rickyrob Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 I've been playing Signals recently, and been listening to Chemistry. Each time I'd hear it, I'd think...."the tune reminds me of something else", but I couldn't think what it was....until today. It reminds me of Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl" not the synths bit, but after about 1 min of the song, not the chorus line, the verses, in particular the beat. Have Rush drawn influences from Neil Young does anyone know?...or is this just a coincidence? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alsgalpal Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 Have no clue, but I love Chemistry. Signals is one of my faves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickyrob Posted December 5, 2004 Author Share Posted December 5, 2004 QUOTE (Alsgalpal @ Dec 5 2004, 01:21 PM) Have no clue, but I love Chemistry. Signals is one of my faves. I like the first 3 tracks and New World Man. The rest is a bit too '80s for me. Not saying its bad, just not their best. When a band has been around 30+ years, they go with the flow music-wise. Rush have changed their music with the times, and as a result have drawn fans from various different musical backgrounds and eras. This is what makes them so great. They are a truly cosmopolitan band Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madra sneachta Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 I like Chemistry, but it can be a bit messy at times. Interesting that, to my knowledge, it's the only song on which all three got equal credit on the lyrics. I agree with the Cinnamon Girl reference rickyrob. Good call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alsgalpal Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 Rickyrob, I agree that its very 80's. I personally like the 80's genre, but the thing I appreciate the most about Rush, is that they can change with the times. It goes to show their great range of abilities as the true artists they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-13 Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 It reminds me of BIO everytime...and well chemistry as well...at school Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowdog Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 I'm a fan of both Young and Rush. I'm trying to hear the Cinnamon Girl thing, but for some reason, I just can't hear it. I'm not saying it's not there, just that I can't "get it". Can you be more specific? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickyrob Posted December 5, 2004 Author Share Posted December 5, 2004 QUOTE (Alsgalpal @ Dec 5 2004, 03:02 PM) Rickyrob, I agree that its very 80's. I personally like the 80's genre, but the thing I appreciate the most about Rush, is that they can change with the times. It goes to show their great range of abilities as the true artists they are. I actually like the synths on Signals. I prefer the heavy synths though like those on Subdivisions and Chemistry. I was never a fan of the 'plink plonk' type stuff though. Having said this, I think Rush use it to great effect, especially on New World Man... Its also the reason Hemispheres is one of my favourite albums....I say 'one of', because my moods on favourite music they have produced changes all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilPeartFan2112 Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 I was just listening to Chemistry today. The song is sweet. Signals is such a good album. I don't believe I just got it around 2 months ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickyrob Posted December 5, 2004 Author Share Posted December 5, 2004 QUOTE (NeilPeartFan2112 @ Dec 5 2004, 04:27 PM) I was just listening to Chemistry today. The song is sweet. Signals is such a good album. I don't believe I just got it around 2 months ago I only got it last week!! I had heard it though, when it first came out. I borrowed it for some time in '82. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
circumstantial tree Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 I've always thought Chemistry would be great concert opener. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickyrob Posted December 5, 2004 Author Share Posted December 5, 2004 QUOTE (circumstantial tree @ Dec 5 2004, 04:30 PM) I've always thought Chemistry would be great concert opener. a nice strong opening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilPeartFan2112 Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 QUOTE (rickyrob @ Dec 5 2004, 04:31 PM) QUOTE (circumstantial tree @ Dec 5 2004, 04:30 PM) I've always thought Chemistry would be great concert opener. a nice strong opening. Yes it would be, but I doubt they would ever put it into their setlist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolinda Bonz Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 QUOTE (Snowdog @ Dec 5 2004, 03:56 PM)I'm a fan of both Young and Rush. I'm trying to hear the Cinnamon Girl thing, but for some reason, I just can't hear it. I'm not saying it's not there, just that I can't "get it". Can you be more specific? Me, too. I'm mean I'm pretty sure Rush appreciate Neil Young since they did Mr Soul & all, but I can't see any similarity between Chemistry and Cinnamon Girl. What am I missing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slaine mac Roth Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 Personally, I think that Chemistry is one of the weakest tracks Rush have ever done. Saying that, I must admit that Signals is probably my least favourite album. For the most part, its nothing to do with songs as, with the exception of Chemistry, I think they're great - its the production that lets it down, especially as most of the album sounds as if they were a two-piece (where is Alex's guitar). However, the one's I have heard live versions of really come into their own. Chemistry, on the other, just does nothing for me. It seems to lack focus musically and lyrically and leaves me cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamarushfan Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 i dunno, i always kinda thought chemistry was a bit weak and corny i think the music part of the song is cool, i just think the lyrics are a little cheesy? to me thats the only big weak spot of signals, i think its a pretty solid album other than that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickyrob Posted December 5, 2004 Author Share Posted December 5, 2004 QUOTE (Rolinda Bonz @ Dec 5 2004, 04:47 PM) QUOTE (Snowdog @ Dec 5 2004, 03:56 PM)I'm a fan of both Young and Rush. I'm trying to hear the Cinnamon Girl thing, but for some reason, I just can't