Rick could interview in time if he flew to Toronto. Actually, I think Alex would be open to a video interview with some notice to schedule time between several music obligations made with several bands. Geddy would probably be available with notice when he travels in support of his upcoming memoir book.
So many 'technical' players lose the art. With RUSH, every note is technically perfect, yet the technique is always in service of the artistry. Beautiful...
I saw the Moving Pictures tour. There's that show, and then every other show I've seen in my life. Full versions of 2112 and By-Tor. It changed after that. That was an Alice in Wonderland rock show.
@@thewal1ofsleep Now you're talking. Another two of my favourite bands along with Pink Floyd. I love the Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett era of Genesis.👍🏻👍🏻
Someone said (and it may have been Rick) that a band is really, really, really good if they can do time changes so seamlessly that you don't even notice they're there.
I can't remember the number of times someone has said a Rush song had odd timing and my first reaction was what are you talking about. Then I put my musician hat on, and I hear it. Can't think of another band where the song just gets better when you start to break it down.
Fun fact: I worked with producer Terry Brown in the early 2000s and picked his brain about his past productions. Rush was calling Le Studio in Quebec home for many albums - including Moving Pictures. The routine for working there was that Rush, Brown, and the studio engineer would pull in on a Friday, set up all the gear - drums, amps, et al - and before calling it a night and breaking for supper to discuss the weekend's production timeline, they'd do a full band run-through to line-check all the microphones and make sure they would be ready to start recording fresh in the morning. Out of habit from dozens of other album productions, Brown would also run tape and capture the warm up. Rush ran through "Limelight." The warm-up take is the one you hear here. It's the finished version of the song - sans vocals, solo, and keyboards....which were added later in the album process. PS - The IS Terry Brown singing back-ups in "Limelight." He has done vocals on many albums with his artists including Klaatu's "Calling Occupants" and "Sub-Rosa Subway."
Says who?( The warm up is the final version), and, what of it is from the warm up? Which instruments which bars rythems verse, etc? ( chill, I’m just kidding)
"Let me talk about Alex Lifeson's chord vocabulary for a second" makes my heart get big and fat. Love Alex so much for finding all the perfect chords and all the perfect places to play (and NOT) among the baddest rhythm section ever. I love the love for Alex. And I'm a drummer. Thank you, Rick.
Alex is the most underrated guitarist in rock music. I think it is the lack of idiotic behavior, no drunken escapades, no flashy nonsense that he never got respect. It certainly was never his musical ability.
People often give me strange looks when I answer "Alex Lifeson without a doubt", when asked "Who is your favorite rock guitarist". I've been a huge fan of his since age 15 when I first picked up a guitar.
His style of playing is quite difficult. I've only seen a couple guitar players who could mimic it properly. Not aware of any that have that chord vocabulary,sense of space and serve the song properly. A lot of his lead work is almost impossible to reproduce. Like the solo in this piece. It's so emotive. It's ethereal yet rooted in complex human emotion.
Yes. You love how Rick, besides being a genuine fan, is a gifted teacher... because most of the "fans" with whom we share the enthusiasm really have no clue - they just know they like it; But here we get the musical comeraderie.
@@justupostear3571 lol!! I commented on another video that Rick is the only guy that can air play anything he wants. Cuz he can actually play anything he wants.
Signals. Twice. Hold Your Fire. Twice Roll The Bones. Twice *Vapor Trails R30 Snakes. Twice Time Machine Clockwork Angels R40 *The only time I saw them in a different country. Staples Centre LA.
Damn, I'm just a proud American living in Indiana, and I saw RUSH 27 times!!😁 Every tour starting with SIGNALS, and Snakes and Arrows 4 times, Time Machine Tour 3 times, Clockwork Angels 4 times, and R40 3 times!!🤪
@@eezyrider65 Just 27 times! lol I saw them 9 times, but the last truly great Rush show I was privy to was "Grace Under Pressure". I saw them on their 2112 tour, Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres, Moving Pictures, Signals, Grace Under Pressure, Presto, and Counterparts. The last time I saw them was on the Snakes and Arrows tour. (I went to that show because I wanted to see them one final time.). The first 6 Rush shows I saw were simply amazing. The last 3 times I saw them they were good, but I slowly began to loose interest in their new music when Power Windows was released. But even after Power Windows, I was still a big fan of the band and continued to buy all their albums for another 10+ years. However, I definitely lost interest in the band after Test for Echo As a friend once said, "the band was at its best when Terry Brown was at the helm."
Jason Howell I used to use the opening drum roll to set xover points and sub levels in car stereo systems back in the day. You could tell it was right when the weight of the kick sounded strong but natural. It Never let me down.
The key was that they never strayed from that. They always tried to improve but never took shortcuts. They also never got stupid and acted like fools. They approached it with the seriousness that a classical musician would. And that has made all the difference.
D B yeah but you know Grohl doesn’t believe that about what he creates. Of course he wants to get paid, but I hate thinking of him and his band as sell outs. I’m hardly a fan of FF, but Dave always seems passionate about what he’s doing when I see him in interviews or on Sound City. Hek I don’t know, I’ve been wrong 6 1/2 times to date and this could make 7 1/2. We just will never know his heart. Thank goodness.
That’s the thing about Rush. I’ve been listening to the entire Permanent Waves album since it dropped in 1980 and I hear things differently every time. Amazing band that will be missed. RIP Neil Peart and Geddy Lee’s mother.
Those of us who were around when Moving Pictures came out tend to take this song for granted, but it's an excellent example of complex songwriting that doesn't SOUND complex, and it's a master class in emotive guitar solo composition.
@Jeffrey Olson They probably just felt it when they played/jammed. Especially when you have a drummer that loves to explore mixing meters, and having that desire to push themselves. Plus, having the chemistry they had, something magical will happen.
I don't, man. I picked up guitar when I heard Jimmy Page's solo in Whole Lotta Love. I switched to bass when I heard Moving Pictures and although there's great bass on all these songs, Limelight is one of the ones that kicked be right between the ears. Also the bass in "The Camera Eye" just slays me, especially during Alex's solo, where he's just all over the place but still right in the pocket and then brings it back to the primary riff at the end. I don't play 5% as well as Ged, but he's been without a doubt my greatest musical inspiration.
I'm embarrassed to say I can put the first three songs of this monumental album on an endless loop and never feel the need for further exploration. Maybe now's the time. Thank you, Rick.
@@BigBri550 So? The same could be said for many singers who've grown into old(er) age. The discussion at hand is a track he laid vocals down on over 40 years ago, so why the need to talk about his voice today?
@@BigBri550 Hahaha yeah man but he got old. Listen to Temples of Syrinx and tell me there's any 70 year old out there who could do that. I do think they may have benefited from bringing on a touring vocalist and leaving Geddy to bass and keys, but I can also understand why they would have wanted to remain a trio. A Rush without Geddy Lee singing isn't really Rush. Also. I can't speak to the quality of actual live performances since I sadly was never able to go, but many of the live recordings on RUclips, mostly those released by non-Rush organizations like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, have been badly botched by production teams trying to hastily overcorrect his vocals in post.
The best part about Rick is not how he breaks down the songs, which is incredible, but how you can see and feel his absolute love for the music. Really evident on More Than a Feeling; he looks like every teen in 1976 hearing Boston for the first time and thinking “Fuck me!” 😎🤘🏻🍺
I have done , one of my erstwhile students has eschewed playing in favour of watching rick ( yes you sausage fingers ) ... if you find this ...paul ... i`ll buy you a beer
This guy is a musical genius. The way he analyzes and explains everything is superb but the thing I enjoy the most is how much he loves doing what he does best.
that's what i love most about his channel, it's like that friend from school who brings you in his room and shows you all the cool stuff he's been figuring out, getting all smiley and "listen, listen!" - Ricks a fan's fan :)
Indeed. Totally infectious. I had to share it with my brother who loves Rush too and infact bought the Moving Pictures album when it was originally released. I loved this song and Rick's unboxing and showing us the various tracks within has elevated my appreciation even further than I thought possible. Love it, love it, love it!
I'm so glad that when I introduced my ex to Rush with Counterparts when we first met in the 90's that she became an instant fan. Made the next 20 years easier @@chrisneenan 🤣
Fantastic! My introduction to Rush was in 1981 when I swapped Jethro Tull's Broadsword and the Beast with a friend for his copy of Moving Pictures. The very first Rush song I heard was Tom Sawyer; that and Limelight became a couple of my favourites from Rush. Still listening to Rush, 40 something years later. Recently I walked past my son's room and guess what music he was listening to? Yep, Rush, Limelight. My work here is done!
