The story of the song goes like this: after the morse code section, the next section is about the hustle of getting to the airport, getting through the airport steps to get on the plane. The synth section is the flight. That's why it's airy and ethereal. When the reprise starts, it's debarking at the new airport, which has the same look and feel as the old one (as do all airports) and the hustle to be on your way.

@BobbyGeneric145

Жыл бұрын

Im a captain at an airline in the states and every time we were heading up to Toronto I would tell the morse code story over the PA to the passengers.

@scottdouglas935

Жыл бұрын

thanks! my band has covered this song for awhile and I didn't know the story beyond YYZ being the Pearson airport in Toronto.

@christiand7437

Жыл бұрын

The guitar solo definitely has an Egyptian style to it..or Arabian sound...🤔

@888Longball

Жыл бұрын

YYZ is the airport code for Pearson International in Toronto. Rush, of course, was from St. Catherine's and this would fly from YYZ.

@kractass

Жыл бұрын

​@@888Longball Neil was from St Catharines. Geddy and Alex were from Willowdale.

As a pilot,My interpretation of the drums and bass “speaking back and forth “ is the pilot and air traffic controller speaking to each other as they enter the airspace of the Toronto Airport and establish their flight paths. I close my eyes and I can see the whole flight approach in my head. My favorite band. What incredible talent.

I highly recommend the live Rush in Rio version. The gigantic crowd sings along--with an instrumental song!

@stuartmiller7419

Жыл бұрын

Yeah. That really is something to behold.

@mikedown3219

Жыл бұрын

I concur, 40,000 Brazilians singing along to an instrumental, mental.

@edgarpacifico3421

Жыл бұрын

Epic!!!

@JosephTomasone

Жыл бұрын

I personally favor the version from “Exit… State Left”. One of the examples of their live performances being superlative to their studio tracks.

@jem77469

Жыл бұрын

@@JosephTomasone Many such example from that album alone. 'Closer to the Heart' should only ever be heard with the crowd singing along.

I think Alex remains underrated because of how good he is at playing in ensemble. Most of those considered the guitar greats have their reputations based on their solo work, where they jump out in front of the rest of the band. Alex takes the band along with him, and therefore isn't seen as an entity other than the band.

@cirrustate8674

Жыл бұрын

Brian May is the same, in that regard.

@wickedvideowatcher

Жыл бұрын

Yes, he seems very un-egotistical.

@pazz6708

Жыл бұрын

Alex was so great at guitar he knew exactly where he needed to play in order to carry the Rhythm and Melody of the song forward. This was the genius of Alex Lifeson. Only because Geddy and Neil's parts were so busy.

@RafaelLima-hg8kz

Жыл бұрын

Funny, i am bassist, but my guitar heroes are Slash (thr guy who mades me trying to be a musician), Zakk Wilde, Lifeson and Brian May. I love their solos, but always the way they complete the songs.

@mikeg3439

11 ай бұрын

I had zero idea, over a lifetime of listening to Rush, that Alex is underrated. All my life I've heard people young and old adore the guy. I know I have. No one is quite like Alex.

Quite simply three geniuses at the peak of their creativity and masters of their art.

Not glass. That’s the sound of plywood smacking against a wooden stool. Also from Neil answering a fan question in 1985 about how to "play" plywood.: "Well, you wear gloves so as not to get splinters, you take a piece of 1/4" plywood, and smack it down hard on the top of a wooden stool. Very demanding, technically- took years of practice."

When will Amy do a Rush song with actual lyrics? The lyrics are one of the best and most distinctive parts of Rush's music.

YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can play this song from memory on drums, it has been in my bones since 14 years of age, thanks very much I really needed this today.

As a longtime Amateur Radio operator ('Ham Radio') and RUSH fan since 1976, I was blown away when I first heard the Morse Code at the beginning of YYZ the day the album came out! At the time, I thought, 'My God, only Rush could come up with something as creative as this!

