This was written by Neil at a time when Rush was becoming very popular. Neil was a very private person and was somewhat shy. He found the newfound fame and people approaching him like they knew him very difficult, and he wrote about it here. Geddy and Alex, over time, learned how to deal with it better and are happy meeting fans as long as the fans themselves are polite. This song is a favorite. One that I STRONGLY recommend is one of the three songs that would ALWAYS get played at every concert and is one of their best and most loved: The Spirit of Radio. It's the one song more than any that encapsulates everything about them.
To add a bit to that. He took some criticism from fans back at that time and I think that's what prompted him to write this in the first place, because he was being accused of not being accessible enough. It seems strange to even think about now.
I'll also throw in 2-cents... Growing up I had an opportunity at age 4 to be in television commercials. My parents said no. As we (kids) grew our parents taught us not to idolize people, celebrities, etc. We all put on our pants the same way. As teens, just due to location where we lived there were celebrities here and there. Not once did I ask for an autograph. Not because I was told no but because I was taught they're normal people. Barely a few years after that at 15 being on stage and people started asking for autographs I always felt it was dorky. I wasn't even playing anything challenging let alone notable enough to warrant being treated like a famous celebrity. Seriously, I was playing old-time music, waltz's, polka's, country music some light jazz... Then asked can I play "Wipe Out?" Sure, so I did. (Then get asked for an autograph. Sorry but that song really isn't that hard.) But at home was playing Rush, Boston, Van Halen, Kiss, ZZ-Top, Led Zeppelin, The Who, or any top-40 on the radio. So yeah it felt dorky. When asked if I'd like to sing (some thought I had a real good voice) I said, no. I'd rather hide behind the drumset. That was my comfort zone. That was where I was totally confident and comfortable. Everyone reacts differently I guess.
Neil, the lyricist ( drummer ) wasn't comfortable with fan adoration, he's contrasting success with the negatives of popularity. It's SEEM ( pretend ) versus being real, he's saying you don't have to give up your humanity, but many people do for fame and fortune. There's a quote by Neil," I never wanted to be famous, I wanted to be good "
Why not both? Neil wasn't into the rock idol part of music, but he could sit and talk with other musicians endlessly. If he was approached by someone who gushed over him, he'd withdraw and distance himself. But if he was approached as more of an equal, he could be quite engaging.
In touch with some reality. It’s Neil saying he’s doing his absolute best to not be a rock star but rather a a guy who like everybody else, has a job they go to. He tries to perform that job to the best of his personal abilities and when he’s done with the work, he wants to leave the stage (the job) behind and just be a guy, a friend, a husband and a dad. He was always appreciative of the accolades, but hated the notion of celebrity. He just wanted to be good at the job. Turns out as a drummer and lyricist, he was among the very best to ever have graced the planet.
I love how all is Rush dudes, always find ourselves defining the greatness of the band, all over the internet. Such a life changing band, lyrically, and musically. I discovered them I'm 1980, when I was 10. Till after years ago, when they would never produce music again, I couldn't imagine my life's journey without them. From Australia
Rush had about 100 most popular songs depending on what month, year or decade I listened to them and while I'm now over 60 and have been a fan since the 70's I'm still undecided on a favorite. Just depends on what kind of mood I'm in I guess.🤔 p.s you earn a sub just for covering my favorite band, keep up the good work. 😊
Rush has a massive catalog and are one of the best rock bands of all time. You will have fun going down the Rush rabbit hole. Do yourself a favour and listen to the live performances of the songs you have broken down, Rush is an amazing live band. Thanks for the fun breakdown.
For Neil the Drum er and lyric writer this song really expresses his feelings , His daughter died in a Car Crash then short,y after his wife passed from cancer , He really found it hard having to be in public so much many strangers asking him about his situation, He in no way was a snob he had a great heart helping others out but needed space to deal with his situation along with his very close friends at his side
You guys, the members of Rush don't all feel exactly the same as Neil felt when he wrote those lyrics. Geddy has said he developed over time to be much more comfortable with meeting fans and signing autographs and such. Neil is just a more private person, that's all. He's not anti-fan or a moody old curmudgeon, or anything. He's just private, humble, and shy. That's all. That said, he worked his ass off to play the best drums and write great lyrics, so Rush could be as successful as possible -- AND in dedication to those fans he really did love, you know?
