I remember hearing an interview with Roger who said that the Pigs were 1. James Callahan (Prime Minister at the time). 2. Margaret Thatcher (Leader of the Opposition) and 3. Mary Whitehouse (a campaigner for "decency" in public life - no swearing or sex on telly, etc). Animals has always been my favourite Floyd album, it's just so raw and biting. Plus, it came out at the height of Punk, when people were saying that the old bands had nothing to say about society and people's real lives. You can almost hear Roger's "hold my beer!"
Roger is notorious for revisionism. No one claimed that verses one and two were about Callaghan and Thatcher at the time (1977). At the time is was agreed that the figures in verses one and two were generalised repressive archetypes. Verse three, on the other hand was about a specific example of a repressive type, Mary Whitehouse. When Thatcher emerged 4-5 years later as something a bit like the figure in verse 2, claims started to be made in retrospect.
You are correct...James Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher and Mary Whitehouse....'Hold my beer' indeed. What was funny, is Johnny (Rotten) Lydon was and remains a big Floyd fan.
I think they actually both play the rhythm guitar parts here in the main chord progression. You can hear it's definitely double tracked in some places.
@@Goldhand28 doesn't stop it from Roger recording it twice, in seperate takes. It just feels a lot more like his guitar work. He likes that crunchy dissonant sound.
@@TheGerkuman I honestly barely know what his electric guitar work would sound like :D but yeah maybe youre right. Setting up that sound though I would imagine David was definitely involved. it is heavily EQed obviously but still sounds like Dave's drive pedal (Colorsound Powerbooster) into a Hiwatt amp. Again I am just talking about the main chord progression of the verses and choruses. The middle part rhythms with the talkbox solo are played by David I think. That swirly sound is just something only he would use. Also later on in that part there is a second guitar above it which might be Roger again. Well doens't matter who played what here really it sounds fantastic ;)
I never did like Mary Whitehouse at the time. However, recently there's been quite a bit of untold information about legislation that she help pass which protected children and vulnerable people. In retrospect, I feel I may have been a bit harsh judging her way back then?
@@pittarak1 In the context of a political album, it's not precisely about determining whether a person or politician simply goes in the good or bad column. It's about the concept of someone being piggish, about a structure of society that has pigs in it, and what the might mean. Whitehouse like almost everyone has some good and some bad. It would be lovely to imagine a bad island we could send all the completely bad people to, but in my experience are all a mix of angel and demon. That doesn't mean I don't make choices about whom to support and what to agitate for, but I don't think of people like that as "enemies" -- I just don't want them in power and when motivated I will fight hard against them and their policies. Is how I see it.
@@pittarak1 Mary Whitehouse tried to ban a wide range of art and expression. So yes she tried to ban pornography but she also tried to ban many things we would never consider banning in the 21st century. She was opposed to sex before marriage, for example.
@@pittarak1 Nah, you had it right first time. Protecting children and vulnerable adults came along with a virulent assault on homosexuality, feminism, sexual and artistic expression. So any positive effects she had are a bit like preventing air disasters by banning all flight. The attempts to reassess and rehabilitate her are less than convincing, she remains preposterously censorious.
@@pittarak1 Even a sociopath serial killer can be a respected pillar of their own community. Some of the most evil people in the world, outwardly gave to charities, were active members of their communities, were church-going god-fearing and kind to the less fortunate. It's a smokescreen for these people. The brighter the picture, the darker the negative.
The extended soundscape section is actually David Gilmour going nuts with a guitar effect pedal called a TalkBox...it basically does what the name describes - sends a microphone input mixed in with the guitar signal and various filters to make the funky sound. David is particularly good at singing along with his guitar (also evidenced cleanly in Wish you Were Here)I. The effect was also popularized by Peter Frampton around this time but for my money, this is still the coolest use of the effect to date. Close second goes to Tool.
Close second is Roger Troutman from Zapp & Roger. As a tool fan, I had to set straight and Troutman was killed by his own bro in a car in 1999, *right* after California Love.
@@dreadpirate88 He also plays bass on One of these days. Waters is not comfortable playing funky stuff like on Pigs, or all these delays on One of these days. That's why live those songs never sounded like the record.
