The film takes the surrealism a step further in the visual department by switching between powerful animation and imagery, elevating the lyrics of specifically chosen songs on the album. It’s part of the organized sound that characterizes the album that’s built with very specific pieces, similar to how Pink fits the pieces of his metaphorical wall. It is an auditory representation of how the protagonist is affected by his memories, which can sort of come and go at any moment, or can be enhanced via drug use. 2” to a child exclaiming to his mother about an airplane in the sky in “Goodbye Blue Sky,” the effect it creates is that of random hallucinations or memories. From sampling teachers screaming at kids in “Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. This is another staple in Pink Floyd’s style, but it is used for excellent narrative effect here. The band also samples random sounds throughout several of their songs. The song sounds like something comforting and inviting, but as it crescendos to an incredible guitar solo at the end, there is a sort of existential oppression that the song gets at. Pink needs drugs to give him any sense of freedom, which ironically shows how trapped he is by the mental wall he has built for himself all of his life.
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At this point in the narrative, Pink is heavily medicated and he’s putting on a show while incredibly high. An example of this is one of the band’s most iconic songs, “Comfortably Numb”. With each song, there is a constant feeling of claustrophobia, like walls are closing in, which helps the listener understand the mental state of Pink. It’s a common trait of Pink Floyd’s sound, but The Wall takes advantage of this for the narrative. The soundscape is filled with reverb and airiness, which is simultaneously relaxing and oppressive. The album takes advantage of its soundscape and the film takes advantage of its visual presentation to create this desired overwhelming feeling, and the band is able to say much more and strike a deeper nerve than any words possibly could. With surrealism, what you see is never what it seems to be rather, it is a representation of something more visceral, an indescribable, overwhelming feeling that overtakes you. The story is about Pink’s isolation which is represented by a metaphorical wall that is constantly being built over time by different people and events in his life such as the death of his father, his overprotective mother, his abusive teachers, and his tumultuous life as a successful rock star with marriage and drug problems.īoth the album and film are experiments in surrealism. The narrative of The Wall follows a jaded rock star named Pink, who in many ways is a representation of Waters, as well as Syd Barrett, one of the founding members of the band who left at the very start of their career. The Wall, their 1979 release (and last great album), is the epitome of these traits that characterized a number of their songs and releases, and it spawned a cult classic film adaptation in 1982 written by the band’s main songwriter and bassist, Roger Waters.
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This includes the demons that accompany fame and their love for creating metaphorical songs and concept albums. Anyone familiar with Pink Floyd’s discography will be well versed with the band’s fascination with the human condition.