“But I've found an ancient miracle
I thought that you should know
Listen to my music
And hear what it can do
There's something here as strong as life
I know that it will reach you.”
I thought that you should know
Listen to my music
And hear what it can do
There's something here as strong as life
I know that it will reach you.”
These lyrics from '2112' define my whole taste in music, and helps explain my love for Rush.
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1st person: Geddy Lee
2nd: Alex Lifeson
3rd: Neil Peart
Let's get serious . . . we all have our own obsessions that come and go in the blink of an eye, let me give you some examples.
● 1st obsession: Led Zeppelin. In 2006, I was 9 when I first heard them, I thought they were from another planet!!
● 2nd obsession: Michael Jackson. He died in 2009, so for a year, he was my idol.
● 3rd obsession: Queen. During 2010 I fell in love with them.
For 2 months (October and November of 2010) I had no new band to drool over, but little did I know that was going to change quick. In November I asked my Uncle ( a huge Rock & roll lover) to make me a CD with certain songs I asked for. The week after Thanksgiving I was sitting in my room watching television while writing in my notebook. A commerical came on for a documentary of Rush's 2 most famous albums: 2112 and Moving Pictures. I didn't even look up from my journal. But then it hit me when their song 'Tom Sawyer' started to play . . . I was totally mesmerized. Then it was the end of the commerical. 'I got to look that song up right this second!' I thought. OF COURSE I didn't pay close attention to even hear the name of the song. I went on iTunes, searched Rush, and a million songs came up. I sampled every one. The commerical only played about 10 seconds of it...this was going to be hard. I decided to look on Youtube and FOUND IT! They were some weird looking dudes, especially the singer. But hey, their song sounded outstanding, so who cares if that dude looked like woman?
● 1st obsession: Led Zeppelin. In 2006, I was 9 when I first heard them, I thought they were from another planet!!
● 2nd obsession: Michael Jackson. He died in 2009, so for a year, he was my idol.
● 3rd obsession: Queen. During 2010 I fell in love with them.
For 2 months (October and November of 2010) I had no new band to drool over, but little did I know that was going to change quick. In November I asked my Uncle ( a huge Rock & roll lover) to make me a CD with certain songs I asked for. The week after Thanksgiving I was sitting in my room watching television while writing in my notebook. A commerical came on for a documentary of Rush's 2 most famous albums: 2112 and Moving Pictures. I didn't even look up from my journal. But then it hit me when their song 'Tom Sawyer' started to play . . . I was totally mesmerized. Then it was the end of the commerical. 'I got to look that song up right this second!' I thought. OF COURSE I didn't pay close attention to even hear the name of the song. I went on iTunes, searched Rush, and a million songs came up. I sampled every one. The commerical only played about 10 seconds of it...this was going to be hard. I decided to look on Youtube and FOUND IT! They were some weird looking dudes, especially the singer. But hey, their song sounded outstanding, so who cares if that dude looked like woman?
The first week of December came, and so did the CD my uncle sent. I put it into the computer, played every son and loved them. After going through 155 songs, I got to the last two, and guess what they were? 2 Rush songs!!!! I hadn't asked for them, which made it a little more awesome. For the next week, a drove my family nuts with 'Tom Sawyer' and 'Limelight'. I got a feeling my brother hated them by now. It's amazing to think back then because I didn't even know their names, now I know every detail about Geddy, Alex, and Neil's career. I am proud to say my 4th obsession has lasted almost one year. Maybe it can last as long as the Led Zeppelin obsession; only time will tell.
These past months I have changed tremendously,(mentally, spiritually, ect.) but Rush has stayed consistent through-out my growth. In my eyes and to millions & millions of other 'Rushians', Rush's lyrics are pure brilliance and have helped, comforted, and changed them. Neil Peart, drummer and lyric writer, has inspired my own writing and made me want to read poetry. That is where he got some inspiration from, so I thought I should give it a shot. It worked. You may think Rush's extremely intelligent lyrics don't match the hard & progressive music they play, but that IS what Rush is. That's what makes them who they are. I show deep respect for their 'We always have room to change and improve ourselves' attitude they've displayed trough their 37 years together. But they also stand their ground and have shown they won't change for anyone, which is the fundamental theme of '2112'.
Rush is the biggest cult band in the history of music. They have the most loyal fans I've probably ever seen & talked too. Why is that? They have this connection to their fans, a carizma about them that feels like you know them. Very humble, down to earth, and hilarious gentlemen don't seem like rock stars at all, but like a friend you've known for ages. Another reason they may have connected easily is they weren't really a 'cool' band, per se. A big part of the 70s they were wearing chinese kimonos with boots, singing about searching for the lost Xanadu, they had long concept albums/songs, Geddy screamed everything instead of singing, which tons of singers back then, but Geddy's screeching was unique. I mean this in the most loving way, but he sounded somewhat like the Screaming Banshee from Willowdale, Canada. They were a complete opposite from basically every band of their era. Rush didn't have groupies following them, [because of those facts] they didn't make the news headlines with a story of a wild night they had, (Geddy claims it's because they're from Canada), their songs were not about drugs, partying and women. If you watch Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage, you will find none of their fans did/does drugs, drink alot, and so forth, but were outsiders; people who weren't popular, maybe closer to nerds. That is the large type Rush reaches too, I include myself a part of that type.
