First Time Hearing Rush - The Spirit of Radio Reaction - THEY CAPTURED THE CONCEPT PERFECTLY!
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2024
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Just FYI...Geddy & Alex had the animation done after Neil's passing in 2020, hence the tribute at the end. Neil wrote the lyrics about what he loved about the radio, starting in his childhood, hearing the right song at the right time, but the second half was his thoughts on how "One likes to believe in the freedom of music, but glittering prizes and endless compromises, shatter the illusion of integrity"....they were getting tired of the "Salesmen" and radio execs just wanting short songs to help maximize profits. As always, RIP to "The Professor".
well said
Glad you highlighted that. I’m always a bit disappointed when reactors listen to music videos because often they stop listening to the lyrics and focus on the video, hence missing import points like this. Well done.
It seems that just top 10 stations want to shorten songs. No rock/metal station will shorten any song, no matter how long. Radio stations wanted a short version of "Dry County" by Bon Jovi. Jon Bon Jovi decided not to release the song on the radio if they were going to cut his song.
The key with Rush is extraordinary musicianship. Neil Peart was incredibly articulate and well read. He wrote almost all the lyrics. Geddy plays bass, keyboards, and sings simultaneously. Alex is a gifted guitar player. You can hear the skill.
Alex also plays foot pedals.
@@leemiracle6840 Not surprised
Invisible airwaves crackle with life
Bright antennas bristle with the energy
Emotional feedback on a timeless wavelength
Bearing a gift beyond price, almost free ~absolutely beautiful ,,pure poetry
That part is awesome!
“Freewill” would be a great Rush song to check out. It doesn’t have a guitar solo, it’s a guitar, bass and drum solo taking place simultaneously. Their musicianship was insane.
This has to be one of the top 10 all time song’s especially musically. It’s amazing.
You liked the "Reggae" vibe? Check out Rush Live in Cleveland doing "Working Man." It will give you a feel for them live in the later years.
Enjoy!
I am a diehard fan ... but I never liked that particular choice by them.
Working man live in Cleveland is amazing😊
saw that concert twice - 1 within about 3 stops of the recording (I saw them in Chicago - and Milwaukee the second year of the tour) - Time Machine tour was amazing. And the crazy soloing melted our faces off both times.
This is the way
You want to check out how versatile Rush is ? Try Natural Science, Subdivisions, Jacob's ladder, Marathon, Show don't tell, Witch Hunt and Red Sector A. This will give you an array of music and soundscapes. Rush is one of the most creative force ever. Each album, you land on a different planet. No record sounds the same. From 1980 to 1990 is just pure rocket sauce !!! Rush is the sh*t y'all !!!!!!!!
Subdivisions!
The trees?
Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart explained this song in an interview with Billboard magazine: "'The Spirit Of Radio' was actually written as a tribute to all that was good about radio, celebrating my appreciation of magical moments I'd had since childhood, of hearing 'the right song at the right time.' However, [the song's] celebration of the ideals of radio necessarily seemed like an attack on the reality - on the formulaic, mercenary programming of most radio stations, with music the last of anyone's concerns. And yes, it was really ironic that such a song became popular on radio, though it was a kind of litmus test. Some radio guys who 'got it' could hear the song and think, 'That's the way it ought to be,' while others - the shallow, swaggering salesmen-of-the-air - could be oblivious to the song's meaning and proudly applaud themselves, 'That's about me!'"
Next Rush song to check out - Red Barchetta
Rush was a great Canadian rock band formed in 1968. The band's style changed over the years, from a blues-inspired hard rock beginning, later moving into progressive rock, then a period marked by heavy use of synthesizers, before returning to guitar-driven hard rock since the end of the 1980s. They had a lot of great songs such as "Not Fade Away", "In The Mood", "Working Man", "Bad Boy", "Fly By Night", "Limelight", "Red Barchetta", "The Trees", "Subdivisions", "Closer To The Heart", "Xanadu", "Anthem" etc.
