Quite simply, in my opinion, Rushes greatest song. It’s absolutely brilliant, everything works perfectly together. Geddys best ever bass playing through a song, all the incredible time signatures, riffs, transitions, lyrics... just stunning. So glad you got around to it! Not many have. Rock on dude!
Amazing musicianship, these guys were on top of their game here. I loved Farewell To Kings immensely but Hemispheres is a tad more solid overall. Special mention to Alex's chord patterns/note choices, brilliant. The dynamics/chemistry between these 3 is mindboggling. The perfect album leading up to Moving Pictures
A song not too many people talk about, but my absolute favourite Rush song of all time. So much to it. Fantastic artistry and lyricism from all members involved. Brilliant song!
Naked man is the "God of Love" representing the Heart. The man in the suit is the "God of reason" representing the mind. Two halves of a whole. The Moral of the story "BALANCE" between the Heart and the Mind. One without the other will expose weakness but, together enhances strength.
I have heard from many sources that the supporting tour was their absolute best for a long time after, beating the next several tours (and ALL the previous tours) HANDS DOWN. YES even better than Moving Pictures tour!
Hemispheres was released in 1978 and I bought it new then, as I was just completing my first year in the Navy. I was a 19 yo "squidette" and Rush had become an integral part of my life by then. I had been a fan of them for just over 3 years and they continued to suprise, delight and, quite frankly, blow me away with their musicianship. They were 6-7 years older than me and this album was beyond anything I could have "expected" from these 3 guys. Hemispheres is my favorite Rush album because of this song and the closer, LVS. I had Cygnus Parts 1 & 2 on cassette tape back then and now it's pretty much essential to listen to both parts together. Just as close to musical perfection as Bach, Beethoven, Wagner, or any of the classics. Rush, IMHO, is the best rock band ever. Along with Yes and The Moody Blues, they make up my Top 3!!! ✌❤❤❤✌
What a terrific comment. I share much of what you said, this song and entire album has everything one needs. Sweeping and soaring guitar chords, incredible syncopation, ultra creative bass and drums, thought inspiring lyrics. Rush's masterpiece.
All of them play brilliantly here and the stories they tell about this recording is that it almost broke their souls trying to achieve sonic perfection in the studio. I think Alex is a standout here with his expansive sound and probably some of his best rhythm work ever recorded. As a 15 year old, i felt likeAlex was the first guitarist that had a uniquely identifiable sound (Yeah, sure Hendrix, van halen, gilmour, Page). But Alex's playing really inspired me to what guitar playing could be. He has never stopped inspiring me since. Mind-blowing stiuff! Terry Brown really did a fantastic job making their sound larger than life here!
This is like a little rock symphony in four movements. I heard in a documentary about Rush that creating and perfecting this album was so strenuous that the band had to take time off after completing the album in the studio before touring. No surprise. This album is a genuine masterwork, and also contains "The Trees," "La Villa Strangiato," and "Circumstances." This album deserves more recognition for its complex music, great lyrics, the extended metaphor of the Cygnus series, and virtuoso musicianship.
Yeah, when the weakest song on the album is "Circumstance" (which I'm quite fond of, personally), you know it's a strong album. As a full album the only one I would put up against it is "Moving Pictures".
Unique style, complements the song perfectly. His melodic sense not unlike Chris Squire, one of his bass heroes. What freaks me out is he can pull off these complicated, tricky basslines live while singing and nail everything. Crazy !
If looking for a masterpiece album, this is certainly one. This song is perfection. And Geddy's voice can be one of the most beautiful voices in music. The end of this song shows how insane his range is.
I've seen Rush 31 times, with my first show between Fly By Night and Caress of Steel opening for Kiss in Charlotte. This album has always been my favorite. So complex but listenable for the average fan. Being a guitarist myself for 50 years, this effort has a special place in my heart. I even had the picture disc until a friend ruined it. So sad...
Now is the moment to pause, jump back to the first album and re-listen to that... then take a moment to think if you can think of another band that came so far, so fast...
All within four short years. Can’t think of any other bands that have been so prolific. Certainly Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd come to mind as far as their output but not in their musical progression.... just my opinion.
