I have listened to Pink Floyd and the other artists you have analyzed for most of my 69 years. You have successfully taught me to understand them in a new way. This analysis was brilliant! I look forward to more.
Yeah, I agree. That instruction at the end about modes and home and how the second verse worked. Astounding. I often wonder though, if some of these songs are just done, without the astounding theory. And when someone points out things like she did, if the original author of the song is saying, wow, I did that? Who knew?
@@stanleymyrick4068 Wonderful comment...I've often wondered if well established musicians understand anything about musical theory or is it just something they "get" without even realizing it. I'm inclined to think that most musicians (RnR musicians anyway) don't have anything more than a basic, fundamental grasp of theory. Could be wrong on that, just my inkling thought. I came away from this video feeling like I had just received some university credit for a music appreciation course. I hope to see more deep dives into music that I am familiar with in the future.
Its almost painful to see reaction videos where the listener is 'lost' at the beginning and end, because the larger context of the 'experience' a full listen of the album provides, is missing. Then again, maybe I've missed out on the experience of hearing the album out of context first, and then the revelation of hearing the full album, later. It's probably all good.
Dark side of the moon is a masterpiece for sure. But so is the Wall...start to finish. These are called concept albums where the album is an overarching story. Each song is like a scene from a movie or a chapter in a book. My opinion? So much better than listening to singles or compilations like greatest hits. You are right! The concept of the song hey you is about desperately! trying to make contact. I think the "stone" is another way of saying a burden. Will you help me carry this burden? Also you are hitting all the themes of the wall. Jet engines...this is post war music. The character in the story was a child in WW2 England. Also there is a melodic motif in here that echoes from the other songs on the album particularly another brick in the wall (we don't need no education). The transitions you are hearing illustrate the guys mental health experience. First torture and madness then he gets high and disappears for a while.
When I hear "Would you help me to carry the stone?" I think of the Greek story of Sisyphus who was doomed to carry a stone to the top of a hill only to have it roll back down each time it got to the top for all of eternity. I don't know if Waters made that connection himself, but it's what I think of, poor Sisyphus entreating others to help him carry the weight in an impossible task.
I think this actually references the idea of being "dragged down by the stone" in Dogs (from Animals), in which the stone represents the weight used to drown us (and the dogs) down to our deaths.
Adding to the curiousness of "the stone", the phrase seems particularly 'English' - very old Druid-'English', culturally. I think of those stones at ... what's the name of that place? Oh, yeah! Stonehenge
THE WALL is an opera, or symphony. Yes you can listen to different parts, or movements, but the most impact is when taken all together. "Hey You" is the plea for help, it's the opening of the third movement/act. It's the pivot of the whole. In this song we hear all of the leitmotifs they have been building with thus far in the album and introduces new ones that build to the end.
Well said. On top of it, it serves to hear from Waters himself the motivations behind the album, his personal background, etc. It makes it all come together.
“Echoes” is my favorite Pink Floyd song, it’s nearly 20 minutes long but it contains all the things I like about Pink Floyd and it’s lyrically uplifting.
Thank you so much Amy for your prescient observations of a song, album and band that I have long treasured and listened to so many times (starting with Dark Side of the Moon) at the tender age of 11 years old. Your musica insights and depth of appreciation of lyrics and themes at such a short period of listening are truly revelationary. Thank you so much for bring fresh insights to long-treasured fiends. What you are doing is a welcome service to the genre of rock music, and of course, to music of all forms.
I don't think I have ever been so impressed by "discovering" a new music reactor as I am by you! You were pleased and surprised to have 1K subscribers so soon, well as I write this a few days later you have nearly 3K and will have over 100K before you know it! I love your channel and your reactions after just a few videos! The best thing about your channel is also the worst, however, as in order to do the amazing reactions you do it takes time so we will be constantly waiting, thirsting for your next reaction, and there is SO MUCH GREAT MUSIC out there for you to react to! Suggestions next time - for now simply Thank You!!
I feel that. It's a selfish desire to have your favourite songs analysed in this manner, and all the more from someone who has literally no solid preconceptions of what is to be heard! I also want there to be a new video every single day, but of course, these videos would not be anywhere near as good if the method is changed. Nope, it must take a few days (pure quality), Ms. Shafer cannot be allowed to feel over pressured, and we must remember that the pool from which the songs can be chosen is effectively infinite! We must all put our selfish desires aside and follow at the pace set, be patient and be eternally grateful! This is what TH-cam should be all about - no ridiculous begging for subs and likes, no prompting for financial support before even showing any content, and true honesty without clickbait or hidden motives!
The stone in the line "Would you help me to carry the stone", is symbolic. It's referring to his hardships, his pain. He's asking for someone to be there for him when he needs someone to help him carry the weight of his pain (the bad things that have happened to him).
"The stone" was also referenced on their previous album, "Animals", in the song "Dogs". In referring to the futility of life in general, Waters ends the song with the phrase "Dragged down by the stone", which is both a metaphor of being thrown into the water chained to a stone, where the daily grind and the lifetime responsibilities are like a stone.
I assume it’s the same stone referenced in Dogs - the bad blood turns to stone and drags you down to your demise. The bad blood being the things you do that catch up with you in the end
I think it's more about the Wall Pink is building (metaphorically) around his life - so he's asking for help building the wall around himself, increasing his isolation.
The "menacing, jet engine/plane engine" sound is actually a Hammond B3 organ. The player puts their palm/fist/back of the hand down over a "handful" of keys on the lower register of the keyboard and then slowly slides to the upper register, only to be quickly pulled down. The growling sound that really completes the effect is created by the organ's signal going through an overdriven amplifier and a Leslie rotary speaker cabinet (either a model 122 or 147). It's a neat trick that's been used in rock music for decades.
Yours is quickly becoming one of my favorite channels. Your enthusiasm for music, as an art form, is so refreshing. I like your explanations, and willingness to spell out what could be missed as jargon. Great content. Please continue.
The stone represents the weight of it all. Listen to the "Animals" CD, the song "Dogs" talks about "the Stone". 11 guitar solos by Gilmour in that one song alone. Great stuff!
Actually one of the lines in an earlier song says the bad blood turns to stone. He is talking about all the times that someone gives up their ethics for money and fame. They also mention it in Dogs as other comments have mentioned. The line I remember that kinds of explains their thinking on this is (It's to late, to lose the weight, you used to need to throw around) so all the bad blood you accumulate in life turns to stone and drags you down, which they use the metaphor about drowning as you get older and the stone drags you down. Of course I always listen to Pink Floyd high as I am now you can tell by the length of this comment. I'm 65 and remember when I discovered them in about 1970'
I was highly critical of your Beatles - She's Leaving Home reaction and it's bothered me since because not only was my comment gratuitously aggressive but very much out of character for me. So I would like to offer you my sincerest apology. I enjoyed this reaction and will look forward to more. Thanks.
That shows class to take the time to Rethink your comment….watch more of what she does and then apologize. That doesn’t happen often anymore, especially online. That’s kind of you.
@@w.geoffreyspaulding6588 Credit should go to Amy for acknowleding my apology. She is a classy lady which makes me regret my original comments even more. I'll think before posting comments on TH-cam in future.
You're just scratching the surface, sister. Pink Floyd's music is a rabbit hole of unimaginable awesomeness. "Help me to carry this stone" is a poetic reference to life's burden.
You are the Carl Sagan of music study. You're thoughtful approach and ability to express a complex interpretation in such a succinct fashion is superb... and very Saganesque.
I'm so glad that I was lucky enough to have you pop up on my TH-cam feed! It's so fun to not only watch and listen to you react to music you've never heard but then to access to your rich knowledge of music as you share it with us. It's going to be so fun to take this journey with you and also to learn so much. Would love to hear you react to something by King Crimson, in particular the song Starless.
Any recommendations to review King Crimson music should probably also include the caveat that they often block publication of their songs. I would hate to see anyone spend a week preparing a review only to see it blocked or copyrighted. I do love Starless, though.
Good choice. “Starless” is my favorite of so many great King Crimson songs. I’d especially enjoy seeing Amy react to a live performance, like Crimson’s Takamatsu, Japan, 2015 version of “Starless”. 🤘
Hey Amy, I stumbled upon your channel a few days ago, and… wow! The depth of the content presented, the insightful meanings analysis, the sincerity, the style, and the structure of the episodes are all making your channel very entertaining, fun, and educational. I am appreciating the content that you deliver all the more seeing how respectful you are even when the music and artistry are not your cups of tea.
This is the first video of yours that I have watched, ma'am, but this is why I like to watch professional singers reacting to and analysing our favourite songs. You bring a level of knowledge, of musical history and terms that we 'laymen' do not have, which enlightens our minds and brings a new love/understanding to our enjoyment of our favourite songs/singers/bands. Thank you. Keep being your awesome self.
I don't think the average YT "reaction" viewer is used to a musician analysing the music as in depth as you do, this is why they get frustrated in the pausing, but keep doing what you are doing it's fascinating listening to you obviously dissecting the music & instruments before the lyrics. As you say, if you don't enjoy what you are watching leave to the rest of us.