Rick: Part of why your channel is such a success is because we love to see how much YOU love the subject matter. Never was this so clear as in this video. Your smirks and smiles after listening to an iconic guitar phrase speak volumes to people who grew up loving this music.
Rick reminds me, pleasantly, of my father, who was a huge classical music fan. Dad would make us sit and listen to segments of his own version of What Makes This Symphony Great. I had to explain to my geometry teacher that my homework was not done because my dad made me watch Leonard Bernstein conduct The NewNew York philharmonic of Beethoven’s IX symphony!
I remember sitting in my dads van and telling him you need to listen to this band. It was Hemispheres and I let him listen to “Trees” and “La Villa Strangiato” he liked it but I was obsessed with it playing it over and over until I learned it. That was 1978 and I was 15yrs. Miss those days. When Neal passed I cried hard. It was like losing a close friend. One of the greatest bands ever. 3 of the most talented musicians in the world. And Neal the G.O.A.T. The galaxy knows.
I remember my dad telling me, as i was listening to Freewill "this sounds like pseudo acid rock".. when neil died i was living with mom and dad going thru a bad divorce.. they were jehovah's witnesses, and i had been expelled but they never shunned me.. dad had alzheimers and dementia but he could always understand me. I remember going camping in maybe 1982 and blasting 2112. I used to also blast it when doing my paperroute. Dad died a month ago.. life is strange. I'm almost 50 now but still feel kind of like it's 1982 and I'm still blasting Rush while life is good.
Yeah, my dad was not into rock music at all and would have hated Rush. I share your sentiment about Neil's passing. First time in my life I shed tears over the loss of someone I had never met. hate that we will never hear them play again.
Neil's death hit me hard as well. I cried.... and I ain't afraid to admit it. I was lucky enough to see Rush live 4 times. One of those times I brought my daughter who was a teenager at the time. I'm really glad I did that. So she could see one of the greatest bands of all time.
Hello my friend. I can relate to your passion for this great album "Hemispheres" in '78. I was 18 and living just a couple of hours west of Toronto, in London. WOW!! You nailed it with those 2 incredible tracks. My 2 favorite tracks on the album. I, on the other hand was not a musician like you, but I had those tunes, and the entire album in general on speed dial. What a magic time the 70s were, eh bud?? Take care and good health to you!!!
Neil was an absolute beast behind a drum kit. i would have loved to see a dumb battle, neil peart vs phil collins back in the day. i also respect phil collins but i dont think it would be a fair contest. phil collins was a great drummer but i dont think he was a Neil peart. there was only one peart. i too was sadened by his loss. it wasnt drug abuse, he didnt do it to himself. it was a brain tumor.
I love Rick's energy and enthusiasm. Right at the end, I was chuckling, thinking "He is such a music nerd, air drumming the outro." Only to realize I was unconsciously doing the same thing..lol. THATS why RUSH is still talked about, you are compelled to play along without knowing you are doing it.
THIS kind of content is what RUclips is for. So awesome to hear these songs pulled apart like this. You think they're amazing just listening to them as is, but then someone like Rick takes your hand and leads you through it all step by step and that song you loved is somehow made even better.
Great comment. I'd go so far as to say this is what the INTERNET and TECHNOLOGY are for! To allow communities of like-minded people to form and create meaning and joy.
Very well said. I always knew that their music was challenging and complex but it's much more than I ever imagined. This was great content and what youtube should be.
I believe Lifeson is usually the culprit, Peart and Lee have the talent to accommodate his ideas and the 3 have the chemistry needed to make it sound natural
This had been my least favorite song on the album because it sounded too "normal" and straight forward to me compared to the others. But after watching this video. Mind blown.
This. They sound very... (I'm sorry)... radio-friendly in the way they make their music sound catchy and groovy and relatively easily accessible, and then only afterwards one realizes "wait what, this song actually went mostly in 5 and 7 and some odd bars here and there"
You can tell Rick really loves Rush to the core of his soul by the look on his face when he’s playing Geddy’s bass lines and Neil’s kick ass drumming at the end of the video. Rush. You either get it or you don’t and it’s clear Rick gets it. Great analysis and another awesome breakdown. You could probably do 10 more Rush breakdowns and each of them would be as thrilling. I love the look on your face as you peel back the layers and reveal the intricate details and play along. You are so talented. Keep going!!
February 14, 1974 I saw RUSH play at my High School in Belle River, Ontario, Canada. On that night he was playing his Gibson ES335 through a 100 watt Hiwatt head and full stack. I was sitting on the gym floor front row. The back up bands were Edward Bear and New Potatoes . That night when I got home I grabbed my guitar and tried to bang out 'Working Man' as I remembered Alex playing it. They also played again in Belle River almost a year later to the day at the Community Centre Arena on February 13, 1975 and the back up band was Rose.
"that's why we're still talking about Rush." The isolated solo is pure sorcery. I can't believe how lucky I was to hear them perform live twice, back in the era before the camera phone panopticon.
I saw Rush live for the distant early warning tour with Marillion as opening band. Still have goosebumps just thinking about it. These were the best of times for me.
In 20 minutes you completely validated my opinion that the 70's and bleed over into the 80's was the pinnacle of rock and pop music. Thank you for the time and effort you put into this video. And the Xanadu tease was amazing. I had no idea that one motion on a guitar could make those sounds.
Limelight is one of those rare songs that, whether you're a musician or a listener, you re-fall in love with every time you hear it. You can listen to this song a hundred times, and still discover something that you've never noticed before.
'''...All the world's indeed a stage and we are merely players, performers and portrayers, each another's audience outside the gilded cage ".............R I P Neil.
"Someone set a bad example Made surrender seem all right The act of a noble warrior Who lost the will to fight" -The Pass (By Neil, ofc) I'm really, really sad. RIP, my favorite lyricist.
This is fantastic. Man I miss them being an active band, Neil of course. So special. There will never be another, theyre like musical wizards from another world...
It's rare that a back story to a song makes it better but hearing why Neil wrote that song and how he felt about fame definitely makes the song deeper and carry more for me.
That was one part which wasn't discussed: the quality of the lyrics. Not some bubble-gum love story crap, these lyrics were deep and philosophical. Another reason Rush endures.
I think there's some thing wrong with me I always thought I would outgrow this music as I aged. Nope. I love it as much, if not more, than I did 30-40 years ago. I'll be 90 listening to Rush. Great video by the way. Thanks.
Nope. Nothing wrong with you at all. Good music is good music and it can grow and age with you. I love Rush much more than I did 30 years ago! Rick is fun to watch because he really loves music and wants to break it down and show us why its so good!
From Alex's guitar tech who i texted: "Yikes, almost 30 years. Here goes, probably the black Strat. later named Pork Flapsocaster had a Bill Lawrence L500 in the bridge (nicknamed the Motley Crue Pickup by Skip). The Marshall combos with 70 watt Celestions. Model 4104. Lerxst had discovered Loft by then. The Chorus was the 450. Probably their delay along with the Boss Space Echo. MXR distortion. Howard Roberts Fusion also. We had EVERYTHING when we recorded so it’s tough to say what made it to tape, but this is close."
@Shaun Rodgers Nope, not a chance. Alex didn't start to use PRS guitars until 90/91. His whammy guitars back in the 80's were initially Fender Strats he had modded with a humbucker and Floyd Rose bridges, then in the late mid 80's a Canadian brand of "super strats" call Signature Guitars. You can see those Signature guitars in the live concert movie A Show of Hands from 1989.
Love to listen to somebody as intelligent and gifted as you explain Rush's ability to produce this level of music. Rush fan for 40 years here. Well done.
Just watched Rick's live video about 30 mins ago in which he wanted to pay a tribute to Neil. He was obviously very emotional about his passing. Came to re- watch this video and it really hits home how much Rick is a fan of the band and how respectful he is of their talent. No wonder he was so distraught about Neil's death. I'm sure Rick was echoing what many fans of Rush and Neil are feeling today. RIP Neil and thanks Rick for keeping the music alive and for expressing what music means to so many people.
@@mvunit3 indeed, they truly appreciate the "without you we would be nothing." Which is something a lot of artists that make it often forget because they made it and don't belong to the 99% of bands that have never made it. Alex and Geddy loved to do the meet and greets and you can stop them in the street and they are cool to chat with you and give you a picture. Neil is more private and timid to do that, fair enough and perfectly respectable.
