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Ayn Rand wrote a book called Anthem( also a rush song on Fly By Night) and the book is about a future world where people are designated roles and can not escape them except by death. Two people rebel and go in the wilderness to die fighting or die together in peace. They know the higher ups are upset but do not know what they are going to do. I have the book. In the the paragraph they say ' It is in the year of 2112'.
I have nothing to add except, side one of 2112 changed everything, the influence of this suite cannot be understated. Many of today’s musicians site 2112 as a game changer and influenced them to achieve musical greatness. 2112 definitely changed the way I listened to and appreciated music. My humble opinion.
It was a huge step in my drumming I'm 63 years old now I still love this album so many music lessons and a great story. With the emotions sang out on every instrument and vocal line What a great band
The elders came back and took back control of the solar federation. They freed the people from the priests and their control. Loved your reaction! Cheers 🇨🇦
I was a little later to the party. My first Rush concert was the Presto Tour, and I saw them on every tour thereafter except for Time Machine, which I missed for lack of disposable income at that point in my life. Wholly agree on the Greatest Trio Ever thing!
About a 14 year old teenager, sitting in my room listening to this on my turntable, by myself, totally immersed. You can can see it, I remember it. 🙂 Great reaction to a great album!
Me too! I still have the original LP I bought in 1976 in my collection ! And "Overture" is the song that sold this album for all of us teenage rockers back then !! 😜
Same. I'm glad videos of the album weren't available at the time, because imagination and personal interpretations of themes aren't supplied - they come from within each listener. Videos are cool, but for me they're like reading a graphic novel as opposed to the original novel.
I always think of this as Geddy's best all around studio vocals, Banshee screaming, sweet singing and emotional delivery. A bit of trivia: The 'Voice of Doom" at the end is Neil.
There was an amazing documentary on Netflix about this album and how it was made. It was exactly what you said... The record label pressured them and threatened to drop them. They recorded THIS!!! and continued for a 40 year career! LEGENDS!!!
In 1976 I was 15. Dad had just died. I spent about a year in my room with my headphones on. This album was a big part of my late teens. I also saw Rush live that year. The album sales drove what got on the charts. The charts drove radio playlists.
Thank you for putting so much into your reactions and breakdown. As a 35 year Rush fan, reactions can sometimes be frustrating. There is so much to be appreciated from the instrumentation, composition and lyrics, that just listening to the song, saying they like it and moving on is such a bummer. Those channels, I feel, are just using the Rush fan base for views. Y'all's effort to understand the songs, and why we love them so much, is appreciated. It shows Rush, and their fans, the respect that I feel they deserve. I could talk all day about this suite, but I also know that it speaks for itself. Give it a few more listens. You will find hidden gems, answers to some questions you may have, and new questions to ponder. Respect and love to you both!
@@davidkneitel1840 Willowdale is a neighbourhood in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located in the district of North York. The home area for Alex and Geddy I believe. Neil was from Port Dalhousie/St. Catharines.
For the life of me, I have no idea why this album is not in the top 10 most important/influential albums of all time in rock and roll. It changed so much and like a stone thrown in a pond, it's ripples reached and influenced so many artists many decades later. RIP Neil.
Sept 30 1974 Billy Preston...I was teaching myself keys listening to Mark Farner and Billy. He was more top 40 but he was alright. So I go to see him in concert. Opening for him are two unknown bands(I grew up in southern Indiana) Rush and Kiss. After that concert both Rush and Kiss had made many new fans. The second time I saw Rush was the 2112 tour. It was like rags to riches as far as their stage show.
First of all, I have seen many many reactions to this epic peice of music, and you are the first that I can recall who recognized the 1812 Overture at the end of 'Overture' so well done there! Next up should be Xanadu from 'A Farewell to Kings'. Be sure to use the official video from Rush, a live version and is usually the first one that pops up when you do a search for it, 11M views to date with 80K upvotes. And if you like these epics, I highly recommend Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres, which is side one of their album Hemispheres. It has a great story referencing Greek mythology with Sci-fi elements and a very satistying ending that wraps up the story nicely with clear metaphors to the proverbial left and right hemispheres of the brain within humanity. You would probably want to first do Cygnus X-1 Book I from the album A Farewell to Kings as a precursor as it explains the origin story of the character Cygnus; that song is unabashedly all sci-fi as it tells of Cygnus' journey into a black hole. Its Rush, so its all mind blowingly epic stuff here!! 😆
FWIW... "Attention all planets of the solar federation" ... 7 words said 3 times = 21. "We have assumed control" ... 4 words said 3 times = 12. Great reaction, guys.
