I think you're right and I think it would blow him away to hear somebody describing how much they like his voice and all the reasons why. He'd probably get a kick out of somebody enjoying how obsessively compulsive he is, even with his voice.
FYI: The synthesizer sound you referred to is actually Alex using a volume pedal to "swell in" each note from his guitar, usually with some delay as well. It's a technique that he really mastered on this song (IMO) and while easy to do, it's hard to master the timing of hitting the note just early enough to get the effect.
@@highrx - I believe there were some early analog delay pedals and rack units that used capacitors (IIRC) instead of tape. Don't know which one Alex was using at the time, but his gear setup was quite extensive, even early on from what I've read.
fairly easy to do on the guitar itself if you wrap your right little finger around the volume knob - on a strat at least - and control the volume with each note
I'm just 40 pages into Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road, Neil's 2002 memoir about his daunting solo motorcycle trek across Canada and far north into Alaska, the Yukon and Northwest Territories. I'm just one-tenth into the tome and I've almost cried a couple of times reading it as he recounts the pain of losing his young adult daughter and longtime wife less than a year apart. It's also apparent that Neil was a great writer as well as a great lyricist. What tremendous losses he experienced and now we have experienced.
@@timwhitnell7145 a great read as he dealt with his losses. A time where the whole entire Rush fan club was unsure if he would return. A genius gone before his time as God needed drum lessons and called him home.
NEIL PEART’S 10 RULES FOR SUCCESS: 1: EARN YOUR AUDIENCE 2: BE RESTLESS 3: GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE 4: LEARN FROM OTHERS 5: CREATE WHAT YOU LIKE 6: INFECT PEOPLE WITH YOUR FIRE 7: DON’T READ REVIEWS 8: CREATE FOR YOUR IDEAL AUDIENCE 9: FIND YOUR INSPIRATION 10: NEVER STOP EXPERIMENTING
As a longtime fan of this channel, I just want to humbly thank you for featuring so much Rush content. They're my favorite band of all time and it warms my heart to see other talented musicians recognize them.
My favorite since 1978, because of Neil Peart initially, Geddy & Alex later. I had never heard drums played the way Neil did it. It was similar to the way I felt hearing Eddie Van Halen on VH's first album. And I loved reading Neil's lyrics to my parents. My dad was a preacher so my parents were hard on me about rock music. I said, "see, no sex, drugs, etc. 😂
@@BattleHardenedGolfClashReplaysNeil drew his lyrics from philosophy, fantasy, and later on from writers like Ann Raynd. One song from Moving Pictures The whole wide world an endless universe but we keep looking through the eyeglass in reverse. We don't feed the people but we feed the machines. We really don't know what international means.
You should have used the 1981 live version off Exit Stage Left. Best ever live performance I've ever seen. Having said that, there are no bad versions lol.
She didn't really mention it in the video, but to have this kind of vocal technique while also playing bass to the level he is, is pretty much inhuman. Amazing musician!
Throw in the fact that he also played keyboards and juggled all that like some multi-tasking mad man when they played live. The talent level of those 3 Canadians is un matched IMO.
One of my favorite concert moments was watching them open with “The Big Money” with Geddy singing, triggering sequences and playing Taurus pedals, all while playing a really involved funky bass part. Truly amazing looking back on it. Those guys sure could play!
Bassist on great levels of amazement are Geddy ,Geezer Butler,Steve Harris,Les Claypool, Flea, Cliff Burton, Lemmy just some personal favorites no particular order
I'm a Rush fan since 1977. Well, they became my #1 band by '79/80 probably. So a little while ago. But I was snobby about later shorter, more synth use songs. But their later music is growing on me. "Territories" might be their best song under 5 minutes. It's so important. While Neil & Alex certainly were sharing credits because Ged is generous like that, that's gotta be Geddy's song. Read the lyrics. Timeless. Really his parents gifted that to Geddy. And vice versa. Fair warning however: "Territories" has an ear worm. It's a good one, but really difficult to erase.
One of the greatest songs ever recorded and played by only THREE PEOPLE!!! The amount of work and multi tasking to create this from all three is truly astonishing!!! And play it live to perfection!!! Wow!!!
I never thought that I'd ever sit through watching a 40-minute analysis of Xanadu. But seeing the sincerity and absolute joy of your smile made me feel like I hearing this song for the first time again.
At times, I couldn't decide if it was really joy or a smile masking a feeling of horror, but it was cool. And I have always said, those three guys can make a lot of racket. And it's wonderful. I also bet she needed a nap after that one. It's... epic.
Ya know, I'm a guitar player and I've listened to this song hundreds of times since the day it was made, but watching you experience it and listening to you explain things I never knew has caused me to have a whole nuther level of appreciation for a song that is nothing but epic on all levels. For that I thank you. And yes, listen to Xanadu thousands of times for the rest of your life.
Elizabeth, if you really want your mind blown listen to a live version of La Villa Strangiato. Alex' guitar playing is phenominal. No singing throughout the whole song, but Geddy, Alex, and Neil play in such a way together it just puts you in a state of awe.
I loved watching a video about how difficult La Villa was to perform in just one take. It really pushed all 3 of their abilities to the limit, but that's just the type of band they were. Always seeking perfection at their craft. I love seeing how people are starting to grasp how good they really were together as a band. Long overdue imo.
The birds you are hearing were actually in the hedgerows surrounding the studio where this was recorded, just north of Monmouth, on the England - Wales border, the very famous Rockfield Studios, same place as where Queen recorded Bohemian Rhapsody, worth looking up on Google for a full list of the iconic albums that were recorded there. Anyway the offspring of those very birds still inhabit the same hedgerows today..
Not only that 3 people can create so much sound together, but even more impressive they could recreate it live. All three of them are phenomenal musicians.
Alex Lifeson said this was a one take song. They had rehearsed it. Played part of it so sound engineer could work placement of microphones. They then played the whole 11 minutes. That is what you hear on the record. Their first take in the recording the song. Here is what was said about the song. Despite its complexity and length, Xanadu is a rare "one take wonder" song. Guitarist Alex Lifeson said, "Xanadu was well rehearsed before going to Rockfield, I remember that. On the day we recorded it, Pat Moran, the resident engineer, set all the mics up and we ran the song down, partially to get balances and tones. Because it was a long song, we didn't need to complete that test run. "We then played it a second time from top to bottom and that's what you hear on the album. Needless to say, Pat was shocked that we ran an 11-minute song down in one complete take. Practice doesn't always make perfect, but it sure helps!"
I heard this as well. It blows my mind that they could record something so complex, so sublime and so monumental with such expertise and perfection in just two takes! This is my favorite Rush song.
I was going to tell this story, but you not only told it, but quoted an interview from which I learned this amazing story! Keep in mind they had just come off of the longest tour of their whole careers and had not only written this on the road using brand new instruments (double neck guitars and basses, synth, bass pedals, extra percussion, new drum kit), but they had performed this song, pre-release, about 30 times live (that we know of). So they were a tight, well oiled machine by the time they hit the studio. That being said, I can tell you from experience, performing ANY song for 5 minutes let alone 11, LIVE off the floor, especially as a whole band, whether it be relatively simple, or incredibly complex like this one, without a single duff note, errant squeak or noise from anyone is astonishing! A year later they would attempt to do the same thing in the same studio with La Villa Strangiato and it took them over 40 takes and more time recording than the entire Fly By Night album (2 weeks) and they STILL couldn't get it down in one continuous live band take. They had to use 2 or 3 takes plus the classical guitar intro to get it to their satisfaction. A couple of months later they could practically play it in their sleep on the Hemispheres tour though. And there are MANY great live tapes from that tour to prove it. Just goes to show that you never know which songs are gonna go down like magic right outta the gate, and which will be like pulling teeth to get right!
Probably three of the most talented players in modern rock and possibly three of the most humble and “regular” people who made it as far as they did. I wish Neil could have lived to bask in the, much deserved, recognition that they’re getting now on UA-cam.
It's like the speed of Neil's neurons firing synapses so fast millions of times bursting from his brain to the tip of his sticks so fast and so precisely it wore out his computer. There's many layers of brain usage by Peart. He must have had a very unusual brain physically. Definitely not mortal the level of skills and excellence Neil attained... I believe he must have arrived from Cygnus X1 !!! Dun dun dannunt!!
@@Greg-io1ipnot to mention the lyrics he wrote, so much thought went into those lyrics and how they would flow and tell a new story every time. That writing style is evident in the way he speaks too, how he built average sentences with so much care. The vocabulary he had was unlike anything I've ever seen.
Well said. Neil's death was the one time in my 56 years I've ever shed a tear for the death of a public personality or celebrity of any kind. The world, and my soul, took a massive hit that day.
My friend Forest (RIP) and I saw Rush introduce this song Xanadu at an "All the World's a Stage" tour concert back around 1977. Geddy said "this is a new song from our upcoming album". We were about 10' from the stage and it was the most amazing thing! What is almost missed in this video is the fact that Alex is playing 12 and 6 string double neck, Geddy is playing 6 string and bass double neck, plus the keyboard and both are playing synths with their feet. And the stuff Neil has going on, mind blowing. Love the reactions and descriptions also. Pure joy and surprise.
You and Forest were blessed to have seen the preview of Xanadu on that tour and you are right - it was 1977. I saw the same thing tour st Sheffield City Hall in 77 and they previewed Xanadu there as well. Didn't know what it was, but hell I knew it was special.
I've been told that Geddy is actually playing a 12 string too. Half the tuning keys are behind the head of the guitar so it is easy to mistake it for a six string I thought it was a six string for about 30 years until I was educated on UA-cam a few months ago.
@@schafn Ah yes, the famous Rickenbacker staggered tuners. Very elegant compared to the massive Gibson headstock. You are correct, apparently the black Rick doubleneck is 4 string bass 12 sting combo and the white Rick doubleneck is 4 string bass 6 string combo. You live and learn..........
There are times in the history of music where pivotal artists change our fundamental knowledge of what music can be. Rush was a paradigm shift. Their influence on music is monumental.
@@Phreddieboy I have to totally agree....I just love her to pieces. Her reactions are so adorable, but most of the other reaction types are mostly vapid, just trying to sell their cuteness to us old Rocker dudes. Elizabeth is truly educational. I love to sing, have a pretty strong voice, wide range, can mimic a lot of styles. All its ever led to is I went to state in HS swing choir and am always one of the stars of bar karaoke.....LoL. Still I love to sing for the enjoyment of it. I have learned so much about singing and music from Elizabeth I feel like I should be paying her for lessons. She is the complete package with both style and substance.
