Classical Composer Reacts to La Villa Strangiato (Rush) | The Daily Doug (Episode 87)
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- Опубліковано 17 бер 2021
- #Reaction #Reactionvideo #HelveringReaction #Rush #RushReaction #LaVillaStrangiato #LaVillaStrangiatoReaction
In this episode of #TheDailyDoug, I'm reacting to La Villa Strangiato by Rush from their 1978 album Hemispheres. I am now officially taking the Rush plunge!
Reference Video: • La Villa Strangiato - ...
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There are no short legs on this musical tripod. Anyone who listens to enough Rush comes to appreciate the genius of Alex.
Yup. I don't think there's any way for just three people to make this much complex noise to sound so nuanced and beautiful without all of them being top tier legendary.
Any guitarist who has played in a power trio can appreciate what Alex does
"No short legs on this musical tripod" - That is a FANTASTIC phrase!
#Facts 🤷🏿♀️
And yet Rush is well known their lyrics (via Peart) as well.. truly an all around stellar band.
"How does three guys do that?"
100% of Rush fans' very first question at the very beginning.
Welcome to the club, Doug.
45 years later, we’re still asking that question.
Same as with ZZ Top but in a different way
Three guys don't do that. Rush does that.
I saw them open for Blue Oyster Cult in 1976-my first question was that. One bass One guitar One set of drums-- crazy?
Yes, Alex is sometimes overlooked by the general population, but us Rush fans know that we are listening to 3 masters of their instruments.
I know what you're saying dude. Whenever I see these lists ranking some of the so called best guitar players it really pisses me off how they will rate Alex way down on those lists. Okay, I can understand Jimi Hendrix and King Edward Van Halen at the very tops of those lists because they deserve to be there. But come on, Alex deserves to be in the top five, not because he is a flashy or a fast fingered guitar player with a bunch of silly tricks up his sleeve but because he is very consistent and he plays nearly flawless.
All three of them are tops in the field no doubt. Funny how Peart always got all the attention, but all 3 are clearly special as musicians.
@@bdr32965 True Prog fans no better/ 1.Alex Lifeson 2.Steve Howe 3.Robert Fripp
Alex is often overlooked because in most bands, the bass player and drummer do not stand out as much a Geddy and Neil, but Alex is great too.
I really can’t understand why Alex isn’t mentioned among the all time greats
classical composer reacts to Rush with "this is fuckin' RAD, y'all"
THAT IS ALL I NEEDED TO HEAR FROM YOU
Yassss 😀😀
You are correct sir.
I don't always listen to Rush but when I do, so do my neighbors.
Why so quiet? When I play RUSH the whole county knows it...
I so want that on a t-shirt!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oldie but goodie, never fails. Well done!
You know the joke:
"Son, turn this off."
"Why?"
"We have bigger speakers downstairs."
For best results, play at maximum volume.
No Rush fan under appreciates Alex's talent.
Even in their synth period Alex is amazing. Mystic Rhythms is my favorite Rush song because of his guitar work.
Amen
The whole thing is genius but Alexs solo here is one of his best.
I am a massive Queen fan as well as Rush
Brian May does not even come close to Alex, but yet he gets all the plaudits
Alex is probably the best guitarist in the world
But no one knows about it other than us Rush fans 👍👍
Sad really
@@GC2112 I said in a comment on another post that it pisses me off on these lists that rank the so called best guitar lists that they rank Alex way down on those lists. There is no doubt that the battle for the best is always going to be between Hendrix or Edward Van Halen because of what they were able to do on guitar and the influence they had, but Alex deserves to be in the top 5 because he played consistently and almost flawlessly. Hell, I'd go as far as him being in the top3.
Anyone else still gets tears in their eyes when they listen to Rush and appreciate Neil's greatness? So sad he passed away.
No, not now. But when he passed, yes. Only time in my life that my soul was truly wounded by the death of a celebrity.
I wonder why people don't talk about his voice. I bet that man could sing quite well, but was too humble to mention it.
Rest well, Mr. Peart and THANK YOU!!
Literally sitting with my 8-year-old and just told her that daddy cries when he hears a really good song - this is my favorite song of all time.
@@RobertPitas
I figure you’re daughter has a great dad! I introduced my kids to Rush and so much other great modern music, and they’ve become well adjusted, productive, and music loving (not shit that passes for music) adults!
Your daughter will be thankful for your musical sensibilities as she gets grows up. 🤙
Absolutely.
it's like a kid falling asleep listening to someone playing flamenco style guitar....then once asleep, he goes into a dream...the dream becomes nightmarish, and finally, it just ends abruptly, like the kid shot up awake. i first heard this when i was very young, and i can tell you, as a child hearing it for the first time, it blew me away. i had no idea at the time that people made music like that. every single song they have ever done has had a lot of thoughtfulness to theme. as kids, we always feel the hype and adrenaline, but as i have aged, i have really taken notice of the emotion in the lyrics, and how the music takes you on the rollercoaster that the words convey. a truly once in a lifetime band.
Is anyone else tearing up knowing that we will never hear this live again. Only through the annals of history which is now called the internet..
I'm glad to know I wasn't alone in my tears. It's been a year and I still kind of have a hard time listening. They were...are still... my favorite band for over 40 years. I love them with a passion some people may find annoying, honestly. It's good to find others who feel the same love for these guys.
@@cs5384 Definitely brother, some band do that for people. There are meanings in the lyrics and hell, even in the music and melodies can trigger something that hits different. Rush forever, Neil forever
I consider myself fortunate. I saw this live during their Hemispheres Tour. Hearing the records for a few months before I got to see them, was great. Seeing, hearing and feeling it live, more than once, was an experience I cannot describe.