This song is truly a defining moment in rock history. Elevated to even greater heights given the circumstances under which it was made (pressures from their record label at the time). Have a look at them playing this masterpiece live - there are videos on youtube from 1976 and 1997 that are both fantastic.
There's a power trio from south of the border that recently signed with a major record label. They have retained total control of their content including their wardrobe. 3 sisters from Monterey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. The Warning. They write their own music, all sing including the drummer, all play piano and two of them play saxophone. They released their 3rd album last year and a 4th is due later this year. Ages now are 18, 20 and 22. Music ain't dead after all.
The other less talked part about the finger to the company was that the most radio friendly song on this album was about searching the planet for pot and hash lol. RUSH HAS ASSUMED CONTROL!
The album was a work of art. It folded open and the story was told through diary entries accompanying the lyrics. You'd have the entry giving background and telling the story, followed by the lyrics related to it. The graphic design of the vinyl cover, the music, the written story.... it was all one great artistic package. As for the ending, I always took it as him dying before his dream was realized and the elders returned and regained control. But.... it's a bit ambiguous and is definitely left open for interpretation. The video was made much much later and tries to end it on a happier note, but in essence it's a dark passionate piece.
Nice catch on the 1812 Overture reference. And what's really cool that so-called cannon-fire it's something that we've all done at some point but they put it on it album, wow. It's just where all those ants back then had spring reverb, and so you go and kick it and it would just all the noise emanating from that chamber which was not designed for that gets put through the amp and Amplified with all that horsepower behind it and it sounds just like what you heard right here.
We have reacted to them: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QH2zRbeb_z8.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0xnAMGGR0yM.html
Just listened to your opening monologue and I was one of those kids that graduated high school in 1981 and this album was my first introduction to Rush. I became a huge fan in 9th grade as soon as I heard this 2112 album so I'm one of those people who is starting to become the rush following in 1977-78. Neil Peart later joked that they called this the down the drain tour because like you said the third album did poorly and this was not what the record company wanted, but they just wanted to do what they wanted to do and figured this would be the end. However, the fans loved it and thereafter they could make anything they wanted because 2112 spread by word of mouth and sold albums like crazy... and I was one of those fans at 14 years old
No major songs off this album? You must have lived a sheltered early life....like in a monastery or nunnery! lmao. I was only 15 and I saw Rush's Caress of steel concert in 1976 and the 2112 tour. Those were my very first concerts. Soon came Ozzy, Iron Maiden, ACDC, The Scorpions, Judas Priest and The Golden Age of METAL! Plus tons of others. Tickets were only $8 a pop and my parents allowance plus doing lawns could afford me not only concert tickets but also t-shirts and drinks. I got to see The Holy Trinity 9 times. Seeing Neil Peart perform live was SURREAL! Hyper kinetic odd time drumming with the time keeping of an atomic clock! I was a Zepplin fan before Rush but once I heard Rush's songs I said to myself "Who the hell is this drummer?" I never noticed Boham's drumming at all...it was Robert Plant's voice and Jimmy Pages guitar playing that stood out for me. Neil was able to put percussion at the forefront of Rush's music just like a lead vocalist and lead guitar! That is why he is considered the best...hell, when you create air drumming and make it a thing....you have to be the king! Long live the king!
Oh, man! It's been decades since I've seen the group photos from that album. I can't help but chuckle at a young Alex in the '70s wearing that Panama hat and those super tight (!) white pants.
I am really digging you guys reactions to Rush, the Holy Triumberant!! Deb saying that as a teenager she could see herself totally listening to herself alone on her record player is spot on .. Bravo guys
A lot of folks often wonder why the first part just seems like a bunch of short ideas, but it is what it says, an Overture, which in classic opera would often be used to introduce all of the major themes of the work. And Rush are doing the same here.
