For the month of November, I’ll be selecting songs in conjunction with the music Twitter challenge: #WelcomeToTheOccupation.
The Wall was my introduction to Pink Floyd. While I never gravitated toward the band’s earlier prog-driven catalog – save Dark Side Of The Moon and a handful of anthems, of course – The Wall played a pivotal role for me as a music fan. It’s when I truly recognized the power and breadth of albums, not one-off singles and tracks. As a concept album, The Wall is one of the most complete efforts of its era and seems to live under the shadow of Dark Side. It’s a shame because even a mainstream hit like “Another Brick In The Wall, Pt. 2” is a fantastic song in spite of its accessible sound.
The second track in the “Another Brick” series, this is the one that rails against abuse in the school system. It’s yet another brick in Pink’s wall. And musically, it pulls out all the stops to place the brick just right – Gilmour’s guitar solo, just the right bit of disco, the samples (“If you don’t eat your meat, how can you have any pudding”) and the kicker: the epic children’s chorus. “Another Brick In The Wall, Pt. 2” is that rare combination of chart topper, social commentary platform and music melting pot.
“We don't need no education. We don't need no thought control. No dark sarcasm in the classroom. Teacher, leave them kids alone.”