Yup :'(
I’ve seen Rush live on three occasions. 1977, 1981, and 2002. No band can duplicate, or replicate, their sound in concert. Sadly, that is now lost to history, but it makes me appreciate the experiences I’ve had seeing them live even more. RIP Neil Peart 🙏🏼❤️
"If I keep listening to Rush, things are gonna be ok."
Yes indeed, Doug.
Rush is musical therapy for all that ails you
It sounds like a trip through Middle Earth to Mordor
8:37 This is actually "Powerhouse" by Raymond Scott commonly heard in Looney Tunes cartoons. Rush actually went above and beyond their legal obligation and paid Raymond (or his estate) more than what was required. Just shows how amazing those guys really are
I was blown away when I reeliased where I had heard that riff before!
In an interview with Dan Rather, Geddy Lee said the band wanted to be known as the world's smallest symphony orchestra.
2112
I didn't like the interview because Dan Rather didn't know shit about Rush. Rather asked Geddy like why did you say that?
If I was there I would have kicked him! You don't insult Geddy Lee, but Geddy was like.. a pause and then he said something about it.
I saw another interview it was Motley Crue and Larry King; the guy doesn't understand what hard rock / metal is and they tried to
put him behind a drum kit! Oh well RIP I think he's dead now anyway.
Well with nearly 2,000 comments no one will ever read this. Still got to say Rush is one of the most epic bands ever! Proud to be Canadian every time I hear them. Three musicians that were world class. R.I.P. Neil!
I read it and I agree. I live in Florida and have seen them 8 times and took my kids to see them twice. This may sound stupid but every time I saw them as a fan I didn't think that they were lucky to have us as fans but I felt that we were lucky to see and hear them.
One of your best exports to the U.S., for sure!
@starbucksguitar 1 I meant the music, not the musicians!
@@cz2464 Natural Science is just amazing!!! The music, the lyrics....just a stellar song!!!!
@starbucksguitar 1 Neil did later in life lol.....but I hear ya ;) I see Lisa commented, but I took it as she meant the music, not them personally
As musicians and people, few are made finer than the 3 members of Rush. They almost represent the human possibility. They never took their talents for granted and in 40 years they made the most of it. Never sold out, stayed true to themselves and their fan base.
Check out Emerson Lake and Palmer if you aren't familiar. Another amazing 3 member group.
@@briansalata2041 Yea man. ELP and Rush for life.
they took their music more seriously than their egos, which i find very refreshing
“They almost represent the human possibility,”
Nice.
They grew but as you say never sold out for commercial success. They have a unique sound and style all their own.
"It's amazing they get all these sophisticated sounds like this in the late 70s. Just revolutionary music-making."
And what's even crazier is they did it live, with no overdubs or background tracks, and it sounded even better. Geddy's ability to seamlessly transition from bass with key pedals to keys with bass pedals live on stage is one of the most underrated feats in rock history ever.
That underrated feat was brought to us by his underrated feet.
@@wvusean3 Speaking of underrated, that comment, bro 😂😂
Most of the time I cannot listen to Rush without crying now...so much a part of my life for so long...this will never happen again
I know. I never even got to see them live, and although I've never been one of the absolute Rush fanatics, I have loved much of their music, and it has been a huge part of my life since I was a young teenager...30+ years now. I always thought it was silly of people to get choked up over celebrities, but when I heard on the radio that Neil had passed, I wept a little. The man had come to mean so much to me as an artist, as a master of his crafts of percussionist, lyricist, and songwriter/composer, and as a human being... His lyrics have always stunned me with their brilliance, and seeing him in interviews and realizing that I was not alone, there WAS actually at least one other person who shared some of these nigh-autistic traits and peculiarities and yet was successful and loved and considered a great person, it just meant a lot. So yeah... RIP, Neil, and Rush with him.
if you ever get a chance to see lotus land ,check them out. they are an awesome rush tribute band.
As someone said to me to help me grieve years ago, "don't be sad that they're gone, be happy that they were"
I had the privilege of watching them live the one and only time they came to Argentina in 2010. It was one of the happiest days of my life. Priceless. God bless them.
I know… it’s still unreal to me. My favorite band since 1984. I’ve been laughed at , ridiculed, etc etc. It wasn’t cool to be a Rush fan when I was in school. I thought something was wrong with me lol.. Now I understand everyone else was just too stupid to get get it.
“That’s f’n rad, y’all.”
“Speechless.”
“How do 3 guys do that?”
That pretty much sums it up! 😂
Amazing sh1t!
"Monsters Incorporated"
In the studio 1 guy could do it all. Live is where they are truly impressive. They do it all live with just the 3 of them. Most bands would just hire touring musicians to fill out the sound live.
@@heartfanjim01 Right, they did the video for Time Stands Still and that was awesome live.
Alex Lifeson was criminally underrated :). Fortunately, so many people know how good he is, he’s getting his props & appreciation as a musician.
I agree, Alex is an underrated criminal. His breaking and entering is the best in the business.
@@GordonHeaney Alex was the Bad Boy of the group ua-cam.com/video/xtJuh4s4q60/v-deo.html
WatchMojo got it right when they put Alex as the second most underrated guitarist. They put Prince at number one, which I also agree with.
John Petrucci doesn't under rate Alex and that's good enough for me. I've been enjoying his very, very clever playing for over 4 decades and it never gets old.
@@emjem99 me too. (The 4 decades part). Time flies.
