Thank you for yet another fantastic video, I watch them all. I have listened to the Wall since as long as I can remember, my dad is a huge Pink Floyd fan. But I promise you, that myself and many of your viewers are hoping for you to have a look at Dream Theater's Dance of Eternity. To be fair, in one of your earlier videos you mentioned that you were used to different time signatures, and appreciated the symphony orchestras combination with rock music. Dance of Eternity was, and still is, a big milestone in progressive rock, and I feel it would be a perfect piece of music for your channel. Have you ever heard the piece? Will there be any chance of this piece appearing on this channel?
As you go through the album doing the 'first listen' videos, have you already watched the movie in its entirety? Or are you watching the movie in pieces? Maybe this has already been explained somewhere and I just missed it?
That was ABBA's 'Happy New Year' at the start of this video, right? 😊 Nice singing! 😀👍 And they've been a bit of a recurring theme for me lately, too! 😊
She might the antidote to the horrors of AI music. How? By helping us understanding that music is all about intention and human emotions, of which AI has zero (and is therefore worthless crap)
There are reaction channels, and then there are channels like this. Actually this is more than a reaction channel, this is like 10 levels above other channels that just "react" for views but don't provide any interesting or thoughtful insights or analysts. Your channel is solid top tier QUALITY content.
To hear you play these tunes on harp so skillfully is an unexpected delight. Thank you for sharing your skills, both as an accomplished harpist and as an expert music analyst. You have the power to help me view my favorite album by my favorite artist in a new way after 40 years. That's no small feat!
Great deconstruction as usual, of course! I have to say that "Did did did did you ever wonder why we had to run for shelter when the promise of a brave new world unfurled beneath a clear blue sky?" is one of my favourite Roger Waters lines. He's so good at getting the exact rhythm of the words to match the rhythm of the music. A lot of lyricists have to distort and warp words to fit the music. My other favourite line of his is "Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.", another line which is longer than you''re expecting, and whose lyrics perfectly match up with the rhythm of the music, in Sheep, on the album Animals.
For my very first listen of the album, I got all the way to “Vera/Bring the Boys Back Home” when I just had to stop. I had such overwhelming emotion at the damage to that generation in England. It still gets me to this day, even seeing your reaction. This is a very heavy album of human tragedy…war, emotional/physical child abuse, isolation, substance abuse, mental deterioration, exploitation, despair, and ultimately acceptance. Though the ending is a bit ambiguous, the wall came down, but at what price? The album strongly suggests the story repeats, does that mean he recovered, then relapsed? Or more universal…Pink’s story is over but the pattern is just starting for someone else. Just a brilliantly thought-provoking piece of art.
I love the analysis. Your sincerity and kind of your words. Another mastrclass. You crack the code from the composer to us. Thank you so much Amy and Vlad for all your wonderful work.
Thank you so much for the time, care, attention and dedication that you have put into your expert analysis of Pink Floyd's music! I know this isn't your go-to music for listening enjoyment, but I am taken aback by the depth of consideration you have given to both the lyrics and the music theory behind these compositions. The Wall has been a favorite topic of rock fans since the album was released. Pink Floyd has always made great use of symbolism and universal themes and motifs that strike their fans on both an emotional and intellectual level, and The Wall went deeper into that territory than their previous work, given that it is a full-blown rock opera. Your insights into the compositional choices made by Waters and the rest of the band are a revelation. After living with this music for decades, and feeling like I understood it well, you have given me an even stronger appreciation for this work. Thanks again! I am thoroughly enjoying your discourses on The Wall as well as the other songs you have analyzed. Keep it up!
The bird singning in the beginning is a lark. This must surely have been a very deliberat choice. The lark is one of the first migratory bird that arrives in the spring. Its habitat is the open fialds where it hatches on the ground. But the lark only sings when it hovers high up in the sky. So the sound of a singning lark automatically gives us the associatioen of a clear blue spring sky.
I agree. I am really enjoying her journey with this LP as well as her other work save the metal in which I have a limited or small swim lane to choose from... All the best!
It is so interresting and captivating listening to Amy´s analysis to the music she choosen to share with us. This was extra special to me. I can fullly understand her deep sigh att the end. So much information and what it represeted, But not in a way one get´s bored listening to Amy. She really does en excelent wark descrbing the lyrics.
Amy, you got me! Listening to this song for decades, I never got past the thought of whether this song reflects a perspective of the mother or the boy, or both. You managed to talk about it for 37 minutes without a word too many spoken in a most captivating manner with explicitly good dictation. It's clear to me that you aredissecting this album. It is like we're having a conversation discussing the album. And when, after, I read some comments it is like more people are joining the conversation. Great Stuff!
On 11 September 2001, “Goodbye Blue Sky” was one of the songs that came to mind when I was walking through the campus of [the College of] William & Mary … and you can appreciate why.
Thank you so much for all of your work, here! After hearing one of your pleas for us to listen to the in depth analysis episodes, I have to say that as great as the first listens are, these are phenomenal. I'd avoided them since I really have no musical background beyond really rudimentary guitar/bass playing. You've really gone in depth and helped to explain why music that I've listened to for over 40 years has had it's hooks in me for so long. This channel is an absolute gem, and I relish every new episode. Again, thank you so much for all you do!
If I had to take a guess I'd say I've listened to The Wall hundreds of times during my lifetime. The insight you've articulated in such simple yet brilliant terms is humbling and totally remarkable. In future I will open my ears and mind more when I listen to music and I will, for sure, enjoy the album even more than I already have thanks to you.
