I'd never really listened to Rush before, either—I'm surprised by how poetic the lyrics are. There's some pretty thought-provoking stuff in there. Really relevant to what's on my mind today (and "you can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice" might inspire a future post). Thanks for sharing!
Dec 4, 2023Liked by Melissa Petrie, John Mistretta
@johnmistretta @thinkingman
I am delighted to be able to introduce you to Rush. One of my long-time favorite bands. A few tidbits…
Drummer Neal Peart (recently deceased) is/was one of the best drummers of all time. Early drum machines actually used his fills! He is that precise. At some point, just listen to the drums. Mind blown.
Peart's lyrics are highly philosophical and very anti-authoritarian/anti-communist.
2112 tells a 20-minute story about a future Earth—stultified, homogenized, and ruled by paternalistic technocrats…and the rebellion against it. Worthy of being made into a short movie. (in fact, it was made into a graphic novel, but I insist that you listen a few times before watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5jwxrTqoEA)
A little sci-fi and blunt at times, but good fun stuff!
Back in the 80s, I saw them live three times. It's just the three of them doing everything. Lee sometimes plays multiple instruments at the same time—keys with one hand, bass open-stringed with the other, taurus pedals with his feet. Musically, they are the real deal.
Thanks for sharing this! I really appreciate the background on the songs and can’t wait to listen to them.
To return the favor, Melissa and I are big Smashing Pumpkins fans. I’d share some recommendations, but there’s honestly too many. Here’s a piece Melissa wrote which may help you start getting into them.
Wow, I'm impressed—both by the heavy subject matter they tackle and by the musicianship (I can definitely see what you mean about the drums). Red Barchetta is an impressive song. I'm looking forward to the rest of your recommendations, particularly 2112. John and I are big music fans, and you may have just introduced us to a favorite.
Since you and John are big music fans, I would like to tell you about my #FreedomMusicFriday feature. Most (though not all) Fridays, I share a piece of music that has some sort of message oriented to human freedom. I believe that movements need music, so I am trying to spread this practice and get others to do it too!
Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed your last post about Jem's "They" (both the song and your thoughts about it). I'll definitely be looking out for the series on Fridays.
I woke up this morning thinking to myself... What if we took a minute to invision a new idea or thought to ourselves, something amazing and new is going to present itself to us on this new day... Jason Breshears who i have suggested you guys check out, calls this "breaking pattern". So what a synchronicity when i opened your post and found this article. One of the ways we open up a new path of possibility is to change our routine. If you get up every morning start the coffee and check your mail, choose to do something different, like instead go outside and listen to the morning birds. Take a walk before you make your coffee. Jason says these little changes... And so does Vadim Zeland, that by doing this your reality opens up new possibilities. So whatever you choose stay in awareness to what your world is offering you in this new moment
I really like this idea! I've never really thought about it, but it rings true—whenever I've changed up the little things in my life, I've noticed bigger changes. Then, once I relax into the routine again, things start to go stale for a while.
This was a good reminder to 'break pattern' a little. Love synchronicities like this!
glad you have had experiences that confirm this!! me too, they lead to paradigm shifts in perceptions, and doors open... We live in a world of infinite possibility
That was beautifully put. Quite the wakeup call for a Monday morning. Looking forward to your new Think Tank series!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urBpdyFCZmo
I'd never really listened to Rush before, either—I'm surprised by how poetic the lyrics are. There's some pretty thought-provoking stuff in there. Really relevant to what's on my mind today (and "you can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice" might inspire a future post). Thanks for sharing!
Great song, first time I’m hearing it.
@johnmistretta @thinkingman
I am delighted to be able to introduce you to Rush. One of my long-time favorite bands. A few tidbits…
Drummer Neal Peart (recently deceased) is/was one of the best drummers of all time. Early drum machines actually used his fills! He is that precise. At some point, just listen to the drums. Mind blown.
Peart's lyrics are highly philosophical and very anti-authoritarian/anti-communist.
Red Barchetta envisions futuristic resistance to environmentalist tyranny: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mejBHBexVH4
2112 tells a 20-minute story about a future Earth—stultified, homogenized, and ruled by paternalistic technocrats…and the rebellion against it. Worthy of being made into a short movie. (in fact, it was made into a graphic novel, but I insist that you listen a few times before watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5jwxrTqoEA)
A little sci-fi and blunt at times, but good fun stuff!
They also have mind-boggling instrumentals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdpMpfp-J_I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK1hmDpa8bo
Back in the 80s, I saw them live three times. It's just the three of them doing everything. Lee sometimes plays multiple instruments at the same time—keys with one hand, bass open-stringed with the other, taurus pedals with his feet. Musically, they are the real deal.
Oh, one more anti-communist song is "The Trees," which I write about here: https://christophercook.substack.com/p/get-rush-anti-communism
Thanks for sharing this! I really appreciate the background on the songs and can’t wait to listen to them.
To return the favor, Melissa and I are big Smashing Pumpkins fans. I’d share some recommendations, but there’s honestly too many. Here’s a piece Melissa wrote which may help you start getting into them.
https://thinkingman.substack.com/p/escaping-neverland?r=1qfbta&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
If you’re a music fan and appreciate great art and musicianship you won’t be disappointed!
I commented on that great article, and I am now listening to "Zero." Great groove!
Wow, I'm impressed—both by the heavy subject matter they tackle and by the musicianship (I can definitely see what you mean about the drums). Red Barchetta is an impressive song. I'm looking forward to the rest of your recommendations, particularly 2112. John and I are big music fans, and you may have just introduced us to a favorite.
Sweet!
I gave you some of my faves, but there are so many more. "Tom Sawyer" is huge. "Xanadu" is a must. You'll see. Enjoy!
Since you and John are big music fans, I would like to tell you about my #FreedomMusicFriday feature. Most (though not all) Fridays, I share a piece of music that has some sort of message oriented to human freedom. I believe that movements need music, so I am trying to spread this practice and get others to do it too!
https://christophercook.substack.com/t/freedommusicfriday
Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed your last post about Jem's "They" (both the song and your thoughts about it). I'll definitely be looking out for the series on Fridays.
Isn't she groovy?
I woke up this morning thinking to myself... What if we took a minute to invision a new idea or thought to ourselves, something amazing and new is going to present itself to us on this new day... Jason Breshears who i have suggested you guys check out, calls this "breaking pattern". So what a synchronicity when i opened your post and found this article. One of the ways we open up a new path of possibility is to change our routine. If you get up every morning start the coffee and check your mail, choose to do something different, like instead go outside and listen to the morning birds. Take a walk before you make your coffee. Jason says these little changes... And so does Vadim Zeland, that by doing this your reality opens up new possibilities. So whatever you choose stay in awareness to what your world is offering you in this new moment
I really like this idea! I've never really thought about it, but it rings true—whenever I've changed up the little things in my life, I've noticed bigger changes. Then, once I relax into the routine again, things start to go stale for a while.
This was a good reminder to 'break pattern' a little. Love synchronicities like this!
glad you have had experiences that confirm this!! me too, they lead to paradigm shifts in perceptions, and doors open... We live in a world of infinite possibility