Rush: Why do (most) Women not click with this band?

[eddieout]

Today a radio story on Shakespeare featured Rush's Limelight. I liked it of course and my girlfriend recognized it and was not onboard. We wondered together why this Canadian "power trio" do not connect with women? Is it a lack of funk? A shortage of love? Fanboy subject matter? I had no definitive answer from my long time girlfriend. I'm wondering if the lyrics are a bit too "heady". It's certainly not a lack of musical talent!
The movie I Love You Man got it right when it had the dudes Really getting into Rush songs at the concert and the girlfriend was unimpressed and seemed bemused with the guys she came with.

Everyone, male and female alike, bassists or not, are encouraged to speak their piece. I'm trying to get some insight into this phenomenon.

 

[Jazz Ad]

I see it at very simple and not really a matter of male or female.
Most people and especially those who aren't musicians want music that speaks to their feet and their heart. Rush mostly speaks to the brain.
I think the most surprising about them is how they got so successful in the first place. The music they make wasn't meant to appeal to a wide audience in the first place.

 

[smeet]

They are good musicians, but the band's sound is more abrasive than pleasant. The mixes scream rather than thump, and the drummer has precise chops but doesn't groove. I like them and they seem like great guys, but that's how I feel.

 

[Danomo]

I'm on board with Rush until... about... Signals. While the music since has sometimes become more complex, later songs/albums seem noisy by comparison.
There's magic in that first 8 years of music.

I was in a club broadcasting a concert of theirs live a couple years ago, I knew it was them, but I didn't recognize (or even like) most of the songs I heard (unlike near the end, and oncore's).

 

[Anachronism]

I'm on board with Rush until... about... Signals. While the music since has sometimes become more complex, later songs/albums seem noisy by comparison.
There's magic in that first 8 years of music.

I was in a club broadcasting a concert of theirs live a couple years ago, I knew it was them, but I didn't recognize (or even like) most of the songs I heard (unlike near the end, and oncore's).

Have you listened to Clockwork Angels? Best album they've done in a long time.

As for the OP's question, I don't really know. I'm not really on board with the explanations offered so far: I think Rush has plenty of heart, and I don't find it abrasive. However, that could just be because I'm an overeducated bass player, so I likely don't have the best perspective to answer the question.

 

[eddieout]

Have you listened to Clockwork Angels? Best album they've done in a long time.

As for the OP's question, I don't really know. I'm not really on board with the explanations offered so far: I think Rush has plenty of heart, and I don't find it abrasive. However, that could just be because I'm an overeducated bass player, so I likely don't have the best perspective to answer the question.

As a male who liked Rush clear back in the mid-80s back in college, I should give Clockwork Angels a try (when my girlfriend is out of the house!).

 

[AaronVonRock]

There are three words that explain why most women (and many other people) don't like Rush: Geddy Lee's voice.

Musically and lyrically, Rush primarily appeals to other musicians and rock musicphiles. The same can be said of Jethro Tull, Yes, King Crimson, Dream Theatre and any other "nerdy" prog rock band or shredder-type musician.

 

[Danomo]

Have you listened to Clockwork Angels? Best album they've done in a long time.

No I haven't, and I see it's on Amazon Prime music, so I've already paid for it technically

I'll give it a listen.

Given that my Mrs lent me her Hemispheres album back in the day (so I could learn the songs), I don't have any opinion to offer on the woman thing.

 

[jjmuckluckjr]

There's a great documentary about Rush, Beyond the Lighted Stage, now on Netflix. On it the band themselves discuss the lack of estrogen at their concerts. The individual band members are arguably in the top 10 at their respective instruments. Without a doubt superb musicians. As described by Neil Peart himself, Rush' s music is written for his 16 year old self; nerdy, strident, earnest and inflexible. Historically, this attitude doesn't attract girls/ women (which is also why young nerds don't get laid a lot ). Rush speaks to the little J.R.R. Tolkien reader in all of us. They offer a cool fantasy world lined with heavy riffs. And that's not really something girls like. It's also a band you can 'grow' out of, for a lack of better term.
Face it, Geddy' s voice doesn't inspire a lot of panties being thrown onstage.

 

[Relsom]

Technically superb but groovically impaired. You gots to move that booty.

 

[Helix]

Because Geddy is just one ugly looking dude

 

[oldcatfish]

There are three words that explain why most women (and many other people) don't like Rush: Geddy Lee's voice.

Musically and lyrically, Rush primarily appeals to other musicians and rock musicphiles. The same can be said of Jethro Tull, Yes, King Crimson, Dream Theatre and any other "nerdy" prog rock band or shredder-type musician.

We have a winner!

 

[basslayer]

The women I know who like Rush are all musicians, mostly drummers.

I played Rush-Tom Sawyer for my wife (not a musician) and she was put off by the singing. She said it sounded like a woman who couldn't sing over a 16 bit video game.

 

[4001]

Too much thinking goes into listening to them so......

 

[Smooth_bass88]

My girl LOVES Rush. The other day I came home to her cooking while listening to disc 1 of Chronicles. We went and saw them this year and SHE LOVED IT

 

[Fxpmusic]

I'm not the best to give an opinion because even though I recognize the musicianship, i can't really stand them. I've tried and tried... There is just so much going on in the notes department that it gets boring to me and I'm only speaking for myself (please don't kick me off talkbass and the bass guitar universe for my opinion. I swear I won't bring anybody down with me).

With that said, I am not sure it is the voice and the complexity or just the fact that statistically there are probably more male than female musicians (let's change that btw but that's a whole other thread) and they seem to appeal to musiciana mostly.

 

[Dlinqnt]

As a Canadian bass playing male, it might be sacrilegious to say this but I'm not a Rush fan. I can appreciate how talented and technical they all are as musicians, but the music itself doesn't resonate with me. I don't know exactly how to explain it, but I've never had the overwhelming need to hear Rush like I get with other bands. To each their own, I guess

 

[4001]

To be honest, I have seen Rush 48 times since 1981. There has been a huge increase in women attendees at Rush concerts in the last 20 years or so.
When the show became "an Evening With Rush" the audience started growing.

More Mom's and Dad's taking their kids to their first concerts, and yes, a lot more girls at their shows.

Hey now...

 

[4001]

There is just so much going on in the notes department that it gets boring to me and I'm only speaking for myself...

That describes Dream Theater to me.

 

[Fxpmusic]

That describes Dream Theater to me.

That too