Their disdain for the business of radio was shown when the label asked them to make a more radio friendly album, so they released 2112. A 24 minute epic that is not radio friendly, but a masterpiece. These guys embodied artistic integrity. Also, the tempo changes and style changes in this song are meant to signify the listener changing the radio stations.
This line always gets to me… “But glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity.” Neil Peart was an absolute genius. Great reaction to a great band, Stacey. ❤❤❤🙏🙏😊
"For the words of the profits Were written on the studio wall Concert hall" A reference to lyrics from "The Sound of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel: "The words of the prophets Are written on the subway walls In tenement halls"
2:59 Donna helper was the DJ that introduced the states to Rush. She was looking for a “bathroom song” which was a song long enough to start, run to the bathroom, and get back before it was over. She dropped the needle on Working Man on the Cleveland radio station and the rest is history.
@@moecrew88 I wondered if that was the one. 102.1 is also listed which is CFNYin Toronto. By now, I'm sure everyone knows they were known as "The Spirit of Radio".
I am 60 years old and Neil Peart was the first time I literally cried at the passing of a celebrity. That empty drum kit and the little message gets me every time. Yes, they were going for changing the channel on the radio. Good ear! I enjoyed your reaction.
What an impressive reaction. You conveyed the emotion most Rush fans feel in the most genuine and respectful way. Focusing on the empty drum kit is, to some, the most important part and it was beautiful how you demonstrated that.
I'm assuming by now many people must have suggested you listen and watch Neil's R30 drum solo filmed in Frankfurt. It was particularly composed by Neil to be an exploration of his journey as an artist and musician. He takes segments from past solos and weaves them into a engaging performance. A must watch! Cheers.
Been a Rush fan since the mid 1970's. A band like none other, PERIOD!! The drumming/percussion and lyrical abilities of the Professor Neil Peart are unmatched in music history not to mention Geddies bass playing and Alexs' guitar playing prowess and personality. No matter my age, Rush will always fulfill my need for damn good and meaningful music!!!
The younger generation will never have the feeling of anticipation for a new record hitting the record stores. Smelling the new album cover and the vinyl record. It was such a great time for music.
It doesn't matter if you don't have the proper music terminology or whatnot. It is perfectly clear to me that this music moved you. This was a great reaction. Thank you!
One of the things you seemed to enjoy, but probably didn't understand the reference - Pirate Radio. Back in the day, the BBC only played pop music for a short time during the day. So to pick up the slack, some enterprising folks set up a radio station on a boat far enough off the coast that they were in international waters and didn't have to live by Britain's broadcasting rules. There's a fictional movie based on that, 'Pirate Radio' with Philip Seymour Hoffman, also released as 'The Boat That Rocked'. I haven't seen it in forever, but I seem to remember it being entertaining.
It's also how a lot of Dutch radio stations started, Radio Veronica for instance broadcast off shore for 14 years between 1960 and 1974 before shutting down when the laws changed and eventually reopened as a legitimate radio station that still operates today
The movie was reasonably accurate in capturing the tone and spirit of the people involved if not every fact. Pirate Radio was such a huge deal in music history. A lot of underground music came out of London in that era and the decade or two that followed.
You are definitely a BEAUTIFUL SENSITIVE SOUL Stacey 👌🧡. Your reaction to the final "farewell" to Neil says a lot about you. Thank you for sharing the REAL YOU with us.
Two great quotes I will always love about Rush- 1) "The only three-piece that can sound like an orchestra" and 2) "The greatest guitarist, bassist and drummer in Canada, and they all wound up in the same band." My fav band, my fellow Canadians, and three of the most talented musician in the world :)
Not just great musicians but they have been amazing ambassadors for Canada. Always proud of being Canadian and such humble people. They always wore their Order of Canada pins proudly. I can't think of any other band that has gone on for so long without any conflict and attitude between them. Bothers in music and eternal friends.
Hey Stacey! Rush is a band with a dedicated following. Their music is complex and requires a certain depth of appreciation. It's like appreciating a fine piece of art-the more you understand, the more you get from it. They used to be called "The three-man orchestra," with each member bringing something irreplaceable to the table. "The Spirit of Radio" is a classic. Rush is just Rush. They deliver in every album. Geddy on the bass and keyboards is amazing and is recognized as one of the best in rock. Lifeson's guitar playing is wonderful and Neil, of course, is considered the best drummer ever and an amazing lyricist. I saw them live in 2007 in Houston. They kick off the show with "The Spirit of Radio." I have that memory stuck in my mind! Thanks again, Stacey, for another great surprise reaction! Cheers and keep it up! Thanks!
One of my absolute favorite lyrics in any song "One likes to believe in the freedom of music, but glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity" and I love they reference all the great DJ's that started it all, especially Pirate Radio (what a fun movie too ). The early DJ's were true rebels and played what they wanted. Wolfman Jack had to broadcast from Mexico, Pirate Radio having to be on a ship and off shore and all the other Pirate radio stations dodging regulators.
I grew up around Toronto, CFNY FM was a local radio station that was dedicated to playing local and avant guard artists. Their tag line was ‘the spirit of radio. This track is tribute to the station and a cleverly, if somewhat thinly veiled means of getting some airplay😁🤗
You remind me of a girl that I pulled out of a stampede at a Rush concert at the Toledo sports arena on the moving pictures tour. General Admission on the floor. The crowd got to swaying back and forth. From fun to people getting knocked over and trampled. I just remember watching this girl fan in front of me getting knocked down then getting trampled. I grabbed her hand and pulled her backwards out of the chaos. "Thanks for saving me".... I'll never forget that moment. We enjoyed the rest of the show together. Wonderful night
Heard this song when It first came out on vinyl back in the day. Went to a Rush Concert - Had front row seats - right in front of the speakers! Moved to an empty seat waay back and ducked down. Rush concerts were VERY LOUD!!!