It's definitely, 100% P-ear-T, not P-ur-T. Just search "Neil Peart name pronunciation" and you'll find an interview clip where Alex and Geddy explain it. The "ear" in P-ear-T rhymes with beer or fear or sheer or pier. There is no "urt" in P-ear-T. Saying it that way would only hurt! 😊 PS - There's a scene in the movie, I Love You Man, when characters played by Paul Rudd and Jason Segel meet Rush (the band was in town when the movie was filming, so they agreed to so a cameo). In that seen, Rudd and Segel's pronunciation of Peart's name is corrected by Peart himself, to which Rudd replies: "Are you sure, 'cause we're really big fans?!"
If you guys are into lyrics, I recommend Witch Hunt (same album) and Natural science (Permanent waves). Those 2 will knock your brains out. Still relevant 40+ years later ! Incredible.
Neil tended to hide away, while Alex and Geddy, who were buds from middle-school age, I think, leaned into the spotlight with fans and hammed it up! Later, Neil would get interviews and such, but in much calmer, 1 on 1 sort of atmosphere. You should react to some of their skits and appearances in movies, like “I love you, man!” with Jason Segel and Paul Rudd… 😂
"Those who wish to seem" popular or famous -- a universal dream --- it's definitely a dream for most, but very few achieve it. Those who wish to be or achieve life in the limelight need to put aside alienation -- they need to be authentic and connect with people (as much as possible) -- and get on with the fascination -- they need to be a child of wonder and fascination, to get the creative muse going and to reach for the stars, as it were.
An honest celebrity. Peart spoke from the heart on this one about how uncomfortable the adoration made him. Two people he describes here. Those who wish to seem are the posers who just want to be famous, and don't care as much about the craft. "Those that wish to be" are those who don;t seek stardom, but seek perfection in their craft.
One guitar. Three man group. Instrument you heard is keyboard played by bassist/lead singer Getty Lee. Played sometimes by foot by him and lead guitarist Alex Lifeson.
Way back in 1984, i went into the general store in Morin Heights Quebec, and I saw Neil Peart at the deli counter, because of this song, and stuff I had read, even though he's my favorite drummer and person in the whole world, I didn't approach him, just left him alone. That was my one and only chance to talk to him, now he's gone !
good move, although if you had simply walked up and held out your hand and said you enjoyed his playing, I think it would have gone well. Or if you had asked him a gear question; no musician can avoid talking about gear, lol. Neil didn't like the focus being on HIM, ie, 'you're so great.'
Neil Peart the drummer who was also the main lyrist for the band was a very shy and private person who felt uncomfortable with fame and the adoration that came with it. Rush is a great rabbit hole to go down especially if you are going to go through the lyrics. For the next song by them I would recommend Natural Science. I enjoyed your breakdown Cheers
I would just add to your break down. I think the real relation the underlying theme. Is just keeping on with the thing you love doing that has made you famous. In this case the music is the underlying theme. I don’t think they were looking for sympathy because they genuinely love the music and fame is the part you have to deal with. We are all audiences to our circles of friends. We should find joy in that small fame. Because fame just to have fame is not all that it’s cracked up to be if you don’t have the underlying theme. Otherwise I think your breakdown is spot on.
Those who wish to seem are the ones who want to be famous. Those who wish to be are the artists/musicians etc who need to get on with the business of pursuing their art and ignoring the noise around them. The pursuit of the art is the underlying theme
He's implying that those to want to be famous want to 'seem' a certain way but for those that wish to BE rather than seem, they need to get on with their authentic lives (as he (Neil Peart, the lyricist) did).
Overdubbing is a studio method where a musician lays down something and then records on top of it. When he plays that solo live he records the very end of it and loops it using a foot pedal, which keeps the last note echoing in the background while he moves into "the police" part of the song ( that melody is played throughout the song by the way, each time you hear the phrase "living in the limelight the universal dream" he plays it, just can't hear it as well because there are vocals on top of it).
FYI "The Gilded Cage" was Neil's drum set. So, the line "in touch with some reality beyond the gilded cage" was about being able to see the reality of the audience from his drum set, but still not understand the situation he was in. This song was written from Neil's perspective about his dislike of fame. More that he was uncomfortable with fame. Neil loved writing and making music ("the underlying theme"). That was what he was happiest doing and didn't care about the fame so much. Neil was a private person with integrity, and it didn't feel right to him to be treated like someone important when there were so many really important people in the world. He felt that we knew him, but he didn't know us. He didn't want to pretend that he did. In a live concert tour, during the guitar solo, Alex would actually play all the guitar parts himself. He would play through the solo, and then when he got to the long continuing harmonic at the end, he would loop it and play it back, and start playing "the 80's old school guitar" as you put it.