Why would you mention Not Fade Away and Bad Boy? odd choice
2112? Lol.
@@rimskykorsakov2892 Right! smh. Why not add Garden Road?
Subdivisions!
I’ve seen RUSH in concert 10 times….it’s having a religious experience!!! They are truly amazing!! RIP to The Professor Neil Peart
The DJ at 4:16, Donna Halper, was working for a rock station in Cleveland, OH when she played 'Working Man' which officially launched Rush's popularity here in the USA. It's a long song and did not fit the 3 minute format, but because Cleveland was a working class city and the song itself was catchy as well as an open tribute to the working class, she defied her stations rules and played the song which became very popular. Rush would always have a special relationship with Cleveland ('Best audience, EVER!') and Donna Halper was present when they were given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The opening guitar arpeggios were meant to simulate the sound of turning a radio dial and in the middle of the song, changing stations is simulated by re-introducing that guitar sound and then a switch in tone to reggae. This song is kind of a creative masterpiece, that lyrically, doesn't pull punches about the music industry.
I believe she was looking for a “bathroom song.” A song that was long enough to start playing , go to the bathroom and get back in time before it ended!! I can’t site the reference for that? A boom that came out in 1988, I think?
You forgot that all the callers that heard for the first time thought they were Led Zeppelin
If you want to see just how three guys can sound like 5 or 6 people, you should check out "Xanadu " from their 1981 live album "Exit Stage Left " .. it will blow you away!
even vast-majority of 5-piece bands don't sound like Rush :D:D
The sound like a pop guitar trio...
Very good bass player, good drummer, mediocre guitarist, uninteresting singer.
Glad you guys are starting to dive into Rush. Such a deep trove of great music to discover. Check out "Closer To The Heart", "Red Barchetta", "YYZ (an instrumental) - do the live version from Rio), "The Garden", "The Stand", "Time Stand Still", Neil Peart's drum solo live in Frankfurt... I can go on and on, but that should be a good start into the rabbit hole. The time signature changes in the song and the different "genres" (e.g. reggae), reflect driving along and changing the radio dial to different stations to settle on a song.
Subdivisions
Rush always takes you on a ride ...all you have to do is dig
One of the best!
Nice reaction. You should consider doing something live so you can really see how good they truly are. Xanadu from "Exit stage left" is my favorite live song (2112 is my favorite studio song). The first time I saw this version I was amazed watching Getty Lee play bass guitar, 12 string guitar, keys, foot petals along with singing.
It seems like YYZ is a fairly popular recommendation for live?
@@barsandbarbells2022 Yes, YYZ especially Live in Rio is very popular with most Rush fans. I personally prefer the 1988 version live in Birmingham that includes a Neil Peart drum solo. Either one shows their talent.
@@barsandbarbells2022YYZ live in Rio is very interesting because of the incredible "craziness" (enthousiasm and energy) of the crowd, which sings along with an instrumental song!
But you can get no wrong with RUSH. And musically, Live in Rio is as good of the studio version
Cool trivia about this band is that Alex and Geddy have been best friends since high school, and they still are, unlike many long term bands.
Neil joined the band after the first album was released but just before the bands first North American tour in 1974. He’s still affectionately known as “the new guy.” He is (was) a very quiet, recluse, big time reader, and wrote the lyrics to their music.
Not bad for a new guy
Alex is a stealthy virtuoso in that he's not flashy or a showoff but can play the hell out a guitar and is extremely innovative. Very humble guy as well.
Soooooh sweet and humble. And so damn funny!
It's the 80s and I'm back in high school. Thanks!!! Great reaction!
Rock on!
@@barsandbarbells2022 👍🏿❤️
Five minutes of multi-layered brilliance.
1) irresistibly catchy
2) multiple transitions executed seamlessly
3) very clever, insightful lyrics contrasting inspirational aspects of music on radio with the seamier underside of the music business.