When you first started talking about the semitone, I assumed you were going to bring in the Jaws score, but it makes sense with your musical background that you would use the piece you did. But, the main Jaws theme is my go to for the power of the semitone.
Nice intro... Fom Agnethas "Happy New Year", to Rogers "Goodbye blue sky"... 😉 Thank You for this one, Amy. I am wandering with You through this album, experiencing it again. The Wall was my entrance into "Real music" and followed me into my adulthood. I believe, many listeners (Pink Floyders 😉) here feels the same way. Roger Waters Did something strange by writing this album... All You feel and say about it, i feel and understand the same way..🌹 Thank You again for Your work, love from Sweden. ❤️🌹❤️
Loved the analysis! In case you're not aware, a number of the sound effects used on this album are references to previous PF albums eg the airport announcement at the close of this track refers to On The Run on DSOTM. The character PF is also a representation of the band itself, not just RW, as it was assumed in the US that one of them was PF when they toured in the early years, as referenced in Have A Cigar on WYWH album. Hence Pink comprises elements of Syd Barrett (Comfortably Numb), Richard Wright (Nobody Home) etc which adds a more personal level to the album if you happen know more of their work.
Yes, you're so right. Remember in the classroom scene in the movie where the teacher is reading lines from DSOTM's song Money? It is the reason why The Wall is PF's most fully realized work and arguably their best work. 👍👍👍
@@djknox2 The Wall goes deeper than PF's earlier albums. The earlier albums presented Roger's continuing themes in a more general sense. The Wall is up close and personal with this brilliant concept of a wall people build between themselves and others. It also has PF's best song in Comfortably Numb. It is pure genius and has not been surpassed by PF or anyone else.
@@djknox2 The Wall inspired an interesting film and stands at the top of my list of the greatest rock albums of all time. It is recorded and mastered better by Doug Sax's TML. People are free to put any PF album at the top of their list. There is so much to The Wall that an entire book could be written about it. Are you familiar with Virgin Rock on YT? She is a classical musician and teacher who is analyzing The Wall song by song right now. She just finished an in-depth analysis of Goodbye Blue Sky. If you'd like to learn more about the album and what puts it in my top spot, check out her videos.
@@djknox2 Sorry, I didn't see the title of the video. I comment about The Wall in different places on YT, easy to get side tracked. Okay, you're hearing and seeing Amy's analysis. Amy is doing a great job, but she lacks knowledge of some of PF and the band members' history. There's even more to it when you consider The Wall's historical context and band history. It also encompasses ideas from 20th Century literature as she discussed and some she didn't discuss. Roger goes very deep on this stuff. To me deep is better. I'm interested in everything Roger depicts in The Wall and have explored it before I heard The Wall. It's part of the reason why I love the album so much and why it connects with me.
@@djknox2 Side 4 is great. It is the logical conclusion of The Wall. You have to see this as an opera, a story. The music propels the story, so not every song is going to be as sparkling as Comfortably Numb, but they should carry you through the story. Pink's descent into isolation and madness is well described on Side 4 of the album. Then he is released to heal when The Wall is torn down. So it isn't as hopeless as people like to believe.
Please, if you get a minute spare, listen to an older PF track called Granchester Meadows. When I first got the Wall album in 1980, parts of the music sent my mind spinning back to earlier Floyd recordings. Goodbye Blue Sky took me straight back to Granchester Meadows. It’s a beautiful slow guitar song that counjurs up the british countryside and summers of my youth. Please give it a lsten with this track in mind. Thank you for all your great videos 😊
Thoroughly enjoying your videos! It's really interesting hearing you explain the dynamics and nuances of this music that I love and have been listening to for so long. Thank you!
I know the wall ,it is a part of my generation. I also have become comfortably numb in some ways and I am part of the fatherless so it hits my childhood wounds sort of speak but I don’t have a copy of the album nor do I listen to it because it is depressing as you say. We appreciate you doing this analysis it helps us understand why this music is connected to us.Pink Floyd is a great band . I hope you are not discouraged from some of their other stuff and I hope You don’t burn yourself out on how dark it gets.I am learning from your analysis. Thanks.
Another great reaction, Amy! Truly a masterclass in musical analysis. I have loved this album since it came out (not my favorite PF album, but I love it just the same), and while I always understood the general concept of the album I never fully appreciated what appears to be its truly genius construction.
Wow! What deep thoughts! Listen to this album from early college years, only been able to grasp one or two layers. Thank you very much, you are a beautiful person!
Also when he ask "Did you ever wonder why we had to run for shelter when the promise of a brave new world unfurled beneath a bright blue sky?“ He is referencing Huxleys book brave new world. Which was written 6 years before the start of ww2.
There is a reason that I keep Brave New World, 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 next to each other on my bookshelf. Great breakdown as usual. Thanks so much! 🤘🧙♂️🤘 Rich the Ancient Metal Beast
This is brilliant! Thank you for doing this! And yes, please do get technical on us^^ Since discovering The Wall in my late teens, it has remained one of the most impactful pieces of music in my life. The music, the emotions, the story being conveyed. Thank you for helping me understanding it, and get wiser about music in general along the way!
Thanks for the theory insight into the melody and it's relation to the underlying chords. Really appreciate it. Been waiting all week for this video. Looking forward to the next one.
I loved the explanation on suspensions and, as it's becoming the norm, the depth and acuity of your observations. Thank you! I must also thank Vlad for all his contributions to the success of this endeavor, man, you rock!
