The lyrics aren't cheesy when you understand that Rush actually attended this first space shuttle launch and used the actual NASA/newscast audio from it. You are immersed in the launch itself. I always love at the end when launch control mentions the shuttle is moving at 6,200 feet per second. Wow!!!
When Columbia burned up upon re-entry in 2003, and it was stated that this was the original shuttle craft, I immediately realized that it was Columbia that was the subject of Countdown.. a music video I probably hadn't seen since the MTV heyday. I went home and watched it and cried my eyes out.
As a young teen, I loved this song. I would lay down by the stereo with headphones and enjoy the jets and choppers pan from earphone to earphone, it was so cool for the early 80"s. I think this might be my favorite keyboard solo by Geddy. Lyrically I agree Peart did an awesome job painting the picture and retelling the bands experience when they went to see the first shuttle launch. I believe NASA has used this song to wake up the astronauts on the spacestation.
You should read up on the history of this song. The guys were invited to the initial Space Shuttle launch, and this was how they honored that experience. Perfectly captured the excitement, IMO. The sound effects you noted were the actual radio chatter from the launch. Cool song.
I really hope you'll do a reaction/review to some of their live videos. (Exit...Stage Left, Grace Under Pressure Soundtrack from their Replay × 3 boxed set, and others floating around on RUclips). Gotta see the Holy Trinity perform on stage and see the magic to appreciate what only 3 masters and their instruments can do.
The joy of Neil peart as if we don't have enough of those is the we just saw a Monumental space shuttle launch the first-of-its-kind through his eyes a musically through Getty and Alex and it's just another Rush masterpiece. Neil was obviously in awe
My favourite Rush albums form a trio: "Clockwork Angels," "Signals" and "Counterparts." Apart from those three all of their other albums are favourites in no particular order. And I agree, "Countdown" is deliciously different. 😎🎸✌️
Watch the official video even if on your own time!! It explains a lot… they really wanted it to feel what they felt when they were there!! Back I. The 80’s these shuttles were still a big thing so everyone was watching from home, so probably didn’t age well, but still special to us who were watching! Be well and God bless… from Texas!!
This album is my favorite ..... OF ALL ALBUMS !!! I think this album (borderline concept album) is perfect on all levels - songwriting, composition, playing, production ... I enjoy it everytime I listen to it. Great reaction vids !!!! !!!!
I know Rush has taken a lot of flak over the years for the albums following Signals ( I was one of those people) but when I actually sat down and listened to Grace Under Pressure with an open mind, I was blown away! It was still them and they were still every bit as good!
Alex: "I agree with the consensus that 'Signals' is among our most important and interesting records ... there were times when I might’ve felt reservations at certain points back then, but now I’m very proud of it ... I remember it as a very enjoyable time. It was only when we began recording the songs that things became a little more difficult. That was the start of our wanderlust. It dawned on us that we wanted to try new ideas; maybe work with different people ... That’s what Rush is - we’re always looking to try something different, or to head in a new direction."
I'll never forget when this album came out...I was 17 & Rush lost so many fans at my high school because the guitar took a back seat to the synths. I was taken aback myself, because I loved the heavier guitar sound, but the lyrics got me hooked (particularly Subdivisions, Losing It & Chemistry) & kept me interested until I appreciated it more. Alex himself wasn't happy with having to struggle to find his place with the reduced guitar, and I think it shows in some of his solos, particularly Analog Kid. Solid album, for sure.
My personal favorite songs ranking from Signals: 1 Subdivisions 2 Countdown 3 Losing It 4 Analog Kid 5 The Weapon 6 Digital Man 7 New World Man 8 Chemistry
This song is one of my favorites on this album. This song is about the very first launch of the space shuttle. I am a child of Apollo and the moon landings. This album is alsoy favorite Rush album. They caught a lot of flack as this album not being as good as Moving Pictures. We all loved Moving Pictures when it came out. I tend to listen to this album more. I think Losing It is probably their best song, iny opinion. Thanks for your reactions to this album.
