Classical Composer Reaction/Analysis to RUSH: CLOSER TO THE HEART | The Daily Doug (Episode 764)
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- čas přidán 28. 05. 2024
- #rush #closertotheheart #rushreaction
In this edition of #thedailydoug, I'm listening to Closer to the Heart from Rush. Though this wasn't a first reaction, I really enjoyed analyzing the song. It's one of the band's more radio-friendly hits, and after learning some of this song's secrets, I understand why!
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The end of the first song "Farewell to Kings" last line finishes:",,, can't we find the minds to lead us closer to the heart". Love the way they mix/connect things up like this.
Aside from being a great song, I always thought the lyrics were incredibly witty. The comparison of the blacksmith and the artist, both `forging` their creativity. The philosophers and ploughmen both `sowing` a new mentality. The idea that we can be the captain and he'll draw the chart. That we can all do whatever it is we do, `closer to the heart.` It's a great message that I wish the `men who hold high places` would pay attention to.
I always love how Rush was able to marry the music to Neil’s well thought out lyrics. This song stayed mostly in their live performances til their final R40 tour.
Neil is arguably the greatest lyricist in music, nearly every song has something for both the heart and mind. To think this wasn't even his main job in the band is mindblowing.
Arguably their most important song. First song of theirs that stayed on the radio for decades. Was probably the introduction to Rush for most through the late 70’s.
Indeed, it was my first proper introduction to Rush. I'd known of Rush, and especially Mr Neil Peart, for a couple of decades without ever actually bothering to listen to them...and then I finally saw them accompanying the incredibly talented troubadour by the name of Bubbles. He was at the vanguard of the fantastic - if occasionally chaotic and explosive - Nova Scotia music scene. It's deeeee-e-ceeennttttt.
It was terrific to see Bubbles encouraging the amateur Rush to really give their all. I mean they were never going to write anything as seminal as 'Likker and Whores' or 'Whose Got Yer Belly', but Rush gave it a damn good go and for that should be commended
This was the song the first made me say, "ok, your right guys there's something going on here and I need to start listening to this band " that was on Long Island in 1978
I remember my older brother blasting Tom Sawyer through the wall much more than this lol
'Arguably' indeed
I’d say not most important by today’s standards but at the time and the era you speak of, probably. Up until Moving Pictures came along.
I’ve always loved the humility of the lyric “You can be the captain, and I can draw the chart.” It takes some self-awareness to understand when it’s best to support others’ lead and when it’s best to be in the driver seat.
Every time I saw Rush in the 80's the crowd always sang along to the beginning of this song!
When Rush came to Brazil for the first time, on the Vapor Trails tour (which led to the DVD "Rush In Rio"), "Closer To The Heart" was not on the set lists, but then the promoter told them that this was their most popular song in the country. So, they bring it back to the concerts only in Brazil, only on that three concerts of that tour! that's how respectful and kind Rush was to their fans! R.I.P., Neil!
This is another song that made me fall in love with the sound of a 12 string.
The lyrics, are "through the roof" SPOT ON!
The tubular bell section was written in so that Alex could change from his 12 string, to his 6 string, during the live performances.
Brilliant!!
Short & Sweet!
Is it a 12 string? I thought it was a 6 string acoustic with Nashville tuning strings. That is what I use when I play this song, and Alex uses a 6 string on Exit Stage Left video.
Never the less, it is a great song to play.
Some other radio-friendly Rush hits* include:
- Fly by Night (1975)
- Limelight (1980)
- New World Man (1982)
- Digital Man (1982)
- The Big Money (1985)
- Time Stand Still, with Aimee Mann (1987)
- Roll the Bones (1994)
[* where the term, "hits" is to be interpreted only in a minor key, so to speak.]
Honourable mentions (because they weren't hits but were simply awesome without being proggy]:
- Analog Kid (1982)
- Between the Wheels (1984)
PS - My eight year old was in the same room when I watched this video. He actually stopped playing his geometry dash video game, came over, and said: "this man is obviously a music expert." Truer words were never spoken.