For me it's the best album they have done, its just an amazing experience, I have always said that they don't write songs but they write stories in song form.... The best band in the world ever and no one will ever surpass them.... Simple....!!!!
@@patrickkparrker413 Clearly not that big..... Mary Whitehouse was the stool pigeon that enabled the initiation of much greater powers of intrusion and surveillance over everything we see from the UK media that is not "the proscribed view" from the BBC. It is notable that away from the public gaze, within UK Government / political spheres, there is no such regard for standards of decency in any view of their daily life: it is now much like Versailles in the time of Louis 14th. Chaos and debauchery.
I saw this album tour on my 16th birthday in 1977 in Phoenix, AZ alone. Nobody could go that night so I just bought one ticket. They played this entire album and had the flying pig and laser beams. They took a break, then played all the songs on Wish You Were Here; behind them ran animation that would become The Wall. It was un-****ing believable. I had a chunk of some black, tacky stuff my friend gave me to smoke, so I can honestly say that I saw Pink Floyd in their prime, the way they were meant to be seen. I was overwhelmed, and this will always be my favorite Pink Floyd record. So my birthday's coming up in a few days.
I love my daily dose of pink Floyd. I don't believe you can go a day without hearing some pink floyd on your play list or on radio. Yes they do have great messages in there songs if you listen.
I just want to add: The fact that this song, about the people who have everything in excess, is so simple and bare bones is genius. Animals is my all time favorite Floyd album.
@@youtubemetdehalfjes8945 He really didn't play it on the last tour, there is a secondary bass player in the shadows if you ever watch any video of the tour.
Gilmour was actually soloing during that middle section, but he's subtly using a talk box to "sing-a-long" with the pigs. The cover by the Australian Pink Floyd Show features guitarist Steve Mac performing the talk box solo, but more to the forefront so it can be heard better.
Under-rated out solo on this track - I think it's up there with some of his best. I remember reading the term 'stinging' used about the guitar work on this album and I think certainly fits this solo.
Doug, I understand why you might say there isn't a "solo" in the middle section break down. But as I've listened to this song over the years, (I bought this album as a teen in 1977) I've always viewed the pig sounds AS the solo. I believe those sounds are played on guitar, in fact, using a talk box. Although the pig effects have very sparse phrasing and integrate completely with the other soundscape elements, I hear a consistent direction to the phrases and a clear resolution to tonic at the end of this section. So to me, at least, it actually does sound like a solo.
The BEST Floyd album. Hands down. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve listened to this one. It all started back in the 80’s when I was a teen with headphones on, laying on the floor and just being taken away. I know every note, nuance, lyrics to a tee!!!!
That was Gilmour on the piggy sounding voice box AND bass on this one, while you were complaining why aren't they using Gilmour. LOL. Then of course the extraordinary solo at the end. Turns out he was utilized quite well on this one.
@@neptune9 yeah he really talked right through most of the good parts. But I ain't mad at him. At least there was actual information being dispensed, though I understood very little of it not being a musician.
This was the first time Floyd used a voice box. Gilmore did all the pig sounds using that device. Same effect Peter Frampton used in "Do you feel like I do ?" On his live album
@ 8:16 yes, David's there... & you were just served the "appetizer"...hope your chair has a seat belt! Hold on! I've always held this as my favorite studio album. It was Floyd's "response" to the prevailing music at the time: punk rock. The album [musically] very "raw", again, masterfully "scoring the lyrics". Saw the tour in '77 in Houston @ Rice Stadium. they played the entire "Animals" album while it poured down rain. Then, during the break, as night fell & the rain had stopped, they played the entire "Wish You Were Here" album, encored with "money" & "Us & Them". I'm grateful for the experience.
David Gilmour is very present in what is supposed to be a solo... he is the one making the pig noises using a "talk box". He will also use it in Keep Talking
@@NGC6144 The bass is clearly Gilmour's and the rythm guitar could be Waters, but there are a lot of texture guitars I'm pretty sure have Gilmour sound and feel.
@@NGC6144 Waters didn't play every single guitar part. During the middle section there are at least five guitars going on and you can tell that DG is playing many of them--lots of effects and bends/vibrato that are Gilmour staples.
