BriGuy Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 I can't listen to Tai Shan. I've tried, but I just can't get through more than a few seconds of it. It's just too metal for me. I've always liked the song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeduck Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 QUOTE (BriGuy @ Jul 1 2012, 10:51 PM) I can't listen to Tai Shan. I've tried, but I just can't get through more than a few seconds of it. It's just too metal for me. I've always liked the song. You've listened to too much John Denver, it's ruined you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BriGuy Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 I'm listening to it now. It really paints a picture in the mind, and can take the listener away. And... you can understand every.single.word. Geddy says! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly D Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 1 2012, 11:12 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 11:04 AM) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Jun 5 2012, 08:07 AM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 05:48 AM) QUOTE (RUDT @ Jun 4 2012, 03:24 PM) Geddy said in a interview that one of Alex and him least favorite song is Tai Shan. Not very kind for the one who wrote that song : Neil. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBZY_loemUw "Tai Shan" is up on the list of my least favorite Rush songs, quite like "Rivendell" or "Dog Years." But there is a time and place for everything and I listened to "Tai Shan" yesterday and didn't gag once! Did you gag twice? Surprisingly no! I kept my stomach contents firmly in my gut. Miracles DO happen! You don't have to puke to gag... It's a slippery slope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeduck Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jul 2 2012, 02:19 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 1 2012, 11:12 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 11:04 AM) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Jun 5 2012, 08:07 AM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 05:48 AM) QUOTE (RUDT @ Jun 4 2012, 03:24 PM) Geddy said in a interview that one of Alex and him least favorite song is Tai Shan. Not very kind for the one who wrote that song : Neil. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBZY_loemUw "Tai Shan" is up on the list of my least favorite Rush songs, quite like "Rivendell" or "Dog Years." But there is a time and place for everything and I listened to "Tai Shan" yesterday and didn't gag once! Did you gag twice? Surprisingly no! I kept my stomach contents firmly in my gut. Miracles DO happen! You don't have to puke to gag... It's a slippery slope. I can't remember what this was about now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goose Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 QUOTE (metaldad @ Jun 5 2012, 09:01 AM) A song this Bad should not have it's own thread. It has two! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly D Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 2 2012, 05:13 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jul 2 2012, 02:19 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 1 2012, 11:12 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 11:04 AM) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Jun 5 2012, 08:07 AM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 05:48 AM) QUOTE (RUDT @ Jun 4 2012, 03:24 PM) Geddy said in a interview that one of Alex and him least favorite song is Tai Shan. Not very kind for the one who wrote that song : Neil. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBZY_loemUw "Tai Shan" is up on the list of my least favorite Rush songs, quite like "Rivendell" or "Dog Years." But there is a time and place for everything and I listened to "Tai Shan" yesterday and didn't gag once! Did you gag twice? Surprisingly no! I kept my stomach contents firmly in my gut. Miracles DO happen! You don't have to puke to gag... It's a slippery slope. I can't remember what this was about now... Reading isn't your forte, I gather Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steel Rat Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 I can never fathom why Alex and Geddy say they hate Tai Shan; or why anyone else hates it, for that matter. It's always been in - at worst - my top ten. I can get all of my friends to see it, too. Neil's lyrics are beautiful, perhaps his BEST. It is a special challenge to write about such an alien culture, but he does it perfectly. It's such a pleasure to feel like I experienced his journey with him. "The clouds were suddenly parted. For a moment, I could see the patterns of the landscape reaching to the eastern sea. I looked upon a presence spanning forty centuries... I thought of time and distance, the hardships of history, I heard the hope and the horror..." It's so utterly flawless. I can only assume that what Alex and Geddy actually mean is this: that they believe they failed to capture musically what Neil captured lyrically. But I think they sell themselves short, the music - and the song as a whole - moves me to tears every single time. Maybe there's something about the first couple minutes or so that cause people to tune out from boredom before they see it for what it truly is. Maybe I'm just crazy, but Tai Shan sings to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rushchick10 