Spirit of Radio.
Tom Sawyer as well
Lime light is 1981
There's a fun story about this song. They had played it at every show since they released it and there came a time in the late 90s when they decided to temporarily retire it from their setlist. They even made a special music video to promote their live album Different Stages, which features the song with an extended jam at the end (which is absolutely INCREDIBLE, btw) to say goodbye to the song for a while. Then tragedy struck Neil's life and the band went on an indefinite hiatus. When the band returned several years later, they played their first show in South America (Rush in Rio, a live DVD which is ALSO incredible) because they didn't realize they had a HUGE fan base in Brazil. It was, in fact, the largest show in their career at that point (60k people, I think?) When they said they wouldn't be playing Closer to the Heart, promoters were like, "You HAVE to play that song!! It's beloved in Brazil! You MUST play that song!" And so, of course, they did. And it was amazing, as it always was. I haven't checked, but I'll bet that it never left their setlist again until the band ended.
2 other short songs from that period with great lyrics/messages are “Cinderella Man” (lyrics by Geddy) from A Farewell To Kings, and “Entre Nous” from Permanent Waves.
This is one of those Rush songs where the timing and syncopation of the bass lines during the verses do not follow the structure of the melody of the vocal. That makes it another Rush song where it sounds impossible for someone to sing and play that bass line.
, but Geddy somehow always pulls it off.
In an interview many years ago Geddy said that sometimes he writes a really creative bass line and puts down the vocal track separately and it’s only when mixing it all down that he realizes “how am I going to sing that melody while the bass is playing something completely different?”. He says he accomplishes it by lots and lots of practice.
I saw them live 32 times and this is the one song they always play. Geddy said that they tried to drop Closer To The Heart from their show when they toured South America. The fans weren’t having it and kept yelling to play Closer Go The Heart, so they had to as it back in.
The necromancer please
Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres
We can walk our road together
If our goals are all the same
We can run alone and free
If we pursue a different aim
Let the truth of love be lighted
Let the love of truth shine clear
Sensibility, armed with sense and liberty
With the heart and mind united in a single perfect sphere
Yet another RUSH masterpiece that I just love!!! .. I absolutely LOVE this era of RUSH .. man, they wrote and recorded so many absolute masterpieces. It just boggles my mind how a group of 3 guys can ALL be so stinking talented, creative and just so enjoyable. They have made my life sooooo much better. I wish there were a way they could actually realize this. And I miss Neil .. God rest his soul. Such an amazing man. RIP Neil Peart ...
The third verse of this song has always been my favorite of Neil's Lyrics, "You can be the captain and I will draw the charts", to me it shows show much humilty, he dosen't care about being the leader, he offers up leadership to someone else, he just wants to give the direction.
Those four bars of Neil playing the chimes (tubular bells?) were added to give Alex time to switch guitars when they played the song live.
Recovering from the flu. The World's Best Band sounds like good prescription.
Absolutely. Have you checked out Band-Maid? “Hate?” - official live video. 🔥✌🏼
It can't hurt.
Amen
Another short song that I loved from Rush is Madrigal. Lovely lovely music.
Other "Pop Hits" from Rush: "Limelight" (1981), "New World Man" (1982), "Vital Signs" (1981), "Entre Nous" (1980), "Subdivisions" (1982), "Kid Gloves" (1984), "Middletown Dreams" & "Emotion Detector" (1985), as well as several songs from the Hold Your Fire, Presto, and Roll the Bones CDs, from 1988, 1990 and 1992 respectively!
I love "Closer To The Heart" especially the video they did with "The Trailer Boys" but Rush have many fabulous short 'radio friendly' songs: Fly By Night, Limelight, Tom Sawyer, Time Stand Still, The Spirit of Radio, The Big Money, What You're Doing, Working Man - the list goes on and on. One of my favourite underplayed/underrated Rush songs is "Tears" which is fabulous.
