So, why do we older men care what you think? I can only answer for myself, of course, but I tend to think there must be others who feel the same way I do: For me, there are several reasons. First and foremost, there's the nostalgic aspect to it. We remember hearing this music in our youth and remember how much we were awed by it the first time we heard it. We remember sharing it with our friends for the first time and seeing their eyes light up--friends who, in many cases, are STILL friends today, 40 years later. By seeing you react to this stuff, it brings me back to when I would share it with one of my friends, and it sort of brings you into that fold. Second, there's the historicity of it all. Listening to the music that's put out today, well, it all sounds the same. I KNOW how great I had it growing up when I did, hearing all of this awesome music being made, all at the same time. It worries me and bothers me and saddens me that your generation doesn't get to grow up listening to music which is on par with this stuff. Seeing you react lets me know the music will live on for at least one more generation, and that's a really good feeling. Third, there's curiosity. What does he think of this stuff? He's a kid of today--will he find the stuff as amazing today as we did way back when? Last but not least, there's a fellowship that begins among the regular viewers and the content creator. I think you probably already know when you see my name, you're going to get a well thought out, even if long winded, response. Why do you care what I write, right? There's a give and take between the best content creators and their audience.
Dude you are awesome. This is the embodiment of what it means to up lift and encourage another human being! This is by far the best response on a reaction video I've ever seen! Love ya brother! Please don't ever lose this gift!
Same here well said Rush been in my life for 37 years I was 9 years old Tom Sawyer my first ever and like u wow had to find more out on this band at the time and so glad i did so make Tom Sawyer your next reaction and u all stay safe and once again awesome comment it utters my feeling sincerely love this band so so much
"Cast in this unlikely role, ill-equipped to act, with insufficient tact." is especially him. Neil was an introvert and felt extremely uncomfortable with fans fawning over him. From very early in their career, Geddy and Alex assumed most of the meet-and-greet duties.
But also...Neil critiquing the “everyone wants to be famous” notion, wildly prescient nowadays as this gentleman is pointing out. Neil just wanted to get good at something, and is a little freaked out at the dishonesty of fame for itself & the entire culture around it.
@@Liquidmuse3 yes! “Get on with the fascination, the real relation, the underlying theme” They didn’t play music to get famous, they played music to improve at playing music, that is their fascination, making the music is the real relation, regardless of acceptance or fame.
Retired old couple here enjoying your intellect, insights, creativity, & sensitivity for about a month so far. We recently discovered music reaction videos & were shocked that not only do "kids" your age go through the same emotional experience reacting to a great song, but you also love & appreciate them just as we did/do. Never expected that! Amazing to feel personal connections over an age gap of 50 years - our settings change but we're all traveling the same path. You have an incredible future ahead, & all the gifts needed to fully enjoy the journey!
Your best reaction video yet Dethstrok9.....I had no choose but to join your Patreon! Please keep up your enthusiasm to these great songs..... Love your reactions!
I'm not as old as some of the other folks who watch your stuff (I was born 7 years after this came out) but I do enjoy the parasocial aspect of seeing people discover things I love and maybe noticing things I never saw before. Seeing art from a different perspective allows deeper appreciation.
As the 70's turned into the 80's Rush's popularity was growing bringing with it more personal scrutiny from fans & media etc. Neil was a naturally shy & reserved guy & struggled with praise & the extra scrutiny that came with increased fame. This song was his feelings towards fame & how it affected him. The line 'I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend' is Neil in a nutshell.
Neil did study his Shakespeare: " All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages." (As You Like It, W.S.)
A similar thought was in "MacBeth" in the Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow soliloquy: Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury Signifying nothing.
Youre barely scratching the surface, so much more to learn.. Neil Peart taught me more than any other person in my life, and we never met. Rush has provided the soundtrack to my life. I feel extremely fortunate to have lived in the same generation as these great musicians. ✌️☝️☝️✌️
“Limelight” is from the theater of a bygone era when canisters if lime (the mineral) were heated until the lime became incandescent. It was used as stage lighting. Limelight the song is Peart’s open letter to his fans saying “the fame half of ‘fame and fortune’ sucks for me”.
Ten Cent: thanks for the info in your comment; I didn't knew this, and now I feel it brings some more light to the way Neil is thinking on his metaphores.
Dude! You get this! Rush had to deal with the effect of their natural progression in music, with their fans. They lost fans when their sound changed from 1974 to 1976. Then again from 1978 to 1981 (when they became famous). Then again from their changes during the 80's (they weren't "cool"/hip enough) and so on. But they stayed true to their principles and goals to be the best 1) musicians and 2) song writers. They worked together, tirelessly, to achieve the best of their dreams. Their music is so consistently good/great; there is almost NO filler music in Rush's canon. They are almost ALL bangers! Enjoy, brother! You are doing great!
And remained friends.! My favorite thing about Rush. They never let their egos get in front of their musicianship. Sets them apart from almost every other band out there.
Drummer/ lyricist Neil Peart was a very well read man. He wrote some of the most thought provoking lyrics in rock. You’ll do well to continue unpacking his lyrics. Eventually, you’ll get to Rush’s last song, The Garden. In it he writes “The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect”. His life certainly measured up. BTW, besides his lyrics, he also wrote a few books. Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road is a good read.
"the universal dream, for those that wish to seem" - people that just want to be famous only look at the good side of fame whereas "for those that wish to be.... " are those where fame is merely a (and in Neil's case an unwanted) symptom of them following their passion. "I didn't want to be famous, I wanted to be good" - Neil Peart
Great reaction! I thoroughly enjoyed your words and thoughts. Rush is a great band! I was so happy to hear The Twilight Zone. Limelight is another great track. Alex describes this solo as a very lonely feeling, like being the only one on stage and people looking at you. That was the aesthetic for the solo. One of my personal favorites. Would love for you to check out Red Barchetta
I remember when rush played at my sister’s high school 😄 Rush was always the hardest working band in rock. Technically perfect in every way and Neil Peart could write some excellent lyrics. Lots of Rush to listen to. Most of it is excellent. All of it is great.
Dont ever apologise for getting it! Ive listenedto this song upwatds of 2000 times now and as a pure fan, not a performer or musician or any other entertainer. It gets me every time. Thats the beauty of these 3 guys, they knew how to write. Lofesons solo here is still my favourite by anýone - so emotive, fits the song as they always do but in this case gives an impression of the lonely isolation of fame which i think Neil was trying to impart from his angle. My interpretation anyway. If you do go onto fame take this song and Rush with you as theyve so much more important music and messages to pass on to the younguns 😁
Rush is already immortal, but I have been recommending Rush and Steely Dan to quite a few of my friends who might not have heard of it before:) Thanks for watching!
"Limelight", aside from being my favorite song of all time, it even says so in my high school scrap book from 1983, is basically drummer Neil Peart's philosophy on dealing with fame and hero worship. He was embarrassed by it, he wasn't anti social, just embarasssed. In Beyond The Lighted Stage, he said, "I.wss the biggest WHO fan growing up, but I never dreamed of staking out their hotel". The line, "I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaiting frlend" says it all.
Neil had a gift for lyrics that remained relevant, no matter what era they are heard in - - they could be interpreted in so many ways, in so many time periods - - absolute genius ... It gives me hope for the future that the younger generation can still relate to this band, and their wisdom - - Listening to you talk at 17:22, you have GOT to listen to the Fountain of Lamneth .... you'll appreciate its journey ......
Neil was much bemoaned about his lyrics by the main street media, but he stayed true to his voice. As he put it lyrics were written for those sensitive to listening to them. He was an amazing writer, very philosophical about his approach to his craft. This song was very much about his personal struggle being thrust into the "Limelight" of fame. He was never comfortable with it, it was not that he was a shy person, it honestly embarrassed him. I had the fortunate fate to have twice bumped into Neil while traveling via motorcycle, but I never acknowledged I knew who he was. I am sure he knew I was a fan as a few other times our bikes would be side by side at a dealership getting serviced as we would hit the road during the summer and follow them to about every 2 or 3rd show for a month or two. Enjoy his lyrics. Check out songs like Afterimage, The Pass, Nobody's Hero, etc.... Enjoy the journey is always what he would tell me when I bumped into him. He firmly believed the purpose of life is to journey, not simply too exist in a destination. Ultimately for me his words inspired me to write and learn to better express my own voice. Now thanks to Neil I am a published novelist, something that would have never happened without him sharing so much of his craft. R.I.P NP
As much as you and I appreciate your analysis of lyrics, you HAVE to react to Rush YYZ live in RIo, and experience the frenzied fandom of Rush. An entire instrumental that the crowd SINGS TO! You will be blown away...
Neal Peart the drummer wrote the song. Neal loved drumming & writing lyrics. He loved working at his craft. He was not comfortable with fame or worship. Which was its byproduct. Creating fulfilled him. Fame was not something he actively sought, or liked. It was about his inability to deal with the things he felt fans demanded of him.
One more thought... Neil was an incredibly private person, so the song means so much more... I'm sure others have already said that, but he was. Recommend reading Ghost Rider by Neil. Also, probably already been said, but Danny Carey (Tool) is definitely a huge fan and was a friend to Neil...
This is from the Moving Pictures album, Neil said this is when Rush became Rush, when describing this album, he said 2112 was the seed that spread, but Moving Pictures arrived in the fertile fields, Neil has a facility with the spoken word, just check out his interviews, they are almost mesmerizing.
Great to see your appreciation for one of the greatest bands ever!! If you want to see how great they are live I HIGHLY recommend "Marathon" live from Cleveland!
Yes, check out Marathon. As a fellow Christian, this song reminds me of Paul, as he is getting older and talking about getting close to the end of his life. He references life as a race several times. I think you'll enjoy this song.