Part of this song’s back story: for years the band produced long, experimental progressive pieces. Their record company pushed them to produce a radio friendly single. They finally did with this song.
RUSH IS:
Geddy Lee: Bass guitars, Oberheim polyphonic; OB-X; Mini-Moog; and Taurus pedal Synthesizers, vocals
Alex Lifeson: Six and twelve string electric and acoustic guitars, Taurus pedals
Neil Peart: Drum kit, timbales, gong bass drums, orchestra bells, glockenspiel, wind chimes, bell tree, crotales, cowbells, triangles, plywood, tympani, and Symphonic Chimes
YES!! a totally epic track. You both caught onto many of the different elements in this song and video, (there's a lot going on). Up next, "The Analog Kid". 😄
The lyrics are important and I believe were overlooked in the analyses of Rush music. Most (all?) come from Peart who was a semi-proponent of Ayn Rand's writings. In Spirit of Radio, to me, they reflect the increasing pressure of producers, labels and DJ's (station play frequency) on the artists and the difficulties with bands' abilities to remain true to their musical principles as 'radio' evolved. To me, they show depth and I suggest that they be read for your own opinion. There is a great deal in the animation including the intro showing the Italy-to-Newfoundland radio signal by Marconi (father of radio) in 1900. It was a HUGE deal at the time in connecting two continents in real time, at the speed of light! The clicking of the hands refers to the hands on dials tuning the blossoming myriad of radio stations of the heyday evolution during the 20th Century. There is a great deal of (sometimes) clever but subtle nuance and symbolisms that might be easily missed or dismissed. Thanks for the Reaction!
Working man Live in Cleveland is a awesome show of Rush live in action. Gotta see a live concert recording of this great band. Thanks for hitting Rush.
As a teenage drummer many decades ago Rush was just one of those bands ya had to figure out. Neal was such a powerful & mathematical drummer in his approach and didn’t make any mistakes , he was his own click track , and the guy wrote most the lyrics too with Geddy on bass and Alex on electric twanger they were such a great band & they seemed to have a goofy sense of humor
Super Powerful Trio.
I love that Neil is driving a Red Barchetta
One of my favorite of their songs... and shows Neil's love of science fiction - the song was inspired by a sci-fi short story "A Nice Morning Drive", written by Richard Foster and published in the November 1973 issue of Road & Track magazine.
You absolutely have to check out their song "Working Man", my favorite from the by far.
All those changeups represent spinning the old school radio dial. The drums represent static.
Canada's FINEST!!!! One of the best bands EVER!
Neil's last name is pronounced like P"ear"t - A long e sound.
So many great songs to listen to. Where do you start? You can't go wrong with Working Man!🎵👍
This was my introduction to my favorite band 43 years ago. Permanent Waves is a perfect album.
RUSH is THE PERFECT EXAMPLE of the fluidity of MASTERING TIME SIGNATURES! I play drums and there are a few things that you need to know about Neil Peart’s ( pronounced PEER-T) character: First he writes the lyrics so he knows in advance what TYPE of song it’s meant to be ie ballad, driver, etc. Second he COMPOSES on the drums… like a carpenter who looks at a set of blueprints before building the object. Neil lays out a SKETCH in his mind of the VOICES of the drumset and builds the song from there. He is also a great LISTENER knowing when NOT to step over Geddy’s singing or Alex’s solos! Finally, he had perfect timing and fluidity of time changes. He said himself that it’s not about COUNTING the time signatures as much as fluid motion to change the tempo without counting: in other words it should FLOW! He hates repeating the same drum patterns in the same song meaning if he plays a fill one way the first time around he will play it differently the second time around. IE. Rolls down the toms the first time around and triplets or quads (all four limbs) the second time around. In short there will NEVER be another like him on planet earth 🌍 🌏 🌎! REST IN PEACE PROFESSOR!