Can’t wait to hear more RUSH
The extended version on Show of Hands is well up there on my favourite of all time list.
The Triumph song "Hold On" has a very similar vibe. More 80s though.
Another Rush song, in a similar vein, lyrically, is "The Trees". It'd be a great one to analyze.
I always love your air drumming during Rush, thanks for doing this one, always been one of my favorites. There's a video of the isolated vocals to this song, I highly recommend it because it really shows off Geddy's abilities.
I remember when they started out. Their first big hit was "Worrking Man."
2112, A Farewell To Kings and Hemispheres was the era that I loved Rush. Ftk and Hemispheres tours were fantastic. I wasn’t so impressed when they changed in the 80’s onwards.
Brilliant analysis
I guess I was maybe about 11 or 12 when I first dove into rush and really took time to appreciate what their music was. I’m a 90s kid so if my parents didn’t listen to the music that they grew up with, I would not have discovered them. But they were one of the bands that showed me what my mentality is and what it has always been about music. I immediately got hooked when I heard Tom Sawyer for the first time. Because of that section where it changes to 7/8 in the middle of the song. And that day, I realize some thing about myself and that was I don’t like it because it’s just a good rock song I like it because it’s different and complex. I wanted more so I dove right in.
I know Alex got tired of the song at some point and decided to retire it along with Red Barchetta, if I recall correctly. But they felt compelled to bring it back when in Brazil (see Rush in Rio video). Alex would make fun of the lyrics in concert singing "closer to your house" and "a closet in your house."
you could hear something from the band Mystery, it does have so many inspirations from Rush it's almost his spiritual sucessor!
A Farewell To Kings is an absolute epic album. You should listen to the remaining songs.
Doug, As always, I really appreciate your thoughtful and beautiful reaction vlogs. Well done!
I still remember where I was when I heard A Farewell to Kings for the first time. In the music store with those clumsy handheld headphones with the cords curling from two holes in the table.
When they turn the pages of history .... Fumbling with the volume to get more, more , more. I was twelve. This was it.
When they played it live, they added a closing section(probably because fade-outs don’t work live) that punctuated it nicely and carried it over the 5” mark. I think they released the live version from Exit Stage Left in ‘81 with the crowd singing the first verse.
RUSH was the best at putting in one radio song to be on radio, just to get you to buy the album, and then you realize, every time, that’s not even close to being the best song. genius. great marketing
I like your take on this as an admonition to play a role in one’s community, the implication that the community should be classless (whether philosopher or ploughman, each must play their part). There’s a fairly obvious leaning in Rush lyrics towards a Randian, libertarian individualism and an ideological, adolescent view of the world. Nothing wrong with being responsible for oneself, but that has to be tempered with the understanding that we must also be reliant on each other if things are to turn out well.
I’ll add: it is an absolute joy to see you react with enthusiasm to music I already know about. I can never hear, say, Heavy Weather (or whatever) again for the first time, but seeing someone with skill and knowledge hear it brings back some of that wonder to me.
Great channel!
I need more of that ending tag my dude
It's a great track and i love all the extended playful versions they started doing for the live shows over the years.
I'd love to hear you analyze some of their more recent work. Something off Grace Under Pressure, Counterparts, Clockwork Angels, all would be great.
One of their shorter radio-ready songs that has been played many times over the years up north. I like the heavy rock/almost metal version on the 40th anniversary Rush tribute album by Big Wreck. Ian Thornley does a great solo and man, his soaring voice at the end! They were asked to do a song for the album and rejected a more proggy one before going with this one. While Big Wreck can exhibit some prog elements, they are not prog.
Back in the day, WPDH radio station out of Poughkeepsie NY, started in 1976. They played whole album sides. Now that's not the case anymore. 😔😞
How awesome would it be if Doug got an interview with both, Alex and Geddy.
