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2112 (Album) 2112 is the fourth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush released in 1976 (see 1976 in music). During the 1976 Canadian tour for the album, a live recording was made which resulted in the release of All The World's a Stage in September 1976. 2112 features seven-part suite (entitled "2112") with lyrics written by Neil Peart. The suite tells a dystopic story that takes place in the year 2112. The first part, the Overture, is almost entirely instrumental, with a single line of lyrics to introduce the theme of 2112: "And the meek shall inherit the earth." The second part, "The Temples of Syrinx", sets an immediate counterpoint to this line by introducing the arrogant villains of the story. The Priests of the Temples of Syrinx, characterized by an uncharacteristically high, even shrieking singing voice by Geddy Lee, boast that "All the gifts of life are held within our walls." The Priests, who rule over the Earth, have united the surviving human colonies, after a long war, under "the Red Star of the Solar Federation", supposedly under the principles of equality and brotherhood. The "meek" mentioned in the opening line seem to be the contented people of the Solar Federation who have submitted to the rule of the Priests. Part Three, "Discovery", introduces our main character, who finds a guitar in a remote cave behind a waterfall. Alex Lifeson builds up from simple guitar playing into increasingly complex patterns, showing us the man's progress as he teaches himself to play the guitar. Uncertain if the Priests will accept his new musical discovery, he brings the guitar before them in part four, "Presentation" The dialogue between the man and the Priests features changes between the gentle guitar work and clear pitch of the man, and the hard-rocking guitars and shrieking pitch of the Priests. Ultimately, the Priests dismiss the instrument and destroy it, saying it is just " another toy that helped destroy the Elder Race" of mankind. The protaganist returns home, discouraged. In part five, "Oracle: The Dream", he has a dream where an oracle takes him on a journey to see the Elder Race's "wondrous land" graced by "the works of gifted hands". He is amazed by its wonder and beauty, and the way in which the people were free to do and create what they please. We learn that the Elder Race is still alive, and intends to return to Earth. He then awakens in part six, "Solioquy", and is distraught by the fact that such a world, so perfect for him, will never exist. In the cave where he first discovered the guitar, he kills himself, unable to bear the thought of a life without the wonders he knows are possible of the human race. Part seven, "The Grand Finale", is a grand instrumental concluding with the spoken words "Attention, all planets of the Solar Federation: We have assumed control". Some fans interpret the Grand Finale as the victorious return of the Elder Race while others interpret it as the establishment of absolute power by the Priests. The band, pressured by their record company not to write another concept piece (after the previous album, Caress of Steel, containing two such songs, failed commercially), stuck to their guns and created what is hailed as their first masterpiece, and it garnered them their first platinum selling album. The other songs on the album stand alone from the title track, with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson writing lyrics for one song each ("Tears" and "Lessons", respectively). All other lyrics were penned by Peart. In the liner notes, the title song is annotated With acknowledgement to the genius of Ayn Rand, as it is heavily influenced by her novelette Anthem. In 1999, in the same spirit that discovered "The Dark Side of the Rainbow" (playing Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon" while watching "The Wizard Of Oz"), it was a similar strain of serendipity that uncovered "Willy Wonka's 2112" - playing the "2112" CD, beginning at a point near the entrance into the factory. Specific instructions and instances of synchronicity can be found online at http://home.i1.net/~bytor/willywonka2112.html Track listing Regular version - "2112" - 20:34
- "I: Overture" - 4:32
- "II: The Temples Of Syrinx" - 2:13
- "III: Discovery" - 3:29
- "IV: Presentation" - 3:42
- "V: Oracle: The Dream" - 2:00
- "VI: Soliloquy" - 2:21
- "VII: Grand Finale" - 2:14
- "A Passage To Bangkok" - 3:34
- "The Twilight Zone" - 3:17
- "Lessons" - 3:51
- "Tears" - 3:31
- "Something For Nothing" - 3:59
Personnel Charts Album - Billboard (North America) | lign="left" valign="top"|Chart | align="left" valign="top"|Position | | lign="left" valign="top"|1976 | align="left" valign="top"|Pop Albums | align="left" valign="top"|61 | Singles - Billboard (North America) | lign="left" valign="top"|Single | align="left" valign="top"|Chart | align="left" valign="top"|Position | | lign="left" valign="top"|1989 | align="left" valign="top"|"2112 Overture/The Temples of Syrinx" | align="left" valign="top"|Mainstream Rock Tracks | align="left" valign="top"|1 |
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