Such an abstract concept, so incredibly communicated successfully. If I asked you to communicate those stages, you might be able to to, but it would be clumsy. This is sublime
Clare Torry's vocals are to represent the 5 stages of grief mourning: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance. You can definitely hear the changes from stage to stage. Amber picked up on that. Great job!!
Amber nailed it perfectly. She's fighting death in the beginning. Then towards the end of the track.. now knowing that death is inevitable, she accepts and embraces it,
@Michael McDonald what about the beginning makes you think it is a spousal death? The man talking about not being frightened of dying is old. Also, losing a parent is a universal thing, losing a spouse is not.
@Michael McDonald I've watched/read/listened to many PF interviews and docs Never, ever heard that this is the grief of a widow. What is your source? A comment from a random online? They were wrong.
This comment is so true! This song and Pink Floyd takes the listener on a journey that no other music can do. Eyes closed is perfectly natural! Just turn the camera on and let it roll. When you react to PF, we fans understand what you are experiencing, no commentary is necessary. So don’t worry about it. For us, we are enjoying a piece of music we have been enjoying for fifty years but also sharing it with you. Your reactions remind us of how each of us felt when we first heard Great Gig In The Sky… for some it was the day the album was released, for others it would take years to discover it. Even now people are hearing it for the first time. We all remember when it was we first heard it and watching others react to is is like enjoying that feeling all over again!!
I believe that Amber is a psychedelic hippy child without being someone who ingests psychedelics... I love how much she vibes with Pink Floyd and Janice...
Dark Side of the Moon is one of man kinds greatest achievements, there are not enough words to describe how timeless its themes of greed, chaos in a modern world, birth, death, time and madness are. Dark Side speaks to the soul and takes you into another dimension. Its as if you have totally forgotten about everything else in life during those beautiful moments experiencing a Pink Floyd album. Really enjoyed your reaction as I always do and please continue on the Pink Floyd journey. PS, Brain Damage, Eclipse should be your next Floyd reaction.
I’ve describe them on here before but you really did it justice. So glad I was able to see them live at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY many years ago. A moment in life I’ll never forget!
Wow. Amber, you're the first reactor I've ever seen that interpreted the meaning correctly on the first attempt without knowing the full context. Well done.
You need to listen to the entire Album to truly appreciate it. The song Time blends into Great Gig in the Sky. Time is about LIFE as you age. Great Gig in the Sky is about the realization of descending into death. The shock, disbelief. and rage felt as you look back over your life, Thatswhy the more intense Vocals in the first half. Then the Vocals go into the sadness and regrets and finally Acceptance as the dying person gives into the inevitable and fades away into the Great Gig in the Sky. I'm a total Floyd Fan, have been since the first time I heard them.
Exactly, the song is better when you listen to the album.. the flow.. my goodness. IMO, following this song with Money totally kills that flow.. I hate Money for that reason. Then again, maybe Money’s placement was meant to do that? Money destroys the soul.
I've always been confused about why so many in my world (not everywhere is what we have here) feel bad about their lives. We have it wonderful. I wouldn't trade my life for anything. I know I have much more than what I don't have. This has been an amazing trip. To believe otherwise would be foolish.
@@johntomasik1555 Just curious,how old are you ? I loved my life until my govt. decided to send me to Viet Nam where I was introduced to hell's NO ONE should ever see. Brought home a companion,HEROIN. I still have never loved my life since.Not trying to be a dick,just saying things you have no control over can jump up & bite you in the ass! FUBAR
My mom was a piano player she passed away in 2012, and I miss her with every fiber of my being 😢thank you very much for this it involves some sort of peace to my soul
my husband fought cancer WAY to much and he died in my arms, last words before he left this world, is I love you. less than a month before the 6th anniversary (august 20th) of his death coming up. This made me cry just a little.
If I could send you an email hug...I would. I'm sure by now, that you realize you can never lose someone you love..Instead of standing before you, they're now around you, over you, and inside you. They are in memories, objects, even in songs.and that never changes.