With heart felt admiration and sincerity!
Gary
Rush is the best band on the Planet !!!
After Tom Soywer and Spirit of Radio the next step is Closer to the Heart.
Tip: always listen to Rush with lyrics. There is much more to THINK can u imagine.
Rush is the greatest! Subdivisions or Natural Science should be your next Rush reaction
Subdivisions definitely should be next. Doesn't follow the "light and fun" though
This is my favourite all time Song, since first hearing it in 1980, just blew me away and has stuck with me ever since. The 2112 suite is an incredible listen too, what was the whole of side 1 on vinyl back in the day
Me too. Heard it as a 13 year old in 1980 & I was hooked on this band. Still am.
Glad I'm not alone. Spirit of Radio has always been my favorite song. I was 14 in 1980, and I still love it to this day.
CFNY is a radio station in Toronto, Canada Rush's home town as well as mine. Those DJs are actual real DJs, Donna Halper discovered RUSH she worked at WMMS in Cleveland OH. and is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee this year in 2023. If you look you will see she is holding a copy of Rush's first album an album that Neil wasn't on as he was not a member of Rush at that time.
A memorial to Rush's drummer at the end, and they're like, well anyways.....
RUSH... Expect the Unexpected.
Neil Peart plays drums and percussion also wrote the lyrics of Rush's songs. Nicknamed The Professor RIP
Alex Lifeson plays guitar, pedal synth and mandolina.
Geddy Lee plays BASS, BASS pedal, synth, pedal synth and vocals.
THREE master musician. You must listen Working man live in Cleveland, You Will feel the power of RUSH.
Great reaction
The beginning of this song was composed to resemble switching from station to station on the radio
Give "Limelight" a listen. It's Neil's expression of his discomfort with fame that came with his life with Rush. With its well-written lyrics and ever-shifting time signatures (something that Rush is quite famous for) it's an interesting listen. Looking forward to your musical journey....
A little history lesson.
Rush is a Canadian band from Toronto. There was only one radio station that would play alt rock and indie music in the area; That was 102.1 CFNY “The Spirit of Radio”.
At the time, it wasn’t worried too much about making money, but more of promoting new and up coming indie bands.
David Marsden was the music director at the time when Spirit of Radio (song) came out and according to him, it was a tribute to the radio station CFNY.
Search 1021 spirit of radio and there is an old website talking about the 80’s/90’s
The “Ongoing History of New Music” with Alan Cross podcast started when he was working for CFNY (interesting deep dive into music)
“Tom Sawyer” is a very enjoyable read, Mark Twain is one of the wittiest authors of all time.
All the different change ups in the musical styles in the song represent the different styles of music you can find on different radio stations.
Please check out Red Barchetta and Xanadu from Exit Stage Left
Cheers
Awe guys there's a live version in Toronto where they are from. soo good to see 😊
Mark Twain, a.k.a. Samuel Clemens, was one of the top American writers from the 19th century. The novel Huckleberry Finn is highly recommended.
Neil Peart wasn't just one of the Greatest Drummers there ever was, he also wrote the words to most of their songs. All three had a lot to do with every aspect of their music. I believe that is what happens with people who are the finest at what they do, come together........
😍 Back for a re-watch! 😁 I get down right giddy 🤗 when ppl do the "Invisible Airwaves" hand gesture! 😄 Thank you for that! 😉 As someone in to 🖖🏾"Vulcan Hello's" I appreciate you! 🥰🐰
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@barsandbarbells2022 😂 The "Invisible Airwaves", "Jimmy Page finger point" & "Pete Townsend Windmills" are the gestures of my childhood! 🤭 Invisible Airwaves is the gesture I used when casting spells in D&D Campaigns! 🙄 Some folks had whole dances to cast a spell. 😒 Why Campaigns lasted 19 hrs! DOH! 🤣😂🤣🐰
There's 40 plus year's of rush ...go into the rabbit hole..it will catapult you both into another dimension for life..phenomenal
That ending tribute to Neil makes me cry every time
3 Words-La Villa Strangiato
I'm sure everyone would agree that your next Rush song should definitely be "YYZ" Live in Rio.