Remember the insert from "Rush in Rio"? Neil talks about they didn't know Rush *had* 300,000 fans in Brazil. "We must have had a lot of pirated albums." And he isn't even being bitter about saying it. :P Another reason they're an amazing band: They live their ideals.
Unquestionably my favorite Rush song of all time - and maybe one of my Top Ten favorite rock tunes of all time. What an amazing deconstruct on this masterpiece of a tune, Rick. Superb content and insight - as always. Thank you so much for posting this!
I listen to this record and "Signals" an awful lot. "Moving Pictures" is one of the greatest records ever made, in my opinion, across all genres. It doesn't just have great songs or great arrangements, or even great mixes of great songs with great arrangements and great parts - the entire record as a whole is perfect.
@Billy Idol I'm zeroed in on my next vinyl purchase being Gorguts, "Considered Dead", since I have the 2 Rush albums I need - but I'm on a mission to re-collect all the Black Sabbath and Doors records I had as a youngster, too. I'm not doing great in that category because I don't want remasters, only originals - all I have so far is "The Soft Parade", "Sabotage", and "Never Say Die" (but at least all originals). It's a loooooong road.
I love 'Signals' too and am always surprised by why it is so hated by many RUSH fans but, then again, I completely disagree with you about MP since I think it's their most overrated album and I fully expect to get flamed whenever I say that.
@@Spamlet1 Well, opinions are like assholes, everyone has one & etc. - besides, we don't know why we like the things we like, no sense trying to explain it.
When Rick talks about Alex Lifeson's chord vocabulary (starting at 9:33), this is where Rick's music theory knowledge is really brought to bear on analyzing one of rock's most creative guitar players. Very few rock guitarists were playing like that in the late 70's and early 80's, as Rick mentions, and it's one element of what made Rush different and special and a little magical for many of us, I think. Those chord choices made them sound like nobody else in rock at the time (along with all the other stuff that set them apart). This is right in Rick's wheelhouse re: his ability to explain and analyze and *appreciate*. (I'm a drummer, by the way, so you know who I was attracted to in this band, at least initially). Alex was always a little under the radar, but this kind of analysis really helps to explain their coolness and "magic", to some degree. Thanks Rick!
Rush is one of those rare bands where they would not be anything without any one of their members. Neil Peart was totally essential. Love for fellow drummers, and how they can be essential elements to special bands
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@@jonbbaca5580 Rush is probably uncopyable as Rick Beato would say. Neil Peart and Alex Liveson are that individually....and then there's Geddy's voice, lol. Joking aside, Rush is, as you say, a rare band that most likely ended with Neil's passing; with no disrespect towards any drummer, he is irreplaceable.
I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend The irony of this song was that Neil wrote it about his struggles with fame and success, only to have this song and album catapult them to legendary status.
@@Boleskinebeatz I thought that if he's already acknowledging his fame and success, that it doesn't fit, but I suppose if the song catapults them into a even more success, I suppose you're right.
Rewatching this on Neil's first death anniversary... can't believe it's been a year already. I fondly remember watching your tribute to him soon after, Rick. You're keeping him, and them, alive for posterity. Thanks for doing what you do! Cheers.
I can see you share the same love and passion for RUSH, their musicianship, and their music, as I do. Ever since I was a young bass player (I began playing at age 13 in 1980) RUSH has INTRIGUED me, with how three musicians could make a song sound so full, so busy, so intricate. They truly are the greatest PHENOMENON of my generation.
Roxanne Moser Most likely to give the family - and Alex and Geddy and their families - a chance to grieve in private for a while before the world came crashing in. A class move. And just what Neil would want, most likely.
It’s funny that this is one of my least favorite Rush tunes and yet I gain extra appreciation for it watching this. Who’s awesome? Rick Beato’s awesome!
Yeah, Rush is in my top 5 favorite bands and I always thought Limelight was a weaker track off Moving Pictures, but it's great to watch Rick strip it all down
I know how you feel. I am a huge Clash fan, but thought I was sick to DEATH of "Should I Stay or Should I Go" because I had heard the usual recording sooooo many times. Then I saw the faux-doc movie Rude Boy where they have the entire song being played live and I suddenly was right back in there and couldn't believe I never knew how good it really was. All it takes is one little thing to change in your mind and suddenly everything is different.
Rick's videos have given me a lot of appreciation for songs that I've felt kind of meh about. Not in this case because I'm a huge Rush fan, but his videos are awesome at breaking down the individual parts and pointing out things that I hadn't noticed before.
I've listened to Rush for the past 40 years, and I learned so many things about this song that I never knew until now. It just makes me appreciate this song and Rush even more! Thank you Rick!
And to top it all, lets not forget Neil Peart's lyrics. Hats off to three phenomenal musicians. "Living on a lighted stage Approaches the unreal For those who think and feel In touch with some reality Beyond the gilded cage Cast in this unlikely role, Ill-equipped to act With insufficient tact One must put up barriers To keep oneself intact Living in the Limelight The universal dream For those who wish to seem Those who wish to be Must put aside the alienation Get on with the fascination The real relation The underlying theme Living in a fisheye lens Caught in the camera eye I have no heart to lie I can’t pretend a stranger Is a long-awaited friend All the world’s indeed a stage And we are merely players Performers and portrayers Each another’s audience Outside the gilded cage"
You’re absolutely right Román. It’s not only the musicianship, musical quality, technical level, on top of all of that, lyrics with an incredible content and maturity! Thank you to take the attention to this point!
I believe that Neil, as a real thinker, never liked the adulation produced by media stream. I saw interviews when he said they were just regular guys doing their job... nothing more than that!
I'm sorry, but while Geddy's voice is pitch-wise accurate, his tonal quality just doesn't appeal to me. To me it sounds tinny and nasally, which I'll concede is weird, because Sting's voice has a similar tonal quality, and I find his vocals ok. Matter of taste, I guess.
That 'whew!' at 20:42 makes it all worthwhile... That unbridled and spontaneous enthusiasm can easily be one of the main reasons we are all glued to every 'wmtsg?' video you post.... Eternal respect and thanks.
What I love the best about this song, is that I don't even have to think about the meter changes happening. The band allows the changes to flow so well into each other and they are extremely musical.
Yes. Unlike some of their earlier stuff, the time changes always serve the song, not the other way around. It's just how the music flows, and it wouldn't work any other way.
I saw them on this tour in Knoxville, TN in November of 1981. The warmup act, Riot, couldn't play because their lead singer had laryngitis, so Rush agreed to do an extra long show. It had to be 3 ½ hours long. I didn't want it to end. Still the best concert I ever saw.
Rick the best part of this dissection is your passion for the song and watching you air play the instruments like we all did at some point when we hear this or others....that’s what makes this song great!
Heard a Rush song for the first time in High School, 44 years ago. I listen to more Rush now than then. I will be listening until my last breath. Thanks Rick for the music lesson, thanks Rush for the great music and memories.
Back in that time I was in a punk band, and when we heard a band in our neighborhood who could play Rush and The Police note for note, I was like, guys I don't think that we're going to win the battle of the bands 😮😁💯
"Rush was a Canadian rock band" … Quite possibly the most depressing thing I have read in years...never stopped to consider they would cease to be in my lifetime.
Yes, that is true however.. They WERE in our lifetime. I have fond memories of Rush in several different venues including the small, 10,000 seat Swing Auditorium in San Bernardino, CA which ironically enough was destroyed by a twin engine airplane crashing into it on.. Fvcking September 11th in 1981. Go figure..
Came here to pay tribute to Neil Peart since his passing. I've watched this analysis before but it's even more heartfelt and profound than ever now. The joy of re-discovering and re-appreciating Rush through soloing the individual parts and through Rick's enthusiasm is immensely infectious and gratifying. Please do more Rush songs please! 🤘
I've never grieved so much for the loss of a musician. 6 days later and I'm still getting choked up hearing them on the radio. I've also been "nerding out" on all things Rush. There's no better place to nerd out on music than with you, my friend. Your love and appreciation for them is therapeutic. I hope you do some more because I presume you're feeling much the way I am and it's probably tonic for you as well. Looking forward to whatever tribute you put together. Thanks Rick.
I am with you sir. His passing has felt like losing family. Rush was there when. I was a lonely nerdy kid. Whenever her I was down their music picked ne up. When I was up rush took me to another level. The fact that there will be any new rush is depressing. Thank God they left so much to go back too. RIP Niel.