I am so impressed that Amber totally got it. The vocal goes from the pain of losing someone dear to acceptance. Again, I am so impressed. As so many have said.... while it's easy to pick and choose songs from Dark Side of the Moon, this is a concept album that should be listened to from start to end. It is the story of our lives.
Okay, you guys... I am actually bawling right now... Reason being, my sister passed away yesterday after a long, agonizing fight with diabetes and renal failure and your take on one of my favorite bands most beautiful songs, really hit home. And I know my big sister, who was also a huge Pink Floyd fan, is singing her great gig in the sky now. I needed to see this video and hear (not just hear... Listening to) your incredibly comforting take on that song. Thank you and peace to both you wonderful people.
The story goes that with minimal direction from the band, Clare Torry walked up to the microphone and nailed this vocal in one take.. Unrehearsed. One of the most amazing vocals ever recorded.
What I remember from a long-ago interview with Clare (that I may possibly be mis-remembering), she was struggling with what to sing with zero direction from the band, David Gilmour eventually told her to sing like her voice was a lead instrument - and this is the result. She left thinking they would never use her track until she saw the album in a store.
I saw a "Making of the Dark Side" documentary and I think I remember that she came out of the studio after that take and apologized for her performance, thinking she had done a poor job and the band was just floored. Beautiful song.
@@stevedarrow7474 My memory of it is that David Gilmour asked her to do some more takes, but she was pretty adamant that what she already did was her best and further takes would be pointless. Not an apology at all, but who knows... my memory isn't perfect.
@@jonnylumberjack6223 oh Jonny I wish so much you didn't tell me this!!! I'll grieve my brother when listening to this, I was comforted thinking he accepted what was happening to him!!
@@carolinagallegos3926 Even the grief perspective ends in an acceptance, by the grieving one. Hope that comes across when you hear this beautiful piece.
After almost 50 Years of this album, I STILL refer to it as my ‘2 am album’. It’s dark, quiet and everyone is gone or asleep. Sitting in my chair, headphones on and just totally transported to the quiet part of my soul.
Amber, you were so spot on with your interpretation. I had heard about the meaning of this song long before my mother died of cancer, but it wasn't until that had happened I fully comprehended it. Out of this world!
Amber, you are EXACTLY correct. Clare wasn't in the band (obviously), the production tech at the studio (Alan Parsons) knew her, and the Floyd were looking for a female singer, so they called her up. She did this in 3 takes. 1st take she was singing "baby, baby", they stopped it, and told her "no, no words". Then, she used her voice as an instrument, and after the 1st take, she apologized "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me." Meanwhile, the guys are sitting in the control room mouth agape. "This is WONDERFUL!". And there you have it. It's a song about death and dying.
I've listened to it in its entirety hundreds of times and it never gets old. If anything, it just gets better. Us And Them remains one of the best songs ever recorded.
The album is about life. Starting with Breathe in the Air as in taking your first breath all the way to dying the Great gig in the sky with a person reluctantly passing hence the screaming then mellowing as death is accepted. The singer was Clare Torry and she allegedly did it in 2 takes.
Sound like it when you hear it in the album. However the next song is money, then us and them. I feel like this song represents the death of sweet innocence then jumping into the realization of how cold the world can be.
@@honorsilverthorne7227 There is a RU-vid video of Claire Torry on stage with Pink Floyd doing a swan song she was probably in her 60's and she still sounded amazing, it took three women to sing what she can do on her own.
What is even more amazing is the fact that Claire's entire performance was ad libbed. She listened to the instrumental track, then ad libbed a vocal track with words. The band asked her to do it again, with out words. She recorded the vocal track in one take, no other rehearsal, which is the recording that ended up on the album. The band asked her to do another take, but she stopped in the middle, and told the band she thought previous take was what they needed.
