What a Rush

I don't own a pocket protector.  Nor am I a fan of science fiction.  I've never been to a Star Trek convention and I don't collect manga comics.

Yet I am a huge fan of the rock group Rush.  If that makes me a geek, so be it.  Because I think Rush is not just Canada's greatest band but the country's greatest musical export.

With apologies to Neil Young, Bryan Adams, Arcade Fire, Avril Levine, Celine Dion, Alanis Morissette, Leonard Cohen, Glenn Gould et al, no other Canuck group or solo artist has had more impact on the world of music than Alex, Geddy and Neil.

Just ask nearly anyone who has picked up a guitar, bass or drum sticks over the past 30 years.  Rush's mastery of their instruments, their originality and their never-ending creativity set them apart from their peers.  Rush incorporates everything from hard rock to blues to fusion to reggae into its music, yet sounds like no one else.

Hard rock heavyweights from Dave Grohl to Billy Corgan to Metallica all cite Rush as an influence.  And I would argue that the boys have graced more "musician" magazine covers than anyone short of the Beatles or Jimi Hendrix:

Lifeson rocks guitar magazine covers

Sure, Rush isn't perfect.  I would call the band an acquired taste.  Their music is loud and complex. But that's the beauty of it.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of fast and furious three-chord rockers like the Sex Pistols and AC/DC.  But I also appreciate the amazing talent that it takes to play YYZ on guitar and bass, or Tom Sawyer on drums.  You try it!  I've been trying to learn YYZ for 30 years.

Neil Peart's lyrics are challenging and require thought to appreciate. Geddy Lee's voice is unique and original.  And Alex Lifeson's guitar playing?  Simply sublime.  I would call Lifeson the greatest underrated guitarist in rock history.

The beauty of Rush is that even if you don't like them, you have to admire their creativity and overwhelming talent.  That's why I'm so happy that the band is being recognised by rock's hallowed hall...


Rush to be welcomed by R&R HOF, April 18

Congrats guys.  You deserve it!  Here's to many more years of great music.

Rush's latest album and tour

Complete Sacrifice

Imagine if your bosses ordered you never date or get married, or leave your workplace without their permission?

These requests might seem out-of-line... unless you're in Japan.  Two recent incidents demonstrate the extraordinary demands made by employers in this country and the extent to which some employees sacrifice freedom and individuality in order to please their bosses.

The first incident made international headlines.  Minami Minegishi, a member of Japan's fabulously successful pop idol group AKB48, shaved her head and issued a tearful YouTube apology for... wait for it... being caught leaving her boyfriend's apartment:

Japanese pop idol shaves head and apologizes for having boyfriend/

AKB48 is a pop phenomenon in Japan and the group's nearly 100 members must adhere to a strict code of conduct which includes no boyfriends or dating.  The edict is supposedly to project a clean, wholesome image but critics say it's really intended to project a notion of the "availability" of the band members, extending the fantasy of desirability to the group's enormous fan base.

More on pop idol's "disgrace" at having a boyfriend

Minegishi is 20 years old and should be beyond this idol mythology.  Seeing her apologize for her “thoughtless and irresponsible behavior” was shocking.  Many Westerners might have rather seen her show some backbone and tell the AKB48 producers to "Sod off!   

That would have made her a hero, rather than a pathetic, sobbing loser.

However, in Japanese culture, her apology works.  In Japan, women are expected to be soft-spoken, ultra-feminine, non-confrontational and, more than anything, young and seemingly available to men.

Strong, adult women are not rarely seen in Japan which, in my opinion, speaks to a regressive view of sexuality in Japanese culture.  One almos never sees expressions of strong, grown-up women in Japanese media or advertising.  Women her simply aren't allowed to be confident in their own sexuality.

I call it the "cult of the Japanese schoolgirl."  And it's kind of sad. 

The second incident that speaks to the complete control of workers in Japan involved a young baseball player named Shohei Otani, the latest phenom to hit the pro leagues here.  Otani is the teenaged fireballer who was persuaded to stay in Japan rather than explore his desire to sign with a major league team:  

Japanese phenom stays home

Otani, who is 18 years old, was informed by his manager that he was not allowed to leave the team's training camp without permission.  The team maintains it's for his own protection but many think management is merely worried about Otani getting into trouble and embarrassing the team.   Former Fighters' star Yu Darvish was once suspended after being caught smoking under-age.

In Japan, sacrifice is noble and valued especially in the workplace, where individuality and the right to a private life take second place to the goals of the organization.