Firstly I have to say I had chills hearing your harp version of the intro. Secondly, you've revealed an extra layer to this song that I wasn't previously aware of with the planes blocking out the previously blue sky. This has always been one of my favourite tracks on the album (which I'm obsessed with) yet I never really appreciated this aspect. Thank you!
Thank you, Amy! 👍👍👍👍👍 I just loved this video. You nailed it so well. I would only add that the reference to "the promise of a brave new world unfurling" is just so wrong in the face of the Orwellian world Roger Waters' father died to defeat. The threats aren't the ones close to home described earlier in the album. They are the external threats of war and annihilation in a nuclear age. This is the external threat borne from an old world to a new world in 1979. Although he feared a kind of brave new world dystopian society was rapidly approaching to change our society, Aldous Huxley admitted the possibility of civilization's ultimate demise when he said that nuclear annihilation would "make nonsense of everyone's predictions." Well done, and I very much look forward to our continuing journey together to explore the depths of The Wall.
If you want music to "sink your teeth into " listen to the Pink Floyd album Animals loosely based on Orwell's Animal Farm. I like the unedited parts of your reaction. It gives us some insight to your personality beyond the teaching which you do extremely well.
This is possibly my favorite track of the album. I really appreciate your interpretation of the piece's meaning - the fears and experience of the older generation (like Pink's mother) not shared by the generation that did not have to experience the Battle of Britain. I feel like you've really unlocked the intended meaning of the piece for me, as this fits better with the album as a whole, and with the adjacent track "Mother", with its image of the overbearing and anxious mother - "Mother's gonna put all of her fears into you." In the past, I think because of the animation that accompanies the piece on the film, which highlights horrific and ominous images of war, I've associated it with the shadow that back-to-back World Wars cast over the Western/European/English imagination - complicating previously sunny attitudes toward the march into a "brave new world." Without discarding my old read, I'm glad to now also have your more correct read. (Edit to add: I see you discuss this other lens later in the video.)
Did you honestly never hear this before? I’m utterly impressed by your perception of Roger’s lyrics and the music that perfectly matches it. He is a genius!
Very good insights. As much as I've listened to and sort of studied the The Wall album hearing your ideas has me learning new things. The part where the vocals descend and descend to finally come up again at the very end being compared to a plane or maybe a bomber is brilliant. Had never occurred to me before except maybe subconsciously. It fits a dive bomber, like the German's famous Stuka, to a T. The sound of a Stuka was very distinctive and can be heard later on another part of the album. As far as the conclusion--loss of trust is still in all a loss of innocence. But you are absolutely right--every brick in the wall is there because of a lack of trust.
Not wanting to make your channel a Pink Floyd channel. Though I would expect that there would be a lot of us who wish that. In listening to the last 5 to 10 minutes of your analysis made me think of another Pink Floyd song called Echoes off their Meddle album. It’s one of their best songs and it’s 23 minutes in length. But the idea/message behind the song is that we, humanity, should be looking at each other with empathy instead of our usual antipathy. We should be able to see ourself in our fellow humans. An amazing song by an amazing band. Echoes the last half of Meddle is often seen as the “golden age” of PF as they then produced Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and finally The Wall. An absolute amazing run of albums worthy of your attention, at some point (lol). Have a great day
This is the best ever. Thank you so much for doing this. Pink Floyd music taught me how to play my guitar by ear. Never had any musical training and these videos are opening my mind to a level of this music not reached before. I know 🍄🍄and weed make this music go to a whole other level but the musical description so expertly is another level as well. I’d love it if she did other PF albums. Someone get her some 🍄and ask her to react to the wall then. I’d love to hear what she would say about this music after that. Jokingnotjoking. Great content.
I loved Pink Floyd when I was a teenager and consumed it (specifically the Roger Waters years) like water. Then I took twenty years away from, I’m not sure why. About five years ago I reintroduced myself to it and it’s so fulfilling. Your videos are insightful and help to further explore the songs.
Hi Amy, Roger Waters was born in September 1943 in Surry, so it's just possible he has an early memory of WWII bombers. I had a different impression of this song. I always saw the pretty tune and the simultaneous chilling lower chords and minor transition as showing the innocence about to be destroyed by hideous reality. The little child naturally fascinated by the planes, not realising they were about to rain down hellfire.
Listening through this entire album with Amy's analysis is wonderful. It's nice to hear other's interpretations of the lyrical content. I've always been mostly a music person, but I find myself a bit more jealous of the ability of Roger and others like him, to be able to bare a person's soul and their thoughts. I think it's probably that my ethnicity is Bavarian/Swiss, I don't think it's in our nature to do that, but that neck of the woods produced a lot of great composers, so I kind of don't have an excuse for not being at least competent in the music area.
Let me pick up on your statement, "I've always been mostly a music person." I take that to mean "music" as opposed to "lyrics." That focus made me wonder how a person might experience The Wall without lyrics. What if the piece were almost entirely instrumental with occasional use of wordless singing--the voice used as a musical instrument without lyrical content? Pink Floyd had done this before, in "Atom Heart Mother Suite" and "The Great Gig in the Sky," for example. I suspect that if the lyrics were stripped out, the emotional response would be just as storng. It wouldn't be grounded in the story or in the deconstruction of social institutions, but it would convey, perhaps even more directly, an emotional experience of life common to many people. And it would be just as glorious as those earlier pieces I mentioned. Thank you for prompting me to consider the piece from that angle.
@@construct3 That's cool to hear that, you're welcome. In the process of replying to you, I ended up watching Amy's analysis again. She is a gifted educator. I almost can't handle the anticipation of her hearing the one song on The Wall that usually gives me goosebumps/makes the hair on my arms stand up. A favorite of a lot of guitar players from a lot of different genres, and a gorgeous piece of music as far as my ears are concerned. It will be interesting to see if she has a similar reaction to it.