@@tcanfield I actually find Doug's analysis to be a bit too on-the-surface. For in-depth analysis, I tend to prefer 12tone's deep dives. He's a total music nerd who analyzes songs to death, and I love it. 🙂 Rick Beato is great as well. (Incidentally, this is my first exposure to the Virgin Rock channel. So I haven't formed an opinion yet.)
@@tcanfield That guy is some arrogant jerk, I heard him criticize things things he totally talked over and didn't even listen to. When it comes to react videos done by professionals I can recommend 'Key of Geebz', 'Beth roars' and mostly ' The Charismatic Voice'!
This is the second reaction I have watched and I must say that I am truly impressed with how thorough you are. Your reactions are very observant, well thought out and carefully measured. I found that listening to you explain the structure of a song, reminds me of a college music appreciation class I took long ago. That class, which I very much enjoyed, not only taught me how to carefully listen to music, but to sort of deconstruct it. I am learning things about music that I have heard for years and never seen in this light. Thank you! I feel as though I'm back in class.
I listened to that “Green Fields of France” song, beautiful and sobering, I’ve heard a version of it before and if i heard it Roger Waters certainly heard it and it was probably a deeply meaningful song for him and may have been influential on this and other songs too. An important and insightful discovery you made here. Green Fields was a deeply moving song. My grandfather fought in the trenches in France and survived thank God. I liked how you explained modes and music history. I enjoyed it and learned a lot. I will definitely watch it again. Thank you very much.
I love your channel, not only I am learning more from my favorite music, but I found it so relaxing listening to your wonderful explanations. Thank you and congratulations!
My goodness. I saw the thumbnail for this video, never having heard of your channel before. I thought to myself, “here is this very soft-looking woman, a classical musician in a beautiful, serene setting, who is going to listen to ‘Hey You’ as an introduction to Pink Floyd.” I really didn’t think you would react well to it, that you would find it dark, confusing and harsh, but I was completely wrong- and I can see I have a lot to learn from you about music I have loved for decades. The Wall is a profound work of art, but if you have any sense of compassion/empathy or you’ve experienced deep pain in your life, listening to it deeply can leave you hurting (and maybe provide some healing too). One piece from the album is enough to give you a taste, but you must take the entire work as a whole to really appreciate it. I would say the same about Pink Floyd’s ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’, which is also a concept album, and which is perhaps a little less personal, and more universal, but every bit as profound. Thank you for taking the time to delve into this music, and most of all for sharing your experience with us!
Well said, I had similar thoughts about her reaction but alas they weren't warranted showing that true art is recognizable and transcends its label. Her analysis brought new appreciation to their music.
This song is an emotional plea, the stone belongs to Sisyphus, the king of Corinth as a daily burden he completes only to watch it roll down the hill at the end of each day. As a tired road warrior Pink is only keeping it together. Your emotional sensitivity shows in your face as you hear the first minutes and it reaches deep inside as does the dark side of the moon and others by this band. As a bridge from your classical training to the present you picked a mountain to climb with a large stone on your back in picking this album.
Dear Lady you are so very Lovely and Charming, your words have a visual quality to them, that along with your broad range of musical knowledge is very unique in this reaction analysis genre. I watch many reactions to these same song, I find you incredible authentic sincerely curious and actually enjoying this journey you've undertaken. I am happy and even a little envious of the musical discoveries you will make. I will be watching each and every one. Thank You Gary
This is an album that needs to be heard in it's entirety, it is one story. The video your watching is from the movie, which I recommend. But be warned, the lesson is raw, but very insightful.
@@viclagina347 No, the video edits several shots from the movie. So, in a way, Ben Corn is right. On the other hand, Hey you does not appear in the film, the song was cut from it, not the video.
@@viclagina347 Exactly, as you can read in my comment. I said: «On the other hand, Hey you does not appear in the film». It´s not important, but I will clarify it to you. What I'm trying to say is that you are both right and wrong: Hey you was cut from the movie as you say; actually, the scene was shot but was not included. It is also known as Reel 13. However, this specific video was made by some fan, i suppose, since it has several scenes from the film. So Ben Corn is also right when he says that this video comes from the movie. I am assuming he is not saying that this video is the "Hey You scene" from the film or even the Reel 13, which you can actually watch here: th-cam.com/video/hdm_ipaHAvs/w-d-xo.html
Actually when Roger was writing the lyrics that became the wall he was writing about war however the powers that be turned it into the story that we know as the movie The Wall as a matter of fact the songs in the final cut were meant for the original movie The Wall but they were rejected because they were more war based and change the narrative so our interpretation of the wall is not what Roger intended
BRAVO AMY! Let me just say that I think this is outstanding. I am a huge fan of the Floyd, and finding your reactions has been an injection of fresh air and creativity to a pretty tired genre of TH-cam channel. You have identified a niche and gone after it in spite of the nay saying commenters and, I imagine, not a small amount of self-doubt as to whether it was the right course to pursue. Although a fan of music I have never been a student of it and wouldn't know a g clef from a G-Eazy. But I found your teaching very comprehensible and enjoyable and it allowed me to appreciate this band in a whole other way. I look forward to many more of your videos. Thank you for opening up my eyes to this view of music analysis and reaction.
We are listening to the classical music of the next century. Music genres come and go, but Pink Floyd has been captivating us for over 50 years. I'm 81, and still listen to The Wall straight though, as well as Meddle and Dark Side. Thank you for analyzing this music from a classical perspective.
Excellent video. Such an interesting analysis of the music and lyrics, but you also recognized the beauty of what makes Pink Floyd so unique. As you continue on your journey through their many brilliant songs, you'll understand why so many people truly appreciate Pink Floyd's contribution to music. They are amazing. Enjoy all that lies ahead.
Great song, great album, great artist !! You seem to be a musical genius in your own right. Love the reaction, and especially loved the follow-up and your comments. You are fast becoming my FAV reactor !! Keep it up !!
It's official; your videos are now my guilty pleasure of choice. I eagerly wait for them to come out. And, yeah!! today is a 'Virgin Rock' day! Thanks for making my day.
Agreed. Her approach to the music is totally different from my own and that makes it even more interesting. I'm slowly falling in love with her. :-) She's unique.
It's a very rare event when a brand new TH-cam channel is so good that after just a handful of videos, I'm already going to feel upset if it doesn't feature in the TH-cam yearly awards thing! For me it's already the best music based channel on TH-cam and I only feel similar anticipation for new videos from two or three other channels across the whole platform! I don't usually care about the awards system on TH-cam but this year I'll be championing this channel with every breathe!
Thank you for delving into this deep and meaningful song, it truly is more than the sum of it's parts. There is something very haunting from the intro that holds my attention wanting to discover where this ominous feeling will take me. At the resolution of the finale i'm left with an emptyness that longs for a resolution that never comes. I liked how you simplified the core structure of the notes comparable to much older song mechanics although structured in a modernised way that feels relatable and homely, though it still retains that welcoming feeling of old and new alike. Great song choice and a very welcome breakdown from a different point of view. Liked & Subscribed. Cheers.
Floyd really make you think, their words are so thought provoking. Beautifully analysed & really interesting how you’ve explained your thoughts on a classic track.
I love your in-depth analysis of the music I grew up on. Between you and The Charismatic Voice, I'm learning more about music than I ever did in school. Thank you!
It is incredibly interesting to see a reaction from people with a strong musical background but who have not been exposed to this sort of music. It is great that you are able to understand the depth of these songs even without understanding the context/details. The amount of effort you've put in to understand and explain it is really impressive.
This channel is what youtube was missing. Thanks. I learned a couple interesting tidbits. You already figured out you'll need do analyze each track, plus the album (because its a concept album) and watch the movie. I think you'll be ready for the movie after all that research. Still a super weird movie. Looking forward to the next video. Whatever band it is.
Amy, thanks for your hard work and deep insights. Yes, Pink Floyd is both iconic and iconoclastic. Miles Davis introduced modes into popular music (jazz) in the 1950's. Both Richard Wright and Nick Mason were into jazz in general and Miles in particular. One of the early PF tunes featuring the Phrygian mode was the Atom Heart Mother Suite released in 1969. Can't wait to see what you come up with next.
Thank you for being so passionate and a good sport, being informative in an interesting way. I always learn something new about songs ive had memorized since listening to the radio in the truck with my father 30 yrs ago. You are so cool and your house looks like its so cool too and in middle of some magical forest. Thanks again for your time and effort, i do not take it for granted.
Excellent format and analysis. I like the long form musical and lyrical analysis style of your channel. I appreciate that you take the time to explore the pieces you review for a few days before coming back to us with your analysis. thank you.
Really wonderful video. I feel like it may have been the Beatles that reintroduced modes to popular music. Pink Floyd started a few years after, but I wonder if perhaps all the British bands perhaps unconsciously lifted modes from Celtic folk songs. I think you'll like some of the other music from Pink Floyd's The Wall, as well as other albums. From the perspective of a guitar player, I'll just paraphrase (to the best of my recollection) another guitar player, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth: "David Gilmour gets more music out of one note than most guitarists get out of a thousand notes."
