A Literalist Reaction to The Camera Eye by Rush
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Dave (the 36-year-old with the impressive beard) was raised almost completely sheltered from pop culture by his strict military family. He was homeschooled his entire life until he entered college. He legitimately has very little knowledge of music and bands from before 2000.
John (the guy in the dark on the right) has been a MUSIC LOVER since he was born in the 1960's. Problem is, he rarely knows or fully grasps the lyrics. Dave (on the left), on the other hand, has never heard or rarely overheard the music John chooses to play for him, but tends to take lyrics literally, sometimes to unexpected ends.
John remains in the dark both as a wry play on the situation but also because of legal issues causing his attorney to recommend maintaining a low profile.
We did not write nor do we own the Copyright for the song used in this Educational Video. This is a real, honest reaction to a song Dave have never consciously heard before and/or listened to with intent. Any "facts" offered by John "Doh" are based more on his remembrances than on any actual research. Please feel free to correct him. He loves it.
Fair use principles under Section 107 of the Copyright Act allow the unlicensed use of copyrighted materials for fair use purposes, such as commentary, criticism, teaching, and news reporting.
Пікірлер: 83
This song gets better with age.
Took me awhile to warm up to this song, always bypassed it when Moving Pictures first came out. Guess what, it has become one of my favourite of my ever changing favourite Rush songs. This song is about two cities and the cover art was photographed in front of Toronto’s venerable Old City Hall. (Correction, it is actually the Ontario Legislative Building at Queen's Park, my mistake) Thanks guys, enjoyed your discussion and analysis as always.
@scottcastro9383
10 ай бұрын
It’s actually the Ontario Legislative Building.
@WeDanceWestie
10 ай бұрын
@@scottcastro9383 Yes, you are correct and I will edit my comment. Thanks for replying.
Neil's take on two cities New York and London. Excellent song.
@scottcastro9383
10 ай бұрын
And more of a common Neil theme of the energy and draw of the city vs the burbs.
Outstanding music!! They Rock!!!!!!!!!♥🎼🎸🥁🎹🎶🎶
One of the best bands of all time
This is some of my favorite bass playing by Geddy....that good old Rickenbacker/Ampeg sound. As good as it sounds on the record, it's even better live!
too bad we missed Big Ben at the end Dave's initial comment about "roll opening credits" was great. This is a cinematic song, on a cinematic album "Moving Pictures" indeed. The song compares / contrasts, how Neil felt in Manhattan / and London. Intentionally, the song captures scenes like The Camera would.
@markstromberg1148
Жыл бұрын
I could not agree with Todd more. This is musical storytelling at its finest, combined with Neil Peart's phenomenal, observational poetry.
My favorite short Rush tune is Witch Hunt. Must hear.... chilling
@LiteralistReactions
Жыл бұрын
Search our catalog... we did Witch Hunt in October. - JD
Fresh Rush! This is a great song celebrating two cities. I love John quoting Three Dog Night with "I've never been to Spain"; I automatically started singing "But I linda like the music" to myself. Question for Dave: what do you think the theme of "Moving Pictures" is? Why were the songes that were on the album put on the album? I always liked the visual pun on the album cover they did with the movers transporting the art - they were moving pictures.
@obiwanbenobi4943
Жыл бұрын
Of course! :) Jeremiah was a bullfrog! ...
@LiteralistReactions
Жыл бұрын
But Mama told me not to come. (Thanks Randy)- JD
Looking forward to you both returning soon. Best wishes!
Beautiful.
The synth noises at the beginning of the song remind me of the synth sounds that played during the the "Uncle traveling Matt" segments of "Fraggle Rock"
This has always been my favorite song from Moving Pictures. It's sadly the last "long" song they made as well.
Always feels good to reacharge a little bit with some Rush. :)
Miss you guys. Hope you come back someday.
@LiteralistReactions
Жыл бұрын
Thanks, I miss us, too! It seems all my favorite Reactioneers are either bored, changed format, or are now monetized to the NTH degree! KZread's politics don't help. We're still trying to work out a schedule to record, once again! - Thanks much! - JD
Love this song Camera Eye. Great reaction. There is a great time-lapse video of the streets of Manhattan and London of Camera Eye. Geddy has said many times in interviews he's a perfectionist when it comes to production of Rush albums. Dave, Vital Signs. Very deep song. John & Dave could you please react to Mystic Rhythms by Rush.
Great reaction guys. I would suggest side 2 of 2112, Then an album review on that. Some of my Favorite RUSH on there. Lots of love.