I got to see Rush live once - talk about Spirit of the Radio! They played for two hours and they were all songs you hear on the radio. It was hit after hit after hit; total Rush party and it was the jam. RIP Neil. ❤
I did this song with Sue and Sandy from kick it out! It took five people to recreate this!!! It's such a complex and hard song, like all of Rush's songs are!!!!!!! Like I said, they are PROGRESSIVE rock! Like how they went into a reggae-like groove near the end of this! Seamlessly!!!!!!! And, I COMPLETELY AGREE! ... From your reaction... It ABSOLUTELY ENDS TOO SOON!!!!!!!!!!🙀😾😿😸 And, about the video... And eerie precursor! Done WAY BEFORE Neil passed away!!!!!!! Slightly away from the discussion, but still VERY RELEVANT... LITERALLY EVERY MEMBER of a band is ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL to the sound! You can't, and I mean CAN'T replace one and have the band sound the same!!!! Short of Jason Bonham filling in for his dad with led Zeppelin, that is!!!!!!!!!!
This video was put out after Neil’s death in honor of their brother. The duck hands teddy does in the video was something he did during the song live when not playing his bass. Neil’s playing in this group wasn’t just a back beat keeping time, his drumming was another instrument helping to tell the story of the song, thus his massive drum kit with so many different sounds
CFNY-FM (4:09) was a Toronto radio station with the positioning line: "the spirit of radio". An independent station with an eclectic approach to music programing, and yes Rush was well represented there. Many of the names in the video are of DJ's we listened to in the 70's and 80's. Growing up in the area and listening to this song now always brings me right back to that time.
Your sensitivity and the emotion you showed at the end brought tears to my eyes. I grew up to Rush and they have always been my favorite. I saw them in concert five times from my childhood to shortly before their final tour, and I am in my 50s now. I met both Alex and Neil at different times in my life and they were nothing but incredible people. Geddy is my idle and the reason I started playing bass. Someday I hope to meet him as well and thank him for all the joy Rush has brought me.
This song was my introduction to Power Trio in 1981 I became a fan at that moment and Rush is my favorite band Your reaction moved me a lot and your definition of the band was perfect.
The signature and time changes alone in this song are just amazing. I think most of us who grew up with the early days of FM music had that one DJ who was the Spirit of Radio for us.
Our local college WVU had a station and I think it was Friday nights the DJ would play a deep track or even an album side of something not main stream.
Thank you for sharing your emotions. I cry with many Rush reactions if the reactor “gets it” and can appreciate their genius. What most people don’t understand is that for many of us percussionists we lost a mentor, teacher and although one sided, a friend of 40 years. I still cry sometimes when I hear a Rush song. That he was a drum god but so humble and meek, only adds to the mystique and the pain. Thank you for appreciating them!! You are special too💜
Just the idea that Neil came up with nearly all the lyrics for the songs and created the tight knit web of all three musicians. It showed forth in the details of his playing. For the others to equal the talents of his contributions would always push the boundaries of their individual styles. Outstanding musicianship...Thanks! and continue to explore...
Your reaction was genuine. The animation was released as a tribute to him. Neil wrote those lyrics & embodied every word. He was a master lyricist & drummer & a great artist.
What a lot of people didn't realize the first time they listened to this version of the song was it was made by the band after Neil's passing in 2020. According to Neil, "it 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." BUT, there are references to what was bad, especially from the record companies..."....Glittering prizes and endless compromises"..........they just wanted quick, short hit songs so the "salesman" could get them out & make more $$$...."The words of the profits are written on the studio walls....". As always, RIP to "The Professor".
Great reaction, Stacey. You nailed the theme of the song when talking about the transitions. This is both a tribute to the power of radio, and the video is a tribute to the early DJs back in the days of what was known as AOR (album-oriented rock) would play Rush for audiences that hadn't heard the band before. I believe those specific DJs were mostly in Toronto, which is the band's "home town" (if memory serves). Great music should always bring an emotional reaction if you have a heart, and I think the little tribute at the end of this video brings a tear to the eye of every fan. We are blessed that we lived in an era when we can hear their music, and the sadness we feel when remembering Neal has passed reminds us just how much the music of this band has meant to us over the years (or even over the last few months for fans like yourself who are still discovering their catalog). Keep up the great reactions!
Wow, that was an amazing song and one I don't think I had heard before. Thank you for bringing it to my attention and I loved your reaction and engagement and also highlighting what the band members were each doing!
She was right on that they musically constructed the song to be reminiscent of the old school variety of music on the radio from one station to the next. Also the opening guitar part is supposed to sound like crackling airwaves.
I've yet to see someone react to The Spirit of Radio and not smile. If you watch a live performance you can see Alex pick the bass part with his feet while Geddy is clapping hands over his head. When you get around to Rush again, I would HIGHLY recommend Limelight - the live performance from the Snakes and Arrows tour. It's outstanding.
I just found your channel and have now watched 4 or 5 of your reactions. I can honestly say I have not witnessed such an intuitive response to our music from a young person until now. Thank you for your great reactions!
@mike-jm9rs Jim Ladd came back to radio long after doing "free form radio." There is an animated video of The Spirit of Radio, where they are also shown. There's also a female DJ who I think was supposed to be Shauna. KMET was the best!
Three musical geniuses playing three different perspectives on a song, and their combinant sounds make a fourth, the finished project. Absolute craftsmen of the highest order. Often referred to as "the thinking man's (and woman's) heavy metal band". Neil Peart (Pratt) - Drums and percussion: The Professor Geddy Lee (Dirk) - Bass, keyboards, Taurus pedals, etc.: Beer Scientist Alex Lifeson (Lerxst) - Guitars, acoustic guitar, mandoling, etc.: Beer Tester Just three humble hosers . . . like . . . they're Canadian eh! RIP Professor. You are dearly missed.
Great reaction to the greatest band of all time!! This song parallels the experience of surfing various radio stations, emulating various styles of music. BTW, the little lobster hands, is a thing Geddy did live. It was a rare moment when his hands were free (no bass, no keyboards), but was still singing and playing keyboards with his feet (moog pedals).