Do you think nerdy musicians from Canada would be popular in Brazil for their 1st concert there 28 years after their 1st album? Watch and see.
No doubt of this, followed by Neil (pronounced Peer t), drum solo from Frankfurt
Ok… fun fact …Geddy’s name is really Gary, but his mom’s thick accent pronounced it Geddy!
Rush is a DEEP rabbit hole, but worth the trip! And all questions you may have will be answered by all the Rush fans who view your videos.
All 3 are virtuosos on their instruments greatest band of all time lyrically and musically try driven, mission, marathon, big money, lock and key, turn the page, Animate, A Farwell to kings, hemispheres whole first side 2112 whole first side, trees, la villa, all 3 parts of fear! Heresy, cut to the chase, half the world, Xanadu, the list goes on and on and on Any Rush is good Rush lol seen them 39 times!!
39?!
rush and more rush! thanks guys for choosing them!!
"Never put off until tomorrow, what you can do the day after tomorrow just as well." - Mark Twain
Like surfing the radio dial in one song...just magic
You must check out a live performance. Most suggest Xanadu from 1981. You will never look at live music the same way.
Loved CFNY "The spirit of Radio" (Toronto) back in the 80's! When picking dorm rooms in Buffalo making sure you could tune it in was a factor.
Hey guys. Where are you from? Because if you say Canada and you don’t know Rush , you may lose your citizenship….lol
Spirit of Radio in this video payed tributes to pioneers of underground radio and the trials and the expression of freedom to create music and not be ruled by commercialization. Neil’s lyrics are timeless.
I was working at a radio station when this was released and played this as often as I could. Beyond it being a great Rush song, the lyrics really resonated with me.
Great song, and fantastic video. Love the animations! Rush is beyond EPIC!
2112 album from Rush was a complete banger. They take you on a musical journey like no other
Great reaction Sam and Phil! Rush is such a fantastic listen.
Spirit of Radio is a criticism of commercialism. When Alex launches into his solo he's mimicking a fast-talking salesman. The message of the song is that radio would be better without commercialization. Also, in the 1970s people were discovering Bob Marley Eric Clapton and others tried a bit of reggae. "I shot the Sheriff", etc...
Neal Peart. ! My best drummer guy
Rush!! The goats of my youth. Saw them 12 times
Geddy Lee on bass,lead vocals,keys and Taurus pedals. Alex Lifeson on guitar keys Taurus pedals and backup vocals. Neil Peart on drums and wrote all the lyrics
I always thought that if there were one song that could represent them, it'd be this one. Great musicianship on all of their parts, contemplative lyrics, high energy, time signature switchups, and a bit of quirkiness. They only had a few songs that they'd ALWAYS play in concert, and this was one of them.
I've seen this music video several times but I just noticed that, on the FM dial that was part of the guitar neck, along with all the typical FM frequencies was "2112" at the left end of the dial. Also noted where the jam box exploded at the end that the parts were symbols from several albums. Fun to see such things woven into the video!
Your intro - Def Vaclav Nelhýbel. That was totally Symphonic Movement.
Also The Spirit of Radio was composed to be like traversing the radio dial with all the different genres
Peart = Peert
RIP Professor. 😢
Na na na na na!! You're getting sucked into the great Rush Rabbit hole!! LOL
This was exactly when Rush got away from their epic suites as it was burning them out in the studio.
This song is more "epic" than any of their long songs. This album is when RUSH really hit their stride IMO.
The switching up of the sounds also mimics the changing radio stations and hearing different sounds from each station.
102.1 CFNY Toronto my buddys radio picked it up in western NY . this song was written about that station. You would hear just about everything without repeats It was DJ driven more than industry driven. That era is gone forever.