I would like to add my bit......I'm 72 and I get a huge kick out of watching you react to these videos. I have many of the same reasons as Art of FS below. I really love a lot of these older songs both for how they sound and the memories they bring back. Plus, I really enjoy hearing your insights. I must admit that I didn't put as much thought into what the lyrics were saying at the time (it sort of depends upon the song), mainly because a lot of the lyrics were unintelligible in songs that I really loved and we didn't have RUclips to look them up. For example, my favorite Rolling Stones song is Let It Bleed and I only saw the lyrics printed out in the last year (I had a lot wrong). I don't always agree with parts of your analysis but at least you make me think about it. Keep up the good work.
40ish years now and it never gets old. And Pink Floyd and Tool are the only artists to even come close; but they don't have the positive vibe that IS RUSH.
Sorry but I gotta send 2 because I'm getting a buzz watching you with this tune. That was my reaction too, and I was 16-17 also. I was like, "I gotta get the lyrics"
Old guy here, and Rush fan for 40 years (I was your age when I was introduced to their music). Art’s pinned post says it all; I’d just be repetitive in stating why I watch reaction videos. I’m not going to recommend the hits (again, repetitive), but some songs that are off the beaten path are Bravado, Prime Mover, Middletown Dreams, Available Light, and Everyday Glory. I could go on ... I wish you the best in all your endeavors. Reach for the stars, Daniel. I’m subscribed, I’ll be watching.
I had the pleasure of being one of the first people to see this song performed. I saw Rush in Philadelphia in Sept of 1980. It was officially part of the Permanent Waves tour but they played an early version of Limelight and Tom Sawyer. One of the best concerts I ever was ever able to see. This was the setlist, a pretty awesome show. www.setlist.fm/setlist/rush/1980/spectrum-philadelphia-pa-6bd1be1a.html
Your enthusiasm and intelligent interpretation of Neil’s lyrics brings back the excitement and joy i felt at your age hearing these tunes for the very first time. I’m 54 now and Rush are still my favourite band!....You have a new subscriber! 👏🏻
I doubt anything I'm adding hasn't already been covered in other replies. Ironically, Neil Peart wrote the lyrics and some people called him The Professor. He was extremely well read. The irony was that he was also a high school drop out. He was an introvert and most of these lyrics are about his unease as a rock star. Living in the limelight or spotlight isn't his thing. But he still loves to perform. "Living on the lighted stage approaches the unreal, for those who think and feel." Performing on stage is nothing like anything in a normal life. Having thousands scream and cheer for you is something that can explode your ego. Being a thinking and feeling person adds to the detachment of that adulation. This doesn't happen to a regular person working the cash register at the supermarket. "in touch with some reality beyond the gilded cage" is holding on to something to ground you "Cast in this unlikely roll..." This whole bit is about being an introvert in a loud rock band. And the chorus is just about how to process everything to stay grounded. "Living in....a long awaited friend." The idea that you can be walking down the street and a fan recognizes you. They know everything about you. You don't have a clue who they are. I have met actors and musicians who are able to respond as if they know you, but the fan has them at a distinct disadvantage. And Neil doesn't have the ability to respond to a fan who has known him and his music for years with a "How have you been?" "All the world's indeed a stage" is a double reference. It refers to lijes by Shakespeare as well as the title of their first live album from 5 years before, All the World's a Stage (1976). The performance isn't just on stage, but when you meet people. The fan want to make a good impression on the band. Neil tries to act comfortable in the situation. Due to the nature of the situation, neither can be truly themselves.
I was about 16 when I found Rush. It took me several years to grasp it properly, but Rush has been the music I love ever since, for close to 40 years. Great content, new sub.
Damn, you really nailed the lyrical interpretation here! Neil wrote the vast majority of the lyrics after joining the band prior to their first tour in 1974 and was an intensely private individual throughout his career. Where Alex and Geddy would do most of the interviews and pretty much all the meet-and-greets at concerts, Neil was very uncomfortable with the way some fans assumed a personal relationship where none really existed. As he put it, he didn't dislike the fans or resent them - on the contrary, he was very flattered and grateful to have an audience for his work - but he found it very awkward to "pretend a stranger was a long-awaited friend." You would probably really enjoy his books. He wrote several about traveling, touring, etc. When his first wife and daughter both died suddenly in the late '90s - about 6 months apart - he went on a soul-searching motorcycle journey of over 50,000 miles, driving from Eastern Canada to Alaska to South America, then back up again through the US to Canada again. He wrote about it in the book "Ghost Rider - Travels on the Healing Road" and in the song "Ghost Rider" which is a very personal reflection on that journey. It's from their 2002 album Vapor Trails. You should probably react to that sometime: ruclips.net/video/3SomjthIXTI/видео.html
There is one very important thing in the video. Prior to ProTools and all the other computer based 'fixing', people played actual instruments and sang. There was no copy\paste on a grid, autotune, 'fixing' the pace of a part, putting one decent section and slice into 5 other areas of the song. Allot of this stuff is played straight through, together. And with that it sounds more personal, more human. You get variations in the chorus, you get variations is the tempo of a song from beginning to end, though not noticeable, subconsciously register.
The change to the ICONIC RUSH was when Neil Peart joined the band after John Rutsey left due to health reasons. Peart took over the SONG WRITING from the 2nd album on. Limelight is actually about Neil's Shyness and how he deals with being famous.
Watching young people in your age group seemingly endlessly protesting against everything can be depressing. Watching you critique this video has given me hope young man that the world will be okay if there are enough of you that can still think for themselves. Keep it up.
You seem like a very insightful young man. I was a freshman in high school in 1981, and Rush was my first real concert experience. They were touring for that album that includes this song. It is a cherished memory. You should try the song “Freewill.”
Check out Rush - The Spirit of Radio - it touches upon the same creative themes but focused on music. Plus the song has crazy energy and unbelievably smooth transitions. And FANTASTIC lyrics!!!
Daniel, almost every song that Rush has is available to watch on youtube with lyrics. The lyrics are right there on the screen for you. FREEWILL is another song for you to look into. We're all actors, I was an extra in a Ron Howard film and he actually directed me. (and others) From what I saw he was just a regular guy, he was throwing rocks down by the railroad tracks before shooting started, just like Opie on The Andy Griffith Show in the early 60's. Was waiting for you to get to the best lyric in the song I have no heart to lie, I can't pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend. Neil Peart wrote all the lyrics and knowing the person he was from what I read about him, I can see him avoiding the Limelight. Fame has many benefits but also many demands.
@@recyclerhopkins He is definitely ready for SubDivisions, he is at that age where it will truly speak to him like it did for most of us. And yes, Daniel, just play a lyric video of Rush, It will make things easier.
Neil was a brilliant writer but he was not afraid to throw in brilliant lines from other writers to ad depth to a song. All the world's indeed a stage and we are merely players, performers and portrayers, each another's audience...Shakespeare
I was interested in your comment on fans with their idols. I've been involved with several fan groups for bands and what I repeatedly see if that fan bases want the band to stay the same or regress while the band wants to evolve. It creates an interesting dynamic. I will say that Rush fans tend towards the exception in this and stuck with them through their career.
One of my all time favorite lines from ANY band; “I can’t pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend”. Though I’m not famous, I’ve often thought about the side of fame that I know would be difficult for me to manage day in and day out; how all the fans adore you want to be your friend. And of course if you don’t have time to sign an autograph, or unwittingly ignore or snub them, then you’re a jerk for the rest of their lives lol.
Neil Peart was an amazing lyricist. He wrote about what many of us that grew up during the time period thought and felt. Rush appealed to a certain type of individual. Creative and intellectual people. Neil wrote lyrics that rang a bell with many of us and we all felt like we knew them and were friends even though we never met them. We got to be friends with them through their stories and music. Many of us felt that Rush got a bad rap through the years when critics hated them and treated them poorly. Also, the guys in the band are just really great people that I would hang out with if I could. Why do we care what you think? I suppose I should only answer for myself, but as a Rush fan I always felt like I was a part of something greater than myself and I believe I understand what Rush fans are about. We enjoy living through the eyes of young people who are re-experiencing what we always knew was amazing art in spite of the critics and naysayers. We love seeing people learn about them and see how great they are. We knew they were great and I guess we love getting the confirmation that they still are. It is important that we share this with the future generations. I would love to see Rush become the legends to everyone else that they always were to me.
When you were talking about Tool and their pessimistic lyrics and comparing them to Rush's realistic lyrics, it reminded me of something I heard George Carlin say. He was trying to be funny(which it was) but it was also profound in a way. He said; The optomist says "the glass is half full"; the pessimist says "the glass is half empty"; the realist says "the glass is twice as big as it needs to be". It was meant to be funny, but it's more than that. It illustrates what a state of mind is to people. It shapes their thoughts, thereby shaping their lives. BTW, Art of Free Speech is right on the money w/ his analysis, IMO. Good job, Art.
Like Art of Free Speech said.. we remember hearing this for the first time too.. and like to see someone else hear it for the first time too. It's cool
First, I love your reactions. You pick great music and you are always very thoughtful. You are way more mature than most 16 year old's. You have a great future. I think you may have missed the point on this song. He wasn't talking about touching and influencing people with his music. Neil Peart was a very introverted person who felt uncomfortable with adulation he received. He saw fame as a sort of prison. "I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend". He just wanted to make his art.
