Drum Teacher Reacts: RUSH | 'Limelight' | (Moving Pictures 1981 Track 4)

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

I have done the 'Exit Stage Left' live version. I have done the isolated drums version. I have also recorded a cover of this! This is my first time listening to the full album version, analyzing and sharing my thoughts with you on that. I really hope you enjoy Rush Week 2.0. Neil Peart is a legend! Enjoy :) Be sure to check out my Neil Peart/Rush playlist and my Rush cover! kzbin.info/aero/PLqspKksRqaUVia4e736aSQdeyr_KIN-hI SUBSCRIBE! ► kzbin.info DRUMEO 30 - Day Trial ► www.drumeo.com/andrewrooney/

[@declankelly8964]

Andrew, do ‘WIP 1’ by Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group live in LA. Could be the greatest live drumming you’ll ever see.

[@TragicallySchapp]

Rush Week, it’s the most wonderful time of the year

[@briantomczak21]

and that is just one song, now imagine what Neil had to remember for a 3 hour show. with all the songs they would play, and all the changes. that is why he will always be the best.

[@konradkanuckle5920]

Its amazing to think about! The stamina, the memory, the precision, the solo too! Almost too much for one man? Not for our Proffessor!!!

[@davecole2561]

It was Hemingway who once said he tried to write as if seeing words for the first time. Like many Rush tracks, I've heard this dozens of times but they're so great that I am always forced to listen with fresh ears. Limelight is one of the greatest 4ish minutes of music I've ever heard. Sublime!

[@mikedown3219]

And probably the best lyrics of any Rush track, so personal to Neil with his struggle to handle fan aculation

[@loveagainstgods5116]

There has never been and will never be another percussionist like the Professor

[@chrisegbertky]

Astounding drummer in every sense of that word. RUSH is an incredible phenomenon. We are blessed to be here when they arrived.

[@charlieYTonly]

"A lot of stuff going on" and "lot of time signature changes"... what's great about Rush is they can make a song rhythmically interesting so it's fun to play and fun for people who like that sort of thing but, unless you actually count it out, most people can't tell the meter is all over the place. That was (one of) the geniuses of Rush: regardless of how complex the song was, in the end it still sounded like a good, listenable song.

[@scottperry67]

Sorry I'm so late to the party. Thank you my friend for keeping the music & memory alive of Neil & Rush. These guys have been the soundtrack of my life since Moving Pictures in 1981. First concert EVER was their Signals Tour in 1983 & never missed one through their final R-40 show in June of 2015. I truly appreciate your enthusiasm & respect to my 3 favorite musicians of all time. Music has changed so much over the years & I hate to live in the past but it's so hard not to with this band. Thank you for much again my friend. Cheers 😊

[@lindaward5376]

Yes, Neil was a classic left-brained thinker, and he was very meticulous and precise in everything he did. When I'm listening to Rush, I find that I'm mainly using my right brain, which is more focused on the big picture than on every little detail, and I can really appreciate how everything comes together here to bring out Neil's lyrical expression of his discomfort with life in the public eye, especially the change-ups before and during Alex's solo. Great reaction as always; looking forward to Side 2 of Moving Pictures! 🎤 🎹 🎸 🥁 🎸 🐐 🐐 🐐

[@mrbig1844]

These guys are magicians, there's no other word for them,simply astonishing,virtuoso musicianship from start to finish,the whole album is a masterpiece!❤️

[@Forsaken75]

Thought I might suggest "Niel Peart a work in progress" I bought the DVD way back in the day, included drum tab, and really explained his thought process. His warm-up routine is really interesting. Seemingly you can find both part 1 and 2 o youtube so give it a go.

[@lindapryor3747]

I just love seeing another drummer analyze what’s going on in these songs. It just shows us how good a drummer we are listening to. Thanks!

[@gregxite]

This song and Subdivisions are probably the only songs in pop history to change time signatures more than once or twice. I’d be curious if anybody ever researched that. And it’s a golden testament to Rush’s command over time.