RUSH Army is present and prepared for duty.
Peart does Dos Passos. One of my favorites to this day.
These lyrics are based on a work by Jon Dos Passos called the Camera Eye which is part of a bigger book called the 42nd Parallel. Neil’s Camera Eye and Dos Possos’s Camera Eye have a very similar vibe.
Some of Lifeson's best guitar work.
🤗 Love this song! 🥰🐰
Side 1 of Moving Pictures is iconic but as the years go by I think I prefer Side 2.
Vital signs it is!!!
If you watch the first 5 minutes or so of Christopher Reeve', superman the movie. You will hear the audio of the traffic cop "move em thru" and the horns. RUSH borrowed the clip!
John, Rush's insistence on quality in the studio (and, for that matter, in live performances) is truly unmatched. However, what set Rush apart from other prog bands of their era - think, for example, of ELP, Dream Theatre, or early Genesis - was the undeniable quality of their compositions. There were some competitors; for me, Jethro Tull, Yes, Pink Floyd, Kansas and (although they're not "prog") Steely Dan were among the best examples of bands whose compositions were of similar quality. But Rush, especially early Rush, stands out musically for its complexity, coherence, use of theme, and accessibility.
Generally before the lyrics start, you see a header stating the city the lyrics are talking about. Regardless, Dave associated the first part with New York. This album was my introduction to Rush and Camera Eye and Witch Hunt were my favorite songs at the time. Mostly because how Rush used the synth musically. It was a fresh sound at the time to my ears. Ironically I was wondering if you boys have done Vital Signs as well. So I stopped the video to check your Rush history. As soon I continued to play the video, John pointed out the missing song to close the album 😆🤣😂
Great review. Every single song on this album was great.
Where have you gone gents?
@LiteralistReactions
Жыл бұрын
We're still trying to work out a schedule to record, once again! - Thanks much! - JD
Rush is the greatest band ever period no doubt about it those boys really boggie
A tale of 2 cities to quote Dickens, with their different vibes unique to each city, Neil spent 2-3 years in London in his late teens early twenties and worked in a gift shop in Carnaby street to make a living so he was very familiar with that vibe and of course on tour with Rush he would have visited NYC many times.
I love your interpretation of the song. If you could review a couple of songs 1. The Big money and 2. Manhattan Project
Manhattan and London! You can smell the sewers in both!
@LiteralistReactions
Жыл бұрын
And you can taste them in New Jersey! - JD
@eckthtraetheth
Жыл бұрын
Manhattan maketh it'th own gravy when it rainth. Thuper thick!
@LiteralistReactions
Жыл бұрын
...and they wonder what keeps the rats alive... - JD
Sooo you didn't hear vapor trails 😂 that recording is less than stellar until they remastered it
To me, Geddy's greatest vocal performance is on this song. The only way the song could be better is if they had travelled on to Tokyo and then Sydney.
Enough Rush! More Kansas please
@LiteralistReactions
Жыл бұрын
Oh, Janice! - JD
John & Dave , Are you going to be reacting on the channel again? I hope you're doing well. I miss y'all. 🤔👋
@LiteralistReactions
Жыл бұрын
Thanks! We're trying! - JD
It'th eckthactly what you eckthpect from thethe guyth. A prithtine thtar, in a rethplendent muthical galackthy of prithtine thtarth.
Hey guys! When are you coming back from your break? Happy Easter
@LiteralistReactions
Жыл бұрын
Soon, soon! - JD
Great song, but this was like watching Kung Fu Theater. You editing the videos on a speak n spell, John? Since he's so close, now Dave can help you with the barn raising & sowing of the oats. Kiddin!! We both know Dave don't do physical labor.
@LiteralistReactions
Жыл бұрын
I'm beginning to think you know Dave personally. - JD
@TheOnyxSpy
Жыл бұрын
I was wondering if it was just me. In my thoughts, they either got caught in a temporal distortion, or my KZread app glitched out.
@LiteralistReactions
Жыл бұрын
I'm the temporal, Dave's the distortion. - JD
Do Vital Signs
Wasn’t going to say, but what the heck. Vital Signs leads directly into the next great Rush album…..Signals.
Time you guys do Prime Mover. I know Dave wants to but I know John is not crazy for that synth Era.
@LiteralistReactions
Жыл бұрын
John is crazy for synth! I should know, I am he! I'm not familiar enough with the depth of their 90's+ catalog. - JD
I have to do random searches for Literalist Reactions to make sure I am not missing anything or YT is messing with my feeds again. Hope you can get together to do some vids soon.
