Bahamas

Bookmarking this for tomorrow, nice catch Thebuckey2112, as said in other recent posts RUSH seems to be getting more popular

It was only a simple thought as I cycled past a church. Nothing more. And yes, Nova Carmina, I also do not get/understand a topic right away, it can take time. So, have you seen any similar church signs lately? I think Neil was always looking between the lines, so to speak. His was a challenging relationship with religion, no? By including church signs, he also was able to speak about his feelings during long rides - perhaps without being called on the spot? Like, if somebody else says it, I can relate or share. But don't blame me for starting the discussion? (Yikes, I am going to hit Submit Reply and hope I don't ruin the internet)

Thanks for that! And Sam Elliot, well, he's a real cool dude and I am intrigued to see him in a new show. Edit - Watching The Old Man on Disney. Another very cool dude - and a great show, I think. The first episode tried too hard to "paint a picture" of a very retired and geriatric James Bond type dude, but starting after the half way mark of the that first episode and into the rest of the series, brilliant. Says me.

Neil included many church signs with expressions he found interesting, along his rides. I saw this one on Wednesday and it seemed very relevant. Anybody see some interesting ones lately? ( I admit, I did not do a search for Church Signs Neil Liked. If there is a previous post, perhaps it could be merged?)

After watching Yellowstone (most episodes twice, a few more so) I was really looking forward to the announced prequel 1932 but now apparently 1923 - because Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren would be a great "dance" in terms of scripts, no? Then it all seemed to get convoluted and with 1883 now showing I don't subscribe to Paramount - how many streams does one need, one wonders - if one must wonder? Thus I will wait a few months until I can see a few 1883 episodes in a row (on another streaming platform which always seems to happen, eventually) without too many interruptions - I hate watching something that is still full of advertising other shows and ruining the flow of an episode. How is 1883? Does it feel original or more like an afterthought? I never even glanced at Outer Range with Josh Brolin. It looked too opportunistic, and, well Josh Brolin...you would think having Barbra Streisand as a stepmother some talent would shed off on you? I have never been distracted with famous people being cast in certain roles - Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Jane Fonda - if it's great writing and the cast are really into their parts, I love getting carried away in it all. I think Costner and friends really nailed the whole campy feel and some of the lesser characters still stand out for me, it was a really big show.

Over the years I often ask co-workers and new acquaintances if they are into RUSH, it can be a great barrier breaker. Almost always, the answer is no. A contractor through of a friend of a friend installed new basement windows last year. After looking at some of his work, we booked him to build a retaining wall for this year. It's been a few days of noise and activity and today I had time to help him. He says "So you're a RUSH fan?" (I guess he saw shirts I have worn over time, I will ask him tomorrow why he even asked me that question) "Yes, big time", I said. "I listened to 2112 a lot as a teenager with my friend, I saw two concerts at Maple Leaf Gardens. I really liked the album before Fly By Night, too". He explained that he has a big poster honouring war hero's with a gold album in the centre (?) that is on the wall of his office beside his albums. Yeah it's simple, but it was really great to hear somebody else talk about the band without me initiating the conversation. That made my day today. Cheers!

More than a month late, oops! Saw this tonight and wish you a Happy Birthday!! !!!

Ugh. I have a confession to make. I thought I was trying to be objective and recognising other great lyricists. Perhaps even trying to sound smarter or more aware than I really am. Who is a favourite? Who is the best? See, I often find the difference between those qualifiers a challenge in the polls of these forums. I spent the day in my front yard helping a contractor demolish an old (110 years) retaining wall so a new one could be built. It was hot and humid and my mind kept playing this topic over and over . I have to admit, I felt a little guilty. Or put in my place? Neil has to be my favourite lyricist. His words filled my head as a boy delivering the morning newspapers on my Globe & Mail route. They sang on long road trips over my entire life. I listened to his lyrics on long bicycle trips. I know they were at times delayed before publishing rights were granted, it mattered that much to him. Geddy has discussed the back and forth of some passages for better comprehension and presentation. And it has to be acknowledged that it's Geddy's approach and voice to the lyrics that kept me listening to the band my whole life. Yes Alex, too, the band culture also - but this is about lyrics. And it's not just, I realise, that Alex and Geddy made music for his lyrics (as other artists were able to make their own music to their own lyrics, as mentioned above) but that they made music to his lyrics. And then he got to accent his expressions with percussion. Very cool. Maybe Phil Collins can say the same, Stewart Copeland? Or other musicians? Properly ironic or not, arguably their most famous song Tom Sawyer to this day credits Copeland for the lyrics - maybe that is indicative of a mature and able lyricist? Yup, Neil is my favourite. Edit: Oops, Mr. Copeland is not behind Tom Sawyer. It was Max Webster's Pye Dubois.

Thanks for still putting up with us noobs, we all love the band and you have kept the train running

He is not my favourite, no. But for darn sure, he went through such effort to get permission, to give perspective, to explain why, to share his purposes for using lyrics. As a rock musician he is way up on my list because of his pure effort. While there are many songs that I hugely love and respect for what he wrote, let's remember that the music his words were written to, two other guys put them to music (generally). Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Gord Downie, Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young, Daniel Lanois - all wrote amazing lyrics and put them to music as they wished them to sound. And those are just the Canadians that come to mind. Yes I really like Neil's lyrics and have spent too many hours collating and printing many of them into my own little RUSH folders, but I think I need to realise my bias and admit that many, many others had more time to really express words-to-song than he was able to achieve.

I can hear Geddy's voice! Their comeback album, for sure! One Little Victory Like the rat in a maze who says, "Watch me choose my own direction" (quotes used in liner lyrics, not mine)

From anything I have seen, those old logs are for close friends and family, only. I hope (one can?) that some day a lot more of his writings will be released. If only because we really, really want to learn more about his early days. More than just Backstage Club letters and tour books and cyber delicatessens and such - but diaries and travel journal entries. Is that fan-creepy? I don't think so. I think he had a lot to say and we would like to read about it all. Cheers - and just look around the internet, there is a lot out there about his writings. But I agree, a published and cover to cover compilation would be a bedside companion.

At first, yes! Expensive production, great writing. Then...why the gore and extra drama? Then the characters really grow and the whole history-meets-today conflicts are well done (in my opinion). Great show. Really great show. Like him or not, Kevin Costner likes to be in huge productions. And I am waiting for the prequel to start some time in September (but like everything else, who knows when that will happen). If it's already on your DVR, check it out!

Key - "favorite". Yes, absolutely.

Think as much as you like about it. His writing often had multi-meanings into things. Sarcasm, sentimentality, frustration - and then he would make a point of explaining why he wrote something. You have the words in front of you, I have read it all a couple of times but don't know why, exactly, he wrote any of it per-say. But something that comes to mind is, it may have been a point of geography when he learned terrible news during previous travels. And perhaps Michael (boy, how they loved to banter!) should have known better, but I am on Michael's side. It must have taken a lot to consider all the thoughts and reactions Neil had during travels around the world. Personally, I think to really understand a lot of what Neil wrote you need to keep a running journal of entries for cross-referencing. I think he really did pay that much attention to what he wrote.