Rick N. Backer Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Yuck. Rush and politics. All this because of a Peart sound byte? Blaggh. Have you read the lyrics to their songs at all? I remember a bass teacher of mine in the early 80s asking, when he was teaching me to pick up Free Will by ear, "do these guys write any songs about chicks?" They really don't, other than the debut. You can't have it both ways. Either their lyrics are thought provoking, and thus discussion worthy, or they're not. I love Roth era Van Halen. But I'm guessing a fan site of theirs wouldn't need a SOCN. You'd be surprised, then. Nearly any active rock message board has a politico forum. I actually have a theory about lyrics. They really don't matter. Whether it's Van Halen, Rush, Maiden, Genesis, Pete Gabriel, AC/DC, the Beatles, the Doors, it really doesn't matter. Sure, the lyrics are great for diehard fans to absorb and analyze and reflect upon. But the vox are most important in the context of how they mesh with the instrumentation. The harmonies and the melodies are what counts with the vox, not exactly what they're saying. Hell, when I first started seeing Rush eons ago, before I knew any of the lyrics they'd put out to date, I didn't WTF Geddy was singing about...or David lee Roth...or Bon Scott. Sometimes it's friggin' hard to tell wtf they're saying, LOL. There are STILL VH diehards who debate exactly WTF Dave is saying in certain lines in Everybody Wants Some, LOL. Point being...I don't really care what they're singing about. As long as the vox flow with the instruments, they could be singing about androgynous octopi for all I care. :) That's why it's more important that Jim Morrison hits the right notes than it is for him to tell me about the decline of western civilization. Though the latter obviously has its place. :) I actually agree with you in that I don't necessarily want a musician to offer me his or her views on societal issues, particularly if I get the sense that he or she doesn't really have a good understanding of them. And everyone is free to enjoy music for whatever reason they like, obviously. However, if you don't care at all what the lyrics of a song are about I actually feel sorry for you. I don't mean that in a smart @ss way. I mean that for me, some songs, often songs about love, can really capture the way you feel perfectly. Paul McCartney's Maybe I'm Amazed reminds me of my wife. The first time I heard Halo Effect, I immediately thought of a girl I dated off and on in college for two years. And I suspect Peart would be saddened to hear that a fan thinks that, other than his amazing drumming, he contributes nothing of lasting impact to any of the band's songs. But to each his own :cheers: I never said Peart contributes nothing of lasting impact outside of the drums. :) But the method and delivery of the way a singer sings, particularly live, is far more important than the specific context of the lyrics. My own emotions are provoked by the flow and synchronicity of a song more than its message. The message is secondary. The immersion within a perfectly cohesive beautiful moment of music (vocal and instrumental harmonies melding and blending together) is a far bigger flashpoint than the words. Words, after all, can be read. Songs must be heard. For me, lyrics rarely take away from a song. But good ones can greatly increase my appreciation for a song. Rush means so much to me not just because of their music, but because the lyrics are so powerful. It it weren't for the lyrics, I doubt that I would have ever come around to appreciating the synth period. And while I like some Bob Dylan songs, if it weren't for the lyrics I wouldn't be half as interested in him as I am. I agree with this. I love the Van Hagar era of Van Halen (not as much as the Roth era though) but Sammy's lyrics are cringe worthy if you read them. But if you're just singing about getting laid, you don't need too much sophistication. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HalfwayToGone Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 FWIW, Rand Paul is f***ing crazy. Neil has every right not to want to vote for him. Guy is nuts. Just because he is for legalizing weed doesn't make him a great guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LedRush Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 FWIW, Rand Paul is f***ing crazy. Neil has every right not to want to vote for him. Guy is nuts. Just because he is for legalizing weed doesn't make him a great guy. I don't think anyone here is suggesting that Neil doesn't have every right not to want to vote for him. I think the issue is that some people are critical of Neil saying that Paul is a racist or sexist. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HemiBeers Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 FWIW, Rand Paul is f***ing crazy. Neil has every right not to want to vote for him. Guy is nuts. Just because he is for legalizing weed doesn't make him a great guy. Maybe Neil's comments about being a reluctant Democrat (my words) stems from the lunacy he's seeing on the other side of the aisle. Given the extremist areas he's travelled in the US, I could see how he could end up there. You can pick his phrase here or there or parse his words all you want and create your false outrage, but overall he does have a certain logic to his views. But not that I really give a rat's azz about his political views, short of being a Nazi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeminiRising79 Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Well maybe it's time to burn all your Rush albums.why would that be? There are many artists that have done/said things I may not agree with, but it doesn't make me hate their music. Axl Rose is a dink, but I still like GnR's music. I don't agree with James Taylor on a lot of political things, but I still like his music. It's possible to look at the 2 things independently, it's what separates us from the animals :)John Lennon is my favorite songwriter and singer. I think he was manipulated politically, became a mouthpiece, and stated some positions I totally disagree with. I still love the man's music. Sometimes musicians and artists say stupid things that contradict what their music seemingly projects. Debate, discuss, argue, it's what fans do. Can't stand the Nuge but I could make sweet love to this album all night :) http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TDCzAYNRL.jpg Nugent was my favorite prior to discovering Rush! :) Loved those first three albums and double-live Gonzo lol!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReRushed Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 FWIW, Rand Paul is f***ing crazy. Neil has every right not to want to vote for him. Guy is nuts. Just because he is for legalizing weed doesn't make him a great guy. I don't think anyone here is suggesting that Neil doesn't have every right not to want to vote for him. I think the issue is that some people are critical of Neil saying that Paul is a racist or sexist.Or resorting to the tactic of ad hominem attacks. Again, I find it beneath the standards that Neil Peart invoked in his lyrics. Again, name me one politician who can't be attached to controversies or embarrassments. i can list many examples as bad as the ones Neil Peart said of Rand Paul. I'm disappointed that Neil Peart lowered himself to that level. That's all. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick N. Backer Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Yuck. Rush and politics. All this because of a Peart sound byte? Blaggh. Have you read the lyrics to their songs at all? I remember a bass teacher of mine in the early 80s asking, when he was teaching me to pick up Free Will by ear, "do these guys write any songs about chicks?" They really don't, other than the debut. You can't have it both ways. Either their lyrics are thought provoking, and thus discussion worthy, or they're not. I love Roth era Van Halen. But I'm guessing a fan site of theirs wouldn't need a SOCN. You'd be surprised, then. Nearly any active rock message board has a politico forum. I actually have a theory about lyrics. They really don't matter. Whether it's Van Halen, Rush, Maiden, Genesis, Pete Gabriel, AC/DC, the Beatles, the Doors, it really doesn't matter. Sure, the lyrics are great for diehard fans to absorb and analyze and reflect upon. But the vox are most important in the context of how they mesh with the instrumentation. The harmonies and the melodies are what counts with the vox, not exactly what they're saying. Hell, when I first started seeing Rush eons ago, before I knew any of the lyrics they'd put out to date, I didn't WTF Geddy was singing about...or David lee Roth...or Bon Scott. Sometimes it's friggin' hard to tell wtf they're saying, LOL. There are STILL VH diehards who debate exactly WTF Dave is saying in certain lines in Everybody Wants Some, LOL. Point being...I don't really care what they're singing about. As long as the vox flow with the instruments, they could be singing about androgynous octopi for all I care. :) That's why it's more important that Jim Morrison hits the right notes than it is for him to tell me about the decline of western civilization. Though the latter obviously has its place. :) I actually agree with you in that I don't necessarily want a musician to offer me his or her views on societal issues, particularly if I get the sense that he or she doesn't really have a good understanding of them. And everyone is free to enjoy music for whatever reason they like, obviously. However, if you don't care at all what the lyrics of a song are about I actually feel sorry for you. I don't mean that in a smart @ss way. I mean that for me, some songs, often songs about love, can really capture the way you feel perfectly. Paul McCartney's Maybe I'm Amazed reminds me of my wife. The first time I heard Halo Effect, I immediately thought of a girl I dated off and on in college for two years. And I suspect Peart would be saddened to hear that a fan thinks that, other than his amazing drumming, he contributes nothing of lasting impact to any of the band's songs. But to each his own :cheers: I never