That guitar solo is probably one of the best most clear and flowing pieces of music ever written and performed in the history of rock and music
It's just sensational.
Yes very underrated, as Oddball from Kelly's Hero's would say no negative waves
Where are you???can I take lessons???
I love Rush, but there's just certain songs that just transcend your soul! This is one of them @terrencedeagle4429 !
@@bayknight20woof woof, I dont know how they work...I just listen 😂 👍
You need to set up an interview show with Geddy Lee or Alex Lifeson (or both). That would be a fascinating interview.
Please do this!
I just thought the same thing… do it!!!
Rick could interview in time if he flew to Toronto. Actually, I think Alex would be open to a video interview with some notice to schedule time between several music obligations made with several bands. Geddy would probably be available with notice when he travels in support of his upcoming memoir book.
yes please do....
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!!
You could spend every episode on Rush and life would be complete.
Absolutely
Jeff Kirtland amen!
I'm good with that
Yes - yes - yes!!! 💗💗💗
Agreed 100%!
So many 'technical' players lose the art. With RUSH, every note is technically perfect, yet the technique is always in service of the artistry. Beautiful...
Exactly! I always felt like Rush was “playing philosophy” at times. Couldn’t pinpoint why, but it’s that Apollonian/ Dionysian contrast I think.
@@Tavat Rush is philosophy!
Rush Fans get it !
Ricky B can play anything Alex or Geddy can play! I bet he could even outplay Neil on the drums! He's Ricky Beato!
So true ! It all became about who’s faster , who’s more complex , who’s more precise instead of who can write good songs !
Even a reflective music analyst like Rick cannot resist the power of AIR DRUMMING when Neil Peart is rolling.
Love this.
AND stank face air bass for Geddy.
It's a universal law. You're right.
So true!!!!
All three members of Rush are just out of this universe. Rush is a musicians band.
I think they are the most talented rock band ever, in terms of raw musical talent
@@jeffreycohen6188 One of the best. Genesis and Yes (in the 70's) are right there with them.
@@thewal1ofsleep and, of course, Zeppelin
I saw the Moving Pictures tour. There's that show, and then every other show I've seen in my life. Full versions of 2112 and By-Tor. It changed after that. That was an Alice in Wonderland rock show.
@@thewal1ofsleep Now you're talking. Another two of my favourite bands along with Pink Floyd. I love the Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett era of Genesis.👍🏻👍🏻
What I love about Rush is that you never think: "This is a weird time signature." Only when you start analyzing the song you notice it.
e x a c t l y.
Someone said (and it may have been Rick) that a band is really, really, really good if they can do time changes so seamlessly that you don't even notice they're there.
Manuel Löv your right. This band is for musicians
I can't remember the number of times someone has said a Rush song had odd timing and my first reaction was what are you talking about. Then I put my musician hat on, and I hear it. Can't think of another band where the song just gets better when you start to break it down.
Unless you are playing drums trying to count through that middle section😂
Fun fact: I worked with producer Terry Brown in the early 2000s and picked his brain about his past productions. Rush was calling Le Studio in Quebec home for many albums - including Moving Pictures. The routine for working there was that Rush, Brown, and the studio engineer would pull in on a Friday, set up all the gear - drums, amps, et al - and before calling it a night and breaking for supper to discuss the weekend's production timeline, they'd do a full band run-through to line-check all the microphones and make sure they would be ready to start recording fresh in the morning. Out of habit from dozens of other album productions, Brown would also run tape and capture the warm up. Rush ran through "Limelight." The warm-up take is the one you hear here. It's the finished version of the song - sans vocals, solo, and keyboards....which were added later in the album process. PS - The IS Terry Brown singing back-ups in "Limelight." He has done vocals on many albums with his artists including Klaatu's "Calling Occupants" and "Sub-Rosa Subway."
Thank you for this great info!
Says who?( The warm up is the final version), and, what of it is from the warm up? Which instruments which bars rythems verse, etc? ( chill, I’m just kidding)
I’ll break it down. There are 3 items that make this song great:
1. Geddy Lee
2 Alex Lifeson
3. Neil Peart
:)
Yep!
4. Terry Brown
Absolutely. I may try to argue the actual order, but that is only a minor argument.
Id put Peart #1
I think the order could be arranged anyway and it would still be great, those men have talent and mastering of music.
I’ve listened to this song 10k times over 38 years and never noticed the undistorted guitar part or the Terry Brown vocal. Nice work.
Same...well fewer years for me.
I know! Right? And the song stills giving me the chills everytime I listen to it
Yeah, that was a total mind f*ck for me too! And I have heard this song hundreds of times! Long live Rick Beato! 🙌🏾🤘🏾
Same! Rick is awesome!
or that vocal harmony!
Your technical expertise is outstanding but the joy you have talking about these songs is infectious.
I was laughing with glee on some of his remarks. Like "Yeah! Right?"
I don't even understand what the heck he's talking about and I still enjoy watching his vids.
I agree, he explains these items with such enthusiasm and delight.
"Let me talk about Alex Lifeson's chord vocabulary for a second" makes my heart get big and fat. Love Alex so much for finding all the perfect chords and all the perfect places to play (and NOT) among the baddest rhythm section ever. I love the love for Alex. And I'm a drummer. Thank you, Rick.
I second everything, fellow drummer
3rd drummer here. Also agree with you... :)
Alex is the most underrated guitarist in rock music. I think it is the lack of idiotic behavior, no drunken escapades, no flashy nonsense that he never got respect. It certainly was never his musical ability.
Bass player here, and I agree completely!
Not a drummer…. but just when I think I can’t love and appreciate a song any more, especially a Rush song, Rick does a WMTSG episode on it! 🤘
Alex Lifeson is definitely the most under appreciated guitarist of all time.
agreed. Geddy and Neil are great but they get a lot more appreciation than Alex
People often give me strange looks when I answer "Alex Lifeson without a doubt", when asked "Who is your favorite rock guitarist".
I've been a huge fan of his since age 15 when I first picked up a guitar.
“Hendrix makes you say,
‘I wish I could that.’
Alex makes you say,
‘I wish I thought of that.’”
He’s in my top 5 (really top 2).
Have you even heard of Terry Kath or Steve Lukather? Those two don't get NEARLY enough recognition compared to Lifeson
His style of playing is quite difficult. I've only seen a couple guitar players who could mimic it properly. Not aware of any that have that chord vocabulary,sense of space and serve the song properly. A lot of his lead work is almost impossible to reproduce. Like the solo in this piece. It's so emotive. It's ethereal yet rooted in complex human emotion.
"That's why we're still talking about Rush." Amen brother.
Yeh ... that’s a right on bro 😎..
I love how Rick besides being a gifted teacher is also a genuine fan. It makes his videos that much more enjoyable.
Yes. You love how Rick, besides being a genuine fan, is a gifted teacher... because most of the "fans" with whom we share the enthusiasm really have no clue - they just know they like it; But here we get the musical comeraderie.
Rick is a god. How else could he play every instrument to the point of duplicating a track live?
AND have access to all these master recordings?
The air drumming says it all.
@@justupostear3571 lol!! I commented on another video that Rick is the only guy that can air play anything he wants. Cuz he can actually play anything he wants.
Absolutely. I love his expressions and animation. That's what makes it so good!
As a proud Canadian, and lucky enough to see Rush 13 times starting in 1976, I thank you for this.
Signals. Twice.
Hold Your Fire. Twice
Roll The Bones. Twice
*Vapor Trails
R30
Snakes. Twice
Time Machine
Clockwork Angels
R40
*The only time I saw them in a different country.
Staples Centre LA.
my dad and i were gonna see them for my first time and his 10th i wanna say, unfortunately this was right as neil was getting sick, truly unlucky.
Damn, I'm just a proud American living in Indiana, and I saw RUSH 27 times!!😁
Every tour starting with SIGNALS, and Snakes and Arrows 4 times, Time Machine Tour 3 times, Clockwork Angels 4 times, and R40 3 times!!🤪
Dude, canada has some of the most underrated bands - MOXY, TRIUMPH, APRIL WINE!!!
@@eezyrider65 Just 27 times! lol I saw them 9 times, but the last truly great Rush show I was privy to was "Grace Under Pressure". I saw them on their 2112 tour, Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres, Moving Pictures, Signals, Grace Under Pressure, Presto, and Counterparts. The last time I saw them was on the Snakes and Arrows tour. (I went to that show because I wanted to see them one final time.). The first 6 Rush shows I saw were simply amazing. The last 3 times I saw them they were good, but I slowly began to loose interest in their new music when Power Windows was released. But even after Power Windows, I was still a big fan of the band and continued to buy all their albums for another 10+ years. However, I definitely lost interest in the band after Test for Echo As a friend once said, "the band was at its best when Terry Brown was at the helm."
