That is the same Pink physically in the second 'in the flesh", but mentally and emotionally he's become something far more terrifying. An Unfeeling uncaring shell. The words were meant to harm, has nothing to do with the era of the album. The humanity is gone. The worms have eaten into his brain and this is what is left. Can he be saved?
@@PanarchyInTheUK Yeah, that's the other layer of meaning to this last part. I've heard Roger explain how it's also a cautionary tale... the dangers of idolizing any public figure, be they entertainer politician or whoever. How blind idolatry can lead you places you otherwise never would have gone.
The callback represents a new birth, - after building the wall so high he cracks and a new "Pink" emerges - one that's filled with resentment and hatred and he lashes out, becomes facistic. This is explored in startling detail in the film. Thanks for another great reaction!
I feel like in the film it wasn't so much of a shock when it happened because it could be put in context, which still doesn't make it OK, but on the album its like full stop WTF!
Impressively you have grasped much of this as you have gone through, but the “in the flesh pt 2” through to “waiting for the worms” segment can definitely throw some. It should all make sense in the end, and if you watch the film a few cracks will probably be filled in
Yeah, you nailed the loss of self by the end of Comfortably Numb! And Pink's slip into fascism (HE IS the surrogate band), his assumption that his fans will just go along with anything he does, which they do... and yes, a lot of WW2 imagery. Great reactions to this so far! You can see how, taken out of context, the message of some of these songs could get twisted. But the anti-fascism messaging is pretty strong throughout the album. Looking forward to your views on the last part. THE TRIAL is one of my favourite tracks.
You MUST take a look at Roger Water's Wall from Berlin just to take in the scale of the production. The official movie is also very good with Bob Geldof from Boomtown Rats playing Pink.
Yes. The Berlin Concert in 1990 was of the greatest shows ever! I'm a PF Purist but that was spectacular. the Rick Difonzo and Snowy White back and forth solos 75 feet in the air during comfortably numb still blows me away.
Wow, I've been listening to this album for twenty-five years, and I never noticed the "Ooh, ma -- Ooh, pa" part at all. It took the spelling out in the lyrics you have pulled up. Yet another layer of brilliance! "Take me home, pa" ... "Let me go, ma." Mind blown! 🤯
I wasn't going to spoil it for anyone but you went ahead and did. I was going to be coy and ask where was there a famous wall in the 1970s and what was behind it...
Remember "the worms ate into his brain" a few songs ago? What's left behind is malice, fear, hatred, prejudice: that's his wall. The "surrogate" is the same guy, he's just morally hollowed-out.
Great interpretations of the lyrics once again. Yet another theme I never picked up on, the band becoming a self-parody. Quite right. There is a whole other angle to all of this that may make itself more clear in the final section, but if not it will become abundantly clear within the first couple minutes of the film when you see it. I'm tempted to drop a hint but I won't. Thanks for doing all of this, I'm looking forward to the final act tomorrow!
There are shades of complying with the regime in The Show Must Go on . if so such regimes seem to have intensifued and grown more and more since this dystopian vision
It's worth nothing that "In the Flesh" was actually the name of the tour the band did for the "Animals" album prior to this. There was a show where a fan was shouting and Roger spat in his face. I believe that's the inspiration behind this whole section. I think the reason "In the Flesh?" (the question mark is important) exists at the first of the album is more of a foreshadowing of what is to come. It makes more sense when you finish the album and the film also makes it a little more clear what's happening.
I always imagined everything in the second half of this album as going on entirely within Pink's head. Like, that all the fascist stuff is one part of his mind attacking the other. In my interpretation the doctor in Comfortably Numb is part of his brain (the part that came in during Hey You where they say the worms ate into his brain). In Comfortably Numb the worms are taking away his feelings and making him numb to reality (depression). And then in the later songs he's losing touch with reality as his mind goes on a tirade against everything it sees as weak within him. The whole second half of the album has such an ethereal and theatrical feel to it and feels quite different from the first half. Songs like "Is there Anybody Out There?" and "The Trial" feel to me likely they're especially clearly going on in someone's head. Though I don't reject other interpretations of course.
You made a few mentions of Richard’s keys and organs. There are several keyboardists on this album, Richard definitely plays on it but more or less became a session player, at least for Roger. I’ve always wanted to see a breakdown of which parts are him and which are others. There are lists of the tracks he plays on, but others also play keys on those tracks. As a Floyd geek I’ve always wanted to see a breakdown of who did what. Because a bunch of musicians played on this. And if some of those harmonies sound Beach Boysesque, it’s because one of them is singing on those tracks
It's gonna be interesting to watch you, as a Brit, listen to Waiting For The Worms and watch the lightbulb click in your head with the callback meaning of In The Flesh II and Run Like Hell. Pay particularly close attention to Waters voice theatrics in The Trial. I don't want to say anything more about the last four songs because it would be like spoiling the end of a great movie or book.
Can't wait for the next one. Both the trial and waiting for the worms are real underrated in my opinion. Waiting for the next has such good contrast between the soft reassuring "would you like to see britannia rule again?" bits which also makes it sound like Pink is uncertain of what he's doing. That obviously gets confirmed in stop which is also such a good transition into the confusing and horror like atmosphere of the trial. Also the part where the judge goes "THE EVIDENCE BEFORE THE COURT IS INCONTROVERTIBLE" .........10/10
It's pretty impressive that you keep referencing disguises and such. This section of the album when they played it live, had 4 surrogate musicians outside the wall in front of the crowd, wearing masks of the band. The bassist wearing a Roger mask, the guitarist wearing a David mask, etc. Brilliant high concept stuff for a live concert. Great reactions, Syed!! Definitely the most insightful reactor on RUclips. You definitely need to watch the movie to fill in the gaps as well.
