So when it came down to choosing a song to analyze for this assignment, it took some time to think about what kind of song to review. Whether it should be a short song about a musician’s feelings towards love, or a song that is about some movement or a political statement. Then I put on my iTunes on random to let fate decide. I just so happens that fate decided that I should review one of my personal favorite rock operas, 2112 performed by the insanely talented band, Rush.
At first appearances, the song 2112 is very off putting. What I mean by that is that the song itself is 20 minutes long. Not many people want to put the time in to listen to 20 minutes of just one song. However when one delves into the artistry and just listens to the words that come from the great Geddy Lee’s mouth and listens to the music played by the band, it becomes apparent that this is one, if not the best rock opera in the history of rock n’ roll.
The song is about the year 2112, and how the people of the future live without music. This futuristic society is led by a group of priests that reside in a temple known as the Temple of Syrinx. These priests dictate the courses of action that humanity should take, as the “old race” of men had led the world to ruin before. Now while these priests are ruling over the people, one man finds in a dark cave a guitar and comes before the priests saying that this instrument can bring peace to the land. The priests respond by saying that it is a waste of time and condemn the man. However, this man returns home and has a dream that reassures his belief in the power that this music holds. The rest of the song from this point on is a lot of instrumental work with a few lyrics about how the man cannot conform to these priests, and for about the last 3 minutes of the song lets the listener interpret what happens next in the plot line in the song. The song ends with the echoing voice saying “we have assumed control…. we have assumed control….”
No when it comes down to what Rush meant by the song, a lot of controversy is brought up. While some people believe this song to be a creative statement about the failure of Rush’s previous album, “Caress of Steel”, some believe it to be a response to a critical review Rush received on one of their albums. Whatever the reason may be that, at least we can all agree that the song is about the journey of a rebellion. The idea that not one force can control all the universe forever and the idea that music and creativity can incite revolution.
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