Neil was introverted and extremely shy. And after the Tradigy involving his family, he quit Rush packed up his BMW adventure bike and rode around the world for 5 years. So the word 'Private' has been his Underlying Theme.
That "second guitar" is actually the same guitar. Alex plays the last note of the first part, clicks a switch to sustain (or loop) the last note, and another to change the guitar effect. The result is it sounds like the 'first guitar' is carrying on and a second comes in. P.S. It's Pea-ert 😊
In the studio, they used multi-track recording, which enabled Alex to play rhythm on one track and lead on another track. When they played live in a concert, though, Alex adapted his lead playing so that he could come in with the rhythm.
He may be talkin about that what he talks to regular people that always want to touch him and talk to him and be around him it's hard to be tactful. You have to be nice to your fans but sometimes it could feel like they just want more and more and more from you at a time he wants just want to tell them to go away but you can't do that and sometimes your ill-equipped to act with insufficient tact. And then you got to put up barriers to keep yourself intact just how I always took it love your channel thank you
Alex would hit that high note and hit a pedal on the floor that loops the note until he hits the pedal again to shut off the note. Incredible to see live, 3 guys.
Xanadu is an epic story song they released in the late 70's, which displays the bands individual musical talent. Find a live recording to see just how talanted all three of these musicians are/were!
Hey there. Can I say congrats on your recovery? Thanks for sharing. I lost a young son to addiction recently. 3Please please please stay strong, stay together and work the steps. You’re both worth it! Peace!
Pronounced "Peeer-tuh". A very private person who had a hard time dealing with fans & stardom. He wanted to make his music, and then go home, or ride his motorcycle......not do "meet & greets". And not just one of the world's greatest rock drummers....a percussionist. He wrote about 95% of all RUSH lyrics, and always wanted to convey a serious message. Listen to the entire "2112" saga.....as Neil wrote, it was based on "The genius of Ayn Rand", who he read about. He was a voracious reader, and also wrote 3 or 4 books himself. RIP Professor.
Neil was uncomfortable with fanboy/fangirl stuff and adoration. If you asked him about philosophy, the latest book he read or drumming technique/technology he would talk your ears off.
I found your breakdown rather interesting. Neil wrote Limelight as an expression of his discomfort with life in the public eye, as an introvert like myself, and as one who struggled with anxiety issues stemming from a near-drowning incident at the age of 10, as recalled in his book Travelling Music and in an online article from Rolling Stone Magazine. "One must put up barriers to keep oneself intact" speaks to how we need to set and maintain boundaries to preserve our mental energy and our privacy; "I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend" speaks to how we prefer to first establish a meaningful connection with someone new before we can feel comfortable allowing them into our personal space; and the chorus speaks to how extroverts are mainly driven by external validation, and think that they need to adopt a different personna to attract a large crowd of followers, while we mainly follow our own internal motivators and seek authenticity in ourselves and others. I also found your mention of Ariana Grande interesting. She has what's called extroverted feeling, meaning that she is very receptive to what others are feeling; I also have it as did Neil, although to a lesser extent behind our introverted traits. Great, insightful reaction; looking forward to seeing the two of you discover more of the best from Neil and his bandmates! 🎤 🎹 🎸 🥁 🎸 🐐 🐐 🐐
If you appreciate lyrics, you need to expand beyond 1981. Up til then, their lyrics were pretty run of the mill, with a few winners here and there (prior to 1980, you just get a bunch of fantasy BS like a Led Zeppelin wanna be band). Beyond that, nearly every other song hits a homerun in those terms.
Neil hated fame and all its superficiality and this song is how he felt and dealt with that aspect of it "I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend" sums it up, Neil and the other members just wanted to be the best musicians and deliver the best music performances for their own self satisfaction and high standards and if others appreciated that all well and good
First, congrats on 7 years! One day at a time! Second, great reaction - this is an absolute banger of a track, and with excellent meaning...which you will find is a hallmark of most of Rush's catalogue. Third, it's pronounced Peer-t (this is coming from the drummer himself - RIP Neil!) And finally, some future (hopefully near) considerations: Subdivisions (definitely check the lyrics on this one!); 2112 (a full-on story of a totalitarian world where music is banned, told in a 21 minute prog masterpiece); Red Sector A (about the holocaust)...and that's for starters.