[@princeofpcos9804]

'Money' by Pink Floyd was a hit with odd time signatues and changes but there aren't many

[@gregxite]

@@princeofpcos9804 I think that goes once from 7 to 4 during the solo...cool tune but not even close.

[@TrevRockOne]

It's more common than you think.

[@gregxite]

@@TrevRockOne Hmmmm I think a lot and know a lot of music. Happy to see a list of 5 pop songs that have significant time signature shifts. I mean songs that we all know. Beatles snuck some good ones in!

[@princeofpcos9804]

@@gregxite Joni Mitchell's stuff is insane. Maybe not popular pop but bands like Tool groove to her. Some of Bob Dylan's stuff

[@brookehornback1896]

🥰 AWESOME! Displaced snare hits, I think you said, is something I'm not familiar with.Learning new stuff everyday,lots to learn.Excited to check out your cover.Appreciated!!!

[@Brian-kl1gf]

Good morning from New England Andrew...Moving Pictures is an album I play in it's entirety 3-4 a yr with the last song Vital Signs being the only Rush track I was able to nail...RIP NEIL...Thx for doing these vids man..Peace ☮️

[@velbe]

Best part of Rush time signature changes for me are that you don't realise there is time signature change until you count and listen to one... and then you go 'oooooh, that's what happened!'.

[@chrisandersen5635]

Amazing to think really, this song routinely gets played on rock radio, at least in the States. They found a way to make these complexities digestible and accessible. You can think of all time changes and theoretical intricacies and geek out, or you can just rock out!

[@JimF-777]

I so love the Rush videos where you get good view of Neil on the kit, but I'm really liking these one you're doing with the drum music and the playhead. Never could read music, or even tried, but I can see the relationship of the written notes and can clearly associate with the instruments I'm hearing. Very cool! Thanks

[@brossjackson]

As we finish up Limelight, let’s pause for a moment to note that this finishes up Side One, and you’d be hard pressed to find a more “all killer, no filler” album side.

[@joeday4293]

At least until you get to side 2. 🤘

[@DirkGently04]

Until side 2, lol

[@DirkGently04]

@@joeday4293 beat me to the punch

[@sharonmattox]

One thing I really enjoy about watching you and other musicians reacting to a lot of my favourite songs is.. since I myself am not a musician.. is that you all get me listening to familiar songs that I love, in a whole new way, making me hear things I've never heard before. Thank you! 🤘😁

[@iKvetch558]

Really great video...Limelight is not one of my favorite Rush songs, but your analysis on the drumming really brought some new perspective and insight into the track. Looking forward to your takes on the tracks of side 2. 💯💯✌✌😁😁

[@justingoulet9714]

An amazing side of music each one a classic. Can't wait till tomorrow The Camera Eye 👁️ 11 minute epic Side two to complete the perfect album Spilling over with virtuosity Till tomorrow

[@oliver6749]

You did an awesome cover bro! I have been playing guitar for over 40 years and it's always hard to mimic someone else's style to a tee. Definitely good enough to post, love your videos!

[@billbowman3413]

Loving Rush week! Thank you Andrew!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Thanks Bill!

[@kippsguitar6539]

Your cover.was.great AND considering the kit limitations, typical seasoned drummer professional, very loose, effortless and no stiffness, the older the professor got the looser and more back of the pocket he was on time which is the real hallmark for me, the best analysis videos I have seen to date, such in depth knowledge that has taught me plenty despite me.listenimg these songs for 40 odd years (but i AM a guitarist so huge gaps in my drumming knowhow), great work sir!

[@michaelt3308]

Don't know nothing bout time signatures, time changes or even how to read music but this shit is FANTASTIC! Was fortunate enough enough to see them only three times.....

[@ericdravenX00X]

Its always a pleasure, see ya tomorrow.