It's about time Doug! Tons more RUSH material to go through.😊🎉
Closer to the Heart is a Masterpiece. There's a great video of Closer to the Heart different Stages through the decades. 🤘Thank you Doug. Brenda Nelson ❤
Lakeside Park was another song that got a lot of radio play. A shorter song that was good radio time that on the surface seems a simple message, but you dig a little deeper and find the there is more to the lyrics.
Love this song in an unconditional way.
My favorite Rush song is Animate from Counterparts, an underrated classic, and a suggestion from me to try on the channel.
If it hasn't been already done.
I love watching your videos because of your knowledge and the incredibly pleasant voice you have. I hope this channel makes you very happy.
This song spells out the moral of the story told in Cygnus/Hemispheres. There is wisdom in moderation, finding a balance. But to achieve more than average, one should remain near the center, but closer to the heart. Remain compassionate. THAT is the only higher purpose or calling.
That combined with the message of Freewill are central to the overall Rush message for me.
🤘🧙♂🤘
This is a masterpiece for sure. It would be worth checking out a live version, because they tend to do some kind of extended ending that is always super fun!
I always love when you analyze Rush.
You picked a doozie with this one. My all time favourite Rush track from my all time favourite album of theirs. Excellent choice and cracking analysis.
Absolute banger ❤
If you really want to hear this song at its best Doug, listen to the live version form the “Stages” album. It’s extended by a jam session second to none that builds to an absolute frenzy that showcases all three guys at their very best.
short or long -it's all gold from these Canadian boys! thanks Doug
Lyrically beautiful. Also one of Geddy Lee’s most beautiful vocal performances.
WHJY Providence was my station from the early 80s until the early 90s when I moved to Kansas.
The music is on page 61 of the chronicles songbook. For those of us who don’t know what the notes are unless we are told lol. ❤
It is absolutely worth your time to check the live version from Different Stages. Fantastic.
Boy, I admire Doug for that scully cap. I hat one much like that one and that I treasured and wore proudly for years unti la big gust of wind blew it away. I went back and searched for it but could never recover my hat. Neither can I find a suitable replacement in stores.
Love Rush😊
I always thought that it was "You can be the captain and life will draw the chart". Which I still prefer.
Tom Sawyer and Working Man still make it onto the radio in certain places.
The good old kimono days :-) The live versions are worth listening to, as they go off at the end on an extended jam - always fun.
Enjoyed that song myself
Masterpiece,3 talented musicians
i just bought this album because of this video. thanks.
Very good reaction. Many thanks!
Funny, I listened to Farewell to Kings this morning: what a FANTASTIC SONG!
Hey Doug, always enjoy when you work out part of the song out on the piano. It's what makes this channel better, having an actual skilled musician/composer work through the song as opposed to a random person, ssimilar to what Rick Beato does.
The title song from "A Farewell to Kings" is absolutely amazing, and that's a song you really should feature! I have special ties to this album, because while I "discovered" Rush shortly after their "Caress of Steel" album was released (and that's another album you really should look into as well,) my very first rock concert was seeing Rush on their "Farewell to Kings" tour in 1977, when I was 15 years old.
This is a great song, but I think "Limelight" would be extremely interesting to Doug
Awesome song always good to hear. Doug I suggest hearing out Atlas Novus by Scale the Summit. It's quite the interesting instrumental band from Texas. You'll find them intriguing. 😊
I love this song, but when the album came out, I bought the cassette for my car stereo, and "Closer To the Heart" began at the end of side one, then, about halfway through the song it would fade out, the tape would switch directions and the song would fade in and finish. It was a bit frustrating to hear it that way, because it happened during the guitar solo. Anyone else remember that? ❤✌
That was a cassette? Sounds like an 8-track, which would always have at least one song that would do that. Interesting.