The main theme of "The Wall" is the alienation and dehumanization that results from the machinery of modern life. Remember that an embryonic form of the character Pink is already present in "Have a Cigar" on "Wish You Were Here". Also on that album is "Welcome to the Machine" which portrays (the recording) industry as a machine that exploits people for all they're worth and disposes of them when they're used up. In "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2", school is portrayed as a factory. It isn't just that a few random teachers were mean, but that the whole system had harmful, dehumanizing effects on not only the students, but the teachers as well. The teachers were mean because the social script they'd been handed demanded that they treat people like objects. The war machine destroys lives on automatic pilot and as a matter of course. The fascistic language here is Waters' argument that the dehumanization and de-individuation of mass-society prepares people, and almost demands of them, to treat others as objects and to lose oneself in a sea of conformism. The xenophobia and hatred is a simple function of the disconnection we experience by being mechanistically processed by the machine-like institutions of modern life. Pink has to numb himself in order to continue to do the things society requires of him. And thus numbed, he doesn't (can't afford to) care about other people.
Run like Hell is the last song of the Pulse Concerts. They filled the stadium with an ocean of light, leaving the people with open mouths. But you must imagine how it feels in case of the dimensions of the stage and the stadium. The sound comes from a 16-channel surround PA with a few hundred thousands watt and there is more light than a hole city needs. Been there in 1994 in austria, it was unbelievable, i will never forget the emotions of that. Check out the live version of the Pulse video and enjoy...
This is just my interpretation--I always felt that this was the "break" in his mind--Pink being the stability or rational mind and Floyd being his evil or irrational mind. Pink was lost at the end of Comfortably Numb, (Pink is not well-he stayed back at the hotel)-and the only part of his mind left was Floyd, the dark side. when all is lost and you give up you only have so many options, hate, anger, depression, mania etc... He lashes out at everybody and everything, the very things done to him (hate, anger etc..) in his childhood which caused the building of the wall to isolate himself, is now cracking, and he has lost all ability to cope (Pink) --so like a dog that's been kicked to much, he begins to bite (fight) back, with all the things (repression) he has held inside of himself. (Floyd) -----Well, just my take....
Roger Waters is just a bit older than me and I understand the homophobic and racist lyrics in ‘The Show must go on’ we grew up when homosexuality was still illegal and there was a certain amount of racism around in those days. I am so pleased you have brought this album to our attention again . When you have finished your review I am going to get my vinyl copy out and play it all the way through!! I am from a lucky generation that had all this wonderful music given to us for over 25 years. I don’t think you have reviewed anything from ‘Yes’ yet . I think you will appreciate this high class prog rock band whose members are just fabulous musicians. Starship Trooper, Roundabout, I’ve seen all good people are a few songs worth reviewing. It is so good to see younger people enjoying music from this era. It was too good for one generation !
Walls are usually built because of fears, and once it is high enough, the builder often has convinced himself that the roots of those fears are not within the wall...which results in hate for everything that comes from the outside. Pink has become a righteous false Icon...and he's recruiting like minded people to join him behind the wall. It's a very à propos concept. Pink's concerts have become the equivalent of Donald Trump's Twitter...Trump's Southern Wall...Brexit...or many other examples, such as a certain Adolf. The next track "waiting for the worms" clears things up.
The wall built of hate fear and rejection and the worms of fear and hate eat into his brain and this side four madness is the result. I love that you grasp so many issues on first listen 'cos I'm still learning from this album even now and your idea about Run Like Hell as a parody of band performing is spot on and what they did in live concerts.
we use to play Run Like Hell live, I love doing the synth lead towards the end on guitar. I felt "special" people watching me play it. now I sit here a washed up nobody. ...I miss playing live
I'm actually watching your reactions in reverse order, from Part 8 to Part 1. I do that. Sue me. It's still amazing watching when you hit the realization moments, like watching the reveal segments in an Agatha Christie movie.
The story of the Wall was the story of Kanye West before Kanye West. The story is of a famous bipolar musician who loses his wife and becomes engulfed in self hatred and hatred for others to explain his life.
The non-PC stuff: that's intentional. Its the fascistic, alter ego of the groovy rock band. And the church chorus and organ to me is perfect: the marriage of authoritarianism and church has a long and fruitful history.
WATCH the MOVIE! The visuals, along with the music will make this part very clear. The music video for "run like hell" shows a glimpse.. but the movie is well worth a watch.
I was really wondering how you would react to this section it can be polarizing if you are not thinking outside the box on it. Great series man im really enjoying your outlook on things.
