs from the first album (& a couple pre-album songs) that aren’t Neil - everything else is Neil. Remember, unless it is from the first, debut album “Rush”, it’s Neil! 😂 Here is the short list of non-Neil songs: - Garden Road -pre-album - Don’t Fade Away - pre-album Buddy Holly cover First album songs: - Finding My Way, Need Some Love, Take a Friend , Here Again, What You Doing, In the Mood, Before and After, Working Man. Otherwise, it Neil!! Holy cow, I just realized he still has not done “Tom Sawyer”! Amazing, as nearly every reactor starts there. I’d think as he’s just done TSOR, next he should go ahead and do the other huge classic rock “hit” Tom Sawyer. Agree, guys? I’d love him to do the studio video, to see the guys at work. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-auLBLk4ibAk.html
If you are going down the Rush rabbit hole, try 2112. I know you try and break down the lyrics and try and get deep, but this story might intrigue you. There is also a storyboard graphic novel that goes with the music that might be helpful as well. Enjoy
Rush made it by word of mouth not radio airplay like a Justin B or Drake would on regular radio stations. This song was about a Alternative radio station in Toronto that would not play there songs also. It is about the struggle of getting airplay
Objective vs. subjective....nailed it! I am really starting to think you are a 90 year old philosopher reincarnated into this 16 year old kid version. Great stuff!!...your flattery is well deserved! I feel like this channel has taken off as you described because music is a universal language and speaks to EVERYone differently, it always amazes me when I encounter someone who isn't into music. Something I frequently say is 'Without music life would be a mistake'. I could not imagine a world without melodic sounds, how boring would that be? You definitely nailed this song too, so many textures in this tune, maybe that's why it was so popular! Something that always cracks me up with the comments section....people don't bother to read them first (especially if there is a fairly small amount) and you get 50 comments saying the same thing LOL!! (Neil played in Subdivisions) My own personal take on this radio/music scene...I was completely into the radio, new music, old music, call-in prizes (which I won often including vacations, trips, concert tickets, money and a truck), concerts, etc. I was in a few small bands but nothing that went anywhere past the garage or a couple parties. The last band I was in, for 6 months, we played a couple small clubs. Anyway, I got to be friendly with one of the rock station DJs in San Diego (where I grew up) and she was also the music director. One day at a 'live remote' I was talking to her about radio, more specifically about WHY they continually play songs over and over and over and over and over when these bands have so many other great tunes. Especially newly released music, you hear the new single once a shift - every 4 hours. She explained to me the record labels will dictate which song to play, the ones they want to push as singles on radio. Aside from that, the radio stations have to PAY to play the songs...it's like 5 or 10 cents each time, because the record labels own the music and their rights. Well, once a station plays the song enough times they can start playing it for free. When she explained all this a giant light bulb went off over my head and it all made sense. I quit listening to radio shortly after that, figuring I could make my own tapes and eventually CDs or just listen to cassettes or CDs to hear what I wanted to hear and not the same stuff repeated. I still hold this attitude to this day. What I LOVE about the music scene and it holds extremely true for bands like Rush is the fan base. Despite not making a lot of radio friendly songs Rush has SUCH a completely huge and tight fan base, so despite the lack of airplay they will ALWAYS be strong in the industry because of the fans. THAT is why music is so awesome, it touches people and draws them in. Like Lloyd said in Dumb & Dumber, "Radio...who needs radio?"
You are correct, it starts very jovial and then becomes a Neil Peart dropping a bomb on the record companies pressure on selling albums versus letting them express their own creativity.
Ok, so I have to chime in. BTW, I am really enjoying your channel and dissection, especially Rush as they are my favorite band. I am learning much about songs i have listened to for years. The great professor Neil Peart was on every album but one, the original 1st album titled 'Rush'. He has also written the lyrics for most all of those albums. There are few exceptions. The only one you have reviewed up to now which he did not originate is 'Working Man'. Hope that clears up some things. 167 Rush songs, Daniel! How many will I get to enjoy watching you dissect? 👍😉 P.S. I am happily subscribed.
