It's based upon the notion that it is valueless and that the people who make the music should not get paid. Those people under these new rules would never get paid because the idea of all of this: It's all there for everybody to stream all the time. Music is just a means to the end for them, so that they don't have the passion for Billie Holiday or Sam Cooke or any of the other people that I might choose and who I really care about listening to. It's the advertisers who are actually driving the ship. It is only around in our lives because it's used to sell soap powder and Volkswagens. On how the value of music has been diminished by corporate interests and streaming services: It's an expansive, sometimes thrilling, sometimes exhausting conversation you can hear with the link above, or read edited highlights and listen to the songs Waters chose below. presidential race, the conflict between Israel and Palestine, the state of the music industry, the futility of war, Guantanamo, civil rights and the Black Lives Matter movement, prison reform and how Waters, remarkably, remains hopeful and optimistic in the face of all the despair and suffering he sees plaguing the world. That leads to a discussion of corruption and greed in politics and more knotty issues than we could reasonably keep track of: The U.S. Mention the music of Billie Holiday (who was addicted to heroin) and Waters launches into an assault on what he calls draconian drug laws that vilify addicts instead of treating them. His genius has been evident all through.We do talk with him about his upcoming own solo work, including his upcoming tour called "Us And Them." But at the heart of everything, this creative force behind some of the 20th century's most iconic music is politics, money, greed and ultimately hope. Fans have always got into arguments about whether he or Gilmour is better, but the fact is that all four members of the band made their own special contributions.Īfter Floyd left, Waters got into solo work and tours, releasing albums like The Pros And Cons of Hitch-Hiking, Radio K.A.O.S., Amused To Death and Is This The Life We Really Want? He also worked on an opera, Ca Ira, and adapted classical composer Igor Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale. Though Floyd has had more commercially popular songs like ‘Time’, ‘Money’, ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’, ‘Another Brick In The Wall Part 2’ and ‘Comfortably Numb’, the songs listed above sum up the Waters style. ‘Paranoid Eyes’, which talks about alcoholism, only has Waters among the Floyd members, with Michael Kamen on piano, Andy Brown on organ and Ray Cooper on percussion.
It’s an anti-war concept album, written in memory of Waters’ father, who died during World War II, besides being a critical statement on Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s policies. The Final Cut was Waters’ last album with Floyd and the only one not to feature Richard Wright. This list is in chronological order, sticking to one song per album.ġ) “Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun” – A Saucerful Of Secrets (1968) Musically, his style blended with that of Gilmour’s songwriting inputs and the musical strengths of all members, using various effects, an assortment of keyboards and backup vocals. To be sure, this isn’t a collection of Pink Floyd’s greatest hits but a showcase of the distinct songwriting style of Waters.Īs a lyricist, he often used dark subjects like war, the grim political situation, broken relationships, depression and lunacy. To mark Waters’ 78th birthday this week, we present ten songs he wrote and composed here, which we believe are his best. While all band members chipped in with songwriting, Waters wrote many of them exclusively. He divided the role of the lead vocalist with David Gilmour with keyboardist Richard Wright appearing on some songs. He came into creative prominence following Syd Barrett’s departure because of mental issues. Waters’ primary role with Floyd in the early years was essentially that of a bassist. However, following creative differences with the other band members, he resigned from the band in 1985. Besides being the band’s primary lyricist and songwriter, he provided the thematic ideas for the classic albums like The Dark Side Of The Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall, besides The Final Cut. Roger Waters played a seminal role in charting the artistic direction of Pink Floyd from the time co-founder Syd Barrett quit the band in 1968 through eleven albums up to The Final Cut in 1983.