The moment you grabbed the bong and ghosted the hit made me laugh so hard cause i totally didn‘t expect that 😂😂 But it definetly help to hear music on another level and analyze it 👌🏼
I stumbled upon Doug doing an interview with Annie Haslam of Renaissance, a band I have listened to and loved for years. When I saw he had done analyses of Pink Floyd songs, well, being my ATF band, I had to listen. It's interesting to get an impression from someone who really understands music. Roger Waters will be doing what I suspect will be his last tour, This is not a Drill. If you have never seen a Pink Floyd or Roger Waters show, I strongly encourage you to go. The music is incomparable for sure. The accompanying videos and graphics are unlike any other performer does. I use the word 'show' because it is so much more than just a concert. And yes, they were the pioneers of visual effects in their earlier performances. Not to mention, Roger has never been hesitant to be critical of greedy self serving politicians. Thanks so much for your analysis of this great tune!
Doug, absolutely LOVE your videos! I want to say that up front because I hate to be that guy but I also want to point out a mild critique and/or point of fact. David Gilmour is actually “soloing” during the emin-cmaj vamp in the middle section. He’s using a talk box to recreate the sound of squealing pigs. Personally, I think it’s a fantastic reimagining of a guitar solo. He could’ve absolutely shredded in emin but chose to play in a way that supports the imagery of the song. One of my favorite moments on the album and it makes the epic solo at the end that much more special. Please keep up the amazing work! I dig it.
This whole album in an absolute masterpiece. Hard for me to choose one album as their best, but this might be my favorite. Glad to be able to listen with you!
Love to hear your reaction on Rogers lyrics " amused to death". Roger wrote the music and lyrics after watching the Gulf War on TV. Roger said he doesn't watch TV anymore. By far his BEST lyrics of all time . Take your pick "bravery of being out of range". "Perfect sense part 1 & 2", " It's a Miracle", " title song " amused to death". Roger being so political is reason the band an him split. Did like the direction, just listen to the words in Pink Floyds " sorrow"
I'm with you on the quality of Amused To Death. A truly great album. The songs you list are probably the best, but the one that really touches me is Three Wishes. I didn't realise what the lady was talking about for a while, but when I got it, it broke my heart.
Definitely his best solo album, the spiritual successor to The Final Cut. Pros and Cons is also excellent, Radio KAOS was a bit disappointing in comparison. Still a good album but nowhere near as good as those other two.
@@jamesderekeikeland9048 sorrow is a song written by David and wife Poly. Listen the the words and it talks about how angry Roger was and couldn't stop living in the past. cAN'T BLAME HIM CAUSE HIS DAD'S FATHER WAS KILL IN ww! AND rOGERS dA
Amused To Death needs to be an extended lounge, entire album thing. It's one of my all time favourite albums with absolutely amazing lyrics and astounding musicians. Usually brings me to tears on Yellow Rose, followed by a smile when the piano lid comes down.... can't speak highly enough of the entire album.
Awesome album. Ever thought of doing Alan Parsons Fall of the House of Usher? You mentioned a storm rolling in, made me think of that song. Have a great night!
Pigs (Three Different Ones) is the climax of the album, a violent charge against the top of the pyramid, the institutions, the powerful represented by loathsome boars. The caricature of the Soviet leaders in The Animal Farm turns into an allegory of capitalism which devours the world by gorging itself on its profits (1st pig), political power (2nd pig) and the power of controlling thought (3rd pig). Unusual fact about this song is that it's David Gilmour who plays bass.
Way way back in the day this album, numerous times, took me to internal places I can't begin to explain. Suffice it to say this album changed my life at a time when I knew nothing about music and it opened up a world of discovery that has never left.
Pink Floyd just released their first song in 7 years, and it's backing a Ukrainian artist in protest of the Russian invasion. And Roger's not even in the band anymore! They've always been happy to speak out.
@@theirishhammer9451 im guessing this is because of the whole “Ukraine has a neo-nazi division in their military”, the song was for humanitarian relief, not to fund arms. Even so, Ukraine isnt a Nazi country, its a company that happens to have some nazis in it, and there are more in America than you think.