The fact that you can take 8 minutes to JUST talk about the intro is a testament to the songwriting, musicianship and producing on the track.
Jason Howell I used to use the opening drum roll to set xover points and sub levels in car stereo systems back in the day. You could tell it was right when the weight of the kick sounded strong but natural. It Never let me down.
Not to mention the acumen of the reviewer himself...thanks, Rick!
Alex Lifeson is possibly the most underrated guitarist of all time...
Tfw when you have an iconic drummer and bassist and get left in the shadows
Not underrated amongst his peers.
Take out the word possibly
I’ll see your Alex Lifeson and raise you one Terry Kath.
Martin Barre, Mick Ronson, Terry Kath and yes, Alex Lifeson.
That band consists of three of the best musicians on this planet. Period.
True story. You could build a band around any one of them...put the three of them together and you end up with a legend!
The key was that they never strayed from that. They always tried to improve but never took shortcuts. They also never got stupid and acted like fools. They approached it with the seriousness that a classical musician would. And that has made all the difference.
@@carlosclaptrix Let's agree they are great. And when you get Great Musicians together you get... Rush...Tool etc ..
@@cvn6555 fools like DAVE GROLL as example. Rush stayed their course and stayed true to their art. "ART AS EXPRESSION, NOT AS MARKET CAMPAIGNS
D B yeah but you know Grohl doesn’t believe that about what he creates. Of course he wants to get paid, but I hate thinking of him and his band as sell outs. I’m hardly a fan of FF, but Dave always seems passionate about what he’s doing when I see him in interviews or on Sound City. Hek I don’t know, I’ve been wrong 6 1/2 times to date and this could make 7 1/2. We just will never know his heart. Thank goodness.
Beato:
Me: more!
MORE!!!
MOAR !!!!
Ahah! Yep i was thinking this exact thought. Greatest breakdown. Rick is truly an amazing individual for sure
Have I listened to this song at least a thousand times? Yes. Did I hear a bunch of new stuff today? Absolutely. Thank you so much.
Exactly
Yes, more episodes on Rush. "Working Man" or "Tom Sawyer" would be great!
Bingo. Rick's Best Yet!!!
That’s the thing about Rush. I’ve been listening to the entire Permanent Waves album since it dropped in 1980 and I hear things differently every time. Amazing band that will be missed.
RIP Neil Peart and Geddy Lee’s mother.
@@fgs2732 And Glenn Peart
Those of us who were around when Moving Pictures came out tend to take this song for granted, but it's an excellent example of complex songwriting that doesn't SOUND complex, and it's a master class in emotive guitar solo composition.
@Jeffrey Olson
They probably just felt it when they played/jammed. Especially when you have a drummer that loves to explore mixing meters, and having that desire to push themselves. Plus, having the chemistry they had, something magical will happen.
I don't, man. I picked up guitar when I heard Jimmy Page's solo in Whole Lotta Love. I switched to bass when I heard Moving Pictures and although there's great bass on all these songs, Limelight is one of the ones that kicked be right between the ears. Also the bass in "The Camera Eye" just slays me, especially during Alex's solo, where he's just all over the place but still right in the pocket and then brings it back to the primary riff at the end. I don't play 5% as well as Ged, but he's been without a doubt my greatest musical inspiration.
I'm embarrassed to say I can put the first three songs of this monumental album on an endless loop and never feel the need for further exploration. Maybe now's the time. Thank you, Rick.
Alex Lifeson, the most underrated guitarist of all time. Truly, one of the greatest ever.
My fave guitarist of all time !!! Love Big Al !!! :)
I agree he's incredible, but I don't think he's that underrated. Most advanced guitarists worship him
I second that! Soooo underrated.
No doubt
Met him. What a nice man
Many can't appreciate Geddy's singing but here Rick points out his greatness.
@@BigBri550 So? The same could be said for many singers who've grown into old(er) age. The discussion at hand is a track he laid vocals down on over 40 years ago, so why the need to talk about his voice today?
@@BigBri550 Hahaha yeah man but he got old. Listen to Temples of Syrinx and tell me there's any 70 year old out there who could do that. I do think they may have benefited from bringing on a touring vocalist and leaving Geddy to bass and keys, but I can also understand why they would have wanted to remain a trio. A Rush without Geddy Lee singing isn't really Rush. Also. I can't speak to the quality of actual live performances since I sadly was never able to go, but many of the live recordings on RUclips, mostly those released by non-Rush organizations like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, have been badly botched by production teams trying to hastily overcorrect his vocals in post.
I like it, somewhere between supertramp and Placebo.
Geddy's voice reminds me a bit of a male version of Agnetha from Abba. Both have this amazing clarity and pitch that I just can't get enough of.
man, what Geddy did in 2112
Rush: your favorite band's favorite band. Your guitar teacher's guitar lesson.
Your musician's favorite band
This song. This band. Limelight is always #1 on my Rush playlist.
This song will live forever.
lancekeltner7 yes...master of words and rhythm. RIP Neil Peart
Holy crap...this man is so freaking talented. Could listen to him all day talking about music.
Wish he would dissect songs daily... and wish we could isolate instruments/vocals like this.
The language that musicians use always blows me away... Just how they convey their thoughts through music and understanding it so completely.
His knowledge of the music is surpassed only by his appreciation of it. Amazing video.
The best part about Rick is not how he breaks down the songs, which is incredible, but how you can see and feel his absolute love for the music. Really evident on More Than a Feeling; he looks like every teen in 1976 hearing Boston for the first time and thinking “Fuck me!” 😎🤘🏻🍺
I have done , one of my erstwhile students has eschewed playing in favour of watching rick ( yes you sausage fingers ) ... if you find this ...paul ... i`ll buy you a beer
This guy is a musical genius. The way he analyzes and explains everything is superb but the thing I enjoy the most is how much he loves doing what he does best.
Rick is like a kid on Christmas morning unboxing this song. His enthusiasm is so contagious.
that's what i love most about his channel, it's like that friend from school who brings you in his room and shows you all the cool stuff he's been figuring out, getting all smiley and "listen, listen!" - Ricks a fan's fan :)
Indeed. Totally infectious. I had to share it with my brother who loves Rush too and infact bought the Moving Pictures album when it was originally released. I loved this song and Rick's unboxing and showing us the various tracks within has elevated my appreciation even further than I thought possible. Love it, love it, love it!
"I cant pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend" is the most honest lyrical phrase Ive ever heard. Chills me each time, favorite Alex solo too.
totally Neil
Insufficient tact
Neil is so smart, I mean come on, the lyrics, the absolute perfect time of his strikes. Listen to him every single day!
How lucky are we! Every single time we hear these guys, It's like the first time. I drive my wife crazy, she'll never understand!
I'm so glad that when I introduced my ex to Rush with Counterparts when we first met in the 90's that she became an instant fan. Made the next 20 years easier @@chrisneenan 🤣
You can't fake the smile this guy has on his face at the end of the video. a true fan
I can fake a comment
Rick has been a lifelong fan of Rush. He was deeply upset I think at Neil death
Fantastic! My introduction to Rush was in 1981 when I swapped Jethro Tull's Broadsword and the Beast with a friend for his copy of Moving Pictures. The very first Rush song I heard was Tom Sawyer; that and Limelight became a couple of my favourites from Rush. Still listening to Rush, 40 something years later. Recently I walked past my son's room and guess what music he was listening to? Yep, Rush, Limelight. My work here is done!
Rick your face and enthusiasm at the end: "WHO DOES ENDINGS LIKE THAT?! COME ON!" makes this entire video worthwhile. Rock on, brother.
We had a few endings like that in our originals (band: slimBINGO). We called them “big cheese whiz endings.”
I've never heard a band who can move more seamlessly through different time signatures without compromising the feel of the song. They were masters.
Rick: Part of why your channel is such a success is because we love to see how much YOU love the subject matter. Never was this so clear as in this video. Your smirks and smiles after listening to an iconic guitar phrase speak volumes to people who grew up loving this music.