I remember buying Dark Side of The Moon when it was released in 1973 as a 14 year old here in England. Even then I knew that this was timeless music and people would be listening to it 50, 100 years into the future and beyond. Here we are nearly 50 years on from its release and a new generation discovers it and responds in the same way I did. Looks like I was right.😊
I was 16 Phil. In the army think most people I knew at time had a copy still play it often now 48 years later . Greatest band to grace us all with their talent
I saw them perform a version live in San Francisco in ‘72, before they released the LP. The live version didn’t have all the polished effects or Clare Torry, but it was a big change from previous songs, tours, albums. This is my favorite album and this song, without words, touches the soul. Keep reacting to them! Go back to Atom Heart Mother, Meddle, Ummagumma, and hear the “old” Pink Floyd before DSOTM. 🙏
@@marymargaretmoore9034 I was 20. Having every Pink Floyd album from the very first, none of them tire from listening. All are favourite albums, the most favourite is the one I am listening to at the time. Nightwish are the same for me although in a totally different way and genre.
One of the most incredibly emotional, moving things ever recorded. 45 years after first hearing this it still blows my mind. If you listen to the very end as the piano fades out, you'll hear that they sped the tape up slightly for a second to catch your attention.
They hired the singer, gave her minimal direct instruction. And so she just expressed her feelings, letting her voice become more of an instrument because of the lack of words. Incredible performance, brilliant concept.
She says in an interview that when she asked what they wanted they only had a vague idea. She did a run through, and then another, they asked her to do one more and she said it won’t be genuine if I do another, so they took from the two she did and created the song.
4:17 You don't need to apologize for closing your eyes while listening to Pink Floyd. That is the way you are supposed to consume this music. You Are Already Doing The Right Thing. Keep trippin'...
The beauty and tragedy, the contentment, the sense of holiness, wrenching loss, and even sexuality that are distilled into this track cannot be overstated.
When she left the studio that day she mentioned that she didn't even think they would use it on the album ❤️ and of course they would! But she couldn't read their reaction 😊I'm so happy they reacted to this one, my favorite Pink song ♥️♥️
I believe Clare was a session singer who was paid about £30 for her work, and didn't even think about it again until the album was released a few months later. This is a song that still gives me chills almost 50 years later.
Amber! You get an A+. That is exactly what this song represents! Not close, or generally, but precisely what this song was meant to be. There's no need for you to second guess or doubt yourself, especially when it comes to Pink Floyd, Now, if you had listened to the entire album from start to finish, like so many recommend, you would understand this song immediately as well as why it is placed where it is! Remember what came before this song? "Time." and before that? It will all make sense, once you listen to the entire album or at least listen to the Songs in their natural order. Sorry Jay, didn't mean to discount you, it's just that Amber appreciates Pink Floyd a bit differently than you do, that's all. It's not that one is better than the other, just different. Peace to you both and... Keep Smiling...
When world’s society is as vain as it is now days, we should hold to deep and meaningful things that keeps us real. Pink Floyd does that always.... “Shine on your crazy diamond” parts 1 - 5 will take you in 13 minutes to so many beautiful and significant places. Keep on this journey, we enjoy to witness it. 😊
One year later, this reaction still totally captures the listening experience for this song! Thanks for all of the great blasts from the past, Rob Squad!
"Time" is about life passing you by when you do not even realize it, "Breathe Reprise" is the song of death, the iron bell tolls across the field, and "Great Gig In The Sky" is the person fighting having died, then the acceptence of what has happened, then the embracing of it. You two so need to listen to the whole album at one time.....It will make so much more sense...Stay safe & stay strong you two.... 💙💙
If ever there was a song to provoke goosebumps, this would be it. Clare Torry went FULL SEND on this song when she recorded it for them. Very few people have been able to match the same level of raw emotion as the singing in this song. I don't care who you are, or where you are from...this song is an example of pure greatness, full-stop.
I bought Dark Side of the Moon the day it was released in 1973 (I was 14 yrs old). Lots of people say it's overplayed, but I never get tired of hearing it, it's so relevant even today and sounds as fresh as ever. I've been collecting records for a long time, and in my opinion it is still the greatest album of all time. Nothing comes close.