I don't know of any guitar solo that I like any better than this one. There are David Gilmore solos that bring out a lot of feeling, but THIS solo brings out everything. It's got feeling, depth, virtuoso playing while still holding on to a certain musical feel, it's just brilliant.
Yes.
Also solos in Kid gloves and Chemistry and Behind the Wheels
Yes, Alex is criminally underrated in the guitar world. Geddy and Neil are considered gods of their instruments by everyone regardless of their personal music taste, as they should be. Alex on the other hand is rarely appreciated outside of Rush fans and/or guitar players who happen to be prog-rock nerds. He's one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
If you don't like the main solo in this masterpiece of composition, then you have no heart...
the entire song is a solo so.... haha
@@overem8092 The song is an instrumental, there is a solo in the middle of it where the guitar is featured. Not really fair to the other parts to call the whole thing a solo imo
@@Actiomedey I know, it was a musical joke but... yeah
They may have a heart, but they have no soul (or at least they have a tin ear...)!!!
That's one of the best improvised rock solos anywhere. Of course, once they recorded it a lot of thematic stuff in the solo became codified.
As a huge RUSH fan, I have listened to that song hundreds and hundreds of times but having you comment on it with fresh ears was like hearing it for the first time. Welcome to the Club!!
Agree with you on that, sounded amazing and emotional
Yah, watch the anniversary live edition where they incorporate Bytor and The Snowdog... marshmallow!!!
@@forgames1120 I'd like to give that a listen. Do you know if there is a video of the edition you're talking about here on UA-cam? If so, could you please post the link?🤘
A band called Classic in Hampshire Illinois did this very well. Like van halen, brothers on guitar and drums.
Me too. I've worn out the groove on my mp3 file.
"Alex is underrated as a player..."
Yes! But also and maybe more importantly as a writer. His use of chord changes and arpeggios, heck just an awesome library of beautiful sounds, is what I've admired as a player and fan for 41 years.
Alex’s approach to ringing open string chords and arpeggios is why he’s my forever main guitar hero.
A lot of the rhythmic complexity came from Alex, with his Serbian parentage.
@IsothermeMusic That is why there is something called "the Alex Lifeson Chord". Just as a reference : ua-cam.com/video/VgI97kEQrL4/v-deo.html
All three members of Rush mastered their instruments. I think they pushed each other to always improve and we are the lucky people who get to enjoy their work.
It's nice to watch a 'reactions' video with someone that actually has some knowledge and can breakdown what's going on. Rather than just someone randomly pausing the video and wooping, yelling and saying 'whooooaaah'
I couldn't have said it better, I completely agree.
Excellent comment, there are tons of "reaction channels" just doing this.
Your next stop, if you truly want to understand Rush, is 2112. This one track, all of 20", made the rest of Rush possible, making them one of the few bands who received complete artistic freedom the remainder of its career (2015). Drummer/percussionist/lyricist Neil Peart (peer-t), vocalist/bassist/synthesizer and main arranger Geddy Lee, and the criminally underrated guitarist Alex Lifeson are each considered masters of their crafts. That, and the close chemistry of the band members -- Lee and Lifeson were junior high friends -- have made for one of the most enduring legacies in rock history. Glad to have you aboard.
Yes, absolutely what I would suggest as an introduction to Rush. Class tune!
One of my favorite tunes ever, as should be obvious by my alias. Would love to hear Doug break it down. =)
Yeah, the 2112 suite from the record of the same name was what gave them the f**k u money they needed as the record company had demanded them to make a more radio-friendly album with shorter, more commercial, songs, to recover from the Caress of steel flop.
So it was like, "We're about to go down in flames, so let's do it with our dignity and integrity intact".
It definitely influenced the long songs on Hemispheres and A farewell to kings.
@@flutte1974 All true. 40+ years after the fact, it seems almost unthinkable that Mercury were seriously thinking about dropping the band but the members were pretty well resigned to going back to their day jobs. 2112 was their statement that they weren’t going to pander to those who wanted singles and radio play. They played their music, their way and carried what was once a cult audience with them. Gigs were hard to come by and were typically at smaller venues. A band that joked about the “Down The Tubes” tour didn’t appear to see much of a future, but they stuck with it, grabbed the industry by the balls and came up with something unforgettable. Funny thing is, Caress Of Steel is still a favourite among older Rush fans. Time has been very kind to the album and rightly so.
A reaction to 2112 would be very welcome, but I’d suggest a bit of research into the band and the mood of the time beforehand. Written at a time when the future was by no means certain, it built a foundation that was rock solid by the time the mainstream woke up.
Yes 2112 was the album I discovered RUSH. Landmark song
This song is a freaking masterpiece. Neil, Alex and Geddy are all masters of their instruments.
As a teenager in the mid 70's, I discovered Rush & my life was never quite the same. They shaped everything I ultimately enjoyed about music. Epic in scope, soaring in their musicianship; each member of this trio was a virtuoso with their respective instruments. Geddy's vocals will remain the most identifiable in all of rock, imo. The sheer body of work they produced is staggering. They're cerebral, yet could be as heavy as any band that ever played rock and roll. As a devotee early on, I always felt like I was part of a fan base that was rock's best kept secret, & I was an exclusive member. A band that the masses didn't understand or appreciate, & that was fine with me. When Neil passed, a peart of me died as well (he'd of chuckled at that, you know he would have). RIP Professor
Alex is definitely underrated, he creates such a tasteful textures in Rush's music.
Every single Rush song is awesome, but any time the guitar dominates melodically and lets Neil and Geddy do what they do best, it kicks it up a notch.
Saying Alex Lifeson is an underrated guitarist is like saying Mike Portnoy is an underrated drummer, or Steve Harris is an underrated bassist. Gimme a break.
