Rush is a Band

A blog devoted to RUSH:
Neil Peart, Geddy Lee & Alex Lifeson

Thu, Mar 28, 2024

Conan O'Brien Rush sighting

Thu, Jan 10, 2008@9:38AM | comments removed/disabled

UPDATE - 1/10@2:46PM: After watching it I updated the transcript to be a bit more accurate.

UPDATE - 1/10@2:24PM: Hey! It's up on the NBC site already at this link (thanks AnthemOwl) and choose the Jan. 9th Wednesday show.

Last night's (January 9th) episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien contained a pretty significant Rush reference. In one taped skit Conan interviews his associate producer Jordan Slansky. Here's a paraphrased transcript of the interview courtesy reader krlowe:

CONAN: What's your favorite rock band.. or one of your favorite rock bands?
JORDAN: My favorite rock band would have to be Rush.
CONAN: I'm thinkin' what's a Rush song?
JORDAN: Their most famous song is Tom Sawyer.

They then play the chorus of Tom Sawyer with the group photo from the 2112 album (with the kimonos) coming towards the screen.

CONAN: Their lead singer Geddy Lee has kind of a funny voice, doesn't he?
JORDAN: He has an unusual voice.
CONAN: Is it pleasing to you?
JORDAN: It doesn't annoy me.
CONAN: What's that song?...

Conan then makes a poor attempt at singing Limelight.

CONAN: Isn't that one of their songs?
JORDAN: I don't think so.
CONAN: Besides Tom Sawyer what is there?
JORDAN: Well that whole album [Moving Pictures] is pretty famous ... Limelight.
CONAN: Well how's that go? Sing it.

Jordan then sings Limelight.

CONAN: That is the one I'm singing! ...

Then Conan attempts to sing the song again.

JORDAN: Umm ... no I sang it right - you didn't"

The interview segment continues, touching on other subjects. They then bring Jordan out onto the live stage while the band plays a version of Limelight. They sit down...

CONAN: I love how you stood and basked in the Limelight. Isn't that one of your Rush songs?

There's no video of this up online yet that I could find. But NBC posts the complete episodes a few days after they air. The January 9th episode should be up by this weekend. Thanks to everybody who emailed me about this.

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