I also bought Dark Side of the Moon the day it came out. I already had Atom Heart Mother, Ummagumma, and Meddle. I was maybe 17. And I agree it sounds as fresh as ever today. That said, since Atom Heart Mother was my first Floyd album, it will always be my personal favorite album. But The Great Gig in the Sky is my favorite “song” by them.
This song follows “Time” on the album, which are my fav back to backs on any album. They hit harder the older you get. Amber spot on... as usual. Ive also said it before but never apologize for closing your eyes & jamming to Floyd. It’s human nature 😋
the singer Clare Torry, was just a session singer (backing singer) they hired for the day. told her to feel the music, and in 2 takes, did this. the good lady wife is correct generally . its about 3 phases of passing. the 3 backing singers on the Pulse tour did a great job of this too. should check it out.
Just recently Clare , quite rightly, sued the record company for writing royalties. She got the session fee of around £30 way back when it was recorded. She was told her vocal was actually created by her and not written for her to perform. So she was entitled to creative writing royalties. She won an undisclosed sum, rumoured to be quite substantial and possibly a couple of million pounds . Live they use the three backing singers who all have astonishing voices. One of them was Sam Brown and she is quite amazing. Sadly she has lost her singing voice due to an illness but check her version of Stay With Me Baby which is stunning with its power and bluesy soul. Female Friday would be good
This was one of the greatest concerts I’ve ever seen. I was in high school and they played at Cobo Arena and hearing it live or just knock your socks off one of the best experience of my young life back then
Wow. I've seen this song reacted to many times, but I've never heard anyone capture the meaning as perfectly as Amber did. The song "Time" melts into this track, where they told the vocalist to voice the terror, anger, and acceptance of death. When she was through, she apologized because she didn't think she did it well at all, but the guys laughed and told her it was exactly what they were looking for. And Amber proved it. If you love Pink Floyd, you must do the entire "Dark Side of the Moon" album with headphones. It's an experience all people should have once in their lives.
Clare Torry was the solo singer in this song. Not is it one of the best vocals ever recorded and she did it in 2 takes. She absolutely killed it. Pink Floyd is my all time favorite band. No album sounds the same. All albums are absolute masterpieces(that is AFTER Syd left). Roger Waters is the brains, Eric Wright was the heart, Nick Mason was the feeling and David Gilmore was the soul.
Isn't it strange how Pink Floyd even without any words in a song can paint an entire image in your head that you know nothing about a few seconds before the song started. And you're not sure about anything but you feel fulfilled. There will never be another group that does what they do, they are simply magical.
I listened to this on the way home from seeing my mom take her last breath. It was extremely emotional. I think that was the intent of pink Floyd. It was exactly what the dying process must have felt like for my mother. In a strange way it brought me comfort peace and beauty to that process.
Pink Floyd gave Miss Torry the music that they were going to play and told her to come up with something but no lyrics were aloud, when Miss Torry finish and looked up EVERY ONE in the studio had tears in their eyes, an amazing performance.
The interpretations are spot on, but hearing it for the first time, I envy you, I heard it when I was 15 and lost count 30 years ago how many times I have played my vinyl. It's still one of my favourite 5 albums.