@@billbyrd5198 Alex is not underrated with guitar players. We all know how good he is.
@@2204JCM beat me to it
@@2204JCM I'd say Alex is overshadowed by Geddy and Neil's fame. Somehow, Alex has been relegated to 'the guitar guy from Rush' for many people. Yet Rush wouldn't be the same without him
Kirk Hammett called this "the perfect guitar solo".
Every time I hear this, it feels like the best piece of music I will ever know.
The "Monsters" theme is from "Powerhouse" by Raymond Scott, an old jazz tune that was used more than once in Looney Tunes, which is probably where the guys got it from.
ua-cam.com/video/3AASQ9OCQ0I/v-deo.html
Awesome! Love the Looney Tunes connection: ua-cam.com/video/6ft60BtJ5sY/v-deo.html
I totally remember watching bugs bunny and hearing this music as a little kid. I seem to recall some kind of Rube Goldberg scene going on. Something very convoluted with this musoc overdubbed. Wish i could find those cartoons again.
@@martygreenspan3022 it's in a ton of them. ua-cam.com/video/r3FLN0iQ9SQ/v-deo.html
Yes!
Yes Alex is waaay underrated as a guitarist. It's hard to stand out when your bandmates are A) (one of) the best rock drummers in history, and B) one of the most talented, unique and versatile bassists/keyboardist/lead singers in history.
Yet, time and time again, he manages to stand out. This solo certainly stands out!
The three band member have nicknames for each other: Alex is Lerxst, Geddy is Dirk, and Neil is Pratt. So ‘a Lerxst in Wonderland’ is Alex’s solo.
I never knew, thank you
Lurch = also Alex.
Not Moe, Curly and Larry? The last time I saw them live was in the mid 80s and they started the show with the Three Stooges theme.
Didnt know
@@michaelmasuda7096 it's Lerxst, not Lurch
That riff in Monsters is actually lifted directly from a piece called "Powerhouse" by Raymond Scott (1937). Looney Tunes fans will recognize it from its use in a few cartoons from the 40s.
^^^ YES!!! So much this. I came here to say the same thing. Also ... if this dude doesn't know Raymond Scott, he oughta dedicate his next [many videos] to all that goodness he has ahead of him!
No familiar with Raymond Scott, but am familiar with the Looney Tunes part. Always cracks me up.
@@deanmathieson735 If you like Rush, you'll probably like Raymond Scott. His music is full of twists and surprises and humor, and it's just utterly unique. A few of his melodies will sound familiar as his stuff was "sampled" by Carl Stalling for cartoon music.
THANK you. I knew it was familiar but I just couldn't put my finger on it.
@@KevinMillard Thanks Kevin. I'll have to give Raymond Scott a listen.
Rush are the musicians' musicians. Been loving them since 2112. No greater trio in the rock world! RIP Neal.
Alex Lifeson is a master composer of guitar solos, and his rhythm work is unparalleled. He's outstanding in every way, and criminally underrated.
You should check out the documentary "beyond the lighted stage" about them. The wild thing is, they were just regular dudes. They didn't go to music school. They weren't raised on piano lessons. They didn't work as session musicians like Toto, or go to MIT like Boston. They weren't going to university for astrophysics or engineering like Queen or anything else like that. They were just some guys who started a rock band in highschool.
Just watched that the other night, it's pretty awesome. Been a RUSH fan hard-core since about 1976.
LOVED that documentary!
@@nealbarrus9140 I'd never seen it, either, but I go back with Rush to the first album. I saw them in a small venue (Ambassador Theater) as a stand-alone act in late 1974. I was fortunate not only to be young at that time, but live in a great city for rock, St. Louis, with KSHE being one of the progressive format pioneers. Every touring band came through the Gateway City.
Dude, if they created such thing as Rush, they are far from regular. They are musical geniuses Just saying haha
@@vashwolfwood5899 The point is that exactly, it was all pure talent
Came for the Maiden, stayed for the Rush!!!
Amen Brother!
rush are the best :)
Up the Mushs
@@onearthonelegion Rush to the hills.
@@folkme3042 The Loneliness of the Long Distance Rusher?
Alex's solo in IV is my 2nd all time favorite guitar piece, behind only Comfortably Numb. I can listen to it over and over and over again, wishing I had that kind of talent.
I really get blown by it too, so soulful. And in the middle of those other high energy rhythmic masterful sections it's beauty becomes even greater.
Great shout, two of my favourite solo's too
Hemispheres has my favorite rush album for several years. I highly recommend the Cygnus X1 tracks, I think you'll enjoy those as a multipart composition.
Growing 2112 was my favorite. As an adult I feel like Cygnus as a two part concept is leagues above and under appreciated. Love it.
Fun fact: This song was based off nightmares Alex was having.
Really 👌👌
La Villa Strangiato is an actual place in Toronto. I won't say where. Heh. It's not far from me, and it is indeed strange.
@@BeeRich33 no way min
@@BeeRich33 It's the house Živojinović.
Funner fact this was their 38th take and it is one fucking take
The "Monsters" section is actually based on the Raymond Scott novelty swing composition "Powerhouse" from the late 1930s, which was often used in Warner Brothers cartoons over depictions of Rube Goldberg-type devices...
Monsters always made me think of the swing dancing scene from 1941
Aaaand, once more, I didn't scroll down far enough before commenting... :-P
@@lisagulick4144 huh?
@@Jakevol2 LOL...I wrote the same comment as MD92468 in a reply to another person, further up the comments. Then I scrolled down farther and found this one. Hence...well, you know.
