RUSH Animate from Counterparts -the psychology behind the lyrics of Neil Peart - Reaction & Analysis

[@stevialenoir509]

Insightful and well presented. As a sidenote, I completely agree that this song is underappreciated. Great video!

[@psychologyofrock]

Thanks so much! So glad you enjoyed it 😊🤘🏻

[@kevinmcfarlane2752]

It’s possibly the best song on the album.

[@psychologyofrock]

I agree! It's my favorite, at least :)

[@alicethroughthelookingglass]

You are the first person I've come across to put the lyrics of Animate so succinctly. I appreciate you pointing out what I also believe Neil meant by "A man must learn to rule his tender part" as referring to the brain of a man (his, perhaps other men as well) and how it refers to the feminine aspects within a dual personality that Jung thought were "extroversion and introversion". This, to me represents Neil well as we know he came to dislike very much being adulated by fans he did not know personally and that, if I may, seemed to offend, displease him and/or cause him distress. That's why Neil wrote, "I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend". Animate is one of my very favourite songs by RUSH both lyrically and musically. It's a masterpiece in my view.

[@psychologyofrock]

I completely agree! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! :)

[@timbaker7238]

Great analysis Nena! One of my favorite Rush songs and albums! Thanks!!!

[@psychologyofrock]

Same here! So glad you enjoyed, Tim! Thanks so much for watching! 😊🤘🏻

[@metalhipster8008]

The album & song that made me a Rush fan

[@psychologyofrock]

I’m so happy to hear that! I really feel like the song does not get the attention it deserves!

[@markjohnson4217]

I think this theme of searching for balance and wholeness is present throughout the entire album. In some ways it is a nod and wink to Hemispheres, which deals with the tension and balance between the intellectual and intuitive sides of the brain, expressed in the story as a battle between Apollo and Dionysus. If you haven't yet, that particular epic would be an amazing candidate for psychological analysis as it presents in a very comprehensive way the problem that humanity faces with the paradigm of dualism. Without a third reconciling force, the two are simply trapped in a perpetual state of conflict that can never be resolved or balanced. As every esoteric system has observed ; there is ALWAYS a third force, and like Rush themselves have proven, three is the most balanced and efficient number for any group or collaboration. the triad is the most rudimentary and dynamic shape in geometry and mathematics. Any mathematician will tell you that 2 is by far the most problemtic number, it is not a dynamic symmetry, it is static. Nothing can be done with it exponentially that can lead to anything but the same static symmetrical proximity.

[@psychologyofrock]

Beautifully stated, lots of interesting thoughts here! I appreciate you sharing, Mark! 😊🤘🏻

[@briancoburn9556]

Congrats, Nena, on another interesting and very well done video. Keep up the good work 😊

[@psychologyofrock]

So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for being here! 😊🤘🏻

[@briancoburn9556]

😊👍​@@psychologyofrock

[@psychologyofrock]

😊

[@davidcottone2700]

Nena wow this is great song peart is great drummer and lyricist

[@psychologyofrock]

He is!!! Just incredible! 😊🤘🏻

[@Mikey13Morales]

The magical Rush 😎🔥👑❤️🙏👌💯🖤

[@psychologyofrock]

Indeed! Best of the best! 😊🤘🏻

[@Mikey13Morales]

@@psychologyofrock 🙏🖤🙏🔥

[@psychologyofrock]

😊

[@winstonhewett6679]

From a music standpoint, this song from the Counterparts album, where RUSH seemed to move back to their roots, with less synth influence! As always with them, another great song on a great album!

[@psychologyofrock]

Agree!!! 😊🤘🏻

[@greenrose-m7p]

Yes! RUSH! 🤘🏻

[@psychologyofrock]

♥️🤘🏻

[@CounterIntelligence-em7vy]

Awesome analysis! Thanks! I actually always wondered about the shifts between Presto to Roll the Bones to Test for Echo!! You nailed it!!

[@psychologyofrock]

Glad you enjoyed it!!! 😊🤘🏻

[@paulwilkinson8308]

Great analysis of such powerful lyrics. 👍👍👍

[@psychologyofrock]

Thanks so much, Paul! 😊🤘🏻

[@viviendiaz5343]

Very insightful, very detailed. Everyone who loves the song should watch this! I love the analogy! Thank you!