@@patrickmcevoy5080 Oh yeah, he even briefly played keyboards live for Time Stand Still, but he also had alot of his own effects pedals, like the Flanger in the opening of this song, and the wah wah during this solo. Most underrated and awesome guitar player!!
Sometimes in concert for a while after they wrote that song, Geddy would do the little hand thing at the same point in the song you see in the video. It was an odd little thing he'd do and part of their charm. People in the audience would do it along with him. This is one of their classics. It was instantly loved and embraced by the fans and is one of our favorites. It's also the Rushiest of Rush songs. It has every quirk and trait they're known for, all crammed into one fun and tight little package.
The Professor was amazing. Chief songwriter as well as one man doing the work of four back there on drums and percussion. He was so flawless and so precise! Watch his drum solo from Frankfurt and be astounded that as machine fast he's going his every strike was absolutely precise on the sweet spot for each freaking note, especially when playing the xylophone with its small strike plates and yet he was absolutely precise when playing those. An amazing and incredibly talented trio of musicians. They deserve to be legendary.
I remember my brother practicing bass and just jamming this song at 6 am before school. That was my introduction to Rush and I’ve been such a huge fan since. LOVE THIS SONG as it always brings back that childhood memory!
1980: this 19 yr old drummer heard this song for the first time, and already a Rush fan, but was so blown away by it that I new I had made no mistake choosing this as my favorite band! Your description of it was so perfect in every way. RIP Neal. Thank you for your amazing gift to my life. I was so blessed to have been alive during their long and wonderful career. Perfection personified.
Always have fun with your reactions 😄 Rush became one of my favorite bands really really fast. Such an unique bands with brilliant musicians. Permanent Waves, which features this song, is a banger, but nothing beats their 70's stuff. Highly recommend the songs Something For Nothing or Anthem. All high quality songs
It's simply an awesome track. Incredible transitions, lyrical heft, and amazing musicianship. Will always remember how blown away I was the first time I heard it.
I found your channel with your Pink Floyd reactions, excited that your getting into some Rush, one of the greatest bands to come from Canada, amazing talent! Love your reaction videos keep them coming!
Two things: First, this video was created only 6 years ago, a long time after this song was created. The video is absolutely incredible, fun, dynamic, and one of their absolute best songs ever. Second, just 3 guys to make all this music is almost impossible. The music is complete and you know these three life long friends have created a forever legacy. 300 years from now, their music will still be awesome. Finally, during the 70's and 80's - tons of songs were created as 3 stanza songs - in other words - songs which would blend different genres and take you on a different journey than where you started. Some examples of this are Paul McCartney's Wings song Band on the Run, The Beatles song A Day in the Life, and Pink Floyd songs from Dark Side of the Moon.
I love all your reactions but especially your RUSH reactions they are my favourite band!!! I love how much you appreciate the talent and musicianship of Rush.When Neil passed I wept like a baby, your reaction with the empty drum kit got me 😢
Rush would often think very deeply about the lyrics that Neil was creating and then try to capture those words with the soundtrack of the song. In this instance, as Neil was talking about the almost miracle of radio being able to provide music in your room or your car (think back to living in a small village in a rural area a few hundred years ago - if you didn’t have anyone with an instrument or musical education you’d live entirely without music beyond singing), and then shifted into the issue of trying to honour music by creating original songs in a system that often rewards following where others have gone. To illustrate his lyrics the opening guitar riff and tone evokes Morse Code over telegraph lines and static-y AM radio. Then they have this incredible burst of a drumroll with bass and guitar tumbling along to imitate the sound of changing stations on an old car radio, especially with the fact that the music changes genre from before that drumroll to after it.
I have been suggestion RUSH for over a month now . . I am thankful that you are reacting to this band . . . Thank you!! These are Canadian Musical geniuses . . . The best of the best!! Good luck in going down this wild rabbit hole. . . Keep going . . Your channel ROCKS!!!!
It means so much to me that you found RUSH and dig them as much as us older fans do! I got hooked on Moving Pictures in 1982 (my friend Paul turned me on, thanks Paul!) and I've been a fan ever since, and saw them many times live over the 90s - 2015). I'm a drummer and Neil was an inspiration to so many of us out here; Anyway, if you like RUSH, you might want to consider checking out and reacting to YES as your next musical adventure (if you haven't discovered them already!) - Anything off "Fragile" or "Close To The Edge" - it will blow your mind (and you'll hear the influence they had on RUSH). Thanks again for your reactions to RUSH \w/ !!! Rock on Stacey RPG
My big brother showed me this record when I was a kid. Watching you discover this music and enjoy it brings back a lot of memories. I'm not crying you are crying.
This is quintessential Rush, high energy, high spirit and technically masterful. No shame in the feels. we all feel it with his loss. A song that really drives home the loss, "The Garden", last song on the last album.
Thanks Stacey - this was great and I love how much you love these guys. I'm 59 and got to see them 3 times over the years. What's next? I never saw Geddy do that one hand clapping thing before this video, but I read somebody say he did that with one hand to get the audience to clap. I think he was playing keyboard with the other hand.
YES! Oh yeah....this is a freakin excellent piece by one of the best bands ever!! 🔥😎🤘🔥 The lyrics, the amazing sound from their talent...coupled with this fantastic video.
They were equally good live, with every song being played note for note! To top their music off, they were/are phenomenal people off stage... no attitude or narcissism whatsoever! They always had the utmost respect for one another, as well as each other! There are reasons why they are referred to as the best of the best...
At five minutes in she was hypnotized. Music is enough but add video and we are all but a few are making hand puppets. RIP Neil. Love Rush and great reaction.