For me, I enjoy a lot of these reactions, because it's fun to see someone hearing these songs (in particular, Rush) and having the same sort of reaction as when I heard them way back when. The nostalgia of it all, if you will. It's also heartwarming, in a sense, to see that these songs will live on to entertain another generation. Hearing this, and learning about how Neil, in particular, struggled with fame is kind of a cautionary tale, especially if you're a rather shy and private person (like myself). There's one line in particular, "I can't pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend", that always hit home for me. It's so, so relatable. Alex, for his solo, was trying to musically express the loneliness of the narrator of the song. They recorded this at LeStudio, which was in the Laurentian Mountains outside Montreal, and someone (their producer Terry Brown, I think) got the idea to take Alex's speaker cabinets outside and distance mic them to catch the echoes off the mountains instead of using a traditional reverb or echo. The result is near impossible to accurately duplicate, but absolutely perfect for this song.
lime light refers to the kind of lighting used in stage productions spotlights,..... its a metaphor for fame see in the old days before electricity stages in theaters was lit by these lamps that worked by having a gas flame heat up a chunk of lime, calcium carbonate when you heat a chuck of this stuff up it emits a very bright light, with reflectors and lenses you got a spot light, the spotlights in theaters are referred to as limelight even now and "living in the limelight" is a phrase used as equivalent to "being famous " in this song Neil Peart is talking about how people dream of being famous ITS THE UNIVERSAL DREAM, everybody want to be famous because they are looking for affirmation from others "TO SEEM" rather than "TO BE" THIS IS THEIR DREAM BECAUSE ONLY IN OTHER PEOPLES MINDS CAN THEY FEEL THEY EXIST SINCE THEY HAVE ABANDONED THEIR OWN MINDS this is a very deep thought, not mine, NEIL PEART this also one of those rush songs that has the AYN RAND influence this is one of ayn rands major themes read "the fountainhead" by Ayn Rand that will give you somethin to think about
You know Daniel, speaking for myself, an old guy, a parent, it's enjoyable to me to see your generation experience our music, our times, which I think were unique and special. Your thoughts on these lyrics are spot on IMHO. George Harrison said everyone thinks they want fame and fortune, but once you get it, you realize "this isn't it". I would disagree with one line in this song, "one must put up barriers to keep oneself intact"; the day you stop worrying what others think of you is the day you set yourself free. You don't need barriers. You are your own strength. Anyway just my thoughts probably someone will tell me I'm FOS :)
You are spot on @ 12:55. Rush started out with humble beginnings in a working class Toronto suburb with parents who survived consentration camp non the less and with just a dream of 3 kids and a dream. They struggled for years against the norm of the music industry and what was popular not only music wise but image, social, and even political wise. They kept pushing forward with their own ideas despite critics constantly putting them down and radio stations refusing to spin a lot of their stuff. 4 decades later they look back with an induction in the rock n roll hall of fame, canadian music hall of fame, a star on hollywood blvd. even, and the right to say they did all that and did their way. U can't get much more of an inspiring story than that. As a matter of fact their man up against the incircled star means man up against the collective masses which means to rebel against the norm or what is popular or to push against the wind, swim against the tide etc.
RUSH were amazing! 3 guys at the Top of the talent tree Individually..put them together and you have PERFECTION! I've followed them since their first album with original drummer John Rutsey . Saw them in clubs here in Canada long before anyone knew who they were and watched their well deserved rise to international success. Saw them many times live over the years. ALWAYS AMAZING! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🎼🎶🎵😎
All I can say is why I'm watching these videos: I've listened to all of those songs. I know the bands. I know the people in the bands and their histories. But you (and other reactors) haven't. Have you ever heard of the TV series "Freaks and Geeks"? At one point one of the characters discovers The Grateful Dead and a high school Deadhead lends her a record, saying how much she envies the character who is just discovering the Grateful Dead - because that character is going experience listening to these songs for the first time. That's what I feel when I watch someone who has never heard a song listen to it for the first time. I can see the surprise on the person's face. I can see if they enjoy the song. Best yet, I can see if the person understands the references. Things that were so clear when those songs were written, or within a few years of them being written, are now obscure. Phrases such as Distant Early Warning are near meaningless now, but when I was growing up I knew what the DEW line was. You are actually one of the better "reactors" I've watched. Too many of them either overthink or under think when they hear the lyrics. Or they tie a 30 year old song to current events, thinking that those events inspired the song. Oh, and as aside, the Big Bang was an attempt to describe in scientific terms "Let There Be Light". A Jesuit was the scientist who originated the theory.
When you were talking about a bands evolution "We liked what you did before, why change it?"...Neil said many times that Rush is a 'thinking man's band', we have made some music and sounds, WHY would we do that again?? We ALREADY did that, it's time to move on to something new and that new thing may be good or it may not be good, but we did it and we can learn from it. That double guitar is a bass/guitar combo and Geddy uses it a few times. When you watch the live version of Xanadu you will see him briefly use it towards the end when he is playing rhythm guitar while Alex is going off on lead. If you haven't noticed yet, Geddy plays bass, keys, sings AND plays foot pedals. Alex plays guitar, foot pedals and does a little backing vocals and Neil writes, plays drums and triggers things at certain times during the second half of their career. Ultimately you got this spot on, Neil's intention was to make people aware of the fact that famous people are regular people too...treat them as such!! He said he was a HUGE fan of Keith Moon (drummer for The Who) and despite being such a huge fan he would have never EVER thought to bother him at home or at the hotel etc. Neil never understood how complete strangers can go up to an idolized celebrity and bother them as if they were childhood friends. I have a similar attitude in that I wouldn't think to bother a celebrity while they are out doing their normal human thing...however, at the venue (whatever it may be) I will not hesitate to offer my appreciation or ask for an autograph. Finally, I have to say you are such a DICK!! I say that in jest of course. I had NO idea you were only 16! I wish I could have been as insightful as you are when I was your age (55 now), you have wisdom and insightfulness beyond your years and I think that is what draws me to your videos...not to mention your love of Rush and the fact that you 'get it' with this band. Thanks for doing what you do, keep up the good work!!
I turn 17 in about a month:) Thank you for all the context and backstory, I very much appreciate it, as well as all the kind words and jesting insults. Rush is in my top 5 now, and they are pretty high, even on that list:)
@@DiconDissectionalReactions I get the strong feeling they will be moving to a higher position very soon and there will be no dropping from that position. And just to clarify, there was no insult intended. Complete admiration but done as if we've known each other since childhood...see what I did there? LMAO!!! Sometimes I get a slight bit jealous of younger people like you who see things in such an insightful way that I never really consider, as I am more of an artist (music/drums, photography, art, sculpting/creating, writing etc.) I tend to lean more towards aesthetics than deep meaning...if that makes any sense. As far as "backstory" is considered, since I became an INSTANT Rush fan in mid '82 I have followed, listened, attended concerts and listened to/recorded all radio interviews as well as read all magazine interviews. I have identified with Rush for quite a long time and I don't think I know everything about them, but I have tried to learn as much as I can about them. I even wrote to Neil through Modern Drummer magazine ..twice...and got personalized post cards back from him answering my questions. Pretty damn cool and worthy of complete respect.
Women listen to Rush also. Not a lot of us, but we are here!! Limelight is the song that opened my eyes to Rush and I did not like them at all until late 90s. The video and Geddys red socks and white shoes, I was hooked. Lol
I enjoy watching your reactions. It's great to see a young person like yourself listening to, enjoying, and appreciating the great artists and songs I grew up with. Artists like Rush, Jim Croce, Queen, etc. Your lyrical analysis is usually spot on.
This is Neils take on the evils of being famous. He was very uncomfortable with being famous and having his personal space disturbed by people who felt like he was their hero and somehow their personal friend. He appreciates respect but loathes any kind of adulation. I always loved the line " I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend". Another great song with deep lyrics that you may like to react to is "Subdivisions".
My favorite song to play on guitar. I'm 27 and I've heard this song probably 500+ times. The lyrics are some of the best ever written. They mean so much to me because that is my dream, to perform as a musician or actor hut I know I never will, so through this song I can. I would argue it rivals some classic poetry and I can't believe a 16 yr old understands it as well as you, there is hope!
The great thing about watching these reaction videos, especially when it’s young people, is seeing how much influence Rush is still giving to another generation of music lovers. You younger people don’t realize that Rush was not a very popular band in their early days. Rush never got any radio AirPlay before Permanent Waves. I think they got some airplay very early with Working Man, but it was very short lived. The Rush fan base spread mostly by word of mouth, fans turning on others to the band, but their music was so far ahead of its time that it wasn’t easy to turn others on to their music. Most of the people I knew who became Rush fans were other musicians. I played guitar and was turned onto Rush by a new drummer I had met at school. I became a Rush fan instantly. He played 2112 for me, which was their most recent record out at the time, and I was immediately in love with their music. We found a bass player who was a Rush fan and we played as much Rush music as audiences would tolerate. There really weren’t too many Rush fans at that time, 1970s and 80s, but we played many of their songs, even ones we would never perform live since audiences weren’t familiar with their songs. I used to tell my friends that they were just too far ahead of that time and one day people would catch up and see the genius of their music. That is why I enjoy seeing so many young people enjoying their music. Everything I said back then came true. More and more young people are discovering the immense talent of this incredible trio, thanks to the internet. They were finally inducted into the Hall of Fame and it was so satisfying to see so many other famous musicians there yelling the loudest, giving Rush a three minute standing ovation, like nothing ever seen before at an artist’s induction. They are finally getting the recognition they deserve. I’d like to say it’s been a long time coming, but I don’t think it’s over. I still believe that we have not seen the full appreciation this group deserves but it will continue to get better as more and more people are exposed to this unique and special music.