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 QUOTE (SchemingDemon @ Jun 10 2012, 07:09 PM) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Jun 10 2012, 06:54 PM) QUOTE (LeaveMyThingAlone @ Jun 10 2012, 03:56 PM) QUOTE (HowItIs @ Jun 10 2012, 06:26 AM) QUOTE (CrossedSignals @ Jun 9 2012, 11:20 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 9 2012, 11:26 AM) QUOTE (HowItIs @ Jun 9 2012, 05:56 AM) QUOTE (SchemingDemon @ Jun 7 2012, 05:55 PM) QUOTE (LeaveMyThingAlone @ Jun 7 2012, 06:47 PM) In fact, Hold Your Fire almost broke the band up. May not be a lot of fond memories for the boys with that album! I've never heard that about HYF before, I thought that was P/G That's what it says in Contents Under Pressure. Also, Geddy's remark re: HYF was "This one is a real dark horse." Nothing from any of them about them disliking it or that it caused any problems. Power Windows, OTOH, did piss Alex off a bit..... Understandably! Even in BTLS he still seems a bit miffed. Poor baby That's weird! Alex really shines on Power Windows. It's one of my favorite guitar albums. Seriously. I think there is a nice balance between guitar and synth. Maybe not on Manhattan Project.... I agree! Having to think about his guitar parts differently, though it made him a bit angry, brought out all sorts of interesting things. Very inventive arpeggios and chord structures.... just outside the box stuff. Brilliant! Power Windows should have been the last synth heavy album. I think they had achieved what they wanted to with that one....then they do Hold Your Fire which is IMO the least flattering album for Lifeson's playing because it's way too drowned out by synths. I haven't read Contents Under Pressure, but trust me, HYF was the one that put Alex over the edge HYF is my fave of the keyboard era outside of Signals. If not for the last two tracks, it might be my favorite - amazing and wonderful album. Take away Tai Shan and it'd be a perfect album in my eyes I liked Tai Shan the first few times I listened to it, then it kinda started grating on me. Just...no... The lyrics are great. Very vivid and paint a great picture. I just think that maybe it should have just been left as a poem or a musing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyBlaze Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 QUOTE (Steel Rat @ Jul 4 2012, 03:20 PM)I can never fathom why Alex and Geddy say they hate Tai Shan; or why anyone else hates it, for that matter. It's always been in - at worst - my top ten. I can get all of my friends to see it, too. Neil's lyrics are beautiful, perhaps his BEST. It is a special challenge to write about such an alien culture, but he does it perfectly. It's such a pleasure to feel like I experienced his journey with him. "The clouds were suddenly parted. For a moment, I could see the patterns of the landscape reaching to the eastern sea. I looked upon a presence spanning forty centuries... I thought of time and distance, the hardships of history, I heard the hope and the horror..." It's so utterly flawless. I can only assume that what Alex and Geddy actually mean is this: that they believe they failed to capture musically what Neil captured lyrically. But I think they sell themselves short, the music - and the song as a whole - moves me to tears every single time. Maybe there's something about the first couple minutes or so that cause people to tune out from boredom before they see it for what it truly is. Maybe I'm just crazy, but Tai Shan sings to me. http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c107/andrewq2112/Tai%20Shan/DH000034.jpg http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c107/andrewq2112/Tai%20Shan/DH000016_1.jpg http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c107/andrewq2112/Tai%20Shan/DH000017_1.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeduck Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jul 3 2012, 07:31 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 2 2012, 05:13 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jul 2 2012, 02:19 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 1 2012, 11:12 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 11:04 AM) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Jun 5 2012, 08:07 AM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 05:48 AM) QUOTE (RUDT @ Jun 4 2012, 03:24 PM) Geddy said in a interview that one of Alex and him least favorite song is Tai Shan. Not very kind for the one who wrote that song : Neil. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBZY_loemUw "Tai Shan" is up on the list of my least favorite Rush songs, quite like "Rivendell" or "Dog Years." But there is a time and place for everything and I listened to "Tai Shan" yesterday and didn't gag once! Did you gag twice? Surprisingly no! I kept my stomach contents firmly in my gut. Miracles DO happen! You don't have to puke to gag... It's a slippery slope. I can't remember what this was about now... Reading isn't your forte, I gather Reading it doesn't remind me what I meant though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rushchick10 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 4 2012, 03:44 AM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jul 3 2012, 07:31 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 2 2012, 05:13 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jul 2 2012, 02:19 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 1 2012, 11:12 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 11:04 AM) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Jun 5 2012, 08:07 AM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 05:48 AM) QUOTE (RUDT @ Jun 4 2012, 03:24 PM) Geddy said in a interview that one of Alex and him least favorite song is Tai Shan. Not very kind for the one who wrote that song : Neil. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBZY_loemUw "Tai Shan" is up on the list of my least favorite Rush songs, quite like "Rivendell" or "Dog Years." But there is a time and place for everything and I listened to "Tai Shan" yesterday and didn't gag once! Did you gag twice? Surprisingly no! I kept my stomach contents firmly in my gut. Miracles DO happen! You don't have to puke to gag... It's a slippery slope. I can't remember what this was about now... Reading isn't your forte, I gather Reading it doesn't remind me what I meant though... Seriously? Still talking about this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeduck Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 QUOTE (Rushchick10 @ Jul 4 2012, 04:20 AM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 4 2012, 03:44 AM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jul 3 2012, 07:31 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 2 2012, 05:13 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jul 2 2012, 02:19 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 1 2012, 11:12 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 11:04 AM) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Jun 5 2012, 08:07 AM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 05:48 AM) QUOTE (RUDT @ Jun 4 2012, 03:24 PM) Geddy said in a interview that one of Alex and him least favorite song is Tai Shan. Not very kind for the one who wrote that song : Neil. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBZY_loemUw "Tai Shan" is up on the list of my least favorite Rush songs, quite like "Rivendell" or "Dog Years." But there is a time and place for everything and I listened to "Tai Shan" yesterday and didn't gag once! Did you gag twice? Surprisingly no! I kept my stomach contents firmly in my gut. Miracles DO happen! You don't have to puke to gag... It's a slippery slope. I can't remember what this was about now... Reading isn't your forte, I gather Reading it doesn't remind me what I meant though... Seriously? Still talking about this? We're gagging for it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rushchick10 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 4 2012, 04:22 AM) QUOTE (Rushchick10 @ Jul 4 2012, 04:20 AM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 4 2012, 03:44 AM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jul 3 2012, 07:31 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 2 2012, 05:13 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jul 2 2012, 02:19 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 1 2012, 11:12 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 11:04 AM) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Jun 5 2012, 08:07 AM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 05:48 AM) QUOTE (RUDT @ Jun 4 2012, 03:24 PM) Geddy said in a interview that one of Alex and him least favorite song is Tai Shan. Not very kind for the one who wrote that song : Neil. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBZY_loemUw "Tai Shan" is up on the list of my least favorite Rush songs, quite like "Rivendell" or "Dog Years." But there is a time and place for everything and I listened to "Tai Shan" yesterday and didn't gag once! Did you gag twice? Surprisingly no! I kept my stomach contents firmly in my gut. Miracles DO happen! You don't have to puke to gag... It's a slippery slope. I can't remember what this was about now... Reading isn't your forte, I gather Reading it doesn't remind me what I meant though... Seriously? Still talking about this? We're gagging for it! Apparently.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeduck Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 QUOTE (Rushchick10 @ Jul 4 2012, 04:24 AM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 4 2012, 04:22 AM) QUOTE (Rushchick10 @ Jul 4 2012, 04:20 AM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 4 2012, 03:44 AM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jul 3 2012, 07:31 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 2 2012, 05:13 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jul 2 2012, 02:19 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 1 2012, 11:12 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 11:04 AM) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Jun 5 2012, 08:07 AM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 05:48 AM) QUOTE (RUDT @ Jun 4 2012, 03:24 PM) Geddy said in a interview that one of Alex and him least favorite song is Tai Shan. Not very kind for the one who wrote that song : Neil. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBZY_loemUw "Tai Shan" is up on the list of my least favorite Rush songs, quite like "Rivendell" or "Dog Years." But there is a time and place for everything and I listened to "Tai Shan" yesterday and didn't gag once! Did you gag twice? Surprisingly no! I kept my stomach contents firmly in my gut. Miracles DO happen! You don't have to puke to gag... It's a slippery slope. I can't remember what this was about now... Reading isn't your forte, I gather Reading it doesn't remind me what I meant though... Seriously? Still talking about this? We're gagging for it! Apparently.... And you too now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rushchick10 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 4 2012, 04:28 AM) QUOTE (Rushchick10 @ Jul 4 2012, 04:24 AM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 4 2012, 04:22 AM) QUOTE (Rushchick10 @ Jul 4 2012, 04:20 AM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 4 2012, 03:44 AM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jul 3 2012, 07:31 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 2 2012, 05:13 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jul 2 2012, 02:19 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 1 2012, 11:12 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 11:04 AM) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Jun 5 2012, 08:07 AM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 05:48 AM) QUOTE (RUDT @ Jun 4 2012, 03:24 PM) Geddy said in a interview that one of Alex and him least favorite song is Tai Shan. Not very kind for the one who wrote that song : Neil. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBZY_loemUw "Tai Shan" is up on the list of my least favorite Rush songs, quite like "Rivendell" or "Dog Years." But there is a time and place for everything and I listened to "Tai Shan" yesterday and didn't gag once! Did you gag twice? Surprisingly no! I kept my stomach contents firmly in my gut. Miracles DO happen! You don't have to puke to gag... It's a slippery slope. I can't remember what this was about now... Reading isn't your forte, I gather Reading it doesn't remind me what I meant though... Seriously? Still talking about this? We're gagging for it! Apparently.... And you too now... No, please!! Not Tai Shan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeduck Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 QUOTE (Rushchick10 @ Jul 4 2012, 04:41 AM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 4 2012, 04:28 AM) QUOTE (Rushchick10 @ Jul 4 2012, 04:24 AM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 4 2012, 04:22 AM) QUOTE (Rushchick10 @ Jul 4 2012, 04:20 AM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 4 2012, 03:44 AM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jul 3 2012, 07:31 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 2 2012, 05:13 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jul 2 2012, 02:19 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 1 2012, 11:12 PM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 11:04 AM) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Jun 5 2012, 08:07 AM) QUOTE (Kelly D @ Jun 5 2012, 05:48 AM) QUOTE (RUDT @ Jun 4 2012, 03:24 PM) Geddy said in a interview that one of Alex and him least favorite song is Tai Shan. Not very kind for the one who wrote that song : Neil. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBZY_loemUw "Tai Shan" is up on the list of my least favorite Rush songs, quite like "Rivendell" or "Dog Years." But there is a time and place for everything and I listened to "Tai Shan" yesterday and didn't gag once! Did you gag twice? Surprisingly no! I kept my stomach contents firmly in my gut. Miracles DO happen! You don't have to puke to gag... It's a slippery slope. I can't remember what this was about now... Reading isn't your forte, I gather Reading it doesn't remind me what I meant though... Seriously? Still talking about this? We're gagging for it! Apparently.... And you too now... No, please!! Not Tai Shan! When Rushchick sang to me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly D Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 QUOTE (Steel Rat @ Jul 4 2012, 02:20 AM) I can never fathom why Alex and Geddy say they hate Tai Shan; or why anyone else hates it, for that matter. It's always been in - at worst - my top ten. I can get all of my friends to see it, too. Neil's lyrics are beautiful, perhaps his BEST. It is a special challenge to write about such an alien culture, but he does it perfectly. It's such a pleasure to feel like I experienced his journey with him. "The clouds were suddenly parted. For a moment, I could see the patterns of the landscape reaching to the eastern sea. I looked upon a presence spanning forty centuries... I thought of time and distance, the hardships of history, I heard the hope and the horror..." It's so utterly flawless. I can only assume that what Alex and Geddy actually mean is this: that they believe they failed to capture musically what Neil captured lyrically. But I think they sell themselves short, the music - and the song as a whole - moves me to tears every single time. Maybe there's something about the first couple minutes or so that cause people to tune out from boredom before they see it for what it truly is. Maybe I'm just crazy, but Tai Shan sings to me. I really think it's the music- so CHEESY!