You nailed it there at the end. One of the main reasons I absolutely LOVE Rush is because you can listen to their songs 100 times and you will always be able to notice something new and understand something better. The level of creativity in each of their respective instruments is a joy to experience.
Spent tens of thousands of dollars in travel and broker front row tickets to go to a total of 105 RUSH concerts starting in 1981 at the Philadelphia spectrum and ending with their last two shows in Irvine and Inglewood. My only regret is that I wasted the rest of my money on food and shelter 😮
That was a lot of fun! I'm one of those old dudes who grew up with Rush. I think I might have taken it for granted a little bit. Your perspective really opens it back up for me, thanks!
Geddy is amazing. He's playing bass, keyboards, and singing at the same time! One of the ways he pulls this off is with pedals. He can play bass and use pedals to trigger keyboard sounds, and when he's playing keyboards (with his hands), he has pedals to carry the bass sounds. It's almost like patting your head, rubbing your tummy, and repeating the alphabet backward simultaneously. Bravo!
Felix Hanneman of Zebra would do something similar. Obviously Geddy was an inspiration to Felix. I ran into him at Eddie Trunk's 40 years of radio celebration in Vegas. I didn't want to bother him with any questions. He like everyone else there, just wanted to enjoy the show, and what a show it was!!😄😄😄
"There's a specifity to his sound that works so perfectly with this power trio" THANK YOU !!! I'm so tired of the disrespect that gets hurled at Geddy's voice. Rush would not be Rush without Geddy's voice. And I think it's AWESOME !!!
@@peterhodgkins6985 - Nah, they're miming to the studio version here, but spot-on. There are videos of 'La Villa Strangiato' and 'The Trees' with a similar look, and _those_ actually are being played live 🙂
Sure instrumentally it is next level, I'm not sure a vocal analysis would provide much more, except to see Geddy's bass/vocal dexterity live without a safety net
Elizabeth, with this choice you have unlocked the door to the "High Priest" level of epic progressive music. There is one more step in this quest and it can only be found in Cygnus X-1: Book II. This is your final challenge for ultimate ascendence. You effort and knowledge are unrivaled and served you well so far. Thank you. 🤘😁🤘
I've never got the love for Hemispheres. I find it boring, and twee in the lyric department. Not a patch on this, 2112 or even the original Cygnus song. Side 2 of Hemispheres is so much better than side one for me.
100%. It was my everlasting privilege to discover Rush in 1978 as a 13 year old in the UK and Hemispheres was the first vinyl I bought for myself - a mind blowing entry to the Rush experience.
The “expanding synth sound” you’re talking about in the opening of this amazing song is Alex’s guitar. He is using a volume pedal to swell the notes in. Geniuses, all three of them.
A Farewell To Kings, is probably my favorite RUSH album. The "Synth" you refer to around the 4 minute mark, is actually Alex Lifeson doing volume swells with his 6 string guitar. This is why you hear the "delay" He picks the note in time, then reaches down and turns the volume up to sound it and then back down to pick the next note to swell. I was fortunate enough to see RUSH live twice.
I read back through the comments to make sure nobody else pointed this out before I did, but you beat me to the punch. When I was 18, I was in a band that played 20 cover songs and 18 of them were Rush songs. That was way before people started talking about tribute bands and alas, we were a 4 piece, not a 3 piece anyway.
The live version of Xanadu from their Exit Stage Left tour is the most insane thing you’ll ever hear. To hear this recorded in studio, where they can layer tracks, is one thing, but to hear three men play all of these sounds in a live setting and do an even better job than this studio cut is beyond amazing. I have heard them do this song, which is one they always do, over 30 times live. It’s just mind blowing. Geddy singing, shredding the bass, all while playing the keyboards with his feet is just not to be believed. If I hadn’t seen them so many times live, I wouldn’t believe that three man can do this kind of stuff live. By the way, this song predates Guns And Roses by a decade or more, so if any one influenced the other, it would be Alex’s intro that inspired Slash, not the other way around. This song was off of their Farewell To Kings Album which came out in 1977, I believe. I know that I was in high school, so it was ‘77 or ‘78, anyway, years ahead of Sweet Child Of Mine.
@@damnyankeefl I didn’t see that exact performance, but I did go see them on that tour, which was the tour following Moving Pictures, but they later called it the Exit Stage Left tour because of the live album that came out of that tour. They did do Xanadu the night I saw them when they came to central Florida on that tour. I never missed a Rush tour beginning with Permanent Waves, this was my second time seeing them. They did Xanadu on the Permanent Waves tour too. In fact, I believe that they did Xanadu at every show I ever saw them at, including Clockwork Angels and the Farewell Tour. Like La Villa Strangiato and Tom Sawyer, it was a staple of every concert.
@@damnyankeefl me too, except I had first saw them the year before on their Permanent Waves tour. Never missed them on tour after that. They were the best concerts I have ever been too. Rush fans are a different breed than the average concert going fans. Not a bunch of screaming 13 year olds, but more mature and musically seasoned fans, who really appreciate the music of this band, not because they’re the hottest thing going at any particular time. Rush was never that. Those that go to see them are very, very familiar with their music and can sing every lyric and air drum to every Peart drum fill. A completely different concert experience for sure.
I don't think there is another reactor on the planet who could even attempt to break this down in the way you have and it's just really super impressive. It opens my mind to completely different aspects of a song I've heard so many times. For a vocal person like yourself to even attempt this song that is almost 12 minutes long with a solid 5 minutes before we get to any vocals kind of blows me away....kudos to you.
Next RUSH review....Subdivisions. You get much more of Geddy's mid-range voice throughout without the high-pitched stuff.... it's definitely a different sound. It's a great song that was an Anthem to a lot of high school kids in the 80s
So one thing I absolutely love about these reviews - you were very detailed and specific to explain Geddy Lee's vocals and his extreme precision and detailed choices with his enunciation, inflection and focus - while speaking with extreme enunciation, inflection, and focus... It's just FUN!!!!
I love the way you are loving this! I have heard Xanadu hundreds of times. As a teenager through headphones. As a twenty-something on long road trips. On an iPod during long distance runs in my 30s and 40s. I thought I had really analyzed this to death. However, never have I been more emotional about it, than today. Something about the way you are enjoying it and breaking it down, makes it new for me again in my 50s! Thank you!
My exact thoughts! I know every detail of this piece because I've listened to it so many times, but seeing her reactions literally brought tears to my eyes several times. Thanks, Elizabeth!
I've come to believe that we music lovers all have an "Elizabeth" buried in our psyche. And our "Elizabeth" is filled with joy at finding this kindred spirit who so eloquently states the things we don't quite know how to articulate but love just the same.
I thought you said you prefer live versions. 😢 Please, Elizabeth, even if it's on your own time, you must see the Exit Stage Left version of this masterpiece. Neil is everywhere. Geddy is amazing on bass, keys, pedals and vocals. And Alex shreds the double-neck, 6 and 12-string like he was born with it in his hands. It's so good, a little tear forms every time I see it. God bless.
I concur! 😀 And I love your description of Alex's swift switching between both guitars! 😁👍 He too plays a pedal synth in that performance, by the way 😊
I've heard that when Eddie Van Halen was asked what it was like to be the best guitar player in the world, he said "I don't know, you'd have to ask Alex Lifeson...." 😛@@n5iln
@@n5iln with respect: I hear this a lot, but I don't ever hear anyone underrating him. Most pro guitarists recognize his brilliance, as do I and many others.
Just a quick little story that you, as a parent, might appreciate. My very first concert experience was in 1977. I was 16 and the band was Rush on their A Farewell To Kings tour. Absolutely extraordinary. Fast forward almost 40 years. My son had just turned 16 when I took him to his first concert. The band was Rush on their Snakes and Ladders tour. I’ve seen so many great concerts over the decades (my constant tinnitus is proof of that) but those are the two most memorable.
I feel some great Karma...AFTK was also my first concert the day before my 16th birthday, it was the first time hearing the album immensely enjoyable and absolutely an unforgettable performance
Mr. Peart has , on this set, Ludwig 4" cowbell LP standard Agogo Bells LP Black Beauty Cowbell Gon Bops Agogo Tri- Bells LP Rock Cowbell For a total of 8 bells and the way he uses them is the reason he's called the " Professor " .
RUSH is THE PERFECT EXAMPLE of the fluidity of MASTERING TIME SIGNATURES! I play drums and there are a few things that you need to know about Neil Peart’s ( pronounced PEER-T) character: First he writes the lyrics so he knows in advance what TYPE of song it’s meant to be ie ballad, driver, etc. Second he COMPOSES on the drums… like a carpenter who looks at a set of blueprints before building the object. Neil lays out a SKETCH in his mind of the VOICES of the drumset and builds the song from there. He is also a great LISTENER knowing when NOT to step over Geddy’s singing or Alex’s solos! Finally, he had perfect timing and fluidity of time changes. He said himself that it’s not about COUNTING the time signatures as much as fluid motion to change the tempo without counting: in other words it should FLOW! He hates repeating the same drum patterns in the same song meaning if he plays a fill one way the first time around he will play it differently the second time around. IE. Rolls down the toms the first time around and triplets or quads (all four limbs) the second time around. In short there will NEVER be another like him on planet earth 🌍 🌏 🌎! REST IN PEACE PROFESSOR! With heart felt admiration and sincerity! Gary
You nailed it pretty good. His ability to write the lyrics with the drums in mind or maybe the other way around really enunciates the vocals musically. Never another Neil for sure.
Really great review! You do so well what I cannot, you put into words the way that I feel when I listen to this song. I saw a Rush in 1972 when they played at my high school and once they released their first album I was hooked. I was only 11 or 12 years old at the time. Then, in 1977, they released “A farewell to kings” For some reason I totally resonated with the music and the message. I lived and breathed RUSH proudly which for me was big. I was not brave as a teen. Rush’s music and message were instrumental in building my confidence and my ability to appreciate all the good things in my life, and to not focus very long on the bad stuff. Don’t let others actions steal your power. If that’s all you do in life, it’s still considered a great accomplishment and a success. Thanks for making me a proud Canadian from Toronto🙋🏻♂️✨
@@5thPhoenix Oh yeah, one of my favorite solos as well! From those slow, atmospheric cries with the volume pedal, to that bluesy feel, to a touch of the middle eastern, and then just utter face melting shredfest.