I believe that as well lol. Farewell To Kings convinced me of that too. Not to mention seeing them live, where nothing is easy and they pull off everything so perfectly. Dream Theater falls into that category as well
Dude. Having played Bass for about a year now and having been a progressive rock fan for a while. Rush, Yes, Dream Theater, Tool, Jethro Tull. They aren’t human. They are so good at everything they do.
I’ve been a Rush fan most of my life (because of my dad) and this is probably my favorite album. Im 33 and picked up the guitar at the age of 15 because of Alex Lifeson. They are such an incredible band and I’ve been to at least 10 of their shows. It’s awesome watching these reactions and appreciating for their talent!
So appreciate your take when hearing these for the first time. Please know that these songs get even better with age, as you listen again and again, as you did with "Cygnus X1 Part 1: The Voyage"!
I have heard that song literally hundreds of times and i'm still blown away every time... i think that album is rush at their most creative and powerful..
I was 17 years old back in 1980 when I first heard this album and I remember how I would lay in my bed with all my Pink Floyd albums stacked on my record player while buzzing, and this album would be the last of the night and I would wait for this one to put me over the top!😎
I had to wait about a year for this after Book I ended in a cliffhanger. I was not disappointed as this remains my personal #1 favorite of many great RUSH songs. Excellent!
This one has been my all time favorite for a while now. I’m kind of a nerd on the story telling in this one. The message is the best I’ve heard in a song about human nature, conflict, hubris and how to strike the right balance. And the music kicks a$$! A movie plays with n my head when I listen to it. On to Part 2! 😎
Tim, I have been waiting for you to react to this song. This is a true masterpiece by Rush. Neil's lyric writing is so deep and immense, to the point that it will definitely take more than one listen to truly grasp the story. Oh, and when there was a small break in the song, there was music that came in and then faded out. That was X1 The Voyage coming through.
Welcome to Hemispheres my friend. This album has steadily climbed up my list of favorite Rush albums, it currently is number 5 with a bullet. In case you were wondering, my top 4 in order are 2112, Permanent Waves, A Farewell to Kings and Moving Pictures.
I remember the Hemispheres Tour 1979. It was awesome!!! It was pretty much 2112, A Farewell to Kings and Hemispheres, By Tor and a medley of old stuff. It was remarkable.
Caress of steel introduced me to Rush,2112 made me a fan ,Kings,Hemispheres changed my life,over 100 shows later in the UK and Europe ,US,and Canada,followed the lads round the world.Yes im one of them.
Just imagine being there in Valhalla, like Erik The Viking, and all the gods listening with sympathetic interest to your story, and then deciding right there to make you a god. We will call you Cygnus! For Erik, it was only the pit of Hell that awaited.
This is definitely, IMHO, but not only mine, the peak of Rush's prog epics. It is a little repetitive in the Apollo/Dionysus parts, but I don't mind. The chords are huge, Geddy's base lines are huge, his voice is at the height of its powers, and needless to say Neil's drums are excellent as always. This album was my first exposure to Rush, at age 10 or 11. This was the first real rock album I bought with my own money.
Isn't that the coolest feeling, when you discover a band for the first time and their musicianship is so perfect, it blows you away immediately ? Life-changing, actually ! First time i heard Rush was on the radio, Finding My Way. Kinda Zeppelin-like but different. I was tripping on the musicianship and never looked back
2112 gets all the ink, Moving Pictures was the big breakout... But this is, possibly, the highwater mark of this Chapter of the band. I had fun watching you watch it. I'd like to hope you will jump back and listen again, cause you can't eat an elephant in one bite. (La Villa coming, brace yourself!)
Just awesome, in short Rush rule....& I'm so happy I was there to get the album when it came out & to see them tour it a couple of times, awesome shows & incredible they really could reproduce it so faithfully live.
You're a good portion into the rush rabbit hole don't stop now! Neil Peart was the reason that I taught myself how to play drums without rudiments I didn't have any support at home so I just played my drums out in the barn and heard Rush for the first time and I was close to giving up. I am 54 and I still play by ear still no rudiments I just mimic what I hear. Enough rambling love your channel and really love seeing your appreciation for Rush.Take care.
Love seeing you pretty much wrecked at the end of this. Make sure you dig into lyrics and storyline on your next listen through. And towards the end enjoy those echoes of Book 1 grooves bouncing through your ears as the Roscinanti travels through the black hole to this world.