[@konradkanuckle5920]

Thanks so much! Your knowledge has grown my intellect ( ?! ) even after forty plus years listening to RUSH. I've sent to my daughter your breakdowns, when she asked what I was doing. ( bragging I could now almost follow the music sheets! ). Past decades, I just enjoyed....then followed guitar (Alex ), then a few more years of just focusing on bass ( Geddy ) then years of just the Proffessor. Now " Here again " ( haha ) totally new experience and still learning! Much more appreciation now for the "JAM " SOLOS....where before I'd just hear parts ( pearts ) of. Thank you, from west coast Canada,....peace.

[@randyfurness5588]

These three were in their twenties when they did this masterpeice. Unreal 🤯

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yes!

[@pm2785]

Neil's solo in Frankfort is the Pinnacle of drumming.

[@bradpriebe9218]

Rush were masters of time signature changed without them sounding awkward or clumsy. I know this week is a deep dive into Moving Pictures (you've still got some great music ahead of you) but I'd like to suggest at some point listening to the song "Subdivisions" from the Signals album (1982)

[@hugolafhugolaf]

That song is pretty much perfect. Catchy, tricky, yet groovy. Check out Rick Beato's analysis of the song. Some of his best work.

[@DirkGently04]

Beato is all of us when he gets to the end and is just so caught up in air drumming that he can't even speak: the pure unadulterated dog-with-it's-head-out-the-window joy on his face

[@eralar2]

Your videos are great. I've been a Rush fan for a long time and was hearing all these things in Neil Peart's play, it's great to finally kind of understand what's going on. As someone who's trying (and trying is the word here lol) to learn base guitar, this also helps understand how each part interlock with the next one.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Glad to help!

[@mlinderict]

Regarding his show kit vs. yours, he reportedly liked to play different kits as it challenged him. Look at his "Burning for Buddy" setup (very reminiscent of Rich's set). Search for his warm up kit. Very minimal. Neil wrote parts that progressed. (Not a drummer/percussionist, but a lifelong critical listener.) Listening to Tom Sawyer, the drum part is similar in each verse-chorus segment, but progresses; single strokes to flams, etc. That is part of his genius that causes a reaction in the listener, but is only noticed as an ah-ha! on closer "examination." Love your channel!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Great stuff Michael!

[@Snowdog070]

Happy to comment having just returned from the "Neil Peart Pavilion" at Lakeside Park in St. Catharines, Ontario, Neil's home town. I very much enjoy your analysis of Rush music and of course, from your perspective, Neil's drumming. I am not a musician but I have two ears and a yearning to learn the basics of how music is structured if only to better understand the music of RUSH my favourite band. Yes, I'm Canadian and that helps but RUSH is one of Canada's many gifts to the world. Enjoy!!

[@Musical_Skye]

Your Limelight cover was great. I hope you don't feel your attempt was inadequate in any way; Neil would've been the first to appreciate your efforts and more than likely would've been amazed - and humbled! - that not only did you pull it off on a 4-piece but he would've applauded your creativity in how you adapted that final fill flurry at the end. I mean that genuinely.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Wow, thank you!

[@kaynesantor8136]

Neil was amazing at keeping a lifeline through the song despite the time. anyone can rock out to rush, even if they're not aware of what they're rocking out to.

[@mannybravo237]

"All the world's indeed a stage, and we are mearly players!" ~the Professor

[@snakeinthegrass7443]

"Good morning Andrew it's KZbin". What DO you have in your coffee, Andrew? 🤣🤣

[@donnelson6694]

Always love your Drumeo analyses. I really enjoyed how you adapted your cover of Limelight to your 4 piece. Thanks Andrew.

[@springy-2112]

Oh it's so close to The Camera Eye. I can't wait to see your reaction. Its Epic! Just like Sabbaths into the void , the camera eye is a very special song for me. Moments in life related to Music . Smells. Textures. Taste. When I was young I wanted to be older. Turns out I was wrong! ✌️❤️🤗 Apologies for the rambling I'm just reminiscing.

