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The "Rush" enigma
Posted: 01 Nov 2022, 5:19pm
by Heston
What is it with this song? It started life with a different title (Change of Atmosphere) on an album (Kool-Aid) that wasn't a proper release. Then it was a huge Billboard hit in the US, and still seems to have a bit of cult cred to this day. And unbelievably it got to fucking number one in Australia and BAD II were feted like stars! All of this with one of the most crazy mid-song breakdowns in musical history with Mick deliberately singing out of tune. Yet the song made zero cultural impact in the UK, despite being on a double "A" side with the re-release of SISOSIG. Weird how shit turns out.
Re: The "Rush" enigma
Posted: 01 Nov 2022, 6:31pm
by matedog
Heston wrote: ↑01 Nov 2022, 5:19pm
What is it with this song? It started life with a different title (Change of Atmosphere) on an album (Kool-Aid) that wasn't a proper release. Then it was a huge Billboard hit in the US, and still seems to have a bit of cult cred to this day. And unbelievably it got to fucking number one in Australia and BAD II were feted like stars! All of this with one of the most crazy mid-song breakdowns in musical history with Mick deliberately singing out of tune. Yet the song made zero cultural impact in the UK, despite being on a double "A" side with the re-release of SISOSIG. Weird how shit turns out.
Looks like it went to #1 in the UK though (presumably on the strength of the SISOSIG rerelease), but it had to have made some impact? It only made it to #32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 (though #1 on the relatively easier Modern Rock charts).
Re: The "Rush" enigma
Posted: 01 Nov 2022, 6:40pm
by matedog
Maybe I'm wrong on this, but I think Rush is their best song by a wide margin. I love all the weird shit in it.
Re: The "Rush" enigma
Posted: 01 Nov 2022, 6:49pm
by Heston
matedog wrote: ↑01 Nov 2022, 6:31pm
Heston wrote: ↑01 Nov 2022, 5:19pm
What is it with this song? It started life with a different title (Change of Atmosphere) on an album (Kool-Aid) that wasn't a proper release. Then it was a huge Billboard hit in the US, and still seems to have a bit of cult cred to this day. And unbelievably it got to fucking number one in Australia and BAD II were feted like stars! All of this with one of the most crazy mid-song breakdowns in musical history with Mick deliberately singing out of tune. Yet the song made zero cultural impact in the UK, despite being on a double "A" side with the re-release of SISOSIG. Weird how shit turns out.
Looks like it went to #1 in the UK though (presumably on the strength of the SISOSIG rerelease), but it had to have made some impact? It only made it to #32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 (though #1 on the relatively easier Modern Rock charts).
Yes, #1 in the UK by default, but to say it never got a sniff of airplay would be an understatement. # 32 on the Billboard chart isn't bad at all when you consider their prior chart positions. Honestly, it never registered the UK.
Re: The "Rush" enigma
Posted: 01 Nov 2022, 6:49pm
by Flex
matedog wrote: ↑01 Nov 2022, 6:40pm
Maybe I'm wrong on this, but I think Rush is their best song by a wide margin. I love all the weird shit in it.
I... possibly agree with this.
Re: The "Rush" enigma
Posted: 01 Nov 2022, 6:50pm
by Heston
matedog wrote: ↑01 Nov 2022, 6:40pm
Maybe I'm wrong on this, but I think Rush is their best song by a wide margin. I love all the weird shit in it.
Wrongo Starr
Re: The "Rush" enigma
Posted: 01 Nov 2022, 7:04pm
by Dr. Medulla
matedog wrote: ↑01 Nov 2022, 6:40pm
Maybe I'm wrong on this, but I think Rush is their best song by a wide margin. I love all the weird shit in it.
I don't dislike it one iota, but I'll take any of the singles off the first two albums any day of the week.
Re: The "Rush" enigma
Posted: 01 Nov 2022, 7:13pm
by Heston
Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑01 Nov 2022, 7:04pm
matedog wrote: ↑01 Nov 2022, 6:40pm
Maybe I'm wrong on this, but I think Rush is their best song by a wide margin. I love all the weird shit in it.
I don't dislike it one iota, but I'll take any of the singles off the first two albums any day of the week.
Totally. Make that any of the singles off the first three albums for me.
Re: The "Rush" enigma
Posted: 01 Nov 2022, 7:17pm
by Dr. Medulla
Heston wrote: ↑01 Nov 2022, 7:13pm
Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑01 Nov 2022, 7:04pm
matedog wrote: ↑01 Nov 2022, 6:40pm
Maybe I'm wrong on this, but I think Rush is their best song by a wide margin. I love all the weird shit in it.
I don't dislike it one iota, but I'll take any of the singles off the first two albums any day of the week.
Totally. Make that any of the singles off the first three albums for me.
It's so rare, I like it when we're on the same side of an issue.
Re: The "Rush" enigma
Posted: 01 Nov 2022, 8:03pm
by oliver
I thought it was a little strange that original BAD played it on the re-union tour
Re: The "Rush" enigma
Posted: 01 Nov 2022, 8:07pm
by Heston
oliver wrote: ↑01 Nov 2022, 8:03pm
I thought it was a little strange that original BAD played it on the re-union tour
Same. That just goes to show the clout it had outside of the UK, that it infiltrated the original line up.
Re: The "Rush" enigma
Posted: 01 Nov 2022, 9:26pm
by msza2
I actually just randomly read the other day that Tom Delong of Blink-182 considers Rush his favorite song of all time. That took me by surprise, though it probably shouldn't have.
I am also in the camp who considers it my favorite BAD song. The main body of the song is amazingly catchy and the weird breakdown in the middle does a great job of delaying gratification and creating an itch to hear the catchy part again. It's pretty brilliant and a gutsy choice by Mick for a song that clearly had hit potential.
Re: The "Rush" enigma
Posted: 01 Nov 2022, 10:31pm
by white man
Did it not appear in a few movies that were popular with the Teen's around that time.
Re: The "Rush" enigma
Posted: 01 Nov 2022, 11:26pm
by gkbill
white man wrote: ↑01 Nov 2022, 10:31pm
Did it not appear in a few movies that were popular with the Teen's around that time.
Hello,
True - Big Daddy and So I Married an Axe Murderer. Big Daddy was pretty big (though notworthwhile) at the time.
Re: The "Rush" enigma
Posted: 02 Nov 2022, 12:10am
by BostonBeaneater
Just making sure this wasn’t another thread where doc is pontificating on the sweet singing of Geddy Lee.