@MikeXCSkier

Жыл бұрын

Is it true that it's Morse code for the letters "YYZ?" YYZ is also the call sign for the Toronto airport.

@AudiophileTubes

Жыл бұрын

@@MikeXCSkier Yes.

@keesdenheijer7283

Жыл бұрын

​@@MikeXCSkier Yes it is, the old story goes like this: Alex Lifeson took flying lessons and once Rush was rehearsing somewhere outside Toronto, so Alex' flight instructor offered to pick them up for lunch in Toronto. Neil Peart noticed the morse code on the pilot's radio and the rest is history.

Rush definitely appeals to classical musicians, because their composition is so precise and purely musical, rather than being mostly founded on the simple beat with chords laid over the top. The "aggressive" intro is indeed because of the Morse code pattern, which is the entire point of the title, YYZ(ed), as the air traffic identifier for the Toronto airport. What drew me in when first experiencing this song is the pauses, used for maximum tension and intrigue as it transitions into the primary theme from the intro. Neil's small and subtle fills each time the theme shifts in the first 'movement' are very appropos, and then the mini-solos for each through the second movement. Being a purely instrumental piece, it is necessary to regularly shift timing and transition melody to maintain that tension. It's a rock masterpiece.

@markstromberg1148

4 ай бұрын

To your point, I'm a lover of classical music, and a Rush fan. Rush's technical brilliance is matched by their compositional genius, which rivals the poetic elegance of Peart's lyrics, and the philosophical depth of the ideas behind them.

The ride cymbal work is magnificent.

Alex is a master of the "pinch harmonic," which is a technique for plucking a string, then using your fingertip to kill the root and emphasize the high harmonics.

@Pedro_MVS_Lima

Жыл бұрын

It is actually much easier to do than to explain 🤣, and it's done with a finger on the picking hand slightly touching the string on the same movement of the pick striking it hence the idea of "pinch" (which isn't actually).

@lazzy2day

Жыл бұрын

@@Pedro_MVS_Lima I use my thumb knuckle

@GordonHeaney

Жыл бұрын

Being pedantic, the pinch harmonic is created with the side of the picking thumb. I pride myself on being pretty good at them, if I don't say so myself

@douglydooright4580

Жыл бұрын

Billy Gibbons and Kenny Wayne Shepherd ain’t too shabby at it, either. Billy calls it a ‘squank’.

@SgtSnausages

Жыл бұрын

Most of us use the thumb.

Neil also mentioned how there's a "romance" about airports when you look up at the exotic locations you could travel to and that influenced Lifeson's more Arabian sounding guitar solo. Peart also talked about how airports were filled with emotions of people coming together or going apart and all was somehow reflected in the music. I've always appreciated the depth of Rush and it's great to see other's doing the same, especially so many decades later. Excellent reaction!

@fastcarsoldandnew

Жыл бұрын

Yes, to me I don't hear the descent of a plane, I hear the sounds of all the varied and interesting places they've been visiting.

@davidbreth7386

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I think that was more what they were after with this song. When I heard neil speak about it, he described being in the airport, and how people were going to all points around the world and how exciting it was to think you could go anywhere. The synthy resolution I recall was supposed to represent the fond sensation of returning home.

@eboethrasher

Жыл бұрын

It's also, you know, just a really good fucking song. I went through my entire life up until 10 minutes ago not knowing until now that it was about flying, all I ever knew was that it was the airport code for Toronto. And you know what? Knowing and not knowing are exactly the same. I still am equally impressed by the song. I've loved it since I heard it in the 80s.

@jacobtapianieto9655

Жыл бұрын

I thought of the guitar solo and the Spanish-sounding harmonic sequence as a reference of the Casa Loma, one of the main spots of Toronto.

One thing my friend told me back in the 80s was that Geddy Lee is often playing the bass more like a lead guitar than a bass. That sticks with me when I'm listening to Rush.