As you dive into Rush, as with all other bands, there are fanboys who love and go crazy about every single thing the band ever did, and listeners who are capable of separating the wheat from the chaff. The band was able to do this themselves, and as the trio aged, they made consistently better music. Their early work is good, the lyrical content highly intellectualized, especially compared with most other pop music, but Geddy shrieked way too much rather than singing in a lower and more pleasant register, plus he eventually trained himself to play "keyboards" in addition to bass and singing duties, sometimes all at once, with the keyboards triggered by foot pedals. That is an absolutely freakishly tremendous bit of musicianship on his part. Neil Peart was a very thoughtful man, and Rush never gave a fuck, flying or otherwise, about what the record company might have wanted from them. The wrote and played the music that pleased them, and left us with a great and very unique catalog of musical art. Keep diving.
Fanboy? I’ve never understood it. You like what you like. For me, there is no bad chaff with Rush. Not because I’m a “fanboy” I like it because it sounds good and resonates for me. Be it the lyrics, the musicianship, the construction and arrangement, the sounds used etc. I love music from just about every genre, and literally hundreds of artist, but nothing has ever hit my soul they way Rush has. That’s not being a fanboy. It’s as if Rush and their ever changing sound mirrored the changes in my own life from adolescence, to young adult, to boyfriend, employee, husband, father etc. As my life, perceptions, responsibilities, and world views changed and evolved, so too did Rush seemingly right along with me..
@@jhc2093 I did not intend to suggest that it is in any way irrational to love the music of Rush. I'll admit the word "fanboy" carries with it a possibly negative connotation, but it remains nice shorthand to describe those who, like you, are of the opinion that they have never recorded a mediocre song. I don't subscribe to the idea that all music is simply a matter of taste and nothing is better than something else. There are ways to critically assess and rate the output of a particular band, and songs produced by that particular band. IMHO, not everything Rush has done is worth a second listen. Overall, they are one of the greatest bands in the history of rock, and the best of their best is sublime perfection. If music were simply a matter of personal taste, we'd have to also sing the praises of Barney the Purple Dinosaur alongside Rush.
Fantastic analysis. I'm one of those old guys that had similar thoughts when this song came out. A true testament to Rush and this song, in particular, is that I still listen to them all the time.
"Wow this song has sparked so many thoughts" 😂 welcome to the RUSH world kid! Neil wrote words to live by, and not because he was preaching, they just make so much f#ckin sense!! RIP professor 🎶🎸🥁🎸🎶🙂
Check out 'The Spirit Of Radio' by RUSH. The progressive changes in this song are mind blowing, but yet the song retains it's 'pop sensibility' and is very listenable, and then some!
I just discovered you and I am Impressed with what I see, You get it and actually take the time to break down the Lyrics instead of just watching Mindlessly, I will admit that when I was you're age I didn't take the time to really appreciate older songs and the wisdom contained in the music...keep on doing what you do young Sir and maybe you will be the change for someone who watches your vids too!
Yup, this is why folks like watching reactions... we remember the many many times we heard "the best line ever" for the FIRST TIME. Believe me with these classic rock greats, for many tunes it still feels great the 100th time, but oh that first time... Thanks for sharing
I’m 53 and will only speak for myself. Why I like watching reaction videos is because I grew up with these bands and they have had a MAJOR impact on me. I have invited them into my home, they ride with me when I drive anywhere and everywhere and they are at the same parties I’ve gone to my whole life. The biggest one for me is Stevie Ray Vaughan and he isn’t around anymore so no more new music from him. Watching a younger generation and just others in general is my way of discovering him all over again. I too am an actor and producer in local Indy films ( in fact, my profile picture is from a supernatural western I helped produce and acted in) so I love movies. I also love reading books (mostly history) BUT, I could live without movies and books. If someone took my music away I would cease living.
Keep it up, Daniel. You are playing exactly what I listened to back in the '70s. I love to hear any young person talk about this music. Peace out, man!!!!
You should take a dig into SUBDIVISIONS -this one holds a lot of meaning for fans in their 50's - Because we were in high school when this song hit and it spoke volumes about growing up. There are many lessons in Neil lyrics - You have to pay attention to what he is saying. Often times it goes over everyone heads..
You need to watch the movie “I Love a You, Man” with Paul Rudd and Jason Segel - very funny and Rush & this song are a part of the movie. Watch the outro when the actors meet Rush...too good.
Neil was shy and wasn’t comfortable being famous, being singled out for attention. He never was trying to “seem” like a “star”, he just wanted to “be” a real, normal guy going about life - respected for his abilities, yes, but not for just being a star. All of them were/are grounded with their families and friends - this song spoke for all of them - right as they got huge - this is on their biggest album, one of their biggest hits. I think it helped keep Rush fans expectations and interactions with the band more real, more human, more down to earth and more respectful of each other.
Love to see a young intelligent person appreciating great classic music from the past. You can express the true joy of experiencing the creative spirit
Neil Peart lyrics in this song is a testament to how he handled fame. Before the concerts there are meet and greet’s with fans and Alex and Geddy were the ones who handled that. Neil wanted to be treated as a normal person and not some superstar musician. His lyrics show how well read he was a person. I always imagined that people had more of a chance of conversing with him on one of his long motorcycle trips. He enters a small diner in some small town where no one knows him and you have a cordial conversation with him. It’s not a deep conversation but merely about the landmarks and roads around the town you live in. And just as he starts to leave you say “Hey Neil, have a safe trip.” He would suddenly realize that you know who he really is and he would smile and nod his head as leaves.
The whole vibe of the song is uplifting but also evokes the pain of an introvert being thrust into fame and ultimately overcoming it. I like your thoughtful approach.
This music meant so much to me when I was your age (53 now), Im literally in tears watching your videos. Good stuff 'Ol Soul... You remind me of me. Thank you.
I went to high school in the late 80’s and college in the early 90’s and you are exactly the type of guy who would listen to Rush. It was very cerebral rock and roll. The songs were very precise and the music very much specifically planned out.
it's really cool to see young music lovers feel the same things we did when we first heard these songs... and yes, a million more times is about right :) 40 years later, still as fresh and brilliant as the first time...
Been thinking a lot about Art of Free Speech's excellent comment, especially the bit about nostalgia. For me, all great music from the past can recall the particulars of my life at the time i came in contact with that music. There definately is something special about teenage years and the crushes one has at that time. But then, there is the actual quality of the music vs. mere souvenirs. In our household, we loved the Beatles and pretty much all British Invasion bands, but then, i think one can say Rubber Soul remains a great piece of music, whereas Herman's Hermit or Dave Clark Five have not retained much, except pure British Invasion nostalgia. I remember attending a Kelly Joe Phelps gig, the PA started playing I've Just Seen a Face, and a couple of 15 year-old kids at the table next to us excitedly started playing air guitar and singing the chorus. They were reacting to good music, period. And i find, contemplating my wall of CD's, that the stuff from the 60's and 70's and 80's and so on i still listen to, not cause it makes me nostalgic but simply cause it holds up, quite apart from whatever nostalgia it might bring on. Of course i still remember exactly where i was when i fist heard the voices of Kate Bush or Cat Stevens, or how i felt listening to Thick as a Brick the 1st time in the Student Café back in high school, but i do not listen to them today, along with contemporary stuff, for nostalgia's sake. At least i don't feel so. As for radio, well i do admit I'm quite nostalgic for 70's FM radio. No niches: prog, rock, pop, soul, folk, it was all there and made it possible to open up the gates of just about any genre. (I came to classical and choir singing through prog.) I don't understand people who, nowadays can only listen to rap, or metal or pop or.... Hey Daniel, get Rush's The Spirit of Radio on.
Neil Peart, the band's drummer and lyricist (RIP) was painfully shy and the fame that came with their success was extraordinarily uncomfortable for him.
As has already been said, this was all Neil and how he felt trying to deal with the band's growing fame. Not only a master musician, but also one of the best lyricists bar none, and there are so many more songs for you to look into! I almost envy you the discovery. You already have some great suggestions, but for me I'd suggest 'The Camera Eye' - one of my favourites and certainly worth checking out on your journey :-)
So, why do we older men care what you think? I can only answer for myself, of course, but I tend to think there must be others who feel the same way I do:
For me, there are several reasons. First and foremost, there's the nostalgic aspect to it. We remember hearing this music in our youth and remember how much we were awed by it the first time we heard it. We remember sharing it with our friends for the first time and seeing their eyes light up--friends who, in many cases, are STILL friends today, 40 years later. By seeing you react to this stuff, it brings me back to when I would share it with one of my friends, and it sort of brings you into that fold.
Second, there's the historicity of it all. Listening to the music that's put out today, well, it all sounds the same. I KNOW how great I had it growing up when I did, hearing all of this awesome music being made, all at the same time. It worries me and bothers me and saddens me that your generation doesn't get to grow up listening to music which is on par with this stuff. Seeing you react lets me know the music will live on for at least one more generation, and that's a really good feeling.
Third, there's curiosity. What does he think of this stuff? He's a kid of today--will he find the stuff as amazing today as we did way back when?
Last but not least, there's a fellowship that begins among the regular viewers and the content creator. I think you probably already know when you see my name, you're going to get a well thought out, even if long winded, response. Why do you care what I write, right? There's a give and take between the best content creators and their audience.
Dude you are awesome. This is the embodiment of what it means to up lift and encourage another human being! This is by far the best response on a reaction video I've ever seen! Love ya brother! Please don't ever lose this gift!
I concur with you. That was a great way of expressing how I also feel about young reactors to Rush songs.
Well said its exactly how i feel
Same here well said Rush been in my life for 37 years I was 9 years old Tom Sawyer my first ever and like u wow had to find more out on this band at the time and so glad i did so make Tom Sawyer your next reaction and u all stay safe and once again awesome comment it utters my feeling sincerely love this band so so much
I am 50 My 1st Concert was Rush....since 10 times more.
We old dudes watch because we see ourselves when we were your age, discovering great music and all of life's other wonders.