Love your channel and content Doug I'm always happy to see you reacting to music I listen to whether it's anime and game soundtracks or classic rock /classic prog rock tracks, would love to see more reactions to stuff like this or stuff like the JJBA soundtracks (tracks like squadra or the different openings to the show like Bloody Stream with strong jazz influences)
Love Doug playing the piano in this
7 months! 7 days is too long Doug!
Should check out Rick Wakeman and Jon Lord's "It's not as big as it was", live at the Sunflower Jam 2011. Epic it is!
Philosophers and ploughmen
Each must know his part
To sow a new mentality
Closer to the heart
If I may pose a mission for you Doug... check out some of the other live perfomances of this song. Standouts for me are the Rush in Rio concert and the Time Machine show. In Rio they were playing to a crowd of 40K, every one of them singing along. However the granddaddy performance for me is the "A Show Of Hands" show. They closed it out with "Closer to the Heart" and after it would normally end, they just start having a lot of fun with it. My God, they boys were very young then. (I'm Canadian, I call them "The Boys", and my brother knows immediatly who we're talking about. ;^)
Top 3 song in the Rush cannon.🙌🤘🖖✌️🎹🎸🥁🎤
I know it's chosen by your patrons, but I think "Stargazer" by Rainbow would make a good analysis video.
It should be a requirement that when you are listening to a Rush song with Neil Peart on the drums that you must air drum along with the song like Doug was doing so well in this video. Great job, Doug. I thoroughly enjoyed that and the whole rest of the analysis of this great Rush song.
Doug, please do the other songs from A Farewell to Kings! Great songs!
Great song! ❤❤❤
love that crisp bass of geddy lee...
This always seemed to be Rush's ode to the pop song during their most progressive years. Great song and lyrics.
Wow, another of my all-time favorite bands! I just subscribed after watching your Mindcrime review. I want to recommend that you review the albums Epica, and The Black Halo by Kamelot. They are two interconnected concept albums based on Faust. You may have to split them into 2 episodes but I think you will find them worthy of your time. I look forward to watching more of your stuff.
You did Xanadu, didn't you, Doug? That's on A Farewell to Kings, too.
Iconic Rush for sure. R.I.P. Neil
Also the name of the greatest Trailer Park Boys episode, where they kidnap Alex Lifeson. lol
And for the men who hold high places must the ones who start to mold a new reality , closer to the heart -🤠🎶🎼🎶
Ok, great review of a great song. Thank you. BUT, if you have not yet heard it, you really should listen to the live recording from the different stages tour. There is a bass solo that is unbelievable from which Alex builds into a perfect duet. I am a fan of many of their songs, but this version of this song literally brings me to tears.
Doug, I hear an extra note in the opening tune:
You heard, and played:
Do, Re, Ti, Do, Ti-La-Sol
(A, B, G#, A, G#-F#-E)
I hear it as:
Do, Re, Ti, Do, Ti-La-Sol-Mi
(A, B, G#, A, G#-F#-E-C#)
🤷
Catchy and inspiring. A great recipe?
OK. In the midwest at the time we musta got lucky.
Working Man
Lakeside Park and I Think I'm Going Bald
Fly By Night
Spirit of Radio and Entre Nous
and onwards...
All got significant airplay. (And all had a seat in the HS Cafeteria Jukebox)
✌😎👍
No!!! I was hoping you were doing the live version from A Show of Hands. This one is great, but that live version is even better.
I like your videos. It's not the technical analysis (okay it a little bit) . I know enough music theory to sound stupid if I start talking about it. Guitar lessons as a teen ager. You pick great songs, a lot of stuff I would never listen to otherwise. I do find your knowledge of music impressive. But what I really like is your analysis of the lyrics and how the chord progression and structure convey the message. It's thoughtful and I can tell it comes from the heart (reference intended). Thank for doing this. It's a bright spot on a Friday evening after a week of work.
I would highly recommend the song "Animate" from RUSH for your next song. Another masterpiece. It gets boring I know to cover brilliant song after brilliant song by them but you always learn something new.
You need to do the title track from this album