Pink Floyd at Live8
Although we were away at the weekend, we caught some of the later parts of the Live8 concert. I wasn’t that keen on many of the bands featured—-I was much more excited by the concert featuring African musicians at the Eden Centre—-but I did want to see Pink Floyd. Actually, since it was 24 years since they had last played together, I was a bit concerned that they might be dreadfully, embarrassingly bad.
Obviously that was a foolish fear. Pink Floyd blew away all of the other bands—-even The Who. Their playing was tight and focussed, and the level of passion and feeling they got into the music was—-to use the original sense of the word—-awesome. I hope that the Scissor Sisters were suitably humbled after hearing ‘Comfortably Numb’ done the right way1. Nick Mason may look like he should be handing out Werther’s Originals to adoring grandchildren rather than sitting behind a drum kit, and Roger Waters looks disturbingly like Smashy (or Nicey—-I can’t remember which was the blonde one), but they still rocked. They are also nice blokes, and have agreed to donate the profits of their increased album sales to charity.
1 I love my husband dearly, but the closest I’ve ever got to wondering if I’d married the right person was when he said that he quite liked the Scissor Sisters version. You think you know someone… Thankfully, he has since recanted.
1
I completely agree, but then I'm that age
Actually, everyone I watched Live 8 with thought the Floyd triumphed too. There's just something resonant about the emotions they put over. And without wanting to simply repeat everything I said about this on my blog, Roger Waters was quite obviously having the time of his life. Wonderful, in the strict sense of the word.-----
The secret world of spouses. The truths that bubble up to the surface of a long marriage like some sort of jurrasiac gas in a tarpit, to everyones dismay! My wife waited twenty years and a cassette supported long night drive to reveal that she never "really did care for" Credence Clearwater Revival. This from the woman who as a seventeen year old first intoduced me to Black Sabbath! This revelation made a mockery of my memories of road soundtracks from stockholm to new delhi and san francisco to new york. It caused me to brood on what OTHER much loved musical groups and tastes did she secretely despise.
What did this say about our marriage? Luckily therapy and prozac did save our marriage, but the sense of betrayal, lingering insecurity and fear does remain.
by john(jc.) @ 07/07/2005 5:08 am • Permalink •
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Pink Floyd - beating The Who?? I beg to differ.
I just wish they'd done 'See Emily Play', I would've screamed the roof off!
by Phil @ 08/07/2005 5:07 pm • Permalink •
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i agree! pink floyd are the greatest band in history.......scissor sisters need to be taken somewhere and disposed of! there are so many people who know nothing about music who think scissor sisters were the originators of comfortably numb....the nerve. they definately stole the show......i think they were on par with the who but seeing them all together again was just special. Im hoping that they see sense and start touring together again. i liked the playlist that they had for live8 but would have loved to see them play echoes or one of these days or set the controls for the heart of the sun...id have hit the ceiling with joy. as for roger waters.....i think that when they play live without him they just arent the same and the albums they have made without him (although still superb) lack that special conceptual feeling that waters brings to the band. if they dont make an album together again and give me the chance to see pure genius live then il probably cry. mike
by mike @ 11/07/2005 8:07 pm • Permalink •
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Well I didn't see any of Live 8 but I'll throw this into the ring..
The Scissor Sisters cover is, in it's own way, pretty good. But as with most cover versions, if you stand it next to the original, especially THAT track then it's obviously going to pale into insignificance. But then you are comparing one of the best known and loved rock bands in the world (ever!) and a camp pop band - chalk and cheese ain't it.
by Gordon @ 19/07/2005 9:07 am • Permalink •
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SCISSOR SISTERS ARE FREAKEN MORONS IF THEY EVER REDO ANOTHER PINK FLOYD SONG I WILL HUNT THEM DOWN AND BURY THEM IN THE GROUND!!!
by PINK FLOYD ROCKS @ 23/10/2005 3:10 am • Permalink •
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No need to shout, However, I have been a rabid Pink Floyd Fan since I was introduced to them at the age of 14. At Live 8 They definently stole th show and totally rocked the entireity of Hyde Park With their mind blowing Rock! Just one complaint, though, was Breathe really necessary? I mean, one Dark side song is definently enough for me, not saying that Dark Side is a bad album, but it has been inflated so much that it obscures their other albums like Wish you were here, and Animals. Money did go with the theme of Live 8, however, and Comfortably Numb and Wish you Were Here were excellent. In response to the See Emily Play remark, first of all they probably wanted to preserve Syd's memory, so they didn't play any of his songs, and See Emily Play does not convey their style very well, in my opinion, it is too Beatles-esque. I cannot believe that they still rock after all these years, I guess some things never change!
by Daniel @ 28/10/2005 1:10 am • Permalink •
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I was a Pink Floyd doubter before Live 8, obviously I had heard Dar Side, but even people who don't know they have heard it, actually have. But Floyd were absolutely awesome at Live 8. So much so that I'm now a few weeks away from seeing both The Aussie Pink Floyd, and Dave Gilmour live, and have devoured every DG era Floyd album I can get my hands on.
I will however run to the defense of the Scissor Sisters, being in a band I know how hard it is, to take a classic song, and impose some of your own character on it, and Scissor Sisters have done that with Comfortably Numb, also they make no attempt to pass the song of as their own, which in turn, makes the kids ask the question "Who are Pink Floyd ????" which is no bad thing at all.
by Spadge @ 15/01/2006 8:02 pm • Permalink •
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Is there ayone out ther? I need the names of the tracks played by Pink Floyd at Live 8 as there was one that really blew me away (sort of a romantic ballad) and I can't remember the title . Look forward to a reply.
by steven spear @ 20/02/2006 7:02 pm • Permalink •
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The Floyd played Breathe, Money, Wish You Were Here, and Comfortably Numb. You're probably looking for Wish You Were Here - a gorgeous, poignant ballad.
by Kev @ 20/02/2006 9:03 pm • Permalink •
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D. bowie joined members of pink floyd on stage to perform 2 songs monday night! see the video, pictures and review at http://www.outsidethewall.net
by pink floyd @ 30/05/2006 9:06 pm • Permalink •
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