@hubbsllc

Жыл бұрын

As a bassist who discovered Geddy Lee some years after he started playing, the think that differentiates him from other bassists is just how hard the fingers of the right hand are hitting. You’re basically slamming the strings into the fretboard with an almost pinching action. And the string action on the bass is low enough to let the string continue to grind against the frets with that kind of attack.

I've loved this song for 30 some odd years before I flew into Toronto for the first time. I looked at the luggage tag and was blown away. I'm glad you got to listen to this piece, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as us Rush fans do.

@dsmallwood2112

4 ай бұрын

For 40+ years, I didn't know that YYZ was the code for Toronto. Learned something new.😊

Rush is famous for lots of key signature and time signature changes in their music.

Yeah, the starts and stops are made even more difficult by Rush's penchant for changing time signatures and tempos. I've always been impressed when I watch videos of Rush live how Geddy and Neil often hit at exactly the same time. I like that idea of turbulence because the live version usually includes a long drum solo in the middle, where Neil really brings that "turbulence". That said, I have heard an interview that said some of the song was also about touring and Alex's Eastern-themed riffs are his contribution, telling the tale of visiting foreign lands on tour, but coming back to the main melodic theme of the song, which is a homecoming to Toronto-YYZ.

Thank you for the reaction I enjoyed it. I remember Alex saying that the middle section of the song with all of the keyboards is more about a homage to the various exotic locations that they have been fortunate to travel to. So it does have kind of a middle eastern vibe to it

The arabesque phrases are so beautiful

Wow, She's a minute into YYZ & has decoded the instrumental so much, as to what Rush themselves have stated were the imagery & feelings they were trying to portray in the music.

We heard it all right! 😆 We are RUSH ARMY!

YYZ is one of their absolute best song. I've head it live several times....amazing.

I read somewhere that the song musically conveys the "controlled chaos" and hustle / bustle of the airport itself. Planes coming and going from all over the world, people flowing through, stopping / starting, greetings and goodbyes, all happening at once.

A good story telling song from Rush I think is *Red Barchetta* This section in particular, "I fire up the willing engine Responding with a roar Tires spitting gravel I commit my weekly crime" then Alex begins his long guitar whine that sounds like an engine reving up. This instrumental section, without lyrics, tells it all.

At the beginning of the song you here the symbol making a repeating pattern before the song begins. It is actually morse code of YYZ which is the aviation identifier for Toronto airport. If you tune into the navigational aid there at the airport you here that repeated morse code. If you imagine an airport video in time lapse and use this song as the backing track it fits

@JohnBrooking4

Жыл бұрын

In addition to the rhythmic cleverness, I also appreciate the pitches that represent the dots and dashes. They do not coexist in any key signature, and each is exactly half way up the 12 notes of the Western scale from the other, so kind of “as far apart from each other” that they could be, appropriate for basically a binary language.

The talking (and sound effects) after 9:44 of your video isn't part of the song at all. That ending part is a humorous addition to the music video, which was made many decades later. I just wanted to point that out. The video is quite new and some people haven't seen it yet. So, they might be a bit confused about what they're hearing. Thank you so much for doing this. I could write a lot about this song and Rush but I try to keep this short. I'm just looking forward to what you have to say about their music. It's always great to approach any music without prejudice, with an open mind and with a fresh pair of ears. On a side note, It's always best to hear any song from the original studio album (just the audio version without a video). Some other bands have quite a few music videos where the song has been shortened for example. It makes me glad that there are also many "videos" on KZread with only the album cover showing... About the album covers: The "Anniversary releases" of Rush albums have a different cover. Most of the original album covers are pure art and they've really put some thought into them. The album title and the cover art often sets the theme for the whole album. Anyway, I wasn't going to write much. Still, it ended up being a small novel. :-) Take care and enjoy the music.

@geofftestpilot9076

2 ай бұрын

I have only ever listened to YYZ live on exit stage left, and at Rio in 2016. I have never heard the talking at the end😮

Geddy Lee's bass is incredible in this song..... mind you it always delivers.

