Classical Pianist Rush La Villa Strangiato Reaction

[@PJAlphaMusic]

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[@Fred-vy1hm]

The best Rock instrumental ever performed. Rush threw down the gauntlet to other bands when Hemispheres was released, it was so technically difficult that even Rush never attempted a project so complex again.

[@SnowDogisVictorious]

Another solid reaction, thanks. Just one nitpick. This song was first composed and performed in 1978. Welcome to the Jungle wasn’t released until 1987, on that band’s debut album. So, this song can’t possibly sound like G&R. It’s the other way around. Many of metal’s giants have cited Rush’s work as having had a significant influence on their music, including guys from bands such as Anthrax, Tool, Dream Theatre, Metallica. In fact, around the time their bands were respectively inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, both Kirk Hammett and Slash were quoted as having suggested that Rush should have been inducted before them. This was your first taste of the Rush music that has caused its members to be known collectively as the founders of prog metal. They published five albums between 1974 and 1978, before they made the first of many musical turns, so there is much more to enjoy.

[@bobcarn]

This was their first instrumental. Alex was telling them in great detail about a bizarre dream he had, and they decided to put it to music. It was a surprise for us fans, hearing such an amazing instrumental with so many different styles in it. It was so popular, they put out a lot more instrumentals over the years, each one getting better and better.

[@PJAlphaMusic]

Very unique. They did play this in a couple of live concerts, correct?

[@bobcarn]

@@PJAlphaMusic They played it in a lot of concerts. It's one of Alex's most memorable performances. It made it in a lot of shows as an ending song or an encore song.

[@stantheman9072]

Yes, but also no. Future instrumentals were never better. Also great but never better.

[@bobcarn]

@@stantheman9072 "YYZ" can be debated to be better. Later instrumentals also were more complex, with more intricate melodies. "The Main Monkey Business" is a good example. It's flawless. I like their newer stuff as much as their older stuff. Well... most of the newer stuff.

[@stantheman9072]

@@bobcarn You’re absolutely right. It can all be debated, and I love them all but none exceeded their first or even matched it, but opinions vary. It’s an amazing band in that they only ever failed to measure up to themselves. They are only comparable to themselves. They were the best in so many ways.

[@cpmf2112]

I usually recommend listening to the studio versions first and then watching the live versions because it will give you a whole new level of appreciation for their musical mastery.

[@jimtatro6550]

This is the greatest rock instrumental ever.

[@byronness7385]

Was cool to hear you say they were taking a risk back in the day, the band even stated it was their toughest album to record because of the concepts they were trying… the fans ate it up because it was amazing

[@PJAlphaMusic]

You can tell it was a huge risk, but they listened to their guys and made it happen!

[@byronness7385]

@@PJAlphaMusic that they did 🤘

[@t0dd000]

The light drumming and high-hat work and the ghost taps on the snare during that quieter section is just ... sublime. This entire song is arguably my favorite example of Neil's drumming.

[@cityhonors1]

🤗 We do love our Rush! We all enjoy watching a new Generation discover & enjoy them as much as we still do! 🥰🐰

[@ComedianRonBender]

Interesting that you compare them to bands that mainly come after them.

[@itzel1735]

When something predates us, or we discover it out of chronological order, it’s always hard to get the sequence right. Thanks for setting the context in a constructive way. These comparisons are interesting to me because it show the influence one generation of musicians had on the next. ✌🏽

[@kevinjennings238]

Watching you Groom your "Beard" reminds me of Another RUSH Song> "Leave That Thing ALONE"!!!!!!!

[@debbieplato5107]

This album came out in 1978 and it is one of most their brilliant. There are similarities between progressive rock and classical music. This song was based on a series of nightmares that Alex Lifeson the guitarist had. The song is set up like a dream as in the beginning the layers portray someone fallen asleep and at the end of the song it ends very abrupt like someone waking up.

[@compnnburns8831]

No not guns n roses, Rush pre-dated them by 10 years! Your Van halen reference is also wrong as Rush unknowingly took this Monsters theme from a 1930's big band composer, also used in cartoons in 1940's as well. Rush later paid the composer when they found out even though his claim was out of date under copyright law, so Rush, the good guys!

[@itzel1735]

👍🏽

[@iRenegade164]

"An exercise in self-indulgence," one of my very favorites from Rush. I've always hoped to be listening to Alex's solo in this piece of work when I join the cosmos because it never, ever fails to give me a brain-gasm!

[@danielcote9386]

One day, a journalist asked Eddie Van Halen: “How does it feel to be the best guitarist in the world?” “I don't know, you'll have to ask Alex Lifeson!”

[@AlexRubbo]

I used to live at 'Pape and Danforth'. It's an intersection of two main roads in Toronto, specifically in an area called 'Greek Town', so called because of all the Greek immigrants, shops and restaurants. Just a small bit of info...

[@jervic7997]

Fun fact: The full title of the piece is La Villa Strangiatto (An Exercise in Self-indulgence) Which it totally was.

