20 Landmark Songs Of The 70s

18. Pink Floyd €“ Comfortably Numb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkJNyQfAprY Coming back to the theme of deconstruction, Pink Floyd were a band who literally reinvented themselves. Their peers here were David Bowie and Fleetwood Mac and whilst they both were rather more chameleonic in what they did, Pink Floyd mutated from a space rock band led by Syd Barrett, effectively the punks of psychedelia, to a prog rock stadium band led by two ego-maniacs, Roger Waters and Dave Gilmour, who still retained the wild lunacy and far-outness of psychedelia, but wrapped it into a palatable, mature version for middle aged, middle class punters with deep lined pockets. With 'The Dark Side of the Moon' they invented the phrase €˜coffee table music€™ - to be debated, analysed and then forgotten about whilst the next course is served over dinner. They then took it to its logical conclusion and released €˜The Wall€™ at the end of 1979, from which €˜Comfortably Numb€™ would form the cornerstone of the concept film they made in the 80's, but that€™s a story for another day. €˜Comfortably Numb€™ was a meditation on sorrow and detachment, based not only on Roger Waters€™ fathers experiences of World War II but also the withdrawal from society of their original singer Syd Barrett, who was irreparably damaged by the excesses of the 60's. It also spoke about the detachment that musicians of the time experienced from the masses, with the wealth that came their way and the lack of communion with the record buying, concert going public. This lead to a level of artistic self-indulgence not seen before (who puts two guitar solos into a song?) but created one of the most original songs of the decade. It€™s not easy listening by any means, but is one of the best songs about being alone you€™ll ever hear. Just don€™t play it in a first date.