🏆🏆🏆!
There is no mystery to these lyrics - they are quite literal as is - but I love how Neil paints a picture of two iconic cities, one of which I grew up in and can attest to his accurate portrayal ("an angular mass of New Yorkers" - Just perfect). I can't help but think Neil was also thinking he was writing his "Tale of Two Cities". It is also a song that is name dropped in another song (Limelight), which Rush is wont to do. I look forward to Vital Signs, which will give LD a bit more of a lyrical challenge. Thanks again gentlemen.
Good reaction song! I'm glad Dave had a good experience in n.y. but I tend to agree with john's warning if n.y .is like it was in the 1970s-80s. My first concert was Yes in the round nassau colliseum 1979 ( also later 90125 tour in 1984) and was my favorite but after seeing Rush for grace under pressure and power windows tour they a close second ... just binge watched a lot of your rush an yes reactions and recommend (Rush body electric )if you have not done this one. Thanks John, Dave!
Never been to New York. Thanks to Neil for taking me there. I can picture myself now walking past Trump Tower flipping the double bird yelling "Traitor". Ah.......good times! lol
@TrumpRDR2
Жыл бұрын
Anyone with a working brain only needs to look at history to discredit your bizarre obsession with Trump. Were you fundraising for MLK's Intl. Freedom Games back in the 60's? Probably not. Maybe you helped preserve the Negro Baseball League reunions in the early 80's? I doubt it. Did you donate millions of your own money, and use of your hotel & jets to further the arts? Science? HIV research? First responders? Religious freedoms? Military? Any of that? Trump used to be fawned over by the media, and his message has been consistent, like him or not. Only when he got involved in politics as a non-politician did the media turn on him. And you believe everything you're told to believe, apparently. History is the truth whether you accept it or not.
There was a weird pause/skip in the first half of the song around 7:25?
@WayneWenthin
Жыл бұрын
That was about where the 8-track changed tracks. LOL And yes I first had this on 8-track that's how old I am.
@BlueJazzKeys
Жыл бұрын
@@WayneWenthin great memory, Wayne! I still have most of my 8-tracks. This song was just a little too long for one program 👍
@WayneWenthin
Жыл бұрын
@@BlueJazzKeys Mine got smashed into a million pieces when I broke up with the girlfriend that got it for me. But I was 17 at the time and impulse control was not my strong suite.
@LiteralistReactions
Жыл бұрын
Yes, noted, how strange. And I wasn't even playing my 8-Track version!
@BlueJazzKeys
Жыл бұрын
@@LiteralistReactions 2112 was particularly painful on 8-track!
One of the things I always took from the song musically, was how the music was symbolic of a bee hive, and the similarity to that sort of "Bee" Culture to Cities. Or maybe I was smoking some pot the first time I heard this? 🧐
How about a weekly "required rush", kinda like "mandatory Metallica" on 101.1 KLOL in Houston back in the day. Dave's bar story reminds me of my first time in Hollywood, I had been walking around looking at the stars on Hollywood Blvd and decided I wanted a drink, ended up in a bar, got a drink and then looked around, I'd noticed men and women when I first walked in but now I noticed that the women were dancing with other women and the men were dancing with other men, and you don't want to know what I saw when I went to the bathroom.
You both need to catch up on your Charles Dickens. On another note - this was the very last Rush epic. Meaning the last Rush song over 8 minutes. After 1981 their songs never passed the 8 min mark. Most of them in the 5 to 6 min range.
Ith thith the thwan thong? Ath I thtated previouthly, thinth Dave'th prethenth leaveth thomething to be dethired, I can thtep in ath hith thucktheththor. No need to beg. My athithtant can thit down with your folkth over cocktailth to thtraighten out the detailth. Problem tholved. And, you're welcome, Thir.
@LiteralistReactions
Жыл бұрын
if we don't get our shiznit together soon I may have to get some substitute students! You, sir, seem to be well-informed in the arena. - JD
@eckthtraetheth
Жыл бұрын
@@LiteralistReactions Thankth!! The kidth love it when I thpit barth!
So you fell off the planet?
@LiteralistReactions
Жыл бұрын
fell? perhaps leaped! I've said it before, Dave is so popular in this region I find it difficult to get time with him. We are better when he's away. We'll be back, someday. - JD
Amazing song. Thanks, guys. I'm guessing Dave will like it