I remember summer of 1979 walking in into a local record store In Mountain View California I asked the guy at the counter Hey I'm looking for something really cool what's your recommendation He walks directly To the "P's" in the album section and pulls out Pink Floyd Animals and proceeds to tell me buy this along with Dark side of the moon and Wish you were here, go home and lock yourself in your room your life will never be the same!....He was right!
You can't understand the meaning of these songs unless you listen to them in the context of the whole album. Animals the album is based on George Orwell's Animal Farm. Each song represents aspects of the story and the animals in it. Dogs is my favorite. The guitar solo is one of David Gilmour's best.
I've been listening to this album since it first came out in the late 70s (aging myself!) No matter how many times I hear the guitar solo in Dogs, my eyes still get teary when I hear it because the guitar is so beautiful. Also, there is so much tragedy in the lyrics, even though the tragedy is deserved.
Some parents read to their children when they are still in the womb, but those who play Pink Floyd for them will give birth to the coolest kid in town.👍
As a long time Floyd fan I have got to say that I am super impressed how Amber quickly catches on to the meaningfulness of their songs. And that’s just after a first listen. It took me years and countless listens to grasp the meaning and she zeroes on it immediately. Yes. Pigs are the greedy bastards feeding off the misery of others. Very good Amber. Bravo!
Sorry, but I'm not that impressed! Nobody is that intuitive hearing a song for the first time & amazing how they manage to know when a solo is coming up and pause right on cue? Same with every single "first time" reaction they do. All of these reaction channels are pretty much faking.
The entire album "Animals" is based on the George Orwell novel "Animal Farm" which is in part, an allegory for the divisions in certain societies. Pigs are at the top while they control the mid-level or enforcers of the social order the Dogs who are the taskmasters of the majority working class represented by sheep. At least that's what I get from the record and readings made over the last 44 years. It is one of if not the darkest (and my personal favorite) albums in Pink Floyd's discography. At the time of the writing and subsequent release of the album, there was a movement to censor records in the U.K. led by a person named Mary Whitehouse. She is referenced in this song. Our "White House" works as an allegory of the "pigs" too. Have a great day. Be safe...be well...
"Dogs" is the best song off this album (and one of the band's best songs period). It's 17 minutes long, but you gotta listen to it. "Animals" is their heaviest album.
It took someone’s reaction for me to understand the three POV in Dogs, and how the same evil alpha character in the first part was the poor manipulated schmuck by the last part. “It’s a big club, and you’re not in it.”
Headphones on, eyes closed, head bobbing to the sounds, mind absorbing every sound, thinking of nothing else, and trying to remember to breathe. This is how you listen to Pink Floyd. Good job, you both got it!
One of the things I love most about Pink Floyd is that they're never in a hurry to get somewhere. Their music takes the time it takes to do the job, and they never rush the process. So the listener's mind is always free to wander and float away on their perfectly crafted sorcery. Nobody else is as patient with their music as Floyd, and I love that!
It's the use of space. The engineer on DSOM Alan Parsons put it well. The band were never afraid of silence. It's that gift, creating space for the music to work!
I hate to echo the sentiments of everybody else. However, Pink Floyd was the epitome of Album Rock. You should really listen to each album in their entirety, because where most bands/artists record different songs on an album, Pink Floyd's albums were each their own performances. Love your channel. Love Pink Floyd. I turned 54 years old this year, and it warms my heart to see younger people like yourselves educating yourselves and the rest of your viewers about different forms of music, other than what you normally listen too.
I am 66 and hear what you are saying, the younger generations are starting to catch onto how good the Rock Era was. Some have gotten a couple tears. I'm convinced good Rock Music will not fade anytime soon and Pink Floyd will be the official music of future Space Travel.
Yeah, but that whole album does it for me. It's an angry political album. Vicious honesty, compared with the previous two albums which I thought were more philosophically political. All three masterpieces of course. Best band ever along with the beatles.