[@psychologyofrock]

Thank you, my beautiful friend! It makes me so happy that you enjoyed it! The song is a masterpiece 😊♥️

[@Mark-db1ok]

1. I learned something today. I always wondered what inspired these lyrics. 2. Great tune, great bass groove, great album. 3. I love the illustrations you used here, really cool art. 4. I watched this video after seeing footage of the infamous recent meltdown by Perry Ferrell... Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum!

[@psychologyofrock]

So glad you enjoyed, Mark! :)

[@SuperJohnnyO]

Neil was the master of play on words. The way I see it, the "mate" part of "Animate" suggests the anima/animus as a mate, or partner. Well done, sir. Well done.

[@psychologyofrock]

Just a genius all-around. Truly incredible! 😊🤘🏻

[@NoneYaBidness762]

One of my Favorite Rush tracks. RIP Professor. 😢

[@psychologyofrock]

♥️

[@deanmentjes7774]

Great analysis, thanks!

[@psychologyofrock]

😊🤘🏻 so glad you enjoyed it!

[@fabriciodarkpanzer837]

Thank you very much for sharing these wonderful videos with us. RUSH 4 the rest of the eternity. Greetings from El Salvador.

[@psychologyofrock]

So glad you enjoyed it! Always great connecting with other Rush fans! 😊🤘🏻

[@fabriciodarkpanzer837]

@@psychologyofrock You're amazing!!!

[@psychologyofrock]

You are so sweet! Thanks so much!

[@Paul_Simon]

Love the video and especially the topic! Though you're much more schooled and articulate, we found the same influences @Rushfans as well- if you want more Jung influence, check out Double Agent and Nocturne as well!

[@psychologyofrock]

On my list for future videos! And that’s great you found the influece as well 😊So glad you enjoyed the video!

[@roybond4946]

This album came out as I was taking a graduate course in psychological approaches to counseling. Needless to say, I was able to incorporate an analysis of this song into some of my assignments. In fact, if one were to look at the corpus of my academic work--from junior high on--one would find a significant amount of Peart-derived subject matter.

[@psychologyofrock]

That's fantastic, Roy! I agree that Rush is always food for thought. Neil was a genius. :)

[@AudiophileTubes]

Great video! Have you come across any tie ins between Peart's lyrics and the great Erich Fromm?

[@psychologyofrock]

I honestly haven’t looked into it, but many more Rush videos to come 😊🤘🏻

[@LostHate]

Cool theory, I only knew Tools take on it, I didn't realize what this song was about. The art work you used was really awesome.

[@psychologyofrock]

I only recently learned myself! Makes so much more sense now 😊🤘🏻

[@KOOL_AID_KID]

Definitely my favourite from counterparts, no question

[@psychologyofrock]

Same! 😊🤘🏻

[@darylaarons6625]

I have always liked this song, but didn’t really understand the meaning. I can listen to it with a whole new perspective now. This is just another example of brilliant writing by Neil. I love this band.

[@psychologyofrock]

He was one of a kind. Thankful for Rush’s music 😊 Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@1bossdj]

Counterparts is an amazing album. I started listening to Rush through my dad. I never really go into their later albums but I received a copy of Counterparts on cassette when it came out. It was like a Rush album for my generation. I honestly feel it has some of Pearts best lyrics.

[@psychologyofrock]

I totally agree! Really amazing work!

[@sommerwl]

@psychologyofrock, if you haven't read Peart's "Ghost Rider," you should add it to the list. Peart lays bare his grief following the death of his daughter and wife. As a part of the grief cycle, he describes his splintering personality which included, ". . . the weepy 14-year old girl in me." He subsequently named her Gaia. His Anima was elevated from the subconscious to conscious.

[@psychologyofrock]

Yes! You know I had forgotten that! It's been so long since I read it. It's packed away somewhere, but I'm inspired to find it and re-read!

[@rushman667]

Always makes me smile, any conversation relating to this song, I always use to think of it to be about the relationship between a man & a woman, this of course due to the fact I do not possess a feminine side.