Hear here! 👍
Well said Matthew
His love for music is so contagious
Rick reminds me, pleasantly, of my father, who was a huge classical music fan. Dad would make us sit and listen to segments of his own version of What Makes This Symphony Great. I had to explain to my geometry teacher that my homework was not done because my dad made me watch Leonard Bernstein conduct The NewNew York philharmonic of Beethoven’s IX symphony!
the jon anderson interview was Rick fanboying really hard and it was fantastic
I remember sitting in my dads van and telling him you need to listen to this band.
It was Hemispheres and I let him listen to “Trees” and “La Villa Strangiato” he liked it but I was obsessed with it playing it over and over until I learned it. That was 1978 and I was 15yrs. Miss those days. When Neal passed I cried hard. It was like losing a close friend. One of the greatest bands ever. 3 of the most talented musicians in the world. And Neal the G.O.A.T. The galaxy knows.
I remember my dad telling me, as i was listening to Freewill "this sounds like pseudo acid rock".. when neil died i was living with mom and dad going thru a bad divorce.. they were jehovah's witnesses, and i had been expelled but they never shunned me.. dad had alzheimers and dementia but he could always understand me. I remember going camping in maybe 1982 and blasting 2112. I used to also blast it when doing my paperroute. Dad died a month ago.. life is strange. I'm almost 50 now but still feel kind of like it's 1982 and I'm still blasting Rush while life is good.
Yeah, my dad was not into rock music at all and would have hated Rush. I share your sentiment about Neil's passing. First time in my life I shed tears over the loss of someone I had never met. hate that we will never hear them play again.
Neil's death hit me hard as well. I cried.... and I ain't afraid to admit it. I was lucky enough to see Rush live 4 times. One of those times I brought my daughter who was a teenager at the time. I'm really glad I did that. So she could see one of the greatest bands of all time.
Hello my friend. I can relate to your passion for this great album "Hemispheres" in '78. I was 18 and living just a couple of hours west of Toronto, in London. WOW!! You nailed it with those 2 incredible tracks. My 2 favorite tracks on the album. I, on the other hand was not a musician like you, but I had those tunes, and the entire album in general on speed dial. What a magic time the 70s were, eh bud?? Take care and good health to you!!!
Neil was an absolute beast behind a drum kit. i would have loved to see a dumb battle, neil peart vs phil collins back in the day. i also respect phil collins but i dont think it would be a fair contest. phil collins was a great drummer but i dont think he was a Neil peart. there was only one peart.
i too was sadened by his loss. it wasnt drug abuse, he didnt do it to himself. it was a brain tumor.
I love Rick's energy and enthusiasm. Right at the end, I was chuckling, thinking "He is such a music nerd, air drumming the outro." Only to realize I was unconsciously doing the same thing..lol. THATS why RUSH is still talked about, you are compelled to play along without knowing you are doing it.
THIS kind of content is what RUclips is for. So awesome to hear these songs pulled apart like this. You think they're amazing just listening to them as is, but then someone like Rick takes your hand and leads you through it all step by step and that song you loved is somehow made even better.
Great comment. I'd go so far as to say this is what the INTERNET and TECHNOLOGY are for! To allow communities of like-minded people to form and create meaning and joy.
Especially love the last few minutes when Rick is air drumming... Just like a kid in a candy store!
perfectly said
Couldn't agree more!!!
Very well said. I always knew that their music was challenging and complex but it's much more than I ever imagined. This was great content and what youtube should be.
Rush has this uncanny ability to incorporate odd time signatures in their music and still make it sound normal.
Rush and Soundgarden
Good point! Tool kind of hits you on the nose with it.
I believe Lifeson is usually the culprit, Peart and Lee have the talent to accommodate his ideas and the 3 have the chemistry needed to make it sound natural
This had been my least favorite song on the album because it sounded too "normal" and straight forward to me compared to the others. But after watching this video. Mind blown.
This. They sound very... (I'm sorry)... radio-friendly in the way they make their music sound catchy and groovy and relatively easily accessible, and then only afterwards one realizes "wait what, this song actually went mostly in 5 and 7 and some odd bars here and there"
You can tell Rick really loves Rush to the core of his soul by the look on his face when he’s playing Geddy’s bass lines and Neil’s kick ass drumming at the end of the video. Rush. You either get it or you don’t and it’s clear Rick gets it. Great analysis and another awesome breakdown. You could probably do 10 more Rush breakdowns and each of them would be as thrilling. I love the look on your face as you peel back the layers and reveal the intricate details and play along. You are so talented. Keep going!!
I love how Rick just gets caught up in a song he’s describing , and just geeks out. It’s so cool.
His facial expressions when he plays Geddy's bass intro, etc, really make this cool. You're right on the geek out part. Great to watch.
So correct, and humble, Rick is real.
Passion is rife.
Agree! The more excited he gets the more excited I get!
February 14, 1974 I saw RUSH play at my High School in Belle River, Ontario, Canada. On that night he was playing his Gibson ES335 through a 100 watt Hiwatt head and full stack. I was sitting on the gym floor front row. The back up bands were Edward Bear and New Potatoes . That night when I got home I grabbed my guitar and tried to bang out 'Working Man' as I remembered Alex playing it. They also played again in Belle River almost a year later to the day at the Community Centre Arena on February 13, 1975 and the back up band was Rose.
Wow, Rose used to play at several clubs in my area near Rochester, NY, back in the 70's. They were fantastic and had a very strong following.
what an amazing story!
Thank you for sharing this amazing story! Such detail!
Belle River resident here..both my boys went to BR high as well..even they know this story, and appreciate it !! i am a huge rush fan as well..
Whatever happened to Edward Bear and New Potatoes?
"that's why we're still talking about Rush."
The isolated solo is pure sorcery.
I can't believe how lucky I was to hear them perform live twice, back in the era before the camera phone panopticon.
I saw them live 3 times. Signals tour, Hold Your Fire tour, and Vapor Trails (I think, might have been Test for Echo)
Thank goodness for us that never had the money and travel arrangements to see them live that we have these beautiful videos.
I saw Rush live for the distant early warning tour with Marillion as opening band. Still have goosebumps just thinking about it. These were the best of times for me.
same for me.
I saw them twice back in the old days, too. Wish I could've appreciated it like I do now. I still liked it, but we were spoiled in those days.
In 20 minutes you completely validated my opinion that the 70's and bleed over into the 80's was the pinnacle of rock and pop music. Thank you for the time and effort you put into this video.
And the Xanadu tease was amazing. I had no idea that one motion on a guitar could make those sounds.
Limelight is one of those rare songs that, whether you're a musician or a listener, you re-fall in love with every time you hear it. You can listen to this song a hundred times, and still discover something that you've never noticed before.
'''...All the world's indeed a stage and we are merely players, performers and portrayers, each another's audience outside the gilded cage ".............R I P Neil.
"Someone set a bad example
Made surrender seem all right
The act of a noble warrior
Who lost the will to fight"
-The Pass (By Neil, ofc)
I'm really, really sad. RIP, my favorite lyricist.
CARDINAL701 that is Shakespeare
With acknowledgement to the late great Billy Shakespeare
Geddy is out doing a book tour you should try getting him for an interview
I second the motion
Brian Russ can I like this post a thousand times?
YES.
There' a good Geddy interview on AXTV with Dan Rather. Check it out. The show is Called The Big Interview. Great series.
Brian Russ Yes, please!
This is fantastic. Man I miss them being an active band, Neil of course. So special. There will never be another, theyre like musical wizards from another world...
One of my favorite lines in all of music: I can't pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend..."
It's rare that a back story to a song makes it better but hearing why Neil wrote that song and how he felt about fame definitely makes the song deeper and carry more for me.
That was one part which wasn't discussed: the quality of the lyrics. Not some bubble-gum love story crap, these lyrics were deep and philosophical. Another reason Rush endures.
I think there's some thing wrong with me I always thought I would outgrow this music as I aged. Nope. I love it as much, if not more, than I did 30-40 years ago. I'll be 90 listening to Rush. Great video by the way. Thanks.
People who just listen to music do. People who love and appreciate music don't.
Nope. Nothing wrong with you at all. Good music is good music and it can grow and age with you. I love Rush much more than I did 30 years ago! Rick is fun to watch because he really loves music and wants to break it down and show us why its so good!
I had the oppositw, I grew into liking it!!!
Moving Pictures is a timeless LP.