The Elder Race returned to kick out the Priests, our protagonist committed suicide because he failed to understand the difference between the Pronouncements of an Oracle and an ordinary dream.
It was the Elder race returning who defeat the priests to assume control. Attention all planets of the solar federation, 7 words repeated 3 times =21 we have assumed control 4 words repeated 3 times =12. 2112. 😊
That Capital Theatre performance was when they opened for the criminally underappreciated band Montrose and Foghat. Ticket prices were $6.00 - $7.00, imagine that.
I was in Texas when the first album came out and in my world, their first album was absolute greatness. Very common back then for the "real" rockers to have bands to themselves and then lose them to everyone else later. 🤣 There are still a lot of us who consider their first 6 albums to be their best and exclusive to us "real" fans. 🙂
Agree 100%, except I would include their 7th, Permanent Waves. After such a tour de force, Moving Pictures started to sound "meh"... they started being mainstream and I think that kind of killed the aura. Don't get me wrong, their music was still unique, complex and innovative, just more commercial and not as "special" anymore.
@@nexuslang I just stopped short of The Spirit of Radio and Freewill. I think Permanent Waves is a great album and I think Moving Pictures is one of the best albums ever made. I was relating it to airplay (what people generally know as RUSH).
If I could offer a tip for new Rush fans like you, I would not place so much emphasis on the fact that their peg might fit into a prog rock hole, but I would allow yourself to get more into Rush and have fun exploring their music and their brand of comedy, then everything else comes later. To answer your question, the star on the album cover represented the trademark of the banner of the Solar Federation (much like the Stars & Stripes on the US flag, or the maple leaf on the Canadian flag).
Rush 2112. What a great album. I liked this so much I owned it on Vinyl, Cassette and CD like my other 2 favorite albums Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon and The Alan Parsons Project - Tales Of Mystery and Imagination Edgar Allan Poe.
Not only the touring, but back in the day word spread about lesser-known bands through visits to the local record store or head shop, where people in the know pointed you in the "right" direction. I saw Rush's "Xanadu" video on a projector in the back office of a head shop in Bethesda, Md. at age 15 (1976). I was instantly hooked,saw them live 5 times. With little or no airplay, they were able to fill the Capital Center (capacity for something like 19,000 people) several times before they started to become real big. As for the 2112 story itself, the ones who assume control in the end are the "Elder Race" that the protagonist saw in his dream with the Oracle, who came back to take over the planet from the priests of the Federation. Unfortunately, this happened only after the protagonist despaired that his dream would never come true and committed suicide ("my lifeblood spills over..."), so he would never witness the attack that would defeat the priests and bring the dream world to life.
The radio stations in the Canadian Maritimes would play The Temples of Syrinx as a single. It was what got me hooked on Rush and I got to see them live in 1979
Thanks for doing this one.. its a deep album.. I wish we had more stories about the studio times while recording this and other albums and how it was recorded
I was fortunate enough to see them in 1997 for the Test for Echo tour, and they played 2112 in it’s entirety. I remember leaving feeling so giddy because they had only played parts of it in previous tours. We got to see THE WHOLE THING, lol! Looking forward to part 2. Cheers!
Awesome!!! If you haven’t done it already there is a FULL live version that’s been remastered on the RU-vid channel Stickhits. It’s phenomenal. Love your sincere reviews.
The best hard rock, acoustic, prog rock, metallic side of music you will find. Agree with the WHO comparison, both Tommy and Quadrophenia, are bigger but similar for excellent stories and great music. I saw this when they did the 2112 tour, they opened for Blue Oyster Cult, who were debuting their famous Specters album and Incredible laser show, this was an unreal night of Rock at its best, we floated home that night. To see this as it was unfolding, it shows how lucky us old hippies were, in that concert cost $6.50. LOL! Try their Xanadu live, it is another awesome epic but not as long. They are awesome! Enjoy. 🎵🎸🎤🎹🎶
This was the very first Rush song I heard. After hearing this in 1977 my first Rush concert was in 1978.... 53 shows later I found myself at their final show and watched the band take their final bow.... Got to meet Alex Lifeson that night.... I've been blessed indeed, and the journey continues getting to watch channels like yours watching for the first time.... Best live band ever, and I've seen Yes and Dream Theater live several times.... Great memories.... Thanks!
