Song Reaction - Tool - Schism

[@rayyman6934]

"Schism" won the Grammy for Best Metal Performance 2001 -2002.

[@adamsganchala2180]

“ in this Song the Pieces fit” Haha the best of this saturday so far

[@initum1599]

They really do :)

[@FRCMoto]

Such a great reaction. Such a beautiful song.

[@joshs8685]

One of my favorite songs ever - I had never thought about it like a poem, but I so agree :) :) One small lyrical thing - the official Tool website shows a small difference in lyrics VS what the lyric video you played shows. "Between supposed lovers, between supposed 'brothers'". So while the song is definitely talking about communication between lovers in a relationship, the importance of communication extends beyond that to any relationship between any two people. "Cold silence has a tendency to atrophy any sense of compassion - between supposed lovers, between supposed brothers." This is possibly my favorite lyric in any song. Any time I get angry with another person in my life, I think of this. I really do lol. Because it reminds me that there is no way to improve the understanding between us and continue caring about each other if we stop communicating. Insights like this are a big part of what has me coming back to Tool for so many years :) PS Listen to the opening verses closely and you can hear Maynard layering two separate vocal tracks on top of each other and harmonizing with himself. The production on this song is incredible.

[@tonymuir4715]

Ditto on the fave lyric. The way its delivered is just outstanding!

[@pwph8361]

I can still never differentiate between lovers or brothers, it sounds like he says lovers both times...

[@joshs8685]

@@pwph8361 I totally agree.

[@pwph8361]

@@joshs8685 I just listened again with my headphones and I definitely heard 'lovers' both times.

[@joshs8685]

@@pwph8361 I agree it sounds more like that and its hard to distinguish what he's saying there. But I'm also going to put my trust in the official Tool website to publish the correct lyrics.

[@zacharyjoos6165]

Look forward to Saturday mornings because of you two! Thank you!

[@PowderedToastMan420]

I'm so excited for Parabol/Parabola. ✌

[@initum1599]

Me too (She)

[@barrybarry8564]

that song has some of my favorite drumming. just a straight romper

[@diogenesagogo]

This song got me into listening to Tool; although their other stuff is good this is still the standout for me. It is monumental. The same weight as a piece of classical music - it affects different areas of the brain to most mainstream music. Phenomenal.

[@Syncopated_]

This is the song that got me into Tool. It was my uncle's ringtone, and I thought it sounded awesome, so I eventually checked it out. Anyways, this is my favorite Tool reaction channel, thank you!

[@larryfoster423]

@ Initum Every time I put on my good headphones your videos of TOOL reactions are in my feed... THANK YOU

[@jerryg1708]

Never disappointed here ! You two square off well and communicate to make the pieces fit. The circling is worth it !

[@anthonypallen7919]

Cool this morning to find a new reaction. Great Saturday morning!

[@initum1599]

Thank you

[@stephenlackey5852]

Love your channel How you became suuuper animated at your love for this song. The joy was palpable🥰 So nice to see you discover your love for one of the songs that I have regarded as one of my favorites.

[@juanpinto652]

This is maybe the most famous Tool song, everyone have heard that initial riff

[@Nate-Prouty]

I’d say second only to Sober.

[@snowdog87]

@@Nate-Prouty And Pneuma is right there too

[@PongGod]

@@snowdog87 I love Pneuma, but it's so much newer than those others that I doubt its known by as many listeners.

[@Syncopated_]

The first riff really hits me with nostalgia. That was my uncle's ringtone, and I really looked up to him. I'm really glad that was his choice, because this music has effected me A LOT. This song just means a lot to me. Have a good day.

[@Heatwave9000]

@@Nate-Prouty Sober ain't great tbh. Its too basic. Schism is far more interesting.

[@thecoogs]

"The beauty in the dissonance " always struck me as the overarching theme. We must appreciate and meld our differences to avoid a failure to communicate. Definitely 3rd eye music

[@darkmatter972]

Hello from Vancouver, Canada!. I must say, I do prefer your style of reaction. Your format is much better for this type of music. Letting the song play straight through, with lyrics posted, then your personal analysis, is a very affective. And you discuss it with your partner too!! 2 perspectives, I love it, well done, and thank you

[@chrislegner4816]

Excellent analysis. A master work track that evokes the confident grandeur of a band in peak form.

[@Trepanation21]

A song about disruption and division bears a reminder of how to make their way back together through mutual understanding, and mutual growth - like the devastating fracture of bone rebonding and healing stronger back together, and even a celebration of differences. The narrator is reflecting on the passions that originally drew them together, being the same fires that challenged their unity over time. There is a portion just before and including the "dissonance" line that carries so much weight -- "The poetry that comes from the squaring off between / And the circling is worth it / Finding beauty in the dissonance" - Where he describes "the squaring off between", it's a recognition of the beauty of differences, the fight, the confrontation between two, their strengths and individual passion, the "squaring off, and the circling". Imagine two warriors or opponents circling each other, assessing, waiting to strike - a mutual assessment of each other respecting the other's strengths and passions, but in pitched conflict nonetheless. What used to unite them has since fallen away, and they are at odds (a relationship of some sort - self, love, friendship, family, ideological, professional, etc) "Finding beauty in the dissonance" -- A mature reminder to consider and respect our differences while moving to come back together, stronger than you were when you started, before the passion burned you. "Cold silence has / A tendency to / Atrophy any / Sense of compassion" - A reminder that if you don't endeavor to communicate (which includes listening), then any thread of mutuality you may have had will rot until the bonds fully separate. Whether that fits, for you, in the context of a strained love, a challenged friendship, a difficult collaboration, or any other area of life - will require some humility and clear communication (of feelings, expectations, boundaries, ideas, etc) **and compromise** in order to move forward.

