2112 Rush - 2112

From: 2112; Year: 1976; Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock

Yeah, anyone who has probably followed my blog for very long had to have seen this one coming: for my 2112th song picked I am of course choosing Rush's most famous epic, legendary masterpiece 2112.
As most who know of probably know of it, this piece is made up of seven individual sections, which make up the entire 20:34 song. The first two sections: I. Overture, and II. The Temples of Syrinx, which take up the first 6:45 of 2112 actually gets heavy radio play; it is one of their more popular tracks on the radio in fact. However, the other five sections sadly do not usually get heard that much if at all on the radio, but all the same are pretty good as well.
The entire story behind the song is a science-fiction narrative set within a "Solar Federation" that is ruled by a totalitarian priesthood that controls all that the people see, hear, and even think; this is set up through the first two sections of 2112. The main story actually begins in the third section: III. Discovery, where he discovers a century's-old guitar; after learning what it can do he takes it to the Priests to show them what he discovered, which is part IV. Presentation. The Priests dismiss his ideas and destroy the instrument; this leads into part V. Oracle: The Dream where the person then dreams of a place where things such as music exists freely without the Solar Federation or the Priests' oversight. In part VI: Soliloquy, upon waking from his wondrous dream he finds reality hasn't changed and is no longer able to bring himself to continue to exist in his dreary world; in the end he takes his own life. The entire piece is then brought to a close in part VII. Grand Finale, where the "Elder Race" attacks and destroys the Solar Federation, and thus everybody is set free.
In actuality this entire piece was an attack of sorts on the record label and the industry for that matter due to the pressures placed on them to compromise and become more "commercially viable." Thank God that this record became such a hit that enabled Rush to go on to make their excellent music since.

Hear the full 20+ minutes of 2112 on YouTube.



My song pick a year ago today: Elvis Presley - Hound Dog

My song pick two years ago today: Tesla - I Wanna Live

My song pick three years ago today: Rammstein - Eifersucht

My song pick four years ago today: Duran Duran - Lay Lady Lay

My song pick five years ago today: Genesis - Mama