The first "In the Flesh" was the musician Pink asking his audience if they came to see him bare his soul, before the wall was completed, which triggers Pink's recollection and exploration of his past, starting from when he was first born. Throughout the rest of the first two sides of the album, i.e., before the wall is complete at Goodbye Cruel World, Pink's current life is seen/heard mainly in the interludes, while his thoughts, recollections, prior emotional reactions, etc., are told through songs, explaining how the wall was built. The Pink of In the Flesh? (the second one), is Pink after the wall is complete, a human shell utterly bereft of human connection, the last besides of which sailed away like the "distant ship smoke on the horizon" of Comfortably Numb. Such a human shell lacks empathy for anyone, even his adoring fans, who he now sees with utter contempt and revision - recalling the first In the Flesh, Pink asks if they really want to see him as he really is, but this time, he warns them that he is not whatever perfect creature the fans have made him out to be in their own minds. Knowing full well that he can't live up to the hype and hating himself all the more for it, he lashes out at the fans, pushing them away and further alienating himself from any human connection, going so far as to metaphorically "hunt them down" and chase them away to make his alienation complete. This was all very interestingly and innovatively conveyed during the band's 1980 tour, which included the physical construction of a wall between the audience and the band during the course of the show - with the final brick being inserted at the end of Goodbye Cruel World, the use of a faux band performing in masks in front of the wall, and the "explosion" of the wall at the appropriate time during the show, exposing the actual band behind it. Pretty damn cool for anytime, let alone 42 years ago!
Syed I have never heard the analogy of "Run Like Hell" being attributed to "faking it" as a band or "selling out" as artists might have called it back in the day. That's a very interesting take on it and an intriguing interpretation. If you have the chance, I highly recommend watching the movie Pink Floyd's The Wall on BluRay, and after you watch it through straight, go back and watch it with the Roger Waters commentary. It's an interesting insight into what he says he was thinking about. There's an origin story for the concept of the album, and for some tracks he gives a specific origin story for the lyrics. Of course, since it's Pink Floyd, you also have to wonder if the story he's telling you is the story he wants us to believe and if there isn't some deeper layer of meaning underneath that. Scratch that--I suppose we have to take the artist at his word unless we all want to become irrational conspiracy-theory nutcases that look for phantom meanings that don't exist in the words and actions of our artists, celebrities, and political leaders.
Sadly, it's probably not Wright keyboards you're loving, as he was barely contributing at the time (by his own account), resulting in his being fired from the band soon after. I suspect Waters is responsible for the keyboards.
Perhaps someone who attended one of the Wall tour concerts can confirm this. Legend has it that during the live performances of "In The Flesh" members of the audience were plucked from the crowd, brought onstage and actually thrown against the wall. Of all the accolades they rightly deserve for the recording process, what they were able to achieve live is just as impressive but often is overshadowed by their studio work. If you can, go to a Roger Waters concert, you will not be disappointed.
Oh man. Waiting for the worms is a trip! I saw Roger Waters live in the early 2000s and the entire Lakewood amphitheater was screaming Hammer!! The trial is great too, really weird.
One point to keep in mind that this album is all based in actual experiences Waters had with fans. All that success, fame and fortune was weighing on him, a lot of presure to keep it all going. He even mentioned that at one point he had a nervous breakdown and thought he was going crazy. He had experienced hyerventilation and dizzyness as it all got to him. He literally thought he was going to die. The thing that triggered the album was an altercation he had with a fan who pissed him off so much he had spit on him. At that point, he felt a serious seperation between him and the fans, thus The Wall. Amaizng stuff
Interesting you called our Richard Wright. He was fired by the band at the beginning of production. Stayed on as a session musician. He was the only one who made money on the tour.
Hi Syed, I’m not really a RUclips comments type of person. I felt compelled to write something as so far you analysis of this Album has been excellent, you have picked up on some themes I’d never noticed, I liked your take that comfortably numb sounds the death Knell for his personality. Great work mate.
Roger Waters didn´t always felt well. In a concert with Pink Floyd in 1977 he was spitting at the audience. Afterwards he felt bad and saw himself have becoming acting like a fascist. That incident gave the inspiration to "In the flesh 2".
In the flesh part 2 references Roger’s feeling that large stadium rock shows are quasi-fascist and that he himself could direct this crowd to do horrible things in service to the mob mentality. It’s great stuff. He uses it to very greet effect on his most recent tour so well.
You can read dissertations on this record and it deserves it. Amazing (or maybe not?) that it doesn't make the "top 100" lists. There are too many phone-in records that took nothing to produce on those lists.
Syed, i don't know if you read my message from Part 1....the Hammond Organ is played by Fred Mandel, a Canadian session musician. And yes, it is impressive in the context of the song.
The harmonies sound ,they were wanting to achieve a sound duplicating THE BEACH BOYS. THEY COULD NOT USE THEM FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, 1 OF THE VOICES IS FROM THE CAPTAIN (AS IN THE CAPTAIN AND TANNIEL DUO) THE ENTIRE ALBUM IS A LITTLE MORE THAN A BASIS OF SYD'S LIFE. TIME WISE AND EVENTS
This is also kind of saying that nazis have totally lost their souls when in the context of all that's come before. A nice implicit anti-fascist message.
A couple of songs on the album were abbreviated from their original form because they just wouldn't fit on two vinyl discs. The Show Must Go On is one. Empty Spaces on side 2 is another. In concert the full versions of those songs are played. Also worth noting that it's Bob Ezrin playing the piano and not Rick Wright. Rick was persona non grata throughout much of the recording sessions, and at one point got fired by Waters (with the backing of Mason and Gilmour lest people want to point the finger at Roger for being a meanie). So, while Rick did play on the album, he can't get all of the credit for the great sounding keys. "Pink isn't well" is Pink's new alter ego singing. For some reason the personality that takes over his empty shell of a mind is a fascistic racist.
