The Album
The Wall, released in 1979 under Columbia Records,has been called a rock opera for its conceptual manner and poetic style. According to the Recording Association of America (RIAA), Pink Floyd’s album holds the third position in all time record sales, going 23 times platinum. The album was largely packed with theme; war protesting, relationships with the audience, emotional isolation and childhood dilemma. The two-disc set was massive in its release, both in number and musical breakthrough. Acting as a quasi-autobiography to band writer and musician Roger Waters, The Wall was created after an emotional roller coaster Waters had been going through for several years, which comes through on every track. The album follows its main character, Pink Floyd, through his life and, at one point, asking, “Daddy, what’d you leave behind for me? All in all it was just a brick in the wall,” from the track, “Another Brick In The Wall, Pt. 1.” (Hiatt)
Of course, in those lines, the wall acts as a metaphor for self-quarantine from the real world. His father, mother and teachers from childhood all played a personal role in building up the wall around Floyd. But it’s not just the story and imagery that has kept fans so attached. Like most Floyd artwork, The Wall is open to a million mouths of interpretation. The album inspired Country band Luthor Wright and the Wrongs, a band from Kingston, Ontario, to produce an “old-time country and bluegrass” version of The Wall (Toronto). They put an interesting farmer twist on the rock album that “has to build a strawbale wall around his garden to keep his crops organic” (Saturday Night).Musical inspiration has been as common as artistic inspiration. The web is dotted with created images based off songs from the album, artwork from the movie, or the album cover. Different media fronts have sprouted like leaves from The Wall, creating an emporium of new artistic wealth. We saw “Pink Floyd The Wall” become a cult classic film and two tours, one still in progress, from the original album. This kind of progressive and inventive media expands the possibility of further digital expansion.
Of course, in those lines, the wall acts as a metaphor for self-quarantine from the real world. His father, mother and teachers from childhood all played a personal role in building up the wall around Floyd. But it’s not just the story and imagery that has kept fans so attached. Like most Floyd artwork, The Wall is open to a million mouths of interpretation. The album inspired Country band Luthor Wright and the Wrongs, a band from Kingston, Ontario, to produce an “old-time country and bluegrass” version of The Wall (Toronto). They put an interesting farmer twist on the rock album that “has to build a strawbale wall around his garden to keep his crops organic” (Saturday Night).Musical inspiration has been as common as artistic inspiration. The web is dotted with created images based off songs from the album, artwork from the movie, or the album cover. Different media fronts have sprouted like leaves from The Wall, creating an emporium of new artistic wealth. We saw “Pink Floyd The Wall” become a cult classic film and two tours, one still in progress, from the original album. This kind of progressive and inventive media expands the possibility of further digital expansion.
Pink Floyd Albums
Sources/Links
Hiatt, Brian. "Back To The Wall." Rolling Stone, 2010. <http://proquest.umi.com.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/pqdweb?index=19&did=2149620691&>
Parker, Alan. "Pink Floyd The Wall." Goldcrest Films International, 1982.
Pink Floyd. "The Wall." Electric & Musical Industries Ltd.1979
Saturday Night. "Pink Floyd Gets A Country Cousin [The Wall]." Toronto. 2001. <http://proquest.umi.com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/pqdweb?index=9&did=372332071&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1287961639&clientId=3552#indexing>
Parker, Alan. "Pink Floyd The Wall." Goldcrest Films International, 1982.
Pink Floyd. "The Wall." Electric & Musical Industries Ltd.1979
Saturday Night. "Pink Floyd Gets A Country Cousin [The Wall]." Toronto. 2001. <http://proquest.umi.com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/pqdweb?index=9&did=372332071&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1287961639&clientId=3552#indexing>
