Music of the Moment: Pink Floyd - “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”
I know it doesn’t take much insight to find sadness in a piece like “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” but I find myself moved by it tonight.
I haven’t listened to this song or this album in well over a year and can’t explain what drew me to it tonight, but I’m listening to it now and the sorrow of it all is overwhelming. Perhaps what is moving me is the heart and emotion that lies beneath the quiet bombast, indulgence, and studio wizardry.
By now everyone knows the story behind “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” and “Wish You Were Here.” They’re musical eulogies of Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett, written 30 years before his body joined his deteriorated mind. That in itself is incredibly sad and the sadness can be felt by listeners even without knowledge of the literal inspiration.
None of this is a reflection on my current mental state. I didn’t sit down with the intention of finding the saddest song i could find- “Crazy Diamond” is sad but I have sadder in my collection. The song popped into my head and this is what came spilling out. Life is full of surprises.
Filed under: Tags: Music of the Moment, Pink Floyd