In The Flesh is where he turns into a full on fascist leader in familiar fascist garb in the movie. Looks like a Trump rally really not to get too political but watch the clip from the movie of this song and you will see what I mean.
A callback to being born and entering the world with hope and optimism, then realizing all the atrocities that actually exist in the world, aka arbitrary prejudice and hate for our fellow man. Those are not Rogers views, i just wanted to make that clear lol.
One correlation I made (thanks to the movie about the album) is Pink has now become what his father fought, he’s this fascist band. In the movie he is portrayed with a Hitler-esque costume and symbol. You can really hear it in “In the Flesh” pt. 2, the loud angry voice mimicking a Hitler speech and the cheering crowd afterwards, none chilling use of historical themes.
I've always seen In the Flesh as the culmination of Pink's disdain for his fans. They are just more bricks who have stood there and cheered as he's destroyed himself in front of them. He's seeing them as mindless drones who will hang on his every word no matter what he does or says.
That's the beauty of the album. It leaves for some interpretations. The movie is cool but it's training wheels that spells it all out. I liked not being sure when I first heard it and I think this guy is doing great for a first timer. Better than I did 40 yrs ago!
Once you watch the film it will make things clearer with the characters and topics in the songs. The section about prejudice and the rise of the right wing are things that prey on Rogers mind as a post-WW2 child. The "hammers" knocking down your doors are his imagining of the oppression of a fascist state (ignoring that a communist state does the same thing).
I can't even find a fake news site making that claim. Only some old news stories about how it was banned by the apartheid South African government when it was first released in1980.
"Are there any queers in the theater tonight" is not something to look past, it is to look at. That is meant to demonstrate fascistic behavior, he said Jewish and perhaps you don't understand the connotation of "coon" but it is not written as if to say "I endorse this or these things" he isnt saying i want them shot or that they dont belong, he is saying infact the opposite. He is pointing out something, not participating in it.
There's a triple image in the album about women -- first his mother says she won't let anyone dirty get through. Then he sings "I need a dirty woman." Here, his dirty thoughts lead potentially to getting sent back to mother in a cardboard box. Sort of a "dirty woman" hat trick -- a theme that carries on through the album, right up to the cusp of the worms and the trial, after which he has no time or inclination for dirty women, he's totally broken.
Roger Waters (or Pink) got to where he felt persecuted even by his fans, and during one show he leaned over and spat in a guy’s face. Everyone was suitably horrified, including Waters. People don’t tend to try to change their lives unless something happens to convince them that they have to change. Law of Inertia, you know. Then it’s: Who am I? How did I get here? Can I get back? Have I lost my mind? Have I lost my soul? Can I get it back?
Just remember dad is dead. Ooh, pa….should I die and be with you? Ooh, ma……will you let me go? The show must go on. In the flesh was his birth, both times. This time determined to destroy the wall. He becomes a fascist leader……with no tolerance for anyone. He uses his status as a rock star to spread hate.
You are close, it is an awakening of a new version of Pink, one filled with hate and malice. In the film he shaves all his hair and becomes a fascist leader
hey man why dont u b quiet and let everyone hear it i wa at that concert in 1980 in long island i dont need anyone telling me about pink floyd i have been listening to them since 1971
That is the same Pink physically in the second 'in the flesh", but mentally and emotionally he's become something far more terrifying. An Unfeeling uncaring shell. The words were meant to harm, has nothing to do with the era of the album. The humanity is gone. The worms have eaten into his brain and this is what is left. Can he be saved?
Very well said.
Agreed
Exactly
And what's so scary is that in the film, the audience are vapid fans, lapping up the fascism. Until shit gets real in Run Like Hell...
@@PanarchyInTheUK Yeah, that's the other layer of meaning to this last part. I've heard Roger explain how it's also a cautionary tale... the dangers of idolizing any public figure, be they entertainer politician or whoever. How blind idolatry can lead you places you otherwise never would have gone.
The callback represents a new birth, - after building the wall so high he cracks and a new "Pink" emerges - one that's filled with resentment and hatred and he lashes out, becomes facistic. This is explored in startling detail in the film. Thanks for another great reaction!
oh yes, the rebirth that took place at the end of Comfortably Numb. Right down to the cocoon imagery. Powerful stuff.
That's what i was surmising, that the surrogate is his new mask on the front of his wall.
Kanye ?
Nope. He's in a drug haze and is imagining himself as a fascist dictator. That's all that is going on here. No re- birth or anything else
It's interesting how you said" Different time, we'll let that slide"; Turns out that it's more relevant than ever, four decades later.
I feel like in the film it wasn't so much of a shock when it happened because it could be put in context, which still doesn't make it OK, but on the album its like full stop WTF!
Impressively you have grasped much of this as you have gone through, but the “in the flesh pt 2” through to “waiting for the worms” segment can definitely throw some. It should all make sense in the end, and if you watch the film a few cracks will probably be filled in
You will learn more from Roger Waters' fantastic commentary on the movie than from the movie.