Now that Rush is history many of us long time fans are going back and listening to stuff we sort of overlooked. For me not so much this Album but many of the songs and era between Grace Under Pressure and Clockwork Angels. Its sort of the new Rush stuff to me, not because I’ve never heard it , but I hear it with a different set of ears and mind so to speak. Even “bad “ Rush is better than a lot of the stuff out there
My Signals songs rankings: 1. Analog Kid 2. Digital Man 3.Subdivisions 4. Chemistry 5. Losing It 6. New World Man 7. The Weapon 8. Countdown That being said. They are ALL great. Signals has ALWAYS been my #3 Rush record only behind the 2 monster records that immediately proceeded it. Power Windows and GUP remain the #4 and #5 albums.
This is just my opinion, but for me, they peaked with Signals and never were able to get back to that level the rest of their career. The closest they got was Presto and Power Windows (I look forward to your upcoming reactions to those). But there's no shame in that. Every great band has their magnum opus, and for Rush, it was Signals. All the stars aligned back then. The early 80s was a time of renewal and optimism, and Signals reflected it beautifully.
Imo Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures and Signals are my favorite albums and from this pov I would tend to agree. Many of my favorites songs by Rush span throughout their discography. So I wouldn't say they peaked, especially when it comes to musicianship and song writing. As a Rush fan I wish they did continue to write long songs from Signals onward because many of my top 10 favorite songs by Rush are the 10 min plus song compared to their radio friendly songs. I feel if Rush did continue to write long songs, many fans would have stuck with the band during the mid 80's.
Counterparts was a great album, but the magnum opus is Clockwork Angels. They searched around for their 'new' sound post after their hiatus, but they found it just in time to do a crazy good finale!
The lyrics aren't cheesy when you understand that Rush actually attended this first space shuttle launch and used the actual NASA/newscast audio from it. You are immersed in the launch itself. I always love at the end when launch control mentions the shuttle is moving at 6,200 feet per second. Wow!!!
When Columbia burned up upon re-entry in 2003, and it was stated that this was the original shuttle craft, I immediately realized that it was Columbia that was the subject of Countdown.. a music video I probably hadn't seen since the MTV heyday. I went home and watched it and cried my eyes out.
As a young teen, I loved this song. I would lay down by the stereo with headphones and enjoy the jets and choppers pan from earphone to earphone, it was so cool for the early 80"s. I think this might be my favorite keyboard solo by Geddy. Lyrically I agree Peart did an awesome job painting the picture and retelling the bands experience when they went to see the first shuttle launch. I believe NASA has used this song to wake up the astronauts on the spacestation.
Signals was a very polarizing album for Rush fans upon release but over the years it’s gotten the love it’s always deserved.
You should read up on the history of this song. The guys were invited to the initial Space Shuttle launch, and this was how they honored that experience. Perfectly captured the excitement, IMO. The sound effects you noted were the actual radio chatter from the launch. Cool song.
I really hope you'll do a reaction/review to some of their live videos. (Exit...Stage Left, Grace Under Pressure Soundtrack from their Replay × 3 boxed set, and others floating around on RUclips). Gotta see the Holy Trinity perform on stage and see the magic to appreciate what only 3 masters and their instruments can do.
The joy of Neil peart as if we don't have enough of those is the we just saw a Monumental space shuttle launch the first-of-its-kind through his eyes a musically through Getty and Alex and it's just another Rush masterpiece. Neil was obviously in awe
My favourite Rush albums form a trio: "Clockwork Angels," "Signals" and "Counterparts." Apart from those three all of their other albums are favourites in no particular order. And I agree, "Countdown" is deliciously different. 😎🎸✌️
Watch the official video even if on your own time!! It explains a lot… they really wanted it to feel what they felt when they were there!! Back I. The 80’s these shuttles were still a big thing so everyone was watching from home, so probably didn’t age well, but still special to us who were watching! Be well and God bless… from Texas!!