RIP my favorite drummer of all time. Funny thing is, he never rode the tour bus him and his friends would always ride their motorcycles to the next concerts I can’t even imagine the miles that Neil and his friends rode on their motorcycles all those years riding to the next gig that’s all I can picture him doing now I’m a guy and I’m not afraid to say that I love that man he literally changed my life and this entire band
The thing he's singing about has long since become extinct. FM at the end of the 60's and through the 70's was magical. They'd do maybe 2 commercials and hour and the only station breaks were to describe what they just played or were about to play. All gone...
My first Rush show was in 1979 as they prepared to go into the studio to record Permanent Waves. They played Spirit of Radio and Freewill but in slightly different unfinished versions than they finally were on the album. I walked out of the show as a Rush fan for life.
This animation video pays tribute to the DJ's who put RUSH on the radio. CFNY is their local station in Toronto. Donna Halper was a DJ at WMMS in Cleveland who pushed their first big hit "working man" on the airwaves when RUSH was a completely unknown band...
Cool reaction. Glad you are digging Rush, a once in a lifetime last of their kind band. I was fortunate to see them live 13 (lucky) times, all here in Toronto their hometown. I look forward to more of your unique reactions to this great band!
The hand movement became a live concert thing we did during that section of the song early on till the last concert. Seeing the whole audience doing it was cool AF.
Stacey, great video reactions. All your videos show how open and emotional you get watching and listening to each group and individual for what they bring to the world through their music. Rush has been my favorite group since 1980, having heard 'Circumstances' on the radio and wearing out my cassette tape on my Walkman, back in the day. Neil is a once-in-a-life musical magician, sorely missed. I want to suggest you watch a video of their last concert tour in 2015 : The R40 Tour. The song is 'Jacob's Ladder', and it's a song they very rarely played in concert.. I hope you enjoy..... And keep smiling..
I saw them in the uk on their exit stage left tour. this was the first live tour in history to use background video. they were innovators in so many ways. seeing Neil drumming to red barchetta with the backdrop of that car racing on the road. exhilerating beyond words. unforgettable.
Wow,i have to say that of all the people that i have watched in their reaction to my favorite band,i have never seen anybody "get it" about Rush so fully and be able to vocalize how they feel and how they process this band than you,you are seeing the really important aspects about them and are probobly realizing that in the vast worthless desert that music sometimes can be,Rush is like cool water to a person dying of thirst. Good on ya!
Many of us grew up on the randomness of music from our favorite radio stations. If we were lucky, we had our friends or our friends had the albums of our favorite bands. A playlist was not part of our music experience until we could record on to cassettes our favorite songs. Today, my local rock station is corperate owned. It doesn't play live versions like it did. It only plays a fraction of the songs and artists it once did. I never hear Love to Love by UFO like I did. Sadly, the experience of learning about music and bands can mo longer be found on it. Small towns seem to have more freedom on their airwaves. I love that! Thank you for reacting to this.
I miss 70's and 80's radio, I also miss Steve Wright, a radio presenter who did an epic afternoon radio show from '89 when I was out and about on the road as a telecoms engineer!
The words of the profits were written on the studio walls........ CONCERT HALL!!! I think this line was inspired by Simon and Garfunkle's Sounds of Silence. The line in the latter song was "the words of the prophets were written on the subway walls, and tenement halls.
The very last part of the video clip always gets to me, too. I've loved Rush since '89, but I was still surprised by myself bursting into tears when hearing the sad news of Neil's passing. As for the "lobster claws", Geddy had indeed done those during numerous live shows, with the audience doing them back at the band 😀 No deeper meaning, just an alternative to hand-clapping, I believe 😊
R.I.P. "The Professor" Neil Peart. He gave us so much with his talent, and will always be missed.
Amen to that
Sure we miss him 😢
And he wanted nothing in return for his efforts, aside from his own satisfaction. An absolute man among men.
Every time I see this video and I see the empty drum kit at the end, I still get a lump in my throat. Sadness.
them was professor
Their disdain for the business of radio was shown when the label asked them to make a more radio friendly album, so they released 2112. A 24 minute epic that is not radio friendly, but a masterpiece. These guys embodied artistic integrity.
Also, the tempo changes and style changes in this song are meant to signify the listener changing the radio stations.
The 2112 F you to the record company was fantastic!
This line always gets to me… “But glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity.” Neil Peart was an absolute genius. Great reaction to a great band, Stacey. ❤❤❤🙏🙏😊
"Caught in the camera's eye. I have no heart to lie. I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend."
@@gregsteele806 Limelight?
@@rranger1014 Yep
"For the words of the profits
Were written on the studio wall
Concert hall"
A reference to lyrics from "The Sound of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel:
"The words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
In tenement halls"
@@JPMadden killer
😔 That last image gets ALL of us teary eyed. 🤗 You are NOT alone. 🥁 RIP Professor 🙏🏿🐰
im noooot crying ur.
Every. Damn. Time. Someone's cutting onions.
I was about to say the same thing.
Stacey, every Rush fan around the world, shed tears when we lost Neil. RIP Neal !
The first one.@@glennjpanting2081
It's the first one.
PS - Many fans, myself included, choke up whenever we see this video (which was produced within a year of Neil's death).
"One likes to believe in the freedom of music
But glittering prizes and endless compromises
Shatter the illusion of integrity... yeah"
2:59 Donna helper was the DJ that introduced the states to Rush. She was looking for a “bathroom song” which was a song long enough to start, run to the bathroom, and get back before it was over. She dropped the needle on Working Man on the Cleveland radio station and the rest is history.
at 8:37 on the neck of the guitar it says 100.7 which is the frequency of the radio station WMMS where Donna Halper worked.
@@moecrew88 wow!!
@@moecrew88 I wondered if that was the one. 102.1 is also listed which is CFNYin Toronto. By now, I'm sure everyone knows they were known as "The Spirit of Radio".
I am 60 years old and Neil Peart was the first time I literally cried at the passing of a celebrity.
That empty drum kit and the little message gets me every time.
Yes, they were going for changing the channel on the radio. Good ear!
I enjoyed your reaction.
They're right, the radio introduced us kids to every kinda music in the 70's! I miss those days!