Another great 10-minute masterpiece to check out is “The Camera Eye.” Ridiculous vocal range. There are a lot of difficult jumps in that song. You should also try to get Geddy on for Tea Time. He’s such an amazing interview and kind person.
Elizabeth, having found you in the recent years, I love love love how you catch so many nuances. One thing I heard Geddy ( Gary) say about his vocals, was especially poignant. That is how Neil would write lyrics and somehow Geddy would have to master not only how to deliver them especially as poetic, complex and emotive as they needed to be to get Neil's messages across. Think about how hard enough that is for a person who is a vocalist, but add keys, bass, synth etc into the mix and that is the magic of Geddy Lee.
In the comments made on Rush by other musicians, many mention the double neck guitars and Neil’s kit and say “come on, that is just for show. No way they use all of that.” Then they say “and then they use it in the first five minutes.”
@@blairphifer1554the keyboard setup was huge at the time, but it basically consisted of an Oberheim 8 voice and a Minimoog in a custom case, with Taurus pedals on the floor partially wired into the Oberheim (those ancient times before midi).
Now that you have done the studio version you will face a tidal wave of fans rightfully insisting you react to the live Montreal 1981 performance, and totally unrelated coincidence I just spent like half the summer working on a newly restored version of it! 😃
Yes...let me add my thanks as well...I have enjoyed your work greatly, and I am deeply grateful for how you have refreshed and renewed these works of art. It makes me wish that there was an old video of the boys live performance of ByTor from the All the World's a Stage album...but I am not aware of any video that exists of that specific performance.
When they performed this on R 40 it was stunning how tight and lovely it was from beginning to end. Part of my soul left my body and floated above being lifted toward heaven. Brilliant in every way.
When Rush performed Xanadu on their Rush 40+ Tour in 2015 they proved this is their greatest song each night they played it!! One of the greatest Rock masterpieces of all time!!
I believe I have personally funded the majority of Geddy and Alex's retirement in worn out vinyl, magnetic tape and scratched up cd's over the last 45ish years.
Hard to believe this sonic masterpiece is almost 50 years old. Sounds as refreshing today as it did way back in the day. As vital and important as ever. The legend of Rush will only continue to grow.
Just found your channel. I'm a gigantic Rush fan and really enjoyed your analysis of a epic classic. Plus your bubbly personality made me smile. 😊 I'll have to check out more
Someone has probably already mentioned this but Neil the drummer wrote almost all the lyrics. This one is based on the Samuel Coleridge poem Kubla Khan. It’s the curse of immortality- is it paradise?!?
Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee have been friends since Junior High, their chemistry is unparalleled. Neil Peart joined them in 1974 and even 40 years later he was still "the new guy", no finer trio of musicians has ever existed! Also, Rush has been making other bands say W.T.F. since 1974.
You’re absolutely right about all of this. What a combo? I remember listening to Alex Lifeson when he was really young talking (or arguing) with his family about his music in the doc. Where they pulled that out I don’t know but you can see his genius screaming to get out and express itself. At the time, I’ll bet he just sounded like someone who was putting too much time in a hobby and won’t go anywhere in life with that, maybe his parents were thinking?
I cried when "The Professor" died. Rush has been part of my life from late primary school (elementary school) maybe 10-11yo. I was enchanted when I first heard their music (thanks to a close school friend who listened avidly to her Dad's Rush records!). I agree so much - I have never come across any other trio of musicians who have produced such an amazing range of music. It was a privilege following them through their careers. Such a lovely set of people and such a wonderful band.
The insight is more valuable with Rush because they were so freaking good at perfectly nailing a song live. So well rehearsed. So precise- athletes in their prime.
It's honestly one of the things that initially drew me to progressive rock/metal... it seems every time I listen I hear something new I never noticed before. As a drummer, I've probably spent *countless* hours rewinding and listening to one of Neil's sections over and over and over because it turns out there was more going on than I initially thought.
I'm so grateful for this deeply detailed breakdown of and thoughtful reflection on this amazing song. Not only is your technical analysis of vocal techniques and dynamics, but the ambience, transitions, storytelling, image and mood creation, textual interpretation. This video is a real masterpiece. I've been listening to this song for 40 years. It's the song I've chosen for the scenario where we are all told a comet is going to hit the earth and we have 11 minutes left. And now, you've given me so much more to enjoy and appreciate about the song. You're brilliant. As are Geddy, Alex and Neal.
Yes, this is the best prog rock song. No contest. Seen Rush live (by tee shirt count) at least 9 times. Close your eyes and try to believe its only three musicians. The best.
This is my favorite video you have ever done. First off, Rush is my favorite band and this is in the top 5 of songs (Side one of 2112 is at the top) second, you have eloquently described the music and the voice of one of the most unique bands ever. Thank you for your sincere love, joy and understand of this band.
Kindred souls. Side one of 2112 is my favorite rush creation. I hear geddy and Alex may collaborate on some new music in the near future. Anxiously awaiting that but know deep down there will never be another group that I love more than rush.
You should forget the ancient and listen carefully to everything starting with Grace Under Pressure, Rush Change 3 hears Alex playing guitar 4 different ways in a song. Hard to explain but as Al says, it’s his most difficult period. Same with Power Windows. All RUSH ages well! I’m afraid to overuse the great stuff, like this.
Hi, I loved your story telling and expertise on explaining all the different parts of this classic Rush song. As an English 14 year old boy, I first found Rush and have followed them to this day, I am now 59 years old. In the beginning there was no internet but I knew Rush were Canadian which got me so interested in Canada so much so that 17 years ago I moved from England and now live in Canada. That's what Rush does to their fans. Thank you for this amazing video!!
Late 1977, my older brother and i sitting on the floor in front of our Telefunken stereo system as Q107 debuted the album in it's entirety. a very nice core memory.
The most precise, eloquent and thorough narration and explanation of Geddy's vocals that could ever be given, hands down. I'm hooked. Down this rabbit hole I go.
It's true. The Exit stage Left live version is just about the only time in the history of man, and I'm counting 40 years of Rush concerts, that a song was performed better live than in the studio with tracks and editing. Some are fun, like YYZ in Rio and Working Man in Cleveland, and some were spot on versions of the studio cuts (just about every song in every concert from 1980-1996) But this was an elevation. Ok, ok, Leave That Thing Alone, (Time Machine) for sure.
I would argue that the live versions of "Something For Nothing" from many of the bootlegs on the Hemispheres tour are better than the studio recording on 2112.
Your reaction was awesome. As a lifelong Rush fan it brings me joy to see new people appreciate their unmatched talent and yes Geddys voice was awesome
Thank you for dissecting the fabulous nuances of Geddy's voice. I first saw this performed in 1977 before the album was released. At the time, I was a music major in college and I specifically remember being flabbergasted, just like you, at my first listen to this amazing piece. At the time, the reviewers were beating up on Geddy's voice -- my reaction being "jeez, the guy isn't trying out for the NY Met! He's singing rock music!" And progressive music it was. I had been a huge ELP and Yes fan, yet this band is the one that won my heart. This song, Xanadu, was to me their first masterpiece. It has all the elements (the full circle that you pointed out): Great lyrics transposed from a classic piece of poetry, intertwining instrumentation, chapters of story telling, well-designed vocals and astounding musicality by all three musicians. After 46 years, I still listen to it like it's brand new!
In the beginning part, that sound that seems like a synth..is Alex plucking a note on his guitar. , and using the volume control to produce that synth tone. The song 'based on the writing 'Kublah Kahn" and also the book, 'Paradise Lost" accentuates the endless search of man for immortality. It is found in Xanadu, yes, but once there, you can never leave. 'Frozen in an Ever-lasting youth" . This paradise found, now becomes a prison. One longs for the mundane , fleeting pleasures of normal life, but once you leave Xanadu, you instantly die. Perhaps of the sin of lust for life itself. Thank you Lisbeth for this wonderful and much awaited run through of Rush's magnum opus.:)
I've been listening to that song for almost 50 years. Watching the lovely Elizabeth listen to it for the first time is such a joy and takes me back to my early days of discovering Rush.
Having listened to this song for 45 years now so that it is almost taken for granted it is so enjoyable to hear it with your musical insight adding to its impact. Thank you very much for this from an old RUSH fan!
I'll never forget hearing this live. My first time hearing it was exit stage left, live in super good headphones and i had recently finished reading David Edding's "The Belgariad" and WOW. It fit that world so well, too.
Truly brilliant analysis! I’ve listened to Rush for 40+ years now and thanks to music experts like you breaking down Rush’s iconic songs on UA-cam, I continue to gain new appreciation for and a deeper understanding of their music. Well done! Now I have to go listen to the song straight through for the gazillionth time. ;)
Totally agree....for some reason I always think of Closer to the Heart as one of their songs after the Moving Pictures demarcation and forget it was on Farewell to Kings.....man I love Rush......Top 5 favorites, and maybe even number #1.....I drift away from them for years and years but every time I come back their songs are always fresh, and are timeless classics.
Listening to a trained professional who is willing and able to apply her knowledge and understanding of music to a style or genre she may not have been exposed to, is what I find fascinating about this channel. Her dissection of especially the vocals is always an education in mere moments.
A “MUST” song to react to from Rush is “The Garden” live 2012 Clockwork Angels Tour. This one is so emotional in light of Neil’s passing. Have tissues on standby
As a vocalist, my personal favorites to practice with are "Entre Nous" and "Different Strings". Both are extremely simple, very clean and well laid out vocally. The order of the lyrics on those two are SO easy to remember! This one's almost as easy. I always wanna drag "The Trees" along with it though. They naturally fit together. These two ("The Trees" and "Xanadu" are two of the most beautiful pieces they've ever done! They're very.. hypnotic. Especially Neil Peart's percussion during the transition.
I personally think this is Geddy’s best vocal performance. He had the voice of an angel. (I say had, because years of touring clearly took its toll) RIP Prof.