Fun fact: the Beatles were recording Sgt. Peppers at the same time that Pink Floyd was recording Piper At The Gates Of Dawn right next to each other (one was in studio 1 and the other in studio 2 at Abbey Road). Both bands were constantly sitting on each other’s sessions and Lennon took a lot of influence from Syd and Pink Floyd which affected the sound and songwriting on Sgt. Pepper’s
Interesting I was thinking the reintroduction of Modes in “modern music” was more in the 50’s jazz scene, Miles, Coltrane, Parker and all those brilliant players.
The first singer is guitarist David Gilmour. The second singer (from “it was only fantasy…” through to the end) is bassist/lyricist Roger Waters. I love the way they use their voices to sort of play good cop / bad cop. Gilmour is laid back and sweet sounding, even as his character is obviously losing the plot. And then Waters comes in as the guy who is already completely lost it. It’s such a great dynamic that they’ve done multiple times; Comfortably Numb, Dogs, and Not Now John immediately come to mind. LOVE your channel. Try some Rush. Maybe Cygnus X-1 Book Two, Natural Science, or Red Barchetta.
I love what you do! The musicologist's approach to classic rock. I would love to hear you revisit this song after you've familiarized yourself with the whole album. There are leitmotifs that weave the ideas of the songs through each other.
Have been a fan of pink floyd for a long time now but found it very unsettling with moments of overwhelming joy and hope!!! I have just discovered your videos and absolutely love them ❤ Fascinating and very informative Great job
Great analysis, from visceral reaction to deep investigation for this song! Thank you for adding some music history and theory to your analysis, as well as paying attention to the overall context of "Hey You" within the larger construct of The Wall. I travelled to Los Angeles in spring 1980 with a couple of friends to see and hear Pink Floyd perform The Wall in concert. It was a very powerful show on musical and emotional levels. As one of the pillars of British progressive rock coming out of the 1960s into the 1970s, Pink Floyd created some great songs and complete thematic albums, for me including Meddle (many will know "Echoes" from that LP), Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, and finally The Wall. Other notable British prog rock bands from that period would be King Crimson, Yes, Jethro Tull, and Genesis (with both Peter Gabriel and later Phil Collins as lead singers). Each had a very distinctive sound and approach to their music. And of course there was lots of other interesting popular music being created simultaneously. Interesting about the return of modes to the minds of modern songwriters in the 20th Century. Modes certainly had entered jazz for some players with the advent of cool in the 1950s, especially clear in Miles Davis' album, Kind of Blue. Another TH-cam music teacher and reactor, Rick Beato, has tracked Phrygian, Aeolian, and Lydian modes as they are used in popular songs, as well as the circle of fifths and other elements of music theory in his music analyses. He has also made videos about the music of JS Bach, several great jazz players, etc. Here is a good example of his analysis on a song using the Lydian mode for its verses: th-cam.com/video/ZavJLr5Otq4/w-d-xo.html
Just watched the longest, most interesting and insightful reaction I have ever seen. Your explaination of modes and systems was eye-opening. Subscribed, and looking forward to watching your previous reaction vids. And future ones,
Congrats on the recent success of your channel. I, too was raised in a Classical setting & discovered these songs/albums in my late teens & early 20's. Love that you are discussing "Classical" music ideas within the context of modern pop music. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen (the first rock song that told me rock could be more) is a must listen. I'd also recommend listening to Frank Zappa - he was incredibly prolific & wrote & played in a number of styles. The Adventures of Gregory Peccary is long but is a masterpiece that draws heavily on Classical influence.
Congratulations on your new channel! It is fascinating to watch you react to things clearly out of your comfort zone. Perhaps one day you would take a favourite piece of classical music and delve into its' complexities and explain to us WHY and WHAT makes it great. I didn't learn music when I was younger but I know it's good when I hear it! Can you help me to know WHY I like it? Thank you for doing this!
I love your mind and ability to interpret in depth and so quickly. You remind me of things I've always known in ways I've never pondered, like two people seeing the same picture through different caliedascopes and yet arriving at the same conclusions. Your analyses are very spot on. Thanks for sharing such wonderful insights.
The stone is simply weight, yet weight isn't always simple. Whether we feel it on our heart, shoulders or even our minds it can be intrusive and even crushing. Thank you for creating this community where one or many may find comfort within connections. Your understanding and respect for the talent needed to create such art is going to keep you chasing Pink Floyd for years to come. Peace/JT
@@darrylhinko5568 I think it’s just a different way to say burden, or as JT said, weight, in metaphorical terms of course. Asking for help to build the wall is antithetical with what the lyrics are expressing, I think. In any case, remember that what makes up the wall in The Wall are bricks, not stones ;)
Carry the stone has always seemed a reference to Sysiphis to me. This load that never ceases crushing him. I think The Wall is one of the great artistic endeavors of the late 70s/Early 80s. It is a full-on rock opera. Despite you taking one song near the end, it is impressive how well you analyzed it and got the gist of the emotional journey. I highly recommend you watch the movie, and also there is a video of Roger Waters and an all-star band performing it where the Berlin Wall once stood. Completely amazing. PS I wasn't even a third of the way through this video when I subscribed to your channel. I love both halves of your approach; it was amazing watching you work out the emotions and mood of the song. The second half, though, felt like a master class. I very much look forward to seeing more from you.
Phrygian mode has a very exotic flavor to it. It often sounds very Egyptian (though not particularly in this song). When listening to Floyd keep in mind David Gilmour very often uses A and D minor pentatonic scales, which he flavors with a bit of Dorian as well as a bit of Major from time to time. Gilmour's guitar work is absolutely beautiful and extremely bluesy and expressionate, filled with passion and emotion.
I really enjoyed this. I grew up listening to Pink Floyd in the 60s and 70s and loving them, my dad was a huge fan! You have given me a brand new appreciation for something I have enjoyed my whole life. Thank you so much!
When you started to explain modes, it put me in mind of a story about a young Mozart. In order to get him out of his bed, his father (I believe) would play exactly that major ‘C’ scale ending on the ‘B’, at which he had such desperate urgency to satisfy the home note of the scale that he would rush downstairs to play it.
i listen to you every evening ! i feel like im in music class your amazing in your analasis and i enjoy watching you go over the chords on the Harp.Thank you
"Shine On You Crazy Diamond" is a seminal work by Pink Floyd and is born out of a wealth of feeling and the personal history of the Band. It contains a riff of four guitar notes from (the genius) David Gilmour which have become iconic and synonymous with the band, that somehow contain a mountain of feeling and pathos - all wrapped up in a nine part sonic exploration of loss, longing and remembrance. I do hope you experience the piece, even if just for your own enjoyment, but please don't watch a video or read a lyric sheet on your first listening - this is a piece that uses its sonic mastery to paint pictures in the mind. Enjoy :)
I think "will you help me to carry the stone" refers to Sisyphus. Not sure, though, but that is the association I make. Contextually that makes sense, too. For reference: In Greek mythology, Sisyphus or Sisyphos was the founder and king of Ephyra. Zeus punished him for cheating death twice by forcing him to roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll down every time it neared the top.
I actually thought to myself at the beginning, that listening to just one song from The Wall and trying to critique the lyrics and emotion is almost like going to see the Mona Lisa and only staring at her mouth, ignoring everything else. Sure you can get some emotion from it, you can see the beauty of it, but it's when you back up, and see the complete work, and how it blends together to tell a gut wrenching yet beautiful story, that's when you truly appreciate the sheer amount of artistry that went into it. I'm glad by the end you gave us that explanation. I hope you have since listened to the full album and maybe even seen the movie. It's definitely an experience.
I just now stumbled across your channel and am thrilled that I have. Happy to subscribe and looking forward to diving into your past and future reviews.
I have watched dozens and dozens of Pink Floyd reaction videos. I don’t think I’ve appreciated or enjoyed one more than this one. Well done. You are not just analyzing the music, you are also connecting it with the emotion, the reason why the notes and chords are connected to the song. My only minor criticism is that you were very focused on Waters. Gilmour sang the first couple of verses, did the emotive guitar solo, and actually played the fretless bass on this studio track. It was Waters’ vision, yes, but Gilmour added so much depth to this
While Gilmour certainly played the instruments and sang well, this is Waters' composition and lyrics so rightfully the focus should be on him. I don't think anyone expects the songwriter to play every instrument in the recording.
Pink Floyd is undoubtable one of the few that converts each piece of what they are doing into an own, complex, deep feelings world leaving always space for your very own emotional capture and interpretations. Enjoy it and thanks for your views. Never have heard an analysis than complete on that kind of music. Well done.
As a recovering alcoholic of several decades, I know exactly what he's saying. Sometimes in AA you hear someone say "drop the rock". It's the burden and the emotional pain of trauma and addiction. The Wall is a perfect way to describe the emotional barrier built over time by painful events and experiences. Quite possibly one of the best albums ever written.
No offense, I lost a little bit of faith in her when she didn't know what "help me carry the stone" meant. It's a very human experience, carrying a heavy load, and wanting someone to help you carry it. It's almost like only a space alien doesn't know what that experience is like. I'm not an addict but even I knew immediately what it must be like to be in group and hear someone drop the rock.