Hello from Canada. Home of RUSH! Super cool you getting into the band.
RIP to the Professor Neil Peart. We lost him 5 years ago today. 😢
What an impressive reaction. You conveyed the emotion most Rush fans feel in the most genuine and respectful way. Focusing on the empty drum kit is, to some, the most important part and it was beautiful how you demonstrated that.
I'm assuming by now many people must have suggested you listen and watch Neil's R30 drum solo filmed in Frankfurt. It was particularly composed by Neil to be an exploration of his journey as an artist and musician. He takes segments from past solos and weaves them into a engaging performance. A must watch! Cheers.
Neil pretty much wrote or co-wrote most of the songs, he is a master, RIP, God would be so happy you're there with him playing on.
Been a Rush fan since the mid 1970's. A band like none other, PERIOD!! The drumming/percussion and lyrical abilities of the Professor Neil Peart are unmatched in music history not to mention Geddies bass playing and Alexs' guitar playing prowess and personality. No matter my age, Rush will always fulfill my need for damn good and meaningful music!!!
Been a fan since early 70's myself!
The younger generation will never have the feeling of anticipation for a new record hitting the record stores. Smelling the new album cover and the vinyl record. It was such a great time for music.
I love how you know talent when you hear it, this is one of the most talented bands of all time
It doesn't matter if you don't have the proper music terminology or whatnot. It is perfectly clear to me that this music moved you. This was a great reaction. Thank you!
One of the things you seemed to enjoy, but probably didn't understand the reference - Pirate Radio. Back in the day, the BBC only played pop music for a short time during the day. So to pick up the slack, some enterprising folks set up a radio station on a boat far enough off the coast that they were in international waters and didn't have to live by Britain's broadcasting rules. There's a fictional movie based on that, 'Pirate Radio' with Philip Seymour Hoffman, also released as 'The Boat That Rocked'. I haven't seen it in forever, but I seem to remember it being entertaining.
The Boat that Rocked is a very funny (imo) movie, well worth a watch for sure.
It's also how a lot of Dutch radio stations started, Radio Veronica for instance broadcast off shore for 14 years between 1960 and 1974 before shutting down when the laws changed and eventually reopened as a legitimate radio station that still operates today
The movie was reasonably accurate in capturing the tone and spirit of the people involved if not every fact. Pirate Radio was such a huge deal in music history. A lot of underground music came out of London in that era and the decade or two that followed.
Those Transitions is why they are the Kings of Prog. Rock. FLAWLESS!!! You need to watch Neil’s drum solo live in Frankfurt.
You are definitely a BEAUTIFUL SENSITIVE SOUL Stacey 👌🧡. Your reaction to the final "farewell" to Neil says a lot about you. Thank you for sharing the REAL YOU with us.
I told my self I wasn't going to cry this time.... but yeah that end gets me every time. Who is cutting onions????
Their most beautiful song is The Garden live with a backing orchestra.
Beware its a Heartbreaker
Well done Stacey. You are a breath of fresh air here on TH-cam - taste, beauty, brains and a kind heart to match.
Beauty
Two great quotes I will always love about Rush- 1) "The only three-piece that can sound like an orchestra" and 2) "The greatest guitarist, bassist and drummer in Canada, and they all wound up in the same band."
My fav band, my fellow Canadians, and three of the most talented musician in the world :)
Not just great musicians but they have been amazing ambassadors for Canada. Always proud of being Canadian and such humble people. They always wore their Order of Canada pins proudly. I can't think of any other band that has gone on for so long without any conflict and attitude between them. Bothers in music and eternal friends.
"Some people are meant to CHANGE THE WORLD for the BETTER.".... Neil "The Professor" Peart was one of those people. No Cap. PERIOD. MIC DROP 🎤.
Hey Stacey! Rush is a band with a dedicated following. Their music is complex and requires a certain depth of appreciation. It's like appreciating a fine piece of art-the more you understand, the more you get from it. They used to be called "The three-man orchestra," with each member bringing something irreplaceable to the table. "The Spirit of Radio" is a classic. Rush is just Rush. They deliver in every album. Geddy on the bass and keyboards is amazing and is recognized as one of the best in rock. Lifeson's guitar playing is wonderful and Neil, of course, is considered the best drummer ever and an amazing lyricist. I saw them live in 2007 in Houston. They kick off the show with "The Spirit of Radio." I have that memory stuck in my mind! Thanks again, Stacey, for another great surprise reaction! Cheers and keep it up! Thanks!
One of my absolute favorite lyrics in any song "One likes to believe in the freedom of music, but glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity" and I love they reference all the great DJ's that started it all, especially Pirate Radio (what a fun movie too ). The early DJ's were true rebels and played what they wanted. Wolfman Jack had to broadcast from Mexico, Pirate Radio having to be on a ship and off shore and all the other Pirate radio stations dodging regulators.
I grew up around Toronto, CFNY FM was a local radio station that was dedicated to playing local and avant guard artists. Their tag line was ‘the spirit of radio. This track is tribute to the station and a cleverly, if somewhat thinly veiled means of getting some airplay😁🤗
You remind me of a girl that I pulled out of a stampede at a Rush concert at the Toledo sports arena on the moving pictures tour. General Admission on the floor. The crowd got to swaying back and forth. From fun to people getting knocked over and trampled.
I just remember watching this girl fan in front of me getting knocked down then getting trampled.
I grabbed her hand and pulled her backwards out of the chaos.
"Thanks for saving me"....
I'll never forget that moment.
We enjoyed the rest of the show together.
Wonderful night
Heard this song when It first came out on vinyl back in the day. Went to a Rush Concert - Had front row seats - right in front of the speakers! Moved to an empty seat waay back and ducked down. Rush concerts were VERY LOUD!!!
WHAT?!
I got to see Rush live once - talk about Spirit of the Radio! They played for two hours and they were all songs you hear on the radio. It was hit after hit after hit; total Rush party and it was the jam. RIP Neil. ❤
My morning song! A great song to get your blood flowing before a long day!