From 1973 to 1977, Pink Floyd released Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and Animal's. Maybe the most prolific output of any artist ever. Every album is a masterpiece.
The Whitehouse they are talking about is Mary Whitehouse. She was a conservative campaigner that was trying to keep "objectionable" (sex, swearing, ect.)material off of tv. This is just a classic album from beginning to end. I hope it ends up in heavy rotation at your house like it was in mine growing up. Also, it has my all-time favorite bass line!
Yes, she was the Tipper Gore of the '70s, she complained about a Doctor Who episode that ended with Tom Baker being underwater, probably drowning, to be continued next week. She made a lot of noise. Context adds a lot.
Thanks for the info. Always wondered but never looked it up. Love Floyd for the past 40+ years. Once drove 900 miles to see a show in Cleveland and drive home the next day. HELL YEAH IT WAS WORTH IT!!! It would most likely kill me today so I'm glad I scratched that off the bucket list when I was young. 😂😂🤘🏻🤘🏻
Mary Whitehouse for sure, but knowing Roger as we do, I would´nt be surprised that the White House was´nt rattle´ing around in his head, using Mary as a way of stating his opinion about how he felt about the then situation in the world, and still relevant today.
Animals was loosely based on George Orwell’s Animal Farm and designed to reflect Britain’s political landscape of the ‘70s. Sheep are the mindless heard while the pigs are those in power and the dogs do their bidding. (Abridged version)
It was a vicious indictment of communism. Or at least the (inevitable) corruption of socialism ideals by the basic, greedy, power-seeking nature of man.
My grin splits my face every time you guys have that light bulb go off and you completely get Pink Floyd. Your reactions are priceless. Y'all got the unity message in their lyrics pretty quickly, and it's a pleasure watching people whose natural instinct is unity at the street level against the 1%, something Pink Floyd was very into on this album and Wish You Were Here, mixed in with the 'in your own head' themes.
Animals is my favorite Pink Floyd album. Nobody else was doing anything like this, it's a masterpiece, never far from my playlist. It should be enjoyed as an album, but if you want to just do the songs Dogs should be next.
Favorite Pink Floyd album is SUCH a fun topic of discussion. Mine probably has to be Wish You Were Here, but Animals is definitely top three. Would love to see them react to the song Wish You Were Here.
I’ve often wondered thru the years if Floyd would have made it as big If Syd hadn’t fried his brain. Gilmore’s style of play and writings took them in a different direction for sure. Hmmmm
Oh such a deep, deep………deep hole with Pink Floyd. As you know of course Just looking at the two of you reacting with such obvious pleasure is wonderful. I’m a relative latecomer to Floyd and every new song is a creative joy
Pink Floyd are truly in a class of their own, to the degree where it is difficult to compare their music to what other artists are producing. I understand why you struggle with describing their sounds. In one word, I would describe it as timeless!
The wailing pig solo was a David Gilmour talk box guitar solo. Behind that there were a fleet of other Gilmours riffing and jamming this way and that over a shuffling and sliding David Gilmour fretless bass line. This is a brilliant Waters song performed by an orchestra of David Gilmours. Of course Nick and Rick do their thing too. Top shelf Pink Floyd
Some people think that "Animals" was Pink Floyd's answer to punk bands who claimed to hate prog rock and big 70s bands at the time... not at all. First, the album was recorded in late 1976 (around the time punk rock was emerging), secondly the sounds and lyrics of this album are angrier and more politically charged than any punk records. I wish Dave's wicked solo would never end (and these bass lines he plays too, freaking awesome!). Brilliant reaction, Amber and Jordan (I bet you enjoyed the cowbell 🤪), I couldn't agree more 👏👏
Thank you! I have said this about Animals before that is was more punk in attitude and lyrics than the bands that claimed to be punk at the time. So happy to see someone else agree! :)
Amber!!!! You found my favorite Pink Floyd Album!!!! Please take time and listen to it all the way through- you'll love it! & yes...as many others on this thread..."DOGS" is my absolute fave!
