FIRST TIME HEARING - Rush 2112 | Best Song Ever! 

I first heard this in 1976 when it was released, and I immediately fell down the Rush rabbit hole. I'm 64 now, and I am still there! Welcome to RUSH!!

Watching you guys react to this tune that I first heard 45 years ago...Dang...I must have been 14 or 15 or so the first time I heard it and it blew me away...and watching you APPRECIATE how good the music is. Listening to 2112 today is just as good as when I first listened nearly HALF A CENTURY ago...Great Reaction my friend...

Imagine creating this masterpiece knowing a radio station would never play it.

Great reaction and interpretation of a musical and lyrical masterpiece! 2112 is one song made up of seven different movements similar to the way classical music is often written. It was released in 1977 on their fourth album of the same name and it took up the entire first side of the album. The lyrics for this song like most of their other songs were written by the drummer Neil Peart. It is a science fiction story set in the year 2112 about a society ruled by a tyrannical class of priests and a message to the executives at their record label. In this society the only music, art or knowledge allowed was what was given by the priests. The protagonist finds a guitar and teaches himself to play it. He then presents it to the priests thinking they would share it with all the people but instead the destroy it and tell him that it is one of the things that caused the great war. He leaves very upset and has a dream/ vision of the other half of mankind (the elder race) that flew away into space at the end of the great war. He realizes that the elder race are constantly learning growing and creating and hopes that they will return. He does not think he can live with the knowledge of what he is missing. At the end of the song the elder race returns, overthrows the tyrannical priests and frees the people. As I said before this was Rush's fourth album the first two albums did well but on their third album "Caress of Steel" Rush started experimenting with longer more progressive songs and it did not do well commercially (it is an amazing album however). The record executives were upset with the format and wanted Rush to write short radio friendly songs. The executives told them that if their fourth album was not a success then it would be their last. Rush wanted to make music for themselves, something that was fulfilling and satisfying to them not the record executives so they decided that their fourth album would continue their progressive journey. If this was going to be their last album then they wanted to end their career with a bang. 2112 was basically a big middle finger to the record executives saying we will not compromise our musical integrity and instead we will make the music we like whether you like it or not. The song and the album 2112 was a huge success. It was was not radio friendly but the fans loved it and it earned them many new fans as well. After that for the rest of their forty some year career the record executives never tried to dictate Rush's musical choices again.

Syrinx is from Greek mythology. She was a nymph who was transformed into water reeds that were then fashioned into a musical instrument by Pan, a god of mischief, allure, and vice.

RUSH is Canadian. That might influence some people's decisions on how great they were. Rock and roll hall of fame, 'cough cough'.

Great reaction! This one came out in 1976. Your interpretation of the story is cool. It's really a fictional tale, but I can see how you got out of it what you did. Your interpretation is so interesting because this was made as an f you to the music industry, and the band thought it would likely be their last record. Fortunately, this song and album caught on with people and Rush never looked back :)

I saw someone post this about the end of the ‘Grande Finale’. ‘Attention, all planets of the Solar Federation’ ‘Attention, all planets of the Solar Federation’ ‘Attention, all planets of the Solar Federation’ Seven words three times 7x3=21 ‘We have assumed control’ ‘We have assumed control’ ‘We have assumed control’ Four words three times 4x3=12 2112 Fun fact. Enjoyed the reaction!

It’s officially a song but it’s more a rock opera. This song was their opus in my opinion. It set them far apart from any other band and it made them independent from the producers. This album was a stunning success.

I was a Rush fan before I heard this song, but this song made me a Rush fanatic. 40 odd years later, and here we are.

😂2️⃣1️⃣1️⃣2️⃣ Also check out RUSH'S Documentary - Beyond the Lighted Stage and Dinner with RUSH

So called "concept albums" were big at that time (Rush, Pink Floyd, etc.). They were long, like a movie for your mind, a saga, a story or book, in music form. Keep in mind as well, these 3 guys fully and unabashedly discussed using a lot of "party favors" (smoke, hash, etc.) during this era...recorded in some way-out places, studios out in the wilds, the mountains, surrounded by Canadian winters, snow, a love of verse and music, instruments, just experimenting, trying new things, expanding their minds and talents...just amazing and unique people, not at all "typical" rock stars....and they never had a desire to be either. Try "Vital Signs" for a totally different sound, era, mood and tone.

