Entre_Perpetuo Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 (edited) Since I've seen several other new threads around here pitting Rush's best songs sharing similar qualities against each other, I thought I'd start the arguably most obvious showdown. Rush's two best known and most heavily played songs. Each so different, each so unique, but each so connected to the other by the winds of fate! Which shall win? I can't decide. The Spirit of Radio is such a classic, and a mini epic in its own right chocked full of riffage and crazy funky new age summery goodness! But Tom Sawyer is the one song Rush have declared they have to play at every concert from the time of its release onward, and it's got such a cool and weird sound to it with that metronomic feel and one of Neil's most incredible drum performances Maybe if they play them both on the next tour I'll decide when I see them live. Edited March 8, 2015 by Entre_Perpetuo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReRushed Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I think "Tom Sawyer" is the better song. They should play both songs on the next tour. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RushBoingo Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 The Spirit of Radio Wins. Better (not to mention one of the hardest) riff, better chorus, better variety, and crowd participation at concerts. Tom Sawyers only victories are it's synth line, drum solo, and...well basically the whole middle section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geezer Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 The Spirit Of Radio also for me, but I was very close to toss the coin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disk98 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 The Spirit of Radio: 10.0 Tom Sawyer: 9.5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Na na na Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Tom Sawyer...yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rutlefan Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Both great but I've always loved TSOR whereas I always has slightly mixed feelings about Tom Sawyer, recognizing it's a great song, a monster album opener, but never being that into it for whatever reason. For me it always served chiefly to set the table for Red Barchetta. TSOR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbobby10 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 The Spirit of Radio it has everything you can ask for in a single Rush song 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughedatbytime Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I think "Tom Sawyer" is the better song. They should play both songs on the next tour.What are the odds of THAT??? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnRogers Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I'll wager 10,000 bars of gold pressed latinum that both will be played. IMO the crowd seems to enjoy TSOR more I know I do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAccountant Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Tom Sawyer. That being said its a real close vote. Both are top 10 Rush songs IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluefox4000 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 (edited) SOR without thinking. Mr Sawyer just maxed out for me. Mick Edited March 8, 2015 by bluefox4000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocket ignites Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 The Spirit Of Radio. Perfection. My favorite Rush song. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geddy's Soul Patch Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 This was almost impossible, TSOR barely edges out Tom Sawyer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleMoon Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 TSOR but it's very close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GabesCavesOfIce Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 So cool to see TS struggle. That do.do.do.do.do.do key line is their most embarrassing, and it's unfortunate that's what the general rock community hears on the radio. TS is not a good representation of their catalogue, which is fine, the song does have its merits, but it is the most exposed. Non Rush fans from their opinion on that tune, which is unfortunate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rutlefan Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 (edited) ^ I don't understand most of that post. Edit: Misread this, thought the poster was talking about TSOR. The pitfalls of posting while entertaining pre-schoolers. Now I get it.Never liked the "do do do" thing either. When anti-Rush kids in school would make their arguments they woudl often point to that. Edited March 8, 2015 by Rutlefan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReRushed Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 So cool to see TS struggle. That do.do.do.do.do.do key line is their most embarrassing, and it's unfortunate that's what the general rock community hears on the radio. TS is not a good representation of their catalogue, which is fine, the song does have its merits, but it is the most exposed. Non Rush fans from their opinion on that tune, which is unfortunate.Gemini, is that you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g under p Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 (edited) Tough call... TS IS classic RUSH, just the way it starts is so unique. However, TSOR has the best lyrics ever and I just had to go with that song. It would nice if they played them both come this May in Tampa. Edited March 8, 2015 by g under p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Avatar Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Two of the best songs ever penned, period. Tom Sawyer by a slim...a very slim...margin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segue Myles Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Tom Sawyer. Easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grover Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I think TSOR is a better song and is emblematic for the band's outlook on music, so I voted for TSOR but the playing sounds more advanced in Tom Sawyer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnRogers Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 The Spirit Of Radio. Perfection. My favorite Rush song.Clearly a man with superior taste, tell me aboot your favorite cigar, Scotch, wine and muscle car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drummerrobin Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 (edited) The Spirit Of Radio hands down! If there's any single song which for me sums up Rush, it's that one. I must have heard it like a thousand times now and I still love it as much as ever! Edited March 9, 2015 by Drummerrobin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GabesCavesOfIce Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 Actually was thinking about comparing these two head to head while out at dinner. Full disclosure: I rate tSOR as very good, TS as good, but points taken away because it is their signature radio song but not a fair representation of their catalogue. Defending those do do do do sawyer keys to hard rock non Rush fans... Anyway, the poll made me think about the #2 radio songs on each album. Both have faded in air play over the years, which is very unfortunate, because both of these tunes are superior and represent the catalogue fairly. That's all we can expect from radio tunes?? I speak of course of Red Barchetta and Freewill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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