No matter the amount of awards or they get or don't get, of all the achievements they receive, Rush already achieved the greatest achievement they can: they have extremely loyal fans who will love them regaurdless of what they do. They changed lives forever with an incredible legacy that is still in the making. If I met them, I would want to tell them thank you for choosing music as your career and sharing your talents for people to hear. I appreciate everything about you guys, and I love you!
XoXo, Megan
These past months I have changed tremendously,(mentally, spiritually, ect.) but Rush has stayed consistent through-out my growth. In my eyes and to millions & millions of other 'Rushians', Rush's lyrics are pure brilliance and have helped, comforted, and changed them. Neil Peart, drummer and lyric writer, has inspired my own writing and made me want to read poetry. That is where he got some inspiration from, so I thought I should give it a shot. It worked. You may think Rush's extremely intelligent lyrics don't match the hard & progressive music they play, but that IS what Rush is. That's what makes them who they are. I show deep respect for their 'We always have room to change and improve ourselves' attitude they've displayed trough their 37 years together. But they also stand their ground and have shown they won't change for anyone, which is the fundamental theme of '2112'.
Rush is the biggest cult band in the history of music. They have the most loyal fans I've probably ever seen & talked too. Why is that? They have this connection to their fans, a carizma about them that feels like you know them. Very humble, down to earth, and hilarious gentlemen don't seem like rock stars at all, but like a friend you've known for ages. Another reason they may have connected easily is they weren't really a 'cool' band, per se. A big part of the 70s they were wearing chinese kimonos with boots, singing about searching for the lost Xanadu, they had long concept albums/songs, Geddy screamed everything instead of singing, which tons of singers back then, but Geddy's screeching was unique. I mean this in the most loving way, but he sounded somewhat like the Screaming Banshee from Willowdale, Canada. They were a complete opposite from basically every band of their era. Rush didn't have groupies following them, [because of those facts] they didn't make the news headlines with a story of a wild night they had, (Geddy claims it's because they're from Canada), their songs were not about drugs, partying and women. If you watch Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage, you will find none of their fans did/does drugs, drink alot, and so forth, but were outsiders; people who weren't popular, maybe closer to nerds. That is the large type Rush reaches too, I include myself a part of that type.
No matter the amount of awards or they get or don't get, of all the achievements they receive, Rush already achieved the greatest achievement they can: they have extremely loyal fans who will love them regaurdless of what they do. They changed lives forever with an incredible legacy that is still in the making. If I met them, I would want to tell them thank you for choosing music as your career and sharing your talents for people to hear. I appreciate everything about you guys, and I love you!
XoXo, Megan
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ReplyDeleteI can relate so much with you.
ReplyDeleteYears ago, Led Zeppelin was my irreplaceable rock idol. Then came Rush.
I actually got to know about them from Guitar Hero 3 like millions of others, but i was like 'Meh'. Then came Paul Rudd's movie - I love you , man where the hero is a hardcore rush fan. It got me naturally curious about the band and i started researching about them. Listened to Tom sawyer many times but still could not wrap my head arpound it why it was so popular.
One day, i was semi-asleep on my couch with songs playing in the bkround and 'Red Barchetta' started playing. I cannot stress you how much emotions i felt while listening to the song for the first time. FUCK, i felt like i stepped into a time-machine and being transported to an era during motor law.
" Sunlight on chrome, the blue of the landscape, every nerve aware "
I was literally swimming in ecstasy in my semi-sleep drunkenness.
Jumped out of my couch and ran over to my PC to see which band was playing this insanely good music. Something had awakened within me, a feeling i felt for the first time in my life, it was RUSH in a literal and metaphorical sense.
Then started my lifelong obsession with Rush, it has been 8 months now. Being a rush fan does have its repercussions, I have literally stopped listenning to music of any other genre other than rush. Mind you , i listen to music of all sorts - Classic rock, metal, hard rock, few alternatives and even the shitty dubstep, trap and edm stuff. But Rush totally bowled all those genre's right out of the window. I dont feel one bit for it :)
Started out with these three as my favs - Tom sawyer, red barchetta, spirit of radio.
Now these are my favs - Farewell to kings, 2112 , by-tor and the snow dog.
Guilty pleasure - The Trees :)
What are your top 3 favorite songs by rush???