I grew up listening to Rush and Neil was a massive influence in getting me started on drums. Other drummers influenced me as well but Neil was different. I'm older now, obviously, and I grew a distaste for his overplaying while realizing that his playing helped make the distinct sound of Rush. I was 14 when I started listening to Rush's 2112 when it came out and quickly bought their previous 3 recordings. By the time I was 18-19 I had learned every note that Neil plays up to Moving Pictures. Soon after that I kinda grew out of that phase and moved on to other forms of music and playing. Listening to it now after all these years with your insightful comments has brought me tears a few times in fond reminiscence of why I loved Rush SO much so, thank you for that! You're a special kind of human to elicit that response from me. Love you!
What a journey! Listening to Xanadu straight through can be a satisfying musical experience in itself for anyone, but you have brought a little more depth and insight into this theatrical and dramatic work of art by pointing out things I've never quite heard in it, or even thought about. 🎉
Another Canadian trio you should check out is Triumph. Not only is Rik Emmett a really good singer, he's also an impressive guitar player. I would recommend 'Fight The Good Fight' or 'Lay It On The Line' from their 1983 US Festival performance.
I would have to agree!! Triumph I feel has been over looked way too long. For a rock trio, also from Canada, I get blown away by a lot of their songs. I would have to say that 2 of my favorites are Magic Power, and Hold On.
Absolutely. Triumph and Judas Priest stole the show at that festival, and both are well worth the watch. Triumph are another fun band like Styx and Genesis that managed to have TWO lead singers at the same time.
Yes please! Rik Emmit is an amazing guitarist and was at his peak in the US festival video. Oh, and an effortless perfect vocal performance that is unparalleled! Please!
With how many times you said subdivisions in this reaction, I think "Subdivisions - Rush" should be your next Rush reaction. Edit: and if you really want your expectations adverted at some point check out "Roll the Bones - Rush"
Haha, right? I came to look for comments like this after 23:01 -- I guess I"ve got more mentions to look forward to, too. Too funny. Elizabeth, were you even aware that Rush has a song by that title? I hope you'll explore it. :)
Every time she said Subdivisions, i laughed "No that's another song" For Subdivisions, there maybe a better recording but i prefer the official video. It's filmed around Toronto, i'm from Toronto so it's fun to see landmarks and such from the 80's lol
I saw Rush on the "Farewell To Kings" tour, in 1979-ish...Geddy was singing, playing his RickenBacker 4001 bass, and using foot pedals, all at the same time. He never dropped a note, or missed a beat. Incredible musician!
in the past I have occasionally, when watching your analyzations of classic rock material, find myself asking in my head, 'how doesn't anyone know these songs.' however your enthusiasm reminds me of my 'first listen' experiences to these epic masterpieces from my youth. There are a few that the moment they come on the radio, come up randomly on Alexa, or even show up in a movie, my eyes tear up and my soul fills with joy: Xanadu is one of those! your genuine joy is beautiful to experience with you.
Wow! Not having heard this song in a while its easy to forget the genius of these 3 men. After a few seconds you instantly know you are listening to complete mastery of their instruments. Never will there be another band like RUSH!!
That’s an interesting thing about Rush is that you can listen to them 200 million times without getting bored because there’s so much depth and complexity. There’s always another little nuance you didn’t notice before.
Yep, the greatest prog song ever. As noted, one take at Rockfield Studios in Wales, and the birds were recorded outside the studio. The instrumentation is just unbeatable: Alex’s Gibson 6 & 12 string, Geddy’s Rickenbacker bass & 6 string and voice, Taurus bass pedals, Minimoog Model D and the glorious drum kit of Neil. This will never be bettered!
Yep. recorded in one take. They played a few min to get the recording levels set. Then started over and did it one take. The recording engineer was floored and amazed. 12 min song and not some simple song either. Amazing musicians
I truly appreciate a objective "professional" analysis of all things Rush- especially Geddy Lee! And Xanadu has to be one of their best tracks for all the ages. It's funny how critics don't have to have a musical education to be able to publish opinions about Musicians and what you have to love about Rush is that they have ignored the critics throughout their whole career :) They are one of the few rock band's of that era that brought a certain degree of perfection not only to the studio recordings and precise compositions but to their live shows. They remain one of my all time favorites from when I first heard them in 1976 still through to today. Thank you for this outstanding analysis video- truly a big fan of your channel
You should try another Canadian trio called Triumph. "Fight the good fight" or "Follow your heart". They have a ton of great songs. Very high voices. Rik Emmett(Guitar) and Gil Moore(Drums) harmonize very well together. Awesome channel.
Yeah, this is considered a prog masterpiece. This came off of the 2nd album of a five-album streak where each album was unexpectedly in a whole new league. The live version is impressive in that they do an amazing job of replicating this song. I'd recommend checking out other ones. They have a lot of amazing pieces worth listening to. "Jacob's Ladder" is a sublime piece that reminds me of classical music in how it's constructed.
We need a Tea Time with Geddy. I bet he would love to hear from an opera singer who loves his voice after he took so much grief for it.
Pretty please!
I think you're right and I think it would blow him away to hear somebody describing how much they like his voice and all the reasons why. He'd probably get a kick out of somebody enjoying how obsessively compulsive he is, even with his voice.
Absolutely yes. Geddy would be someone I would be interested in hearing from. I'm a big fan of his voice. Rush is a really cool band.
He's also promoting his new memoir right now too!!
Yes! That would be awesome!
FYI: The synthesizer sound you referred to is actually Alex using a volume pedal to "swell in" each note from his guitar, usually with some delay as well. It's a technique that he really mastered on this song (IMO) and while easy to do, it's hard to master the timing of hitting the note just early enough to get the effect.
Also without using Pro-tools. All Tape.
They used a lot of Roland guitar synth in that era also
@@highrx - I believe there were some early analog delay pedals and rack units that used capacitors (IIRC) instead of tape. Don't know which one Alex was using at the time, but his gear setup was quite extensive, even early on from what I've read.
fairly easy to do on the guitar itself if you wrap your right little finger around the volume knob - on a strat at least - and control the volume with each note
@@svennystrom4203 - True, but I found it easier with a good volume pedal.
There's been a bare handful of "celebrities" whose passing I truly mourned. Neil Peart was one of them. His genius was an exquisite gift to us.
Agreed, that one hit me hard and that usually doesn't happen.
I'm just 40 pages into Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road, Neil's 2002 memoir about his daunting solo motorcycle trek across Canada and far north into Alaska, the Yukon and Northwest Territories. I'm just one-tenth into the tome and I've almost cried a couple of times reading it as he recounts the pain of losing his young adult daughter and longtime wife less than a year apart. It's also apparent that Neil was a great writer as well as a great lyricist. What tremendous losses he experienced and now we have experienced.
RIP Professor….your music and soul will live forever in us Blessed enough to experience your brilliance! ❤️🙏
Miss Neil.
@@timwhitnell7145 a great read as he dealt with his losses. A time where the whole entire Rush fan club was unsure if he would return. A genius gone before his time as God needed drum lessons and called him home.
NEIL PEART’S 10 RULES FOR SUCCESS:
1: EARN YOUR AUDIENCE
2: BE RESTLESS
3: GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
4: LEARN FROM OTHERS
5: CREATE WHAT YOU LIKE
6: INFECT PEOPLE WITH YOUR FIRE
7: DON’T READ REVIEWS
8: CREATE FOR YOUR IDEAL AUDIENCE
9: FIND YOUR INSPIRATION
10: NEVER STOP EXPERIMENTING
Nja så enkelt är det nog inte.
As a longtime fan of this channel, I just want to humbly thank you for featuring so much Rush content. They're my favorite band of all time and it warms my heart to see other talented musicians recognize them.
well said !
They're my favorite band too!! Since 1979.
I would like to humbly suggest that Moving Pictures is the greatest album of all time.
My favorite since 1978, because of Neil Peart initially, Geddy & Alex later. I had never heard drums played the way Neil did it. It was similar to the way I felt hearing Eddie Van Halen on VH's first album.
And I loved reading Neil's lyrics to my parents. My dad was a preacher so my parents were hard on me about rock music. I said, "see, no sex, drugs, etc. 😂
@@BattleHardenedGolfClashReplaysNeil drew his lyrics from philosophy, fantasy, and later on from writers like Ann Raynd.
One song from Moving Pictures
The whole wide world an endless universe but we keep looking through the eyeglass in reverse. We don't feed the people but we feed the machines. We really don't know what international means.
You should have used the 1981 live version off Exit Stage Left. Best ever live performance I've ever seen. Having said that, there are no bad versions lol.
And let me just say I concur and must personally recommend the definitive 2023 Terry Brown Laserdisc Project uploaded by an unnamed individual...
You have to watch the Stickhits upload of The Trees/ Xanadu on your own time. It's a 3-man symphony.
Agreed - Exit stage Left is the definitive version for me. But I wouldn't mind seeing her listen to BOTH
@@StickHits- "Unnamed individual", yeah right! 😄
I always mention your channel, whenever I recommend 'Exit...Stage Left' clips 😊👍
Is actually 1980, the 1981 version sounds completely different I've heard both
She didn't really mention it in the video, but to have this kind of vocal technique while also playing bass to the level he is, is pretty much inhuman. Amazing musician!
Throw in the fact that he also played keyboards and juggled all that like some multi-tasking mad man when they played live. The talent level of those 3 Canadians is un matched IMO.
One of my favorite concert moments was watching them open with “The Big Money” with Geddy singing, triggering sequences and playing Taurus pedals, all while playing a really involved funky bass part. Truly amazing looking back on it. Those guys sure could play!
Bassist on great levels of amazement are Geddy ,Geezer Butler,Steve Harris,Les Claypool, Flea, Cliff Burton, Lemmy just some personal favorites no particular order
Y'all need to listen to more Mastodon
I'm a Rush fan since 1977. Well, they became my #1 band by '79/80 probably. So a little while ago. But I was snobby about later shorter, more synth use songs. But their later music is growing on me. "Territories" might be their best song under 5 minutes. It's so important. While Neil & Alex certainly were sharing credits because Ged is generous like that, that's gotta be Geddy's song. Read the lyrics. Timeless. Really his parents gifted that to Geddy. And vice versa. Fair warning however: "Territories" has an ear worm. It's a good one, but really difficult to erase.
One of the greatest songs ever recorded and played by only THREE PEOPLE!!! The amount of work and multi tasking to create this from all three is truly astonishing!!! And play it live to perfection!!! Wow!!!
That track was taken directly from A Farewell To Kings. It was made to look like a live performance but it wasn't.
@@martinmurphy-ke2ge most bands with this much going on would have 20 people on stage... when Rush played live, how many people were on stage?