[@kriskollmar9728]

Btw, notice how just after the guitar solo Neil is playing in 4/4 while geddy and Alex are both playing in 3/4 at the same freaking time. Only time I can think of hearing 2 time signatures at the same time.

[@darthvicious9447]

I was at an open mic night and wanted to sing Tom Sawyer and the drum set available was only a 5 piece, but I gotta hand to the guy he definitely pulled it off even on such a small set.

[@gregoryrogalsky6937]

The drum parts the Neil worked out are worth a deep exploration.

[@tatsuono9823]

Did you just intro the vid with 'Hey hey, what is up, Andrew? It is KZbin here'? Awesome. Keep up the great work, KZbin!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

🤣👌

[@talibqizilbash704]

9:26 to 9:52. It is unusual. But I wouldn’t write it like that. I would think of it as Neil and Geddy playing together in 4/4 as Alex continues with his 3/4 arpeggio phrase, until they all meet up again in the 4/4 part of the chorus. That’s what Rush does: constantly mixing it up, and all with so much subtlety you barely notice it. Previously in the song, the first part of the chorus all are playing together in 3/4 then all switch to 4/4. Post-solo, the Neil and Geddy barrel through the entire chorus in 4/4. It fits perfectly with the imperative nature of the lyrics: “Those who wish to be, must put aside the alienation…”

[@DirkGently04]

The 3 against 4 split here has wrecked more than a few rhythm sections who didn't know what they were getting into when they tried to cover this :-)

[@Mr1Tanker]

Oh yeah...bring on The Camera Eye!! 😁

[@mdu2112]

What a song, what a song!

[@eevahuhtala9311]

In this video Neil talks about his approach to time signature changes and a few other things you've mentioned in your videos this Rush week (which I've absolutely loved, by the way! ❤) Enjoy! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXqvqY2Dm6t1jLs

[@sherriborzymowski]

Love the up beat!

[@ThinkOfANumber68]

He really worked on his improv later in his career, especially after relearning his technique with Freddy Gruber, but yes most of the creativity was for the pre-recording phase. The last couple of albums, produced by Nick Raskulinecz, had a more improv recording of the drums and he did put more improv fills into his live sets.

[@workingman6681]

Love it, Love it, Love it! Look forward to Vitals Signs📈📉 and Camera Eye.👁👁

[@merbertancriwalli8622]

Don't know whether this has already been commented on - but on Moving Pictures there is remarkably little double kick. Just a very agile right foot, especially when playing the hi-hat opens and closes with his left (confesses to not being a drummer here). You talk about an unusual structure of a groove around 10:05 - i see it as playing a straight 4 over the 3 - but as I said, I'm not a drummer. And having listened to this from 40 years ago, it's rather ingrained in my head. He was called the professor for a reason :-)

[@JamesDandyTTR]

Looking forward to "Camera Eye" Tomorrow as it is one of my favorite Rush songs. And Neil really shreds...

[@JoeyB469]

If that intro Meme was a t-shirt, I would SO buy it.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

HAHA

[@paulgiltner5224]

I enjoyed listening to your reaction to Rush's Limelight. On a different note, I'm not a drummer but I'd love to hear your explanation of the syncopation in Jacob's Ladder on Exit Stage Left beginning around the 6 minute mark at the start of Alex's magnificent arpeggios. I've never heard anyone explain that pattern of beats.

[@anthonywilson7681]

guide us "gently".... not a word I would use when watching Neil pound that snare every time. lol I noticed you haven't reacted to "The Trees" or "Bastille Day", two of my fav Rush songs.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

I'll get to them Anthony

[@red_five1542]

Neil would surround himself with no less that 4 large kits 360 degrees around him and then hang chimes, tubular bells, gongs and exotic percussives outside of the kits so he could lean over the kits and hit everything else as well! Once Rush achieved high financial success, he pretty much never played less than 200 pieces live! I have had the fortune of watching them live 4 times and I am no expert. But if it where not from the top down camera view of him on the big screens, you could not see him at all behind his gear!