@@EddieReischl My favorite is "One of My Turns." I'm eager to hear Amy's analysis of that one. For some reason, "One of My Turns" has not gotten much attention, but for me, it's right up there with "Hey, You!"
The child's voice at the beginning was recorded by Roger Water's son: Harry Waters. Who, by the way, will soon be in tour with Les Claypool and Sean Lennon (John Lennon's son) covering 'Animals'
Wow! You really dug into this song and got to the heart of it from every possible angle. I'm sure that even the persnickety Roger Waters himself would be pleased. You really are breaking down all the the lyrical references excellently and of course how the music is emphasizing them. Nicely done!
There's also a "but" that you didn't mention in "The Thin Ice" analysis - "(...)the sky may look blue but oooh babe (...)". I just love your analysis. Thank you.
Regarding the semitone relationship - when you asked "does it remind you of anything else?" - my response was on the other end of the spectrum (from the Beethoven piece), for John Williams used the same repeating ostinato in the bass register for the film "Jaws". Williams said he intended it to evoke the danger "grinding away at you, just as a shark would do, instinctual, relentless, unstoppable." In that work, the semitone ostinato never really resolves, which was tremendously effective in the context of the film - and Waters uses it very effectively here, as well 🙂
This channel is such I hidden gem. @Virgin Rock please do Dark side of the moon next. if you do, you gotta do "time" and "great gig in the sky" as one. They really are two parts of one whole.
Check out the similarity between the melody of the chorus "goodbye blue sky" and the Rolling Stones' "goodbye Ruby Tuesday". I definitely think he was making a musical reference there.
Wow you just reminded me of Hendrix- his Machine Gun is all kinds of warfare-sounding put-you-there stuff. There’s at least one live version that particularly pulls the scalp back
The alternating semitones also evoke the sound of a warning siren. And the stepped descending cadence of the verses could reference people going down into shelters or subway stations to escape the bombs.
Aww, thank you for sticking with this one, depressing as you find it. I'm glad you appreciate and even a bit like it, for all that it offers to sink your teeth into... But yeah, I guess Pink Floyd is kind of a band for those with protracted experiences of deep psychological pain? And not so nice for those who've been lucky enough to avoid that, some way? Or something. Anyway, I appreciate your appreciation. It definitely gives me lots to think about about _why_ I find this music so meaningful... which will hopefully also be useful to me if/when I ever start composing any music (something I've vaguely been pondering over time, though circumstances have made it tough. But I might take some music lessons soon!)
She's great! She's the Bob Ross of music. I'm waiting for her to say, "the puffy notes". I feel like I'm hearing the song for the first time even though I bought the album when it came out and played it till it wouldn't play anymore.
@@nottherealrashnar David and Polly have hit back hard too. Some of the things they accuse Roger of are just not true and far more incendiary than what Roger has accused them of. Enough already, they just need to stop this elementary school BS and grow up.
@@audiophileman7047 Agreed, which is why i started my statement with "neither a slight or compliment to Waters" I'm not taking sides, both are slinging mud and both need to grow up.
Please write here your questions only.
Thank you for yet another fantastic video, I watch them all. I have listened to the Wall since as long as I can remember, my dad is a huge Pink Floyd fan.
But I promise you, that myself and many of your viewers are hoping for you to have a look at Dream Theater's Dance of Eternity. To be fair, in one of your earlier videos you mentioned that you were used to different time signatures, and appreciated the symphony orchestras combination with rock music.
Dance of Eternity was, and still is, a big milestone in progressive rock, and I feel it would be a perfect piece of music for your channel. Have you ever heard the piece? Will there be any chance of this piece appearing on this channel?
As you go through the album doing the 'first listen' videos, have you already watched the movie in its entirety? Or are you watching the movie in pieces? Maybe this has already been explained somewhere and I just missed it?
That was ABBA's 'Happy New Year' at the start of this video, right? 😊 Nice singing! 😀👍 And they've been a bit of a recurring theme for me lately, too! 😊
Please do Dark Side of the Moon after the wall. Best videos on RUclips 😊
Listen out for that bass line you played it is a recurring line through out the album
This is quickly becoming one of my favorite RUclips channels.
Same
Same here
She's simply brilliant! She deserves a Dr.h.c. ❤
Amy really gets to you.
She might the antidote to the horrors of AI music.
How?
By helping us understanding that music is all about intention and human emotions, of which AI has zero (and is therefore worthless crap)
There are reaction channels, and then there are channels like this. Actually this is more than a reaction channel, this is like 10 levels above other channels that just "react" for views but don't provide any interesting or thoughtful insights or analysts. Your channel is solid top tier QUALITY content.
To hear you play these tunes on harp so skillfully is an unexpected delight. Thank you for sharing your skills, both as an accomplished harpist and as an expert music analyst. You have the power to help me view my favorite album by my favorite artist in a new way after 40 years. That's no small feat!
[
Great deconstruction as usual, of course! I have to say that "Did did did did you ever wonder why we had to run for shelter when the promise of a brave new world unfurled beneath a clear blue sky?" is one of my favourite Roger Waters lines. He's so good at getting the exact rhythm of the words to match the rhythm of the music. A lot of lyricists have to distort and warp words to fit the music. My other favourite line of his is "Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.", another line which is longer than you''re expecting, and whose lyrics perfectly match up with the rhythm of the music, in Sheep, on the album Animals.