Edward Ballew Yeah, but we were high. :)
LOL! Took me a second to realize he was talking about me... 😂
@@charliemac64 lol
Yumm... Other wonders... 😉
You got it spot on cat… nuthin to add to that that will shed more light on the matter !! Good day sir 🏴👍
This song is all Neil. It’s him telling us about his inability to deal with the adulation of the fans of the band.
"Cast in this unlikely role, ill-equipped to act, with insufficient tact." is especially him. Neil was an introvert and felt extremely uncomfortable with fans fawning over him. From very early in their career, Geddy and Alex assumed most of the meet-and-greet duties.
But also...Neil critiquing the “everyone wants to be famous” notion, wildly prescient nowadays as this gentleman is pointing out. Neil just wanted to get good at something, and is a little freaked out at the dishonesty of fame for itself & the entire culture around it.
@@Liquidmuse3 yes! “Get on with the fascination, the real relation, the underlying theme” They didn’t play music to get famous, they played music to improve at playing music, that is their fascination, making the music is the real relation, regardless of acceptance or fame.
Retired old couple here enjoying your intellect, insights, creativity, & sensitivity for about a month so far. We recently discovered music reaction videos & were shocked that not only do "kids" your age go through the same emotional experience reacting to a great song, but you also love & appreciate them just as we did/do. Never expected that! Amazing to feel personal connections over an age gap of 50 years - our settings change but we're all traveling the same path. You have an incredible future ahead, & all the gifts needed to fully enjoy the journey!
Thank you so much, I'm glad you're enjoying my videos, have a beautiful day:)
Don't apologize for "going on". Voicing your thoughts and interpretations gives us food for thought.
CharCanuck and it totally makes him unique from other reviewers. There is a place for this and I’m ready to graduate
I agree entirely.
Your best reaction video yet Dethstrok9.....I had no choose but to join your Patreon! Please keep up your enthusiasm to these great songs..... Love your reactions!
I appreciate that!
He's one of us now.
I'm not as old as some of the other folks who watch your stuff (I was born 7 years after this came out) but I do enjoy the parasocial aspect of seeing people discover things I love and maybe noticing things I never saw before. Seeing art from a different perspective allows deeper appreciation.
As the 70's turned into the 80's Rush's popularity was growing bringing with it more personal scrutiny from fans & media etc. Neil was a naturally shy & reserved guy & struggled with praise & the extra scrutiny that came with increased fame. This song was his feelings towards fame & how it affected him. The line 'I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend' is Neil in a nutshell.
Neil did study his Shakespeare: " All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages." (As You Like It, W.S.)
As you like it.
Was Neil Peart always known to Rush? Two thirds wood beam a gues.... with a tee I'd go with 3/4 and become a guest.
A similar thought was in "MacBeth" in the Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow soliloquy:
Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury
Signifying nothing.
Youre barely scratching the surface, so much more to learn.. Neil Peart taught me more than any other person in my life, and we never met. Rush has provided the soundtrack to my life. I feel extremely fortunate to have lived in the same generation as these great musicians.
✌️☝️☝️✌️
William Wells if I’m reading that correctly then
Happy Birthday!
May your day be filled with the music of the Spheres
“Limelight” is from the theater of a bygone era when canisters if lime (the mineral) were heated until the lime became incandescent. It was used as stage lighting.
Limelight the song is Peart’s open letter to his fans saying “the fame half of ‘fame and fortune’ sucks for me”.
I think Peart could appreciate fame... from a distance (as one would appreciate a pride of lions, or a pack of wolves). ;)
Ten Cent: thanks for the info in your comment; I didn't knew this, and now I feel it brings some more light to the way Neil is thinking on his metaphores.
@@0okamino I get along best with wolves. It's people I can't figure out.
Dude! You get this! Rush had to deal with the effect of their natural progression in music, with their fans. They lost fans when their sound changed from 1974 to 1976. Then again from 1978 to 1981 (when they became famous). Then again from their changes during the 80's (they weren't "cool"/hip enough) and so on. But they stayed true to their principles and goals to be the best 1) musicians and 2) song writers. They worked together, tirelessly, to achieve the best of their dreams. Their music is so consistently good/great; there is almost NO filler music in Rush's canon. They are almost ALL bangers! Enjoy, brother! You are doing great!
And remained friends.! My favorite thing about Rush. They never let their egos get in front of their musicianship. Sets them apart from almost every other band out there.
Well said
@@stephenwebb921 b
Drummer/ lyricist Neil Peart was a very well read man. He wrote some of the most thought provoking lyrics in rock. You’ll do well to continue unpacking his lyrics. Eventually, you’ll get to Rush’s last song, The Garden. In it he writes “The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect”. His life certainly measured up.
BTW, besides his lyrics, he also wrote a few books. Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road is a good read.
And oh by the way, hes one of the worlds best drummers!
"the universal dream, for those that wish to seem" - people that just want to be famous only look at the good side of fame whereas "for those that wish to be.... " are those where fame is merely a (and in Neil's case an unwanted) symptom of them following their passion. "I didn't want to be famous, I wanted to be good" - Neil Peart
Great reaction! I thoroughly enjoyed your words and thoughts. Rush is a great band! I was so happy to hear The Twilight Zone. Limelight is another great track. Alex describes this solo as a very lonely feeling, like being the only one on stage and people looking at you. That was the aesthetic for the solo. One of my personal favorites. Would love for you to check out Red Barchetta
I remember when rush played at my sister’s high school 😄
Rush was always the hardest working band in rock. Technically perfect in every way and Neil Peart could write some excellent lyrics. Lots of Rush to listen to. Most of it is excellent. All of it is great.
Dont ever apologise for getting it! Ive listenedto this song upwatds of 2000 times now and as a pure fan, not a performer or musician or any other entertainer. It gets me every time. Thats the beauty of these 3 guys, they knew how to write. Lofesons solo here is still my favourite by anýone - so emotive, fits the song as they always do but in this case gives an impression of the lonely isolation of fame which i think Neil was trying to impart from his angle. My interpretation anyway. If you do go onto fame take this song and Rush with you as theyve so much more important music and messages to pass on to the younguns 😁
Rush is already immortal, but I have been recommending Rush and Steely Dan to quite a few of my friends who might not have heard of it before:) Thanks for watching!
"Limelight", aside from being my favorite song of all time, it even says so in my high school scrap book from 1983, is basically drummer Neil Peart's philosophy on dealing with fame and hero worship. He was embarrassed by it, he wasn't anti social, just embarasssed. In Beyond The Lighted Stage, he said, "I.wss the biggest WHO fan growing up, but I never dreamed of staking out their hotel". The line, "I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaiting frlend" says it all.
Neil had a gift for lyrics that remained relevant, no matter what era they are heard in - - they could be interpreted in so many ways, in so many time periods - - absolute genius ...
It gives me hope for the future that the younger generation can still relate to this band, and their wisdom - -
Listening to you talk at 17:22, you have GOT to listen to the Fountain of Lamneth .... you'll appreciate its journey ......
Neil was much bemoaned about his lyrics by the main street media, but he stayed true to his voice. As he put it lyrics were written for those sensitive to listening to them. He was an amazing writer, very philosophical about his approach to his craft.
This song was very much about his personal struggle being thrust into the "Limelight" of fame. He was never comfortable with it, it was not that he was a shy person, it honestly embarrassed him. I had the fortunate fate to have twice bumped into Neil while traveling via motorcycle, but I never acknowledged I knew who he was. I am sure he knew I was a fan as a few other times our bikes would be side by side at a dealership getting serviced as we would hit the road during the summer and follow them to about every 2 or 3rd show for a month or two.
Enjoy his lyrics. Check out songs like Afterimage, The Pass, Nobody's Hero, etc....
Enjoy the journey is always what he would tell me when I bumped into him. He firmly believed the purpose of life is to journey, not simply too exist in a destination. Ultimately for me his words inspired me to write and learn to better express my own voice. Now thanks to Neil I am a published novelist, something that would have never happened without him sharing so much of his craft.
R.I.P NP
As much as you and I appreciate your analysis of lyrics, you HAVE to react to Rush YYZ live in RIo, and experience the frenzied fandom of Rush. An entire instrumental that the crowd SINGS TO! You will be blown away...
Neal Peart the drummer wrote the song. Neal loved drumming & writing lyrics. He loved working at his craft. He was not comfortable with fame or worship. Which was its byproduct. Creating fulfilled him. Fame was not something he actively sought, or liked. It was about his inability to deal with the things he felt fans demanded of him.
Xanadu Live in 1981 is one you need to watch. The greatest live performance of any song by any band ever.
Good breakdown of the meaning, and the best of luck in your acting/music/everything career.
Thank you!!
One more thought... Neil was an incredibly private person, so the song means so much more... I'm sure others have already said that, but he was. Recommend reading Ghost Rider by Neil. Also, probably already been said, but Danny Carey (Tool) is definitely a huge fan and was a friend to Neil...
Gelfling! (Something from an 80's movie?)
@@RyanKassel which part? An 80s Rush fan girl? Or? Lol
This is from the Moving Pictures album, Neil said this is when Rush became Rush, when describing this album, he said 2112 was the seed that spread, but Moving Pictures arrived in the fertile fields, Neil has a facility with the spoken word, just check out his interviews, they are almost mesmerizing.
Agreed. It was said that after MP came out they were finally able to live comfortably.
Also check out his books. His book writing is just as lyrical as his song writing.
Great to see your appreciation for one of the greatest bands ever!! If you want to see how great they are live I HIGHLY recommend "Marathon" live from Cleveland!
Yes, check out Marathon. As a fellow Christian, this song reminds me of Paul, as he is getting older and talking about getting close to the end of his life. He references life as a race several times. I think you'll enjoy this song.