[@psychologyofrock]

well, there are many ways to interpret any songs, and what it means to us personally is the most important thing :)

[@bobcarn]

"Animate" is one of my favorites from them, not only because of the music, but because of the lyrics. I didn't know about Neil reading Jung, but I did pick up on the lyrics describing how man has a feminine component in his psyche, and the protagonist was trying to incorporate that into his being and meet the newer expectations of society, which were somewhat contradictory. At the time (it was the 90s), there was a trend for men to embrace their feminine aspects. Men were more openly encouraged to not be so stereotypically "masculine". I don't think the phrase "toxic masculinity" was used much then, if at all, but that is the trait that was being recognized and described. Men were encouraged to be more sensitive and caring and nurturing. I think towards the end of the song, Neil was writing about the challenge faced by men because of almost contradictory expectations placed on them. Men were expected to be masculine and hard, but also expected to be soft. "A man must learn to rule his tender part. ... A man must learn to gently dominate." In other words, they must still be masculine men, but also be gentle about it. The chorus is the protagonist presenting himself as ready for enlightenment. "Complicate me. Elevate me." At least, that's the way I was hearing it at the time. It has been some of my favorite lyrics from him.

[@psychologyofrock]

Hi Bob! Great insight and I agree! Thanks so much for sharing! :)

[@michaelschroeck2254]

This is an example of a headline I saw on a Rock magazine back in 1989. The cover had a photo of Rush on it with the headline “ Rush - the thinking man’s metal band.”

[@psychologyofrock]

Agree!!! Not sure I would classify them as metal, but I’m totally on board with the sentiment! Thanks so much for sharing, Michael! 😊🤘🏻

[@kenbourne8011]

There was always so much more to Rush than great musicianship.

[@psychologyofrock]

Very true, Ken! They check every box! :)

[@stevenschembri1288]

Excellent points and synopsis. I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head with this song. 3rd greatest rock song of all time after #1 Subdivisions and #2 Tom Sawyer.

[@psychologyofrock]

Don't forget Limelight :) (my personal favorite!) Glad you enjoyed the analysis!

[@Fred-vy1hm]

Anyone who didn't much care for their synth period appreciated Counterparts and Animate. 😊

[@psychologyofrock]

😊

[@DarrellW_UK]

I really found your thoughts on this so interesting, I had always thought of the song referred to duality. Seeing it put this way makes me feel I was right but didn’t know how to elaborate on that thought, I couldn’t really understand what he was referring to. I thought maybe it could have been the Extrovert / Introvert balance but never thought of it being a gender type of balance, there again I never saw the reference to Jung so didn’t investigate that avenue. Having had a look at the works and ideas Jung had it’s a very interesting hypothesis!

[@psychologyofrock]

Hey Darrell! So glad you enjoyed! I really hadn't thought about it that way prior to seeing the interview either, but now it makes so much more sense :) Thanks for watching!

[@LexRushon]

Forever Jung! ;)...Rushaholic since 75´...Neils lyrics partly been alot about Ego Death!

[@psychologyofrock]

Love it! And agree!!! 😊🤘🏻

[@DenisDolisy]

Thank you so much for this great analysis and for sharing your wisdom 🖤 I fully agree ! This is an interesting topic you brought up again. I think Jung was right suggesting that the Anima / Animus should be integrated in the self. Sadly it is something so many people reject by trying to conform to the gender roles instead of being and accepting themselves. It's great that Neil brought this topic up in his writing but I think not many people got it, so it's amazing that you're bringing awareness to it!

[@psychologyofrock]

So glad you enjoyed, Denis! Jung's theory is fascinating, and to me, makes a lot of sense. :) I was thrilled to find out that his work inspired Neil!

[@DenisDolisy]

@@psychologyofrock Thank you 😊 Yes, it is. It makes a lot of sense to me too! I sadly don't know it entirely yet as I didn't find the time to study it thoroughly, so I'm living off the bits and pieces I get here and there, but the more I learn about it, the more fascinating I find it. So a deep study of his work is definetely on my to-do list. I saw an interview with Jung and he seems to be a very interesting personality too. Yes, it's great that Neil's work was inpired by it as well! It seems many intuitives are drawn to Jung's work.

[@psychologyofrock]

I agree! And I know you are drawn to the MBTI - Jung greatly influenced its creation! He introduced the concept of psychological types based on cognitive functions and identified some of the fundamental personality orientations (such as introversion and extraversion). :)

[@DenisDolisy]

@@psychologyofrock Yes, exactly ! That's how I discovered him at first and now I'm learning more about his theories and a great part of that is thanks to you, so thank you ! In the interview I saw, he talked about his personality theory and also about how he describes himself through it. He seems to have been what is an INTP in MBTI.

