10 Songs Inspired By Real Events
1. Bastille Day - Rush
Rush has always been a band with a much broader lyrical agenda. Ever since Neil Peart joined the band after their first record, his literary background put the band one notch above the other bands concerned with sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Though the band's material has been comprised of episodic tales inspired by fantasy, one of their most concise bangers actually takes us back to history class.
Kicking off the band's third release Caress of Steel, "Bastille Day" is almost exactly what it says on the tin. As opposed to draping the title in a metaphor, most of the lyrics are just a blunt recount of the storming of Bastille and the chaos that ensued as a result. For any other band, this trip back to elementary school history class would feel boring, but the riffs and Geddy Lee's amazing vocal range make the song feel like one of the most important recounts in rock history.
The instrumentation also follows the pattern of the lyrical structure, with the verse riffs showing the destruction happening, while the chorus opens up to lush chords that symbolize the patriotic side of the story. For as much as Rush get criticized as "nerd rock," never before has tales of real life historical events been this fun to listen to.