Always loved that line.
For my very first listen of the album, I got all the way to “Vera/Bring the Boys Back Home” when I just had to stop. I had such overwhelming emotion at the damage to that generation in England. It still gets me to this day, even seeing your reaction. This is a very heavy album of human tragedy…war, emotional/physical child abuse, isolation, substance abuse, mental deterioration, exploitation, despair, and ultimately acceptance. Though the ending is a bit ambiguous, the wall came down, but at what price? The album strongly suggests the story repeats, does that mean he recovered, then relapsed? Or more universal…Pink’s story is over but the pattern is just starting for someone else. Just a brilliantly thought-provoking piece of art.
I love the analysis. Your sincerity and kind of your words. Another mastrclass. You crack the code from the composer to us. Thank you so much Amy and Vlad for all your wonderful work.
Thank you so much for the time, care, attention and dedication that you have put into your expert analysis of Pink Floyd's music! I know this isn't your go-to music for listening enjoyment, but I am taken aback by the depth of consideration you have given to both the lyrics and the music theory behind these compositions. The Wall has been a favorite topic of rock fans since the album was released. Pink Floyd has always made great use of symbolism and universal themes and motifs that strike their fans on both an emotional and intellectual level, and The Wall went deeper into that territory than their previous work, given that it is a full-blown rock opera. Your insights into the compositional choices made by Waters and the rest of the band are a revelation. After living with this music for decades, and feeling like I understood it well, you have given me an even stronger appreciation for this work. Thanks again! I am thoroughly enjoying your discourses on The Wall as well as the other songs you have analyzed. Keep it up!
The bird singning in the beginning is a lark. This must surely have been a very deliberat choice. The lark is one of the first migratory bird that arrives in the spring. Its habitat is the open fialds where it hatches on the ground. But the lark only sings when it hovers high up in the sky. So the sound of a singning lark automatically gives us the associatioen of a clear blue spring sky.
Wow this piece sounds amazing on the Harp!
Indeed
Thanks for giving this album the in-depth analysis it deserves. Cheers!
As a Man-splainer myself, I totally dig this!!!
This music has always been opaque to me. You are opening the curtains. Thanks.Someone notify Roger.
Wow, you made me respect Goodbye Blue Sky. I was never a big fan of The Wall, but I will revisit it again after this.
I’m so appreciative of you crystallizing this album so far. I only got certain parts and pieces. But get the concept now. Thank you
These small harp cover snippets are always a treat during your analysis. Much appreciated.
Very interesting and thought provoking. You’ve illuminated subtle dimensions to this song.
I agree. I am really enjoying her journey with this LP as well as her other work save the metal in which I have a limited or small swim lane to choose from... All the best!
@@daveking9393 hey Dave 👋
It is so interresting and captivating listening to Amy´s analysis to the music she choosen to share with us. This was extra special to me. I can fullly understand her deep sigh att the end. So much information and what it represeted, But not in a way one get´s bored listening to Amy. She really does en excelent wark descrbing the lyrics.
Amy,
you got me! Listening to this song for decades, I never got past the thought of whether this song reflects a perspective of the mother or the boy, or both. You managed to talk about it for 37 minutes without a word too many spoken in a most captivating manner with explicitly good dictation. It's clear to me that you aredissecting this album. It is like we're having a conversation discussing the album. And when, after, I read some comments it is like more people are joining the conversation.
Great Stuff!
I don't know what happened to my comment, some of it got cut Out?
On 11 September 2001, “Goodbye Blue Sky” was one of the songs that came to mind when I was walking through the campus of [the College of] William & Mary … and you can appreciate why.
Thank you so much for all of your work, here! After hearing one of your pleas for us to listen to the in depth analysis episodes, I have to say that as great as the first listens are, these are phenomenal. I'd avoided them since I really have no musical background beyond really rudimentary guitar/bass playing. You've really gone in depth and helped to explain why music that I've listened to for over 40 years has had it's hooks in me for so long. This channel is an absolute gem, and I relish every new episode. Again, thank you so much for all you do!
If I had to take a guess I'd say I've listened to The Wall hundreds of times during my lifetime. The insight you've articulated in such simple yet brilliant terms is humbling and totally remarkable. In future I will open my ears and mind more when I listen to music and I will, for sure, enjoy the album even more than I already have thanks to you.
When you first started talking about the semitone, I assumed you were going to bring in the Jaws score, but it makes sense with your musical background that you would use the piece you did. But, the main Jaws theme is my go to for the power of the semitone.
Daaang, Amy. You have really outdone yourself on this one - gave me lots to think about. Brilliant!
Nice intro... Fom Agnethas "Happy New Year", to Rogers "Goodbye blue sky"... 😉
Thank You for this one, Amy.
I am wandering with You through this album, experiencing it again.
The Wall was my entrance into "Real music" and followed me into my adulthood. I believe, many listeners (Pink Floyders 😉) here feels the same way.
Roger Waters Did something strange by writing this album...
All You feel and say about it, i feel and understand the same way..🌹
Thank You again for Your work, love from Sweden. ❤️🌹❤️
So beautiful. Thank you for taking the time to adding new musical perspective for music we hold dear to our hearts.
Loved the analysis! In case you're not aware, a number of the sound effects used on this album are references to previous PF albums eg the airport announcement at the close of this track refers to On The Run on DSOTM. The character PF is also a representation of the band itself, not just RW, as it was assumed in the US that one of them was PF when they toured in the early years, as referenced in Have A Cigar on WYWH album. Hence Pink comprises elements of Syd Barrett (Comfortably Numb), Richard Wright (Nobody Home) etc which adds a more personal level to the album if you happen know more of their work.
