Comments: 70

• Rob from HoustonYYZ is the 3 letter IATA code for Toronto Pearson airport. The ICAO code which is used now is CYYZ. YYZ is also the code for the VOR (Very high frequency omni-directional range) just to the southwest of the airport. If you can tune to 112.15 you will hear the Morse code identifier YYZ (-.- - -.- - - ..) . Probably too much info on this, but nerds love Rush.
• Bridget from CoSo... this has morse code for the title yyz and the title stands for an airport? Weird... and I think this song is okay, but I got kind of bored because it doesn't have lyrics, you know? I listened to this because this band is one of my best friend's favorites (I'm not going to add more information because it's personal), and this is his favorite song by them.
• Anita Hanjaab from Dead Negro Hill, NmZeppelin doesn't even come close... get your skull checked for damage.
• Justin from Aberdeen, SdYYZ is one of Rush's best songs in my opinion. What they didn't tell at the top of the page exactly is the morse code (which is helpful to know to play the intro correct):
  Y in morse code would be -.-- and Z would be --.-
  So, if you take YYZ you would get -.-- -.-- --..
  (on guitar) the - is the third fret on A and the . is the second fret on (low) E.
  so if you take that rhythm over and over again you get the intro for YYZ.
  -.-- -.-- --.- -.-- -.-- --.- -.-- -.-- --.-
  -.-- -.-- --.--.-- -.-- --.--.-- -.-- --.--.-- -.-- --.--.-- -.-- --.--.-- -.-- --.--.-- -.-- --.-
• Gary Lafalce from Fairmont, WvThe Exit...Stage Left version of this instrumental masterpiece is my personal favorite and Neils 3 min. drumsolo is placed ever so perfectly in the midst of the song. I'd love to see them perform it like this nowadays.
• Austin from Glendale, AzI have a YYZ luggage tag :)
  probably the 3rd coolest thing I own.
• Einar from Los Angeles, CaTo Mike, Schenectady, NY.
  
  Grammy side. Never get a lead from it. in the times were really great artists were around there weren't no Grammys.
  
  The Police, Gordon was always an A-hole and that was the main reason The Police split.
• Crizzle from Rincon, GaChase you could not be more right. I actually like the YYZ drum solo better because it's Neil Peart and it has more energy, but I respect the Moby Dick solo as a greater solo, being that it was John Bonham, who easily influenced Neil.
• Chase from Miami, Flhey Fredrick of Stockholm, Zeps better. I am not sure which is better Moby Dick or YYZ both drum solos are awesome! guitarwise Page is better, but Lifeson comes close! and thats not John Bonahm, he died before this website was made!
• Jon from Enumclaw , WaOne of the top rush songs in my book.
• Bret from Coos Bay, OrI don't get how some people are saying that YYZ isn't that great of a song. Even some people are saying that it isn't a good song for the Moving Pictures album! I think it's perfect in every way! If La Villa Strangiato didn't exist then YYZ would be the greatest instrumental of all time!
• Mike from Schenectady, NyI love both Rush and the Police but I think that "YYZ" is the better tune. However, in defense of "Behind My Camel" I would suggest checking out the Wikipedia entry on the song. The song was composed by Andy Summers and neither Sting nor Stewart Copeland liked it. Sting refused to play on it (Andy played the basic bass line) and Stewart only played on it because he felt bad for Andy. "Behind My Camel" is more like a demo than a finished song- it's sad that Andy's bandmates wouldn't help him out with the one song that he got to write for the album.
• Jim from Proctorville, OhNo..... If it's all run together then it could be YYZ but the with the strange rythm I wouldn't say it was Morse code. Well maybe if you were sending it. I guess you could say it was based on morse code but for music's sake it's all caught up in the rythm.
  -.. .. -.-. -.- .... . .- -..
• Keith from Avera, GaJim in Proctorville needs to polish up on his Morse Code! That is EXACTLY the code for YYZ.
  Y is -- · -- --
  Z is -- -- · ·
  
