89. Say Cheese

89. "Red Barchetta" by Rush

When I came to this song, I thought, "Why do I think of Randy riding in a red sports car when I hear it? And why do I imagine the drummer sitting behind a huge drum set? And why does the title of this song make me think of cheese?"

Then the memories began to flood back.

I remembered that along with the Van Halen, Pink Floyd, and Ten Nugent albums, at some point while he lived with us, Randy bought the Moving Pictures album by Rush.

"Tom Sawyer" was the song on this album that got me into Rush, what with the very enjoyable sing-a-long line "Catch the spirit, catch the spit." However, it's been so overplayed throughout the years that it's fallen out of favor with my ears and been replaced by "Red Barchetta."

Then I also remembered that when I was introduced to the Freaks and Geeks television show, I got a big kick out of the Rush references by the kid that idolized Neil Peart and bragged to Linda Cardellini that his 29-piece drum set was only six pieces away from being a bigger set than Neil's.



But then Linda Cardellini's TV dad tried to crush the kid's hero-worshipping of Neil with a little jazz drumming.



Granted, those jazz drummers really know how to make the sticks fly. Still, there's a part of me that understands the kid's awe of Neil's drum set. Behold the drum set in all its glory!



A slightly smaller drum set is featured in this 80s performance of "Red Barchetta."



So that's why this song makes me imagine Randy riding in a red sports car while somewhere in the Great White North a drummer is banging away on a gigantic drum set. However, I still have no idea why I think Barchetta is a type of cheese. Could it be because it really is a cheese? Well, there's only one way to find out--check the most comprehensive list of cheeses available on the interwebs.



Mmmmmmm...Rogue Cheddar.... A snack that is a winner, but yet won't spoil my dinner!

Well, I guess Barchetta isn't a cheese then. And I have no idea why I think of cheese when I hear the song. But you have to admit that Barchetta would make a damn fine name for a cheese!

And so would Cardellini.