@@f.u.spammers3846 I think she probably didn't want to "jump to conclusions" just in case there was more to it .. Remember, she said that BEFORE she put the other pieces of the album (and of Water's life) together. Sometimes everybody "just know" what an artist meant (have you ever heard "the summer of sixty nine"? .. or "Lucy in the sky with diamonds"?). Everybody just knew what those phrases meant and then we learned that the author had meant something entirely different .. and our eyes opened to fresh possibilities 🙃
@@f.u.spammers3846 that’s like someone chastising you for not knowing why a particular artistic painter of landscapes uses the color orange. also, please think of how much respect she already has for the song lyrics to allow for an infinite possibility instead of a cliché assumption.
Please don't worry about the critics They can kindly take that bubble wrapped mentality and start their own channel to react and listen to music. So Pink Floyd are masters of creating soundscapes that take you on fantastic journeys. The Wall album is a concept album designed to experience by listening to it in an uninterrupted session. The basic concept is describing the walls others and oneself create from birth to death that limit ones ability to experience life fully while possibly leading to mental and physical harm to oneself if you don't tear down the walls alone or with help from others. As you noticed A cry for help in escaping the prison that one can be trapped in. Thanks for your analyses and rock on.
I don't think anyone is criticizing her in the wrong way. He just wants to point her in the right direction to listen to this album. After all, anyone who knows this album well must admit that any well-intentioned ripping of a single track from this epic is confusing and pointless. For it fails to put the idea into context. I very much applaud her for taking the plunge into listening to Pink Floyd, but in my opinion she picked the wrong song and the wrong album to begin with.
I apologize if my opinion seemed a little harsh. We fans of music from all genres tend to be protective of our faves. Instead we need to let the chicks escape the nest and fly on their own. The possibilities are endless. Bless you all.
I had no idea. I’ve been listening to this song for more than 40 years, but didn’t realize what a musical masterpiece it really is. I just knew it was incredible. Thanks for opening my eyes. The whole “Home” explanation is wild. “I’m coming home.” Dang!
Thank you I watch your study for the first time and enjoy your opinion. Your indepth study of who you are listening to is awesome for you to take the time. Thanks great job you are doing.
New sub here, excellent reaction to one of the best bands in the world. my only caveat is that The wall is a concept album so you need to hear it in its entirety to undestand it fully. Hugs and kisses from Greece, stay safe and healthy.
Great stuff! What a treat it is to get your reaction to a much loved rock song, as well as to learn from you! I would bet people have already suggested it, and I bet your 'friend' who loves rock would agree, you need to reaction and analyze Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin.
Wow this is a new perspective on how to listen and understand our favourite music. This channel is addictive and so enjoyable. I hope someone points the artist in this direction because I’m sure they would appreciate your insight. Thank you. Pat 🏴
David Gilmour sings the first part of this song, ending it with “I’m coming home”. He is also the guitarist, both acoustic and electric. Roger is the bass player and does sing as well but David is the lead singer in the band. Thanks again, you ROCK!
"The Wall" is all about the mental walls we build up in our minds to help us block out parts of the outside world we don't want to cope with. In the story the main character's mother, teacher, wife, and the loss of his father in the war all contribute to the walls he's building in his head. The line about worms eating into his brain is about his mental interpretation of his place in the world, and the line about carrying the stone is a cry for help. The whole song is about a man who's locked himself away in his own head and looking at other people to ask "can't you see what I'm going through here?"
What a brilliant analysis of a complex piece within a concept album. Although I have a passion for music, my knowledge of it's history is limited but listening to you is a great start to putting that right. I never would have guessed at the medieval use of modes or Waters return to them. Indeed, the most poignant moment in the whole track ( as you point out) is the return to home as it is the cue to release and realise the full emotive of the lyrical content through the support of the instrumentation. You nail it when you say the instrumental and the lyrics would not really work apart. The acoustic intro is the perfect platform for the narrative. The one helps the development of the other through its atmospheric quality given the introspective playing ground from Waters and and is a mark of genius, for two minds (Waters and Gilmour) to instinctually know and feel what's required both musically and emotively.
The album Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd has a song called Shine On You Crazy Diamond that has 9 parts. All throughout that song they use a German Augmented 6th, and I can’t think of any other rock bands from that era who use that. The whole song is a masterpiece and would be a brilliant reaction/study.
You are a musical scholar at the highest level!!! I appreciate your input because it isn’t biased it’s just factual on a musical level and not any preconceived notion’s
To understand the lyrics and music of Pink Floyd, it is necessary to keep in mind that the childhood of David Gilmour and Roger Waters took place in post-WWII England. where many of those who were children grew up without their parents due to the war. This is reflected a lot in his lyrics...
I love what you are doing with this channel Amy. As a classical musician your opinions are very interesting and hearing you dissect a song I have heard numerous times is fascinating to me as you have very often touched on aspects I hadn't considered! Your hard work is very much appreciated, please do carry on, I am learning so much from you.
Thanks for that. Pink Floyd are one of my favourite bands - and Roger Waters as a solo artist too. Modes are new to me, so I really appreciated that, and the whole thing about his father and WW2 is one of the themes revisited in other PF albums, particularly The Final Cut. The link with the Green Fields of France is also fascinating. My granddad survived the Somme in WW1 and my dad survived WW2 as an RAF mechanic, but his brother (my uncle, who I never met) died as tail-gunner of a Lancaster bomber over Holland. So Pink Floyd, and Eric Bogle, and medieval modes and my family history all connect, in the way that art does. Again, thanks!
ok, well i just had my first visceral reaction to a comment. so, when i listen to the final cut, which is regularly, there are many emotional points where i am only reacting to roger’s expression of pain and fear. but you, ken, actually identify with some of those points personally ESPECIALLY the tail-gunner sequence. ho-lee-shi#. i always tense up at the part where it cuts to the radio chatter; what that must be like for you i’ll never know.
5:00min ".... help me to carry the stone....." I have always held this line as a synonym for the Greek legend of Sisyphus, the king of Corinth. Sisyphus angered the gods and they punished him. From then on he had to roll a huge boulder up a mountain. The stone was larger than Sisyphus and very heavy, making it virtually impossible for him to complete the task. This is how Pink feels about his life.
I have listened to Pink Floyd and the other artists you have analyzed for most of my 69 years. You have successfully taught me to understand them in a new way. This analysis was brilliant! I look forward to more.
oi
how you doin Mr Morris?
Yeah, I agree. That instruction at the end about modes and home and how the second verse worked. Astounding. I often wonder though, if some of these songs are just done, without the astounding theory. And when someone points out things like she did, if the original author of the song is saying, wow, I did that? Who knew?
@@stanleymyrick4068 Wonderful comment...I've often wondered if well established musicians understand anything about musical theory or is it just something they "get" without even realizing it. I'm inclined to think that most musicians (RnR musicians anyway) don't have anything more than a basic, fundamental grasp of theory. Could be wrong on that, just my inkling thought. I came away from this video feeling like I had just received some university credit for a music appreciation course. I hope to see more deep dives into music that I am familiar with in the future.
@@rockytopted6337 yeah. Oh, btw, roll tide.(TN born, but all siblings and relatives from LA (lower Alabama))
IMO, if you want to "drive into" Pink Floyd you MUST listen to "Dark Side Of The Moon" from start to finish. That is an EXPERIENCE.
Its almost painful to see reaction videos where the listener is 'lost' at the beginning and end, because the larger context of the 'experience' a full listen of the album provides, is missing. Then again, maybe I've missed out on the experience of hearing the album out of context first, and then the revelation of hearing the full album, later. It's probably all good.
and Wish You Were Here and Animals full album
And watch Fantasia muted at the same time.
Dark side of the moon is a masterpiece for sure. But so is the Wall...start to finish. These are called concept albums where the album is an overarching story. Each song is like a scene from a movie or a chapter in a book. My opinion? So much better than listening to singles or compilations like greatest hits.
You are right! The concept of the song hey you is about desperately! trying to make contact.
I think the "stone" is another way of saying a burden. Will you help me carry this burden?
Also you are hitting all the themes of the wall. Jet engines...this is post war music. The character in the story was a child in WW2 England. Also there is a melodic motif in here that echoes from the other songs on the album particularly another brick in the wall (we don't need no education). The transitions you are hearing illustrate the guys mental health experience. First torture and madness then he gets high and disappears for a while.
@@markupton1417 I didn't hear about Fantasia, but the Wizard of Oz is supposed to sync nicely.
When I hear "Would you help me to carry the stone?" I think of the Greek story of Sisyphus who was doomed to carry a stone to the top of a hill only to have it roll back down each time it got to the top for all of eternity. I don't know if Waters made that connection himself, but it's what I think of, poor Sisyphus entreating others to help him carry the weight in an impossible task.
interesting! and they have a song called "Sysyphus" on the album Ummugumma
I think this actually references the idea of being "dragged down by the stone" in Dogs (from Animals), in which the stone represents the weight used to drown us (and the dogs) down to our deaths.
Adding to the curiousness of "the stone", the phrase seems particularly 'English' - very old Druid-'English', culturally. I think of those stones at ... what's the name of that place?
Oh, yeah!