What do you mean with Subdivisions it wasn't Neil?! Words, drumming, all him! Yes, Working Man was John Rutsey (he was only on the first album, Neil joined with Fly By Night). Analysis of Rush (words, music) is always a masterclass study of incredible talent - complex musicianship, deep, thought-provoking lyrics & general study of the human condition and/or society as a whole. Spirit Of Radio is the social commentary and directly reflects the road our Holy Trinity from Toronto had to endure to make it in the music business! First struggle - these guys are from Canada, where our population and geographical expanse makes it difficult for a band to garner a 'huge' following. And radio stations in the States don't always readily support acts from north of the border either. Rush cite a certain radio station in Cleveland that played Working Man in heavy rotation as the catalyst that got them a record deal in the US. Second is their style of music. Progressive bands don't necessarily get their due credit because their music isn't as 'accessible' to the mainstream. Pop is so named because it's 'popular', and Rush certainly wasn't pop, and never was going to be (some might say their 80's output bordered on pop, but it was still too complex and 'brainy' for that to hold water). After their third album failed (poor sales), their subsequent tour was called the 'Down The Tubes' tour, because they thought it was the end. Their record label pressured them to make a more radio friendly album on their next (and seemingly final) venture in efforts to boost sales, but our boys didn't bow to pressure, they sacrificed it all for their art, and what they knew (and hoped) was their true calling. They held their integrity, didn't conform to the corporate shill, and produced a masterpiece in 2112! The entire first side of the album was a multi-part, progressive tour-de-force (as you'll hear tomorrow!). It could not have been further from what the record execs were looking for. It didn't matter. People had latched on, and especially due to Rush's relentless touring, they built a following that relied on word of mouth, not record label promotion, to build their success. Rush never pandered to the music industry, but from then on, made the music they wanted to make, and that WE wanted to hear! Spirit Of Radio speaks of all of this. Sorry to be so long winded - but these 3 amazing individuals are very near and dear to my heart and my 'nerdy' sensibilities, so I thought I'd provide a little 'context' for you! Keep Rush'ing on!!
If you liked this, you must listen to 2112. After their previous album bombed because it wasn't promoted, their label said that they needed to write some sort radio hits or else they would drop them. The band said, well if this is our last album we're going to go out doing it or way. Listen to the comic book version and realize that the full side of a vinyl album is the one song. When you listen to the song realized that the Temple of Syrinx, one again is the music industry who has a formula and if you don't conform, you will be crushed. The song even ends with the protagonist committing suicide, which the band was doing by producing one of the most epic progressive hard rock song ever.
For better or worse, we all have these sorts of compromises every day, we have limited time and some things throughout the day will get short-changed for attention. Sometimes we put them off, sometimes we just do a barely adequate job because too many other things demanded attention as well.
I am 52, & though not in the industry anymore. In a word. Yes. My situation was unique in some ways. Yet it was also typical. From 1989 to 2005. I was playing in small clubs. First at open mic's, & then as a back round vocalist for both small recording studios, & live gigs. At the same time I was taking a bus to NYC. To audition for acting work. You have to know this from your own experience. Singing or acting. You are the commodity. They are looking for an angle to exploit / sell. That means they will exploit some aspect of you. At three different points in my music career. Upon seeing me. Producers felt they'd hit the mother load. I was considered both attractive, & very talented. With one bonus feature that made me an irresistible find. I am a wheelchair user from birth. I sang Blues, Funk, & Rock. Yet time & again they wanted to lean into & exploit stereotypes. When selling / representing me. I am a proud disabled woman. I had no intention of hiding my chair. That said. I was never going to let myself be sold. In one example as...The girl in the wheelchair who sings the blues!! Never mind that it plays into a fear driven bias. That having a disability / being a wheelchair user is sad. Never mind that it was an insult. To my face. It was straight up BS! The manager producer response was. You'll make a boatload of money. Why do you care? I represent a monumentally misrepresented / way underrepresented minority. A minority that cuts across all lines of distinction. It Matters!! Similar incidents happened over the years. Figuratively speaking. I walked away LOL. Thumbnail is me, & it is recent.