@@lisagulick4144 oh that is absolutely nuts
Some years back there was an interview with Kirk Hammet (Metallica). The interviewer asked him "What's it like to be the greatest guitar player ever" Kirk replied, "I don't know go ask Alex Lifeson"
Welcome to a rabbit hole that is 4 plus decades deep. Musicianship of the highest order. A gift that we didn’t deserve. ❤️
oh we deserve it brother, there music deserves a loyal audience.
This song is about nightmares that plagued Alex. I am old enough to have been to the spectrum in Phily to see this tour. Tickets =$6.00. Program =$3.00. Shirt=$5.00. Rush= Priceless
Yup, Wendy - I was there, too....I've explained the 'dreams' context to Doug, too :)
How much fer won a nem bottles a wooder? ;-) Only joking, & double respect for infiltrating the sausage factory of a Rush gig.
@@hannemankingtube That's good shit. LOL.
Wendy, the Tour of the Hemispheres was the first concert I attended on my own. April '79 I think it was in the Glasgow Apollo Scotland. I got the album for my birthday on the previous December, a grand old age of 15! The album blew me away! La Villa was incredible to see and hear live. The ticket price was £3.50 I think. I have fond memories of the concert.
@@dbp1312 back in the days when we waited for albums to be released and ran to the store to buy a copy, I remember a friend of my older brother showing up to our house yelling “I got it” holding Hemispheres over his head. We all gathered around the record player to listen to the continuation of Cygnus X 1. We were all so excited and so simpatico. We were all band geeks, music lovers and Rush fans for life. I really cherish the memory.
Rush truly is the greatest rock band of all time. I don't care what anyone says ;)
Alex is the only guitarist that plays guitar like a drummer. The man has the timing of a drummer that's crazy!
LVS is the finest rock instrumental ever created, it's my favourite Rush track and I'm thrilled everytime I hear it.. Getting feedback like this, from someone who's education and career are built around music just reinforces my feelings.
Neil, Ged and Alex are masters of their craft and one of the finest rock bands of all time.
If you can listen to the whole song and not get pumped, you must be comatose....
If you read the musician-audience magazines in the early 80s Neal, Geddy and Alex were rated #1, #1 and #3 on their instruments by their peers year after year
I remember when this album, Hemispheres, came out in the fall of 1978. I was in grade 10 at the time living with my grandparents in Toronto. On October 5th of that same year, a Thursday, two weeks before it was officially released, the entire album was featured and played on a radio show in Toronto called "Night at 11", hosted by Rick Ringer of Chum FM. At the time, Chum FM was a progressive rock station out of Toronto with close ties to all sorts of rock bands: their format consisted of playing uninterrupted, whole sides of LP's at a time, the 33 rpm type. That's over 20 minutes of music at once, on radio! On that Thursday October 5th, 1978, the host, Rick Ringer, had invited Rush, all three members: Lee, Lifeson, and Peart, to come to the Chum FM radio station to christen the album and play it for their listeners. It was a school night for me but I remember staying up somehow and listening to the whole unreleased album in the basement of my grandparents' place: Hemispheres. I was a big fan at the time. I also remember that there were copious amounts of champagne consumed that evening at the radio station as every ten minutes or so another cork from a bottle would fly off, followed by much laughter and crazy remarks! The host, Rick Ringer, and the band were having lots of fun, that's for sure! La Villa Strangiato was played that evening for the first time. I do remember Alex talking about that song and how it was influenced by a dream he had had. His solo that appears early in the song is one of his best as others have commented in the remarks. The clean part of the solo where those quiet guitar notes sort of trail off sorrowfully has always resonated with me. It is a defining solo for Alex: it reveals a lot about who he is, and how he plays.
Fast forward 43 years and here we are listening to the same song! Sadly, their drummer, Neil Peart, is no longer with us after his passing in California in January of 2020. Rush started and ended with Neil Peart: from his unexpected and timely arrival in 1974, just after a previous drummer was let go only two weeks prior to a north American tour, to his untimely death in 2020.
Thank you so much, Doug, for reacting to this song and this important and talented Canadian band. GD
Wonderful memory. I grew up in Windsor ... saw this LP tour live at Pine Knob in 10th grade, Permanent Waves at Pine Knob 11th grade and Moving Pictures when they christened brand new Joe Louis Arena 12th grade (which is now gone after being the oldest Arena in the NHL - think aboot it). Really, really enjoyed reading your post. Rush is a huge part of my youth and beyond.
Thanks for writing this.
@@stevet5573 I was at the same three shows! Grew up in Southgate (downriver Detroit suburbs).
John Rutsy was that "previous Drummer", and he was no slouch either, try listening to Rush's first album "Rush".
He's not Neil, he's John, so don't expect Neil's playing, just sit back and enjoy ;0)
@@stevet5573 Pine Knob! I grew up near Windsor as well and saw most of my Rush shows in and around Detroit. Last Rush show I saw was R40 in Grand Rapids. I found the crowds there a little more intense in Michigan than some other locales. Good times!
I think that the line "How did 3 guys do that?!" sums up Rush's career very well!
A lot of people make great music in the recording studio. What sets Rush apart, in my humble opinion, is that Rush sounds just as good live. Legends they are.
@@infectedvector their music was actual musical talent, not studio trickery.
Ever hear ELP?
Anyone who liked rock guitar at all could tell the Lifeson was a guitar icon from the very first song they heard! There was, and is, no one like him--he has an original, cool sound and way of soloing, plus boatloads of chops, and that's what defines a guitar icon!
"At Willy Wonka's house"
This is the most apt summation of the spirit of this song that I've heard. Love it.