said Peart contributes nothing of lasting impact outside of the drums. :) But the method and delivery of the way a singer sings, particularly live, is far more important than the specific context of the lyrics. My own emotions are provoked by the flow and synchronicity of a song more than its message. The message is secondary. The immersion within a perfectly cohesive beautiful moment of music (vocal and instrumental harmonies melding and blending together) is a far bigger flashpoint than the words. Words, after all, can be read. Songs must be heard. I wasn't trying to put words in your mouth. But if you're saying you don't care what the lyrics are at all, then Peart doesn't really add anything to a song other than his drumming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HemiBeers Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 FWIW, Rand Paul is f***ing crazy. Neil has every right not to want to vote for him. Guy is nuts. Just because he is for legalizing weed doesn't make him a great guy. I don't think anyone here is suggesting that Neil doesn't have every right not to want to vote for him. I think the issue is that some people are critical of Neil saying that Paul is a racist or sexist. I think Neil was referring to Paul as a dumbass in general and the comments came out wrong. Sometimes smart people just let things fly because they have better things to think about. Like me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReRushed Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 FWIW, Rand Paul is f***ing crazy. Neil has every right not to want to vote for him. Guy is nuts. Just because he is for legalizing weed doesn't make him a great guy. Maybe Neil's comments about being a reluctant Democrat (my words) stems from the lunacy he's seeing on the other side of the aisle. Given the extremist areas he's travelled in the US, I could see how he could end up there. You can pick his phrase here or there or parse his words all you want and create your false outrage, but overall he does have a certain logic to his views. But not that I really give a rat's azz about his political views, short of being a Nazi.That "certain logic" seems to me to be a lazy tactic. Read the directions. Name call long enough plus cherry picking eventually reaches a unchallenged conclusion. I always thought Neil Peart was above that. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick N. Backer Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 FWIW, Rand Paul is f***ing crazy. Neil has every right not to want to vote for him. Guy is nuts. Just because he is for legalizing weed doesn't make him a great guy. I don't think anyone here is suggesting that Neil doesn't have every right not to want to vote for him. I think the issue is that some people are critical of Neil saying that Paul is a racist or sexist. I think Neil was referring to Paul as a dumbass in general and the comments came out wrong. Sometimes smart people just let things fly because they have better things to think about. Like me. Neil Peart thinks about you instead of what he's saying? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HemiBeers Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 FWIW, Rand Paul is f***ing crazy. Neil has every right not to want to vote for him. Guy is nuts. Just because he is for legalizing weed doesn't make him a great guy. Maybe Neil's comments about being a reluctant Democrat (my words) stems from the lunacy he's seeing on the other side of the aisle. Given the extremist areas he's travelled in the US, I could see how he could end up there. You can pick his phrase here or there or parse his words all you want and create your false outrage, but overall he does have a certain logic to his views. But not that I really give a rat's azz about his political views, short of being a Nazi.That "certain logic" seems to me to be a lazy tactic. Read the directions. Name call long enough plus cherry picking eventually reaches a unchallenged conclusion. I always thought Neil Peart was above that. I'm sure he's crushed by our disappointment in him. :eyeroll: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HemiBeers Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 FWIW, Rand Paul is f***ing crazy. Neil has every right not to want to vote for him. Guy is nuts. Just because he is for legalizing weed doesn't make him a great guy. I don't think anyone here is suggesting that Neil doesn't have every right not to want to vote for him. I think the issue is that some people are critical of Neil saying that Paul is a racist or sexist. I think Neil was referring to Paul as a dumbass in general and the comments came out wrong. Sometimes smart people just let things fly because they have better things to think about. Like me. Neil Peart thinks about you instead of what he's saying? :) Oh all the time. I'm channeling him right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HemiBeers Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Dear Neil, We demand that every statement you make should be profound, inspiring and thought-provoking. We bought alot of your stuff over the years so we expect it. Sincerely,TRF********* Could someone please fax this letter to him, I don't have the number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick N. Backer Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Dear Neil, We demand that every statement you make should be profound, inspiring and thought-provoking. We bought alot of your stuff over the years so we expect it. Sincerely,TRF********* Could someone please fax this letter to him, I don't have the number. I read it. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LedRush Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Dear Neil, We are disappointed that you engage in labeling people racists or sexists for having political positions other than ones you would support. We were influenced or touched in some way by a lot of your stuff over the years, so we hoped you were better than that. Sincerely,TRF********* Could someone please fax this letter to him, I don't have the number. I'm on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorraine Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Dear Neil, We demand that every statement you make should be profound, inspiring and thought-provoking. And Zumbi said to quit being a a jerk! We bought alot of your stuff over the years so we expect it. Sincerely,TRF********* Could someone please fax this letter to him, I don't have the number. I fixed it a bit. It's ready to go now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rushman14 Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 (edited) Well maybe it's time to burn all your Rush albums.why would that be? There are many artists that have done/said things I may not agree with, but it doesn't make me hate their music. Axl Rose is a dink, but I still like GnR's music. I don't agree with James Taylor on a lot of political things, but I still like his music. It's possible to look at the 2 things independently, it's what separates us from the animals :)John Lennon is my favorite songwriter and singer. I think he was manipulated politically, became a mouthpiece, and stated some positions I totally disagree with. I still love the man's music. Sometimes musicians and artists say stupid things that contradict what their music seemingly projects. Debate, discuss, argue, it's what fans do. Can't stand the Nuge but I could make sweet love to this album all night :) http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TDCzAYNRL.jpg Nugent was my favorite prior to discovering Rush! :) Loved those first three albums and double-live Gonzo lol!! prior to discovering 2112 this was my number 1 :haz: I wonder what Steven Tyler would think of all this? http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51xFs5iPwDL.jpg Edited June 19, 2015 by Rushman14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bard Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Yuck. Rush and politics. All this because of a Peart sound byte? Blaggh. Have you read the lyrics to their songs at all? I remember a bass teacher of mine in the early 80s asking, when he was teaching me to pick up Free Will by ear, "do these guys write any songs about chicks?" They really don't, other than the debut. You can't have it both ways. Either their lyrics are thought provoking, and thus discussion worthy, or they're not. I love Roth era Van Halen. But I'm guessing a fan site of theirs wouldn't need a SOCN. You'd be surprised, then. Nearly any active rock message board has a politico forum. I actually have a theory about lyrics. They really don't matter. Whether it's Van Halen, Rush, Maiden, Genesis, Pete Gabriel, AC/DC, the Beatles, the Doors, it really doesn't matter. Sure, the lyrics are great for diehard fans to absorb and analyze and reflect upon. But the vox are most important in the context of how they mesh with the instrumentation. The harmonies and the melodies are what counts with the vox, not exactly what they're saying. Hell, when I first started seeing Rush eons ago, before I knew any of the lyrics they'd put out to date, I didn't WTF Geddy was singing about...or David lee Roth...or Bon Scott. Sometimes it's friggin' hard to tell wtf they're saying, LOL. There are STILL VH diehards who debate exactly WTF Dave is saying in certain lines in Everybody Wants Some, LOL. Point being...I don't really care what they're singing about. As long as the vox flow with the instruments, they could be singing about androgynous octopi for all I care. :) That's why it's more important that Jim Morrison hits the right notes than it is for him to tell me about the decline of western civilization. Though the latter obviously has its place. :) I actually agree with you in that I don't necessarily want a musician to offer me his or her views on societal issues, particularly if I get the sense that he or she doesn't really have a good understanding of them. And everyone is free to enjoy music for whatever reason they like, obviously. However, if you don't care at all what the lyrics of a song are about I actually feel sorry for you. I don't mean that in a smart @ss way. I mean that for me, some