Stonehenge
@@PeterFreeseAgree, Waters used the stone as a metaphor for the weight of life that we carry throughout all our days.
@@thomassicard3733 A bit of a stretch that.
THE WALL is an opera, or symphony. Yes you can listen to different parts, or movements, but the most impact is when taken all together. "Hey You" is the plea for help, it's the opening of the third movement/act. It's the pivot of the whole. In this song we hear all of the leitmotifs they have been building with thus far in the album and introduces new ones that build to the end.
Look on TH-cam at BLACK METAL TEENS HEARING PINK FLOYD
Well said. On top of it, it serves to hear from Waters himself the motivations behind the album, his personal background, etc. It makes it all come together.
“Echoes” is my favorite Pink Floyd song, it’s nearly 20 minutes long but it contains all the things I like about Pink Floyd and it’s lyrically uplifting.
I recomend this too ✌
Up
Strangers passing in the street / By chance, two separate glances meet / And I am you and what I see is me
@@anthonyv6962 they still had some sixties idealism, I think they should have kept some of that going
@@iqbalfirstyawanalfandi9303 I didn’t really mean to recommend Echoes, Darkside would probably be better but hey works for me. Thanks
Thank you so much Amy for your prescient observations of a song, album and band that I have long treasured and listened to so many times (starting with Dark Side of the Moon) at the tender age of 11 years old. Your musica insights and depth of appreciation of lyrics and themes at such a short period of listening are truly revelationary.
Thank you so much for bring fresh insights to long-treasured fiends. What you are doing is a welcome service to the genre of rock music, and of course, to music of all forms.
I don't think I have ever been so impressed by "discovering" a new music reactor as I am by you! You were pleased and surprised to have 1K subscribers so soon, well as I write this a few days later you have nearly 3K and will have over 100K before you know it! I love your channel and your reactions after just a few videos! The best thing about your channel is also the worst, however, as in order to do the amazing reactions you do it takes time so we will be constantly waiting, thirsting for your next reaction, and there is SO MUCH GREAT MUSIC out there for you to react to! Suggestions next time - for now simply Thank You!!
I feel that.
It's a selfish desire to have your favourite songs analysed in this manner, and all the more from someone who has literally no solid preconceptions of what is to be heard!
I also want there to be a new video every single day, but of course, these videos would not be anywhere near as good if the method is changed.
Nope, it must take a few days (pure quality), Ms. Shafer cannot be allowed to feel over pressured, and we must remember that the pool from which the songs can be chosen is effectively infinite!
We must all put our selfish desires aside and follow at the pace set, be patient and be eternally grateful!
This is what TH-cam should be all about - no ridiculous begging for subs and likes, no prompting for financial support before even showing any content, and true honesty without clickbait or hidden motives!
Pink Floyd's music is like really fine wine, it keeps getting better and better and never goes bad! It's mysteriously artistic!
I can't love it enough.
I certainly enjoy their music now more than ever.
The stone in the line "Would you help me to carry the stone", is symbolic. It's referring to his hardships, his pain. He's asking for someone to be there for him when he needs someone to help him carry the weight of his pain (the bad things that have happened to him).
"The stone" was also referenced on their previous album, "Animals", in the song "Dogs". In referring to the futility of life in general, Waters ends the song with the phrase "Dragged down by the stone", which is both a metaphor of being thrown into the water chained to a stone, where the daily grind and the lifetime responsibilities are like a stone.
Sisyphus, also
Also, the wall is made of stone and Pf tend to use the metaphor of a millstone around your neck
I assume it’s the same stone referenced in Dogs - the bad blood turns to stone and drags you down to your demise. The bad blood being the things you do that catch up with you in the end
I think it's more about the Wall Pink is building (metaphorically) around his life - so he's asking for help building the wall around himself, increasing his isolation.
The "menacing, jet engine/plane engine" sound is actually a Hammond B3 organ. The player puts their palm/fist/back of the hand down over a "handful" of keys on the lower register of the keyboard and then slowly slides to the upper register, only to be quickly pulled down. The growling sound that really completes the effect is created by the organ's signal going through an overdriven amplifier and a Leslie rotary speaker cabinet (either a model 122 or 147). It's a neat trick that's been used in rock music for decades.
Great description. It takes a lot of talent to play a Hammond well.
@@jackquarantillo5192 It really does and I am NOT one of them. I noodle and play some stuff suitable for rock but that's all.
Yours is quickly becoming one of my favorite channels. Your enthusiasm for music, as an art form, is so refreshing. I like your explanations, and willingness to spell out what could be missed as jargon.
Great content. Please continue.
The stone represents the weight of it all. Listen to the "Animals" CD, the song "Dogs" talks about "the Stone". 11 guitar solos by Gilmour in that one song alone. Great stuff!
Actually one of the lines in an earlier song says the bad blood turns to stone. He is talking about all the times that someone gives up their ethics for money and fame. They also mention it in Dogs as other comments have mentioned. The line I remember that kinds of explains their thinking on this is (It's to late, to lose the weight, you used to need to throw around) so all the bad blood you accumulate in life turns to stone and drags you down, which they use the metaphor about drowning as you get older and the stone drags you down. Of course I always listen to Pink Floyd high as I am now you can tell by the length of this comment. I'm 65 and remember when I discovered them in about 1970'
I was highly critical of your Beatles - She's Leaving Home reaction and it's bothered me since because not only was my comment gratuitously aggressive but very much out of character for me. So I would like to offer you my sincerest apology. I enjoyed this reaction and will look forward to more. Thanks.
That's nice of you
Thank you Amy 💙.
That shows class to take the time to Rethink your comment….watch more of what she does and then apologize. That doesn’t happen often anymore, especially online. That’s kind of you.
@@w.geoffreyspaulding6588 Credit should go to Amy for acknowleding my apology. She is a classy lady which makes me regret my original comments even more. I'll think before posting comments on TH-cam in future.
@@genxer9947 cool!
You're just scratching the surface, sister. Pink Floyd's music is a rabbit hole of unimaginable awesomeness.
"Help me to carry this stone" is a poetic reference to life's burden.
Yea she should listen to some Sid lol
I have always kinda felt this album was a tribute to Sid
Dragged down by the stone
Reference to the stone is first made on the album Animals, a couple of years earlier and the prequel to the wall.
I like how you take a few days to breakdown the piece. Makes for a very engaging analysis.
You are the Carl Sagan of music study. You're thoughtful approach and ability to express a complex interpretation in such a succinct fashion is superb... and very Saganesque.
I'm so glad that I was lucky enough to have you pop up on my TH-cam feed! It's so fun to not only watch and listen to you react to music you've never heard but then to access to your rich knowledge of music as you share it with us. It's going to be so fun to take this journey with you and also to learn so much. Would love to hear you react to something by King Crimson, in particular the song Starless.
Any recommendations to review King Crimson music should probably also include the caveat that they often block publication of their songs. I would hate to see anyone spend a week preparing a review only to see it blocked or copyrighted. I do love Starless, though.
This is great. Can’t wait for you to react to Jethro Tull.
Good choice. “Starless” is my favorite of so many great King Crimson songs. I’d especially enjoy seeing Amy react to a live performance, like Crimson’s Takamatsu, Japan, 2015 version of “Starless”. 🤘
Hey Amy, I stumbled upon your channel a few days ago, and… wow! The depth of the content presented, the insightful meanings analysis, the sincerity, the style, and the structure of the episodes are all making your channel very entertaining, fun, and educational. I am appreciating the content that you deliver all the more seeing how respectful you are even when the music and artistry are not your cups of tea.
I can’t tell you how much I love this channel already!
This is the first video of yours that I have watched, ma'am, but this is why I like to watch professional singers reacting to and analysing our favourite songs. You bring a level of knowledge, of musical history and terms that we 'laymen' do not have, which enlightens our minds and brings a new love/understanding to our enjoyment of our favourite songs/singers/bands. Thank you. Keep being your awesome self.
I don't think the average YT "reaction" viewer is used to a musician analysing the music as in depth as you do, this is why they get frustrated in the pausing, but keep doing what you are doing it's fascinating listening to you obviously dissecting the music & instruments before the lyrics. As you say, if you don't enjoy what you are watching leave to the rest of us.
@@tcanfield I actually find Doug's analysis to be a bit too on-the-surface. For in-depth analysis, I tend to prefer 12tone's deep dives. He's a total music nerd who analyzes songs to death, and I love it. 🙂 Rick Beato is great as well. (Incidentally, this is my first exposure to the Virgin Rock channel. So I haven't formed an opinion yet.)
@@tcanfield
That guy is some arrogant jerk, I heard him criticize things things he totally talked over and didn't even listen to.
When it comes to react videos done by professionals I can recommend 'Key of Geebz', 'Beth roars' and mostly ' The Charismatic Voice'!
Dave Bennett is very good too.
This is the second reaction I have watched and I must say that I am truly impressed with how thorough you are.
Your reactions are very observant, well thought out and carefully measured.
I found that listening to you explain the structure of a song, reminds me of a college music appreciation class I took long ago.
That class, which I very much enjoyed, not only taught me how to carefully listen to music, but to sort of deconstruct it.