"Begin the day with a friendly voice......"
I did this song with Sue and Sandy from kick it out! It took five people to recreate this!!! It's such a complex and hard song, like all of Rush's songs are!!!!!!! Like I said, they are PROGRESSIVE rock! Like how they went into a reggae-like groove near the end of this! Seamlessly!!!!!!! And, I COMPLETELY AGREE! ... From your reaction... It ABSOLUTELY ENDS TOO SOON!!!!!!!!!!🙀😾😿😸 And, about the video... And eerie precursor! Done WAY BEFORE Neil passed away!!!!!!! Slightly away from the discussion, but still VERY RELEVANT... LITERALLY EVERY MEMBER of a band is ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL to the sound! You can't, and I mean CAN'T replace one and have the band sound the same!!!! Short of Jason Bonham filling in for his dad with led Zeppelin, that is!!!!!!!!!!
This video was put out after Neil’s death in honor of their brother. The duck hands teddy does in the video was something he did during the song live when not playing his bass. Neil’s playing in this group wasn’t just a back beat keeping time, his drumming was another instrument helping to tell the story of the song, thus his massive drum kit with so many different sounds
Been a Rush fan since the 70's. Always heartwarming to see a new generation experience them. 3 perfectionists in one band.
CFNY-FM (4:09) was a Toronto radio station with the positioning line: "the spirit of radio". An independent station with an eclectic approach to music programing, and yes Rush was well represented there. Many of the names in the video are of DJ's we listened to in the 70's and 80's. Growing up in the area and listening to this song now always brings me right back to that time.
Was? CFNY is still on the air and hasn't stopped. I listen to it every day.
Rest In Peace, Mr. Neil Peart. Not only navigating his incredible drum kit, but also composing the lyrics for all of these amazing songs!🎶🎸🥁
Your sensitivity and the emotion you showed at the end brought tears to my eyes. I grew up to Rush and they have always been my favorite. I saw them in concert five times from my childhood to shortly before their final tour, and I am in my 50s now. I met both Alex and Neil at different times in my life and they were nothing but incredible people. Geddy is my idle and the reason I started playing bass. Someday I hope to meet him as well and thank him for all the joy Rush has brought me.
This song was my introduction to Power Trio in 1981
I became a fan at that moment and Rush is my favorite band
Your reaction moved me a lot and your definition of the band was perfect.
The signature and time changes alone in this song are just amazing. I think most of us who grew up with the early days of FM music had that one DJ who was the Spirit of Radio for us.
Our local college WVU had a station and I think it was Friday nights the DJ would play a deep track or even an album side of something not main stream.
This was the 1st Rush song I ever heard, way back in the early 80s. Still gives me spine tingles every time I hear it!
Another great reaction.
Thank you for sharing your emotions. I cry with many Rush reactions if the reactor “gets it” and can appreciate their genius. What most people don’t understand is that for many of us percussionists we lost a mentor, teacher and although one sided, a friend of 40 years. I still cry sometimes when I hear a Rush song. That he was a drum god but so humble and meek, only adds to the mystique and the pain.
Thank you for appreciating them!! You are special too💜
This was the very first rock song I ever heard. On a bus on my way to high school. I thought it was awesome.
Just the idea that Neil came up with nearly all the lyrics for the songs and created the tight knit web of all three musicians. It showed forth in the details of his playing. For the others to equal the talents of his contributions would always push the boundaries of their individual styles. Outstanding musicianship...Thanks! and continue to explore...
Your reaction was genuine. The animation was released as a tribute to him. Neil wrote those lyrics & embodied every word. He was a master lyricist & drummer & a great artist.
Keep pumping out great content stacey 👌🏽
What a lot of people didn't realize the first time they listened to this version of the song was it was made by the band after Neil's passing in 2020. According to Neil, "it 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." BUT, there are references to what was bad, especially from the record companies..."....Glittering prizes and endless compromises"..........they just wanted quick, short hit songs so the "salesman" could get them out & make more $$$...."The words of the profits are written on the studio walls....". As always, RIP to "The Professor".
Great reaction, Stacey. You nailed the theme of the song when talking about the transitions. This is both a tribute to the power of radio, and the video is a tribute to the early DJs back in the days of what was known as AOR (album-oriented rock) would play Rush for audiences that hadn't heard the band before. I believe those specific DJs were mostly in Toronto, which is the band's "home town" (if memory serves).
Great music should always bring an emotional reaction if you have a heart, and I think the little tribute at the end of this video brings a tear to the eye of every fan. We are blessed that we lived in an era when we can hear their music, and the sadness we feel when remembering Neal has passed reminds us just how much the music of this band has meant to us over the years (or even over the last few months for fans like yourself who are still discovering their catalog). Keep up the great reactions!
Wow, that was an amazing song and one I don't think I had heard before. Thank you for bringing it to my attention and I loved your reaction and engagement and also highlighting what the band members were each doing!
She was right on that they musically constructed the song to be reminiscent of the old school variety of music on the radio from one station to the next.
Also the opening guitar part is supposed to sound like crackling airwaves.
I've yet to see someone react to The Spirit of Radio and not smile. If you watch a live performance you can see Alex pick the bass part with his feet while Geddy is clapping hands over his head. When you get around to Rush again, I would HIGHLY recommend Limelight - the live performance from the Snakes and Arrows tour. It's outstanding.
I just found your channel and have now watched 4 or 5 of your reactions. I can honestly say I have not witnessed such an intuitive response to our music from a young person until now. Thank you for your great reactions!
Bob Coburn & Jim Ladd got started on a station called KMET out of LA. I grew up listening to them. May they R.I.P.
@danb2020. Tom Petty wrote a song called The Last D.J. ( who plays what he wants to play ). Was about or at least based on Jim Ladd. 👍
@mike-jm9rs Jim Ladd came back to radio long after doing "free form radio." There is an animated video of The Spirit of Radio, where they are also shown. There's also a female DJ who I think was supposed to be Shauna. KMET was the best!