Seen rush live 3 times, late 70s , 80s,and 90s..always enjoyed Neil, and the boys, putting it all out there, every performance!! Great reactions 😊
@martinmurphy-ke2ge she should have reviewed the Exit Stage Left version. Better in every way than this. And live!
Primus performed it live as a three piece on their Farewell to Kings tour. It was incredible.
I never thought that I'd ever sit through watching a 40-minute analysis of Xanadu. But seeing the sincerity and absolute joy of your smile made me feel like I hearing this song for the first time again.
At times, I couldn't decide if it was really joy or a smile masking a feeling of horror, but it was cool. And I have always said, those three guys can make a lot of racket. And it's wonderful. I also bet she needed a nap after that one. It's... epic.
Hey because of your comment I decided not to skip along, instead I stayed to watch and you are right my friend! PEACE great group RUSH :)
I also watched the whole video, having read these comments. Love Rush
Agree ❤
The genius of Rush is difficult to quantify... Despite how beautifully intelligent she is....
Ya know, I'm a guitar player and I've listened to this song hundreds of times since the day it was made, but watching you experience it and listening to you explain things I never knew has caused me to have a whole nuther level of appreciation for a song that is nothing but epic on all levels. For that I thank you. And yes, listen to Xanadu thousands of times for the rest of your life.
This 100%
Elizabeth, if you really want your mind blown listen to a live version of La Villa Strangiato. Alex' guitar playing is phenominal. No singing throughout the whole song, but Geddy, Alex, and Neil play in such a way together it just puts you in a state of awe.
agreed! one of the greatest instrumental songs ever.
Preach on. 👊
I loved watching a video about how difficult La Villa was to perform in just one take. It really pushed all 3 of their abilities to the limit, but that's just the type of band they were. Always seeking perfection at their craft. I love seeing how people are starting to grasp how good they really were together as a band. Long overdue imo.
Yes!!! And Yes
Even just the studio version of the song is amazing.
The birds you are hearing were actually in the hedgerows surrounding the studio where this was recorded, just north of Monmouth, on the England - Wales border, the very famous Rockfield Studios, same place as where Queen recorded Bohemian Rhapsody, worth looking up on Google for a full list of the iconic albums that were recorded there.
Anyway the offspring of those very birds still inhabit the same hedgerows today..
Not only that 3 people can create so much sound together, but even more impressive they could recreate it live. All three of them are phenomenal musicians.
Alex Lifeson said this was a one take song. They had rehearsed it. Played part of it so sound engineer could work placement of microphones. They then played the whole 11 minutes. That is what you hear on the record. Their first take in the recording the song. Here is what was said about the song.
Despite its complexity and length, Xanadu is a rare "one take wonder" song. Guitarist Alex Lifeson said, "Xanadu was well rehearsed before going to Rockfield, I remember that. On the day we recorded it, Pat Moran, the resident engineer, set all the mics up and we ran the song down, partially to get balances and tones. Because it was a long song, we didn't need to complete that test run.
"We then played it a second time from top to bottom and that's what you hear on the album. Needless to say, Pat was shocked that we ran an 11-minute song down in one complete take. Practice doesn't always make perfect, but it sure helps!"
That is truly insane. I didn't know that. It gives me an entirely new perspective on the song.
The solo and birds were overdubbed, but yeah the rhythm track is entirely one take, which is real damn impressive.
I heard this as well. It blows my mind that they could record something so complex, so sublime and so monumental with such expertise and perfection in just two takes! This is my favorite Rush song.
The birds were live...they recorded outdoors at Rockfield.@@ChandlerTV100
I was going to tell this story, but you not only told it, but quoted an interview from which I learned this amazing story!
Keep in mind they had just come off of the longest tour of their whole careers and had not only written this on the road using brand new instruments (double neck guitars and basses, synth, bass pedals, extra percussion, new drum kit), but they had performed this song, pre-release, about 30 times live (that we know of). So they were a tight, well oiled machine by the time they hit the studio.
That being said, I can tell you from experience, performing ANY song for 5 minutes let alone 11, LIVE off the floor, especially as a whole band, whether it be relatively simple, or incredibly complex like this one, without a single duff note, errant squeak or noise from anyone is astonishing!
A year later they would attempt to do the same thing in the same studio with La Villa Strangiato and it took them over 40 takes and more time recording than the entire Fly By Night album (2 weeks) and they STILL couldn't get it down in one continuous live band take.
They had to use 2 or 3 takes plus the classical guitar intro to get it to their satisfaction.
A couple of months later they could practically play it in their sleep on the Hemispheres tour though. And there are MANY great live tapes from that tour to prove it.
Just goes to show that you never know which songs are gonna go down like magic right outta the gate, and which will be like pulling teeth to get right!
Probably three of the most talented players in modern rock and possibly three of the most humble and “regular” people who made it as far as they did. I wish Neil could have lived to bask in the, much deserved, recognition that they’re getting now on UA-cam.
It's like the speed of Neil's neurons firing synapses so fast millions of times bursting from his brain to the tip of his sticks so fast and so precisely it wore out his computer. There's many layers of brain usage by Peart. He must have had a very unusual brain physically. Definitely not mortal the level of skills and excellence Neil attained... I believe he must have arrived from Cygnus X1 !!! Dun dun dannunt!!
@@Greg-io1ipnot to mention the lyrics he wrote, so much thought went into those lyrics and how they would flow and tell a new story every time. That writing style is evident in the way he speaks too, how he built average sentences with so much care. The vocabulary he had was unlike anything I've ever seen.
"Probably"? C'mon. Just say it. Definitely.
@@Valandor_Celestial_Warlock Well… there are some very talented people in the world. I didn’t want to go over the top.
Well said. Neil's death was the one time in my 56 years I've ever shed a tear for the death of a public personality or celebrity of any kind. The world, and my soul, took a massive hit that day.
My friend Forest (RIP) and I saw Rush introduce this song Xanadu at an "All the World's a Stage" tour concert back around 1977. Geddy said "this is a new song from our upcoming album". We were about 10' from the stage and it was the most amazing thing! What is almost missed in this video is the fact that Alex is playing 12 and 6 string double neck, Geddy is playing 6 string and bass double neck, plus the keyboard and both are playing synths with their feet. And the stuff Neil has going on, mind blowing. Love the reactions and descriptions also. Pure joy and surprise.
Saw them in Boise ID 77 best concert ever
You and Forest were blessed to have seen the preview of Xanadu on that tour and you are right - it was 1977. I saw the same thing tour st Sheffield City Hall in 77 and they previewed Xanadu there as well. Didn't know what it was, but hell I knew it was special.
I've been told that Geddy is actually playing a 12 string too. Half the tuning keys are behind the head of the guitar so it is easy to mistake it for a six string I thought it was a six string for about 30 years until I was educated on UA-cam a few months ago.
@@schafn Ah yes, the famous Rickenbacker staggered tuners. Very elegant compared to the massive Gibson headstock.
You are correct, apparently the black Rick doubleneck is 4 string bass 12 sting combo and the white Rick doubleneck is 4 string bass 6 string combo. You live and learn..........
Beautiful dude 😍
There are times in the history of music where pivotal artists change our fundamental knowledge of what music can be. Rush was a paradigm shift. Their influence on music is monumental.
I totally agree
Elizabeth and The Charismatic Voice is another one of those monumental influences
@@Phreddieboy I have to totally agree....I just love her to pieces. Her reactions are so adorable, but most of the other reaction types are mostly vapid, just trying to sell their cuteness to us old Rocker dudes. Elizabeth is truly educational. I love to sing, have a pretty strong voice, wide range, can mimic a lot of styles. All its ever led to is I went to state in HS swing choir and am always one of the stars of bar karaoke.....LoL. Still I love to sing for the enjoyment of it. I have learned so much about singing and music from Elizabeth I feel like I should be paying her for lessons. She is the complete package with both style and substance.
You nailed it there at the end. One of the main reasons I absolutely LOVE Rush is because you can listen to their songs 100 times and you will always be able to notice something new and understand something better. The level of creativity in each of their respective instruments is a joy to experience.
Spent tens of thousands of dollars in travel and broker front row tickets to go to a total of 105 RUSH concerts starting in 1981 at the Philadelphia spectrum and ending with their last two shows in Irvine and Inglewood. My only regret is that I wasted the rest of my money on food and shelter 😮
Hahaha! I only saw them in the 70s. Lucky you...
Nice. I can only claim one concert. I envy you.
I was at the Irvine show R40. Fantastic show
Hemispheres, Perm Waves, Moving Pics, Snakes…….and owning all material good enough for me.
You, Sir, are a credit to the entire human species. I applaud you!
That was a lot of fun! I'm one of those old dudes who grew up with Rush. I think I might have taken it for granted a little bit. Your perspective really opens it back up for me, thanks!
To me, this is an absolute orchestral masterpiece, Rush at the pinnacle of their craft.
Geddy is amazing. He's playing bass, keyboards, and singing at the same time! One of the ways he pulls this off is with pedals. He can play bass and use pedals to trigger keyboard sounds, and when he's playing keyboards (with his hands), he has pedals to carry the bass sounds. It's almost like patting your head, rubbing your tummy, and repeating the alphabet backward simultaneously. Bravo!
He also plays 6 string guitar in this one
Seen him do this in person at least 8 times. He is an absolute virtuoso and a fantastic bassist.
Felix Hanneman of Zebra would do something similar. Obviously Geddy was an inspiration to Felix. I ran into him at Eddie Trunk's 40 years of radio celebration in Vegas. I didn't want to bother him with any questions. He like everyone else there, just wanted to enjoy the show, and what a show it was!!😄😄😄
Exactly! He's absolutely amazing. Unique.
Alex is also playing bass pedals on this song.
"There's a specifity to his sound that works so perfectly with this power trio"
THANK YOU !!! I'm so tired of the disrespect that gets hurled at Geddy's voice. Rush would not be Rush without Geddy's voice. And I think it's AWESOME !!!
Geddy would probably not make it through round 1 of American Idol, but let's see any of those kids try to sing this!
PLEASE do the 1981 Exit Stage Left version. The original studio version is superb, but that live version is NEXT LEVEL brilliance.
If I'm not mistaken, I believe this 'studio' version is actually live also. IOW it was done as if it were on stage. No tricks.
@@peterhodgkins6985 Doesn't matter, the definitive version of that magnificent work of art is the ESL version.