Middle section is not a rimshot from Neil Peart it’s him hitting a metal chair with a slab of plywood that sounds like the cracking of a whip!

I had all the Rush albums in my youth and was always blown away by the level of virtuosity and complexity in their music. I actually found some of their music intimidating because I knew I would never be that good. I spent hours trying to work out the guitar parts, but often gave up in frustration. Great video as always, and great to see Karl back.

YYZ 2016 LIVE @ RIO ...or BUST!! Watch an enormous crowd singing purely instrumental song❤❤❤ That was the only reason I had a look here, & dropped you. You have such a great hook here! The vocalist watching a crowd singing an instrumental. How did you miss that? LOL better luck next time, which I hope is not very far in the future😢😊

Love the site, and the, insights...can't wait for more...Todd from Ohio....

I have always known YYZ was the identification for Pearson International Airport in Toronto, so I had always associated this song with the hustle and bustle inside the airport trying to catch a fight. It's always interesting to hear someone else's take on things.

@skparkes1969

Жыл бұрын

I think your interpretation was the intended “vision” for the song. Neil always said this was about the hustle and bustle of the airport - people leaving loved ones and people being reunited. The energy and tension of airports and the joy of returning home.

@coldlakealta4043

Жыл бұрын

There is little hustle at Pearson Int'l (YYZ). Just endless, hopeless crawling lines for everything, sometimes causing missed flights. Please don't ask me about the baggage pick up. I try to avoid profanity.

@charleshope8856

Жыл бұрын

Me, on the other hand, listened to this song for years just thinking "YYZ" was just random letters.

@skparkes1969

Жыл бұрын

@@charleshope8856 and that’s perfectly ok too! We don’t have to share the band’s interpretation of meaning. If you like the track on its own merits then its original intent doesn’t matter. It’s only us Rush nerds who need to get after these things!!!

@trenthogan4212

Жыл бұрын

Which is correct as the band have mentioned before.

Karl, thanks so much for introducing Rush to Amy. She will love them forever.

Thanks to Gene for making points that support my 2 Rush Hot Takes; It can be argued that Neil was one of Rock's grratest drummers, he was an ever better lyricist. Even though Geddy is often playing 3 or more insturments at any given moment, Alex was the most talented member of Rush. I thought there was some plywoood snapping used for the breaking sounds. Seems like my old foggy memory remembers something in the liner notes. Great stuff as always! Thank you both so much. 🤘🧙‍♂️🤘 Rich the Ancient Metal Beast

@jimd7260

Жыл бұрын

I've never seen Geddy play multiple instruments at one time. What are some of the songs he does that on?

@richpeltier9519

Жыл бұрын

@@jimd7260 he is usually either playing bass or keyboards with his hands, often while singing and sometimes while utilizing Taurus bass pedals (like church organ pedals) with his feet.

@justimprovising

Жыл бұрын

I agree about Alex being the most talented - he's incredibly creative and expressive, as if his guitar is alive - it saddens me that so many overlook the beauty and passion he brought to Rush's music

@derrickparran

Жыл бұрын

Alex's skill was often overlooked. Except by Eddie Van Halen.

@DeaconBlues117

Жыл бұрын

I don't know if *most* talented is really a fair assessment, but I've frequently held that in any other band in the world, Alex would have been hailed as the Guitar God that he was. In Rush, he was among his equals.

the Morse code is the actual pattern on the VOR Navigation radio signal associated with YYZ airport. I always loved this song but it took on a whole new meaning when I became a pilot. Really enjoying all your videos!

i think amy will love "the trees". i'd recommend the live version from "exit stage left".

@alphasixty1316

Жыл бұрын

I don't know, a commentary on an example of Peart's bad and poorly aging lyrics is not a great showcase.

@katskillz

Жыл бұрын

as long as the listen includes the extended intro Broone's Bane! One of Alex's best moments in his whole career.