Yes, you're so right. Remember in the classroom scene in the movie where the teacher is reading lines from DSOTM's song Money? It is the reason why The Wall is PF's most fully realized work and arguably their best work. 👍👍👍
@@djknox2 The Wall goes deeper than PF's earlier albums. The earlier albums presented Roger's continuing themes in a more general sense. The Wall is up close and personal with this brilliant concept of a wall people build between themselves and others. It also has PF's best song in Comfortably Numb. It is pure genius and has not been surpassed by PF or anyone else.
@@djknox2 The Wall inspired an interesting film and stands at the top of my list of the greatest rock albums of all time. It is recorded and mastered better by Doug Sax's TML. People are free to put any PF album at the top of their list. There is so much to The Wall that an entire book could be written about it. Are you familiar with Virgin Rock on YT? She is a classical musician and teacher who is analyzing The Wall song by song right now. She just finished an in-depth analysis of Goodbye Blue Sky. If you'd like to learn more about the album and what puts it in my top spot, check out her videos.
@@djknox2 Sorry, I didn't see the title of the video. I comment about The Wall in different places on YT, easy to get side tracked. Okay, you're hearing and seeing Amy's analysis. Amy is doing a great job, but she lacks knowledge of some of PF and the band members' history. There's even more to it when you consider The Wall's historical context and band history. It also encompasses ideas from 20th Century literature as she discussed and some she didn't discuss. Roger goes very deep on this stuff. To me deep is better. I'm interested in everything Roger depicts in The Wall and have explored it before I heard The Wall. It's part of the reason why I love the album so much and why it connects with me.
@@djknox2 Side 4 is great. It is the logical conclusion of The Wall. You have to see this as an opera, a story. The music propels the story, so not every song is going to be as sparkling as Comfortably Numb, but they should carry you through the story. Pink's descent into isolation and madness is well described on Side 4 of the album. Then he is released to heal when The Wall is torn down. So it isn't as hopeless as people like to believe.
The video for this is incredibly powerful, with very dark symbolism. It’s always been one of my favorite pieces from this era…
I love the way you put in to words the way I feel when I hear these songs.
If Amy was my music teacher back in 1988 I would not have quit piano lessons.
Thanks for explaining why the ‘long line’ is so effective.
Please, if you get a minute spare, listen to an older PF track called Granchester Meadows. When I first got the Wall album in 1980, parts of the music sent my mind spinning back to earlier Floyd recordings. Goodbye Blue Sky took me straight back to Granchester Meadows. It’s a beautiful slow guitar song that counjurs up the british countryside and summers of my youth. Please give it a lsten with this track in mind. Thank you for all your great videos 😊
I truly enjoyed your analysis of how the music was used to set a very particular mood in the music.
Thoroughly enjoying your videos! It's really interesting hearing you explain the dynamics and nuances of this music that I love and have been listening to for so long. Thank you!
I know the wall ,it is a part of my generation. I also have become comfortably numb in some ways and I am part of the fatherless so it hits my childhood wounds sort of speak but I don’t have a copy of the album nor do I listen to it because it is depressing as you say. We appreciate you doing this analysis it helps us understand why this music is connected to us.Pink Floyd is a great band . I hope you are not discouraged from some of their other stuff and I hope You don’t burn yourself out on how dark it gets.I am learning from your analysis. Thanks.
Another great reaction, Amy! Truly a masterclass in musical analysis. I have loved this album since it came out (not my favorite PF album, but I love it just the same), and while I always understood the general concept of the album I never fully appreciated what appears to be its truly genius construction.
Wow! What deep thoughts! Listen to this album from early college years, only been able to grasp one or two layers. Thank you very much, you are a beautiful person!
Also when he ask "Did you ever wonder why we had to run for shelter when the promise of a brave new world unfurled beneath a bright blue sky?“ He is referencing Huxleys book brave new world. Which was written 6 years before the start of ww2.
Enjoying the journey. Thanks for sharing.
There is a reason that I keep Brave New World, 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 next to each other on my bookshelf.
Great breakdown as usual. Thanks so much!
🤘🧙♂️🤘
Rich the Ancient Metal Beast
This is brilliant!
Thank you for doing this! And yes, please do get technical on us^^
Since discovering The Wall in my late teens, it has remained one of the most impactful pieces of music in my life. The music, the emotions, the story being conveyed. Thank you for helping me understanding it, and get wiser about music in general along the way!
Thanks for the theory insight into the melody and it's relation to the underlying chords. Really appreciate it. Been waiting all week for this video. Looking forward to the next one.
Very good analysis as always. Great job! Since 1973 Pink Floyd has been my favorite band.
Really appreciating your work
I loved the explanation on suspensions and, as it's becoming the norm, the depth and acuity of your observations. Thank you! I must also thank Vlad for all his contributions to the success of this endeavor, man, you rock!
Firstly I have to say I had chills hearing your harp version of the intro. Secondly, you've revealed an extra layer to this song that I wasn't previously aware of with the planes blocking out the previously blue sky. This has always been one of my favourite tracks on the album (which I'm obsessed with) yet I never really appreciated this aspect. Thank you!
This is a real discovery for me, a real unique priceless gem. Thank you so much! Now I'll have to watch all your videos :) But thank you for that!