So glad you listened to it a few more times. (C part 1) : ) I love this album, heck I love 'em all - but early Rush in general is always my favorite. What is Alex doing from 3:09 - 3:40something? Harmonics through there all the way? I have always liked it but I didn't know what to call it. :) And have you known anyone else do that for that long and make it sound so good? :)
In Cygnus Book I the traveler entered the black hole (Cygnus X-1) in his ship the Rocinante (the name of Don Quixote’s horse - like Don Quixote, Rocinante is awkward, past his prime, and engaged in a task beyond his capacities) and the traveler’s body was destroyed and "every nerve was torn apart". In Cygnus Book II the traveler's disembodied spirit passed into Olympus and he was made the God of Balance between love and reason.
As a teenager, I spent months trying to learn the guitar part all the way through. Then I spent decades trying to get all the way through it without screwing up the notes and the numerous effects changes. Still trying...
I've listened to this song so many times, but usually only the prelude, otherwise it's just too bloated with chords that start to sound repetitive and tired by the end of song. Out of this world concept though, don't think anyone else took a song to this level. Other long songs that Rush did had lighter, more acoustic parts separating the harder parts, which made them more listenable in my opinion.
The absolute worst Rush review ever. How could you not stop segments and comment on them about them? There is so much going on in this song as far as spirituality and a whole bunch of other things and you just sit there and nod your head it's ridiculous
This is why all us old rush fans like to watch these reaction videos, because we know the greatness you are about to listen to.
This epitomises everything about Rush. Three geniuses at work. True masters of their art.
Quite simply, in my opinion, Rushes greatest song. It’s absolutely brilliant, everything works perfectly together. Geddys best ever bass playing through a song, all the incredible time signatures, riffs, transitions, lyrics... just stunning. So glad you got around to it! Not many have. Rock on dude!
Amazing musicianship, these guys were on top of their game here. I loved Farewell To Kings immensely but Hemispheres is a tad more solid overall. Special mention to Alex's chord patterns/note choices, brilliant. The dynamics/chemistry between these 3 is mindboggling. The perfect album leading up to Moving Pictures
I cant argue with reason
That opening chord is commonly known as the "Alex Lifeson chord".
This is absolutely my favorite song from Rush!!
A song not too many people talk about, but my absolute favourite Rush song of all time. So much to it. Fantastic artistry and lyricism from all members involved. Brilliant song!
Naked man is the "God of Love" representing the Heart. The man in the suit is the "God of reason" representing the mind. Two halves of a whole. The Moral of the story
"BALANCE" between the Heart and the Mind. One without the other will expose weakness but, together enhances strength.
If I had to pick ONE Rush studio album, this is it.
It has everything.
The Alex Lifeson chord.
In my opinion this is the greatest rock album of all-time
Very strong argument! And this coming from a Zeppelin fan.
This album is a "Masterpiece" and highly underrated as is "Caress of Steel"
@@zeppelinfan9360 love Zeppelin to my friend
Can't find any reason to disagree with that
I agree
I have heard from many sources that the supporting tour was their absolute best for a long time after, beating the next several tours (and ALL the previous tours) HANDS DOWN. YES even better than Moving Pictures tour!
Without a doubt, my favorite ending for all Rush songs.
Hemispheres was released in 1978 and I bought it new then, as I was just completing my first year in the Navy. I was a 19 yo "squidette" and Rush had become an integral part of my life by then. I had been a fan of them for just over 3 years and they continued to suprise, delight and, quite frankly, blow me away with their musicianship. They were 6-7 years older than me and this album was beyond anything I could have "expected" from these 3 guys.
Hemispheres is my favorite Rush album because of this song and the closer, LVS. I had Cygnus Parts 1 & 2 on cassette tape back then and now it's pretty much essential to listen to both parts together. Just as close to musical perfection as Bach, Beethoven, Wagner, or any of the classics. Rush, IMHO, is the best rock band ever. Along with Yes and The Moody Blues, they make up my Top 3!!! ✌❤❤❤✌
What a terrific comment.
I share much of what you said, this song and entire album has everything one needs. Sweeping and soaring guitar chords, incredible syncopation, ultra creative bass and drums, thought inspiring lyrics.