songs, often songs about love, can really capture the way you feel perfectly. Paul McCartney's Maybe I'm Amazed reminds me of my wife. The first time I heard Halo Effect, I immediately thought of a girl I dated off and on in college for two years. And I suspect Peart would be saddened to hear that a fan thinks that, other than his amazing drumming, he contributes nothing of lasting impact to any of the band's songs. But to each his own :cheers: I never said Peart contributes nothing of lasting impact outside of the drums. :) But the method and delivery of the way a singer sings, particularly live, is far more important than the specific context of the lyrics. My own emotions are provoked by the flow and synchronicity of a song more than its message. The message is secondary. The immersion within a perfectly cohesive beautiful moment of music (vocal and instrumental harmonies melding and blending together) is a far bigger flashpoint than the words. Words, after all, can be read. Songs must be heard. For me, lyrics rarely take away from a song. But good ones can greatly increase my appreciation for a song. Rush means so much to me not just because of their music, but because the lyrics are so powerful. It it weren't for the lyrics, I doubt that I would have ever come around to appreciating the synth period. And while I like some Bob Dylan songs, if it weren't for the lyrics I wouldn't be half as interested in him as I am. I agree with this. I love the Van Hagar era of Van Halen (not as much as the Roth era though) but Sammy's lyrics are cringe worthy if you read them. But if you're just singing about getting laid, you don't need too much sophistication. Roth's lyrics weren't any better. Van Halen songs are all about sex, drugs, rock and roll. :) They both had moments of lucidity in their songwriting (see Push Comes to Shove or Don't Tell Me What Love Can Do), but ya don't listen to Van Halen for the lyrics, LOL. Like I said....vox are about harmony and melody, not message. If there IS a message, great, that's just a bonus. Here's an easier way to put it. At a show, you're hardly gonna notice if Geddy messes up the exact phrasing of a lyric or a passage, or perhaps even skip over an entire stanza. But you're sure as hell gonna notice when he hits a flat note. It's that simple. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tas7 Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Well maybe it's time to burn all your Rush albums.why would that be? There are many artists that have done/said things I may not agree with, but it doesn't make me hate their music. Axl Rose is a dink, but I still like GnR's music. I don't agree with James Taylor on a lot of political things, but I still like his music. It's possible to look at the 2 things independently, it's what separates us from the animals :)John Lennon is my favorite songwriter and singer. I think he was manipulated politically, became a mouthpiece, and stated some positions I totally disagree with. I still love the man's music. Sometimes musicians and artists say stupid things that contradict what their music seemingly projects. Debate, discuss, argue, it's what fans do.I was actually thinking of The Beatles and the 'bigger than Jesus' quote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bard Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Yuck. Rush and politics. All this because of a Peart sound byte? Blaggh. Have you read the lyrics to their songs at all? I remember a bass teacher of mine in the early 80s asking, when he was teaching me to pick up Free Will by ear, "do these guys write any songs about chicks?" They really don't, other than the debut. You can't have it both ways. Either their lyrics are thought provoking, and thus discussion worthy, or they're not. I love Roth era Van Halen. But I'm guessing a fan site of theirs wouldn't need a SOCN. You'd be surprised, then. Nearly any active rock message board has a politico forum. I actually have a theory about lyrics. They really don't matter. Whether it's Van Halen, Rush, Maiden, Genesis, Pete Gabriel, AC/DC, the Beatles, the Doors, it really doesn't matter. Sure, the lyrics are great for diehard fans to absorb and analyze and reflect upon. But the vox are most important in the context of how they mesh with the instrumentation. The harmonies and the melodies are what counts with the vox, not exactly what they're saying. Hell, when I first started seeing Rush eons ago, before I knew any of the lyrics they'd put out to date, I didn't WTF Geddy was singing about...or David lee Roth...or Bon Scott. Sometimes it's friggin' hard to tell wtf they're saying, LOL. There are STILL VH diehards who debate exactly WTF Dave is saying in certain lines in Everybody Wants Some, LOL. Point being...I don't really care what they're singing about. As long as the vox flow with the instruments, they could be singing about androgynous octopi for all I care. :) That's why it's more important that Jim Morrison hits the right notes than it is for him to tell me about the decline of western civilization. Though the latter obviously has its place. :) I