Its so amazing to see you guys falling in love with this legendary band. The whole animals album is a masterpiece. Love when David Gilmour goes god mode at the end, his solo is so aggressive.
The album "Animals" is the 2nd most bleak, depressing, relentlessly harrowing experience you'll have with Pink Floyd, behind "The Wall" Having said that, it's a truly amazing album.
I love the solo to this. Normally Gilmour's solos feel very sad and melancholic. Maybe its just me this is one of the rare ones where I can feel this anger coming out of it. Its so cool
Dogs is the song that Amber really needs to hear! It is extraordinary. I'm 56 and I love y'all's channel-I watch everyday since I found your channel about five months ago!
It does this old heart good to see another generation of Floydians come to life and immerse themselves in this unique sound. I was lucky enough to grow up with them. I liked all the rock from that age, but none better than Pink Floyd. Rock on Amber and Jay.
Sheep is my favourite from this album (which follows Pigs). An analogy of the meek and down-trodden rising against the system. It has inspired moments with cross-fades between vocals and synths. Dogs is about corporate climbers and the dog eat dog, cut-throat world of big business.
Animals is definitely one of those albums you have to listen to from beginning to end in one sitting. Headphones and eyes closed is the best way to experience it.
Here's the thing about Pink Floyd, any of their songs can be enjoyed individually, but their songs are meant to be heard in their album state, as an entirety. I haven't listened to "Animals" in probably 15 years, but I think I will do that this evening. All of their albums are incredible in their own unique way...
The composition, the talent, the execution, and depth of their music makes them the #1 band all time. As you suggest. You don't want it to end. That's why you have to listen to them in the context of the entire album. I was fortunate to see them live 4 times between 1973/1979. Dark Side to the Wall. I've see everybody you can think of in 70s Rock. If you are looking to be consumed by the music, it's hard to argue against Floyd. Now if you're looking for endless jam ? May I recommend the Almond Brothers. ✌
As much as you both enjoy Pink Floyd, especially Amber, the 2 of you are really doing yourself a disservice. Pink Floyd produced albums to be heard from beginning to end. They are considered concept albums. Listening to Pink Floyd tracks out of order is like watching a 6 part mini-series out of order. Their order of songs on an album is of full intent to maximize your visceral experience. Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, Meddle, and The Wall were all produced in the same manner. To dangle a carrot, reflect on how one song makes you feel like, how did you say, anti- gravity? Imagine how you would feel listening to Dark Side of the Moon from start to finish. It will leave you thinking about it for weeks.
Hear, hear! THIS is the prob with streaming services, especially YT... EveryTHING is monetized, the service blocks uploads that don't even break up SONGS with interruptions for the gods' sakes! One result is that the younger gens absolutely won't fully be exposed to ART, nor to its social critiques (which is great for the corporations' bottom lines!).
@@charliejonas4609 add Final Cut that many Floyd fans do not appreciate as much as I do... it is a great album even if it is more a Roger Waters first solo project where Gilmore and Mason added their parts without being singwriters
The very end of The Wall album - you hear a voice say "Isn't this where...." and it cuts off. The very start of the album is a voice mid sentence saying "...where we came in" ; Pink Floyd are the masters of "The Concept Album".
I was always told to understand the meaning is to listen to their albums in the order of the tracks. They are known for getting a message across. Love Pink Floyd. 😀🎶🎸
Wish you were here is an amazing song that my oldest son would play around the campfire. When he went away for 5 years, that was the song we’d play when we were missing him.
Wish You Were Here has been my favorite song since I was an early teen and probably will always be. I sort of hope that changes at some point though. I'd love to be in a different enough "space" or find a new song captures the one I abide in even better.
My brother went to see them when they were touring for this album. It was an outdoor venue and he said that during this song a giant inflatable pig rose up from behind the stage.