@DannyD714

Жыл бұрын

@@alphasixty1316 depends on how the individual interprets the lyrics. i choose to hear it as sort of a fairy tale,or bedtime story rather than a metaphoric tale about human class struggle. anyway, i was suggesting amy hear it for its music,not so much they lyrics.

@petersattler22

Жыл бұрын

@@alphasixty1316 Why do you think they are bad and aging poorly?

@DavidLindes

Жыл бұрын

@@alphasixty1316 I have the same question as Peter. They seem, if you’ll pardon the pun, pretty evergreen, to me.

I have seen many classical musicians claim tha the members of Rush are brilliant. Thanks for this ❤🇨🇦

I’m a Rush fan and I say Y-Y-Zee.

@karlg5348

3 күн бұрын

I'm a ZZ Top fan, and I say Zed Zed Top.

Great to listen in on two friends having a conversation about what they love most.

This song is kinda-sorta in sonata form. I analyzed it as an extra credit project for my form and analysis class when I was getting my music undergrad. I don't remember exactly what form, if any, it came out to be in the classical world, but I remember my professor being quite impressed by the compositional techniques of a rock power trio he had never heard of before.

That guitar solo always reminds me of a Middle Eastern style. I get the image of a man playing a flute or clarinet(?) in front of a wicker basket as a cobra rises out of it.😂

I am enjoying all of your reactions. There is another fun song called Jacob's Ladder. They wrote a piece of music that represents the life cycle of a storm and the endless march of nature. Thanks!

@JohnBrooking4

Жыл бұрын

And it’s mostly instrumental.

@navyjax1128

Жыл бұрын

yes its my favorite.

@rushfan9thcmd

Жыл бұрын

And their young ages when they created then.

@zigsrig

Жыл бұрын

Jacob's Ladder is such a great tune!

@outspoken117

Ай бұрын

Another good song that conveys the story musically as well as lyrically: Xanadu

That sound was a pick squeal. It's a touch thing used when picking. The "zed" reference I've never heard. YYZ is the letters for Toronto Airport.

Another great reaction, thanks. its crazy peice of genius music. Now if there is one song you have to react to, it has to be Losing it, if this isn't a classical peice, I dont know what is. Xanandu, another masterpeice you can sink your teeth into, is close to be classical, but I am more leaned towards a Musical...... and it should be..... i would line up for a ticket if it were to come to fruition.

I love the way she analyzes the music

I like the way you analyzed it especially in the beginning Amy. You hit the effects of the song on the nose the way you said, hurry up, let's get to the meat of the song. Or the introduction was, ok.. without further to do..., we give you this! Better yet, let's RUSH to get to the song. lol. I also like the way you equate it to classical music . Many prog groups of the 1970's would incorporate classical in to their music because they listened to a lot of it. I have a collection of Rush albums and CD's but I think the Moving Pictures songs were the best. Glad you did that one Amy.

Always LOVED this instrumental!! I get the same feeling as our guys from Rush when I'm flying and see YYZ on my baggage tags - it means I'm going home! (I'm about an hour out of Toronto). For them, after a long tour, in the US, Europe or other parts of Canada, it meant they were going back to family! Interesting interpretation of the song. The voices you hear in the background are Alex & Geddy, which was recorded for the 'official video' version of this song released for the 50th anniversary of Moving Pictures! The video presents a different interpretation, but takes place all in Toronto. Fun video - check it out sometime. Love your musical analysis - especially with a trio of masterclass musicians that operate as Geddy, Alex & Neil do!

Very talented virtuoso instrumentalists, Rush is legendary!

Zed? Oh my I'm not as big of a Rush fan as I thought. Thought it was just pronounced as the letters, LOL. Thank you sir. I agree totally that Alex is very underrated as a guitarist. I think some are a bit shocked when he's out there essentially keeping pace with Jimmy Page, etc. He's outstanding.