Three musical geniuses playing three different perspectives on a song, and their combinant sounds make a fourth, the finished project. Absolute craftsmen of the highest order. Often referred to as "the thinking man's (and woman's) heavy metal band".
Neil Peart (Pratt) - Drums and percussion: The Professor
Geddy Lee (Dirk) - Bass, keyboards, Taurus pedals, etc.: Beer Scientist
Alex Lifeson (Lerxst) - Guitars, acoustic guitar, mandoling, etc.: Beer Tester
Just three humble hosers . . . like . . . they're Canadian eh! RIP Professor. You are dearly missed.
Great reaction to the greatest band of all time!! This song parallels the experience of surfing various radio stations, emulating various styles of music. BTW, the little lobster hands, is a thing Geddy did live. It was a rare moment when his hands were free (no bass, no keyboards), but was still singing and playing keyboards with his feet (moog pedals).
People forget that Alex was often playing pedals too - that was another dimension to their big live sound.
@@patrickmcevoy5080 Oh yeah, he even briefly played keyboards live for Time Stand Still, but he also had alot of his own effects pedals, like the Flanger in the opening of this song, and the wah wah during this solo. Most underrated and awesome guitar player!!
Sometimes in concert for a while after they wrote that song, Geddy would do the little hand thing at the same point in the song you see in the video. It was an odd little thing he'd do and part of their charm. People in the audience would do it along with him. This is one of their classics. It was instantly loved and embraced by the fans and is one of our favorites. It's also the Rushiest of Rush songs. It has every quirk and trait they're known for, all crammed into one fun and tight little package.
He’s prompting the audience to clap.
The Professor was amazing. Chief songwriter as well as one man doing the work of four back there on drums and percussion. He was so flawless and so precise! Watch his drum solo from Frankfurt and be astounded that as machine fast he's going his every strike was absolutely precise on the sweet spot for each freaking note, especially when playing the xylophone with its small strike plates and yet he was absolutely precise when playing those. An amazing and incredibly talented trio of musicians. They deserve to be legendary.
Always listen to RUSH with lyrics on or on yr side.
WELCOME TO #RUSHFAMILY
I remember my brother practicing bass and just jamming this song at 6 am before school. That was my introduction to Rush and I’ve been such a huge fan since. LOVE THIS SONG as it always brings back that childhood memory!
1980: this 19 yr old drummer heard this song for the first time, and already a Rush fan, but was so blown away by it that I new I had made no mistake choosing this as my favorite band! Your description of it was so perfect in every way. RIP Neal. Thank you for your amazing gift to my life. I was so blessed to have been alive during their long and wonderful career. Perfection personified.
Always have fun with your reactions 😄
Rush became one of my favorite bands really really fast. Such an unique bands with brilliant musicians. Permanent Waves, which features this song, is a banger, but nothing beats their 70's stuff. Highly recommend the songs Something For Nothing or Anthem. All high quality songs
It's simply an awesome track. Incredible transitions, lyrical heft, and amazing musicianship. Will always remember how blown away I was the first time I heard it.
I listened to this 1.000.000 times when I was young, today maybe it Was the Best because of your reaction !!! Saludos from Barcelona, Spain
I found your channel with your Pink Floyd reactions, excited that your getting into some Rush, one of the greatest bands to come from Canada, amazing talent! Love your reaction videos keep them coming!
Two things:
First, this video was created only 6 years ago, a long time after this song was created. The video is absolutely incredible, fun, dynamic, and one of their absolute best songs ever.
Second, just 3 guys to make all this music is almost impossible. The music is complete and you know these three life long friends have created a forever legacy. 300 years from now, their music will still be awesome.
Finally, during the 70's and 80's - tons of songs were created as 3 stanza songs - in other words - songs which would blend different genres and take you on a different journey than where you started. Some examples of this are Paul McCartney's Wings song Band on the Run, The Beatles song A Day in the Life, and Pink Floyd songs from Dark Side of the Moon.
I love all your reactions but especially your RUSH reactions they are my favourite band!!! I love how much you appreciate the talent and musicianship of Rush.When Neil passed I wept like a baby, your reaction with the empty drum kit got me 😢
Rush would often think very deeply about the lyrics that Neil was creating and then try to capture those words with the soundtrack of the song.
In this instance, as Neil was talking about the almost miracle of radio being able to provide music in your room or your car (think back to living in a small village in a rural area a few hundred years ago - if you didn’t have anyone with an instrument or musical education you’d live entirely without music beyond singing), and then shifted into the issue of trying to honour music by creating original songs in a system that often rewards following where others have gone.
To illustrate his lyrics the opening guitar riff and tone evokes Morse Code over telegraph lines and static-y AM radio. Then they have this incredible burst of a drumroll with bass and guitar tumbling along to imitate the sound of changing stations on an old car radio, especially with the fact that the music changes genre from before that drumroll to after it.
Something tells me you'd like "Jacob's Ladder". Though not as popular as some other Rush tunes, it is emotionally appealing in a unique way.
Definitely!!
Neil didn't just play the kit, of course - he also wrote most of Rush's lyrics.
I have been suggestion RUSH for over a month now . . I am thankful that you are reacting to this band . . . Thank you!! These are Canadian Musical geniuses . . . The best of the best!! Good luck in going down this wild rabbit hole. . . Keep going . . Your channel ROCKS!!!!
You're reaction to the changes in the song...chef's kiss. Also, great catch about the changes illustrating changing radio stations.
It means so much to me that you found RUSH and dig them as much as us older fans do! I got hooked on Moving Pictures in 1982 (my friend Paul turned me on, thanks Paul!) and I've been a fan ever since, and saw them many times live over the 90s - 2015). I'm a drummer and Neil was an inspiration to so many of us out here; Anyway, if you like RUSH, you might want to consider checking out and reacting to YES as your next musical adventure (if you haven't discovered them already!) - Anything off "Fragile" or "Close To The Edge" - it will blow your mind (and you'll hear the influence they had on RUSH). Thanks again for your reactions to RUSH \w/ !!! Rock on Stacey RPG
My big brother showed me this record when I was a kid. Watching you discover this music and enjoy it brings back a lot of memories. I'm not crying you are crying.