actually agree with you in that I don't necessarily want a musician to offer me his or her views on societal issues, particularly if I get the sense that he or she doesn't really have a good understanding of them. And everyone is free to enjoy music for whatever reason they like, obviously. However, if you don't care at all what the lyrics of a song are about I actually feel sorry for you. I don't mean that in a smart @ss way. I mean that for me, some songs, often songs about love, can really capture the way you feel perfectly. Paul McCartney's Maybe I'm Amazed reminds me of my wife. The first time I heard Halo Effect, I immediately thought of a girl I dated off and on in college for two years. And I suspect Peart would be saddened to hear that a fan thinks that, other than his amazing drumming, he contributes nothing of lasting impact to any of the band's songs. But to each his own :cheers: I never said Peart contributes nothing of lasting impact outside of the drums. :) But the method and delivery of the way a singer sings, particularly live, is far more important than the specific context of the lyrics. My own emotions are provoked by the flow and synchronicity of a song more than its message. The message is secondary. The immersion within a perfectly cohesive beautiful moment of music (vocal and instrumental harmonies melding and blending together) is a far bigger flashpoint than the words. Words, after all, can be read. Songs must be heard. I wasn't trying to put words in your mouth. But if you're saying you don't care what the lyrics are at all, then Peart doesn't really add anything to a song other than his drumming. I didn't say I didn't care what the message is, just that it was less important than the vocal melodies and harmonies, in tandem with the instrumentation. Percussion is another key component in the quad that makes a good four piece work. Vox, guitar, bass, drums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troutman Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Well maybe it's time to burn all your Rush albums.why would that be? There are many artists that have done/said things I may not agree with, but it doesn't make me hate their music. Axl Rose is a dink, but I still like GnR's music. I don't agree with James Taylor on a lot of political things, but I still like his music. It's possible to look at the 2 things independently, it's what separates us from the animals :)John Lennon is my favorite songwriter and singer. I think he was manipulated politically, became a mouthpiece, and stated some positions I totally disagree with. I still love the man's music. Sometimes musicians and artists say stupid things that contradict what their music seemingly projects. Debate, discuss, argue, it's what fans do. Can't stand the Nuge but I could make sweet love to this album all night :) http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TDCzAYNRL.jpg Nugent was my favorite prior to discovering Rush! :) Loved those first three albums and double-live Gonzo lol!! My first concert :codger: If sh** ever hit the fan I would want him on my side. :madra: :bang bang: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReRushed Posted June 20, 2015 Share Posted June 20, 2015 FWIW, Rand Paul is f***ing crazy. Neil has every right not to want to vote for him. Guy is nuts. Just because he is for legalizing weed doesn't make him a great guy. Maybe Neil's comments about being a reluctant Democrat (my words) stems from the lunacy he's seeing on the other side of the aisle. Given the extremist areas he's travelled in the US, I could see how he could end up there. You can pick his phrase here or there or parse his words all you want and create your false outrage, but overall he does have a certain logic to his views. But not that I really give a rat's azz about his political views, short of being a Nazi.That "certain logic" seems to me to be a lazy tactic. Read the directions. Name call long enough plus cherry picking eventually reaches a unchallenged conclusion. I always thought Neil Peart was above that. I'm sure he's crushed by our disappointment in him. :eyeroll:I couldn't care less if he's crushed or not. That's not the point or my intent. Just talking as a fan of his music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tas7 Posted June 20, 2015 Share Posted June 20, 2015 (edited) The world at the moment is populated by crap politicians both left and right, owned by big corporations and media barons. But it is Americans who seem obsessed with left versus right, the word libertarian replacing Communist. Here in Australia I didn't vote for the first time as we had a terrible 'left wing' government and replaced it with a terrible 'right wing' government. In the words of Neil Peart, 'plus ca change... Edited June 20, 2015 by tas7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost In Xanadu Posted June 20, 2015 Share Posted June 20, 2015 The world at the moment is populated by crap politicians both left and right, owned by big corporations and media barons. But it is Americans who seem obsessed with left versus right, the word