I'm a Rush fan of 46 years and I am blown away by your reaction and swift interpretation. It brings a big smile to my face to see and hear you digest what is unfolding in the music of this talented trio. You were so right in assuming this science fiction piece was a big poke at the music industry especially the pressures that were being put on them to be more commercial. I really don't know why (probably to do with money, greed and back handers) the music press had it in for Rush in the early days and they were very hostile toward the band, their music and in particular Geddy's voice. I for one miss the high pitch he had when he was younger. That along with his accent and the way he phrased and used vibrato was so mystical and magical and suited the music to a Tee. For me Rush are the quintessential progressive band of highly talented and gifted musicians that have ever graced a stage and boy did those three guys perform (seen them 3 times). Their shows were well thought out just like their music. They performed purely for their fans entertainment not like some of the egotistical so called gods, hero's and self acclaimed stars. I have listened to many types of music and bands that come close to Rush but none can match these three Kings and I don't say that lightly. From the way they interact on and off stage, musically and comically to the amount of HARD WORK they do to make their shows interestingly different, entertaining and funny. To the intricate, simple, magical, prophetic, clever, subtle, profound poetry and lyrics. Most of all their musical talent especially when playing live. For only three people to sound as good as they do especially given the intricacy and complexity of some of their work is almost unbelievable. In my book at least, they are top notch, numero uno in the history of rock music. Many will disagree and I do not have a problem with that as we all have different tastes and relate musical experiences to things in our lives. There is plenty room for all to have their own preferences. Just be thankful for having all that music in your life.

My Man, your insight about this song at 15:00 is more spot on and at a deeper level than any other reactor I have seen for this jam. Bravo!

Used the spacey prelude as an AV kid in 76 for scene changes during the class presentation of Scrooge. LOL Let the tape roll too long during one change and got the full guitar riff before hitting stop. Good times. Yes, I am old as balls but not as old as RUSH!

This is like a fantasy novel, in a way they’re expressing what would happen if the establishment was to take over and limit what we could do, see, read and basically control our lives. It’s supposed to be set in the year 2112, 89 years from now. Many of their songs and concepts deal with fantasy themes but it’s something that could become reality if we let leaders totally regulate our society. It’s good that we all have a voice and are allowed to vote.

They created a different world of music in any kind of parameter.

2112 is based on a 1930s book called Anthem , about society in the Year 2112 , Rush produced it Fabulously

Alex's guitar in this song is so wonderfully emotive.

Long live RUSH

They were in their early 20's when they wrote this, was released in 1976. When the elder race anounced their return, Attention all planets of the solar federation (seven words three times =21), we have assumed control (four words three times = 12) gives you 2112. I strongly recommend you listen to their live performance of Xanadu (from their 5th album A Farewell To Kings) from the Exit....Stage Left video shot in 1981. Many fans think this is their best live performance. YT user stickhits created a HD version of this performance, much clearer than the original.

Really the greatest band and song of all time. 😂 Rush set the bar very high from the beginning welcome to the rabbit hole 😂

From my high school days.. JESUS I'm getting old...

It's pronounced Twenty One Twelve, it's the name of the album and the song which takes up side 1 of the album. It's their 4th album. Their 3rd album, Caress of Steel, didn't sell very well and their record company told them they needed to write shorter, more radio friendly songs. They decided they were going to write what they wanted, basically a FU to the record company. Their fans loved it and it went gold pretty quickly and ended the interference of the record company. It's a fantasy story of a fashist world where the priests controlled everything. Chec out Wikipedia for more.

Their previous album Caress of Steel didn't fare well in sales (still one of my favorites) and they even called the tour the "down the tubes"' tour themselves. Rush's manager Ray Daniels had to beg and plead Mercury Records not to drop the band. They wanted shorter, more radio friendly hits like Bad Company. 2112 was their response, the entire side one :) Big middle finger to the record label. It exploded mainly through word of mouth in '76 and in the end bought them their artistic freedom.

This song is Science Fiction ! Think Star Wars, Star Trek, Transformers, Doctor Who.... Forget about the music industry, and enjoy a trip into the future !!!!