I would like to add my bit......I'm 72 and I get a huge kick out of watching you react to these videos. I have many of the same reasons as Art of FS below. I really love a lot of these older songs both for how they sound and the memories they bring back. Plus, I really enjoy hearing your insights. I must admit that I didn't put as much thought into what the lyrics were saying at the time (it sort of depends upon the song), mainly because a lot of the lyrics were unintelligible in songs that I really loved and we didn't have RUclips to look them up. For example, my favorite Rolling Stones song is Let It Bleed and I only saw the lyrics printed out in the last year (I had a lot wrong). I don't always agree with parts of your analysis but at least you make me think about it.
Keep up the good work.
your exactly the white boy nerd that this band hooked in 1970's and 80's. this rabbit hole goes deep young fella.
40ish years now and it never gets old. And Pink Floyd and Tool are the only artists to even come close; but they don't have the positive vibe that IS RUSH.
Sorry but I gotta send 2 because I'm getting a buzz watching you with this tune. That was my reaction too, and I was 16-17 also. I was like, "I gotta get the lyrics"
“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” - Isaac Newton, 1675
Old guy here, and Rush fan for 40 years (I was your age when I was introduced to their music). Art’s pinned post says it all; I’d just be repetitive in stating why I watch reaction videos.
I’m not going to recommend the hits (again, repetitive), but some songs that are off the beaten path are Bravado, Prime Mover, Middletown Dreams, Available Light, and Everyday Glory. I could go on ...
I wish you the best in all your endeavors. Reach for the stars, Daniel. I’m subscribed, I’ll be watching.
I had the pleasure of being one of the first people to see this song performed. I saw Rush in Philadelphia in Sept of 1980. It was officially part of the Permanent Waves tour but they played an early version of Limelight and Tom Sawyer. One of the best concerts I ever was ever able to see. This was the setlist, a pretty awesome show. www.setlist.fm/setlist/rush/1980/spectrum-philadelphia-pa-6bd1be1a.html
The drummer (RIP Neil) wrote the lyrics and was famously a shy and reserved person. This song is really about him.
Your enthusiasm and intelligent interpretation of Neil’s lyrics brings back the excitement and joy i felt at your age hearing these tunes for the very first time. I’m 54 now and Rush are still my favourite band!....You have a new subscriber! 👏🏻
I doubt anything I'm adding hasn't already been covered in other replies.
Ironically, Neil Peart wrote the lyrics and some people called him The Professor. He was extremely well read. The irony was that he was also a high school drop out.
He was an introvert and most of these lyrics are about his unease as a rock star. Living in the limelight or spotlight isn't his thing. But he still loves to perform.
"Living on the lighted stage approaches the unreal, for those who think and feel." Performing on stage is nothing like anything in a normal life. Having thousands scream and cheer for you is something that can explode your ego. Being a thinking and feeling person adds to the detachment of that adulation. This doesn't happen to a regular person working the cash register at the supermarket.
"in touch with some reality beyond the gilded cage" is holding on to something to ground you
"Cast in this unlikely roll..." This whole bit is about being an introvert in a loud rock band. And the chorus is just about how to process everything to stay grounded.
"Living in....a long awaited friend." The idea that you can be walking down the street and a fan recognizes you. They know everything about you. You don't have a clue who they are. I have met actors and musicians who are able to respond as if they know you, but the fan has them at a distinct disadvantage. And Neil doesn't have the ability to respond to a fan who has known him and his music for years with a "How have you been?"
"All the world's indeed a stage" is a double reference. It refers to lijes by Shakespeare as well as the title of their first live album from 5 years before, All the World's a Stage (1976). The performance isn't just on stage, but when you meet people. The fan want to make a good impression on the band. Neil tries to act comfortable in the situation. Due to the nature of the situation, neither can be truly themselves.
I was about 16 when I found Rush. It took me several years to grasp it properly, but Rush has been the music I love ever since, for close to 40 years.
Great content, new sub.
Damn, you really nailed the lyrical interpretation here! Neil wrote the vast majority of the lyrics after joining the band prior to their first tour in 1974 and was an intensely private individual throughout his career. Where Alex and Geddy would do most of the interviews and pretty much all the meet-and-greets at concerts, Neil was very uncomfortable with the way some fans assumed a personal relationship where none really existed. As he put it, he didn't dislike the fans or resent them - on the contrary, he was very flattered and grateful to have an audience for his work - but he found it very awkward to "pretend a stranger was a long-awaited friend." You would probably really enjoy his books. He wrote several about traveling, touring, etc. When his first wife and daughter both died suddenly in the late '90s - about 6 months apart - he went on a soul-searching motorcycle journey of over 50,000 miles, driving from Eastern Canada to Alaska to South America, then back up again through the US to Canada again. He wrote about it in the book "Ghost Rider - Travels on the Healing Road" and in the song "Ghost Rider" which is a very personal reflection on that journey. It's from their 2002 album Vapor Trails. You should probably react to that sometime: ruclips.net/video/3SomjthIXTI/видео.html
This introspective intelligence you so eloquently convey is definitely your strength and sets you apart from other reactors. I'm inspired. Thank you.
No, thank you my fellow voyager through time and space!
There is one very important thing in the video. Prior to ProTools and all the other computer based 'fixing', people played actual instruments and sang. There was no copy\paste on a grid, autotune, 'fixing' the pace of a part, putting one decent section and slice into 5 other areas of the song. Allot of this stuff is played straight through, together. And with that it sounds more personal, more human. You get variations in the chorus, you get variations is the tempo of a song from beginning to end, though not noticeable, subconsciously register.
you are the sort of person who appreciates some of the finer points of Rush. You are their audience.
In your intro at 2:24 you said “it’s a Universal thing and it’s really Cool “ The Universal Dream
The change to the ICONIC RUSH was when Neil Peart joined the band after John Rutsey left due to health reasons. Peart took over the SONG WRITING from the 2nd album on.
Limelight is actually about Neil's Shyness and how he deals with being famous.
Watching young people in your age group seemingly endlessly protesting against everything can be depressing.
Watching you critique this video has given me hope young man that the world will be okay if there are enough
of you that can still think for themselves. Keep it up.
One more little thing, I like how you use the original video instead of the most recent concert footage.
You seem like a very insightful young man. I was a freshman in high school in 1981, and Rush was my first real concert experience. They were touring for that album that includes this song. It is a cherished memory. You should try the song “Freewill.”
Check out Rush - The Spirit of Radio - it touches upon the same creative themes but focused on music. Plus the song has crazy energy and unbelievably smooth transitions. And FANTASTIC lyrics!!!
Daniel, almost every song that Rush has is available to watch on youtube with lyrics. The lyrics are right there on the screen for you. FREEWILL is another song for you to look into. We're all actors, I was an extra in a Ron Howard film and he actually directed me. (and others) From what I saw he was just a regular guy, he was throwing rocks down by the railroad tracks before shooting started, just like Opie on The Andy Griffith Show in the early 60's. Was waiting for you to get to the best lyric in the song I have no heart to lie, I can't pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend. Neil Peart wrote all the lyrics and knowing the person he was from what I read about him, I can see him avoiding the Limelight. Fame has many benefits but also many demands.
Also check out SUBDIVISIONS
@@recyclerhopkins He is definitely ready for SubDivisions, he is at that age where it will truly speak to him like it did for most of us. And yes, Daniel, just play a lyric video of Rush, It will make things easier.
Neil was a brilliant writer but he was not afraid to throw in brilliant lines from other writers to ad depth to a song.
All the world's indeed a stage and we are merely players, performers and portrayers, each another's audience...Shakespeare
I was interested in your comment on fans with their idols. I've been involved with several fan groups for bands and what I repeatedly see if that fan bases want the band to stay the same or regress while the band wants to evolve. It creates an interesting dynamic. I will say that Rush fans tend towards the exception in this and stuck with them through their career.
One of my all time favorite lines from ANY band; “I can’t pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend”. Though I’m not famous, I’ve often thought about the side of fame that I know would be difficult for me to manage day in and day out; how all the fans adore you want to be your friend. And of course if you don’t have time to sign an autograph, or unwittingly ignore or snub them, then you’re a jerk for the rest of their lives lol.
Do yourself a favor and listen to this album in its entirety.
Neil Peart was an amazing lyricist. He wrote about what many of us that grew up during the time period thought and felt. Rush appealed to a certain type of individual. Creative and intellectual people. Neil wrote lyrics that rang a bell with many of us and we all felt like we knew them and were friends even though we never met them. We got to be friends with them through their stories and music. Many of us felt that Rush got a bad rap through the years when critics hated them and treated them poorly. Also, the guys in the band are just really great people that I would hang out with if I could.
Why do we care what you think? I suppose I should only answer for myself, but as a Rush fan I always felt like I was a part of something greater than myself and I believe I understand what Rush fans are about. We enjoy living through the eyes of young people who are re-experiencing what we always knew was amazing art in spite of the critics and naysayers. We love seeing people learn about them and see how great they are. We knew they were great and I guess we love getting the confirmation that they still are. It is important that we share this with the future generations. I would love to see Rush become the legends to everyone else that they always were to me.
When you were talking about Tool and their pessimistic lyrics and comparing them to Rush's realistic lyrics, it reminded me of something I heard George Carlin say. He was trying to be funny(which it was) but it was also profound in a way. He said; The optomist says "the glass is half full"; the pessimist says "the glass is half empty"; the realist says "the glass is twice as big as it needs to be". It was meant to be funny, but it's more than that. It illustrates what a state of mind is to people. It shapes their thoughts, thereby shaping their lives. BTW, Art of Free Speech is right on the money w/ his analysis, IMO. Good job, Art.