Great Interpretations! Easily one of my faves! "My lifeblood spills over", as the main character is passing into a different dimension, he enters a world where (the creative one) "The Oracle" (from the Solar Federation) assumes control over ALL planets including the Red Federation (the mad $$ corporations/music industry who *lack* creativity), my interpretation. Neil would later, soften up on his conservative views. Great Job!! Two thumbs up!
I've never really opened up giving my impression of this song & likely never will. To each his own. However I will add what was going on at the time, pressure from record contracts & the like, touring, getting rave reviews by fans in the stands, bands & musicians they opened for... While being unjustifiably scrutinized by what I'll call untalented music critics, labels & radio peeps... They rolled this one out & shoved it in their faces. Neil has always gotten props, Geddy much later & to date, Alex has never been given any props he greatly deserves by music journalists. All their play for over 40 years was an awakening. Eat your heart out Rolling Stones.
Ive always interpreted the end to be the fruition of the Oracle's vision "They left our planets long ago, the Elder Race still learn and grow. Their power grows with purpose strong, to claim the home where they belong.- home to tear the Temples down, home to change. "
I agree my whole teenage was the beginning of my teenage years. I was immersed in this, but my friend brought over some punk rock albums, and it was all over, but the crying.
Here's the basic story behind 2112. Their management wanted them to do radio friendly songs. This was a protest. They said we're not doing this for you. We're doing it for us. So they made the first half of the record all one song (kinda) and gave them the finger and created this MASTERPIECE😎 This is the story of that battle. Neil Peart wrote all of the lyrics to Rush music. We lost our GOAT. He's playing for GOD now.😇 That was the last time I cried (Sorry Christine. When Stevie goes I'm going to lose it) 😭 I'm jealous because you have the cool earphones like I had with my old turntable in the day. Now all I have is my little computer speaker. This is the version that's cool with graphics telling the story, in the 1970s we were hit with both barrels with this, and only our imagination. " Listen to my music". "Hear what it can do". "There's something here as strong as life". "I know it will reach you." Thank you so much for making this GOAT enjoyable again.😎
I have to say, your production quality is top notch. I love the layout on screen, and i appreciate the text showing what you are thinking at times. Also, whoever did that thumbnail is a genius. It literally is the reason i clicked to listen.
The main character does NOT for in my book. Not good blood spills over but his lifeblood, his hope for a better world. He's at the deepest point of despair. The Elder Race came and claimed back their planet(s) and I like he was (or will be!) witness to that. ❤🍁🇨🇦
I'm loving your reactions. It's nice to see other's enjoying Rush the way I did in the 70's and beyond. I believe I've seen you guys do quite a few Rush reactions and I like the way you two bounce thoughts off each other back and forth. Enjoy Rush, there's no other band quite like them...
Who has assumed control? Every Great and Epic story like this one always leaves the audience with resolution and questions. That is Art. Rush does it best.
I was in my latter days of high school, when this album came out ..... A Junior in 1976. Back in those days, we never really got into the meaning of the words. We just wanted to rock! The only thing we got into while listening to this album, was getting high! I'm 65 years old now, and this video brought back a lot of memories of those days ..... A happier time in my life.
Just found your Channel. The Rush reactions are awesome. I've seen them live many times and they are my favorite band of all time. I've always appreciated them moreso becauze of who they were as people, committed husbands and fathers, while also being best friends for life. They always kept it real and had their priorities where they should be...the opposite of almost famous rock legends. They were so interesting too...always finding humor in different situations in theur very unique lives.
