WP#1: Rush

By, Lawrence Waterhouse

12/8/2021

WP#1: Rush

Working Man

In 1981, The Canadian band Rush delivered the killer track, Working Man, that kick-started a luxurious career that none of the members anticipated. In an age where Britain and the United States were dominating the music scene Rush was able to give a fresh look at rock and roll and psychedelic rock. With a singer that pours his heart into his lyrics and a drummer that some critics called “the third hand”, it isn’t surprising that the world began to obsess. Working Man appealed to the blue-collar workers around the world, that desired a harder demeanor than bands like the Beetles or Beach Boys. The lyrics “lock it up, seven to eight, I go to work at nine, I got no time for living yeah because I’m working all the time” was a chorus that shock the very essence of our society. The ripples from this track are still seen today and continue to form the mentality of children and adults alike.

As a child, my parents understood who Rush was but didn’t value the strides that this band made during my parent’s childhood (this is not my parent’s fault Haha). Once I was around the age of 13, I started to dive deeper into the music that my father listened to as a child. This includes the glam rock bands of the late 70s and early 80s. while I was searching the internet for more bangers that I could rock out to. I crossed by this song and after just a few listens I was hooked. I could tell there was no going back to my old genre of rock. The “rush” was permanently in my Bloodstream.

Farewell to Kings

In the early age of Rush’s career, the band distinctively belonged to the hard rock genre but that would quickly change with the release of A Farewell to Kings album. This album was released during the psychedelic age of the mid-80s, capitalizing on the growing interest in music, Rush was able to come into their own. The specific song named after the album cover is a great example of the shift in genres. With a more flowy rhythm and hypnotic lyrics, the band was able to create a safe place for hippies and stoners. Although Rush was changing their genre, this did not mean that they dropped hard rock completely. A mixture of both albums was accurately depicted in their music but specifically the sound A Farewell to Kings.

After listening to Rush’s music, the audience can see that the band is fighting against the individuals in our world that control the majority of the power. And this accurately depicts this. The band expressed their discomfort in our world at the time and used their power of influence to convey their message to the world. An example of this expression can be heard in the lyric “beating down the magnitude, and stopping at the wise”. This lyric means destroying the individuals or entities with too much power while leaving the groups that are smart enough to help the entire society. Government change should be addressed before social reform.

Limelight

The magnum opus of Rush’s career defined Rush as a rock and roll legend that will be passed down for generations to come. If you haven’t heard this anthem, take the time to listen to the 4:19 masterpiece. Even individuals that are unable to listen to the rock genre are able to appreciate the musical symphony of “Limelight”.

“Those who wish to be, must put aside the alienation, get on with the fascination The real relation, the underlining mean.” Wow just saying this lyric in my head almost brings a tear to my eye. The ability for Rush to understand the pros and cons of their future in the music industry is beyond self-conscious and shows their audience that they aren’t in it for the money they are in this business to change the lives of millions of people.

This quote unironically discusses the emotions that come with extreme success within the media industry, little did Rush know that this would be their future shortly after this song was released. Limelight shot Rush to fame that they have never experienced in their entire career. The dramatic stance that Limelight takes when discussing a successful future in music is eerie since the band is aware of the cons that are situated within the luxurious life of a rock star. Even though they are aware of this curse that fame possesses and they are still fully interested in pursuing this path.

The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone was released in their 40^th-anniversary album “2112”. The song follows a story that acts more as a ballad than a structured song. This is uncommon for Rush but has been seen before. The 21^st-century technology allows Rush to manipulate their sound in a way unseen during their prime. The Twilight Zone acts as a glimpse into what could have been if this band came out during a more modern time. Synthesizers and computer editing changed the typical sound of Rush without destroying the essence of the band that resonated with so many people. Many bands from Rush’s era struggled with the evolution of music over a long period of time but Rush was able to manipulate their sound without losing the X-Factor that made Rush such a beloved band.

An interesting fact about the song “the Twilight Zone” is that Rush’s lyricist and drummer, Neil Peart was a huge fan of the tv show The Twilight Zone and based the song on the ambiance of the award-winning tv show. This song didn’t reach significant fame for the band but was a success for the band as a whole since there was a large amount of work that was put into producing this song and album. Most bands are unable to perform for 40 years and Rush was able to pass that by 50 years and make it into the rock and roll hall of fame.