“How do three guys do that?” The question I’ve been asking myself for nearly 45 years.
Their synergy created a musical tetrahedron. All three legs were different yet interconnected and equally masterful.
@@blacklight4460 a tetrahedron? I thought they were all extinct. 🤪
@@Jeffsafe Oops! I thought you were smart.
@@blacklight4460 lolol
Me too
I believe he’s describing how we all, as Rush fans, feel about Alex. To the casual listener much of the attention is given to Neil and Geddy. WE know Alex is a guitar god. If he wasn’t, he wouldn’t have been in this band for over four decades. Fantastic reaction video!
I can't provide a reference so take this for what it is worth but I heard that when Eddie Van Halen was interviewed by the Rolling Stone he was asked what it was like to be the best guitarist alive. He answered, "Go ask Alex Lifeson".
@@Snowdog070 I've seen them all from back then: Page, Clapton, Townsend, EVH, Ingwie, Iommi, Blackmore (OK, I never saw Hendrix, too young!). But concert to concert, Alex Lifeson's consistency, level-head, pitch, performance skills, etc. were hands-down the best to me. Despite the lack of "formal" training, Rush proved that dedication to their art and their "sound" was of the utmost importance. Look at the rest and who outperformed them with 40 years of consistency? I wasn't a huge fan of their sound the last 20 years, but my tastes changed...their talent sure did NOT.!
@@e.lectrochef295 you did forget to mention that Alex plays almost flawlessly as well
@@bdr32965 One of the things I loved about Rush's live performances is that they never reinvented the wheel. They played things "almost" to the recorded version - never sounding "canned", always sounding fresh! If this is the "flawless" you speak of, OK!! But it wasn't just Alex. What a team of perfectionists!
@@e.lectrochef295 ya, I was just referring to Alex playing flawlessly, but you are right the whole band was perfect. The only other band I can think of other than Rush as far as perfection goes was The Who, because they were very innovative as well.
Great reaction! I am a band director. I love the music of Gustav Mahler. I love the music of Miles Davis. I love the music of RUSH. It is always fun to see people asking the question, "How can three guys do that?".
I'm glad to hear you give Alex his props. I mean seriously, he stands on stage with Geddy and Neil. There's no room for slackers in a three man band.
I read somewhere call Rush a tripod with no weak leg!
The song that almost defeated Rush. They really wanted to record the whole song in one take. After many days of trying, they finally accepted the fact that it just wasn't going to happen.
Yet nightly on tour...No problem what so ever! I witnessed it!!!!!!!
I saw them do this song live for the Hemispheres tour.
IIRC, it was recorded in 3 sections, which were spliced together to give them the results they wanted.
From Banasiewics' bio, it WAS one take. They did multiple takes and chose the best one.
@@mzmadmike if I’m not mistaken I believe Ged said in Beyond the Lighted Stage that they conceded and did it in 3 sections, which is incredibly impressive still.
Anyone who says Alex is the short leg in Rush’s tripod should have their metal card permanently revoked. They didn’t have a short leg. Alex may not necessarily shred like Joe Satriani, but he’s just as tasteful, and he knows how to use textures, space, and dynamics like few others. That’s worth more than pure speed ANY day. He also demonstrates that he’s more than capable of speedy playing, when it FITS. He’s confident enough to not throw it in just because he can. World class musicians, all 3 of them, and Rest In Peace to Neil.
I bought my 33-1/3 rpm vinyl pressing of Hemispheres in the Fall of 1978, the start of my senior year of high school. Within a few weeks I was able to replay the entire record in my mind's music player, 100% in every detail. That happened to be a time when many, if not all of the world's exotic varieties of pot and hash were showing up in my neighborhood. I found these fine things to be a perfect compliment to the new RUSH album, and likely a great help in memorizing that magical music. Those were some fine times.
I've been listening to Rush since the 70's and it's so interesting to hear you professionally dissect it the way you do. Great content. Keep up the great work.
The monsters lick WAS taken from a cartoon. Rush got sued for copyright and won the case but paid a settlement anyway because they are class guys.
Bugs bunny factory music
Powerhouse - Raymond Scott about a minute into that piece
It was past the statute of limitations. It was never pursued in a case. But like you said Rush having class under no legal obligation paid a one time payment to the Scott's that they found satisfactory.
@@scottshields113 This reminds me of a Seinfeld episode. Jerry: "It's statute, not statue." Kramer: "Oh, I think you're wrong." Jerry: "Yeah, ok ... it's a sculpture of limitations." (or something along that line) 😋
@@frankpentangeli8104 lol I sure did abuse it or autocorrect got me.
@@scottshields113 👍
I'm 60 yrs old and I discovered Rush as they emerged. As a bassist, I'm a Geddy fan of course and this music still inspires me today. Never gets old. Too bad we gotta get old. I've had the pleasure to see Rush live. I miss'em....
Oddly, I grew up a bassist but in my older days I have taken a delight in the nuances of drumming. This track is the essence of nuanced drumming. The way that the drum fills build and flourish as the guitar solo progresses is like gold.
🌌💙🎶🎶
Had to watch this review again , so insightful, thank-you! More Rush please!😊
I think when they were in Europe recording a farewell to kings, a light went on and they jumped into hiberspace and became so much better
Tasteful and excellently crafted is exactly what Alex is. He can shred with the best of them, but the dude is humble and has no need to show off. He fills the songs with exactly what they need, not what he needs/wants. It's awesome. He is insanely talented, all 3 of them are at the top of their instruments. And all 3 have such an incredible understanding and grasp of technical musical theory.
Nice post. Well said.