RUSH is THE PERFECT EXAMPLE of the fluidity of MASTERING TIME SIGNATURES! I play drums and there are a few things that you need to know about Neil Peart’s ( pronounced PEER-T) character: First he writes the lyrics so he knows in advance what TYPE of song it’s meant to be ie ballad, driver, etc. Second he COMPOSES on the drums… like a carpenter who looks at a set of blueprints before building the object. Neil lays out a SKETCH in his mind of the VOICES of the drumset and builds the song from there. He is also a great LISTENER knowing when NOT to step over Geddy’s singing or Alex’s solos! Finally, he had perfect timing and fluidity of time changes. He said himself that it’s not about COUNTING the time signatures as much as fluid motion to change the tempo without counting: in other words it should FLOW! He hates repeating the same drum patterns in the same song meaning if he plays a fill one way the first time around he will play it differently the second time around. IE. Rolls down the toms the first time around and triplets or quads (all four limbs) the second time around. In short there will NEVER be another like him on planet earth 🌍 🌏 🌎! REST IN PEACE PROFESSOR! With heart felt admiration and sincerity! Gary
They did 250 tour dates in the year 2112 was produced, oh and it was their second album released in that year. Looking at that picture reminds me of just how very much you need to see their Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
According the Neil, it was the elders returning. The key for me was always "assume" vs "resume." Had there been an uprising, the priests would have "resumed" control.
I really enjoyed that!! You both make your reactions very entertaining as well as informative. BTW, if you go back and watch your very 1st RUSH video, Tom Sawyer", you will see the "Federarion Star" prominently displayed in Neils' kick drum. I would suggest that you watch the 1997 Molson Center performance of 2112, It is truly a jaw dropping performance! 🤘🤘😄😄
I loved the comment about discovering Vance you opening acts, because I played in bands my whole life and I've gotten to open for some amazing stuff. And vice-versa on a small level I would say. But the point is, it's a great way to discover music, you're not following all the stuff, but the fact that they're opening for somebody always mean something. Bands tour together for a reason. But the way I got exposed to this was in 9th grade when there was a friend of mine in my small town who had moved here from Arkansas and he already had a great rig in this is back in the days when not every kid had electric guitars and drum sets and all that and bands. It was almost non-existent the only music was in public school. But he could play everything that's in Sweet Home Alabama, every little guitar nuance. And it could also somewhat approximate Jimi Hendrix Star Spangled Banner as performed at Woodstock. And even though this was in the late 1970s, it still was very impactful and so he invited me over to hang out for an evening for the first time ever after we both hurt each other pretty badly playing Sandlot football. We got high and before that I'd only ever had ditch weed and suddenly wow. And he said will take your pick either Rush 2112 or Rush hemispheres cuz I just bought these two 8tracks about 3 months ago and I love them both. And the Pink naked guy on the cover of hemisphere standing on top of a human brain made me gravitate towards that, but I think he was more in the mood to hear 2112 because he said well we can listen to that next but let's at least listen to side 1 of 2112. And that was that. I can play the rhythm guitar parts to all of that but not the solos but I know it inside out. It's a deep love of mine and by the way, please please please react it every single song on side too. They are stand-alone songs but they're from the exact same effort and it's so incredible. If nothing else man start with how they closed this banger of an album out, with a banger. Something For Nothing.
Fountainhead sent me into a very interesting depression. Great quote, you're likely not the only one. They all, including Neil, grew beyond that "phase" & her singular perspective. They always retained a sense of individualism about their music if not socially & politically and were all engaged in charitable endeavors & community service, something that's been a particularly strong Hallmark of a lot of Canadian bands esp The Tragically Hip, Triumph, Rush, Barenaked Ladies and Blue Rodeo.
They did write a few songs clearly based on her influence, including one called "Anthem" as a hat-tip to her novella of the same name and Red Barchetta, which comes from the same analysis of a dystopian futures...
I really like your guys interaction with each other during the songs and you both have interesting, unique takes on what you're hearing... well done. I think you guys might want to try for permanent waves as the next Rush album review, 1978... or a couple of really good albums from the late 80's, early 90's are Presto and Roll the Bones
Geddy Lee talked about wearing kimonos for the cover shoot - mostly that they were broke as hell with zero cash for any sort of stage costume, so they found a thrift store with some used kimono for five bucks.
![First time hearing 2112 [Rush Reaction] - Side 1 complete: Parts I - VII, Progressive Rock](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