Having never heard the story behind this song, or having even known one existed, I always felt like I was on a journey in space and landed. Amazing how they made me essential feel the story without a word being spoken.

In the 80's, as an undergrad, I had a music professor who was a death-camp survivor, and the only "modern" groups he would listen to were YES and RUSH...he admired YES for their use of melodic material, and RUSH for their use of rhythmic repetition.

@Tamar-sz8ox

11 ай бұрын

Wow , what an amazing person he must have been and musical professor

@malinwj1167

7 ай бұрын

Yeah, my music professor said the same - he wasn't has nice however. He was familiar with Rush's music and said something like "yeah, they're good, for what it is. And tell you what - you could do a lot worse" LOL

some of theeeee best musicians ever--including classical peeps--

Two Rush pieces and none from Yes, inexcusable! 😮

@plrt6794

Жыл бұрын

Let them get there. Two of my favourite bands. Starship Trooper, And You and I, Long Distance Runaround, Yours is no Disgrace ….

@outspoken117

Ай бұрын

Yes is a great band, but can't touch the talent of Rush. She will get there.

Alex lifeson is a great Gutiar player And terribly underrated. 😔

Fun fact, YYZ is the airport code for Toronto's Pearson airport.

Great music is...great music! Regardless of genre, genius is genius. And great analysis only makes great music more of a joy. Keep up the super work, guys.

Those natural pinch harmonics on the guitar are also called "pig squeals" and became a standard for heavy metal guitar players later on. They even develop signature pig squeals that make them recognizable immediately.

@thedrogo3953

Жыл бұрын

Dimebag Darrel of Pantera (RIP) became the master 😃

I chuckle every time Amy misidentifies the keyboard synthesizer as some instrument or voice.

It is Thinking Person's music.

Not sure I can put my finger on why I find this so fun to watch and hear, but it's a mix of the brilliant content, refreshing personalities, engaging editing, and ... the great music. ( 200th👍)

Love your reaction and analysis. Would love for you to listen to Xanadu. It is an almost classical composition.

I saw them 7 times and blown away every time

Neil heard the morse code for YYZ the airport code for Pearson airport, their home of Toronto, and the rest was a drum base extravaganza. Watch Rush in Rio and see how the audience reacts. The true purpose of music. Touch someone

I like the prominence and the development of the bass line in this piece of music.

@Forest_Fifer

Жыл бұрын

It was originally written by Geddy and Neil as a jam, then Alex had to learn it.

Classic and a song which even Alan Cross had chosen to play, on his Ongoing History Of New Music radio show and podcast, after Neil Peart's passing 3 years ago. It also means something to me, because of the morse code as I am also a ham radio operator, or ham. I don't use morse code, but there is a repeater in Toronto with the call sign VE3YYZ, probably named after the Toronto Pearson airport code.

Beautiful breakdown and reaction to an incredible song!

Congratulations on the baby on the way! ❤

Well I mean they are all virtuoso Master musicians. C'MON MAAAANNN!! RIP Professor. 💜 Eddie Van Halen was once asked how it feels to be the best guitar player in history and he said well you'll have to ask Alex Lifeson.

I'm really hoping you'll get around to reacting to YES, the experimental-rock London band that became RUSH's #1 influence. Indeed, YES' bassist extraordinaire Chris Squire's astonishing contributions inspired Geddy Lee to go out & buy his Rickenbacker. YES packed a hell of a lot of complexity into their masterpieces, but blended it to perfection in the mix at the soundboard. YES were obviously inspired heavily by classical music, as well as jazz, funk, Broadway Musicals, folk, whatever. I think perhaps the best YES masterpiece for you to take on as a first listen is *Yours Is No Disgrace* which is a straightforward as YES gets, while still being built around Squire's dominant bass lines & the beautiful vocal harmonies & melodies that also defined The YES Sound. You will be amazed at what YES created with their unique approach...

