"Vital Signs" is a song by progressive rock trio Rush from their 8th studio album Moving Pictures. The lyrics of the song are about individuality and the pressures of conforming.[3]
| "Vital Signs" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Rush | ||||
| from the album Moving Pictures | ||||
| B-side | ||||
| Released | March 1981 (UK)[1] | |||
| Recorded | October–November 1980 | |||
| Studio | Le Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:43 | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Rush singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Vital Signs" on YouTube | ||||
The song is heavily influenced by reggae (in the guitar riff) as well as progressive electronica (in its use of sequencers) and the music of The Police.[4] These influences would carry on into their next three studio albums: Signals, Grace Under Pressure, and Power Windows.
The song was released as a single in the U.K. peaking at No 41. Also, a live version of "Vital Signs" appeared as the B-side to Rush's "New World Man" single in 1982 (Mercury #76179, US edition).[4]
Live performance
edit"Vital Signs" was preformed on every tour since its release, up until the Power Windows Tour, when it was removed. After three tours of the song not showing up in the setlist, the Roll the Bones Tour had the song replace "Subdivisions" late in the tour. The song was removed from following two tours and then added back in during the Vapor Trails Tour as an alternative to "Freewill". The song was then removed from the following two tours and then put back in the setlist for the last time during the Time Machine Tour.
Reception
editClassic Rock readers voted "Vital Signs" the 37th best Rush song.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Rush Discography".
- ^ "Moving Pictures (1981) Stereogum". www.stereogum.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
- ^ Hansen, Eric. ""'Hold Your Fire' by Neil Peart" - Backstage Club Newsletter, January 1988". www.2112.net. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
- ^ a b Popoff, Martin (2013). Rush: The Illustrated History. Voyageur Press. ISBN 9780760343647.
- ^ Rock, Classic Rock2015-06-11T09:36:00 161Z Classic. "The 50 Greatest Rush Songs Ever". Classic Rock Magazine. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
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External links
edit- Rush – Vital Signs at Discogs (list of releases)
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