Check out the first live version from "All The World's A Stage." It'll blow your mind. In fact, all of your next Rush reactions should be from that live album!

Our main character kills himself, because he couldn't handle his reality compared to what he dreamed.

The Priests of Syrinx represented the music industry. Before this album they were basically told "make radio friendly tunes or else". They chose to stick up their middle fingers and chose "or else". Fans loved it. Their record label never told them what to do afterwards.

You have reached the peak.

This was the first Rush song I ever heard.... After hearing this I saw them live 53 times including the final show at the Forum in LA.... Got to meet Alex Lifeson that night.... 53 Neil Peart solos and of course Geddy.... MEMORIES!

Sorry I stand corrected I see others have chimed in that this was released in 1976 not 1977. As far as other songs Rush puts on an amazing show so I would recommend some live videos. 1) Xanadu - Live In Montreal 1981 (2021 HD Remaster 60fps) m.ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2byjJkN_nVY.html 2) YYZ - Live in Rio 3) Working Man - Live in Cleveland 2011 4) La Villa Strangiato - Official video 5) Natural Science - 1997/06/30 - Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto, Ontario CAN

We wore out 3. 8 tracks of this album

That’s some DEEP and HEAVY content my friend. It was written and released in early 1976…and they continued to get better year after year album after album and tour after tour UNTIL 2015 when they properly and gracefully retired from Rush and did so like no other band had ever done or has since.🤘🖖✌️🥇🇨🇦🎼🎸🥁🎤🎹

Neil added a lot of extra sauce! The professor and more! Keep it up Rush is a deeeep rabbit hole!

A perfect listen and insightful commentary on this International 2112 Day (21/12/23)

Most people do not want to explain this song because it is so intricate, but I will attempt to do it justice. 2112 is a science fiction story about the year 2112. The elder race has left the planet to "learn and grow". Those that were left behind formed a new society without creativity or self-expression. The people are being told by the priests that creativity will ruin their perfect society. They said it was evil and the source of the elder race's destruction. That is until the hero finds a guitar and learns to play. He is so proud of his finding that he tries to present it to the priests who quickly tell him the guitar is "another toy that helped destroy the elder race of man." They ban him from playing the guitar and forbid him from showing the people. He leaves distraught and confused and falls into a dream where he is shown what their society could be with creativity and self-expression. When he wakes up, he can't stand to live without his music. He believes that he will never see the time when the elders will return to 'tear the temples down' and return music to the people, so he kills himself. In an ironic twist, the elders return and do just that. Rush wrote this story as a big FU to the record industry, after they were told they had to do things their way or be fired. Rush decided they would do it their way anyway and 2112 became a smash. The record studio decided that they didn't understand what the fans liked about Rush, so they left them alone from that point forward. From that point forward Rush was allowed to make albums the way they saw fit and every album from that point forward was unique and amazing. Constantly evolving into Rush. Rush was like no other band out there. Forty years of amazing unique music like nothing else. "Neil is just adding so much extra sauce but doesn't have to." If you listen to each of the musician's parts, they each add all kinds of extra sauce. Each of them brings amazing talent to the music which is why they were so successful. Master musicians. All three of them.

Welcome to the community as a whole.

It's a concept album which, on side A (vynil good ol'days), tells the story of a ban on music and how it comes back....in very....very short....

A must for all rush fans ...... Xanadu....... from exit stage left have a blessed day ...welcome to the rush family .....seen them 11 times live

I normally wouldn't have that much time to watch a reaction but this was worth every moment. I love this album so much and it might in fact be my favorite Rock album of all time. Please don't forget to at least check out if not react to the five songs on the side B of the album. On the other side. Side of the record album was this concept piece 2112 which I'm sure others have described how it did in fact relate to the music industry and to their label and this was kind of their last chance and they said we're doing what we want, and really they just exploded in popularity after that. I was in 9th grade and it blew my mind and we didn't have the animation to look at it was just in our minds but I do believe that the lyrics were printed on the sleeve liner notes. Every one of those songs on the other side is also a gem, it's all over the map but it is so fun. And they close the album out with a total banger, Something For Nothing.

my understanding was, rush previous album sames werent what they or the record company was expecting.this album was their last hope to hit it big.& it did.its a brilliant album & concept.