I am learning things about music that I have heard for years and never seen in this light. Thank you! I feel as though I'm back in class.
So wonderful to see you again...OK, I am off to your video!
Wow- really brilliant analysis
I’ve heard this song a million times, and i finally realize some of the reasons it’s so impactful!
I listened to that “Green Fields of France” song, beautiful and sobering, I’ve heard a version of it before and if i heard it Roger Waters certainly heard it and it was probably a deeply meaningful song for him and may have been influential on this and other songs too. An important and insightful discovery you made here. Green Fields was a deeply moving song. My grandfather fought in the trenches in France and survived thank God. I liked how you explained modes and music history. I enjoyed it and learned a lot. I will definitely watch it again. Thank you very much.
I love your channel, not only I am learning more from my favorite music, but I found it so relaxing listening to your wonderful explanations. Thank you and congratulations!
My goodness. I saw the thumbnail for this video, never having heard of your channel before. I thought to myself, “here is this very soft-looking woman, a classical musician in a beautiful, serene setting, who is going to listen to ‘Hey You’ as an introduction to Pink Floyd.” I really didn’t think you would react well to it, that you would find it dark, confusing and harsh, but I was completely wrong- and I can see I have a lot to learn from you about music I have loved for decades. The Wall is a profound work of art, but if you have any sense of compassion/empathy or you’ve experienced deep pain in your life, listening to it deeply can leave you hurting (and maybe provide some healing too). One piece from the album is enough to give you a taste, but you must take the entire work as a whole to really appreciate it. I would say the same about Pink Floyd’s ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’, which is also a concept album, and which is perhaps a little less personal, and more universal, but every bit as profound. Thank you for taking the time to delve into this music, and most of all for sharing your experience with us!
Well said, I had similar thoughts about her reaction but alas they weren't warranted showing that true art is recognizable and transcends its label. Her analysis brought new appreciation to their music.
I know you just today and I can’t believe that I am watching what I always wanted to see in 40 years. Amazing! Thank you thank you thank you!
Thanks for discussing modes! I had heard the term before, but didn't really know what it meant. I learned a lot!
This song is an emotional plea, the stone belongs to Sisyphus, the king of Corinth as a daily burden he completes only to watch it roll down the hill at the end of each day. As a tired road warrior Pink is only keeping it together. Your emotional sensitivity shows in your face as you hear the first minutes and it reaches deep inside as does the dark side of the moon and others by this band. As a bridge from your classical training to the present you picked a mountain to climb with a large stone on your back in picking this album.
Dear Lady you are so very Lovely and Charming, your words have a visual quality to them, that along with your broad range of musical knowledge is very unique in this reaction analysis genre. I watch many reactions to these same song, I find you incredible authentic sincerely curious and actually enjoying this journey you've undertaken. I am happy and even a little envious of the musical discoveries you will make. I will be watching each and every one.
Thank You
Gary
This is an album that needs to be heard in it's entirety, it is one story. The video your watching is from the movie, which I recommend. But be warned, the lesson is raw, but very insightful.
No the video she is watching was CUT from the movie
@@viclagina347 No, the video edits several shots from the movie. So, in a way, Ben Corn is right. On the other hand, Hey you does not appear in the film, the song was cut from it, not the video.
@@250278 Hey You is NOT in the movie
@@viclagina347 Exactly, as you can read in my comment. I said: «On the other hand, Hey you does not appear in the film». It´s not important, but I will clarify it to you. What I'm trying to say is that you are both right and wrong: Hey you was cut from the movie as you say; actually, the scene was shot but was not included. It is also known as Reel 13. However, this specific video was made by some fan, i suppose, since it has several scenes from the film. So Ben Corn is also right when he says that this video comes from the movie. I am assuming he is not saying that this video is the "Hey You scene" from the film or even the Reel 13, which you can actually watch here: th-cam.com/video/hdm_ipaHAvs/w-d-xo.html
Actually when Roger was writing the lyrics that became the wall he was writing about war however the powers that be turned it into the story that we know as the movie The Wall as a matter of fact the songs in the final cut were meant for the original movie The Wall but they were rejected because they were more war based and change the narrative so our interpretation of the wall is not what Roger intended
You’re explanation is brilliant and so beautiful. I enjoy how you break it down and refer to Waters as a composer. Well done.
BRAVO AMY! Let me just say that I think this is outstanding. I am a huge fan of the Floyd, and finding your reactions has been an injection of fresh air and creativity to a pretty tired genre of TH-cam channel. You have identified a niche and gone after it in spite of the nay saying commenters and, I imagine, not a small amount of self-doubt as to whether it was the right course to pursue. Although a fan of music I have never been a student of it and wouldn't know a g clef from a G-Eazy. But I found your teaching very comprehensible and enjoyable and it allowed me to appreciate this band in a whole other way. I look forward to many more of your videos. Thank you for opening up my eyes to this view of music analysis and reaction.
We are listening to the classical music of the next century. Music genres come and go, but Pink Floyd has been captivating us for over 50 years. I'm 81, and still listen to The Wall straight though, as well as Meddle and Dark Side. Thank you for analyzing this music from a classical perspective.
Excellent video. Such an interesting analysis of the music and lyrics, but you also recognized the beauty of what makes Pink Floyd so unique. As you continue on your journey through their many brilliant songs, you'll understand why so many people truly appreciate Pink Floyd's contribution to music. They are amazing.
Enjoy all that lies ahead.
Great song, great album, great artist !! You seem to be a musical genius in your own right. Love the reaction, and especially loved the follow-up and your comments. You are fast becoming my FAV reactor !! Keep it up !!
It's official; your videos are now my guilty pleasure of choice. I eagerly wait for them to come out. And, yeah!! today is a 'Virgin Rock' day! Thanks for making my day.
This channel will blow out really fast, a unique perspective, guilty pleasure for sure, but also a great educational opportunity.
@@MartinMcMartin Blow up? In popularity? I sure hope so. It would make me feel good about humanity!
Agreed. Her approach to the music is totally different from my own and that makes it even more interesting.
I'm slowly falling in love with her. :-)
She's unique.
It's a very rare event when a brand new TH-cam channel is so good that after just a handful of videos, I'm already going to feel upset if it doesn't feature in the TH-cam yearly awards thing!
For me it's already the best music based channel on TH-cam and I only feel similar anticipation for new videos from two or three other channels across the whole platform!
I don't usually care about the awards system on TH-cam but this year I'll be championing this channel with every breathe!
@ThatAwkyMome very good point - there is no unhealthy aspect to this at all!
Thank you for delving into this deep and meaningful song, it truly is more than the sum of it's parts.
There is something very haunting from the intro that holds my attention wanting to discover where this ominous feeling will take me.
At the resolution of the finale i'm left with an emptyness that longs for a resolution that never comes.
I liked how you simplified the core structure of the notes comparable to much older song mechanics although structured in a modernised way that feels relatable and homely, though it still retains that welcoming feeling of old and new alike.
Great song choice and a very welcome breakdown from a different point of view.
Liked & Subscribed.
Cheers.
Floyd really make you think, their words are so thought provoking. Beautifully analysed & really interesting how you’ve explained your thoughts on a classic track.
I love your in-depth analysis of the music I grew up on. Between you and The Charismatic Voice, I'm learning more about music than I ever did in school. Thank you!
It is incredibly interesting to see a reaction from people with a strong musical background but who have not been exposed to this sort of music.
It is great that you are able to understand the depth of these songs even without understanding the context/details. The amount of effort you've put in to understand and explain it is really impressive.
The stone, amongst other things, is his pain and you've just blown my mind!
This channel is what youtube was missing. Thanks. I learned a couple interesting tidbits.
You already figured out you'll need do analyze each track, plus the album (because its a concept album) and watch the movie. I think you'll be ready for the movie after all that research. Still a super weird movie.
Looking forward to the next video. Whatever band it is.
"Help carry the stone" pertains to building our wall between us and others.
Amy, thanks for your hard work and deep insights. Yes, Pink Floyd is both iconic and iconoclastic. Miles Davis introduced modes into popular music (jazz) in the 1950's. Both Richard Wright and Nick Mason were into jazz in general and Miles in particular. One of the early PF tunes featuring the Phrygian mode was the Atom Heart Mother Suite released in 1969. Can't wait to see what you come up with next.
Thank you for being so passionate and a good sport, being informative in an interesting way. I always learn something new about songs ive had memorized since listening to the radio in the truck with my father 30 yrs ago. You are so cool and your house looks like its so cool too and in middle of some magical forest. Thanks again for your time and effort, i do not take it for granted.
I never realised that home/tonic note, and how it fits so well with the lyrics!. Amazing analysis Amy!
Excellent format and analysis. I like the long form musical and lyrical analysis style of your channel. I appreciate that you take the time to explore the pieces you review for a few days before coming back to us with your analysis. thank you.
Really wonderful video. I feel like it may have been the Beatles that reintroduced modes to popular music. Pink Floyd started a few years after, but I wonder if perhaps all the British bands perhaps unconsciously lifted modes from Celtic folk songs.