Yeah, you nailed the loss of self by the end of Comfortably Numb! And Pink's slip into fascism (HE IS the surrogate band), his assumption that his fans will just go along with anything he does, which they do... and yes, a lot of WW2 imagery. Great reactions to this so far! You can see how, taken out of context, the message of some of these songs could get twisted. But the anti-fascism messaging is pretty strong throughout the album. Looking forward to your views on the last part. THE TRIAL is one of my favourite tracks.
The evidence before the court is
Incontrovertible
You MUST take a look at Roger Water's Wall from Berlin just to take in the scale of the production. The official movie is also very good with Bob Geldof from Boomtown Rats playing Pink.
Yes. The Berlin Concert in 1990 was of the greatest shows ever! I'm a PF Purist but that was spectacular. the Rick Difonzo and Snowy White back and forth solos 75 feet in the air during comfortably numb still blows me away.
Wow, I've been listening to this album for twenty-five years, and I never noticed the "Ooh, ma -- Ooh, pa" part at all. It took the spelling out in the lyrics you have pulled up. Yet another layer of brilliance! "Take me home, pa" ... "Let me go, ma." Mind blown! 🤯
Great series mate. I’m learning more about this album myself too from you and the comments. Perhaps their album Animals could be next?
In the flesh pt 2 is essentially a rebirth of the main character as a not so nice neo-fascist, of course 😄
I wasn't going to spoil it for anyone but you went ahead and did. I was going to be coy and ask where was there a famous wall in the 1970s and what was behind it...
Remember "the worms ate into his brain" a few songs ago? What's left behind is malice, fear, hatred, prejudice: that's his wall. The "surrogate" is the same guy, he's just morally hollowed-out.
Great interpretations of the lyrics once again. Yet another theme I never picked up on, the band becoming a self-parody. Quite right. There is a whole other angle to all of this that may make itself more clear in the final section, but if not it will become abundantly clear within the first couple minutes of the film when you see it. I'm tempted to drop a hint but I won't. Thanks for doing all of this, I'm looking forward to the final act tomorrow!
There are shades of complying with the regime in The Show Must Go on
. if so such regimes seem to have intensifued and grown more and more since this dystopian vision
Dude all you need to do is watch the movie it would have saved a lot of time. you are on point so you will get the awesome movie. Great reaction.
It's worth nothing that "In the Flesh" was actually the name of the tour the band did for the "Animals" album prior to this. There was a show where a fan was shouting and Roger spat in his face. I believe that's the inspiration behind this whole section. I think the reason "In the Flesh?" (the question mark is important) exists at the first of the album is more of a foreshadowing of what is to come. It makes more sense when you finish the album and the film also makes it a little more clear what's happening.
I always imagined everything in the second half of this album as going on entirely within Pink's head. Like, that all the fascist stuff is one part of his mind attacking the other. In my interpretation the doctor in Comfortably Numb is part of his brain (the part that came in during Hey You where they say the worms ate into his brain). In Comfortably Numb the worms are taking away his feelings and making him numb to reality (depression). And then in the later songs he's losing touch with reality as his mind goes on a tirade against everything it sees as weak within him. The whole second half of the album has such an ethereal and theatrical feel to it and feels quite different from the first half. Songs like "Is there Anybody Out There?" and "The Trial" feel to me likely they're especially clearly going on in someone's head. Though I don't reject other interpretations of course.
You made a few mentions of Richard’s keys and organs. There are several keyboardists on this album, Richard definitely plays on it but more or less became a session player, at least for Roger. I’ve always wanted to see a breakdown of which parts are him and which are others. There are lists of the tracks he plays on, but others also play keys on those tracks. As a Floyd geek I’ve always wanted to see a breakdown of who did what. Because a bunch of musicians played on this. And if some of those harmonies sound Beach Boysesque, it’s because one of them is singing on those tracks
You need to do the Film version next...adds so many more levels to highten the concept.🇨🇦🇨🇦❤
It's gonna be interesting to watch you, as a Brit, listen to Waiting For The Worms and watch the lightbulb click in your head with the callback meaning of In The Flesh II and Run Like Hell. Pay particularly close attention to Waters voice theatrics in The Trial. I don't want to say anything more about the last four songs because it would be like spoiling the end of a great movie or book.
Can't wait for the next one. Both the trial and waiting for the worms are real underrated in my opinion. Waiting for the next has such good contrast between the soft reassuring "would you like to see britannia rule again?" bits which also makes it sound like Pink is uncertain of what he's doing. That obviously gets confirmed in stop which is also such a good transition into the confusing and horror like atmosphere of the trial.
Also the part where the judge goes "THE EVIDENCE BEFORE THE COURT IS INCONTROVERTIBLE" .........10/10
It's pretty impressive that you keep referencing disguises and such. This section of the album when they played it live, had 4 surrogate musicians outside the wall in front of the crowd, wearing masks of the band. The bassist wearing a Roger mask, the guitarist wearing a David mask, etc. Brilliant high concept stuff for a live concert. Great reactions, Syed!! Definitely the most insightful reactor on RUclips. You definitely need to watch the movie to fill in the gaps as well.
The main theme of "The Wall" is the alienation and dehumanization that results from the machinery of modern life. Remember that an embryonic form of the character Pink is already present in "Have a Cigar" on "Wish You Were Here". Also on that album is "Welcome to the Machine" which portrays (the recording) industry as a machine that exploits people for all they're worth and disposes of them when they're used up. In "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2", school is portrayed as a factory. It isn't just that a few random teachers were mean, but that the whole system had harmful, dehumanizing effects on not only the students, but the teachers as well. The teachers were mean because the social script they'd been handed demanded that they treat people like objects. The war machine destroys lives on automatic pilot and as a matter of course.