I remember listening to this entire album over and over again with my headphones on when I was in high school. It NEVER got old! Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin are the two best rock bands of all time, in my opinion! Check out Dogs next!!!
Well, happy birthday Michael! And congratulations on an excellent album suggestion. Long time ago I inherited a bunch of Floyd albums and this is the one that I (idiot) somehow kinda overlooked for way too long... but since I really started listening to it, it's become my favorite fast.
Amber and Jordan can you please react to “Wish You Were Here” and “Hey You” Oh and definitely “Young Lust” I think you’d like the switch in sound, still very Pink Floyd though.
The whole theme of this album is brilliant. The different animals represent different sects of people that make up a society. Amber was spot on about the meaning of pigs at the end. I think you guys should check out some live performances of Pink Floyd, Pulse is a great concert.
Good to see you younger people appreciate the talents we were lucky enough to grow up watching and listening. Concert tickets were affordable and great bands came around almost every month. Great times those days. Glad your finding out about real music and your loving it.
I’ve been playing this LP since it was released but never knew the meaning. I love your Channel and learn so much from our Family. Thanks for all the great input, guys, and thanks to you both for reacting to these great songs.
Great reaction! This is from the concept album Animals which was partially inspired by the Geirge Orwell book Animal Farm. In both cases the animals represent different classes of society. The book is a commentary on Stalinism while the album is a commentary on capitalism. The songs do tie in to each other so to understand the idea best its recommended to listen to the album in order as is with a lot of Floyd albums. Loved this! Stay safe!
Pink Floyd is a in the moment group. Not thinking about doing laundry or what do I need for groceries while listening, you are in the now. It's a gift.
Despite what others have said, you've caught much of the meaning quite well. Pigs are the wealthy elite and political class that controls and divides the lower classes. But you must do "Dogs" next which comes before this. You must always remember with Pink Floyd when you listen to one song you are taking it out of context of the larger concept of the album. Dogs next, then Sheep which is the last full song on the album.
Pink Floyd is my all time fav band, but it's been yrs since I focused on them. Thanks for taking along on your journey of discovery for my journey of rememberence. xoxox
I saw this concert in Philadelphia back in 1977! The lead singer in this song is Roger Waters. Most of the other Floyd songs you have reacted to has been David Gilmour. Gilmour's voice is more melodic. Heil talk box on the guitar solo made the pig noises. Dogs, on this same album, has one of the greatest guitar solos along with Comfortably Numb.
Jay and Amber Please check out Peter Frampton Comes Alive From 1976 , He WILL BLOW YOUR MIND , ,, You will KICK your own asses latter if you dont react Soon , He uses the Voice tube And Cowbell galore ,, REMEMBER I told you on 8 9 2021 To check Him Out ,,, I report you 2 REACT ,, Take care
Animals is one of the greatest concepts records ever and a blistering critique of capitalism based on George Orwell's Animal Farm. It should be listened from start to finish to get the meaning in full.
The songs from this album, "Animals" were inspired by the book, "Animal Farm," by George Orwell. It's an allegory about these farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a utopia where the animals can be equal and free. Ultimately, the rebellion is betrayed, and the farm ends up as bad as before under the rule of corrupt, greedy pigs indistinguishable from the human farmers. The book is a must read. Generally, you read it in high school since it's a short book with some sharp social commentary. Thematically, it's similar to another song you reacted to, The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again." Remember the last line, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss." A revolution can start with good intentions but ultimately, its leaders can succumb to greed and corruption.
What Pink Floyd pulls off like no other band, is lift you with a gentle hand to an ethereal suspension, holding you there while they deliver very impactful lyrics. Just to make sure they don't lose you, they throw in bursts of absolutely amazing sounds to keep you focused on their words. That's how I see it, anyway. I have seen them four times, and I was not disappointed once, not even slightly.
@@dbrooks76 actually she was a teacher AND a conservative activist, But thanks for the lesson on long forgotten British subjects and the opinion on her morality :)