The lyrics are really about trying to remain grounded and trying to have a normal life off of the stage, Neil loved his fans but was introverted about fame
(acting, in the limelight, in the gilded cage) is for those who wish to SEEM (not live in reality), those who wish to BE instead of SEEM, must put aside that alienation, get on with the fascination, the REAL relation, the underlying theme. It can apply to everyone. Those who are acting their way through life because they want to be someone they aren't are seeming to be. Those who wish to be have to put aside the barriers, stop play acting and be themselves. That is where the real fascination lies.
The band decided in the late 70's not to add another band member, & instead push themselves to play more instruments on the studio recordings & on stage for live shows. I saw live RUSH 6 times & wish I had seen them more!
The critical part in this lyric is the difference Peart finds between people who "wish to seem", and those "who wish to be". For the "seem" people, pretentious as they are, fame is the dream and the goal, even if it comes with diminishing returns. Those who wish "to be", however, understand that whatever differences there might be between the famous and the non famous, they aren't as substantial as the common links (relations) between them. Roger Waters addressed this very issue in The Wall, and came to the conclusion that the alienation is unconquerable.
You must separate the line, "Those who wish to seem," from "Those who wish to be." This is the separation of personalities. These guys just want to create and play music. They have proven this over 40 years. Others are not interested in "being," and only "seeming." They are portraying a ficticious persona for the purposes of gaining fame as its own goal.
Hi, You guys are great. forget about the bullshit from others and just get on with the fascination, the real relation, the underlying theme. Music wins for all of us. enjoy.
I read that the instrumentals/main riff is supposed to represent the excitement of being a rock star, which is contrasted by the lyrics which talk about the downside. Together, they're supposed paint the picture of the ups and downs of fame. If I were the add anything, its that during the chorus, the lyrics and the instruments are in unison about how to get through the experience by seeing the reality of how art and audience meet (?)
Those who think and feel and still in touch with reality are ill equipped to relent and succumb to the vapid branding of the music business, They were all serious readers, and their lyrics often touch on classism, disaffection with consumerism and the questions of honesty and authenticity..
you know you went on and on for four minutes before you started the song and i honestly couldnt tell you anything about what you said i was thinking i was going in a coma ,thank god the music started then it played a minute and you talke to the 11 minute mark and i came to the conclusion that you two are BURNT!!! Im outta here!!!People are DUM!!!!!
This was written by Neil at a time when Rush was becoming very popular. Neil was a very private person and was somewhat shy. He found the newfound fame and people approaching him like they knew him very difficult, and he wrote about it here. Geddy and Alex, over time, learned how to deal with it better and are happy meeting fans as long as the fans themselves are polite. This song is a favorite. One that I STRONGLY recommend is one of the three songs that would ALWAYS get played at every concert and is one of their best and most loved: The Spirit of Radio. It's the one song more than any that encapsulates everything about them.
To add a bit to that. He took some criticism from fans back at that time and I think that's what prompted him to write this in the first place, because he was being accused of not being accessible enough. It seems strange to even think about now.
Best lyrics EVER - "I can't pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend." That's Neil Peart in a nutshell.
I'll also throw in 2-cents...
Growing up I had an opportunity at age 4 to be in television commercials. My parents said no. As we (kids) grew our parents taught us not to idolize people, celebrities, etc. We all put on our pants the same way.
As teens, just due to location where we lived there were celebrities here and there. Not once did I ask for an autograph. Not because I was told no but because I was taught they're normal people.
Barely a few years after that at 15 being on stage and people started asking for autographs I always felt it was dorky. I wasn't even playing anything challenging let alone notable enough to warrant being treated like a famous celebrity.
Seriously, I was playing old-time music, waltz's, polka's, country music some light jazz... Then asked can I play "Wipe Out?" Sure, so I did. (Then get asked for an autograph. Sorry but that song really isn't that hard.) But at home was playing Rush, Boston, Van Halen, Kiss, ZZ-Top, Led Zeppelin, The Who, or any top-40 on the radio. So yeah it felt dorky.
When asked if I'd like to sing (some thought I had a real good voice) I said, no. I'd rather hide behind the drumset. That was my comfort zone. That was where I was totally confident and comfortable. Everyone reacts differently I guess.
3 members. 1 guitarist. 1 Bassist. 1. Drummer
and a lot of talent!
If you like lyrics, this is the band for you!
Neil, the lyricist ( drummer ) wasn't comfortable with fan adoration, he's contrasting success with the negatives of popularity.