This is quintessential Rush, high energy, high spirit and technically masterful. No shame in the feels. we all feel it with his loss. A song that really drives home the loss, "The Garden", last song on the last album.
This is in my top 5 fave RUSH songs. Your reaction is intelligent and inspired 💙
Thanks Stacey - this was great and I love how much you love these guys. I'm 59 and got to see them 3 times over the years. What's next? I never saw Geddy do that one hand clapping thing before this video, but I read somebody say he did that with one hand to get the audience to clap. I think he was playing keyboard with the other hand.
Geddy made that hand gesture to get the crowd to sing along, but instead they did it back to him. It became a thing. 😂
YES! Oh yeah....this is a freakin excellent piece by one of the best bands ever!! 🔥😎🤘🔥 The lyrics, the amazing sound from their talent...coupled with this fantastic video.
Stacey, it is so heartwarming to have a new Rush fan in our community! Welcome!
They were equally good live, with every song being played note for note! To top their music off, they were/are phenomenal people off stage... no attitude or narcissism whatsoever! They always had the utmost respect for one another, as well as each other! There are reasons why they are referred to as the best of the best...
At five minutes in she was hypnotized. Music is enough but add video and we are all but a few are making hand puppets. RIP Neil. Love Rush and great reaction.
RIP my favorite drummer of all time. Funny thing is, he never rode the tour bus him and his friends would always ride their motorcycles to the next concerts I can’t even imagine the miles that Neil and his friends rode on their motorcycles all those years riding to the next gig that’s all I can picture him doing now I’m a guy and I’m not afraid to say that I love that man he literally changed my life and this entire band
The thing he's singing about has long since become extinct. FM at the end of the 60's and through the 70's was magical. They'd do maybe 2 commercials and hour and the only station breaks were to describe what they just played or were about to play.
All gone...
Bonjour Stacey ❤!!! I so like Rush 😍!! Thanks for this song 🤩!!! Perfect as always !!! 🥰🥰🥰🎸🎸🎸
One of the rare songs that’s even better live, no surprise since RUSH is great live. The version on Exit Stage Left is incredible!
My first Rush show was in 1979 as they prepared to go into the studio to record Permanent Waves. They played Spirit of Radio and Freewill but in slightly different unfinished versions than they finally were on the album. I walked out of the show as a Rush fan for life.
One of the best songs from rush! Thank you very much for your reaction
This animation video pays tribute to the DJ's who put RUSH on the radio. CFNY is their local station in Toronto. Donna Halper was a DJ at WMMS in Cleveland who pushed their first big hit "working man" on the airwaves when RUSH was a completely unknown band...
Cool reaction. Glad you are digging Rush, a once in a lifetime last of their kind band.
I was fortunate to see them live 13 (lucky) times, all here in Toronto their hometown.
I look forward to more of your unique reactions to this great band!
I love that you love this band. So much more to explore. You should look into their friendship and you’ll know why they click the way they do.
They were SO AMAZING live!! "Spirit" and "Freewill" are my two favorite Rush songs!!
Beautiful reaction to Rush. So many great albums.
The hand movement became a live concert thing we did during that section of the song early on till the last concert. Seeing the whole audience doing it was cool AF.
Stacey, great video reactions. All your videos show how open and emotional you get watching and listening to each group and individual for what they bring to the world through their music. Rush has been my favorite group since 1980, having heard 'Circumstances' on the radio and wearing out my cassette tape on my Walkman, back in the day. Neil is a once-in-a-life musical magician, sorely missed. I want to suggest you watch a video of their last concert tour in 2015 : The R40 Tour. The song is 'Jacob's Ladder', and it's a song they very rarely played in concert.. I hope you enjoy..... And keep smiling..
I saw them in the uk on their exit stage left tour. this was the first live tour in history to use background video. they were innovators in so many ways. seeing Neil drumming to red barchetta with the backdrop of that car racing on the road. exhilerating beyond words. unforgettable.
The song was released in 1980, the video was made around their R30 tour, (~2004).
every song on this album is worthy of a reaction vid
Wow,i have to say that of all the people that i have watched in their reaction to my favorite band,i have never seen anybody "get it" about Rush so fully and be able to vocalize how they feel and how they process this band than you,you are seeing the really important aspects about them and are probobly realizing that in the vast worthless desert that music sometimes can be,Rush is like cool water to a person dying of thirst. Good on ya!
Many of us grew up on the randomness of music from our favorite radio stations. If we were lucky, we had our friends or our friends had the albums of our favorite bands. A playlist was not part of our music experience until we could record on to cassettes our favorite songs. Today, my local rock station is corperate owned. It doesn't play live versions like it did. It only plays a fraction of the songs and artists it once did. I never hear Love to Love by UFO like I did. Sadly, the experience of learning about music and bands can mo longer be found on it. Small towns seem to have more freedom on their airwaves. I love that! Thank you for reacting to this.
I miss 70's and 80's radio, I also miss Steve Wright, a radio presenter who did an epic afternoon radio show from '89 when I was out and about on the road as a telecoms engineer!
The words of the profits were written on the studio walls........ CONCERT HALL!!! I think this line was inspired by Simon and Garfunkle's Sounds of Silence. The line in the latter song was "the words of the prophets were written on the subway walls, and tenement halls.
The very last part of the video clip always gets to me, too.
I've loved Rush since '89, but I was still surprised by myself bursting into tears when hearing the sad news of Neil's passing.
As for the "lobster claws", Geddy had indeed done those during numerous live shows, with the audience doing them back at the band 😀 No deeper meaning, just an alternative to hand-clapping, I believe 😊