The fascistic language here is Waters' argument that the dehumanization and de-individuation of mass-society prepares people, and almost demands of them, to treat others as objects and to lose oneself in a sea of conformism. The xenophobia and hatred is a simple function of the disconnection we experience by being mechanistically processed by the machine-like institutions of modern life.
Pink has to numb himself in order to continue to do the things society requires of him. And thus numbed, he doesn't (can't afford to) care about other people.
Since the wall is more like a symphony with movements, your approach to this is really great 👍.
Run like Hell is the last song of the Pulse Concerts. They filled the stadium with an ocean of light, leaving the people with open mouths. But you must imagine how it feels in case of the dimensions of the stage and the stadium. The sound comes from a 16-channel surround PA with a few hundred thousands watt and there is more light than a hole city needs. Been there in 1994 in austria, it was unbelievable, i will never forget the emotions of that. Check out the live version of the Pulse video and enjoy...
This is just my interpretation--I always felt that this was the "break" in his mind--Pink being the stability or rational mind and Floyd being his evil or irrational mind. Pink was lost at the end of Comfortably Numb, (Pink is not well-he stayed back at the hotel)-and the only part of his mind left was Floyd, the dark side. when all is lost and you give up you only have so many options, hate, anger, depression, mania etc... He lashes out at everybody and everything, the very things done to him (hate, anger etc..) in his childhood which caused the building of the wall to isolate himself, is now cracking, and he has lost all ability to cope (Pink) --so like a dog that's been kicked to much, he begins to bite (fight) back, with all the things (repression) he has held inside of himself. (Floyd) -----Well, just my take....
Roger Waters is just a bit older than me and I understand the homophobic and racist lyrics in ‘The Show must go on’ we grew up when homosexuality was still illegal and there was a certain amount of racism around in those days. I am so pleased you have brought this album to our attention again . When you have finished your review I am going to get my vinyl copy out and play it all the way through!! I am from a lucky generation that had all this wonderful music given to us for over 25 years. I don’t think you have reviewed anything from ‘Yes’ yet .
I think you will appreciate this high class prog rock band whose members are just fabulous musicians. Starship Trooper, Roundabout, I’ve seen all good people are a few songs worth reviewing. It is so good to see younger people enjoying music from this era. It was too good for one generation !
Walls are usually built because of fears, and once it is high enough, the builder often has convinced himself that the roots of those fears are not within the wall...which results in hate for everything that comes from the outside. Pink has become a righteous false Icon...and he's recruiting like minded people to join him behind the wall. It's a very à propos concept. Pink's concerts have become the equivalent of Donald Trump's Twitter...Trump's Southern Wall...Brexit...or many other examples, such as a certain Adolf. The next track "waiting for the worms" clears things up.
The wall built of hate fear and rejection and the worms of fear and hate eat into his brain and this side four madness is the result. I love that you grasp so many issues on first listen 'cos I'm still learning from this album even now and your idea about Run Like Hell as a parody of band performing is spot on and what they did in live concerts.
we use to play Run Like Hell live, I love doing the synth lead towards the end on guitar. I felt "special" people watching me play it. now I sit here a washed up nobody. ...I miss playing live
You have to see the movie to really get it
The outro to Run Like Hell in the movie always reminded me of a dark point in German history: the night of the long knives.
I'm actually watching your reactions in reverse order, from Part 8 to Part 1. I do that. Sue me. It's still amazing watching when you hit the realization moments, like watching the reveal segments in an Agatha Christie movie.
The "In the Flesh" scenes are set as a band on stage in front of a concert. a show.
Syed, I must say you have guts to even attempt this full album in order, but you are doing so well that I can't wait for the rest of it.
The story of the Wall was the story of Kanye West before Kanye West. The story is of a famous bipolar musician who loses his wife and becomes engulfed in self hatred and hatred for others to explain his life.
The non-PC stuff: that's intentional. Its the fascistic, alter ego of the groovy rock band. And the church chorus and organ to me is perfect: the marriage of authoritarianism and church has a long and fruitful history.
WATCH the MOVIE! The visuals, along with the music will make this part very clear. The music video for "run like hell" shows a glimpse.. but the movie is well worth a watch.
I was really wondering how you would react to this section it can be polarizing if you are not thinking outside the box on it. Great series man im really enjoying your outlook on things.
This section into in the Flesh pt 2 is the absolute climax of this record for me. No better riff in rock. Best second time round
The first "In the Flesh" was the musician Pink asking his audience if they came to see him bare his soul, before the wall was completed, which triggers Pink's recollection and exploration of his past, starting from when he was first born. Throughout the rest of the first two sides of the album, i.e., before the wall is complete at Goodbye Cruel World, Pink's current life is seen/heard mainly in the interludes, while his thoughts, recollections, prior emotional reactions, etc., are told through songs, explaining how the wall was built.