hear it. I'm not saying it's not there, just that I can't "get it". Can you be more specific? Me, too. I'm mean I'm pretty sure Rush appreciate Neil Young since they did Mr Soul & all, but I can't see any similarity between Chemistry and Cinnamon Girl. What am I missing? The beat during the verses (not the chorus) is virtually exactly the same as that of Cinnamon Girl....like I said not the synths bit at the beginning, but after about 1m 10s into Chemistry when the lyrics begin, the beat is the same, take a CD of both and play them. I have Live Rust on CD and I'm comparing with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proggy Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 (edited) I love it! I think Chemistry is wonderfully lush, especially guitar-wise. That solo is one of my favourite solos by Alex. Lyrics, well, it certainly is fun to sing along to them. Which is all that matters to me anyway. And sorry, Rickyrob, but I have never heard Cinnamon Girl...you made me intrigued to hear it now, though! Edited December 5, 2004 by Proggy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 Love love love Chemistry. Especially the guitar solo, I read in an interview that Alex recorded it by blaring his amplifiers out towards the surrounding mountains and recorded it with a natural echo. Since I read that, its given me a great visual everytime I hear the track of being in a mountain range, with a vast openness thats added to the feel for that. Signals btw is by far my favorite Rush album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilPeartFan2112 Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 QUOTE (Moonraker @ Dec 5 2004, 06:40 PM) Love love love Chemistry. Especially the guitar solo, I read in an interview that Alex recorded it by blaring his amplifiers out towards the surrounding mountains and recorded it with a natural echo. Since I read that, its given me a great visual everytime I hear the track of being in a mountain range, with a vast openness thats added to the feel for that. Signals btw is by far my favorite Rush album. Thanks for that cool info. I never knew that. That's one of the reasons why I love this forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1-0-0-1-0-0-1 Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 QUOTE (Moonraker @ Dec 5 2004, 06:40 PM) Love love love Chemistry. Especially the guitar solo, I read in an interview that Alex recorded it by blaring his amplifiers out towards the surrounding mountains and recorded it with a natural echo. They also did that with Geddy's vocals in the beginning of "Natural Science." Bounced them off the mountains and recorded the natural echo. Sure sounds "natural!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Presto45 Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 This is a great song, what better way to put it on the Signals Album Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilPeartFan2112 Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 QUOTE (Presto45 @ Dec 5 2004, 08:48 PM) This is a great song, what better way to put it on the Signals Album You won't hear any complaints from me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The400Boys Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Chemistry, on the other, just does nothing for me. It seems to lack focus musically and lyrically and leaves me cold. I feel the need to comment on this. I think the lyrics are pretty amazing. Here they are with my interpretation: Signals transmitted (1)Message receivedReaction making impact —InvisiblyElemental telepathyExchange of energy (6)Reaction making contact —MysteriouslyEye to IReaction burning hotterTwo to one (11)Reflection on the waterH to ONo flow without the otherOh but howDo they make contact (16)With one another?Electricity? Biology?Seems to me it’s Chemistry Emotion transmittedEmotion received (21)Music in the abstract —PositivelyElemental empathyA change of synergyMusic making contact — (26)NaturallyOne, two, three —Add without subtractionSound on sound (30)Multiplied reactionH to ONo flow without the otherOh but howDo we make contact (35)With one another? "Chemistry" means a couple of things -- the science subject dealing with the interaction of chemical compounds (the bonds between elements) ; emotional interaction between people (the bonds between people). Lines 1-11: What is transmitted from one person to someone else (" Eye to I")? We are fundamentally collections of elements, physical entities and yet we are able to transfer signals of emotion, non-physical entities. How is this possible? Lines 21-30: This is about musical chemistry such as in a music group such as Rush ("One two three"). Here and this is what is understood. The combined output is greater than the sum of the parts. This time there is a mental creation of music the signals transmitted are the physical sounds but the intention is to transmit emotion ( "Music in the abstract"). Note these cerebral lyrics were penned by all three members when they were in their late 20's. (In my late twenties I thought a lot about food.) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weatherman Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 (edited) "Chemistry" means a couple of things -- the science subject dealing with the interaction of chemical compounds (the bonds between elements) ; emotional interaction between people (the bonds between people). Lines 1-11: What is transmitted from one person to someone else (" Eye to I")? We are fundamentally collections of elements, physical entities and yet we are able to transfer signals of emotion, non-physical entities. How is this possible?Lines 21-30: This is about musical chemistry such as in a music group such as Rush ("One two three"). Here and this is what is understood. The combined output is greater than the sum of the parts. This time there is a mental creation of music the signals transmitted are the physical sounds but the intention is to transmit emotion ( "Music in the abstract"). Note these cerebral lyrics were penned by all three members when they were in their late 20's. (In my late twenties I thought a lot about food.)Yeah those lyrics are wicked sharp. So are the lyrics of Anagram, and Dreamline, and The Weapon, and The Camera Eye, and SOOOO many others.Peart was a real poet, equal to Dylan (fortunately less obtuse).In English class in high school, I turned in the lyrics from "The Pass", explaining that Peart was an obscure poet who I enjoyed, and got an A.Someone should bind together a "collected lyrics of Neil Peart". I'd buy it. Edited October 3, 2020 by Weatherman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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