It's SEEM ( pretend ) versus being real, he's saying you don't have to give up your humanity, but many people do for fame and fortune.
There's a quote by Neil," I never wanted to be famous, I wanted to be good "
Why not both?
Neil wasn't into the rock idol part of music, but he could sit and talk with other musicians endlessly. If he was approached by someone who gushed over him, he'd withdraw and distance himself. But if he was approached as more of an equal, he could be quite engaging.
In touch with some reality. It’s Neil saying he’s doing his absolute best to not be a rock star but rather a a guy who like everybody else, has a job they go to. He tries to perform that job to the best of his personal abilities and when he’s done with the work, he wants to leave the stage (the job) behind and just be a guy, a friend, a husband and a dad. He was always appreciative of the accolades, but hated the notion of celebrity. He just wanted to be good at the job. Turns out as a drummer and lyricist, he was among the very best to ever have graced the planet.
I love how all is Rush dudes, always find ourselves defining the greatness of the band, all over the internet. Such a life changing band, lyrically, and musically. I discovered them I'm 1980, when I was 10. Till after years ago, when they would never produce music again, I couldn't imagine my life's journey without them. From Australia
Rush had about 100 most popular songs depending on what month, year or decade I listened to them and while I'm now over 60 and have been a fan since the 70's I'm still undecided on a favorite. Just depends on what kind of mood I'm in I guess.🤔 p.s you earn a sub just for covering my favorite band, keep up the good work. 😊
Rush has a massive catalog and are one of the best rock bands of all time. You will have fun going down the Rush rabbit hole. Do yourself a favour and listen to the live performances of the songs you have broken down, Rush is an amazing live band. Thanks for the fun breakdown.
For Neil the Drum er and lyric writer this song really expresses his feelings , His daughter died in a Car Crash then short,y after his wife passed from cancer , He really found it hard having to be in public so much many strangers asking him about his situation, He in no way was a snob he had a great heart helping others out but needed space to deal with his situation along with his very close friends at his side
Really great assessment of the lyrics, guys! Great reaction! Rush is amazing. Keep going!
You guys, the members of Rush don't all feel exactly the same as Neil felt when he wrote those lyrics. Geddy has said he developed over time to be much more comfortable with meeting fans and signing autographs and such. Neil is just a more private person, that's all. He's not anti-fan or a moody old curmudgeon, or anything. He's just private, humble, and shy. That's all. That said, he worked his ass off to play the best drums and write great lyrics, so Rush could be as successful as possible -- AND in dedication to those fans he really did love, you know?
It's definitely, 100% P-ear-T, not P-ur-T. Just search "Neil Peart name pronunciation" and you'll find an interview clip where Alex and Geddy explain it.
The "ear" in P-ear-T rhymes with beer or fear or sheer or pier. There is no "urt" in P-ear-T. Saying it that way would only hurt! 😊
PS - There's a scene in the movie, I Love You Man, when characters played by Paul Rudd and Jason Segel meet Rush (the band was in town when the movie was filming, so they agreed to so a cameo). In that seen, Rudd and Segel's pronunciation of Peart's name is corrected by Peart himself, to which Rudd replies: "Are you sure, 'cause we're really big fans?!"
If you guys are into lyrics, I recommend Witch Hunt (same album) and Natural science (Permanent waves). Those 2 will knock your brains out. Still relevant 40+ years later ! Incredible.
Neil tended to hide away, while Alex and Geddy, who were buds from middle-school age, I think, leaned into the spotlight with fans and hammed it up! Later, Neil would get interviews and such, but in much calmer, 1 on 1 sort of atmosphere. You should react to some of their skits and appearances in movies, like “I love you, man!” with Jason Segel and Paul Rudd… 😂
Watch the dinner with all three guys at the end of Beyond the Lighted Stage. There was a reason they used The Three Stooges as their show intro.
"Those who wish to seem" popular or famous -- a universal dream --- it's definitely a dream for most, but very few achieve it. Those who wish to be or achieve life in the limelight need to put aside alienation -- they need to be authentic and connect with people (as much as possible) -- and get on with the fascination -- they need to be a child of wonder and fascination, to get the creative muse going and to reach for the stars, as it were.
An honest celebrity. Peart spoke from the heart on this one about how uncomfortable the adoration made him. Two people he describes here. Those who wish to seem are the posers who just want to be famous, and don't care as much about the craft. "Those that wish to be" are those who don;t seek stardom, but seek perfection in their craft.