I frequently remind myself how lucky I was to be a teenager in the 70s (was 14 in 1970). By the time DSOTM dropped, I had already been to see a Floyd concert in NYC. I was fortunate that MSG was only a 40 minute train ride into the city from across the Hudson (Union County, NJ). On a shining blue sky day the Twin Towers were visible off to the east from my bedroom window (13 miles as the crow flies). My little blue collar town didn't offer much in the way of entertainment BUT a bus or train ride away was an incredible world. Before I reached the age of 13, I was already sneaking off to the City to see what the real world had to offer. Now at sixty-five, I've attending more than 200 live shows, including Pink Floyd 9x, Zep 5x, Yes 7x Genesis 7x ELP 10x Allman Bros 4x, etc. etc... I saved every ticket stub when that was a thing to do. Unfortunately, electronic tickets would replace "hard tickets" which meant anyone could print as many copies of a ticket as they wanted (damn those barcodes, lol) making collecting the ticket stub useless. Now, back to Floyd. In the spring of 1973 I attended the DSOTM performance at MSG. 12th row orchestra. I probably don't need to tell you that it was life changing. I had already been all the way in with Floyd and came on board 1967. All my friends were a few years older and help to steer my musical tastes. I was knee deep in Prog Rock by 73. By then I had grown my hair long and joined the counter culture (we might just be overdue for a comeback. Peace and Love, anyone?? Oh, never mind. I guess we were too naive to know who was really in charge. I digress. Their light shows weren't quite as fancy as those you've seen from Pulse 1994 but still revolutionary for the time. We needed another 20 years for technology to design those shows. Did I mention that I've been lucky enough to see them perform 9 times? Oh, I did. Sorry. In any case, I was at Giants Stadium in the summer of 1994 to witness what we already recognize as one of the greatest tours of all time. Still, it was not the most special Floyd performance that I was extremely fortunate to attend. In early 1980, I was VERY lucky to snag seats to the Wall concert at Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, NY. Wow! Just Wow! There weren't many shows for that tour due to the excessive cost of the tour. They didn't make a whole lot of money on that end of things but as you know, The Wall was kind of successful overall, lol. So, Hippie Chick, you keep doing what you're doing. You both have chosen a very rewarding path of enlightenment. The arts bring balance to our lives by reminding us that there is more. Lots more. Much luck with your even more important project. Can't wait to see him in his Floydian onesie. ❤️ BTW, now in retirement, the hair has returned to the shoulders and won't be coming in contact with anything sharp in the foreseeable future (ever).
GGITS is about the 5 stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance) before inevitable death. That all these are expressed without uttering a single word is masterful. Claire Torry's performance is absolutely brilliant and, while often imitated, has never been equaled.
Pink Floyd echoes the passion of the mind. It takes you to places that no other form of music can. It does not follow a beaten path, but instead, it takes you on a journey to places that you did not know existed.
This song spoke to me after the sudden death of my husband. Pain, anger, acceptance and mourning. And I was surprised to find out this masterpiece was performed by a middle aged British woman.
Clare Torry was originally paid only £30 for her work on “Dark Side of the Moon” in 1973. She did win a lawsuit in 2004 for an undisclosed amount related to her contribution to the album.
The song represents the 3 stages of dealing with death/loss: Disbelief Confrontation Acceptance You can clearly hear in her (Clare Torry) voice the expression.
I am so elated that you picked this song. Being instrumental, it gets the least exposure. Not to mention there are so many massive hits on Dark Side of the Moon, it is woefully underappreciated. I like to see it get its due. Claire Torry was with the tour when I saw them live way, way, way back. It was after the release of this album and they did the thing beginning to end. When this was song was over, the crowd screamed for a second bow, like an encore. And she came back on accept the tribute. It also helped that it was the song that ends side one, so there was a natural gap in the music anyway. Now to date myself, there were no such things as CDs yet, so album sides were a fact of life, as were the ticket prices of $8.00!! God I am so old.....
Female background singers have often been used by Pink Floyd. Clare Torry's solo on this song is without doubt, the most iconic vocal solo ever done in a song on a Pink Floyd album.... and oh, by the way... Dark Side of the Moon is one of the most successful albums in terms of sales and positive critical review in rock music history!
You are spot on, Clare Torry was only given the direction to express anguish. Legend has it she did it in one take. Somehow I was fortunate enough to see it done live, had goosebumps for a week.
Nailed it team! Super perceptive analysis. Many thanks. And your right…I think…for me it charts the course from a real struggle to survive, to a state of release, a sort of sublime acceptance of inevitable death. Vocals go from pain to wonder and knowing, then finally release and soothing. Piano and percussion is simple, subtle and quite beautiful, sort of understated to let the vocals tell the story. The melody is epic. The whole effect is transcendental, spiritual, the wailing bit almost church like. I listen to this song and I’m struck dumb every time…seriously…can’t talk for like 5 minutes. It speaks to the soul in a deeply powerful way. Great reaction. 👍👍🙏🏻
