10 Most Underrated Pink Floyd Songs

4. Not Now John (1983)

In general, The Final Cut – which, let’s be honest, could also be considered The Wall: Part II – is an underappreciated collection; it’s also frequently seen as a Roger Waters solo album on which he was nice enough to involve Mason and Gilmour (but not Wright). As such, its behind-the-scenes controversies tend to overshadow its standout moments.

Case in point: Now Now John, an exceptionally catchy and dynamic hard rock duet between Gilmour and Waters that was the record’s first single. Centered around Waters’ criticism of Margaret Thatcher, the Falklands War, and overarching political immorality, it brusquely blunt, if not entirely PC, wordplay and vocals fascinatingly contrast in-your-face rage (Gilmour) with isolated regret (Waters).

Its myriad decorations –industrial timbres, a fiery guitar solo, Waters’ hallmark howls, backing chants from sisters Doreen and Irene Chanter, etc. – make it more immersive, too, capturing much of what made The Wall itself such a classic.

Contributor
Contributor

Hey there! Outside of WhatCulture, I'm a former editor at PopMatters and a contributor to Kerrang!, Consequence, PROG, Metal Injection, Loudwire, and more. I've written books about Jethro Tull, Opeth, and Dream Theater and I run a creative arts journal called The Bookends Review. Oh, and I live in Philadelphia and teach academic/creative writing courses at a few colleges/universities.