Like Art of Free Speech said.. we remember hearing this for the first time too.. and like to see someone else hear it for the first time too. It's cool
I love seeing Neil effect younger writers and content creators to this day! Keep it up, Daniel!
First, I love your reactions. You pick great music and you are always very thoughtful. You are way more mature than most 16 year old's. You have a great future. I think you may have missed the point on this song. He wasn't talking about touching and influencing people with his music. Neil Peart was a very introverted person who felt uncomfortable with adulation he received. He saw fame as a sort of prison. "I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend". He just wanted to make his art.
For me, I enjoy a lot of these reactions, because it's fun to see someone hearing these songs (in particular, Rush) and having the same sort of reaction as when I heard them way back when. The nostalgia of it all, if you will. It's also heartwarming, in a sense, to see that these songs will live on to entertain another generation.
Hearing this, and learning about how Neil, in particular, struggled with fame is kind of a cautionary tale, especially if you're a rather shy and private person (like myself). There's one line in particular, "I can't pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend", that always hit home for me. It's so, so relatable.
Alex, for his solo, was trying to musically express the loneliness of the narrator of the song. They recorded this at LeStudio, which was in the Laurentian Mountains outside Montreal, and someone (their producer Terry Brown, I think) got the idea to take Alex's speaker cabinets outside and distance mic them to catch the echoes off the mountains instead of using a traditional reverb or echo. The result is near impossible to accurately duplicate, but absolutely perfect for this song.
lime light refers to the kind of lighting used in stage productions
spotlights,..... its a metaphor for fame
see in the old days before electricity stages in theaters was lit by these lamps
that worked by having a gas flame heat up a chunk of lime, calcium carbonate
when you heat a chuck of this stuff up it emits a very bright light, with reflectors and lenses you got a spot light, the spotlights in theaters are referred to as limelight even now
and "living in the limelight" is a phrase used as equivalent to "being famous "
in this song Neil Peart is talking about how people dream of being famous ITS THE UNIVERSAL DREAM, everybody want to be famous
because they are looking for affirmation from others "TO SEEM" rather than "TO BE"
THIS IS THEIR DREAM BECAUSE ONLY IN OTHER PEOPLES MINDS CAN THEY FEEL THEY EXIST SINCE THEY HAVE ABANDONED THEIR OWN MINDS
this is a very deep thought, not mine, NEIL PEART
this also one of those rush songs that has the AYN RAND influence
this is one of ayn rands major themes
read "the fountainhead" by Ayn Rand
that will give you somethin to think about
You know Daniel, speaking for myself, an old guy, a parent, it's enjoyable to me to see your generation experience our music, our times, which I think were unique and special. Your thoughts on these lyrics are spot on IMHO. George Harrison said everyone thinks they want fame and fortune, but once you get it, you realize "this isn't it". I would disagree with one line in this song, "one must put up barriers to keep oneself intact"; the day you stop worrying what others think of you is the day you set yourself free. You don't need barriers. You are your own strength. Anyway just my thoughts probably someone will tell me I'm FOS :)
You are spot on @ 12:55. Rush started out with humble beginnings in a working class Toronto suburb with parents who survived consentration camp non the less and with just a dream of 3 kids and a dream. They struggled for years against the norm of the music industry and what was popular not only music wise but image, social, and even political wise. They kept pushing forward with their own ideas despite critics constantly putting them down and radio stations refusing to spin a lot of their stuff. 4 decades later they look back with an induction in the rock n roll hall of fame, canadian music hall of fame, a star on hollywood blvd. even, and the right to say they did all that and did their way. U can't get much more of an inspiring story than that. As a matter of fact their man up against the incircled star means man up against the collective masses which means to rebel against the norm or what is popular or to push against the wind, swim against the tide etc.
RUSH were amazing! 3 guys at the Top of the talent tree Individually..put them together and you have PERFECTION! I've followed them since their first album with original drummer John Rutsey . Saw them in clubs here in Canada long before anyone knew who they were and watched their well deserved rise to international success. Saw them many times live over the years. ALWAYS AMAZING! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🎼🎶🎵😎
All I can say is why I'm watching these videos: I've listened to all of those songs. I know the bands. I know the people in the bands and their histories. But you (and other reactors) haven't.
Have you ever heard of the TV series "Freaks and Geeks"? At one point one of the characters discovers The Grateful Dead and a high school Deadhead lends her a record, saying how much she envies the character who is just discovering the Grateful Dead - because that character is going experience listening to these songs for the first time.
That's what I feel when I watch someone who has never heard a song listen to it for the first time. I can see the surprise on the person's face. I can see if they enjoy the song. Best yet, I can see if the person understands the references. Things that were so clear when those songs were written, or within a few years of them being written, are now obscure. Phrases such as Distant Early Warning are near meaningless now, but when I was growing up I knew what the DEW line was.
You are actually one of the better "reactors" I've watched. Too many of them either overthink or under think when they hear the lyrics. Or they tie a 30 year old song to current events, thinking that those events inspired the song.
Oh, and as aside, the Big Bang was an attempt to describe in scientific terms "Let There Be Light". A Jesuit was the scientist who originated the theory.
I just got nostalgic.. RIP Neil Peart
When you were talking about a bands evolution "We liked what you did before, why change it?"...Neil said many times that Rush is a 'thinking man's band', we have made some music and sounds, WHY would we do that again?? We ALREADY did that, it's time to move on to something new and that new thing may be good or it may not be good, but we did it and we can learn from it.
That double guitar is a bass/guitar combo and Geddy uses it a few times. When you watch the live version of Xanadu you will see him briefly use it towards the end when he is playing rhythm guitar while Alex is going off on lead. If you haven't noticed yet, Geddy plays bass, keys, sings AND plays foot pedals. Alex plays guitar, foot pedals and does a little backing vocals and Neil writes, plays drums and triggers things at certain times during the second half of their career.
Ultimately you got this spot on, Neil's intention was to make people aware of the fact that famous people are regular people too...treat them as such!! He said he was a HUGE fan of Keith Moon (drummer for The Who) and despite being such a huge fan he would have never EVER thought to bother him at home or at the hotel etc. Neil never understood how complete strangers can go up to an idolized celebrity and bother them as if they were childhood friends. I have a similar attitude in that I wouldn't think to bother a celebrity while they are out doing their normal human thing...however, at the venue (whatever it may be) I will not hesitate to offer my appreciation or ask for an autograph.
Finally, I have to say you are such a DICK!! I say that in jest of course. I had NO idea you were only 16! I wish I could have been as insightful as you are when I was your age (55 now), you have wisdom and insightfulness beyond your years and I think that is what draws me to your videos...not to mention your love of Rush and the fact that you 'get it' with this band. Thanks for doing what you do, keep up the good work!!
I turn 17 in about a month:)
Thank you for all the context and backstory, I very much appreciate it, as well as all the kind words and jesting insults. Rush is in my top 5 now, and they are pretty high, even on that list:)
@@DiconDissectionalReactions I get the strong feeling they will be moving to a higher position very soon and there will be no dropping from that position. And just to clarify, there was no insult intended. Complete admiration but done as if we've known each other since childhood...see what I did there? LMAO!!! Sometimes I get a slight bit jealous of younger people like you who see things in such an insightful way that I never really consider, as I am more of an artist (music/drums, photography, art, sculpting/creating, writing etc.) I tend to lean more towards aesthetics than deep meaning...if that makes any sense.
As far as "backstory" is considered, since I became an INSTANT Rush fan in mid '82 I have followed, listened, attended concerts and listened to/recorded all radio interviews as well as read all magazine interviews. I have identified with Rush for quite a long time and I don't think I know everything about them, but I have tried to learn as much as I can about them. I even wrote to Neil through Modern Drummer magazine ..twice...and got personalized post cards back from him answering my questions. Pretty damn cool and worthy of complete respect.
Women listen to Rush also. Not a lot of us, but we are here!! Limelight is the song that opened my eyes to Rush and I did not like them at all until late 90s. The video and Geddys red socks and white shoes, I was hooked. Lol
I enjoy watching your reactions. It's great to see a young person like yourself listening to, enjoying, and appreciating the great artists and songs I grew up with. Artists like Rush, Jim Croce, Queen, etc. Your lyrical analysis is usually spot on.
This is Neils take on the evils of being famous. He was very uncomfortable with being famous and having his personal space disturbed by people who felt like he was their hero and somehow their personal friend. He appreciates respect but loathes any kind of adulation. I always loved the line " I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend". Another great song with deep lyrics that you may like to react to is "Subdivisions".
My favorite song to play on guitar.
I'm 27 and I've heard this song probably 500+ times. The lyrics are some of the best ever written. They mean so much to me because that is my dream, to perform as a musician or actor hut I know I never will, so through this song I can. I would argue it rivals some classic poetry and I can't believe a 16 yr old understands it as well as you, there is hope!
The great thing about watching these reaction videos, especially when it’s young people, is seeing how much influence Rush is still giving to another generation of music lovers.
You younger people don’t realize that Rush was not a very popular band in their early days. Rush never got any radio AirPlay before Permanent Waves. I think they got some airplay very early with Working Man, but it was very short lived. The Rush fan base spread mostly by word of mouth, fans turning on others to the band, but their music was so far ahead of its time that it wasn’t easy to turn others on to their music.
Most of the people I knew who became Rush fans were other musicians. I played guitar and was turned onto Rush by a new drummer I had met at school. I became a Rush fan instantly. He played 2112 for me, which was their most recent record out at the time, and I was immediately in love with their music. We found a bass player who was a Rush fan and we played as much Rush music as audiences would tolerate.
There really weren’t too many Rush fans at that time, 1970s and 80s, but we played many of their songs, even ones we would never perform live since audiences weren’t familiar with their songs. I used to tell my friends that they were just too far ahead of that time and one day people would catch up and see the genius of their music.