Jeff C I just grow to love it more😎
From Alex's guitar tech who i texted:
"Yikes, almost 30 years. Here goes, probably the black Strat. later named Pork Flapsocaster had a Bill Lawrence L500 in the bridge (nicknamed the Motley Crue Pickup by Skip). The Marshall combos with 70 watt Celestions. Model 4104. Lerxst had discovered Loft by then. The Chorus was the 450. Probably their delay along with the Boss Space Echo. MXR distortion. Howard Roberts Fusion also. We had EVERYTHING when we recorded so it’s tough to say what made it to tape, but this is close."
You the man that’s great .... the MXR Distortion wow ..., wow
That was a black prs Ps I screwed up it was a strat but I will keep this so no one else will make the mistake I made.
@Shaun Rodgers Nope, not a chance. Alex didn't start to use PRS guitars until 90/91. His whammy guitars back in the 80's were initially Fender Strats he had modded with a humbucker and Floyd Rose bridges, then in the late mid 80's a Canadian brand of "super strats" call Signature Guitars. You can see those Signature guitars in the live concert movie A Show of Hands from 1989.
Not to be confused with his aptly-named “Hentor Sportcaster” played on Grace Under Pressure. 😁
What is 450 chorus? Wasn't he using Boss CE1? 4104 was equipped with McKenzie speaker, wasn't it?
Love to listen to somebody as intelligent and gifted as you explain Rush's ability to produce this level of music. Rush fan for 40 years here. Well done.
Just watched Rick's live video about 30 mins ago in which he wanted to pay a tribute to Neil. He was obviously very emotional about his passing. Came to re- watch this video and it really hits home how much Rick is a fan of the band and how respectful he is of their talent. No wonder he was so distraught about Neil's death. I'm sure Rick was echoing what many fans of Rush and Neil are feeling today. RIP Neil and thanks Rick for keeping the music alive and for expressing what music means to so many people.
That's why we're still talking about Rush. (they don't block)
They embrace and send swag to people that make covers
Underrated musictionators to be sure. Can't let computers do All the stuff.
They love their fans. HUGE respect.
@@mvunit3 indeed, they truly appreciate the "without you we would be nothing." Which is something a lot of artists that make it often forget because they made it and don't belong to the 99% of bands that have never made it. Alex and Geddy loved to do the meet and greets and you can stop them in the street and they are cool to chat with you and give you a picture. Neil is more private and timid to do that, fair enough and perfectly respectable.
Remember the insert from "Rush in Rio"? Neil talks about they didn't know Rush *had* 300,000 fans in Brazil. "We must have had a lot of pirated albums." And he isn't even being bitter about saying it. :P Another reason they're an amazing band: They live their ideals.
Rush was a band with unbelievable chemistry and your reaction to Neil Peart's drumming "Wow" says it all.
Steve Acevedo, Neil is the GOAT of drummers!
And since you brought it up, Chemistry is also a great Rush song, a deep cut from the Signals album.
Unquestionably my favorite Rush song of all time - and maybe one of my Top Ten favorite rock tunes of all time. What an amazing deconstruct on this masterpiece of a tune, Rick. Superb content and insight - as always. Thank you so much for posting this!
I literally cry when I listen to Rush for all their emotional style of playing. Just three great musicians who truly believe on themselves!
Wow!
I thought maybe I was the only one Rush could bring to tears. Welcome to the club. Lol 😂
Life is not fair .
Neil is gone and yet all the kardashians live.
Imagine if they had 4 players...
That's "the magic music making your morning mood". :)
One more from Italy!
Rick - we need another Rush song review, in memoriam of Neil Peart.
I vote The Camera Eye. Or Subdivisions. Or Leave That Thing Alone. Or The Garden. Or any other Rush song. haha
@@blue-tb2fd Seriously considering The Garden at my funeral, just gets me!
Yes spirit of radio please !!!!!!
La villa stragiato, spirit of radio, xanadu...
Subdivisions, please.
I listen to this record and "Signals" an awful lot. "Moving Pictures" is one of the greatest records ever made, in my opinion, across all genres. It doesn't just have great songs or great arrangements, or even great mixes of great songs with great arrangements and great parts - the entire record as a whole is perfect.
@Billy Idol I'm zeroed in on my next vinyl purchase being Gorguts, "Considered Dead", since I have the 2 Rush albums I need - but I'm on a mission to re-collect all the Black Sabbath and Doors records I had as a youngster, too. I'm not doing great in that category because I don't want remasters, only originals - all I have so far is "The Soft Parade", "Sabotage", and "Never Say Die" (but at least all originals). It's a loooooong road.
I love 'Signals' too and am always surprised by why it is so hated by many RUSH fans but, then again, I completely disagree with you about MP since I think it's their most overrated album and I fully expect to get flamed whenever I say that.
@@Spamlet1 Well, opinions are like assholes, everyone has one & etc. - besides, we don't know why we like the things we like, no sense trying to explain it.
And do not forget the lyrics… lines like “I can’t pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend” … such a great Lyricist was Neil…
When Rick talks about Alex Lifeson's chord vocabulary (starting at 9:33), this is where Rick's music theory knowledge is really brought to bear on analyzing one of rock's most creative guitar players. Very few rock guitarists were playing like that in the late 70's and early 80's, as Rick mentions, and it's one element of what made Rush different and special and a little magical for many of us, I think. Those chord choices made them sound like nobody else in rock at the time (along with all the other stuff that set them apart). This is right in Rick's wheelhouse re: his ability to explain and analyze and *appreciate*. (I'm a drummer, by the way, so you know who I was attracted to in this band, at least initially). Alex was always a little under the radar, but this kind of analysis really helps to explain their coolness and "magic", to some degree. Thanks Rick!
It kinda shows how Alex didn’t know music theory, he just played what sounded right and left it to guys like Rick to figure out what to call them.
You said that well enough for me to get a better understanding of why RUSH is so awesome. And why Rick Beato videos appeal to me.
I agree. It’s all about what sounds good.
Rush is one of those rare bands where they would not be anything without any one of their members. Neil Peart was totally essential. Love for fellow drummers, and how they can be essential elements to special bands
@@jonbbaca5580 Rush is probably uncopyable as Rick Beato would say. Neil Peart and Alex Liveson are that individually....and then there's Geddy's voice, lol. Joking aside, Rush is, as you say, a rare band that most likely ended with Neil's passing; with no disrespect towards any drummer, he is irreplaceable.
I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend
The irony of this song was that Neil wrote it about his struggles with fame and success, only to have this song and album catapult them to legendary status.
that's not irony.
@@shoogerkane i’d say it’s the definition of irony?
@@Boleskinebeatz I thought that if he's already acknowledging his fame and success, that it doesn't fit, but I suppose if the song catapults them into a even more success, I suppose you're right.
I agree this was the catapult, but "Spirit of Radio" and "Freewiil" from the previous album opened the door to FM airplay and a wider audience
seen them live twice and Alex’s guitar is so fat it carrys the low end even more than the bass, its awesome
Rewatching this on Neil's first death anniversary... can't believe it's been a year already. I fondly remember watching your tribute to him soon after, Rick. You're keeping him, and them, alive for posterity. Thanks for doing what you do! Cheers.
rick's unbridled joy as he air drums the end of this video is the ultimate tribute to Neil and it helps me miss Neil less
I can see you share the same love and passion for RUSH, their musicianship, and their music, as I do.
Ever since I was a young bass player (I began playing at age 13 in 1980) RUSH has INTRIGUED me, with how three musicians could make a song sound so full, so busy, so intricate.
They truly are the greatest PHENOMENON of my generation.
Neal died today.
Damn. Just damn.
More brilliant than I ever knew. And I knew....RIP, Neal
He actually died Tuesday Jan 7
Roxanne Moser Most likely to give the family - and Alex and Geddy and their families - a chance to grieve in private for a while before the world came crashing in. A class move. And just what Neil would want, most likely.
What?? Neal Peart? Noooooo!
Its not Neal, Its Neil
@@bohergoy Kneel Pert
It’s funny that this is one of my least favorite Rush tunes and yet I gain extra appreciation for it watching this.
Who’s awesome? Rick Beato’s awesome!
Yeah, Rush is in my top 5 favorite bands and I always thought Limelight was a weaker track off Moving Pictures, but it's great to watch Rick strip it all down
Wow, really? Limelight has always been one of my top 10 Rush songs. What is it you don't like about it?
It was the last song of moving pictures that i obsessed about, but it is just as great as the others, you'll get there hopefully
I know how you feel. I am a huge Clash fan, but thought I was sick to DEATH of "Should I Stay or Should I Go" because I had heard the usual recording sooooo many times. Then I saw the faux-doc movie Rude Boy where they have the entire song being played live and I suddenly was right back in there and couldn't believe I never knew how good it really was. All it takes is one little thing to change in your mind and suddenly everything is different.
