Vital Signs (Rush song)

"Vital Signs"
Single by Rush
from the album Moving Pictures
B-side
ReleasedMarch 1981 (1981-03) (UK)[1]
RecordedOctober–November 1980
StudioLe Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec
Genre
Length4:43
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Rush singles chronology
"Limelight"
(1981)
"Vital Signs"
(1981)
"Tom Sawyer (live)"
(1981)
Music video
"Vital Signs" on YouTube

"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]

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]

  1. ^ "Rush Discography".
  2. ^ "Moving Pictures (1981) Stereogum". www.stereogum.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  3. ^ Hansen, Eric. ""'Hold Your Fire' by Neil Peart" - Backstage Club Newsletter, January 1988". www.2112.net. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  4. ^ a b Popoff, Martin (2013). Rush: The Illustrated History. Voyageur Press. ISBN 9780760343647.