7/25: My Favorite Headache (Geddy Lee)

I watch TV--what do you want from me?

Once you start watching you keep on watching
Till you're tied up and you're spell bound
I watch the sea, it helps to anchor me
I watch the sea, I saw it on TV

My Favorite Headache came out in the halcyon days before we all had supercomputers in our pockets, so it was my stepbrother Rob who let me know that my hero had put out a solo album.

Rob knew I liked Rush—an understatement if ever there was one. Rush was my life. So, dutiful big brother that he aspired to be, he taped the single from Ged’s solo debut off the radio for me.

And I hated it.

“My Favorite Headache” was not the Rush I was used to, the Rush I lived for. Where were the multi-part space operas? The complex time signatures? The synthesizers? Teenage!Lara was downright offended by Geddy’s effort; she demanded more starships and less sophistication.

Decades later, I came back to the solo album and realized—oh, this f’ng rocks.

I still feel that way. This song’s opening bass solo—dirty, growling, digging deep into each note—has a real Les Claypool feel to it (or maybe Les has a real Geddy Lee sound). It pairs perfectly with the haunting, desperate lyrics and beautiful piano-work. This is some of Geddy’s best artistry.

So thanks, Rob, for taping that song for me many years ago, and for always having my back. Happy birthday, big bro.