One guitar. Three man group. Instrument you heard is keyboard played by bassist/lead singer Getty Lee. Played sometimes by foot by him and lead guitarist Alex Lifeson.
Way back in 1984, i went into the general store in Morin Heights Quebec, and I saw Neil Peart at the deli counter, because of this song, and stuff I had read, even though he's my favorite drummer and person in the whole world, I didn't approach him, just left him alone. That was my one and only chance to talk to him, now he's gone !
good move, although if you had simply walked up and held out your hand and said you enjoyed his playing, I think it would have gone well. Or if you had asked him a gear question; no musician can avoid talking about gear, lol.
Neil didn't like the focus being on HIM, ie, 'you're so great.'
Neil Peart the drummer who was also the main lyrist for the band was a very shy and private person who felt uncomfortable with fame and the adoration that came with it.
Rush is a great rabbit hole to go down especially if you are going to go through the lyrics. For the next song by them I would recommend Natural Science.
I enjoyed your breakdown
Cheers
I would just add to your break down. I think the real relation the underlying theme. Is just keeping on with the thing you love doing that has made you famous. In this case the music is the underlying theme. I don’t think they were looking for sympathy because they genuinely love the music and fame is the part you have to deal with. We are all audiences to our circles of friends. We should find joy in that small fame. Because fame just to have fame is not all that it’s cracked up to be if you don’t have the underlying theme.
Otherwise I think your breakdown is spot on.
Those who wish to seem are the ones who want to be famous. Those who wish to be are the artists/musicians etc who need to get on with the business of pursuing their art and ignoring the noise around them. The pursuit of the art is the underlying theme
Spot on!
He's implying that those to want to be famous want to 'seem' a certain way but for those that wish to BE rather than seem, they need to get on with their authentic lives (as he (Neil Peart, the lyricist) did).
Overdubbing is a studio method where a musician lays down something and then records on top of it. When he plays that solo live he records the very end of it and loops it using a foot pedal, which keeps the last note echoing in the background while he moves into "the police" part of the song ( that melody is played throughout the song by the way, each time you hear the phrase "living in the limelight the universal dream" he plays it, just can't hear it as well because there are vocals on top of it).
FYI "The Gilded Cage" was Neil's drum set. So, the line "in touch with some reality beyond the gilded cage" was about being able to see the reality of the audience from his drum set, but still not understand the situation he was in. This song was written from Neil's perspective about his dislike of fame. More that he was uncomfortable with fame. Neil loved writing and making music ("the underlying theme"). That was what he was happiest doing and didn't care about the fame so much. Neil was a private person with integrity, and it didn't feel right to him to be treated like someone important when there were so many really important people in the world. He felt that we knew him, but he didn't know us. He didn't want to pretend that he did.
In a live concert tour, during the guitar solo, Alex would actually play all the guitar parts himself. He would play through the solo, and then when he got to the long continuing harmonic at the end, he would loop it and play it back, and start playing "the 80's old school guitar" as you put it.
Great!!! Always listen to Rush with LYRICS
Neil was introverted and extremely shy. And after the Tradigy involving his family, he quit Rush packed up his BMW adventure bike and rode around the world for 5 years. So the word 'Private' has been his Underlying Theme.
It's an all-time classic rock intro to a legendary track about desired fame, success and fortune, but it's trappings of alienation. Great reaction!👍🏿
Peart is definitely pronounced with ear 👂 in it according to an interview with Geddy Lee 👍
That "second guitar" is actually the same guitar. Alex plays the last note of the first part, clicks a switch to sustain (or loop) the last note, and another to change the guitar effect. The result is it sounds like the 'first guitar' is carrying on and a second comes in.
P.S. It's Pea-ert 😊
In the studio, they used multi-track recording, which enabled Alex to play rhythm on one track and lead on another track. When they played live in a concert, though, Alex adapted his lead playing so that he could come in with the rhythm.
@@Stogie2112 - Yes. There wouldn't seem much point in making life unnecessarily complex, in the studio setting, I agree.
He may be talkin about that what he talks to regular people that always want to touch him and talk to him and be around him it's hard to be tactful. You have to be nice to your fans but sometimes it could feel like they just want more and more and more from you at a time he wants just want to tell them to go away but you can't do that and sometimes your ill-equipped to act with insufficient tact. And then you got to put up barriers to keep yourself intact just how I always took it love your channel thank you
Great Reaction. Seen Rush in 1983 in the Summit in Houston Tx absolutely amazing. They sounded just like I was listening to the album.