It's interesting seeing a composer's take on something I, as a guitarist, can also analyze. I can tell you, mechanically speaking, why and how they'd choose to make those progressions, how the mix of sounds and physical movement both play a factor. It's fun hearing from a composer's ear, how those parts sound though.
Alex has a unique flare to his playing and I've been listening for so long, I can tell you what the "pattern" on the guitar neck is, even if I can't always tell you the precise note. Unlike Petrucci, or other Prog Rock bands, he doesn't play complicated shit for the sake of playing complicated shit. All of his comes back together nicely and doesn't fly off the deep end. He'll take a relatively simple 3 chord progression and play the hell out of it in every way, shape and form, so you can't even tell there are only 2 or 3 chords being played throughout a song.
The funnest part is, these guys sat around in a garage, just jamming. They didn't place a conscious effort into thinking "we played this here, so we need to make sure we progress into this key..." blah blah blah. Nope! Just, "if it feels good, play it!" and their ears naturally took over. If you ask me, that's the BIGGEST difference between Rush and any of the newer Prog Bands after them; these guys just instinctively knew what they wanted and what sounds were good, without analyzing any of it.
I feel like a big part of Alex's style development was trying to fill in a bunch of space with one guitar.
The last segment -- "A Farewell to Things" -- is of course a nod to their prior record "A Farewell to Kings"
They are so amazing and thank you for your acknowledgment!
I love many players, but only Lifeson and Gilmour give me shivers.
I’m in total agreement.
I'm in total agreement, too.
Agreed. Those two can do with three notes what it takes most 3 bars. I never associated those two together before. Good one!
@@generay6807 Absolutely , these two guys go beyond !
Rush and Pink Floyd were both quintessential prog rock bands. No wonder they both lasted for almost half a century.
Eddie Van Halen was once asked, "What's it like to be the Greatest Guitarist of this generation?" Eddie responded, "I don't know, you'd have to ask Alex Lifeson what he thinks."
@ReaktorLeak Awwwww
Please stop with that shit. Heard it about Clapton/Prince as well as Beck/(place name here). Just stop FFS.
@@PlanktoniusRex It's true. I think it says a lot about Eddie. Stand-up guy. (If you can't take it, go pound sand...)
Actually I heard that Eddie was talking about Bruce Cockburn
@@DJBrotherBrent Unless Alex Lifeson performs under the name of "Bruce Cockburn", he wasn't talking about Bruce Cockburn. (Never realized there is so much hatred for Alex Lifeson, good thing Eddie doesn't think so.)
Alex is unbelievably underrated. He's amazing
He's only underrated by clueless people.
Alex is FAR from underrated. Why do people on UA-cam say this about every musician?
Great commentary and analysis Doug. I have listened to this song probably a million times and it never gets old to see someone with musical chops appreciating it anew. Thanks!
As I've been learning guitar, I have come to the same conclusion about Alex Lifeson. He's WAY underrated. Hell, I think he's a mad genius, just like the other two.
RIP Neal, we miss you.
Looks like some Yes is in your future. Close To The Edge is a pinnacle of progressive rock music performed in sectional parts like this.
I second this
Definitely anything Phil Collins. Add in Brand X.
Fucking eh!
@@viDUBla SOME Phil Collins is great. Like Brand X and early Genesis. Some is dreck.
Close to the Edge is my #1 desert island album. Hemispheres comes in at #3. Both brilliant and timeless. Foxtrot is #2.
This really was a pleasure to watch. Thank you.
"I've got to listen to some more Rush!" I love your Rush reviews as I get to experience the joy and high and wonder of their music again in a new way! Musical geniuses! Enjoy all their music and share your thoughts please!
Rush were so good as a band - and so far ahead of their time - that only at the end of their career did they receive the much-deserved accolades, principally, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Consider this song is 43 years old and is still critically analyzed and held in esteem. Amazing.
The Rock & roll of fame is no benchmark of what is/isn't good. It's just another one of the "glittering prizes" that are ultimately meaningless because it's all about the bands, the fans and the music.
One of my favorite, yet underrated songs by Rush is "Natural Science."
You should check it out once you dive deeper into their catalog.
Oh yes, please!!! Jacob's Ladder too
That is one of my favorites by them...Permanent Waves was every bit a power house as Hemispheres was before it and Moving Pictures after. Period.
The last time I saw Rush ("We've got about 300 songs for you") they played Natural Science. I couldn't believe my luck. I think the entire audience was almost in tears, or stunned. It was like a religious experience.
You really should do more of these. It is so wonderful to have the music explained and help me to understand to the music and sounds that I have loved for so long.
You’re instantly one of my favorite UA-camrs 👍🏼
Alex and Geddy were 25 and Neil 26 when this was released. Stunning composition and musicianship, the way the song segues from one style and dynamic to another is seamless. Alex deserves recognition as a top notch guitarist just for his playing on this song alone.
This was written based on some dreams guitarist Alex Lifeson had... performed largely live in the studio with few overdubs and only a couple of transitions that had to be edited. When they performed it live in the 2000s, Alex would take to the mic and do some interesting... let's say, "rants" into the mic during a middle section... Alex definitely had a sense of humour and I feel like it's shown in this track, as serious as it can be.
When I was in high school music class, we had a drummer come in during a class with an electric kit and he played along with this track and I was SOOOOO enthused... definitely a formative moment in the making of me as a musician.
"Alex I think he's underrated as a player"
YOU. NAILED. IT. 100%
@@lauscho Alex is only underrated with the media. He’s not underrated in the guitar world...