@@peterhodgkins6985 Correct, but the Exit Stage Left version is still so much better.
@@peterhodgkins6985 - Nah, they're miming to the studio version here, but spot-on. There are videos of 'La Villa Strangiato' and 'The Trees' with a similar look, and _those_ actually are being played live 🙂
Sure instrumentally it is next level, I'm not sure a vocal analysis would provide much more, except to see Geddy's bass/vocal dexterity live without a safety net
Elizabeth, with this choice you have unlocked the door to the "High Priest" level of epic progressive music. There is one more step in this quest and it can only be found in Cygnus X-1: Book II. This is your final challenge for ultimate ascendence. You effort and knowledge are unrivaled and served you well so far. Thank you. 🤘😁🤘
Yeah, I mean so many songs, such as the duet with Aimee Mann on "Time Stand Still" or the great final song, "The Garden (live)".
Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres is my favorite out of all of Rush's prog epics, tbh. A great song off of an insanely great album.
We're all pulling for you, Elizabeth - you can do it! 😁🤟💖
I've never got the love for Hemispheres. I find it boring, and twee in the lyric department. Not a patch on this, 2112 or even the original Cygnus song. Side 2 of Hemispheres is so much better than side one for me.
100%. It was my everlasting privilege to discover Rush in 1978 as a 13 year old in the UK and Hemispheres was the first vinyl I bought for myself - a mind blowing entry to the Rush experience.
The “expanding synth sound” you’re talking about in the opening of this amazing song is Alex’s guitar. He is using a volume pedal to swell the notes in. Geniuses, all three of them.
A Farewell To Kings, is probably my favorite RUSH album.
The "Synth" you refer to around the 4 minute mark, is actually Alex Lifeson doing volume swells with his 6 string guitar.
This is why you hear the "delay" He picks the note in time, then reaches down and turns the volume up to sound it and then back down to pick the next note to swell.
I was fortunate enough to see RUSH live twice.
I read back through the comments to make sure nobody else pointed this out before I did, but you beat me to the punch. When I was 18, I was in a band that played 20 cover songs and 18 of them were Rush songs. That was way before people started talking about tribute bands and alas, we were a 4 piece, not a 3 piece anyway.
I was able to see them 4 times... Metallica won over the most seen live band though... At 12.
The live version of Xanadu from their Exit Stage Left tour is the most insane thing you’ll ever hear. To hear this recorded in studio, where they can layer tracks, is one thing, but to hear three men play all of these sounds in a live setting and do an even better job than this studio cut is beyond amazing.
I have heard them do this song, which is one they always do, over 30 times live. It’s just mind blowing. Geddy singing, shredding the bass, all while playing the keyboards with his feet is just not to be believed. If I hadn’t seen them so many times live, I wouldn’t believe that three man can do this kind of stuff live.
By the way, this song predates Guns And Roses by a decade or more, so if any one influenced the other, it would be Alex’s intro that inspired Slash, not the other way around. This song was off of their Farewell To Kings Album which came out in 1977, I believe. I know that I was in high school, so it was ‘77 or ‘78, anyway, years ahead of Sweet Child Of Mine.
Yes that version is Outstanding 👍
that tour was the first time I saw them and yeah. it was mind blowing. so I saw them 18 more times over the years 🙂
@@damnyankeefl I didn’t see that exact performance, but I did go see them on that tour, which was the tour following Moving Pictures, but they later called it the Exit Stage Left tour because of the live album that came out of that tour. They did do Xanadu the night I saw them when they came to central Florida on that tour. I never missed a Rush tour beginning with Permanent Waves, this was my second time seeing them. They did Xanadu on the Permanent Waves tour too. In fact, I believe that they did Xanadu at every show I ever saw them at, including Clockwork Angels and the Farewell Tour. Like La Villa Strangiato and Tom Sawyer, it was a staple of every concert.
@@damnyankeefl me too, except I had first saw them the year before on their Permanent Waves tour. Never missed them on tour after that. They were the best concerts I have ever been too. Rush fans are a different breed than the average concert going fans. Not a bunch of screaming 13 year olds, but more mature and musically seasoned fans, who really appreciate the music of this band, not because they’re the hottest thing going at any particular time. Rush was never that. Those that go to see them are very, very familiar with their music and can sing every lyric and air drum to every Peart drum fill. A completely different concert experience for sure.
That album and the Broons Bane/Xanadu section got me into Rush. It was a revelation.
I don't think there is another reactor on the planet who could even attempt to break this down in the way you have and it's just really super impressive. It opens my mind to completely different aspects of a song I've heard so many times. For a vocal person like yourself to even attempt this song that is almost 12 minutes long with a solid 5 minutes before we get to any vocals kind of blows me away....kudos to you.
Next RUSH review....Subdivisions.
You get much more of Geddy's mid-range voice throughout without the high-pitched stuff.... it's definitely a different sound. It's a great song that was an Anthem to a lot of high school kids in the 80s
So one thing I absolutely love about these reviews - you were very detailed and specific to explain Geddy Lee's vocals and his extreme precision and detailed choices with his enunciation, inflection and focus - while speaking with extreme enunciation, inflection, and focus... It's just FUN!!!!
I love the way you are loving this! I have heard Xanadu hundreds of times. As a teenager through headphones. As a twenty-something on long road trips. On an iPod during long distance runs in my 30s and 40s. I thought I had really analyzed this to death. However, never have I been more emotional about it, than today. Something about the way you are enjoying it and breaking it down, makes it new for me again in my 50s! Thank you!
My exact thoughts! I know every detail of this piece because I've listened to it so many times, but seeing her reactions literally brought tears to my eyes several times. Thanks, Elizabeth!
My exact thoughts as well! I was grinning like a Cheshire Cat. I love when someone fully appreciates my favorite band.
I've come to believe that we music lovers all have an "Elizabeth" buried in our psyche. And our "Elizabeth" is filled with joy at finding this kindred spirit who so eloquently states the things we don't quite know how to articulate but love just the same.
I thought you said you prefer live versions. 😢 Please, Elizabeth, even if it's on your own time, you must see the Exit Stage Left version of this masterpiece. Neil is everywhere. Geddy is amazing on bass, keys, pedals and vocals. And Alex shreds the double-neck, 6 and 12-string like he was born with it in his hands. It's so good, a little tear forms every time I see it. God bless.
I concur! 😀 And I love your description of Alex's swift switching between both guitars! 😁👍 He too plays a pedal synth in that performance, by the way 😊
this is live.
I've been saying this for over 40 years...Alex Lifeson is a horrendously underrated guitarist.
I've heard that when Eddie Van Halen was asked what it was like to be the best guitar player in the world, he said "I don't know, you'd have to ask Alex Lifeson...." 😛@@n5iln
@@n5iln with respect: I hear this a lot, but I don't ever hear anyone underrating him. Most pro guitarists recognize his brilliance, as do I and many others.
I love the genuine delight you get whenever you hear this band.
I think she was as amazed as I was the first time I heard it. The thing is it never gets old.
Just a quick little story that you, as a parent, might appreciate. My very first concert experience was in 1977. I was 16 and the band was Rush on their A Farewell To Kings tour. Absolutely extraordinary. Fast forward almost 40 years. My son had just turned 16 when I took him to his first concert. The band was Rush on their Snakes and Ladders tour. I’ve seen so many great concerts over the decades (my constant tinnitus is proof of that) but those are the two most memorable.
I feel some great Karma...AFTK was also my first concert the day before my 16th birthday, it was the first time hearing the album immensely enjoyable and absolutely an unforgettable performance
i must add I find it frustrating this song was never played on the radio
50 years later and this song still gives me chills !!
Mr. Peart has , on this set,
Ludwig 4" cowbell
LP standard Agogo Bells
LP Black Beauty Cowbell
Gon Bops Agogo Tri- Bells
LP Rock Cowbell
For a total of 8 bells and the way he uses them is the reason he's called the
" Professor " .
RUSH is THE PERFECT EXAMPLE of the fluidity of MASTERING TIME SIGNATURES! I play drums and there are a few things that you need to know about Neil Peart’s ( pronounced PEER-T) character: First he writes the lyrics so he knows in advance what TYPE of song it’s meant to be ie ballad, driver, etc. Second he COMPOSES on the drums… like a carpenter who looks at a set of blueprints before building the object. Neil lays out a SKETCH in his mind of the VOICES of the drumset and builds the song from there. He is also a great LISTENER knowing when NOT to step over Geddy’s singing or Alex’s solos! Finally, he had perfect timing and fluidity of time changes. He said himself that it’s not about COUNTING the time signatures as much as fluid motion to change the tempo without counting: in other words it should FLOW! He hates repeating the same drum patterns in the same song meaning if he plays a fill one way the first time around he will play it differently the second time around. IE. Rolls down the toms the first time around and triplets or quads (all four limbs) the second time around. In short there will NEVER be another like him on planet earth 🌍 🌏 🌎! REST IN PEACE PROFESSOR!
With heart felt admiration and sincerity!
Gary
Couldn't have said it better myself. Awesome analysis 👍🥁
stupendous awesome comment Gary!...you have added even more appreciation and admiration to Neil's craft right there...
Well said, my friend. 😢
What a beautiful synopsis of our favourite drummer, percussionist, lyricist, musician and human being!
You nailed it pretty good. His ability to write the lyrics with the drums in mind or maybe the other way around really enunciates the vocals musically. Never another Neil for sure.
Really great review!
You do so well what I cannot, you put into words the way that I feel when I listen to this song.
I saw a Rush in 1972 when they played at my high school and once they released their first album I was hooked.
I was only 11 or 12 years old at the time.
Then, in 1977, they released “A farewell to kings”
For some reason I totally resonated with the music and the message.
I lived and breathed RUSH proudly which for me was big. I was not brave as a teen. Rush’s music and message were instrumental in building my confidence and my ability to appreciate all the good things in my life, and to not focus very long on the bad stuff. Don’t let others actions steal your power. If that’s all you do in life, it’s still considered a great accomplishment and a success.
Thanks for making me a proud Canadian from Toronto🙋🏻♂️✨
I got to experience Max Webster that way as my first concert in high school long before they were truly popular.
La Villa Strangiato is one of their best but no lyrics. I’m currently reading Geddy’s book. It is beyond great.
I concur on La Villa Strangiato!! My fave by Rush.