Neil has been in everything they put out after the first album. He was definitely on Subdivisions. Working Man is the only one you've done with John Rutsey on drums.
You're listening to one of the greatest bands of all time. And one of the few who didn't sell out to gain chart. There are many who have followed Rush for years but it is especially nice to see new people find their music and appreciate it. As you say, pretty straight forward - but not really! The lyrics work on multiple levels and hopefully you'll stick with Rush for quite some time and learn and hear new parts every time you listen to them.
For a lyrical odyssey where the theme is also fairly straightforward but can create an enormous amount of discussion, I would recommend The Manhattan Project. It's also a great example of their 80s production
Thinking about “machinery making modern music,” they made have been referring to the production, marketing, and distribution companies that pushed the bands and songs.
You gave one of the most thoughtful explanations of this particular song. I've loved this song since it came out. It is a timeless experience even in today's world.
I think you understood the lyrics very well and on the level of them being written. I play guitar and you are right about the objectivism and subjectivism in music. Objectively, we know that if we go from the 5 to the 1, we have a cadence which resolves very naturally and releases the tension between the two chords, giving it a good feeling to hear, so it sounds good. Subjectively, when someone plays guitar with a certain tone and technique, and the bass and drums fill in the sound behind in a particular way with a particular lyrical and vocal style, it sounds good to me. That would be Rush for me.
What do I think it's about?😂 Just what Neil said it was-The Spirit of Radio-literally and in every way both musically and lyrically. Neil was great about that, what I call "definition songs" songs like -Jacobs Ladder, Which Hunt, Earthshine. 🎶🎸🥁🎸🎶🙂
I have been in and out of the business my whole life, and I have found that the main problem is the great divide that exists between free creativity and the demographics of the playback forum or medium , which today is mainly mp3s listened to or downloaded from RU-vid. In the radio and video era, the obsession with the "hit single" created all kinds of problems for the artists, especially those who did not have the natural impulse to the three minute, hook based pop tune. And sadly for those who awkwardly HAD to for royalties sake, the shallow hit is what most people remember them by, whereas buried in their catalogue the REAL gems are to be found. The video era of the eighties only reinforced this 'fast and cheap' toilet paper commercial strategy, using the video as a promotional medium Rather than a new creative forum. But some great works always squeezed through from time to time, some artists were adaptable enough to fit genius through this formidable key-hole. Atlantic really gave YES a hard time at the end of the 70s, trying to force them to do what was totally against their nature ; short, glossy and simple. So, several members ran off screaming, while the remaining members cleverly took a more aggressive hard-rock approach and, yes, they did crank out a catchy pop tune in 1983, and so they survived. I guess what I am saying is that as long as the music industry is simply an industry, it will not accommodate creativity very well. This RU-vid music medium has some potential but as we can see, already there is that familiar shadow of preventing or monopolizing access and divvying out rewards for 'numbers of subscribers', the same rotation game played by radio, television and video for the last sixty years.
“No so coldly charted” to me means made with feeling. Not a cold unfeeling kind of music that is rigidly structured like a programming code. Also... it’s The Spirit of Radio not Spirit of the Radio. The difference is important. Good video.
Pretty perfect song, dont you think😄. Part about thing written in the studio wall is adapted from Simon and Garfunkel song Sound of silence. Which reminds me of great cover, Disturbed doing that song. Have you heard it, if not, well worth reacting to.
To clarify: the only album that doesn't feature Neil on drums and the majority of the lyrics is the first album. That doesn't include Subdivisions. They only song anyone will request from that album is working man and you've already done it. So, it's safe to say, everything else from here on will have Neil in it.
Hey! Wanted to say, I've been enjoying your videos. Yes, I would like to go over lyrics of particular songs (backstory, etc.). It's is one of my favorite things, actually. Congrats on connecting to Rush. This song is what I use to power up