I think you'll like some of the other music from Pink Floyd's The Wall, as well as other albums. From the perspective of a guitar player, I'll just paraphrase (to the best of my recollection) another guitar player, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth: "David Gilmour gets more music out of one note than most guitarists get out of a thousand notes."
Fun fact: the Beatles were recording Sgt. Peppers at the same time that Pink Floyd was recording Piper At The Gates Of Dawn right next to each other (one was in studio 1 and the other in studio 2 at Abbey Road). Both bands were constantly sitting on each other’s sessions and Lennon took a lot of influence from Syd and Pink Floyd which affected the sound and songwriting on Sgt. Pepper’s
Interesting I was thinking the reintroduction of Modes in “modern music” was more in the 50’s jazz scene, Miles, Coltrane, Parker and all those brilliant players.
The first singer is guitarist David Gilmour. The second singer (from “it was only fantasy…” through to the end) is bassist/lyricist Roger Waters. I love the way they use their voices to sort of play good cop / bad cop. Gilmour is laid back and sweet sounding, even as his character is obviously losing the plot. And then Waters comes in as the guy who is already completely lost it. It’s such a great dynamic that they’ve done multiple times; Comfortably Numb, Dogs, and Not Now John immediately come to mind.
LOVE your channel. Try some Rush. Maybe Cygnus X-1 Book Two, Natural Science, or Red Barchetta.
Yes, it’s a clever tool. Lennon / Mcartney do this a lot too.
I love what you do! The musicologist's approach to classic rock. I would love to hear you revisit this song after you've familiarized yourself with the whole album. There are leitmotifs that weave the ideas of the songs through each other.
Have been a fan of pink floyd for a long time now but found it very unsettling with moments of overwhelming joy and hope!!!
I have just discovered your videos and absolutely love them ❤
Fascinating and very informative
Great job
Great analysis, from visceral reaction to deep investigation for this song! Thank you for adding some music history and theory to your analysis, as well as paying attention to the overall context of "Hey You" within the larger construct of The Wall. I travelled to Los Angeles in spring 1980 with a couple of friends to see and hear Pink Floyd perform The Wall in concert. It was a very powerful show on musical and emotional levels.
As one of the pillars of British progressive rock coming out of the 1960s into the 1970s, Pink Floyd created some great songs and complete thematic albums, for me including Meddle (many will know "Echoes" from that LP), Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, and finally The Wall. Other notable British prog rock bands from that period would be King Crimson, Yes, Jethro Tull, and Genesis (with both Peter Gabriel and later Phil Collins as lead singers). Each had a very distinctive sound and approach to their music. And of course there was lots of other interesting popular music being created simultaneously.
Interesting about the return of modes to the minds of modern songwriters in the 20th Century. Modes certainly had entered jazz for some players with the advent of cool in the 1950s, especially clear in Miles Davis' album, Kind of Blue.
Another TH-cam music teacher and reactor, Rick Beato, has tracked Phrygian, Aeolian, and Lydian modes as they are used in popular songs, as well as the circle of fifths and other elements of music theory in his music analyses. He has also made videos about the music of JS Bach, several great jazz players, etc. Here is a good example of his analysis on a song using the Lydian mode for its verses:
th-cam.com/video/ZavJLr5Otq4/w-d-xo.html
Just watched the longest, most interesting and insightful reaction I have ever seen. Your explaination of modes and systems was eye-opening. Subscribed, and looking forward to watching your previous reaction vids. And future ones,
Listened to Floyd for years , thank you for the education in the breakdown.. I love this 👍
Congrats on the recent success of your channel. I, too was raised in a Classical setting & discovered these songs/albums in my late teens & early 20's. Love that you are discussing "Classical" music ideas within the context of modern pop music. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen (the first rock song that told me rock could be more) is a must listen. I'd also recommend listening to Frank Zappa - he was incredibly prolific & wrote & played in a number of styles. The Adventures of Gregory Peccary is long but is a masterpiece that draws heavily on Classical influence.
The Yellow Shark is a Zappa album that she would enjoy.
Can't wait for your full double album reaction!!!! 😃
Congratulations on your new channel! It is fascinating to watch you react to things clearly out of your comfort zone. Perhaps one day you would take a favourite piece of classical music and delve into its' complexities and explain to us WHY and WHAT makes it great. I didn't learn music when I was younger but I know it's good when I hear it! Can you help me to know WHY I like it? Thank you for doing this!
Great idea! I enjoy the fish out of water reactions, but to hear her speak about and explain one of HER favorite pieces would be amazing!!!
I love your mind and ability to interpret in depth and so quickly. You remind me of things I've always known in ways I've never pondered, like two people seeing the same picture through different caliedascopes and yet arriving at the same conclusions. Your analyses are very spot on. Thanks for sharing such wonderful insights.
The stone is simply weight, yet weight isn't always simple. Whether we feel it on our heart, shoulders or even our minds it can be intrusive and even crushing. Thank you for creating this community where one or many may find comfort within connections. Your understanding and respect for the talent needed to create such art is going to keep you chasing Pink Floyd for years to come. Peace/JT
Yes I do as thinking this too but not as thoughtful as you did 😁👍
I always thought the stone was a piece of the wall and he was asking if he would help build it. But i could be wrong
@@darrylhinko5568 You are absolutely correct. We are saying the same thing. He built the wall out of the overwhelming amount of stones he carried.
@@darrylhinko5568 I think it’s just a different way to say burden, or as JT said, weight, in metaphorical terms of course. Asking for help to build the wall is antithetical with what the lyrics are expressing, I think. In any case, remember that what makes up the wall in The Wall are bricks, not stones ;)
@@dago87able Many a brick were but stones yesterday.
I enjoy watching you learn this music. You have a perception of what you hear for the first time.. I love your reactions.
Carry the stone has always seemed a reference to Sysiphis to me. This load that never ceases crushing him.
I think The Wall is one of the great artistic endeavors of the late 70s/Early 80s. It is a full-on rock opera. Despite you taking one song near the end, it is impressive how well you analyzed it and got the gist of the emotional journey.
I highly recommend you watch the movie, and also there is a video of Roger Waters and an all-star band performing it where the Berlin Wall once stood. Completely amazing.
PS I wasn't even a third of the way through this video when I subscribed to your channel. I love both halves of your approach; it was amazing watching you work out the emotions and mood of the song. The second half, though, felt like a master class. I very much look forward to seeing more from you.
Yes, Sysiphus. Also an allegory for the weight of modern life, and the life of Pink in particular.
I love the concept of a first listen and then a more in-depth view of the song after you've had some time to dig into it a bit more! Great stuff!
Phrygian mode has a very exotic flavor to it. It often sounds very Egyptian (though not particularly in this song). When listening to Floyd keep in mind David Gilmour very often uses A and D minor pentatonic scales, which he flavors with a bit of Dorian as well as a bit of Major from time to time. Gilmour's guitar work is absolutely beautiful and extremely bluesy and expressionate, filled with passion and emotion.
I really enjoyed this.
I grew up listening to Pink Floyd in the 60s and 70s and loving them, my dad was a huge fan! You have given me a brand new appreciation for something I have enjoyed my whole life. Thank you so much!
When you started to explain modes, it put me in mind of a story about a young Mozart. In order to get him out of his bed, his father (I believe) would play exactly that major ‘C’ scale ending on the ‘B’, at which he had such desperate urgency to satisfy the home note of the scale that he would rush downstairs to play it.
So, is Mozart related to Sheldon Cooper? 😆
@@grandtheftmanualv945 I’ve looked up Sheldon Cooper. He’s a fictional character, so I guess not. 🙃🤗
@@AlBarzUK yes, he is a strange character, but one of his main traits is that he cannot leave anything unfinished once it has been started!
@@grandtheftmanualv945 ah! - unlike Schubert.
@@AlBarzUK lol, justly
This is one of the most intelligent reaction to Pink Floyd I've seen. Good job.
Thank you for the hard work 🤠
i listen to you every evening ! i feel like im in music class your amazing in your analasis and i enjoy watching you go over the chords on the Harp.Thank you
Note that the band chose to change from the gentle voice of David Gilmour to the rather more frantic voice of Roger Waters half way through.
Music professor number 1
"Shine On You Crazy Diamond" is a seminal work by Pink Floyd and is born out of a wealth of feeling and the personal history of the Band. It contains a riff of four guitar notes from (the genius) David Gilmour which have become iconic and synonymous with the band, that somehow contain a mountain of feeling and pathos - all wrapped up in a nine part sonic exploration of loss, longing and remembrance. I do hope you experience the piece, even if just for your own enjoyment, but please don't watch a video or read a lyric sheet on your first listening - this is a piece that uses its sonic mastery to paint pictures in the mind. Enjoy :)
I think "will you help me to carry the stone" refers to Sisyphus. Not sure, though, but that is the association I make. Contextually that makes sense, too. For reference: In Greek mythology, Sisyphus or Sisyphos was the founder and king of Ephyra. Zeus punished him for cheating death twice by forcing him to roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll down every time it neared the top.