[@initum1599]

Thank you for this :)

[@ftvike]

most folks miss the squaring the circle reference. Its an occult/alchemical idea. Squaring of the circle creating the dissonance

[@Qliphirot]

As above so below

[@bretthorton6377]

Looking forward to the next reaction. I agree with the relationship aspect of the song. A relationship can fail without communication, but you saw it work. Keep it up.

[@brianmomgaudas1812]

You 2 are awesome tool is my favorite since 90 i love how u 2 do tool reactions cant wait til you get to fear inoculum album

[@initum1599]

Thank you :)

[@manicaimless]

Can you please start reacting to their music videos? The guitarist Adam Jones worked so hard to make them! He was a vfx/make-up artist in Hollywood before the band took off, and hand-crafted what you see in their videos. It’s worth going back and watching the videos to shed a new light on the songs!! Love the content!! ❤️

[@mrdylanja]

A long time ago I read that the lyrics for this song was Maynard writing about his relationship with Adam (the guitarist). I know the band had several, multi-year long lawsuits going on, and there may have been some tension between the members as to how to navigate them and move forward. I believe Adam's brother was the attorney representing the band. Additionally, it's well documented that Maynard and Adam have drastically different creative processes. Adam is a perfectionist, and will go back to the drawing board time and time again until he's satisfied. Maynard is ephemeral in his approach and really tries to capture his initial emotional response to the music which often results in a much quicker/first take type of process to reach his desired results. Just some food for thought, and yet another interesting prism to view the song through.

[@gaizkaoficial]

The best rection schism ever 🤚🏻

[@Ghilly666]

ii had some of the same thoughts you're having about it. Schism is not just a song with a deep meaning, it brings the experience over the listening and create an internal debate about communication e relations

[@TheOptimistiCynic]

"Cold silence has a tendency to atrophy any sense of compassion" .. is one of the best lines in music imo, and is very fitting for this song.

[@richardchurchill5181]

There are (I think) 47 changes in time-signature in Schism. I don't know of many songs that use such changes well. Mishandling changes in time-signature can have a dissonant effect, an incongruity that is essentially a "defect". But, in Schism they are handled smoothly. The temporal dissonance is a strength, here. It is a very philosophical song and musical piece. The whole song is an integrated whole that I think argues that disparities, disagreements, do not necessarily mean that the whole is in any sense broken, just as relationships and societies can and should remain wholes despite differences. Yet, we see fractures in relationships and society where the "dissonance" of beliefs have become the fault-lines, and the failures to communicate has resulted in one or both seeing the differences as wrong, even evil. I see the song as a call for understanding through communication, and a necessary step in restoring the whole as a whole as dissonances that complement.

[@ReignSurvives]

There are a ton of ways one could interpret this. One of those that I often think about is Maynards view of the bands creative process. Maynard a very pointed "get it done now" attitude from what we hear while the rest of the band, in particular Adam Jones, has a tendency to rethink and rewrite songs over and over again. As an example, the most recent album took 13 years to write during which Maynard expressed a lot of frustration with the rest of the bands meticulous process. One of the lines is "between supposed brothers". So one interpretation could be the arguments between the band. They know that when they go through the process of arguing/writing they get a masterpiece. They know the pieces fit, because they have previous albums that have been incredibly successful. Then of course there is the obvious relationship between lovers. And so many other ways to take this. Great song. You should watch the music video at some point. Very interesting stuff.

[@Richard-qu5vi]

its about Maynards divorce. His words, not mine.

[@tidewell]

"Mantra" was performed by Maynard's cat.... true story.

[@Vmole1]

☝ Seriously though.

[@rayyman6934]

Maynard's cat was gently squeezed and the sound that came out was slowed down to a low frequency.

[@destroyermaker]

@@rayyman6934 They make up a lot of shit to amuse themselves so it's hard to say if this is true or not

[@Trumps_Idiocracy]

@@destroyermaker agree

[@truther4life]

Thank GOD you didn't do the video version!!! Your brain thanks you!!

[@jameswayne2422]

As usual, a great reaction. Lateralus awaits you. I'd recommend some research beforehand, especially the Fibonacci sequence.... Schism lends credence to The Patient. My assumption is that Maynard was not a religious person and resented it's influence on his mother at an early age. Then after his mother's disability he learned to accept her strong religious convictions regardless of his own misgivings. Just my opinion and I could be wrong. That's the beauty of Maynard's writing. He gives you the ability to form your own conclusions.... I can't hardly wait for Reflection. Thanks again you two.