I bought geddys book it's great
@@kennethreid2794 it’s so good. I loved the nostalgia of the early 70’s and then learning about their party days of the early 80’s.
I'm up to where they are recording Hemispheres, very well written, must read for any Rush fan.
@@5thPhoenix Oh yeah, one of my favorite solos as well! From those slow, atmospheric cries with the volume pedal, to that bluesy feel, to a touch of the middle eastern, and then just utter face melting shredfest.
Another great 10-minute masterpiece to check out is “The Camera Eye.” Ridiculous vocal range. There are a lot of difficult jumps in that song. You should also try to get Geddy on for Tea Time. He’s such an amazing interview and kind person.
Everytime Elizabeth listens to Rush, there is so much joy in her feelings. ☺
Elizabeth, having found you in the recent years, I love love love how you catch so many nuances. One thing I heard Geddy ( Gary) say about his vocals, was especially poignant. That is how Neil would write lyrics and somehow Geddy would have to master not only how to deliver them especially as poetic, complex and emotive as they needed to be to get Neil's messages across. Think about how hard enough that is for a person who is a vocalist, but add keys, bass, synth etc into the mix and that is the magic of Geddy Lee.
Two double neck guitars, a keyboard, an array of foot pedals and a drum kit the size of Belgium. Welcome to Rush World... Magic!
A Keyboard? His keyboard setup is in the neighborhood of a Professor’s drum kit!
In the comments made on Rush by other musicians, many mention the double neck guitars and Neil’s kit and say “come on, that is just for show. No way they use all of that.” Then they say “and then they use it in the first five minutes.”
@@smilerpink SMH at that assumption, THEY ARE HEAVIER. And musicians don't think that way.
@@blairphifer1554the keyboard setup was huge at the time, but it basically consisted of an Oberheim 8 voice and a Minimoog in a custom case, with Taurus pedals on the floor partially wired into the Oberheim (those ancient times before midi).
I love the accident that you refer multiple times to the 'subdivisions' within a Rush song, when one of their best tunes is called 'Subdivisions'.
Subdivisions is another great one for another analysis, for sure.
I was scrolling through the comments just to say SUBDIVISIONS! 😎
Thought the same.
@@UA-camChris23 Conform or be cast out!
first song i ever learned on keyboard
Now that you have done the studio version you will face a tidal wave of fans rightfully insisting you react to the live Montreal 1981 performance, and totally unrelated coincidence I just spent like half the summer working on a newly restored version of it! 😃
The work you've done you are an unheralded saint to us Rush fans
Yes...let me add my thanks as well...I have enjoyed your work greatly, and I am deeply grateful for how you have refreshed and renewed these works of art. It makes me wish that there was an old video of the boys live performance of ByTor from the All the World's a Stage album...but I am not aware of any video that exists of that specific performance.
glad I found you in the comments - instant sub for me to explore another Rush rabbit hole of content🤤
Funny seeing you here! You do great work!
I concur, the Stickhits version is the absolute best. Thanks for all the work you’ve put in to restoring so many epic Rush performances! Excellent!
When they performed this on R 40 it was stunning how tight and lovely it was from beginning to end. Part of my soul left my body and floated above being lifted toward heaven. Brilliant in every way.
When Rush performed Xanadu on their Rush 40+ Tour in 2015 they proved this is their greatest song each night they played it!! One of the greatest Rock masterpieces of all time!!
My favorite version of the song too! Beat the Exit Stage Left classic version imo, and I was able to see it live! (Just a baby when ESL came out lol).
Saw it on that tour, too. It was incredible. They did it right, Neil had the huge kit again with percussion, and the two double necks.
The only tour where Neil took a bow out front of his kit with Geddy and Alex.
Speaking of “Subdivisions,” that’s another awesome Rush song.
She need to do that song since she mentions “it” here so often
I was thinking the same thing. i heard at least 5 mentions @@SuperDoubleTs
I jumped every time that word came up lol
I believe I have personally funded the majority of Geddy and Alex's retirement in worn out vinyl, magnetic tape and scratched up cd's over the last 45ish years.
Yeah, every time she said "subdivisions", I kind of chuckled. :D
Hard to believe this sonic masterpiece is almost 50 years old. Sounds as refreshing today as it did way back in the day. As vital and important as ever. The legend of Rush will only continue to grow.
Just found your channel. I'm a gigantic Rush fan and really enjoyed your analysis of a epic classic. Plus your bubbly personality made me smile. 😊 I'll have to check out more
Someone has probably already mentioned this but Neil the drummer wrote almost all the lyrics. This one is based on the Samuel Coleridge poem Kubla Khan. It’s the curse of immortality- is it paradise?!?
“In Xanadu did Kubla Khan a stately pleasure dome decree…”
Many years ago, a DJ in San Antonio read Kubla Khan on the radio, then played this song.
"Rime of the Ancient Mariner" but close enough.
Yes - he wrote it while tripping out on opium! Sad thing is, he never finished the poem as his trip was disrupted by the postman🤷🏻
Not the postman, "a person from Porlock".
@@nicholasvinen Ahhh yes - you're right!
Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee have been friends since Junior High, their chemistry is unparalleled. Neil Peart joined them in 1974 and even 40 years later he was still "the new guy", no finer trio of musicians has ever existed!
Also, Rush has been making other bands say W.T.F. since 1974.
You’re absolutely right about all of this. What a combo? I remember listening to Alex Lifeson when he was really young talking (or arguing) with his family about his music in the doc. Where they pulled that out I don’t know but you can see his genius screaming to get out and express itself. At the time, I’ll bet he just sounded like someone who was putting too much time in a hobby and won’t go anywhere in life with that, maybe his parents were thinking?
@@dannyt286that video of Alex and his family was a documentary, And just by chance Alex was picked to be in it ,
@@dannyt286the documentary was called come on Children filmed in 1973 who could have ever guessed back then of The future of Alex
@@squamishfish cool, thx. I’ll look it up. Who da thought?
I cried when "The Professor" died. Rush has been part of my life from late primary school (elementary school) maybe 10-11yo. I was enchanted when I first heard their music (thanks to a close school friend who listened avidly to her Dad's Rush records!). I agree so much - I have never come across any other trio of musicians who have produced such an amazing range of music. It was a privilege following them through their careers. Such a lovely set of people and such a wonderful band.
How have I listened to this piece for 45 years and not realized the intricacies Elizabeth points out in the first listen?! A master analyzing masters!
She hasn't found the river Ralph though.
I was thinking the same thing. How have I never heard the bells in the beginning modulating?
The insight is more valuable with Rush because they were so freaking good at perfectly nailing a song live. So well rehearsed. So precise- athletes in their prime.
It's honestly one of the things that initially drew me to progressive rock/metal... it seems every time I listen I hear something new I never noticed before. As a drummer, I've probably spent *countless* hours rewinding and listening to one of Neil's sections over and over and over because it turns out there was more going on than I initially thought.
Critics. Critics are for tourists
I'm so grateful for this deeply detailed breakdown of and thoughtful reflection on this amazing song. Not only is your technical analysis of vocal techniques and dynamics, but the ambience, transitions, storytelling, image and mood creation, textual interpretation. This video is a real masterpiece. I've been listening to this song for 40 years. It's the song I've chosen for the scenario where we are all told a comet is going to hit the earth and we have 11 minutes left. And now, you've given me so much more to enjoy and appreciate about the song. You're brilliant. As are Geddy, Alex and Neal.
I don't know... Xanadu or La Villa Strangiato??? 🤔
Yes, this is the best prog rock song. No contest. Seen Rush live (by tee shirt count) at least 9 times. Close your eyes and try to believe its only three musicians. The best.
One of top 10 PROG Rock songs for sure but not top three. Close to the Edge is one of those 3.
Just wait until you experience the Exit Stage Left version of this song. A flawless and powerfully mesmerizing performance.
Just checked out a video of you singing opera from 11 years ago. Holy cow. You are quite a talented woman!
Thank you, I never thought in a million years that I needed soo desperately to hear this wonderful analysis. Bravo.
This is my favorite video you have ever done. First off, Rush is my favorite band and this is in the top 5 of songs (Side one of 2112 is at the top) second, you have eloquently described the music and the voice of one of the most unique bands ever. Thank you for your sincere love, joy and understand of this band.
Kindred souls. Side one of 2112 is my favorite rush creation. I hear geddy and Alex may collaborate on some new music in the near future. Anxiously awaiting that but know deep down there will never be another group that I love more than rush.
You should forget the ancient and listen carefully to everything starting with Grace Under Pressure, Rush Change 3 hears Alex playing guitar 4 different ways in a song. Hard to explain but as Al says, it’s his most difficult period. Same with Power Windows. All RUSH ages well! I’m afraid to overuse the great stuff, like this.
Probably the only person I ever cried for who I never met. His passing hit me hard and I mourn him every December. RIP Professor.😢
Same. Had to leave the room and have a private moment
I haven't been this excited since you reacted to 2112 last year 😀
Hi, I loved your story telling and expertise on explaining all the different parts of this classic Rush song. As an English 14 year old boy, I first found Rush and have followed them to this day, I am now 59 years old. In the beginning there was no internet but I knew Rush were Canadian which got me so interested in Canada so much so that 17 years ago I moved from England and now live in Canada. That's what Rush does to their fans. Thank you for this amazing video!!
Late 1977, my older brother and i sitting on the floor in front of our Telefunken stereo system as Q107 debuted the album in it's entirety. a very nice core memory.
Your passion and enthusiasm for music is contagious...I loved that you were feeling absolute joy listening to this. You got some soul, girl
The most precise, eloquent and thorough narration and explanation of Geddy's vocals that could ever be given, hands down. I'm hooked. Down this rabbit hole I go.
NO!!! Don't do it!!
It's true. The Exit stage Left live version is just about the only time in the history of man, and I'm counting 40 years of Rush concerts, that a song was performed better live than in the studio with tracks and editing.
Some are fun, like YYZ in Rio and Working Man in Cleveland, and some were spot on versions of the studio cuts (just about every song in every concert from 1980-1996) But this was an elevation.
Ok, ok, Leave That Thing Alone, (Time Machine) for sure.
Check out Dire Straits Romero and Juliet from the live album Alchemy. Even better than the studio version.
I would argue that the live versions of "Something For Nothing" from many of the bootlegs on the Hemispheres tour are better than the studio recording on 2112.
The other time is the Siouxsie and the Banshees' live version of "Night Shift" on the album Nocturne.