This album is my favorite ..... OF ALL ALBUMS !!! I think this album (borderline concept album) is perfect on all levels - songwriting, composition, playing, production ... I enjoy it everytime I listen to it. Great reaction vids !!!! !!!!
I know Rush has taken a lot of flak over the years for the albums following Signals ( I was one of those people) but when I actually sat down and listened to Grace Under Pressure with an open mind, I was blown away! It was still them and they were still every bit as good!
Alex: "I agree with the consensus that 'Signals' is among our most important and interesting records ... there were times when I might’ve felt reservations at certain points back then, but now I’m very proud of it ... I remember it as a very enjoyable time. It was only when we began recording the songs that things became a little more difficult. That was the start of our wanderlust. It dawned on us that we wanted to try new ideas; maybe work with different people ... That’s what Rush is - we’re always looking to try something different, or to head in a new direction."
I'll never forget when this album came out...I was 17 & Rush lost so many fans at my high school because the guitar took a back seat to the synths. I was taken aback myself, because I loved the heavier guitar sound, but the lyrics got me hooked (particularly Subdivisions, Losing It & Chemistry) & kept me interested until I appreciated it more. Alex himself wasn't happy with having to struggle to find his place with the reduced guitar, and I think it shows in some of his solos, particularly Analog Kid. Solid album, for sure.
Good thing Tim, now you're starting to understand what is still to be discovered with each time you give a listen 🤯
This album is a turning point for RUSH. Still all the RUSH amazingness, but with a new sophistication and musical maturity.
Fun fact: while they were watching the launch, they were seated in the section “Red Sector A.” Bring on Grace Under Pressure! 😁
My personal favorite songs ranking from Signals:
1 Subdivisions
2 Countdown
3 Losing It
4 Analog Kid
5 The Weapon
6 Digital Man
7 New World Man
8 Chemistry
This song is one of my favorites on this album. This song is about the very first launch of the space shuttle. I am a child of Apollo and the moon landings. This album is alsoy favorite Rush album. They caught a lot of flack as this album not being as good as Moving Pictures. We all loved Moving Pictures when it came out. I tend to listen to this album more. I think Losing It is probably their best song, iny opinion. Thanks for your reactions to this album.
Now that Rush is history many of us long time fans are going back and listening to stuff we sort of overlooked. For me not so much this Album but many of the songs and era between Grace Under Pressure and Clockwork Angels. Its sort of the new Rush stuff to me, not because I’ve never heard it , but I hear it with a different set of ears and mind so to speak.
Even “bad “ Rush is better than a lot of the stuff out there
My Signals songs rankings:
1. Analog Kid
2. Digital Man
3.Subdivisions
4. Chemistry
5. Losing It
6. New World Man
7. The Weapon
8. Countdown
That being said. They are ALL great. Signals has ALWAYS been my #3 Rush record only behind the 2 monster records that immediately proceeded it. Power Windows and GUP remain the #4 and #5 albums.
You know they made a video for countdown right??
I know you said you're from there with Grace and her pressure. Are you still going to react to it?
Power windows bro... Can't say it enough
This is just my opinion, but for me, they peaked with Signals and never were able to get back to that level the rest of their career. The closest they got was Presto and Power Windows (I look forward to your upcoming reactions to those). But there's no shame in that. Every great band has their magnum opus, and for Rush, it was Signals. All the stars aligned back then. The early 80s was a time of renewal and optimism, and Signals reflected it beautifully.
Imo Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures and Signals are my favorite albums and from this pov I would tend to agree. Many of my favorites songs by Rush span throughout their discography. So I wouldn't say they peaked, especially when it comes to musicianship and song writing. As a Rush fan I wish they did continue to write long songs from Signals onward because many of my top 10 favorite songs by Rush are the 10 min plus song compared to their radio friendly songs. I feel if Rush did continue to write long songs, many fans would have stuck with the band during the mid 80's.
Counterparts was a great album, but the magnum opus is Clockwork Angels. They searched around for their 'new' sound post after their hiatus, but they found it just in time to do a crazy good finale!
Clockwork Angels was fabulous