MCM Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 QUOTE (Tommy Sawyer @ Nov 24 2011, 12:22 PM) Meh. The intro's awesome, but after that.... meh. The lyrics are average, the music is average. I normally try to be nice and non-confrontational, but DUDE!!! You need to take the Q-tips to your ears, put on the headphones and give this one another listen. On vinyl! Xanadu is musical genius, words and music from beginning to end; (and there's that whole doubleneck thing too, but that's just icing on the cake) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ucsteve667 Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MMCXII Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 wouldn't it be cool it they polished this one off for the CA tour?? double-necks and all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastille Dave Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 Lyrically I don't overthink it, it's just a drummer/lyricist's own interpretation of a book he read, which he does on many songs. I just chalk it up being "prog". Just one of the greatest prog rock songs ever. I love it exactly the way it is, and I love their live versions circa '77-81 sometimes more than the studio version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
An Enemy Without Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 QUOTE (Tommy Sawyer @ Nov 24 2011, 12:39 PM) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Nov 24 2011, 12:37 PM) How can anyone hate on Xanadu? That's like saying ice cream, pizza, french fries and bacon are yucky tasting. I don't hate it. There's just other, better songs. Maybe if they only included about a third of the lyrical part, I would like it better, because the intro is mystical and possibly the best part of AFTK. The singing part just drags. What a drag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowItIs Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 There is always a price for obtaining your desire. In this case, being stuck forever in a cold cave with nothing to eat but honeydew and nothing to drink but milk. At least the milk won't go bad..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexmai Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 QUOTE (Litehawk @ Nov 24 2011, 11:34 AM) I feel it's a curse for seeking out immortality. It's saying "You can have your cake but you can't eat it." You can be immortal but you'll live the rest of your life trapped in Xanadu Exactly. Similar to a novel by Robert Silverberg, The book of Skulls, that I suggest you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushgoober Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 QUOTE (Alexmai @ Nov 25 2011, 12:46 AM) QUOTE (Litehawk @ Nov 24 2011, 11:34 AM) I feel it's a curse for seeking out immortality. It's saying "You can have your cake but you can't eat it." You can be immortal but you'll live the rest of your life trapped in Xanadu Exactly. Similar to a novel by Robert Silverberg, The book of Skulls, that I suggest you That's a great book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
third hand grace Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 the problem w immortality is that you never get to know what is beyond, and after about a couple hundred years I think you would have experienced pretty much everything life has to offer. Talk about cranky! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngoldman Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 This is being overthought, it's a fantasy, (like scientists on Discovery Channel talking about how the blasters in "Star Wars" couldn't actually work...) This was the very first song from Rush I ever heard, and I was hooked. You need to think about the time this song came out, with a 70's theme, if someone heard it for the first time today, well, it's not the same. It is, however, an incredible piece of music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmotionDetector Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 QUOTE (rushgoober @ Nov 24 2011, 01:12 PM) Well, both the music and the lyrics are amazing. One of the best songs of all time. Seriously, it's just not a song I feel needs analysis - it's simply one of the best pieces of music ever conceived. ^THIS In fact, it's so flawless, brilliant, and outstanding that I can't take any of the negative posts about it seriously at all. In fact, I won't. It's a Top 5 Rush song...no question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmotionDetector Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobo73 Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 MY FAVOURITE RUSH SONG OF ALL TIME. AH!!! I cannot sing enough praises!!!!!!! Flawless. Absolutely perfect. hehe- when I first heard it, I was, ah, kissing my then-new bf and he played it. I told him I had to stop kissing him, I had to just listen to the song. It amazed me. He was too happy to oblige! (He is now my husband, biggest Rush fan I have ever met.) when he had to move back to michigan for a couple months, I listened to Xanadu a dozen times a day, at least. One time my brother pounded on my bedroom door and asked "are you gonna keep listening to that one song over and over again????" ....my answer? "YES. GO AWAY." =D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobo73 Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 QUOTE (EmotionDetector @ Nov 25 2011, 11:40 AM) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Nov 24 2011, 01:12 PM) Well, both the music and the lyrics are amazing. One of the best songs of all time. Seriously, it's just not a song I feel needs analysis - it's simply one of the best pieces of music ever conceived. ^THIS In fact, it's so flawless, brilliant, and outstanding that I can't take any of the negative posts about it seriously at all. In fact, I won't. It's a Top 5 Rush song...no question. LOL yeah, the negative comments make me laugh, shake my head and go "tsk tsk tsk" haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