The Pink of In the Flesh? (the second one), is Pink after the wall is complete, a human shell utterly bereft of human connection, the last besides of which sailed away like the "distant ship smoke on the horizon" of Comfortably Numb. Such a human shell lacks empathy for anyone, even his adoring fans, who he now sees with utter contempt and revision - recalling the first In the Flesh, Pink asks if they really want to see him as he really is, but this time, he warns them that he is not whatever perfect creature the fans have made him out to be in their own minds. Knowing full well that he can't live up to the hype and hating himself all the more for it, he lashes out at the fans, pushing them away and further alienating himself from any human connection, going so far as to metaphorically "hunt them down" and chase them away to make his alienation complete.
This was all very interestingly and innovatively conveyed during the band's 1980 tour, which included the physical construction of a wall between the audience and the band during the course of the show - with the final brick being inserted at the end of Goodbye Cruel World, the use of a faux band performing in masks in front of the wall, and the "explosion" of the wall at the appropriate time during the show, exposing the actual band behind it. Pretty damn cool for anytime, let alone 42 years ago!
The whole album is full of musical callbacks to the previous albums. You just heard a bit of "Careful with that ax, Eugene" at the end.
This is just perfection. They made a few perfect albums.
Syed I have never heard the analogy of "Run Like Hell" being attributed to "faking it" as a band or "selling out" as artists might have called it back in the day. That's a very interesting take on it and an intriguing interpretation. If you have the chance, I highly recommend watching the movie Pink Floyd's The Wall on BluRay, and after you watch it through straight, go back and watch it with the Roger Waters commentary. It's an interesting insight into what he says he was thinking about. There's an origin story for the concept of the album, and for some tracks he gives a specific origin story for the lyrics. Of course, since it's Pink Floyd, you also have to wonder if the story he's telling you is the story he wants us to believe and if there isn't some deeper layer of meaning underneath that.
Scratch that--I suppose we have to take the artist at his word unless we all want to become irrational conspiracy-theory nutcases that look for phantom meanings that don't exist in the words and actions of our artists, celebrities, and political leaders.
I believe this is in fact Pink...but only hardened and unfeeling. He has retreated behind the now complete wall.
Sadly, it's probably not Wright keyboards you're loving, as he was barely contributing at the time (by his own account), resulting in his being fired from the band soon after. I suspect Waters is responsible for the keyboards.
Great review...I hope you will do the same with Genesis' Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.
Very good analyse , really good
Perhaps someone who attended one of the Wall tour concerts can confirm this. Legend has it that during the live performances of "In The Flesh" members of the audience were plucked from the crowd, brought onstage and actually thrown against the wall. Of all the accolades they rightly deserve for the recording process, what they were able to achieve live is just as impressive but often is overshadowed by their studio work. If you can, go to a Roger Waters concert, you will not be disappointed.
Oh man. Waiting for the worms is a trip! I saw Roger Waters live in the early 2000s and the entire Lakewood amphitheater was screaming Hammer!! The trial is great too, really weird.
One point to keep in mind that this album is all based in actual experiences Waters had with fans. All that success, fame and fortune was weighing on him, a lot of presure to keep it all going. He even mentioned that at one point he had a nervous breakdown and thought he was going crazy. He had experienced hyerventilation and dizzyness as it all got to him. He literally thought he was going to die. The thing that triggered the album was an altercation he had with a fan who pissed him off so much he had spit on him. At that point, he felt a serious seperation between him and the fans, thus The Wall. Amaizng stuff
The film will tell you the story !!! I loved this Album too yet, was lost also. SEE THE MOVIE THE WALL !!!!
Interesting you called our Richard Wright. He was fired by the band at the beginning of production. Stayed on as a session musician. He was the only one who made money on the tour.
Hi Syed, I’m not really a RUclips comments type of person. I felt compelled to write something as so far you analysis of this Album has been excellent, you have picked up on some themes I’d never noticed, I liked your take that comfortably numb sounds the death Knell for his personality. Great work mate.
Cheers Rich, thanks for the kind words. Comments like this make me really happy to be sharing these musical experiences ✌️🙏
"ANIMALS" is brilliant as well...🇨🇦🇨🇦❤
Roger Waters didn´t always felt well. In a concert with Pink Floyd in 1977 he was spitting at the audience. Afterwards he felt bad and saw himself have becoming acting like a fascist. That incident gave the inspiration to "In the flesh 2".
In the flesh part 2 references Roger’s feeling that large stadium rock shows are quasi-fascist and that he himself could direct this crowd to do horrible things in service to the mob mentality. It’s great stuff. He uses it to very greet effect on his most recent tour so well.
You can read dissertations on this record and it deserves it. Amazing (or maybe not?) that it doesn't make the "top 100" lists. There are too many phone-in records that took nothing to produce on those lists.
Now go and watch ALL those great songs live @ "Pulse" in '94. You'l be suitably impressed ALL OVER again!
I wonder if they still
Play in the flesh at shows because of how things have changed?
Even tho you are spot on with your interpretation 8:14
Syed, i don't know if you read my message from Part 1....the Hammond Organ is played by Fred Mandel, a Canadian session musician. And yes, it is impressive in the context of the song.
The harmonies sound ,they were wanting to achieve a sound duplicating THE BEACH BOYS. THEY COULD NOT USE THEM FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, 1 OF THE VOICES IS FROM THE CAPTAIN (AS IN THE CAPTAIN AND TANNIEL DUO) THE ENTIRE ALBUM IS A LITTLE MORE THAN A BASIS OF SYD'S LIFE. TIME WISE AND EVENTS
The Beach Boys singing backup vocals
I think the movie is the best way to learn the story and understand the album.