That is why I enjoy seeing so many young people enjoying their music. Everything I said back then came true. More and more young people are discovering the immense talent of this incredible trio, thanks to the internet. They were finally inducted into the Hall of Fame and it was so satisfying to see so many other famous musicians there yelling the loudest, giving Rush a three minute standing ovation, like nothing ever seen before at an artist’s induction.
They are finally getting the recognition they deserve. I’d like to say it’s been a long time coming, but I don’t think it’s over. I still believe that we have not seen the full appreciation this group deserves but it will continue to get better as more and more people are exposed to this unique and special music.
As you dive into Rush, as with all other bands, there are fanboys who love and go crazy about every single thing the band ever did, and listeners who are capable of separating the wheat from the chaff. The band was able to do this themselves, and as the trio aged, they made consistently better music. Their early work is good, the lyrical content highly intellectualized, especially compared with most other pop music, but Geddy shrieked way too much rather than singing in a lower and more pleasant register, plus he eventually trained himself to play "keyboards" in addition to bass and singing duties, sometimes all at once, with the keyboards triggered by foot pedals. That is an absolutely freakishly tremendous bit of musicianship on his part. Neil Peart was a very thoughtful man, and Rush never gave a fuck, flying or otherwise, about what the record company might have wanted from them. The wrote and played the music that pleased them, and left us with a great and very unique catalog of musical art. Keep diving.
Fanboy? I’ve never understood it. You like what you like. For me, there is no bad chaff with Rush. Not because I’m a “fanboy” I like it because it sounds good and resonates for me. Be it the lyrics, the musicianship, the construction and arrangement, the sounds used etc. I love music from just about every genre, and literally hundreds of artist, but nothing has ever hit my soul they way Rush has. That’s not being a fanboy. It’s as if Rush and their ever changing sound mirrored the changes in my own life from adolescence, to young adult, to boyfriend, employee, husband, father etc. As my life, perceptions, responsibilities, and world views changed and evolved, so too did Rush seemingly right along with me..
@@jhc2093 I did not intend to suggest that it is in any way irrational to love the music of Rush. I'll admit the word "fanboy" carries with it a possibly negative connotation, but it remains nice shorthand to describe those who, like you, are of the opinion that they have never recorded a mediocre song. I don't subscribe to the idea that all music is simply a matter of taste and nothing is better than something else. There are ways to critically assess and rate the output of a particular band, and songs produced by that particular band. IMHO, not everything Rush has done is worth a second listen. Overall, they are one of the greatest bands in the history of rock, and the best of their best is sublime perfection. If music were simply a matter of personal taste, we'd have to also sing the praises of Barney the Purple Dinosaur alongside Rush.
Please react to RUSH - "Spirit of Radio", "Tom Sawyer", "Subdivisions,' "YYZ"
Yyz live in Rio!!!
Analog Kid : Rush ( has more synth but in a balanced way, real musicality , more poetic )
Amen..very underrated song from the immense library
Fantastic analysis. I'm one of those old guys that had similar thoughts when this song came out. A true testament to Rush and this song, in particular, is that I still listen to them all the time.
"Wow this song has sparked so many thoughts" 😂 welcome to the RUSH world kid! Neil wrote words to live by, and not because he was preaching, they just make so much f#ckin sense!!
RIP professor 🎶🎸🥁🎸🎶🙂
Check out 'The Spirit Of Radio' by RUSH. The progressive changes in this song are mind blowing, but yet the song retains it's 'pop sensibility' and is very listenable, and then some!
I just discovered you and I am Impressed with what I see, You get it and actually take the time to break down the Lyrics instead of just watching Mindlessly, I will admit that when I was you're age I didn't take the time to really appreciate older songs and the wisdom contained in the music...keep on doing what you do young Sir and maybe you will be the change for someone who watches your vids too!
Yup, this is why folks like watching reactions... we remember the many many times we heard "the best line ever" for the FIRST TIME. Believe me with these classic rock greats, for many tunes it still feels great the 100th time, but oh that first time...
Thanks for sharing
The universe has no ending, that has always blown away.
I’m 53 and will only speak for myself. Why I like watching reaction videos is because I grew up with these bands and they have had a MAJOR impact on me. I have invited them into my home, they ride with me when I drive anywhere and everywhere and they are at the same parties I’ve gone to my whole life. The biggest one for me is Stevie Ray Vaughan and he isn’t around anymore so no more new music from him. Watching a younger generation and just others in general is my way of discovering him all over again. I too am an actor and producer in local Indy films ( in fact, my profile picture is from a supernatural western I helped produce and acted in) so I love movies. I also love reading books (mostly history) BUT, I could live without movies and books. If someone took my music away I would cease living.
Keep it up, Daniel. You are playing exactly what I listened to back in the '70s. I love to hear any young person talk about this music. Peace out, man!!!!
You should take a dig into SUBDIVISIONS -this one holds a lot of meaning for fans in their 50's - Because we were in high school when this song hit and it spoke volumes about growing up.
There are many lessons in Neil lyrics - You have to pay attention to what he is saying. Often times it goes over everyone heads..
You need to watch the movie “I Love a You, Man” with Paul Rudd and Jason Segel - very funny and Rush & this song are a part of the movie. Watch the outro when the actors meet Rush...too good.
Neil was shy and wasn’t comfortable being famous, being singled out for attention. He never was trying to “seem” like a “star”, he just wanted to “be” a real, normal guy going about life - respected for his abilities, yes, but not for just being a star. All of them were/are grounded with their families and friends - this song spoke for all of them - right as they got huge - this is on their biggest album, one of their biggest hits. I think it helped keep Rush fans expectations and interactions with the band more real, more human, more down to earth and more respectful of each other.
Slappin Da Bass!
Spirit of the radio by Rush will really blow you away.
Love to see a young intelligent person appreciating great classic music from the past. You can express the true joy of experiencing the creative spirit
Neil Peart lyrics in this song is a testament to how he handled fame. Before the concerts there are meet and greet’s with fans and Alex and Geddy were the ones who handled that. Neil wanted to be treated as a normal person and not some superstar musician. His lyrics show how well read he was a person. I always imagined that people had more of a chance of conversing with him on one of his long motorcycle trips. He enters a small diner in some small town where no one knows him and you have a cordial conversation with him. It’s not a deep conversation but merely about the landmarks and roads around the town you live in. And just as he starts to leave you say “Hey Neil, have a safe trip.” He would suddenly realize that you know who he really is and he would smile and nod his head as leaves.
Daniel, You are developing some awesome wisdom for someone so young. This Old Teacher APPROVES!! Good JOB!
The whole vibe of the song is uplifting but also evokes the pain of an introvert being thrust into fame and ultimately overcoming it. I like your thoughtful approach.
Thank you!! You are eloquent!
This music meant so much to me when I was your age (53 now), Im literally in tears watching your videos. Good stuff 'Ol Soul... You remind me of me. Thank you.
I went to high school in the late 80’s and college in the early 90’s and you are exactly the type of guy who would listen to Rush. It was very cerebral rock and roll. The songs were very precise and the music very much specifically planned out.
it's really cool to see young music lovers feel the same things we did when we first heard these songs... and yes, a million more times is about right :) 40 years later, still as fresh and brilliant as the first time...
I think a logical follow up to this song in the Rush canon is Mission, off of Hold Your Fire
You are almost a mirror image of me in regards to your reaction to this music 40 years ago when I first heard it! Very cool!!!
Been thinking a lot about Art of Free Speech's excellent comment, especially the bit about nostalgia. For me, all great music from the past can recall the particulars of my life at the time i came in contact with that music. There definately is something special about teenage years and the crushes one has at that time. But then, there is the actual quality of the music vs. mere souvenirs. In our household, we loved the Beatles and pretty much all British Invasion bands, but then, i think one can say Rubber Soul remains a great piece of music, whereas Herman's Hermit or Dave Clark Five have not retained much, except pure British Invasion nostalgia. I remember attending a Kelly Joe Phelps gig, the PA started playing I've Just Seen a Face, and a couple of 15 year-old kids at the table next to us excitedly started playing air guitar and singing the chorus. They were reacting to good music, period. And i find, contemplating my wall of CD's, that the stuff from the 60's and 70's and 80's and so on i still listen to, not cause it makes me nostalgic but simply cause it holds up, quite apart from whatever nostalgia it might bring on. Of course i still remember exactly where i was when i fist heard the voices of Kate Bush or Cat Stevens, or how i felt listening to Thick as a Brick the 1st time in the Student Café back in high school, but i do not listen to them today, along with contemporary stuff, for nostalgia's sake. At least i don't feel so. As for radio, well i do admit I'm quite nostalgic for 70's FM radio. No niches: prog, rock, pop, soul, folk, it was all there and made it possible to open up the gates of just about any genre. (I came to classical and choir singing through prog.) I don't understand people who, nowadays can only listen to rap, or metal or pop or.... Hey Daniel, get Rush's The Spirit of Radio on.
Yes, more RUSH !!!!
Neil says it all with the line, "I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend."
Neil Peart, the band's drummer and lyricist (RIP) was painfully shy and the fame that came with their success was extraordinarily uncomfortable for him.
Rush lyrics are where it's at!
Neil is such a great lyricist!
Music ain't that bad, either. :)
Try the necromancer . An early rush classic
As has already been said, this was all Neil and how he felt trying to deal with the band's growing fame. Not only a master musician, but also one of the best lyricists bar none, and there are so many more songs for you to look into! I almost envy you the discovery. You already have some great suggestions, but for me I'd suggest 'The Camera Eye' - one of my favourites and certainly worth checking out on your journey :-)