Rush's masterpiece.
Left hemisphere: “What d’ ya think of my new song?”
Right hemisphere: “Hold my beer”
Greatest rush album Ever! It’s my #1 favorite rush album. Rest In Peace Neil 🙏
Agree
This is one of those albums that has a way of pulling you back in even years later: 😳😎🤘
If I had to choose a Rush song to listen to on a continuous loop, this would be the one.
All of them play brilliantly here and the stories they tell about this recording is that it almost broke their souls trying to achieve sonic perfection in the studio. I think Alex is a standout here with his expansive sound and probably some of his best rhythm work ever recorded. As a 15 year old, i felt likeAlex was the first guitarist that had a uniquely identifiable sound (Yeah, sure Hendrix, van halen, gilmour, Page). But Alex's playing really inspired me to what guitar playing could be. He has never stopped inspiring me since. Mind-blowing stiuff! Terry Brown really did a fantastic job making their sound larger than life here!
This is like a little rock symphony in four movements. I heard in a documentary about Rush that creating and perfecting this album was so strenuous that the band had to take time off after completing the album in the studio before touring. No surprise. This album is a genuine masterwork, and also contains "The Trees," "La Villa Strangiato," and "Circumstances." This album deserves more recognition for its complex music, great lyrics, the extended metaphor of the Cygnus series, and virtuoso musicianship.
Yeah, when the weakest song on the album is "Circumstance" (which I'm quite fond of, personally), you know it's a strong album. As a full album the only one I would put up against it is "Moving Pictures".
In fairness to Circumstances..... A great great song....there were only 4 songs on the album.... Lol
Geddys bass lines in this are simply stunning.
Unique style, complements the song perfectly. His melodic sense not unlike Chris Squire, one of his bass heroes. What freaks me out is he can pull off these complicated, tricky basslines live while singing and nail everything. Crazy !
Hemispheres was my first Rush album. I was 16 in '78. I heard The Trees and that changed everything!
I always thought of this as Rush's 18 minute Stairway to Heaven. I think it's Neil's best story and thier best technical work....
If looking for a masterpiece album, this is certainly one. This song is perfection. And Geddy's voice can be one of the most beautiful voices in music. The end of this song shows how insane his range is.
This is playing out in the world right now in a huge way. If you don't realize that, you're fooling yourself.
I've seen Rush 31 times, with my first show between Fly By Night and Caress of Steel opening for Kiss in Charlotte. This album has always been my favorite. So complex but listenable for the average fan. Being a guitarist myself for 50 years, this effort has a special place in my heart. I even had the picture disc until a friend ruined it. So sad...
Hey, I'm with you, Cygnus X-1 book 1 is top of the list. So, unique and intriguing and just powerful.
Your narrative is perfectly suited for the song. Thank you.
When you do talk it's right on point.
Thanks for posting.
I'm 57. I lov rush.. Say no more
One of Rush's great masterpieces. RIP Neil Peart
Geddy's Bass is superb here. They're all on top of it! One of my all time favorite rock albums...Powerful stuff!
Now is the moment to pause, jump back to the first album and re-listen to that... then take a moment to think if you can think of another band that came so far, so fast...
for 3 masters to come together so young is really amazing.
I'm glad I got to be on 🌎 at the same time as RUSH
@@tonix100 Indeed.
All within four short years. Can’t think of any other bands that have been so prolific. Certainly Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd come to mind as far as their output but not in their musical progression.... just my opinion.
@@islaypeat9798 fully agree. For sure.
This album confirmed to me that these guys were not human.
I believe that as well lol. Farewell To Kings convinced me of that too. Not to mention seeing them live, where nothing is easy and they pull off everything so perfectly. Dream Theater falls into that category as well
Dude. Having played Bass for about a year now and having been a progressive rock fan for a while. Rush, Yes, Dream Theater, Tool, Jethro Tull. They aren’t human. They are so good at everything they do.
It's gonna punch you in the face at the end with one of Lifeson's best guitar solos ever! Short but FANTASTIC!!! Perfection....
Perhaps Rush's nerdiest song. So good.
Epic... my favorite Rush song...
This song doesn't just have a little, it has tons of everything... simply amazing!