Great song, great message.
It's actually a criticism of main stream radio and the music business in general.
The red car the drummer Neil is driving in this video is a Red Barchetta, and Italian sports car, its also the focus of the song of the same name from the same album "Moving Pictures" which you did your first dive into Rush on when you reviewed the song Tom Sawyer.
If you want to check out another 3 man band, also from Canada; I'd recommend "Triumph". They are a phenomenal band. Singer is outstanding, and the musicianship is top notch.
Songs; "Lay it on the line". "Magic Power". "Follow your heart", "Fight the good fight", and so many others. 🤘😃
Marl Twain was the pen name for Samuel Clemens author, lived in Connecticuit my home state. You should try to see Rush live concert videos they are a great entertainment group, one of my top favriote groups.
Geddy liked Yes but couldn't decide if he wanted to be Anderson, Squire or Wakeman. So he became all 3.
Lol, well said.
The ending of the song ( and this is confirmed) is an homage to Simon and Garfunkel’s the sound of silence. Compare the lyrics…. For the words of the profits (prophets) are written on the studio (subway) walls…… etc.
Again, waiting forever for someone to spot / recognize that. Kudos! ❤
This is my favorite by Rush, but they have sooo many good songs. Try "Freewill", "Fly By Night " and "Closer To The Heart".
Rush are just on a different level
The sudden shift in style are like changing radio stations.
This is Rush's homage to their Local Radio Station CFNY, who played Local Groups entire new albums, and Deep Cuts from Canadian Bands, resisting the Corporate Style of the day of playing the same songs over and over.
CFNY's Moniker was "The Spirit of Radio", and their channel was 102.1. Rush asked for and got that the album be number 1021 which you can see on the pressing on the inside of the record.
I really liked when they were very proggy, the Farewell to Kings & Hemispheres albums. Try out the official video for La Villa Strangiato where they're playing it live straight thru but to an empty theater. And live Xanadu for Exit Stage Left is kind of amazing to hear them play something so complicated live as a 3 piece. They were amazing live.
Amazingly they recreate all that live on stage , still just 3 people. "Working Man " live in Cleveland will show you what they are capable of. ( and has some mind blowing guitar work in it as well)
Written to emulate twisting the old radio dial and finding different sounds along the waveband rock,reggae,live and rock n roll
I'm really pleased that you came back to Rush, and it looks like you enjoyed another dip as well.
I think you're ready to see the band live now, simply because if I told you they perform all their own music live you'd have to see it to believe it.
My recommendation is La Villa Strangiato (The Strange Village), an instrumental that is far less pretentious and more listenable than you might think. There are at least two good versions, the "straight" version here czcams.com/video/eK1hmDpa8bo/video.html , recorded earlier in their career, or the "gag intro" version here czcams.com/video/Z3zlRdksakI/video.html that came many years later.
If you absolutely insist on a song with lyrics, here's Xanadu, in which the narrator finds that immortality might not be all that it's cracked up to be: czcams.com/video/SEuOoMprDqg/video.html
This is one of the radio friendly songs by Rush (in several ways.) which is why it seems to have a different structure and feel.
Brooke C does an incredible drum cover to this song. I think you'd like it. I know I'm always going on about Mia Morris. I discovered both Brooke C and Mia Morris about the same time doing drum covers (I'm a drummer also - hence the interest).
The magic of Rush may not have known if not for a DJ in Ohio. The first single did not go very well so a DJ in Cleveland (I believe) decided to play the song on the other side of the record. Upon playing it, the switchboard blew up with callers asking to hear the song again and the name of the band. From then on, Rush become masters of their own making.
Donna Halpern program director wmms 101 fm top radio station in usa
saw Rush at the Piccadilly Tube in Toronto in mid to late 70s
The GOATs
This song is eternal Fire. Rush is their own genre.
So many hits. Anthem Subdivisions fly by night