[@EduChaparro]

Awesome Andrew, thanks for the education

[@lawrenceschuman5354]

Subdivisions, Spirit of Radio, Time Stand Still, Distant Early Warning, The Big Money, check them out.

[@justaguy6129]

Nobody does transitions like Rush.

[@MissingMars]

So glad ur doing this -know the album well & enjoy reliving it on this channel. Keep going Andrew ;-}

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Cheers

[@plantfeeder6677]

In 1975 my girlfriend brought over an album she said I had to hear cause she was already a huge fan. The album was Caress of Steel and I hated it because as I told her the singer sounded like he'd been smoking martian cigarettes if you get my reference. To which she got mad saying, "your not listening, your not hearing the music!" And admittedly I didn't and wasn't, being consumed by a voice that I thought unreal and quite annoying. So fast forward 10 years and I'm being asked to join a friend's band with some old friend musicians from back in the '70s who happen to love Rock and were huge Rush fans. Now here I am the keyboard/lead singer and have got to Learn Rush Songs!! Along with songs by Kansas, Montrose, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, ZZ Top and Skynyrd to name just a few(many I already knew but not the Rush tunes). Needless to say after learning a half a dozen of their songs from Working Man to Red Barchetta, I got what my old girlfriend was all about. We never did anything off CoS but man what a band. There was 5 of us and their songs were still by far the hardest ones to learn which made playing them live very very challenging and gratifying when we got it right. Oh and as far as Getty's voice goes, his pitch is very high but in my range and is very much like Axel Rose's vocal pitch but softer. My opinion of his voice hasn't changed but it wouldn't be Rush without it so it is what it is and you were right all along, Debbie!

[@RB-YWGLGA]

Andrew, please don’t apologize for not being Neil. None of us are. ❤

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

🙏

[@franklewis6943]

2:45 Viewers should hear your words and then view your videos reacting to El Estepario Siberiano. It isn't about how many drums and cymbals you have in your set-up but the number of ideas you have in your head and heart.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

💯🙌

[@randomperson8771]

As someone who has just recently as of yesterday stumbled across your channel due to the Dimmu borgir reaction you seemed to really enjoy the fusion of metal and orchestral. But there is an even better mix by a band called skalold and the full live show is still currently on youtube for anyone to enjoy. And if you'd like to review a song for your channel Kvaoning As has been uploaded if you or anyone else would like to enjoy. However I suggest people watch the full show as it will blow you all away

[@davidkoblentz]

to me this is more of a guitar sig track for rush... that sound.. and also ged's vocals... I never went deep dive on the drums for this one.. this was always my "rockin" Rush track to play air guitar too... now that I am on a "drum" channel it makes me pay more attention, man... it just proves how good they were/are... near pop/prog so good no one can deny...

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yeah drums are great on this one

[@thephilosophersrant1552]

When Neil is doing those driving eighths on the bass he is using a single kick.

[@academaciated7466]

No, you absolutely need that full Tama Superstar kit! 😁

[@academaciated7466]

Our local drum shop in Toledo, Ohio USA has a beautiful replica kit from that period.

[@SylviusTheMad]

The way Neil alternates between snare and kick from bar to bar makes it feel to me as if the rest of the band is playing 4 bars of 7/4, but Neil is playing 7 bars of 4/4.

[@nonsuch]

This is one of the harder Neil drum parts to play and master, even though it may not sound like it.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Check out my cover of it Rob!

[@mjm5081]

❤ ❤... ❤

[@obiwanbenobi4943]

Nice open! :)

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

HAHA

[@obiwanbenobi4943]

@@AndrewRooneyDrums Intentional? I'm assuming yes. :)

[@johnmiller4553]

🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@23skidoo46]

check out Otoboke Beaver . great japanese all girl band punk rock. killer drummer

[@DallasGunther]

That guitar solo was actually just Alex pulling something out of his ass in the studio and they ended up keeping it.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Ha! Awesome

[@mpotter9944]

The Spirit of Radio?