Another Rush song with great lyrics and a great instrumental section is Freewill
Great reaction. One would be well served by taking Rushs lyrics to heart.
Alex would hit that high note and hit a pedal on the floor that loops the note until he hits the pedal again to shut off the note. Incredible to see live, 3 guys.
Xanadu is an epic story song they released in the late 70's, which displays the bands individual musical talent. Find a live recording to see just how talanted all three of these musicians are/were!
Neil didn't want to deal with fame and fans but Geddy and Alex were very welcoming to fans, very approachable.
There's more to the picture , than meets the eye...Rock and Roll can Never Die.
Hey there. Can I say congrats on your recovery? Thanks for sharing. I lost a young son to addiction recently. 3Please please please stay strong, stay together and work the steps. You’re both worth it! Peace!
Pronounced "Peeer-tuh". A very private person who had a hard time dealing with fans & stardom. He wanted to make his music, and then go home, or ride his motorcycle......not do "meet & greets". And not just one of the world's greatest rock drummers....a percussionist. He wrote about 95% of all RUSH lyrics, and always wanted to convey a serious message. Listen to the entire "2112" saga.....as Neil wrote, it was based on "The genius of Ayn Rand", who he read about. He was a voracious reader, and also wrote 3 or 4 books himself. RIP Professor.
The second guitar you hear is when at the end of the solo Alex steps on a delay hold pedal which causes the note to ring out whilst he plays the riff.
The Police were a big influence on Rush around this time.
And it’s “PEERT” which no one knew for 40 years cuz Neil was so humble
Neil was uncomfortable with fanboy/fangirl stuff and adoration. If you asked him about philosophy, the latest book he read or drumming technique/technology he would talk your ears off.
exactly; well put.
Check out the official video which shows them at Le Studio actually playing. Gives you a great behind the scene look.
I found your breakdown rather interesting. Neil wrote Limelight as an expression of his discomfort with life in the public eye, as an introvert like myself, and as one who struggled with anxiety issues stemming from a near-drowning incident at the age of 10, as recalled in his book Travelling Music and in an online article from Rolling Stone Magazine. "One must put up barriers to keep oneself intact" speaks to how we need to set and maintain boundaries to preserve our mental energy and our privacy; "I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend" speaks to how we prefer to first establish a meaningful connection with someone new before we can feel comfortable allowing them into our personal space; and the chorus speaks to how extroverts are mainly driven by external validation, and think that they need to adopt a different personna to attract a large crowd of followers, while we mainly follow our own internal motivators and seek authenticity in ourselves and others. I also found your mention of Ariana Grande interesting. She has what's called extroverted feeling, meaning that she is very receptive to what others are feeling; I also have it as did Neil, although to a lesser extent behind our introverted traits. Great, insightful reaction; looking forward to seeing the two of you discover more of the best from Neil and his bandmates!
🎤 🎹 🎸 🥁 🎸 🐐 🐐 🐐
If you appreciate lyrics, you need to expand beyond 1981. Up til then, their lyrics were pretty run of the mill, with a few winners here and there (prior to 1980, you just get a bunch of fantasy BS like a Led Zeppelin wanna be band). Beyond that, nearly every other song hits a homerun in those terms.
Good for you! Congrats on your continuing progress staying sober, guys! Blessings!
Really enjoyed your breakdown of this awesome track! Please keep the RUSH train rolling!🏆🏆🏆
Wow, seven years! Good on you both.
Neil hated fame and all its superficiality and this song is how he felt and dealt with that aspect of it "I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend" sums it up, Neil and the other members just wanted to be the best musicians and deliver the best music performances for their own self satisfaction and high standards and if others appreciated that all well and good
First, congrats on 7 years! One day at a time!
Second, great reaction - this is an absolute banger of a track, and with excellent meaning...which you will find is a hallmark of most of Rush's catalogue.
Third, it's pronounced Peer-t (this is coming from the drummer himself - RIP Neil!)
And finally, some future (hopefully near) considerations: Subdivisions (definitely check the lyrics on this one!); 2112 (a full-on story of a totalitarian world where music is banned, told in a 21 minute prog masterpiece); Red Sector A (about the holocaust)...and that's for starters.
Trailer Park Boys fans?!?! AND you imediately got the Shakespeare reference? Geniuses!
