“With this album Pink Floyd shows us the dark side of the moon, the truths about life that are hard to accept.”
Imagine an album, even the ones who haven’t listened to it recognizes the cover; an album that stayed 14 years in the “Billboard 200” charts; an album that affects people, lives and societies with the philosophic questions it asks. Let’s take a look at this album, in which Pink Floyd has proven its art to the whole world …
Pink Floyd is a psychedelic and progressive rock band formed by Syd Barret in 1965 alongside David Gimour (vocals and guitar), Roger Waters (bass guitar), Richard Wright (keyboards and synthesizer) and Nick Mason (drums). After Barrett leaves the band shortly after forming it; Pink Floyd manages to get its voice heard to a certain audience at the end of the 60’s with its experimental albums and soundtracks. Having gained worldwide fame with the album The Dark Side Of The Moon, which they published in 1973, Pink Floyd has made important albums such as Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall in the following years. Pink Floyd released two more albums after the band’s songwriter Roger Waters left the band in 1985. After the death of the band member Richard Wright, they decided to end the band in 2014.
(From left to right: David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Nick Mason ve Richard Wright)
We are in the early 1970s. Closing with the Woodstock concert was held in the 60s when rock music and psychedelic rock bands were more popular than ever in the United States and England. So what was next? What was going to be the effect of slowly rising disco music on rock n roll? Pink Floyd was also discussing these questions in those years. All of a sudden, Roger Waters had a genius idea: Why not make a concept album about what we know best, life and its challenges? Upon this idea, the band came together with musician Alan Parsons to record the album, whose legend will continue to this day.
Context of the album
With this album Pink Floyd shows us the dark side of the moon, the truths about life that are hard to accept. The album, which was recorded in 1971/72, can actually be considered as a whole song. Starting with Speak To Me/Breathe (In The Air), it tells us how inexperienced and excited we are when we are born. Suddenly, strongly interrupting the first track, we pass to the second song, On The Run.
This instrumental track, combining electronic music and rock music, is really revolutionary for its era. The song Time awakens us from our sleep, reminds us that we are getting old, and the years are getting shorter and the first part of the album ends with The Great Gig In The Sky, featuring guest singer Claire Torry’s powerful vocals. The second part begins with the song Money, which tells us about the dark side of money, and continues with Us And Them in which Roger Waters pays tribute to his father whom he has lost during WW2. Afterwards, the 3-minute song Any Color You Like perfectly combines blues and progressive rock.Commemorating founding member Syd Barrett with the song Brain Damage, the band ends their album with the song Eclipse by reminding that every human life is actually the same and that all people are one. However, in the last seconds of the song, we hear a distant voice saying: “ There is no dark side of the moon really. Matter of fact it’s all dark.”.
By combining electronic music and Blues Rock, the album, which revolutionized rock music, is still as popular as its first release. Guitar solos in Time and Money are still considered among the best solos of all time. Radiohead, U2, David Bowie and numerous artists say they were inspired by this album. While many films and TV series are referring to the album, its songs also appear constantly. The newest example of this; the movie Dune, which will be released in 2021, directed by Denis Villeneuve, features the last song of the album “Eclipse” in its trailer.
(Almost Famous, 2000)
This album has a huge impact on me. The first time I listened to this album, which I discovered in the early years of high school, I could not control my tears. It also gave me a different vision to progressive rock and to music in general.
In addition, this album has a special place in my heart, I met many of my close friends thanks to this album. After a while listening to David Gilmour’s guitar solos wasn’t enough for me, I also started playing guitar.
This album, which touches the lives of everyone who listens, is an album that everyone should listen to and experience.
“Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain. You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today. And then one day you find ten years have got behind you. No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun.” -Time, The Dark Side Of The Moon, Pink Floyd.
Born in 2003, Lal Tuna is a sophomore at Sainte Pulchérie French high school. Lal is mostly interested in filmmaking and music. They enjoy writing, researching, photography, and acting. You can follow their Instagram account and photography page.
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