"YYZ" | ||||
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Song by Rush | ||||
from the album Moving Pictures | ||||
Released | February 12, 1981 | |||
Recorded | 1980 | |||
Genre | Instrumental rock, progressive rock, hard rock | |||
Length | 4:25 | |||
Label | Mercury | |||
Songwriter(s) | Geddy Lee, Neil Peart | |||
Producer(s) | Rush, Terry Brown | |||
Moving Pictures track listing | ||||
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Exit...Stage Left track listing | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
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"YYZ" is an instrumental rock piece by Canadian rock band Rush, from their 1981 album Moving Pictures. It is one of the band's most popular pieces and a staple of the band's live performances. The live album Exit...Stage Left (1981) and the concert video recording A Show of Hands (1989) both include versions in which Neil Peart incorporates a drum solo; as an interlude on the former, and as a segue out of the piece on the latter.
YYZ is the IATA airport identification code of Toronto Pearson International Airport, near Rush's hometown. The band was introduced to the rhythm as Alex Lifeson flew them into the airport. A VHF omnidirectional range system at the airport broadcasts the YYZ identifier code in Morse code. Peart said in interviews later that the rhythm stuck with them. Peart and Geddy Lee have both said "It's always a happy day when YYZ appears on our luggage tags."
The piece's introduction, played in a time signature of 5
4, repeatedly renders "Y-Y-Z" in Morse Code using various musical arrangements.
"YYZ" was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Rock Instrumental category in 1982. It lost to "Behind My Camel" by The Police, from their album Zenyatta Mondatta.