  Therefore, " -- · -- -- -- · -- -- -- -- · · " would be YYZ and every Rush enthusiast knows that is the pattern that starts the song. Get your facts straight, bro! (from a fellow Advanced license holder and Rush fan)
• Nick from Edmonton, CanadaJust saw these guys in Edmonton and it was a great show. They closed with this classic
• Jake from Green Bay, WiBest ever for rush rock on rush chya rock on
• Stephen from Cincinnati, KyRush is the best TRIO ever...i have to Led Zeppelin is by far, without any doubt the best band EVER...but RUSH is amazing, best trio ever! I have seen them live twice, and between Peart and Bonham ( Rush and Zep's drummers, respectively) inspired nme to play drums to begin with. i can more closely match Bonhgam's style, but can't even touch Peart....they are both amazing, but in totally different ways
• Jim from Proctorville, OhYYZ might very well be the transmitter code for the airport BUT the intro to the song is not morse code for YYZ. I am a HAM radio operator with an advanced class license and know morse very well.
• Nathan from Toronto, OnWOW.. I JUST listened to that song by the police that beat YYZ in 1982.... complete crap man, and its only 2:54 long... wow man. Unbelievable. I love The Police, but that awards ceremony was rigged for sure!!
• Daniel from London, United Kingdomjust so you know the intro is in 10/8 not 7/8 and the harmonics caused by muting strings with the thumb are pinched harmonics.
• Aadea from Mumbai, Indiaohhhhh.....and we're forgetting 2112
• Aadea from Mumbai, Indiai agree 100% curtis.....la villa strangiato is also one of the best instrumentals i have ever heard....but YYZ beats it by an inch......
  and as for cygnus X-I and hemispheres.......MINDBLOWING
  YYZ has the BEST bass and drums i have ever heard.....i feel full of energy every time i listen to this song
• Curtis from Williamsburg, IaThis song is OK, at best. I have only been an avid Rush fan for perhaps three months, but it has been the best three months of my life. I currently have gathered every single Rush song recorded except for their tribute album "Feedback". No one has even mentioned some of their true greats, like La Villa Strangiato.
  YYZ should be ashamed to be in the same room as La Villa Strangiato. I suppose you must just like it because it so much more simple and doesn't take all day to listen to.
  You want some real music, check out the Cygnus pair, or maybe some of their stuff from Signals or Powerwindows, you will be blown away.
• Fredrik from Stockholm, Sweden"I dunt see why Rush has less popularity than Zeppelin they sold more albums and have better songs
  - Rocco, Toronto, Canada"
  
  Rush has sold just above 40 million albums... Led Zeppelin has sold over 300 million. :)
• Sandi from Northbridge, MaOkay! YYZ is an amazing song, piece of art!
  Being there, live. It will blow you away.
• Rocco from Torontoseymor. WTF good comes from egypt? Cotton?
• Kent Lyle from Cincinnati, OhThis song is credited to Lee and Peart, giving Peart another one of his rare musical writing contributions, but not to Lifeson. Surprising, given his inspired guitar work.
• Chuck from Houston, TxNeal Peart is a very good drummer, that being said, he can't hold a candle to Dave Weckel or Dennis Chambers. If you don't know who those two guys are, you don't know good drummers, feel free to look them up anyway.
• Kenny from Wilmot, NhAwesome jam session...one of the best ever!!!
• Billy from A Place, Althis song is awesome, and it was actually the first rush song I heard. it was featured on guitar hero 2.
• Nicole from West Covina, CaI liked this song wayyyyyyyy before Guitar Hero even existed.
• Wade from Vancouver, CanadaAlright "semor butts" firstly your name isn't funny, and secondly have you ever even been to Canada? Rush is great, but definetly not the only good thing to come out of Canada.
  And with regards to the song: BEST INSTRUMENTAL EVER!
• Rocco from Toronto, CanadaI dunt see why Rush has less popularity than Zeppelin they sold more albums and have better songs
• Rocco from Toronto, Canadai wonder what code my flight when i leaft pearson airport
• J from Jackson, GaWhat are talking about, Neil has soul, he doesn't show it much but believe me, it's there
• John Bonham from Worcestershire, EnglandGuys, Rush is okay. Neil can't come close to how good I am. I am the BEST EVER! Neil has no soul.
• Andrea from Sun Prairie, WiThis song is AWESOME! Best guitar skills I've heard.
• Allison from Bedford, VaPeart claims the best drum solo of all time by far in the live version. -Hats off-
• Cam from Cambridge, CanadaHey Kyle, in Huntington it's Geddy Lee not Less, and wat about Alex lifeson you didn't mention him as a talented guitar player. And Rush are popular, not every band can be Led Zeppelin popular.
• Kyle from Huntington, NyAlthough they lack the popularity of Led Zeppelin, what they do have is two of the most muscically talented members in their instrumental categories. Geddy Less on bass, and Neil Peart on drums, without a doubt the most talented bassist and drummer in music history.
• Wil from Milwaukee, Withink this would even include The Beatles (soory, mates)!!!
• Wil from Milwaukee, WiI did see this performed live in '81 (and 3 other times later) and it still blows me away. I have been a Rush fan since '75 (I was only 6 months old--LOL)!!!! As far as The Police winning the Grammy...if a band is a "pop" success, more people are going to publically kiss up to them. Of course, that usually means that the band's music is relatively simplistic (the list is WAY TOO LONG to write here). Rush has always shunned the public eye, hence they are 0-for-3 in the Grammy "game"! SO WHAT....???? They are still THE MOST MUSICALLY TALENTED BAND EVER---BAR NONE!!! BTW, I
• Sean from Colorado Springs, CoStill blows me away.
• Kevin from Bozeman, MtNot sure how many notice this, but even Neil's ride cymbal rhythm is a faster version of the same morse code for YYZ. Most drummers playing this part do not even come close to playing it correctly.
• Drew from Arlington, Txto Edward in Deptford NJ: the main "morse code" riff in this truly amazing peice of instrumental mastery is indeed in 5/8, not 7/8. Rock on, dudes!
• Zach from Cadiz, KyThis is by far the best Rush song of all time. I play bass and find it hard to keep up with Geddy.
• Robert from Schaumburg, IlBill, did we do this justice?
• Stuart from Huddersfield, EnglandThis is the only song I know where I want to be all of the musicians at the same time. If I could play any of those parts, i'd be a happy man. This is a very special song!
• Greg from Oakville, CanadaActually, Rush based this song on the airport code at Pearson International Airport in Toronto. They wrote it because when Neil Pert got back to the studio, he still had the airport tag in his pocket, so they dicided to write this later solo song, like La Villa Strangiato.
• John from Overland Park, KsThis was a song that convinced me that I was a Rush fan. I have always been fond of instrumental rock (I wore out the section of my brother's _Leftoverture_ album where "Magnum Opus" was found), and this is one of my all-time favorites.
• Edward from Deptford, NjTo Luc in England, I have seen it played live, well sort of. I was in the Winter Drum Line. It's an off shoot of Marching Band where you are only allowed percussion instruments. The opening might be Morse Code, but the timing is 7/8. Not easy work with.
• Taylor from Pittsburgh, PaAlot of people say that Rush made this song to show off there talent. But I think it is much more inspirational than that.
• Ed from London, CanadaNeil Peart is one of the best drummers of our time, and "Exit, Stage Left"'s version of "YYZ" proves this.
• Luc from Nottingham, Englandi dont know how the hell the lads wrote thi but it kicks ass! i'd like to see a band try and cover this by far the best instrumental song EVER well...live anyway
• Dee from Indianapolis, InWOW, lots of comments on a non-lyrical song. I too love this song, being introduced to it from the "Exit Stage Left" album that I listened to over and over until the tape was worn thin. I'm not aware of the Police song that took the Grammy, but I would agree that Rush deserved it over any other. Rush can do non-lyrical songs like no other if you ask me. To bad stuff like this can't get any radio play. I guess you have to be someone of open mind and ability to recognize great music.
• Jim from Mtn. Home, ArI skipped a day of school my senior year of hs,{with my Mom & Dad's permission, of course.} Exit...Stage Left had just been released. Neil, Geddy & Alex made it worth my ass being beat by the principal the next day before our percussion line won best in state!
• Bill from Moriches, NyThe introduction to the song is a crotal cymbal played by Neil. It is often said to be a triangle, but this is incorrect.
• Brian from Taipei, TaiwanI always forget, as an American, that it's pronounced "Why Why Zed."
  