Your take on the song is fascinating. Most Rush songs did not fit the mold of the music industry. They were snubbed by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for decades. The overwhelming fan support basically forced then into induction. Check out their acceptance speeches, especially Alex Lifeson. His response to the Hall is dead on and hilarious!!

In Greek mythology, Syrinx is a water nymph who turnrd hersel into a reed, which was made by Pan into a flute. A syrinx is also birds’ vocal organs. Also, a syrinx is a fluid-filled cyst that is characteristic of syringomyelia and syringobulbia. Maybe Neil just liked the sound of the word

Incredible band

And almost 50 years have passed...but it's still memotable!!!

i really liked your interpretation - because it was Rush's F U to their record label that wanted "Singles" and "Hits" - it's based on a novel - but I can see now why they chose it

Thank you for your insightful reaction to this awesome piece of workmanship.

The comic story-telling is a recent addition. The album came out in 1974, the whole first side of the vinyl album consisting of "2112". The album cover folded open and the text you saw in the comic was the printed journal entries and lyrics that told the story. The comic was a later addition for the fact that people would listen/view music videos on youtube. This is classic prog-rock and also a touch of prog-metal, which Rush helped usher in with this album.

Yes Neil is the GOAT in my opinion and he also wrote all the lyrics. RIP Professor!!!!

Great to see someone getting the lyrical metaphors 😊

Very few people get this song! You nailed it! This song really skyrocketed them into stardom, and the record company finally had to let Rush be Rush! Ironically, a few albums later, Rush started making the radio friendly music the record companies wanted all along! But on their OWN terms!

You get it.😎👍

It's old progressive rock. Fantasy and Mystical tune. Reas the lyrics.😊 The best story ever sung.

#FunFact 🤔 if you want to call it that! The lyrics say "My lifes blood spills over" when he can no longer live with what the Oracle showed him realizing that dream can never be. 😔 I still cry hearing 'Soliloquy'. 😏 However, in this video, 🤗 dude lives to see "the Elder Race" return & demolish the Priest of Syrnx. 😒 But we didn't have this video in 1976 so... 😔 we know how it ended. "My lifes blood spills over...." 🥰🐰

Other than "we have assumed control" which this song allowed Rush to do for the rest of their careers, it has nothing to do with the band but is about a dystopian future where the priests control everything and individual thought and freedom of expression are frowned upon and eradicated. That is until the elder race of man returns and restores that which makes life worth living. 😊

It's about the N.W.O.We're living it.

Neil the drummer wrote all the lyrics.

🏆🏆🏆🏆!

I really enjoyed this reaction. Your insight is excellent. 25:00 minutes in, you mentioned Neil's sauce on the drums. The bass player/singer - Geddy and guitarist Alex wrote all of their music and Neil wrote all their lyrics. His drumming was so over the top in 1977. He always raised the bar with unique ideas previously unheard before. Check out their song "The Trees". Lot's of symbolism in the lyrics in that one. Much love brother. Thank you for reacting to Rush.

You have to go down the best rabbit hole out there. Enjoy!

Neil Peart wrote the lyrics to all of their music after he joined during the second album

This message of freedom of expression in this Album should be in a weekly broad way show playing 3 times a week. The musicians should be approved by Alex and Geddy and this Master Piece of music and storytelling should be presented with every note true to the original. If I won the lottery, I would approach Rush with this idea and help fund this Brilliant presentation and message. The people of this planet truly need to hear and understand the meaning of this Rush Masterpiece, it truly is a message for everyone who values freedom and freedom of speech and expression. Thank You!

Great reaction. So far all your Rush reactions have been great. You hit the nail on the head regarding the meaning of this song. The record company told them to make "radio freindly music" and they weren't having any part of that. The album was a big success and nobody ever told them what to produce moving forward 40 years.

No. Never rejected. Misunderstood in the beginning but eventually hailed as three of the best musicians in the history of music.

Great reaction, I liked when you said" Neil adds a little sauce " because in bands there is an acronym KISS meaning ( keep it simple stupid) but Neil said KISS leads to LOVE ( leave out virtually everything)...brilliant!

The first side is an epic tale, and the intro, or 'Overture' is a summary of the entire first side.

Excellent reaction, I really liked your thought process. This song came out the year after I graduated from high school it was also my discovery of Rush. Still my favorite after 47 years.