[@barrybarry8564]

This is one of the songs that has a cool 'extended' live version as well.

[@EKDupre]

There's a live rendition from 2002 (I believe?) which features another different breakdown also. Search for Schism + mysterious intro song.

[@barrybarry8564]

@@EKDupre Is that the one where they literally play the intro to Descending like 15 years before the album came out? haha

[@da9pauly]

Definitely a Favorite from Tool!! It can have different interpretations like most Tool songs, my interpretation is how a relationship can feel so right then with time and lack of communication causes differences between people that can crumble the relationship without understanding and growing to understand different opinions...

[@EiriUesugiKun]

"cold silence has A tendency to Atrophy any Sense of compassion" (my favourite line) So after an argument, one starts to give the "silent treatment" even when the other tries to understand and/or apologize. This leads the other to start to lose the attaction, "atropy any sense of compassion" and this leads to the pieces falling apart. Lack of communication.

[@Surtac100]

This song is unbelievable.

[@arnoldsoncarlson9487]

Lateralus is coming...

[@Brandon_Beaty]

The "pieces fit" pun when the song ended was fantasticly terrible! Haha 😂 In my opinion, the song tells the story of a relationship misfiring or the weaving is coming undone with growing space between them. The lyric "cold silence has a tendency to atrophy any sense of compassion" brought it into focus for me. I just picture an old couple in their sitting room. Perhaps the old man reading a book and the old woman working at her crochet work in utter tomb like silence. In the past they likely had raging passion for one another aching for one another when apart for nearly any length of time. It sounds like a forlorn reflection on the current state of their relationship. Especially reflecting on how their relationship used to all snap together like a puzzle. It used to once be, they see the ailments that have pulled them apart and now they want to pull it back together, but no one person can do it all. Just my opinion. Really enjoyed your interpretations and look forward to more!

[@a49125]

The light that fueled our fire then [in the past] has burned a hole between us. The passion was so great that without its intensity the previously trivial distance between us now requires effort. Cold silence [the conscious lack of effort] has.. a tendancy to.. atrophy any.. sense of compassion... ... .. between supposed lovers. Between Suppossed Lovers!

[@nicresconich722]

Tool will make you re-examine you’re interpretation relentlessly

[@deadheifer3743]

In the simplest terms, it’s a love song. It’s about trying to make a faltering relationship work. He knows the pieces fit. He is trying to make it work.

[@christopherrousseau1173]

The title fits the song, because it is a song about how not communicating can cause a schism between anyone in any relationship. The relationship worked and fit before. The pieces fit... They were close and good friends/lovers. They stopped talking and things fell apart.

[@shep4life]

This song makes me cry

[@danieloneill1836]

Where can you still watch Tool videos with lyrics??

[@FrancoUnAmericano]

It's the lifestream you hear in the begining. ;P

[@shep4life]

Yay

[@rommediaz5193]

Great taste of music pretty gurl too

[@LanceThompsonKssooner]

This one of the few pretty straight forward TOOL songs. Don't over think it. 😉

[@jonthomson8392]

👍👍👍👍

[@dan.j.boydzkreationz]

It has been suggested that the bassy sounds in the intro are Maynard squeezing his Siamese Cat.

[@AlessandroNardi_DA]

Check Platone Aristofane, and all the pieces fit.

[@m.6246]

Nice

[@giorgiomartinez7767]

you're not drew barrymore?

[@thecoogs]

At about 20

[@MrMagic1515]

This song is about a relationship....He said on Joe Rogan podcast.

[@dhz781]

I think Maynard makes great use out of the fact that "I know the pieces fit" can either be present or past tense.

[@psycho42069]

First? Love you guys!

[@initum1599]

Thank you

[@Honster6]

react to fear inoculum! : D

[@anillegibletombstone]

Would have been cool to discuss for a bit and then go back and listen to it again with the visual aspect of the music video. Maybe too soon though to add the visuals? If you like the idea maybe do it with Parabol/Parabola next week. I'm for it!

[@initum1599]

It's an interesting idea, thanks. We'll think about it.

[@marcpadilla1094]

Bout some Monolord and Bedlam.

[@NubaNarmer]

46+2

[@giorgiomartinez7767]

is more lost than ketchup in ceviche xd

[@rozmanovitch8643]

Not really important but still: it's pronounced as 'shizm'...

[@themusicbehindthegirl2335]

Each to their own, but never heard it said like that...certainly not in the UK where it's a hard 'sk(ch)ism'

[@rozmanovitch8643]

@@themusicbehindthegirl2335 Okay, I didn't know that, thanks! English isn't my native language but I saw a reaction video from a couple from the US and they apparantly pronounce it as shizm (a referal to something biblical or whatever ;)

[@themusicbehindthegirl2335]

@@rozmanovitch8643 Was that reaction couple Vin & Sori by any chance? They like their biblical references. Great channel too

[@rozmanovitch8643]

@@themusicbehindthegirl2335 Yes! That was the one, haha! Good channel indeed

[@JoinTheProgress]

No, no, no...needs to be listened to with the music video attached.