The whole VH live right here right now was better than the album songs.
The whole ALL THE WORLDS A STAGE is better live than studio, LED ZEPPELINs "NO QUARTER" is better live than studio, just a thought.😊
Your reaction was awesome. As a lifelong Rush fan it brings me joy to see new people appreciate their unmatched talent and yes Geddys voice was awesome
Funny that you mentioned 'Subdivisions', you should totally do that song too!
Thank you for dissecting the fabulous nuances of Geddy's voice. I first saw this performed in 1977 before the album was released. At the time, I was a music major in college and I specifically remember being flabbergasted, just like you, at my first listen to this amazing piece. At the time, the reviewers were beating up on Geddy's voice -- my reaction being "jeez, the guy isn't trying out for the NY Met! He's singing rock music!" And progressive music it was. I had been a huge ELP and Yes fan, yet this band is the one that won my heart. This song, Xanadu, was to me their first masterpiece. It has all the elements (the full circle that you pointed out): Great lyrics transposed from a classic piece of poetry, intertwining instrumentation, chapters of story telling, well-designed vocals and astounding musicality by all three musicians. After 46 years, I still listen to it like it's brand new!
Your statement "Neil Piert is def warning us that we are def going somewhere so much bigger," was so correct. Great statement.
In the beginning part, that sound that seems like a synth..is Alex plucking a note on his guitar. , and using the volume control to produce that synth tone. The song 'based on the writing 'Kublah Kahn" and also the book, 'Paradise Lost" accentuates the endless search of man for immortality. It is found in Xanadu, yes, but once there, you can never leave. 'Frozen in an Ever-lasting youth" . This paradise found, now becomes a prison. One longs for the mundane , fleeting pleasures of normal life, but once you leave Xanadu, you instantly die. Perhaps of the sin of lust for life itself. Thank you Lisbeth for this wonderful and much awaited run through of Rush's magnum opus.:)
Your facial expressions are timeless. You always are able to put a smile on my face no matter how crummy of a day I'm having.
I've been listening to that song for almost 50 years. Watching the lovely Elizabeth listen to it for the first time is such a joy and takes me back to my early days of discovering Rush.
It's amazing Geddy is able to sing at all, while playing two instruments at the same time.
....and throw in some Taurus pedals for good measure LOL
4 instruments, bass, keys, guitar, & taurus pedals with his feet
@@edwardziff3274 At the same time
@@allenfackler well keys and pedals or bass or guitar and pedals he's playing a double neak Rickenbacher bass/6 string guitar
@@edwardziff3274while singing in time
Having listened to this song for 45 years now so that it is almost taken for granted it is so enjoyable to hear it with your musical insight adding to its impact. Thank you very much for this from an old RUSH fan!
I'll never forget hearing this live. My first time hearing it was exit stage left, live in super good headphones and i had recently finished reading David Edding's "The Belgariad" and WOW. It fit that world so well, too.
Truly brilliant analysis! I’ve listened to Rush for 40+ years now and thanks to music experts like you breaking down Rush’s iconic songs on UA-cam, I continue to gain new appreciation for and a deeper understanding of their music. Well done! Now I have to go listen to the song straight through for the gazillionth time. ;)
The entire A Farewell to Kings album is an incredible piece of work. Love your approach to analyzing this music and sound.
Totally agree....for some reason I always think of Closer to the Heart as one of their songs after the Moving Pictures demarcation and forget it was on Farewell to Kings.....man I love Rush......Top 5 favorites, and maybe even number #1.....I drift away from them for years and years but every time I come back their songs are always fresh, and are timeless classics.
wow.....how 3 band members can make the sound that many bands need 5 or 6 players! Rush is incredible! R.I.P. Neil !
You just experienced one of the best songs ever! I enjoy it over and over...
I saw Rush 6 times. Incredible musical talent. I listen to them everyday .Plus their light shows kicked serious butt
Listening to a trained professional who is willing and able to apply her knowledge and understanding of music to a style or genre she may not have been exposed to, is what I find fascinating about this channel. Her dissection of especially the vocals is always an education in mere moments.
A “MUST” song to react to from Rush is “The Garden” live 2012 Clockwork Angels Tour. This one is so emotional in light of Neil’s passing. Have tissues on standby
As a vocalist, my personal favorites to practice with are "Entre Nous" and "Different Strings". Both are extremely simple, very clean and well laid out vocally. The order of the lyrics on those two are SO easy to remember! This one's almost as easy. I always wanna drag "The Trees" along with it though. They naturally fit together. These two ("The Trees" and "Xanadu" are two of the most beautiful pieces they've ever done! They're very.. hypnotic. Especially Neil Peart's percussion during the transition.
I personally think this is Geddy’s best vocal performance. He had the voice of an angel. (I say had, because years of touring clearly took its toll) RIP Prof.
I grew up listening to Rush and Neil was a massive influence in getting me started on drums. Other drummers influenced me as well but Neil was different. I'm older now, obviously, and I grew a distaste for his overplaying while realizing that his playing helped make the distinct sound of Rush. I was 14 when I started listening to Rush's 2112 when it came out and quickly bought their previous 3 recordings. By the time I was 18-19 I had learned every note that Neil plays up to Moving Pictures. Soon after that I kinda grew out of that phase and moved on to other forms of music and playing.
Listening to it now after all these years with your insightful comments has brought me tears a few times in fond reminiscence of why I loved Rush SO much so, thank you for that! You're a special kind of human to elicit that response from me. Love you!
This has been my favourite Rush song for over 40 years. Love it!
What a journey! Listening to Xanadu straight through can be a satisfying musical experience in itself for anyone, but you have brought a little more depth and insight into this theatrical and dramatic work of art by pointing out things I've never quite heard in it, or even thought about. 🎉
Another Canadian trio you should check out is Triumph. Not only is Rik Emmett a really good singer, he's also an impressive guitar player. I would recommend 'Fight The Good Fight' or 'Lay It On The Line' from their 1983 US Festival performance.
I would have to agree!! Triumph I feel has been over looked way too long. For a rock trio, also from Canada, I get blown away by a lot of their songs. I would have to say that 2 of my favorites are Magic Power, and Hold On.
And also an incredible vocal performer in that band. I would second this recommendation.
Absolutely. Triumph and Judas Priest stole the show at that festival, and both are well worth the watch. Triumph are another fun band like Styx and Genesis that managed to have TWO lead singers at the same time.
Yes please! Rik Emmit is an amazing guitarist and was at his peak in the US festival video. Oh, and an effortless perfect vocal performance that is unparalleled! Please!
Triumph and Rik are awesome! Please do Triumph!
With how many times you said subdivisions in this reaction, I think "Subdivisions - Rush" should be your next Rush reaction.
Edit: and if you really want your expectations adverted at some point check out "Roll the Bones - Rush"
Haha, right? I came to look for comments like this after 23:01 -- I guess I"ve got more mentions to look forward to, too. Too funny. Elizabeth, were you even aware that Rush has a song by that title? I hope you'll explore it. :)
@@DavidLindes Same!
That’s actually my favorite Rush song. I’m an 80s Rush guy.
There’s no serious music connoisseur who dislikes Geddys voice. It’s only casual listeners who don’t get it.
Every time she said Subdivisions, i laughed "No that's another song" For Subdivisions, there maybe a better recording but i prefer the official video. It's filmed around Toronto, i'm from Toronto so it's fun to see landmarks and such from the 80's lol
I saw Rush on the "Farewell To Kings" tour, in 1979-ish...Geddy was singing, playing his RickenBacker 4001 bass, and using foot pedals, all at the same time. He never dropped a note, or missed a beat. Incredible musician!
in the past I have occasionally, when watching your analyzations of classic rock material, find myself asking in my head, 'how doesn't anyone know these songs.' however your enthusiasm reminds me of my 'first listen' experiences to these epic masterpieces from my youth. There are a few that the moment they come on the radio, come up randomly on Alexa, or even show up in a movie, my eyes tear up and my soul fills with joy: Xanadu is one of those! your genuine joy is beautiful to experience with you.
Wow! Not having heard this song in a while its easy to forget the genius of these 3 men. After a few seconds you instantly know you are listening to complete mastery of their instruments. Never will there be another band like RUSH!!
That’s an interesting thing about Rush is that you can listen to them 200 million times without getting bored because there’s so much depth and complexity. There’s always another little nuance you didn’t notice before.
Yep, the greatest prog song ever. As noted, one take at Rockfield Studios in Wales, and the birds were recorded outside the studio. The instrumentation is just unbeatable: Alex’s Gibson 6 & 12 string, Geddy’s Rickenbacker bass & 6 string and voice, Taurus bass pedals, Minimoog Model D and the glorious drum kit of Neil. This will never be bettered!
Hah… didn’t know this was recorded in 🏴! Ardderchog!
Ever!!!
Yep. recorded in one take. They played a few min to get the recording levels set. Then started over and did it one take. The recording engineer was floored and amazed. 12 min song and not some simple song either. Amazing musicians
Love Xanadu...but My fave for Prog is Hemispheres, lol.
The synthesizer "bounce" I think you mention during the pedal tone intro are actually the guitar using volume swells. Great video!
I truly appreciate a objective "professional" analysis of all things Rush- especially Geddy Lee! And Xanadu has to be one of their best tracks for all the ages. It's funny how critics don't have to have a musical education to be able to publish opinions about Musicians and what you have to love about Rush is that they have ignored the critics throughout their whole career :) They are one of the few rock band's of that era that brought a certain degree of perfection not only to the studio recordings and precise compositions but to their live shows. They remain one of my all time favorites from when I first heard them in 1976 still through to today. Thank you for this outstanding analysis video- truly a big fan of your channel
You should try another Canadian trio called Triumph. "Fight the good fight" or "Follow your heart". They have a ton of great songs. Very high voices. Rik Emmett(Guitar) and Gil Moore(Drums) harmonize very well together. Awesome channel.
Yeah, this is considered a prog masterpiece. This came off of the 2nd album of a five-album streak where each album was unexpectedly in a whole new league. The live version is impressive in that they do an amazing job of replicating this song. I'd recommend checking out other ones. They have a lot of amazing pieces worth listening to. "Jacob's Ladder" is a sublime piece that reminds me of classical music in how it's constructed.
Wow she made me tear up with her excitement, thank u for your expression of love for such a phenomenal song from a phenomenal band!!