I saw the 2112 tour Boise ID 1977 , WoW

to many of us.this is an album you want if on a deserted island.

The overture introduces us to the themes prevalent in the following sections.

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. There's a 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". "Tere's something here as strong as life". "I know it will reach you." Thank you so much for making this GOAT enjoyable again.😎

My fav rush song is Spirit of the radio the change ups are amazing. But great reaction. Another great rush video is Working man live in Cleveland as a reggae song

🤯 2112?!? 🤗 I'm not ready... (Runs off, gets snacks & returns) 😵‍💫 okay, 😆 Lets Do This! 😁🥰🐰

Just… three… dudes. Let that sink in.

❤❤Extra sauce!!❤❤

Frankfurt.40 years later. Neil's drum solo

The drummer writes the lyrics , Neil the drummer was a avid reader , The priest represent a tyrant dictatorship that don’t won’t music in their realm ,

Great job on the interpretation. Not easy to understand on one listen. Keep up your Rush journey!!

It's hard to believe that this was 1976!!

Bravo Brother, Bravo...this is Exactly the way its supposed to be listened to, from begining to end, non stop. This is like a Masterpeice Novel..you cannot fully grasp the whole picture unless you Read every Chapter. And, this is an Artistic Masterpiece!

@king of the mix think of it like this 20 yrs from now this song will still be well known.

For a person who never new anything about Rush. U got it. Check them out 40 years later live in concert

You sir have opened a can of worms

Very inciteful comments.

Great reaction and intuition! Just subbed and liked. Thank you, from west coast Canada 🇨🇦, peace.

The best version is 2112 in RIO. . Heaviest Rush sample, and just the cool parts

Ok so you got my subscription on this video. Love your take on each part, dont think ive heard anyone look at it like that. Very thought provoking. Our lives would absolutely be a dark cold place with no music, but also with no Rush music masterpieces like 2112 in it. My favorite song from this album is on the other side of this album. Passage to Bankok😂😂❤.

High King of the Mix ... This album was Rush's if we have to make an album to satisfy the producers or go back to our day jobs ..we will make music our way or fu@# them and we will go back ...basically...this is Neil's genius lyrically but the band as a whole musically..n side 1 was a metaphor to that situation...n your right ..for a 3 man band from the true north it was killer for 1976 ..man I listened to that album over n over the night it came out ..after work on Friday's we would go to Sam the Record Man ..buy some album's go to the beer store ..stop at local lettuce dealer n go home n crank it up ..beautiful days back then...Dave from 🇨🇦

Brother. Rush is one of the most successful bands in history. Watch yyz live in Rio. 40,000 Brazilians. Sai Paulo was 60,000. And these people speak Portuguese!

Your very insightful.

Try any of these Rush songs, LaVilla Strangiato, Natural Science, Red Barchetta, YYZ live in Rio, Xanadu live exist stage left 1981, Subdivisions, Tom Sawer, The Spirit of Radio, Roll the Bones, Leave that thing alone and on and on…Enjoy the journey.

Awesome reaction

You did an excellent job working this concept through. The drummer, Neil Peart, wrote this sci fi story set in the year 2112. At this time they wee in trouble with the record label because their last concept album pissed the businessman off. They thought this song would be on their last album because they refused to compromise. They basically were saying F-U. The fans (me included) back in the day loved day loved it. To young people it was like an anthem for freedom of self-expression. Word of mouth made the album extremely successful and Rush had stamped their ticket to make music on their terms for the rest of their career (We have Assumed Control). Another of their songs, The Spirit of Radio is related to this theme - has great bars! Subbed for more Rush.

it's one side od the album.One song broken up into scenes or parts like the necromancer,, and Hemisphere's

This album just takes you off into a fantasy. It's like reading a book such as the hobbit, your just launched into another world. 😂❤🇨🇦

Listen to the whole album on cd or vinal after a little thc in a dark room

Watch Rush. Beyond the lighted stage documentary. Done by them. You pretty much nailed it on this reaction. I had a high school drummer buddy play this for me around 1979/80. Have not looked back.

It's based on Ayn Rand'S book fountainhead.Neil wrote all songs and most were based on Ayn Rand's book.Deep rabbit hole

2112 is one song with seven parts