[@lindaward5376]

Another song that you might like is Cygnus X-1, a masterpiece so epic that they had to do it in two pieces; Book 1 is the closing track on A Farewell To Kings, and Book 2 is the leadoff track on Hemispheres, adding up to 30 minutes of pure prog glory. Cheers from Canada! 🇨🇦 🎤 🎹 🎸 🥁 🎸 🐐 🐐 🐐

[@mark-be9mq]

One of their best. Also one of their most difficult & draining albums to make.

[@rexatkins9264]

Subtitled….”An Exercise in Self Indulgence” this is instrumental progressive metal sublimity at its finest, and just that…..an exercise in self indulgence. If you could play this piece on any of the three instruments you were badass! But, this is also Alex Lifeson’s most shining moment from start to finish(.) That building, stirring to climactic solo, alone, is reason enough to keep coming back for more! 🤘🏼 Also, I’m extremely glad you’re entering the stupendous RUSH rabbit hole, and it’s quite the long, labyrinthine journey, but please, Please, PLEASE, no comparisons to music that came AFTER them! Thank you, that is all.

[@cityhonors1]

🤗 OMG! You "get" Rush! 🤯 What you said happened to them. Record Company gave Rush 1 more chance or be cut from Label! 😂 Rush said "Hold my 🍺 and produced the Album 2112, with 2112 being 1 song covering ALL of side 1 telling an Epic story (😒 No Spoilers but the Album came with Lyrics and Liner notes to follow along) which the fans ate up and demanded more! 😍 Plus Side 2 contained some gems that also are considered 'Classic Rush' like 🏎🚓🚓 Red Barchetta. 🤭 After that they told Rush do what you want...... and the rest is history! 🤔 We got The Fear Series of songs, The Cygnus Books (🙄 which literally picked up the story on the NEXT Album.) 😒 They sent a rocket ship thru a blackhole and made us wait until the next Album Hemispheres came out to find out what happened. They also Toured alot and faithfully played songs decade after decade 🤯 "Just like the records" we grew up doing homework to. 🤔 Playing air guitar to Rush, Queen, Floyd, Who & Zep could be why it took forever to finish it. But we managed, grew up, got jobs and no longer had to ask parental units for permission to go to a show with your friends! 😂🥰😋🐰

[@itzel1735]

Lerxst is guitarist Alex Lifeson’s nickname. This is his opus.

[@Gurnstir]

Greatest Canadian band of all time! Need to check out the song 2112. Settle in its a 20 minute doozy

[@HollowGolem]

Fun fact: the "Monsters" theme is actually from an old jazz tune called "Powerhouse" by Raymond Scott released in 1937. Scott's management sued the band for copyright infringement, but the statued of limitations on the claim had passed (basically, "it couldn't have hurt your sales that much if it took you this long to notice the infringement") but the bando's label paid Scott (who was still alive at the time) anyway. And the guitar-heavy section, "A Lerxst in Wonderland" references the band's nickname for their guitarist, Lerxst (he goes by Alex, though his real name is Aleksandar, given by his Serbian parents)

[@PJAlphaMusic]

They got sued because of the melody being part of their track?

[@SnowDogisVictorious]

The publishing company that held the rights to Powerhouse didn’t actually “sue” the band. It merely notified the band of the alleged infringement. As the statute of limitations had already expired. Y that point, it would have been futile to actually pursue an infringement action (as it would have been the subject of a successful motion to strike, for want of a legal basis for the claim). As you correctly noted, a payment was nonetheless made to the publisher, in deference to Mr. And Mrs. Scott. It’s likely that, had a valid claim still existed, one might have seen a result in which credit would have been made to Mr Scott in future releases of records with the song on it, as well as an ongoing royalty payment.

[@xanadoooo]

Yeah! Also the Beatles sounded like Miley Cyrus. 🤪

[@jeffwood32]

FYI your microphone is way too loud. I'm loving your choices in music I saw Rush back in the late 70s along with most of the prog rock bands of the time. The best music ever✌️ Thanks for all your work putting this music out for people to discover

[@kevinjennings238]

Also, Groom Yourself BEFORE the Camera is ON!!!

[@scott4482]

Dude, you gotta quit comparing them to other bands, whatever you mention RUSH did it first.

[@TwippyTwilight]

I was just thinking that

[@toddashton9696]

I hear the Van Halen connection.

[@katskillz]

Hot for Teacher, etc

[@hawklee9702]

I would like to finish the vid, however, I find a cool dude trying to fit la villa in the back seat while he combs the beard. Rush, especially la villa Strangiato is more of a get in, sit down, shut up and try to hold on kind of band. Focus on the mastery at hand so I can try another of your reactions to the music gods that form Rush. Try something old like The Necromancer and listen and hear the story. Thank you.

[@jan7362]

In the seventies and eighties they didn't call it metal but heavy rock or progressive rock.

[@jamesmorrill9650]

Try 2112

[@fsavaluationservice2099]

Very "Guns and Roses, Van Halen and early 80's?" Really. La Villa Strangiato was released in 1978. I think you mean Guns and Roses, Van Halen and the 80's are very "Rush!" Rush sets the trends and standards, they do not follow anyone!

[@chrisbanks5925]

Rush were first.

[@oikoyenos6335]

You talk instead of listening!

[@anthonycary6436]

Beard dude so sad

[@PJAlphaMusic]

hater