Red Sector A

The most divergent song that Rush has ever produced. A dramatic symphony that delves into the mindset of a prisoner of an unfair leader. There are many references to global tragedies that have occurred in our past within this song. The turmoil of war and imprisonment are hardships that all nations have seen in their history and Rush uses their platform to discuss the history of one of their members. Geddy Lee the lead singer of Rush was raised in a Jewish household and has respected his religion by discussing difficult topics within their music and in interviews. This hasn’t been delved into as much but I would predict that Red Sector A is a great analysis of the torture that Jewish individuals went through during the Holocaust during World War II. An example of this assumption is heard in the lyric, “Ragged light, ragged grey, skeletons they shuffle away, shouting guards and smoking guns, cut down the unlucky ones, I clutch the wire fence until my finger bleed, a wound that will not heal, a heart that can not feel, hoping that the horror will recede, hoping tomorrow we all be free”. This is one of the most disturbing and insightful lyrics Rush has ever produced. Geddy Lee was born to two polish Jewish immigrants during the second to last year of the second world war. He was able to see the destruction of this genocide first hand, imprinting on his mind and driving his ambition throughout his life and career.

Time Stand Still

Close your eyes, what is the first song you think of when you hear when you think of summer…. Boys of summer, summer of 69, or something that has a more emotional connection to you. When I dream of summer there is only one song that comes to mind, and that is the masterpiece Time Stand Still. There is no rhyme or reason to my connection to this song but there is an emotional relationship that I have with this song that hasn’t faded since I first uncovered it. Time Stand Still doesn’t reference any summer activity or weather occurrence but when I close my eyes and feel the sound of Neal Peart’s rhythm the image of laying on the beach at midnight with a person in my arms is the only thought on my mind. Even though I’m still a young individual the sound of this anthem sends me back to a simpler time where my worries were smaller and less significant. Time truly stands still when I toss this song on in my car and I will cherish the memories that I have experienced while listening to this amazing track.

This song reminds me to never let time slip away from me and be thankful for every person within my life. We only have one life, and waiting for your moment to come will leave you disappointed. Always strive to be the person you imagine your childhood self would be proud of and express a want for change throughout your day.

Far Cry

The sound Far Cry by Rush was a progressive version of the typical music that rush was realizing during the 2000s. Moving away from psychedelic rock and tackling a more hardcore rock scene that struggled as a genre during this age. With fans wishing rock was more like the 70s Rush was able to change the perspective of the Rock world with this amazing song, album. It’s amazing how much Rush progresses in their music even though they were significantly more popular during the early age of rock and roll.

“It’s a far cry from the world we thought we would inherit, it’s a far cry from the way we thought, we would share it, you can almost feel the current flowing, you can almost see the circuits blowing”.

Neil Peart was the individual that wrote the song Far Cry. The song was a reminder that his generation started off great with individuals believing in peace and love. They fought for what they wanted and wouldn’t turn away without an honest fight. The modern time has changed this mentality and Rush is longing for the times were retribution and love were morals that were held in high regard by all individuals within the society. Truly is a far cry from what it used to be in music and our society.

Spirit of the Radio

Finally, we will discuss my favorite song of all time, Spirit of the Radio. The song formed a significant amount of my overarching ideas within our society. Who would have guessed that music would have more of an impact than school, other forms of media, and my interactions with real people? The song was dedicated to an alternative music station based in Toronto Canada called CFNY. This station was a safe haven for music that wasn’t typically played on the pop stations of the time. They gave a voice to a generation of individuals that felt a lack of representation within the music community. Bands that were played on this station consisted of alternative and soft rock bands like Cheap Trick and Toto.

“All this machinery making modern music, Can still be open-hearted, Not so coldly charted, It’s really just a question of your honesty, Yeah, your honesty, One likes to believe in the freedom of music, But glittering prizes, And endless compromises, shatter the illusion of integrity, yeah”

This is the pinnacle of alternative and soft rock lyrics. So much pain and defeat in Geddy Lee’s voice during this section of the song. Like he already knew it was too late for his favorite genre of music. The times are changing and we need to accept that but also remember the aspects that shaped the rise of one of the best bands of all time.