They tried to record this multiple times in one take. They couldn't get it just right. The way they pictured it in their heads. So they had to break it down into 3 recordings. Another fun fact. This was recorded outside in a front yard
@@2204JCM I don't know. I've always heard more about Page, Blackmore, Clapton, Hendrix, Gilmour. Alex definitely deserves to be mentioned with those guys but he rarely is.
One of my favourite things to do these days is to “listen” to music with Doug. The knowledge, enthusiasm, joy and willingness to share without condescension marks you out as an educator, who has the full engagement of his viewers. I sometimes think I will catch you rifling through my record collection one night. You seem to have listened to a lot of it already! Oh, and there is something musically strange in the Strangiato theme.
Your buddy was correct. You were 1, and was at the concert! Thanks for doing this. Subscribed.
The “Aladdin” part is Powerhouse by Raymond Scott 1936.
I really enjoy seeing people getting into music I love.
Keep up the reactions!
Rush has a deep and varied catalog to enjoy.
I always thought it sounded like a jazzier take on the Bugs Bunny theme.
@@Pensfan5919 They originally got it from Bugs Bunny. Both Rush and WB got sued for using it.
@@averydallaire3458 That's something I didn't know. Thanks! *Cue NBC PSA music*
@@Pensfan5919 Knowing is half the battle!
@@Pensfan5919 Bugs Bunny and many older cartoons used Powerhouse by Raymond Scott.
When I was in high school, I had friends who were drummers and they would boast all the time about learning to play new songs from Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, etc., but the inevitable question that always came up was 'Yes, but can you play La Villa Strangiato?', that told me everything about who actual drummers thought was the greatest. RIP Neil.
I miss him so much.... The top of the shit pile, THE PROFESSOR LIVES FOREVER IN MY HEART AND STICKS ❤️🥁🥁❤️
R. I. P.
I discovered Rush I. The 70’s and it wasn’t until the early 2000’s (I’m not a gigging drummer, just an enthusiast) that I pretty much nailed down this song. It’s one thing to finally be able to copy it, but in a whole different universe to create it.
@@generay6807 I can imagine it would take such a long time to nail a piece like this, but it's awesome that you finally managed it!
Thanks. Such a fun process
I'm a 53 year old amateur drummer. I grew up with RUSH. Honestly, I can only play about 75% of Villa to this day. Some parts just screw with my mind. They were so brilliant. R.I.P. Neil.
"That's fucking rad!" - that's exactly what I thought when I heard this album for the first time shortly after its release. I was 13 and had been a fan since I was 11. One of my friends in orchestra borrowed his brother's 2112 album and brought it to on of the "record days" our 5th grade teacher would let us do. Daniel also brought a copy of Caress of Steel. I don't know what it would was; maybe having played the violin for a few years and listening to all kinds of classical music had influenced me. In any case, I fell in love with Caress of Steel and bought that one first. I started getting everything I didn't have with my allowance money and would watch the record stores to see when the next album was coming out.
I really enjoy watching someone listen to a particular RUSH tune for the first time, as I'm sure everyone here does; because it takes me back to how I felt when I first heard them. They're a masterclass in music, literature and humor.
"That's fucking rad!" 😂 love it.
Thank you for calling them Musicians, they embody that to a tee.
Rush is the greatest rock band in history. The created great music for more than 40 years. No other band can touch that.
RUSH, ZZ Top, King Crimson, YES and Frank Zappa all created great music for over 40 years and that just naming a few. RUSH is one of the many greatest rock bands in history...
Yep
Explain Rush in 5 words: "This is fffucking rad YA'LL!"
When a classical composer says “fucking rad”, you know it’s good!
‘How do three guys do that ?’…..
Because all three musicians are just absolutely amazing multi-instrumentalists.
Geddy Lee’s ability to seamlessly swap from live bass to bass pedals and keys, often playing in different signatures, or melodic structures, and then sing something different again is almost superhuman.
Alex Lifesons guitar skills, combined with playing synth (via bass pedals).
And of course, Neil Pearl, combining pitched percussion with digital and acoustic drums, often playing the drums as a pitched percussion instrument.
To my knowledge, I don’t believe they ever recorded anything that they could not reproduce live, without backing tracks.
Finally, the three of them were always so humble, aware that their music, and musicianship was loved and admired by many, but never egotistical about it.
What you get when you bring three masters of their respective crafts together as friends and they embark on a four decades-plus journey. What a gift they've given all of us. RIP my brother Neal.
None of the guys in RUSH are/were slackers. Three incredible talents that were meant to play together. Having said that, I believe you are correct sir. Alex does not get as much love publicly as Neil did and Geddy still does. He is very underrated.
I've been having my mind blown by Rush for the last 35 years. I always love seeing it happen to others too. I also love how you break down what's happening throughout. Great video!
I've seen a lot of reviews of Rush and have to say I'm beyond delighted to happen across your review. You get, and appreciate what's in this piece. Many people doing reviews on Rush like their music but rarely do they understand there's a whole foundation of levels they never tap into or or even notice.
Brilliant.
This is one helluva rhythm section. As a drummer growing up I focused on the brilliance of Neil's drum fills and Geddy's bass licks but now I am just blown away by the sheer genius and talent of Alex's guitar solos.
They asked Eddie Van Halen "What's it like being the greatest guitarist i the world". Eddie said, " I don't know Ask Alex Lifeson"
that's disputed........but what the hell!
This whole album is pure gold. Wore out the 8-track of this back in better times when we all lived on Earth.
Check out the official video for this song. They just said "F-it let's just do it live."
I'm surprised this channel hasn't been recommended to me earlier. Oh well, I'm subbed now. Thanks for the content - I have a lot of catching up to do! :)