- that ruins it for me. Neil's lyrics are quite good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drummerrobin Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 (edited) QUOTE (Steel Rat @ Jul 4 2012, 01:20 AM)Neil's lyrics are beautiful, perhaps his BEST. It is a special challenge to write about such an alien culture, but he does it perfectly. It's such a pleasure to feel like I experienced his journey with him. "The clouds were suddenly parted. For a moment, I could see the patterns of the landscape reaching to the eastern sea. I looked upon a presence spanning forty centuries... I thought of time and distance, the hardships of history, I heard the hope and the horror..." It's so utterly flawless. I can only assume that what Alex and Geddy actually mean is this: that they believe they failed to capture musically what Neil captured lyrically. But I think they sell themselves short, the music - and the song as a whole - moves me to tears every single time. Maybe there's something about the first couple minutes or so that cause people to tune out from boredom before they see it for what it truly is. Maybe I'm just crazy, but Tai Shan sings to me. I'm totally with you there! And though I understand why maybe some might consider the music to be a little cheesy (though to me it's part of the song's appeal), it's really nothing like as bad as many of the songs on Presto/ RTB albums. Just think of Superconductor, Face Up or You Bet Your Life. All that light weight pop-rock from those albums completely out-cheeses Tai Shan and everything else from the synth era albums imo. And not in a good way! Edited July 4, 2012 by Drummerrobin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnoble Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Geddy has also mentioned Lakeside Park as a song that he's not too proud of Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnoble Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 (edited) QUOTE (Drummerrobin @ Jul 4 2012, 07:53 AM) QUOTE (Steel Rat @ Jul 4 2012, 01:20 AM)Neil's lyrics are beautiful, perhaps his BEST. It is a special challenge to write about such an alien culture, but he does it perfectly. It's such a pleasure to feel like I experienced his journey with him. "The clouds were suddenly parted. For a moment, I could see the patterns of the landscape reaching to the eastern sea. I looked upon a presence spanning forty centuries... I thought of time and distance, the hardships of history, I heard the hope and the horror..." It's so utterly flawless. I can only assume that what Alex and Geddy actually mean is this: that they believe they failed to capture musically what Neil captured lyrically. But I think they sell themselves short, the music - and the song as a whole - moves me to tears every single time. Maybe there's something about the first couple minutes or so that cause people to tune out from boredom before they see it for what it truly is. Maybe I'm just crazy, but Tai Shan sings to me. I'm totally with you there! And though I understand why maybe some might consider the music to be a little cheesy (though to me it's part of the song's appeal), it's really nothing like as bad as many of the songs on Presto/ RTB albums. Just think of Superconductor, Face Up or You Bet Your Life. All that light weight pop-rock from those albums completely out-cheeses Tai Shan and everything else from the synth era albums imo. And not in a good way! Superconductor is one of my fav Rush songs from that era. I'll listen to that (or Face Up or YBYL) anyday over the new-age "this sounds like something heard in the dentist office" stylings of Tai Shan. Also, Second Nature fits the same bill. Those are two of the wimpiest songs Rush ever recorded Edited July 5, 2012 by jnoble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly D Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 QUOTE (jnoble @ Jul 4 2012, 10:07 PM) QUOTE (Drummerrobin @ Jul 4 2012, 07:53 AM) QUOTE (Steel Rat @ Jul 4 2012, 01:20 AM)Neil's lyrics are beautiful, perhaps his BEST. It is a special challenge to write about such an alien culture, but he does it perfectly. It's such a pleasure to feel like I experienced his journey with him. "The clouds were suddenly parted. For a moment, I could see the patterns of the landscape reaching to the eastern sea. I looked upon a presence spanning forty centuries... I thought of time and distance, the hardships of history, I heard the hope and the horror..." It's so utterly flawless. I can only assume that what Alex and Geddy actually mean is this: that they believe they failed to capture musically what Neil captured lyrically. But I think they sell themselves short, the music - and the song as a whole - moves me to tears every single time. Maybe there's something about the first couple minutes or so that cause people to tune out from boredom before they see it for what it truly is. Maybe I'm just crazy, but Tai Shan sings to me. I'm totally with you there! And though I understand why maybe some might consider the music to be a little cheesy (though to me it's part of the song's appeal), it's really nothing like as bad as many of the songs on Presto/ RTB albums. Just think of Superconductor, Face Up or You Bet Your Life. All that light weight pop-rock from those albums completely out-cheeses Tai Shan and everything else from the synth era albums imo. And not in a good way! Superconductor is one of my fav Rush songs from that era. I'll listen to that (or Face Up or YBYL) anyday over the new-age "this sounds like something heard in the dentist office" stylings of Tai Shan. Also, Second Nature fits the same bill. Those are two of the wimpiest songs Rush ever recorded Ouch dude, I love both those songs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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