Rick's videos have given me a lot of appreciation for songs that I've felt kind of meh about. Not in this case because I'm a huge Rush fan, but his videos are awesome at breaking down the individual parts and pointing out things that I hadn't noticed before.
I've listened to Rush for the past 40 years, and I learned so many things about this song that I never knew until now. It just makes me appreciate this song and Rush even more! Thank you Rick!
Oh man, I’m soo obsessed with Rush!!! Thank you for this review! Didn’t think I could love this song more...❤️🔥
OBsessed! Me too! Love RUSH💚!
Number, please ;-)
And to top it all, lets not forget Neil Peart's lyrics. Hats off to three phenomenal musicians.
"Living on a lighted stage
Approaches the unreal
For those who think and feel
In touch with some reality
Beyond the gilded cage
Cast in this unlikely role,
Ill-equipped to act
With insufficient tact
One must put up barriers
To keep oneself intact
Living in the Limelight
The universal dream
For those who wish to seem
Those who wish to be
Must put aside the alienation
Get on with the fascination
The real relation
The underlying theme
Living in a fisheye lens
Caught in the camera eye
I have no heart to lie
I can’t pretend a stranger
Is a long-awaited friend
All the world’s indeed a stage
And we are merely players
Performers and portrayers
Each another’s audience
Outside the gilded cage"
@@AdmiralQuality, Neil Peart, that's who, but you already know that. :)
You’re absolutely right Román. It’s not only the musicianship, musical quality, technical level, on top of all of that, lyrics with an incredible content and maturity! Thank you to take the attention to this point!
I believe that Neil, as a real thinker, never liked the adulation produced by media stream. I saw interviews when he said they were just regular guys doing their job... nothing more than that!
@@dlawlis he let go of objectivism decades ago. His lyrics in the 90s especially reflect that. He's even a registered Democrat now
Anyone who puts down Geddy’s voice never really listened. He has an incredible voice.
True statement.
They say most females don't like it. That's why it's mostly dudes at their concerts.
ModernDayWarrior2112 its an extremely recognizable voice, like ozzy’s. When it comes to geddy’s voice, you either love it or you hate it.
I'm sorry, but while Geddy's voice is pitch-wise accurate, his tonal quality just doesn't appeal to me. To me it sounds tinny and nasally, which I'll concede is weird, because Sting's voice has a similar tonal quality, and I find his vocals ok. Matter of taste, I guess.
Geddy's voice was an acquired taste for me. I really didn't like it much in the first couple of years.
RIP Neil. You were the word and rhythm of millions.
.. the music of my youth, appreciated even more in my old age! RIP Neil ..
I love how he his is in wonderment and bewilderment with the chords Alex is playing, You are not alone is enjoying his genius,
There will never be another Rush they were truly one in a million!!! They will always be the greatest band in the galaxy!
what a great dissection of the song! at 10:35 you reveal why Alex Lifeson is THEE most underrated guitar players! bravo!!
Mr. Beato this series of what makes this song great just makes me love Rock music even more.
This is one of the Beato videos that not only brings tears to my eyes, but also makes me wonder why I can’t 👍🏼 this many many times. ❤️
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
That 'whew!' at 20:42 makes it all worthwhile... That unbridled and spontaneous enthusiasm can easily be one of the main reasons we are all glued to every 'wmtsg?' video you post.... Eternal respect and thanks.
Rick and his unbridled enthusiasm. So awesome!
Now "That's" the proper way to praise, with substance and respect. Super cool vernacular Jose.
"Rush was a Canadian rock band consisting of..." was, past tense. Damn, I still can't get over the idea they are gone.
They are still among us AND we have their music.
Augustus Betucius 😢
They'll always be there. Music this good will never die.
Not gone, just retired...and sooner or later we all succumb to father time
Mark Little that comment was prophetic...
Rick has the unbeatable combination of knowledge and enthusiasm.
The ultimate Easter Egg would’ve been making the length of this video 21:12
exactly how my mind works
Ed Kuryluk oh my god he missed it by 1 sec, almost like a grace note
Anagram it.
Lol! Brilliant comment!
@@anngallifrey THAT'S THE FIRST THING I WROTE WHEN I SAW THE LENGTH OF THE VIDEO! (Great minds think alike)
What I love the best about this song, is that I don't even have to think about the meter changes happening. The band allows the changes to flow so well into each other and they are extremely musical.
rolk70 great point. Their meter choices, for the most part, sound organic and intuitive rather than shoehorned in to impress.
Yes. Unlike some of their earlier stuff, the time changes always serve the song, not the other way around. It's just how the music flows, and it wouldn't work any other way.
I love how you have the track cranked enough that you have to shout over it. That’s respecting the song the way it should be played. 😂
Rush will live forever..inspiring. Great job Rick
"That's why we are still talking about Rush"
Alex was never an introvert! Neil definitely was (and is), and Geddy is def not an introvert either.
I saw them on this tour in Knoxville, TN in November of 1981. The warmup act, Riot, couldn't play because their lead singer had laryngitis, so Rush agreed to do an extra long show. It had to be 3 ½ hours long. I didn't want it to end. Still the best concert I ever saw.
Holy moly, this dissection was incredible. One of my favorite tunes ever, and hearing the individual tracks and your analysis was just A+. Thanks!
I learn so much from all your videos, but your “what makes this song great” videos are my favorite.
I am HOOKED on wmtsg!
This video should have been called, why Rush fans go nuts for this band.
just seeing how happy this man is listening to my favorite band gives me so much joy
When you soloed Alex's solo I just closed my eyes and went to heaven for a few precious seconds.
Rick the best part of this dissection is your passion for the song and watching you air play the instruments like we all did at some point when we hear this or others....that’s what makes this song great!
Well said. Rick your passion is contagious and beautiful to watch!
Air playing instruments makes "What Makes this Song Great?" great. Especially when you have the chops to back up your air playing.
Heard a Rush song for the first time in High School, 44 years ago. I listen to more Rush now than then. I will be listening until my last breath. Thanks Rick for the music lesson, thanks Rush for the great music and memories.
Back in that time I was in a punk band, and when we heard a band in our neighborhood who could play Rush and The Police note for note, I was like, guys I don't think that we're going to win the battle of the bands 😮😁💯
Hands down my favorite band of all time. Amazing musicians.
"Rush was a Canadian rock band" … Quite possibly the most depressing thing I have read in years...never stopped to consider they would cease to be in my lifetime.
Yes, that is true however.. They WERE in our lifetime.
I have fond memories of Rush in several different venues including the small, 10,000 seat Swing Auditorium in San Bernardino, CA which ironically enough
was destroyed by a twin engine airplane crashing into it on.. Fvcking September 11th in 1981. Go figure..
And I saw them at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto in the 70's! Amazing shows!
Came here to pay tribute to Neil Peart since his passing. I've watched this analysis before but it's even more heartfelt and profound than ever now. The joy of re-discovering and re-appreciating Rush through soloing the individual parts and through Rick's enthusiasm is immensely infectious and gratifying. Please do more Rush songs please! 🤘
the musicianship is pure magic RUSH makes music that fits in my mind like a long lost puzzle piece every note of every instrument is perfection.
"That's why we're still talking about Rush"... that's why I'll still be for the rest of my life.
I've never grieved so much for the loss of a musician. 6 days later and I'm still getting choked up hearing them on the radio. I've also been "nerding out" on all things Rush. There's no better place to nerd out on music than with you, my friend. Your love and appreciation for them is therapeutic. I hope you do some more because I presume you're feeling much the way I am and it's probably tonic for you as well. Looking forward to whatever tribute you put together. Thanks Rick.
I am with you sir. His passing has felt like losing family. Rush was there when. I was a lonely nerdy kid. Whenever her I was down their music picked ne up. When I was up rush took me to another level. The fact that there will be any new rush is depressing. Thank God they left so much to go back too. RIP Niel.
There are more 50 something year old air drummers right now than any time in history.
I've been listening to Rush non-stop ever since Neil died.
5 months and I still can't believe it. The day it happened friends and family were calling to check on me. They knew it would be a tough one for me.
Same here. It has hit me harder than I could imagine, but his spirit will live on forever.
RIP Neil Peart. Your genius and infectuous personality will be sorely missed
Anybody else get goosebumps from Alex's solo?
My favorite solo
Yes