libertarian replacing Communist. Here in Australia I didn't vote for the first time as we had a terrible 'left wing' government and replaced it with a terrible 'right wing' government. In the words of Neil Peart, 'plus ca change...Amen. Need a clean sweep, start over 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick N. Backer Posted June 20, 2015 Share Posted June 20, 2015 Yuck. Rush and politics. All this because of a Peart sound byte? Blaggh. Have you read the lyrics to their songs at all? I remember a bass teacher of mine in the early 80s asking, when he was teaching me to pick up Free Will by ear, "do these guys write any songs about chicks?" They really don't, other than the debut. You can't have it both ways. Either their lyrics are thought provoking, and thus discussion worthy, or they're not. I love Roth era Van Halen. But I'm guessing a fan site of theirs wouldn't need a SOCN. You'd be surprised, then. Nearly any active rock message board has a politico forum. I actually have a theory about lyrics. They really don't matter. Whether it's Van Halen, Rush, Maiden, Genesis, Pete Gabriel, AC/DC, the Beatles, the Doors, it really doesn't matter. Sure, the lyrics are great for diehard fans to absorb and analyze and reflect upon. But the vox are most important in the context of how they mesh with the instrumentation. The harmonies and the melodies are what counts with the vox, not exactly what they're saying. Hell, when I first started seeing Rush eons ago, before I knew any of the lyrics they'd put out to date, I didn't WTF Geddy was singing about...or David lee Roth...or Bon Scott. Sometimes it's friggin' hard to tell wtf they're saying, LOL. There are STILL VH diehards who debate exactly WTF Dave is saying in certain lines in Everybody Wants Some, LOL. Point being...I don't really care what they're singing about. As long as the vox flow with the instruments, they could be singing about androgynous octopi for all I care. :) That's why it's more important that Jim Morrison hits the right notes than it is for him to tell me about the decline of western civilization. Though the latter obviously has its place. :) I actually agree with you in that I don't necessarily want a musician to offer me his or her views on societal issues, particularly if I get the sense that he or she doesn't really have a good understanding of them. And everyone is free to enjoy music for whatever reason they like, obviously. However, if you don't care at all what the lyrics of a song are about I actually feel sorry for you. I don't mean that in a smart @ss way. I mean that for me, some songs, often songs about love, can really capture the way you feel perfectly. Paul McCartney's Maybe I'm Amazed reminds me of my wife. The first time I heard Halo Effect, I immediately thought of a girl I dated off and on in college for two years. And I suspect Peart would be saddened to hear that a fan thinks that, other than his amazing drumming, he contributes nothing of lasting impact to any of the band's songs. But to each his own :cheers: I never said Peart contributes nothing of lasting impact outside of the drums. :) But the method and delivery of the way a singer sings, particularly live, is far more important than the specific context of the lyrics. My own emotions are provoked by the flow and synchronicity of a song more than its message. The message is secondary. The immersion within a perfectly cohesive beautiful moment of music (vocal and instrumental harmonies melding and blending together) is a far bigger flashpoint than the words. Words, after all, can be read. Songs must be heard. For me, lyrics rarely take away from a song. But good ones can greatly increase my appreciation for a song. Rush means so much to me not just because of their music, but because the lyrics are so powerful. It it weren't for the lyrics, I doubt that I would have ever come around to appreciating the synth period. And while I like some Bob Dylan songs, if it weren't for the lyrics I wouldn't be half as interested in him as I am. I agree with this. I love the Van Hagar era of Van Halen (not as much as the Roth era though) but Sammy's lyrics are cringe worthy if you read them. But if you're just singing about getting laid, you don't need too much sophistication. Roth's lyrics weren't any better. Van Halen songs are all about sex, drugs, rock and roll. :) They both had moments of lucidity in their songwriting (see Push Comes to Shove or Don't Tell Me What Love Can Do), but ya don't listen to Van Halen for the lyrics, LOL. Like I said....vox are about harmony and melody, not message. If there IS a message, great, that's just a bonus. Here's an easier way to put it. At a show, you're hardly gonna notice if Geddy messes up the exact phrasing of a lyric or a passage, or perhaps even skip over an entire stanza. But you're sure as hell gonna notice when he hits a flat note. It's that simple. :) Roth is a lot smarter than Hagar. His lyrics were more sly. He's Bon Scott to Hagar's Brian Johnson. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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