• Jesse from L.a., CaI totally agree... Is BEHIND MY CAMEL really that good? Repetiton! I swear... Why did that crapola, no offense POLICE, beat YYZ? YYZ is an instrumental masterpiece... LOVE IT!
• Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScYeah it's a great song, and 'Moving Pictures" is a great album! Don't have the live in rio dvd, but that's funny that the fans sing along.
• Rebecca from Overland Park, KsFor some reason this song always gives me that adrenaline rush, I feel as this is more of a jam session than a song, but I've never seen Rush in concert. Personally I think more people like Tom Sawyer because it gets more radio play and appeals to the public. Like my dad says, "Most of the time the radio plays simple songs, that the public can understand, basically anything in 4/4 time is fair game. For example, they never play songs like Xanadu or 2112, because it's 1) too long and 2)too complex for average joe to understand. It's also the reason why they cycle through 3 or 4 Rush songs."
• Semor Butts from Cairo, Egyptyyz dose sound way better live. rush is the only good thing that comes from Canada {no offense canadians}. I also agree that too many people like "Tom Sawyer" prsonaly i think yyz and earthsine are way better than tom sawyer.
• Koko from Bla, AlYZZ may not sound all that good Moving Pictures, but it kicks butt live!
  The ending riff has not been played since 1998. You know, the riff that goes: - - - - . - - - -. . .
  I liked that riff too!
  
  I don't understand why everyone likes "Tom Saywer so much.
  
• Thomas from Victoria, CanadaInspired by the old Terminal One in Toronto, which was known for being loud and hectic
• Eric from Maryland, MdThe main riff in this song derives from the morse code for the letters YYZ. In morse code Y is -.-- and Z is --.. The main riff alternates between C and F#. If you take the morse code for YYZ, you get -.-- -.-- --.. Now use C for the dash - and F# for the dots . and you get the main riff.
• Mike from Mountlake Terrace, WashingtonDuring their 1981 tour Neil Peart (Rush drummer)
  performed a 3 minute drum solo 2½ minutes into this instrumental. This was recorded and released on their "Exit...Stage Left" album.
• James from Los Angeles, CaBehind My Camel plays the same thing over and over for 3 minutes! Come on man... YYZ has melody! Seriously. BMC has no complexity at all.
• Tiana from A City, OhThis is my favorite Rush song, too, and I love when the fans "sing along" in the Rio concert on the Rush in Rio DVD.
• Mike from Mountlake Terrace, WashingtonIn the Rio concert in Nov. 2002 (as seen on Rush In Rio DVD) the fans actually sing along to this "intrumental"!
• Eric from Calgary, CanadaThis song is the best rush song

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