Lucas Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 (edited) For someone who views Permanent Waves as "the beginning of the end", you might figure that Vital Signs would be the last song I pick to start a thread .. When I first bought Moving Pictures, I could barely bring myself to listen to it - but out of the entire RUSH catalog, Vital Signs is THE song that has done the full 180 .. I love it, and as time goes by, it really stands out for me more and more - maybe even Top 25 ... The lyrics are perfect - not over explained - ambiguous enough to really fit the music .. Everybody got mixed feelings About the function and the form Everybody got to elevate from the norm The band was obviously going thru a change - and I am sure Neil, in particular, saw it as "evolving" Everybody got to deviate from the norm I take this as not only a deviation from the societal norm, by perhaps also from the personal "norm" - again, change within the band, the musical direction, and most likely, the relationships within the band .. The impulse is pure Sometimes our circuits get shorted By external interference Signals get crossed And the balance distorted By internal incoherence Internal incoherence - could Neil be referring to that within the band, or perhaps Terry Brown, or is this more a general take on society ala Witch Hunt ? Whatever the case, Vital Signs is a pretty fascinating little piece of music - and the band did it well ... SIGNALS get crossed - an example of a lyric that carried over - a segue if you will - to the new beginning ... Also of interest is the original Permanent Waves cover that was posted here the other day - the "vital signs" cover ... What do ya think ? Edited July 4, 2015 by Lucas 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goose Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 :goodone: It's a very well-crafted song all around, from it's deceiving complexity to its clever, artfully written lyrics. I really enjoy it, especially with headphones 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DistantEarlySignals Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 It could fit on Signals for sure. Signals could be: SubdivisionsThe Analog KidChemistryVital SignsThe WeaponDigital ManLosing ItCountdown... They never would have needed to write New World Man in the first place!!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue J Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 I am another who used to consider it the weakest song on Moving Pictures, but it has also done the full 180 for me. I just love it, all the way around. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grasbo Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 I used to think it was a weak song to end the album mainly because it wasn't a 'heavy' song like Red Barchetta.As we all know the band were getting into bands like The Police and Ultravox,hence more reggae rythyms and keyboards.Both lyrically and music wise it ties in well with what was to come.It is a great song. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entre_Perpetuo Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 First time I listened to the album this was Moving Pictures' saving grace. I hadn't thoroughly enjoyed The Camera Eye (I was expecting something more like Natural Science) or Witch Hunt (bored me)--granted, I had been half asleep and had totally different expectations whilst listening to these songs for the first time--and I had already heard most of the first side too many times before to care much about it (Red Barchetta was a treat though). Needless to say I was beginning to feel rather disappointed by what would soon become my second and a half favorite Rush album, having heard it was amazing beyond belief from countless others...until I stumbled across this little gem. Vital Signs. I knew this would make or break the second side for me and I knew I had great potential to fall fully asleep if it didn't excite me more than the two songs before it, so I had a lot pinned on this one little song. I listened, I heard a synthesizer line and reggae guitar chords begin to fade in from off in the distance, at a much more lively tempo than the previous song, and all of the sudden it burst into existence in my eardrums with cymbal crashes and heavy guitars. In an instant I though "all I need now is a great Geddy Lee bass line," and that's exactly what I got moments later, even mirroring the cool, quirky synth line I was beginning to really enjoy. As the song continued, the lyrics intrigued me, though I didn't think much on them, and then the chorus hit. I was hooked. It was weird, fast and lively, and catchy above all else, and I even forgave it for fading out since it had given the album such a strong finish. For the longest time it was the only song on side two I really cared much about, until my dad got hooked on TCE and I listened more closely to WH. Nevertheless, Vital Signs is still the best track on side two for me. :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steevo Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 I am another who used to consider it the weakest song on Moving Pictures, but it has also done the full 180 for me. I just love it, all the way around. I can't see any smidgen of weakness on this album. It's just part of the perfect picture! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tombstone Mountain Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 I am another who used to consider it the weakest song on Moving Pictures, but it has also done the full 180 for me. I just love it, all the way around.No you were right. It's a good song, but the weak link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steevo Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 When I first bought Moving Pictures, I could barely bring myself to listen to it Jesus really? Fascinating. It killed me from day one and continues to do so. All my other Top 5 Rush albums have some niggling flaw in them to some degree but that album is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. Well that's how I've always seen it. I'm glad many here probably don't share my love for it. Anyways, back to VS... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tombstone Mountain Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 When I first bought Moving Pictures, I could barely bring myself to listen to it Jesus really? Fascinating. It killed me from day one and continues to do so. All my other Top 5 Rush albums have some niggling flaw in them to some degree but that album is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. Well that's how I've always seen it. I'm glad many here probably don't share my love for it. Anyways, back to VS...I get that Steevo. From where I at, the song is a really good song, and is unique sounding in every sense of the word. IMO it seems out of place on the album amidst those miracle songs. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steevo Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 When I first bought Moving Pictures, I could barely bring myself to listen to it Jesus really? Fascinating. It killed me from day one and continues to do so. All my other Top 5 Rush albums have some niggling flaw in them to some degree but that album is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. Well that's how I've always seen it. I'm glad many here probably don't share my love for it. Anyways, back to VS...I get that Steevo. From where I at, the song is a really good song, and is unique sounding in every sense of the word. IMO it seems out of place on the album amidst those miracle songs. Hmmm, ok, never thought of it as that jarring but all good TM :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tombstone Mountain Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 (edited) When I first bought Moving Pictures, I could barely bring myself to listen to it Jesus really? Fascinating. It killed me from day one and continues to do so. All my other Top 5 Rush albums have some niggling flaw in them to some degree but that album is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. Well that's how I've always seen it. I'm glad many here probably don't share my love for it. Anyways, back to VS...I get that Steevo. From where I at, the song is a really good song, and is unique sounding in every sense of the word. IMO it seems out of place on the album amidst those miracle songs. Hmmm, ok, never thought of it as that jarring but all good TM :)This context makes more sense. I know it seems odd to make that assertion, but let this play out in your mind in terms of vibe. It's laughable to even entertain this though I admit SubdivisionsThe Analog KidChemistryVital SignsThe WeaponDigital ManLosing ItCountdown... Edited July 5, 2015 by Tombstone Mountain 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narps Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 It took me a while to warm up to Vital Signs. I always considered it the weakest point on the album but I no longer do. Not sure what the heck I was thinking because I think its great now... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuesday's Gone Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 I love Vital Signs although it's not one of my faves on MP. For someone who views Permanent Waves as "the beginning of the end" what ? imo, that was their best album ever at the time of its release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tombstone Mountain Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 It's the underlying synth part that makes it a better fit for Signals...the loop has the signature of a Signals song Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HemiBeers Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 When I first bought Moving Pictures, I could barely bring myself to listen to it Jesus really? Fascinating. It killed me from day one and continues to do so. All my other Top 5 Rush albums have some niggling flaw in them to some degree but that album is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. Well that's how I've always seen it. I'm glad many here probably don't share my love for it. Anyways, back to VS...I get that Steevo. From where I at, the song is a really good song, and is unique sounding in every sense of the word. IMO it seems out of place on the album amidst those miracle songs. Word! Can anyone tell me what Word! means? I lost my ghetto to old white guy translation guide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tombstone Mountain Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 When I first bought Moving Pictures, I could barely bring myself to listen to it Jesus really? Fascinating. It killed me from day one and continues to do so. All my other Top 5 Rush albums have some niggling flaw in them to some degree but that album is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. Well that's how I've always seen it. I'm glad many here probably don't share my love for it. Anyways, back to VS...I get that Steevo. From where I at, the song is a really good song, and is unique sounding in every sense of the word. IMO it seems out of place on the album amidst those miracle songs. Word! Can anyone tell me what Word! means? I lost my ghetto to old white guy translation guide.The guys flashing the gang signs can I'm sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steevo Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 When I first bought Moving Pictures, I could barely bring myself to listen to it Jesus really? Fascinating. It killed me from day one and continues to do so. All my other Top 5 Rush albums have some niggling flaw in them to some degree but that album is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. Well that's how I've always seen it. I'm glad many here probably don't share my love for it. Anyways, back to VS...I get that Steevo. From where I at, the song is a really good song, and is unique sounding in every sense of the word. IMO it seems out of place on the album amidst those miracle songs. Hmmm, ok, never thought of it as that jarring but all good TM :)This context makes more sense. I know it seems odd to make that assertion, but let this play out in your mind in terms of vibe. It's laughable to even entertain this though I admit SubdivisionsThe Analog KidChemistryVital SignsThe WeaponDigital ManLosing ItCountdown... Yep I see where you're coming from. I just have no issue with it as a closer. I have to admit I hadn't heard much Rush prior to MP so maybe I was just more accepting of the style than others on first listen. Funnily enough Signals ranks very low for me overall. Also going against popular opinion here! Well it used to be like that...Goobs! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Principled Man Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 When I first bought Moving Pictures, I could barely bring myself to listen to it Because it was so extraordinarily great, it was simply too much to handle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleMoon Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 I've always loved everything on MP's and this song is no exception. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Posted July 5, 2015 Author Share Posted July 5, 2015 When I first bought Moving Pictures, I could barely bring myself to listen to it Because it was so extraordinarily great, it was simply too much to handle? lol because when you are 13 or 14 and are buying Iron Maiden's KILLERS along w/ Moving Pictures, "Vital Signs" took a while to get there ... But it landed, and it landed well :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JARG Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 I've pretty much always liked this song. Compositionally and lyrically, it's spectacular...the only shortcoming is the arrangement. It should've been more rock, less new wave. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCDaniels Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 Hello. My name is Tom (HI TOM!) Hi..... and I...... well......... Vital Signs is one of my favorite Rush songs... in fact... well........ it may be my favorite. There. I said it........... now you know my silent shame. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segue Myles Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 I love the song to death. Which puzzles me as I don't really enjoy Signals 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUSHHEAD666 Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 For someone who views Permanent Waves as "the beginning of the end", you might figure that Vital Signs would be the last song I pick to start a thread .. When I first bought Moving Pictures, I could barely bring myself to listen to it - but out of the entire RUSH catalog, Vital Signs is THE song that has done the full 180 .. I love it, and as time goes by, it really stands out for me more and more - maybe even Top 25 ... The lyrics are perfect - not over explained - ambiguous enough to really fit the music .. Everybody got mixed feelingsAbout the function and the formEverybody got to elevate from the norm The band was obviously going thru a change - and I am sure Neil, in particular, saw it as "evolving" Everybody got to deviate from the norm I take this as not only a deviation from the societal norm, by perhaps also from the personal "norm" - again, change within the band, the musical direction, and most likely, the relationships within the band .. The impulse is pureSometimes our circuits get shortedBy external interferenceSignals get crossedAnd the balance distortedBy internal incoherence Internal incoherence - could Neil be referring to that within the band, or perhaps Terry Brown, or is this more a general take on society ala Witch Hunt ? Whatever the case, Vital Signs is a pretty fascinating little piece of music - and the band did it well ... SIGNALS get crossed - an example of a lyric that carried over - a segue if you will - to the new beginning ... Also of interest is the original Permanent Waves cover that was posted here the other day - the "vital signs" cover ... What do ya think ?This song is about drugs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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