Thank you, Amy! 👍👍👍👍👍 I just loved this video. You nailed it so well. I would only add that the reference to "the promise of a brave new world unfurling" is just so wrong in the face of the Orwellian world Roger Waters' father died to defeat. The threats aren't the ones close to home described earlier in the album. They are the external threats of war and annihilation in a nuclear age. This is the external threat borne from an old world to a new world in 1979. Although he feared a kind of brave new world dystopian society was rapidly approaching to change our society, Aldous Huxley admitted the possibility of civilization's ultimate demise when he said that nuclear annihilation would "make nonsense of everyone's predictions." Well done, and I very much look forward to our continuing journey together to explore the depths of The Wall.
If you want music to "sink your teeth into " listen to the Pink Floyd album Animals loosely based on Orwell's Animal Farm. I like the unedited parts of your reaction. It gives us some insight to your personality beyond the teaching which you do extremely well.
I really like your intro, ending, and all in between.
This is possibly my favorite track of the album. I really appreciate your interpretation of the piece's meaning - the fears and experience of the older generation (like Pink's mother) not shared by the generation that did not have to experience the Battle of Britain. I feel like you've really unlocked the intended meaning of the piece for me, as this fits better with the album as a whole, and with the adjacent track "Mother", with its image of the overbearing and anxious mother - "Mother's gonna put all of her fears into you." In the past, I think because of the animation that accompanies the piece on the film, which highlights horrific and ominous images of war, I've associated it with the shadow that back-to-back World Wars cast over the Western/European/English imagination - complicating previously sunny attitudes toward the march into a "brave new world." Without discarding my old read, I'm glad to now also have your more correct read. (Edit to add: I see you discuss this other lens later in the video.)
Did you honestly never hear this before? I’m utterly impressed by your perception of Roger’s lyrics and the music that perfectly matches it. He is a genius!
Very good insights. As much as I've listened to and sort of studied the The Wall album hearing your ideas has me learning new things. The part where the vocals descend and descend to finally come up again at the very end being compared to a plane or maybe a bomber is brilliant. Had never occurred to me before except maybe subconsciously. It fits a dive bomber, like the German's famous Stuka, to a T. The sound of a Stuka was very distinctive and can be heard later on another part of the album.
As far as the conclusion--loss of trust is still in all a loss of innocence. But you are absolutely right--every brick in the wall is there because of a lack of trust.
Not wanting to make your channel a Pink Floyd channel. Though I would expect that there would be a lot of us who wish that. In listening to the last 5 to 10 minutes of your analysis made me think of another Pink Floyd song called Echoes off their Meddle album. It’s one of their best songs and it’s 23 minutes in length. But the idea/message behind the song is that we, humanity, should be looking at each other with empathy instead of our usual antipathy. We should be able to see ourself in our fellow humans. An amazing song by an amazing band. Echoes the last half of Meddle is often seen as the “golden age” of PF as they then produced Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and finally The Wall. An absolute amazing run of albums worthy of your attention, at some point (lol). Have a great day
This song has that eerie quality where you know something is off but you can't quite place it.
This is the best ever. Thank you so much for doing this. Pink Floyd music taught me how to play my guitar by ear. Never had any musical training and these videos are opening my mind to a level of this music not reached before. I know 🍄🍄and weed make this music go to a whole other level but the musical description so expertly is another level as well. I’d love it if she did other PF albums. Someone get her some 🍄and ask her to react to the wall then. I’d love to hear what she would say about this music after that. Jokingnotjoking. Great content.
I loved Pink Floyd when I was a teenager and consumed it (specifically the Roger Waters years) like water. Then I took twenty years away from, I’m not sure why. About five years ago I reintroduced myself to it and it’s so fulfilling. Your videos are insightful and help to further explore the songs.
So much fun listening to you :)
Hi Amy, Roger Waters was born in September 1943 in Surry, so it's just possible he has an early memory of WWII bombers. I had a different impression of this song. I always saw the pretty tune and the simultaneous chilling lower chords and minor transition as showing the innocence about to be destroyed by hideous reality. The little child naturally fascinated by the planes, not realising they were about to rain down hellfire.
Listening through this entire album with Amy's analysis is wonderful. It's nice to hear other's interpretations of the lyrical content. I've always been mostly a music person, but I find myself a bit more jealous of the ability of Roger and others like him, to be able to bare a person's soul and their thoughts.
I think it's probably that my ethnicity is Bavarian/Swiss, I don't think it's in our nature to do that, but that neck of the woods produced a lot of great composers, so I kind of don't have an excuse for not being at least competent in the music area.
Let me pick up on your statement, "I've always been mostly a music person." I take that to mean "music" as opposed to "lyrics." That focus made me wonder how a person might experience The Wall without lyrics. What if the piece were almost entirely instrumental with occasional use of wordless singing--the voice used as a musical instrument without lyrical content? Pink Floyd had done this before, in "Atom Heart Mother Suite" and "The Great Gig in the Sky," for example. I suspect that if the lyrics were stripped out, the emotional response would be just as storng. It wouldn't be grounded in the story or in the deconstruction of social institutions, but it would convey, perhaps even more directly, an emotional experience of life common to many people. And it would be just as glorious as those earlier pieces I mentioned. Thank you for prompting me to consider the piece from that angle.
@@construct3 That's cool to hear that, you're welcome. In the process of replying to you, I ended up watching Amy's analysis again. She is a gifted educator.
I almost can't handle the anticipation of her hearing the one song on The Wall that usually gives me goosebumps/makes the hair on my arms stand up. A favorite of a lot of guitar players from a lot of different genres, and a gorgeous piece of music as far as my ears are concerned. It will be interesting to see if she has a similar reaction to it.