Dude, you're just as totally hooked as I was when this first came out...#fuckingawesome #rush
The most difficult part of writing the song had to have been arranging all the themes and leitmotifs from the song into such a smooth overture.
I’ve been a Rush fan most of my life (because of my dad) and this is probably my favorite album. Im 33 and picked up the guitar at the age of 15 because of Alex Lifeson. They are such an incredible band and I’ve been to at least 10 of their shows. It’s awesome watching these reactions and appreciating for their talent!
So appreciate your take when hearing these for the first time. Please know that these songs get even better with age, as you listen again and again, as you did with "Cygnus X1 Part 1: The Voyage"!
I have heard that song literally hundreds of times and i'm still blown away every time... i think that album is rush at their most creative and powerful..
I was 17 years old back in 1980 when I first heard this album and I remember how I would lay in my bed with all my Pink Floyd albums stacked on my record player while buzzing, and this album would be the last of the night and I would wait for this one to put me over the top!😎
This song is a freakin masterpiece!!
Of all of Geddy Lee’s god-like body of work, Hemispheres and Moving Pictures are my favorite for his bass.
Fantastic song, this album is a masterpiece! The guitar sounds and textures are just epic.
Every soul a battlefield....
I had to wait about a year for this after Book I ended in a cliffhanger. I was not disappointed as this remains my personal #1 favorite of many great RUSH songs. Excellent!
This one has been my all time favorite for a while now. I’m kind of a nerd on the story telling in this one. The message is the best I’ve heard in a song about human nature, conflict, hubris and how to strike the right balance. And the music kicks a$$! A movie plays with n my head when I listen to it. On to Part 2! 😎
I concur.
Fantastic RUSH!♥️🇨🇦🇨🇦
Geddys 13:12 to 15:46 voice is awesome! As much as I enjoy his high register power vocals, this mellow passage is so lovely I wish he'd done more!
Tim, I have been waiting for you to react to this song. This is a true masterpiece by Rush. Neil's lyric writing is so deep and immense, to the point that it will definitely take more than one listen to truly grasp the story. Oh, and when there was a small break in the song, there was music that came in and then faded out. That was X1 The Voyage coming through.
always a pleasure for me... - thanks
Welcome to Hemispheres my friend. This album has steadily climbed up my list of favorite Rush albums, it currently is number 5 with a bullet. In case you were wondering, my top 4 in order are 2112, Permanent Waves, A Farewell to Kings and Moving Pictures.
I remember the Hemispheres Tour 1979. It was awesome!!! It was pretty much 2112, A Farewell to Kings and Hemispheres, By Tor and a medley of old stuff. It was remarkable.
Just LOVE this song and this album!! That 1st chord of the song… the infamous “Alex Lifeson Chord”… can’t beat that! Loved it! See you in part II!!
Caress of steel introduced me to Rush,2112 made me a fan ,Kings,Hemispheres changed my life,over 100 shows later in the UK and Europe ,US,and Canada,followed the lads round the world.Yes im one of them.
Everything else is great, but this is there masterpiece.
Been waiting for this one since you did Book 1.
Just imagine being there in Valhalla, like Erik The Viking, and all the gods listening with sympathetic interest to your story, and then deciding right there to make you a god. We will call you Cygnus! For Erik, it was only the pit of Hell that awaited.
About time lol let’s go!
I did get a big laugh out of myself when I found myself wiggling my eyebrows at the exact same time you did. :)
About time, you've left us atomized at the core for a month.
😂
@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 I waited a year for this album to come out for Book II. A month is not so bad, really.
Next level Rush, maybe my fav album.
It's top 3 imho. But they made so many great albums, my list could be interchangeable lol
@@rickleblanc8900 I said maybe, it change's weekly😂
I saw the Hemispheres tour, warmed up by "the Good Rats", at Nassau Coliseum. Incredible!
Keepem' coming!
This is definitely, IMHO, but not only mine, the peak of Rush's prog epics. It is a little repetitive in the Apollo/Dionysus parts, but I don't mind. The chords are huge, Geddy's base lines are huge, his voice is at the height of its powers, and needless to say Neil's drums are excellent as always.
This album was my first exposure to Rush, at age 10 or 11. This was the first real rock album I bought with my own money.