druid13 Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 (edited) I heard it rumored this song was actually about a drunken fan attending a Hockey game... The fan shows up drunk and blurry eyed...seeing "caves of ice"....drinking some beer, throwing back whisky shots, belching and out fo control,...disturbs some younger fans who brought some honeydew to snack on during the game...he then vomits on the steps...and craps himself loading up his pants....the smell? well, its just awful....at this point security is called to remove the drunken bastard and they give him some Milk of Magnesia to coat his stomach after all the awful heaving and wretching he displayed at the Hockey rink. Soon afterward he is arrested after indecently exposing himself to an elderly couple in the parking lot. Edited November 25, 2011 by druid13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevorkazito Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 (edited) My favorite part about Xanadu is how may times in 32 years I was able to fit the phrase "I will dine on Honeydew, and drink the milk of paradise" into daily conversation. For example, "Hey, there's no food in the house...." and responds with that line... That's what Rush did to me; elevates me above the din of mediocrity... see what I mean, I never talked like that before The song kicks a$$! Edited November 25, 2011 by kevorkazito Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly D Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 QUOTE (Digital Man @ Nov 24 2011, 05:03 PM) QUOTE (jnoble @ Nov 24 2011, 10:44 AM) Let me explain my interpretation of Xanadu and you guys can comment and correct me if need be. Ok....so an explorer reads about the legend of Xanadu in books and how it will render you immortal and then treks out to the distant snowy mountains of China or some far off Eastern country to look for it. He finds some caves of ice and eventually the 'Xanadu' itself. Which itself is exacly....what? A nicely decorated room or palace tucked inside a mountain, sort of like a 5-star resort in the middle of nowhere? Anyway, he finds it and eats the honeyhew and drinks the milk of paradise which I suppose were just laying about ready to be served and instantly becomes "immortal" (like magic?) Now comes the part that's always made me wonder.... it appears that the explorer, since now he's become immortal, is permanently trapped inside the Xanadu tucked within the ice caves. Why? Some sort of ironic curse? (this part makes me think of the Covenant opening and melting the Nazis from Indiana Jones) And so now, the explorer is immortal but can't leave the Xanadu place and is doomed to be there forever. Am I being too literal here? Is this what the rest of you get from this song? Neil was inspired by the following poem. Kubla Kahn by Samuel Coleridge: In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree: Where Alph, the sacred river, ran Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless sea. So twice five miles of fertile ground With walls and towers were girdled round: And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills, Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree; And here were forests ancient as the hills, Enfolding sunny spots of greenery. But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover! A savage place! as holy and enchanted As e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted By woman wailing for her demon-lover! And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething, As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing, A mighty fountain momently was forced: Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail, Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail: And 'mid these dancing rocks at once and ever It flung up momently the sacred river. Five miles meandering with a mazy motion Through wood and dale the sacred river ran, Then reached the caverns measureless to man, And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean: And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far Ancestral voices prophesying war! The shadow of the dome of pleasure Floated midway on the waves; Where was heard the mingled measure From the fountain and the caves. It was a miracle of rare device, A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice! A damsel with a dulcimer In a vision once I saw: It was an Abyssinian maid, And on her dulcimer she played, Singing of Mount Abora. Could I revive within me Her symphony and song, To such a deep delight 'twould win me That with music loud and long I would build that dome in air, That sunny dome! those caves of ice! And all who heard should see them there, And all should cry, Beware! Beware! His flashing eyes, his floating hair! Weave a circle round him thrice, And close your eyes with holy dread, For he on honey-dew hath fed And drunk the milk of Paradise. OMG, I can't believe it took till the second page for this to be mentioned! Geez! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly D Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 QUOTE (kevorkazito @ Nov 25 2011, 02:54 PM) My favorite part about Xanadu is how may times in 32 years I was able to fit the phrase "I will dine on Honeydew, and drink the milk of paradise" into daily conversation. For example, "Hey, there's no food in the house...." and responds with that line... That's what Rush did to me; elevates me above the din of mediocrity... see what I mean, I never talked like that before The song kicks a$$! I just love screaming "XAAAAAAAAANNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAADUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU" whenever possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevorkazito Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 I actually thought that the movie Xanadu was about what Rush did. You have to go back in time to 1980 and be starving for anything to do with Rush... as I was as a kid in Winnipeg. Crap! That was a major letdown... except for Olivia eye-candy!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushgoober Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 The BEST live version of Xanadu! : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lerxt1990 Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 QUOTE (rushgoober @ Nov 25 2011, 09:59 PM) The BEST live version of Xanadu! : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m1UWSD-FaA Hubba Hubba ONJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lerxt1990 Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 Love the ESL version, and the extra little drum part... you know what Im talkin' 'bout.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lerxt1990 Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 QUOTE (lerxt1990 @ Nov 25 2011, 10:07 PM) Love the ESL version, and the extra little drum part... you know what Im talkin' 'bout.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTD1QW3SM60 5:58 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColdFireYYZ Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 Musically, its so amazing that I'm too distracted to even care about the lyrics. I don't think I've ever even thought about them to be honest. The music is so kick ass, it doesn't matter to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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