Great analysis
.life is deep..rush over 50 years will catapult you both into another dimension...get into the rush rabbit hole
The lyrics are really about trying to remain grounded and trying to have a normal life off of the stage, Neil loved his fans but was introverted about fame
(acting, in the limelight, in the gilded cage) is for those who wish to SEEM (not live in reality), those who wish to BE instead of SEEM, must put aside that alienation, get on with the fascination, the REAL relation, the underlying theme.
It can apply to everyone. Those who are acting their way through life because they want to be someone they aren't are seeming to be.
Those who wish to be have to put aside the barriers, stop play acting and be themselves. That is where the real fascination lies.
Rick Beato did a great breakdown of this song as part of his "What Makes This Song Great" series. You should check that out.
Did you see the "Soprano Notes" channel analysis? She does a great breakdown of the song's complexity.
The band decided in the late 70's not to add another band member, & instead push themselves to play more instruments on the studio recordings & on stage for live shows. I saw live RUSH 6 times & wish I had seen them more!
The critical part in this lyric is the difference Peart finds between people who "wish to seem", and those "who wish to be". For the "seem" people, pretentious as they are, fame is the dream and the goal, even if it comes with diminishing returns. Those who wish "to be", however, understand that whatever differences there might be between the famous and the non famous, they aren't as substantial as the common links (relations) between them. Roger Waters addressed this very issue in The Wall, and came to the conclusion that the alienation is unconquerable.
Peart: it is pronounced like "peer" plus the "T".
P-ear- T
Welcome to the Rush rabbit hole, do more reactions , great breakdowns, build your way up to 2112!
Y’all are as unique as Geddy’s voice. Congratulations on ur sobriety 😎
Great reaction. You guys pretty much nailed it. Wouldn’t mind seeing you guys dig into some more Rush.
lyric videos puzzle me, the idea of reading a song while listening to the music is just such an alien concept
You must separate the line, "Those who wish to seem," from "Those who wish to be." This is the separation of personalities. These guys just want to create and play music. They have proven this over 40 years. Others are not interested in "being," and only "seeming." They are portraying a ficticious persona for the purposes of gaining fame as its own goal.
Hey! Congrats on your sobriety! One day at a time...
Try Subdivisions next.
I like the attitude, don't like? don't watch.
You need to get proper head phones to get the real music intricacies of 🤘RUSH🤘.Smiles 😃 from Canada 🇨🇦
Best band EVER! Neil Peart, the thinking man's lyricist.
Long live RUSH
Corriander in America is the seeds of Cilantro. Everywhere else in the world, Cilantro is corriander
Hi, You guys are great. forget about the bullshit from others and just get on with the fascination, the real relation, the underlying theme. Music wins for all of us. enjoy.
One of the greatest songs ever, great meaning 😎🌷
If you saw the movie, "I Love You, Man!" with Paul Rudd and Jason Segel, this song was featured.
th-cam.com/video/TOCaL6TUI3s/w-d-xo.html
Peart pronounced Peert
check out the live version from exit stage left 1981, its sooooo good.
I read that the instrumentals/main riff is supposed to represent the excitement of being a rock star, which is contrasted by the lyrics which talk about the downside. Together, they're supposed paint the picture of the ups and downs of fame. If I were the add anything, its that during the chorus, the lyrics and the instruments are in unison about how to get through the experience by seeing the reality of how art and audience meet (?)
Those who think and feel and still in touch with reality are ill equipped to relent and succumb to the vapid branding of the music business, They were all serious readers, and their lyrics often touch on classism, disaffection with consumerism and the questions of honesty and authenticity..
Less comment mid-song is my advice. You'll never get through 2112 by 2112.
Congratulations on your sobriety,
From the man's own words P 👂 T .
P 'ear' t P with an 'ear' then a T.
❤ ❤... ❤
7 years sobor grands
Lady, you need to drink some apple cider vinegar & honey...& chill. K?
Try it live! way better
Reaction to Human League - Human
free advice.. careful what u say.. when u start a video by saying “i dont really care”.. then why would the people watching care about it.. bad move
putting ads in the middle of a song is not going to get you any subscribers. Like me...I'm leaving now and won't be back.
This dude got indigestion or is he having a stroke?
you know you went on and on for four minutes before you started the song and i honestly couldnt tell you anything about what you said i was thinking i was going in a coma ,thank god the music started then it played a minute and you talke to the 11 minute mark and i came to the conclusion that you two are BURNT!!! Im outta here!!!People are DUM!!!!!