Isn't that the coolest feeling, when you discover a band for the first time and their musicianship is so perfect, it blows you away immediately ? Life-changing, actually ! First time i heard Rush was on the radio, Finding My Way. Kinda Zeppelin-like but different. I was tripping on the musicianship and never looked back
2112 gets all the ink, Moving Pictures was the big breakout... But this is, possibly, the highwater mark of this Chapter of the band. I had fun watching you watch it. I'd like to hope you will jump back and listen again, cause you can't eat an elephant in one bite. (La Villa coming, brace yourself!)
I always look forward to your videos with Rush! Thank You
Just awesome, in short Rush rule....& I'm so happy I was there to get the album when it came out & to see them tour it a couple of times, awesome shows & incredible they really could reproduce it so faithfully live.
You're a good portion into the rush rabbit hole don't stop now! Neil Peart was the reason that I taught myself how to play drums without rudiments I didn't have any support at home so I just played my drums out in the barn and heard Rush for the first time and I was close to giving up. I am 54 and I still play by ear still no rudiments I just mimic what I hear. Enough rambling love your channel and really love seeing your appreciation for Rush.Take care.
I love how they bring back a little bit of book one in the background at 13:34 and 13:48 and the panning!
Love seeing you pretty much wrecked at the end of this. Make sure you dig into lyrics and storyline on your next listen through. And towards the end enjoy those echoes of Book 1 grooves bouncing through your ears as the Roscinanti travels through the black hole to this world.
Beh-who? these guys are the Mozarts of my generation man!!! freakin masterpiece !
10:41 to 10:57!
Between 11:24 and 12:05 With these basslines I Learned in my teens and realized how they settle the tone and the mood of the song.
}
Arguably their apex. I prefer the timbres and production on this record to anything else they recorded. Peak screeching banshee Geddy Lee, too.
Love it….
So glad you listened to it a few more times. (C part 1) : )
I love this album, heck I love 'em all - but early Rush in general is always my favorite.
What is Alex doing from 3:09 - 3:40something? Harmonics through there all the way? I have always liked it but I didn't know what to call it. :) And have you known anyone else do that for that long and make it sound so good? :)
This is an opus in a bottle..epic.
Oh i`v e been loooking forward to this!
Their Opus magnum in my opinion.
Rush at their peak.17 when rush started their amazin journey.1974.
Welcome back buddy! Been around a month since you posted. Just finished my work week and am enjoying your reactions. Thanks!
12:08-13:09 might be as perfect as it gets
Probably my favorite Rush Album! To me, Rush should be held in the same esteem as Zeppelin or The Beatles. They are F-K-N legends!
Can you make it through all of Rush? Keep going brother their like a bag full of diamonds,so many beautiful facets...
Thank you 🙏
Sickest album, musically. The musician's Rush album.
Great song. Nice hat btw
You will find yourself dancing around to this tune at some point.
In Cygnus Book I the traveler entered the black hole (Cygnus X-1) in his ship the Rocinante (the name of Don Quixote’s horse - like Don Quixote, Rocinante is awkward, past his prime, and engaged in a task beyond his capacities) and the traveler’s body was destroyed and "every nerve was torn apart".
In Cygnus Book II the traveler's disembodied spirit passed into Olympus and he was made the God of Balance between love and reason.
Most overlooked Rush album
🐐🐐🐐
Oooh! Dey be very busy boys, eh?
As a teenager, I spent months trying to learn the guitar part all the way through. Then I spent decades trying to get all the way through it without screwing up the notes and the numerous effects changes. Still trying...
🎸🥁🎸
🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦😎
Great cap 👍👍🦌
the only jump scare in music way ahead of there time
I've listened to this song so many times, but usually only the prelude, otherwise it's just too bloated with chords that start to sound repetitive and tired by the end of song. Out of this world concept though, don't think anyone else took a song to this level. Other long songs that Rush did had lighter, more acoustic parts separating the harder parts, which made them more listenable in my opinion.
More cruising music,get in your car and roll down the highway!
The absolute worst Rush review ever. How could you not stop segments and comment on them about them? There is so much going on in this song as far as spirituality and a whole bunch of other things and you just sit there and nod your head it's ridiculous