[@jons3808]

Love your breakdown and analysis. Typical genius of Neil on display here… precisely why he has been the biggest influence on my drumming for over 40 years. Bonham is another one of my favorite and biggest musical influences. He was incredible. But seriously, Neil runs circles around him. Just saying 🤷

[@Snowdog070]

I would agree. I'm certainly not here to chirp Bonham as he is legend, his drumming is easy on the ear, powerful and the source of so many fills of note but when the inevitable comparison comes up, Bonham isn't worthy to carry Neil's sticks in my opinion.

[@ericvonsteuben7533]

Why did the end say, "Drum Fills", and not show the actual transcription?

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Trash can ending Eric. There's kinda no time there

[@gregxite]

Andy your cover was proficient. You haven’t been living with the song for years so you don’t have the feel for it the way others might. It sounded a bit like you were reading, and the main thing is attack. Neil beat the shit out of his drums to get the sound, and any kind of light playing performance just doesn’t have the impact the rush song needs. But it also depends on how much you’re going for Niels feel versus just kind of getting the song down. I did a cover of it that you can see on my channel. I’ve known this song for years… I did a cover in a day. I played with about 70% of the power I probably needed to and hit about 90% of the sales dead on. But I can always be done better! Having been friends with Neil and asking him directly “why do you play so hard?”…his answer was “it’s the only way to get THE SOUND”

[@Snowdog070]

Its a little known fact that Neil would turn his sticks around in the early days so as to hit the skins with the heavy end to impart greater energy. Later, of course, he had his owns sticks designed to his liking but again, heavy on the weight of the hit.

[@JoshTheCipher]

Man. I know I rattled off a few of my top albums when you posted last week But this album is technically better than DSoTM and it's not even a question. It really goes to show... not a popular opinion...and I'm a strings guy... but however great a band is.... they will only ever be as great as their drummer. Change my mind. 👀

[@RedPillMode]

What you missed it! There was a "That's whats she said"- moment at 3:00!

[@Ash_Hudson]

Casually refers to Neil's drumming as "gay" at 12:40.

[@sid7088]

???

[@jettrink7510]

Do we ever get to listen to the song ?

[@TheCyberMantis]

Alex Lifeson = chord quality

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

🙌

[@skeller1974]

Am I the only one who noticed you say "what is up Andrew it is KZbin here" in the intro to the video?

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Shhh Scott! 👀

[@skeller1974]

@@AndrewRooneyDrums I love it and think it's great. Love your channel. Keep up the good work!

[@warren_r]

9:40 Total nitpick..... I would argue that this whole part should be thought of as 6/4, not 3/4 as it is notated here. Snare on 2, 4, 6. Geddy's note groupings feel very "6" as well.

[@Snowdog070]

Ya, non-musician here but a guy with two ears and a will to understand. It's like in the last bit of Jacob's Ladder where a musician "feels" 6-7 but I count 13. That's one I'll have to work on from my non-musician perspective in order to understand the musician's feel.

[@gjmarr1]

What time signature are they using? All of them.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

🤣👌

[@sammyeldon6318]

Rick Beato does a what makes this song Great it's worth watching

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Sounds great Sammy

[@PaulThoresen]

Imagine being a mediocre drummer about 17 years old when this came out and trying to duplicate Peart at home ... Lol it did not work well for me 😹

[@kippsguitar6539]

Same for me on guitar as a 15 year old hack, AC/DC (great band) to this was quite a leap

[@greglux8317]

Illustrating why most Rush songs are impossible to dance to...

[@freddymo3339]

His name is pronounced, " PEAR T" , like a pear that YOU EAT ! NOT PEERT

[@mannybravo237]

?

[@scottcastro9383]

Someone should’ve told Neil that he was pronouncing his own name wrong all those years.