@robertkelsow-geall7395

Жыл бұрын

Don't forget the Genesis influence as well.

@peternimmo74

Жыл бұрын

It's a pity Rush don't have a complete catalogue release, like Yes. I definitely like Rush better, but don't have a complete set of recordings.

@TheFbiFilesRepeat

11 ай бұрын

​@@peternimmo74what do you mean?

In that part that you called "almost choral" I've always heard a "Firth of Fifth" guitar solo influence. Great analysis and reaction!

Good point about the precision element of Rush. When I was in high school, I was part of the drumline which in that particular case had multiple high caliber drummers who went on to celebrated careers in both the competitive drum corps world as well as professional musical gigging and recording careers. Rush was a band that was highly venerated among us. Identifying with that precision ethos was a big part of it. As a drumline our attention was divided between (a) perfecting rudiments and rhythmic parts, and (b) playing cleanly together as a unit. We intuited in the world of rock and popular music that Rush more than any other musical group prioritized that ensemble precision, and not just precision but precision serving dynamic musical statements. They simply made music executed with a rhythmic and dynamic intensity that was completely unique to the genre. Now, on the flip side of all of the above. If you set aside the rhythmic complexity of the YYZ piece, you'll notice that it has lierally one or two strong melodic ideas (foiled by the tritone motif in the intro and ending), and not much else at all. Apart from the brief half time synth heavy section near the end, the whole song seems to be just modulating between the same two keys every 4 measures (I believe they're a whole step apart?). So there's not a lot to chew on with harmonic development. But arguably that serves the story of the song.

9:26 Good call. It’s a form of a harmonic called a pinched harmonic. It involves lightly touching the string with your picking thumb, right as you’re picking the string with your pick. It’s how guitar players make their guitars squeal like Eddie Van Halen.

You have to watch live in Rio and watch 100.000 people dancing and signing to an instramental

10:34 It reminds you of Classical music. That's why in Holland they call - or used to call - Progressive Rock "Symphonic Rock" or "Sympho". 11:13 Here's Amy taking her favourite word, "piece", in her mouth again. With music like this, I think it's an appropriate term. But when reviewing The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Queen, ABBA, The Knack, etc., the right word would really be "song".

the suond you speak of on guitar is pick harmonics ...based on putting guitar pick on 45 degree angle at the right spot ...making that sound

The crash is a sheet of plywood hit with breaking glass mixed into the mix.

The cute rise in octave is screeching guitar feedback.

From what i had heard - Neil used plywood on a chair to break it for those sounds in the studio and it just sounded like glass - I thought I heard him say that in an interview that plywood was used and it just sounds like glass - but the 3 people who would know are Geddy, Alex and Terry Brown their producer so you'd have to Google search it - I thought it was plywood breaking but it could be glass

@joconnell8145

Жыл бұрын

This is correct, came looking for this to answer her comment about the crashing sound and circled the final one.

@StickHits

Жыл бұрын

Isn't it a combination of Neil smacking wood and horse bells being slapped against something? I know I read that in a book somewhere

@joconnell8145

Жыл бұрын

@@StickHits Nope, just Neil using a strip of plywood and smacking the seat of a chair.

@StickHits

Жыл бұрын

@joconnell8145 Source? Because I looked it up to double check a moment before posting my comment

@joconnell8145

Жыл бұрын

@@StickHits Numerous radio interviews and Modern Drummer articles. I'm a drummer so I pay close attention to these special details.

The squeaky part you talk about on the guitar is called a bite, Where he turns his pick lays it on the string and picks it aggressively!

It's interesting to see someone classically trained respond to a band like Rush and it makes me wonder what you'd make of Gentle Giant.

Wow this is going to be great actually they're all great Thank you so much for all you do

If you want to hear Alex’s best solo exhibiting pinch harmonics, I recommend “Chemistry”. Greatly underrated song.

What a most enjoyable conversation I just witnessed. Bravo!