@@EddieReischl My favorite is "One of My Turns." I'm eager to hear Amy's analysis of that one. For some reason, "One of My Turns" has not gotten much attention, but for me, it's right up there with "Hey, You!"
Aldus Huxley's brave new world was gaining a new following at the end of the 70's early 80's and was made into a tv series first shown 7th March 1980.
Once again, a beautiful analysis.
Welcome to the world of Pink Floyd. You are awesome one.
I've just listened to Crucifixus. And it's beautiful. It brought tears to my eyes...
This reminds me of listening to Karl Haas' "Adventures in Good Music" on the radio in the '60s and '70s when I was a child.
Beautiful work!
The child's voice at the beginning was recorded by Roger Water's son: Harry Waters. Who, by the way, will soon be in tour with Les Claypool and Sean Lennon (John Lennon's son) covering 'Animals'
A very respectable analysis. I learned things! One thing I learned is that Princess Leia can play a harp .
Simply a scintillating analysis
That was awesome, thank you!!! 😃
Wow! You really dug into this song and got to the heart of it from every possible angle. I'm sure that even the persnickety Roger Waters himself would be pleased. You really are breaking down all the the lyrical references excellently and of course how the music is emphasizing them. Nicely done!
These are wonderfully informative videos. More Harp!🙂
Nice analysis Amy. Your observations enrich the work.
There's also a "but" that you didn't mention in "The Thin Ice" analysis - "(...)the sky may look blue but oooh babe (...)". I just love your analysis. Thank you.
Wow, I love it, great interpretation of you. Cool
Very well done it's amazing what you can learn from some one that actually studies music.
You're wonderful! Continue Please.
Regarding the semitone relationship - when you asked "does it remind you of anything else?" - my response was on the other end of the spectrum (from the Beethoven piece), for John Williams used the same repeating ostinato in the bass register for the film "Jaws". Williams said he intended it to evoke the danger "grinding away at you, just as a shark would do, instinctual, relentless, unstoppable." In that work, the semitone ostinato never really resolves, which was tremendously effective in the context of the film - and Waters uses it very effectively here, as well 🙂
All this, and she can sing too!
This channel is such I hidden gem. @Virgin Rock please do Dark side of the moon next. if you do, you gotta do "time" and "great gig in the sky" as one. They really are two parts of one whole.
Dear Amy,
I found myself listening to Firth of Fith by Genesis, and immediately thought of your channel. You would like it a lot, I think. Greetings!
ko-fi.com/post/Genesis-Firth-Of-Fifth--Amys-First-Listen-and-R-D1D6IQIK0
That sigh is just like in mother. Depressing it is but there is some hope at the end.
20:19 Ever since I was a young boy, I played the silver ball.
Good Lord you did some research on this one. Great reaction vid.
Check out the similarity between the melody of the chorus "goodbye blue sky" and the Rolling Stones' "goodbye Ruby Tuesday". I definitely think he was making a musical reference there.
Wow you just reminded me of Hendrix- his Machine Gun is all kinds of warfare-sounding put-you-there stuff. There’s at least one live version that particularly pulls the scalp back
I feel like I should be paying tuition to watch Amy's educating me.
ko-fi.com/amyshaferarts/commissions
A history lesson, a music lesson, some harp playing and some singing. I come away from watching this video quite satisfied.
In the words of the prophet, blessed are the peacemakers (as opposed to the peaceKEEPERS). Another great analysis, and a bit of Philosophy too :)
Absolutely amazing!
I got nothing to say. Beautifully broken down.
I would love to see what you think of two cute little songs by Jimi Hendrix - Little Wing & Castles Made of Sand :)
The alternating semitones also evoke the sound of a warning siren. And the stepped descending cadence of the verses could reference people going down into shelters or subway stations to escape the bombs.
Im sure that when you get to The Trial you are gonna love it
Hi Amy, I think you may be becoming one of Pink Floyd's biggest fan. Very thought provoking as we can see from reactions. What do you think,?
Aww, thank you for sticking with this one, depressing as you find it. I'm glad you appreciate and even a bit like it, for all that it offers to sink your teeth into... But yeah, I guess Pink Floyd is kind of a band for those with protracted experiences of deep psychological pain? And not so nice for those who've been lucky enough to avoid that, some way? Or something. Anyway, I appreciate your appreciation. It definitely gives me lots to think about about _why_ I find this music so meaningful... which will hopefully also be useful to me if/when I ever start composing any music (something I've vaguely been pondering over time, though circumstances have made it tough. But I might take some music lessons soon!)
She's great! She's the Bob Ross of music. I'm waiting for her to say, "the puffy notes". I feel like I'm hearing the song for the first time even though I bought the album when it came out and played it till it wouldn't play anymore.
Loved the ABBA intro 🙂
I mean this as neither a slight or compliment to Waters, but Amy's reviews of The Wall would really stroke his ego. I hope he finds them.
Nah, Roger is too busy getting into verbal exchanges with Gilmour and his wife. Too bad Roger doesn't live his ideals.
@@audiophileman7047 ya no kidding, I've seen the recent articles and quotes from him. such a bitter man, it's really sad to watch.
@@nottherealrashnar David and Polly have hit back hard too. Some of the things they accuse Roger of are just not true and far more incendiary than what Roger has accused them of. Enough already, they just need to stop this elementary school BS and grow up.
@@audiophileman7047 Agreed, which is why i started my statement with "neither a slight or compliment to Waters"
I'm not taking sides, both are slinging mud and both need to grow up.
‘Utopian dystopia’- I hope she doesn’t mind me using that in that phrase