[@psychologyofrock]

Really? I've never seen that interview! I'd love to - the first video on this channel was a personality analysis of Neil!

[@toddmadden9777]

Nice!!! Love the information, so,eye-opening...how about the Necromancer by Rush...love to hear what you think of it...Todd from Ohio

[@psychologyofrock]

Hey Todd! Great suggestion, I will add it to the list! 😊🤘🏻

[@ronaldmccomb8301]

Absolute spot analysis as always, Miss Nena! Do you consider yourself a Jungain? Or do you just use parts of his theories? I agree with Counterparts in general and this song in particular as being criminally underrated in the fandom.

[@psychologyofrock]

Hey Ronald! I don’t subscribe in full to any particular school of thought, but I find Jung’s theories to be particularly compelling! 😊 Like you, I find the lack of enthusiasm in sone fans for Counterparts so surprising - it’s a work of art! 🤘🏻

[@ronaldmccomb8301]

@@psychologyofrock thoughts on his theory of the shadow that also dwells with the anima/animus? Favorite song on the album? Mine is Nobody’s Hero.

[@psychologyofrock]

I actually think Animate might be my favorite on the album. Depends on my mood :) I talk in great detail about the shadow in a video I made about the Tool song "Forty Six and 2" that is about the integration of the shadow self. Such a great song, and I absolutely subscribe to this theory. :) The video is in my Tool playlist if you are interested!

[@ronaldmccomb8301]

@@psychologyofrock thank you . I will most definitely check it out. Have a good week, Miss Nena!

[@psychologyofrock]

You too!!! 😊🤘🏻

[@philsmith2444]

Another song that seems to touch on Jung, this time his concept of racial memory, is “Aperçu” by Kansas. You should check it out!

[@psychologyofrock]

I have never heard that song - I always appreciate suggestions!

[@danieljodrey]

So Nena, as a Jungian (?) what are your thoughts on the I Ching and astrology? Collective Unconscious? I'm fascinated by prehistory and the Mayan calendar, its too perfect. ⚡⚡⚡ 🤘😎👍

[@psychologyofrock]

Hey Daniel! Although I'm very drawn to Jung's theories, I wouldn't say that I subscribe 100% to any school of thought. :) I've always believed that a combination of different psychological perspectives can offer a more comprehensive understanding of human behavior. That being said, I am very intrigued by the idea of the collective unconscious! I unfortunately don't know enough about the I Ching or astrology to have a valid opinion :) That's fantastic that you've found several things that fascinate you! I appreciate you sharing your thoughts!

[@allengray5748]

Well DANG! As RUSH is my favorite band, I never listened to this album for fear of Not liking it. A Farewell To Kings will always be my favorite 💞 So I'm guessing as intellectual as you obviously are that you've thought about playing the song subject and go verse by verse. You would have me and probably MANY hooked with that type of presentation especially not hearing the song before. Great Job though. My kind of Sunday Church! Peace 🕊️☮️♾️😎

[@psychologyofrock]

This one was a shorter deep dive, but I’ve done a verse by verse analysis of many Rush songs. I believe the last one I posted was for Natural Science. I have a whole playlist! 😊🤘🏻

[@allengray5748]

@@psychologyofrock Well I guess I need to scan your channel harder and SUBSCRIBE!! Thanks for the quick response 😉

[@psychologyofrock]

😊 thanks, Allen!

[@michaelschroeck2254]

This was really a different album than what they had been making which is why I scratched my head when the next album came out….. I never revisit that album.

[@psychologyofrock]

Yes, very different turn! But I love the album. 😊🤘🏻

[@KimDuty-i8e]

First time here. I’m always late to the party

[@psychologyofrock]

Welcome to the channel! Happy you are here! 😊🤘🏻

[@benderbender1233]

🤘😘🤘

[@psychologyofrock]

😊🤘🏻

[@crucify40]

These are even better than Kiss lyrics!

[@psychologyofrock]

Lol 😊

[@bobrush4217]

Too deep! I love Rush because I'm a nerd at heart. I was athletic and smart. I got along with my nerdy friends more than the jocks. I stood up to bullies who harrassed my friends. I didn't know how to fight but i could run over people like a bulldozer.

[@psychologyofrock]

:)

[@michelleleeginger5225]

As a trans woman, this was always my biggest conundrum.

[@psychologyofrock]

Thank you so much for sharing your perspective 💛