I actually thought to myself at the beginning, that listening to just one song from The Wall and trying to critique the lyrics and emotion is almost like going to see the Mona Lisa and only staring at her mouth, ignoring everything else. Sure you can get some emotion from it, you can see the beauty of it, but it's when you back up, and see the complete work, and how it blends together to tell a gut wrenching yet beautiful story, that's when you truly appreciate the sheer amount of artistry that went into it. I'm glad by the end you gave us that explanation. I hope you have since listened to the full album and maybe even seen the movie. It's definitely an experience.
I just now stumbled across your channel and am thrilled that I have. Happy to subscribe and looking forward to diving into your past and future reviews.
I have watched dozens and dozens of Pink Floyd reaction videos.
I don’t think I’ve appreciated or enjoyed one more than this one.
Well done. You are not just analyzing the music, you are also connecting it with the emotion, the reason why the notes and chords are connected to the song. My only minor criticism is that you were very focused on Waters. Gilmour sang the first couple of verses, did the emotive guitar solo, and actually played the fretless bass on this studio track. It was Waters’ vision, yes, but Gilmour added so much depth to this
Thanks, I always thought it must have been Roger on bass. It’s so masterfully played !
While Gilmour certainly played the instruments and sang well, this is Waters' composition and lyrics so rightfully the focus should be on him. I don't think anyone expects the songwriter to play every instrument in the recording.
Pink Floyd is undoubtable one of the few that converts each piece of what they are doing into an own, complex, deep feelings world leaving always space for your very own emotional capture and interpretations. Enjoy it and thanks for your views. Never have heard an analysis than complete on that kind of music. Well done.
As a recovering alcoholic of several decades, I know exactly what he's saying.
Sometimes in AA you hear someone say "drop the rock".
It's the burden and the emotional pain of trauma and addiction.
The Wall is a perfect way to describe the emotional barrier built over time by painful events and experiences.
Quite possibly one of the best albums ever written.
No offense, I lost a little bit of faith in her when she didn't know what "help me carry the stone" meant. It's a very human experience, carrying a heavy load, and wanting someone to help you carry it. It's almost like only a space alien doesn't know what that experience is like. I'm not an addict but even I knew immediately what it must be like to be in group and hear someone drop the rock.
@@f.u.spammers3846 I think she probably didn't want to "jump to conclusions" just in case there was more to it .. Remember, she said that BEFORE she put the other pieces of the album (and of Water's life) together.
Sometimes everybody "just know" what an artist meant (have you ever heard "the summer of sixty nine"? .. or "Lucy in the sky with diamonds"?). Everybody just knew what those phrases meant and then we learned that the author had meant something entirely different .. and our eyes opened to fresh possibilities 🙃
@@f.u.spammers3846 that’s like someone chastising you for not knowing why a particular artistic painter of landscapes uses the color orange. also, please think of how much respect she already has for the song lyrics to allow for an infinite possibility instead of a cliché assumption.
I love what you do with these songs! ❤️ I understand them better than ever before. Thank you!
Please don't worry about the critics They can kindly take that bubble wrapped mentality and start their own channel to react and listen to music. So Pink Floyd are masters of creating soundscapes that take you on fantastic journeys. The Wall album is a concept album designed to experience by listening to it in an uninterrupted session. The basic concept is describing the walls others and oneself create from birth to death that limit ones ability to experience life fully while possibly leading to mental and physical harm to oneself if you don't tear down the walls alone or with help from others. As you noticed A cry for help in escaping the prison that one can be trapped in. Thanks for your analyses and rock on.
I did not mean to critisize her. Instead, I do look up to her. She increases my love for that kind of music.
I don't think anyone is criticizing her in the wrong way. He just wants to point her in the right direction to listen to this album. After all, anyone who knows this album well must admit that any well-intentioned ripping of a single track from this epic is confusing and pointless. For it fails to put the idea into context.
I very much applaud her for taking the plunge into listening to Pink Floyd, but in my opinion she picked the wrong song and the wrong album to begin with.
I apologize if my opinion seemed a little harsh. We fans of music from all genres tend to be protective of our faves. Instead we need to let the chicks escape the nest and fly on their own. The possibilities are endless. Bless you all.
So fitting that you try to dissect both the musical- and the narrative/philosophical layers. And you find wonderful connections; thank you.
I had no idea. I’ve been listening to this song for more than 40 years, but didn’t realize what a musical masterpiece it really is. I just knew it was incredible. Thanks for opening my eyes. The whole “Home” explanation is wild. “I’m coming home.” Dang!
Thank you I watch your study for the first time and enjoy your opinion. Your indepth study of who you are listening to is awesome for you to take the time. Thanks great job you are doing.
New sub here, excellent reaction to one of the best bands in the world. my only caveat is that The wall is a concept album so you need to hear it in its entirety to undestand it fully. Hugs and kisses from Greece, stay safe and healthy.
I subscribed immediately. Couldn't enjoy your videos more. Please never stop doing this; there's so much to explore.
Great stuff! What a treat it is to get your reaction to a much loved rock song, as well as to learn from you! I would bet people have already suggested it, and I bet your 'friend' who loves rock would agree, you need to reaction and analyze Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin.
Wow this is a new perspective on how to listen and understand our favourite music. This channel is addictive and so enjoyable. I hope someone points the artist in this direction because I’m sure they would appreciate your insight. Thank you. Pat 🏴
David Gilmour sings the first part of this song, ending it with “I’m coming home”. He is also the guitarist, both acoustic and electric. Roger is the bass player and does sing as well but David is the lead singer in the band. Thanks again, you ROCK!
Actually Gilmour plays the fretless bass in this song.
Roger The Composer❤😂❤😂❤😂🎉🎉🎉🎉The Wall is Him❤🎉
This is my favorite analysis of yours that I have thus far heard. You make me feel like I get it.
"The Wall" is all about the mental walls we build up in our minds to help us block out parts of the outside world we don't want to cope with. In the story the main character's mother, teacher, wife, and the loss of his father in the war all contribute to the walls he's building in his head. The line about worms eating into his brain is about his mental interpretation of his place in the world, and the line about carrying the stone is a cry for help. The whole song is about a man who's locked himself away in his own head and looking at other people to ask "can't you see what I'm going through here?"
What a brilliant analysis of a complex piece within a concept album.
Although I have a passion for music, my knowledge of it's history is limited but listening to you is a great start to putting that right. I never would have guessed at the medieval use of modes or Waters return to them. Indeed, the most poignant moment in the whole track ( as you point out) is the return to home as it is the cue to release and realise the full emotive of the lyrical content through the support of the instrumentation. You nail it when you say the instrumental and the lyrics would not really work apart. The acoustic intro is the perfect platform for the narrative. The one helps the development of the other through its atmospheric quality given the introspective playing ground from Waters and and is a mark of genius, for two minds (Waters and Gilmour) to instinctually know and feel what's required both musically and emotively.
The album Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd has a song called Shine On You Crazy Diamond that has 9 parts. All throughout that song they use a German Augmented 6th, and I can’t think of any other rock bands from that era who use that. The whole song is a masterpiece and would be a brilliant reaction/study.
Absolutely! I don't know anyone that listens to Shine On You Crazy Diamond for the first time and doesn't say "WOW"!
You are a musical scholar at the highest level!!! I appreciate your input because it isn’t biased it’s just factual on a musical level and not any preconceived notion’s
To understand the lyrics and music of Pink Floyd, it is necessary to keep in mind that the childhood of David Gilmour and Roger Waters took place in post-WWII England. where many of those who were children grew up without their parents due to the war. This is reflected a lot in his lyrics...
I love what you are doing with this channel Amy. As a classical musician your opinions are very interesting and hearing you dissect a song I have heard numerous times is fascinating to me as you have very often touched on aspects I hadn't considered! Your hard work is very much appreciated, please do carry on, I am learning so much from you.
Thanks for that. Pink Floyd are one of my favourite bands - and Roger Waters as a solo artist too. Modes are new to me, so I really appreciated that, and the whole thing about his father and WW2 is one of the themes revisited in other PF albums, particularly The Final Cut. The link with the Green Fields of France is also fascinating. My granddad survived the Somme in WW1 and my dad survived WW2 as an RAF mechanic, but his brother (my uncle, who I never met) died as tail-gunner of a Lancaster bomber over Holland. So Pink Floyd, and Eric Bogle, and medieval modes and my family history all connect, in the way that art does. Again, thanks!
ok, well i just had my first visceral reaction to a comment. so, when i listen to the final cut, which is regularly, there are many emotional points where i am only reacting to roger’s expression of pain and fear. but you, ken, actually identify with some of those points personally ESPECIALLY the tail-gunner sequence. ho-lee-shi#. i always tense up at the part where it cuts to the radio chatter; what that must be like for you i’ll never know.
Illuminating as always, Amy. Keep up the good work.
5:00min ".... help me to carry the stone....." I have always held this line as a synonym for the Greek legend of Sisyphus, the king of Corinth. Sisyphus angered the gods and they punished him. From then on he had to roll a huge boulder up a mountain. The stone was larger than Sisyphus and very heavy, making it virtually impossible for him to complete the task. This is how Pink feels about his life.
Perhaps help me carry the stone to build the Wall. The weight of the stone was to heavy. He is crying out for help. Emotional and physical.
You did a wonderful analysis of this piece. I can hear it from a different angle now.