This is also kind of saying that nazis have totally lost their souls when in the context of all that's come before. A nice implicit anti-fascist message.
A couple of songs on the album were abbreviated from their original form because they just wouldn't fit on two vinyl discs. The Show Must Go On is one. Empty Spaces on side 2 is another. In concert the full versions of those songs are played.
Also worth noting that it's Bob Ezrin playing the piano and not Rick Wright. Rick was persona non grata throughout much of the recording sessions, and at one point got fired by Waters (with the backing of Mason and Gilmour lest people want to point the finger at Roger for being a meanie). So, while Rick did play on the album, he can't get all of the credit for the great sounding keys.
"Pink isn't well" is Pink's new alter ego singing. For some reason the personality that takes over his empty shell of a mind is a fascistic racist.
In The Flesh is where he turns into a full on fascist leader in familiar fascist garb in the movie. Looks like a Trump rally really not to get too political but watch the clip from the movie of this song and you will see what I mean.
The harmonies in The Show.....are more like Beach Boys .. Gilmour was quite a fan of them and The Beatles ,Some find it surprising ,,
A callback to being born and entering the world with hope and optimism, then realizing all the atrocities that actually exist in the world, aka arbitrary prejudice and hate for our fellow man. Those are not Rogers views, i just wanted to make that clear lol.
No, Pink has gone all out fascist. That is what's going on.
One correlation I made (thanks to the movie about the album) is Pink has now become what his father fought, he’s this fascist band. In the movie he is portrayed with a Hitler-esque costume and symbol. You can really hear it in “In the Flesh” pt. 2, the loud angry voice mimicking a Hitler speech and the cheering crowd afterwards, none chilling use of historical themes.
Wait till you get to the Trial,.......
I hope you do a reaction to the movie next
I've always seen In the Flesh as the culmination of Pink's disdain for his fans. They are just more bricks who have stood there and cheered as he's destroyed himself in front of them. He's seeing them as mindless drones who will hang on his every word no matter what he does or says.
You can never fully understand this album without watching the movie.
That's the beauty of the album. It leaves for some interpretations. The movie is cool but it's training wheels that spells it all out. I liked not being sure when I first heard it and I think this guy is doing great for a first timer. Better than I did 40 yrs ago!
Once you watch the film it will make things clearer with the characters and topics in the songs.
The section about prejudice and the rise of the right wing are things that prey on Rogers mind as a post-WW2 child. The "hammers" knocking down your doors are his imagining of the oppression of a fascist state (ignoring that a communist state does the same thing).
Thank you!
There is a movie that accompanies the album that explains it further.
Takes a lot of the fun out to me. Figuring it all out was a cool part of the journey for me.
You gotta watch the film guy, ( its been banned) You can find it.
Banned where?
I can't even find a fake news site making that claim. Only some old news stories about how it was banned by the apartheid South African government when it was first released in1980.
Possible to see the film here on YT, just search for it…
"Are there any queers in the theater tonight" is not something to look past, it is to look at. That is meant to demonstrate fascistic behavior, he said Jewish and perhaps you don't understand the connotation of "coon" but it is not written as if to say "I endorse this or these things" he isnt saying i want them shot or that they dont belong, he is saying infact the opposite. He is pointing out something, not participating in it.
pls reacted to The Doors first album, released in 1967.
There's a triple image in the album about women -- first his mother says she won't let anyone dirty get through. Then he sings "I need a dirty woman." Here, his dirty thoughts lead potentially to getting sent back to mother in a cardboard box. Sort of a "dirty woman" hat trick -- a theme that carries on through the album, right up to the cusp of the worms and the trial, after which he has no time or inclination for dirty women, he's totally broken.
In the flesh 2 was pink speaking not Roger. And also by pink staying back at the hotel, they mean derealisation
The movie would e highly recommend
Then you could see it
You have to watch the movie. It will really help.
Why don't you watch the film? It helps understand the album so much better when you know which song fits what part of the film.
Roger Waters (or Pink) got to where he felt persecuted even by his fans, and during one show he leaned over and spat in a guy’s face. Everyone was suitably horrified, including Waters. People don’t tend to try to change their lives unless something happens to convince them that they have to change. Law of Inertia, you know. Then it’s: Who am I? How did I get here? Can I get back? Have I lost my mind? Have I lost my soul? Can I get it back?
I think maybe- In The Flesh 2 is about how when people become hallowed out by life they become fascists. It’s important not to let your heart die.
Just remember dad is dead. Ooh, pa….should I die and be with you? Ooh, ma……will you let me go? The show must go on. In the flesh was his birth, both times. This time determined to destroy the wall. He becomes a fascist leader……with no tolerance for anyone. He uses his status as a rock star to spread hate.
watch the movie the wall it will help.
Thank you!
It's the new Pink who has become increasingly paranoid and delusional. Physically it's the same Pink.
Yeah, but those cans, though.
In the Flesh 2: Pink has gone full fascist at this point!
You are close, it is an awakening of a new version of Pink, one filled with hate and malice. In the film he shaves all his hair and becomes a fascist leader
watch the film
hey man why dont u b quiet and let everyone hear it i wa at that concert in 1980 in long island i dont need anyone telling me about pink floyd i have been listening to them since 1971
Watch the movie please
In the Flesh Part II: The birth of fascist Pink.
You are getting farther and farther away from the story....