You can't distinguish these boys from "Classical musicians". They have the talent and chops of anybody. The University education has nothing to do with how amazing these folks are.

These letters yyz,were the call letters that the tower where they landed thier plane in Canada used to identify thier plane so they herd yyz your clearedto land every time they came home

The only problem with this video is that you can only give it one like! As for Canadian story telling in music, you need to pay tribute to the great Gordan Lightfoot who died recently. I highly recommend either "If You Could Read My Mind", or "The Canadian Railroad Trilogy"

Wow, your analysis is incredibly insightful and spot on.

Canadian band, Canadian pronunciation 🙂 Quite cool that you recognized the Morse Code in the intro! As Carl said, YYZ is the code identifying Toronto International Airport. I've always thought of this song as a "going home" song - and Carl laid out the journey description quite well 🙂 Another song that tells a similar "going home" story is Yes' "Roundabout" - despite notable stylistic differences, the music tells the story more than the lyrics (which obviously don't even exist here) - Jon Anderson of Yes describes his lyrics as being less important linguistically than tonally - he is not really trying to make sense so much as add tones and rhythms with his voice that compliment the rest of the band! That leads to some pretty strange lyrics that somehow really do work as a part of the whole. I'm quite sure that you will get around to the song at some point (among the many others already in the list). Regarding the Grammy - while the songs are totally different stylistically, it tickles my sense of humor that both songs are by non-American (Rush from Canada, of course, and the Police from the UK) power trios - guitar, bass, and drums.

@LeviRamsey

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When they'd see YYZ on their luggage tags, it meant they were a few hours from home.

@vladtepes97

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it's not canadian pronunciation. it's english, or, more to the point, it's simply not usa pronunciation.

@gradypatterson1948

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@@vladtepes97 Fair enough, but the point is made either way: the tmost respectful way to say the title is the way the band says it :-)

@jacobsampsonis7782

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@@gradypatterson1948 then they should use the correct grammar.. Z doesn't just magically become zed. I love rush but that's silly nonsense

@gradypatterson1948

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@@jacobsampsonis7782 - in Canada, "zed" *is* correct grammar. This is the Commonwealth English pronunciation of the letter, derived from the Greek "zeta", which became Middle French's "zede", leading to modern "zed". American English is the outlier, here - we're the ones who do it differently: "zed" magically became "zee", not the other way around. The "zed" pronunciation is attested as early as the 12th century.

Carl !!! so perfect that Amy has a RUSH shaman there to guide her through these experiences like a peruvian ayahuasca coach.

The brief "symphonic" part is - arguably - throwing a little Genesis into the piece and then saying: "enough, let's get back to our ways".

Check out the reaction of the Brazilian Rush fans on this song. 🥳🥳🥳

@edgarpacifico3421

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Amazing 😍

WHY - WHY- ZED That's how I pronounce it in Ontario, Canada. Always have, always will.

That wasn't glass shattering. It was actually cracking plywood. If you look in the liner notes Neil's listed instruments includes plywood.

I love the Clock Work Angels tour version when violins are added really cool to watch

For me, this is just some fun absolute music. Apart from each player being a true rock virtuoso, this is a nice little piece because it gets into a bit of a polyphonic texture: the amazing bass line is simultaneous countermelody with the guitar, on top of sophisticated drumwork. It's just three players, with one player (bass/singer) occasionally adding in some synthesizer (the sustained string sound).

I must have listened to this song a hundred times and I never knew anything about the airplane/airport stuff. Thank you!

That sounded like....................... lol Rush. There's so much diversity and brilliance in their catalog. It's as deep as it is wide, I feel privileged to have known them since the beginning, and still remember hearing working man on wmms. It was like wow!

Gotta say as Rush fan since 1975 this was really interesting to watch. To get an honest reaction from a musician coming from a total different background is just real cool.

thanks for finally releasing this reaction

For those not in the know YYZ is the designation for the Pearson International Airport.