I had the pleasure of seeing the Animals tour in Cleveland Stadium in 77. One of the high points of my life. Saw the Momentary Lapse of Reason tour in Pittsburgh in 88 I'd have to say that show was even better.
About the middle interlude; I love the guitars bouncing off each other here, like different voices, getting more and more intense. The solo at the end, one of Davids best. His work on this album is something else.
I think it’d behoove you to give “Picture That” from Waters’ last solo album a listen. To me, it’s the most “Floydian” solo track he’s ever released, yet still full of his venom for the politicians of the world.
Yup, every time I think Roger’s done, he releases another new LP that blows me away. The last album and tour were awesome, full of piss and vinegar and I had seen him other times, over the years. Never fails to stun me, always makes you think.
Musically it's a really good song. Conceptually... meh. Back in the 70s Roger was more on point and consistent with his political message. Lately, he's been a bit clueless and contradicting. He spent his entire career singing against war and when he gets an anti-war president in the White House he goes all out against him. You can think whatever you want about that particular president, but it is a fact that he has not started any wars and has brokered several historical peace agreements in the Middle East. His message was not on point.
the live versions of this song are also amazing, with Roger imitating pigs and extended guitar and keyboard solos. The live version in Oakland Alameda Stadium especially have some amazing stuff, and imo the best Gilmour solo
I really enjoyed this one.My Father is a huge Pink Floyd fan and I took him to Roger Waters' Us And Them show here in Dunedin New Zealand for his 70th birthday.It was an amazing show. The part in this song where you spoke of the lack of a solo was when the huge floating pig hovered over and around the crowd so at the concert there was alot visually going on. Many many images of a previous resident of the Whitehouse and nothing about Mary. Deep Purple also had a song lambasting her. Old hag indeed.
Be sure to check out the excellent Pigs cover from last years Animals Reimagined. It features James LaBrie, Al Di Meola, Joe Bouchard, Patrick Moraz and Billy Cobham. Remains true to the original's production as well highly recommend it.
FINALLY! Thanks Dough, I've been asking for AGES about this! You re the best 👌 Think about a 5/6 years old kid being exposed to this music in the 70s, well here I am. And indeed the message of this song will never die, PIGS have us all and DOGS are watching after us (just calling out another amazing tune of this album), the never-ending truth. I wonder when will we wake up and get rid of them? The middle Instrumental part of the song, with those pigs.... man, I could listen to that foreva, so simple yet so fkn amazing. Much love to you bro!
With Pink Floyd it is just as much about the air in between the notes as it is the actual notes. They give the music a place to breeth and dwell. Ultimately we remember it forever.
The picture on the album is Battarsea Power Station where a huge inflatable pig was suspended between the chimneys to advertise their concert. One day the pig slipped its moorings and caused air traffic control problems for a while.
Thank you Doug for helping me learn a little bit of theory.. the way you see music and talk about it has evolved my writing by leaps and bounds! Much love, sir! 🤘
Hey Doug~~~ Another great player for jamming over Em progressions is Neil Young, especially with his perennial collaborators Crazy Horse. His album "Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere"(1971), with its Em-A7 jam on "Down By the River," exerted a mighty influence on PF's masterwork "Dark Side of the Moon," particularly "Breathe" and "Any Colour You Like."
Good stuff! Could you please react to “Careful with that axe, Eugene” by Pink Floyd. There’s multiple versions of this song, but I recommend listening to the Pompeii version. Thank you Doug
Lol, when you’re so disappointed there isn’t a traditional mid section Gilmour solo because Gilmour has worked out how to make his guitar squeal like a pig. He serves the song not his ego. One of the reasons I think he’s so highly regarded.
Doug I really like when you talk about Pink Floyd songs, Its my favorite band so glad you talked about his one love the song and bass at the end its superb
Interesting about the approaching storm. I've always felt that most of Animals, and the first few parts of Shine On You Crazy Diamond fit perfectly with images of a storm moving in. Probably because those are all "atmospheric" tracks. Perfect experience when seen/heard live on a dank drizzly evening (Anaheim, 7 May 1977).
Well, to me, as a rock fan and amateur musician, this is the song that changed everything. I was listening to a lot of metal and learning those songs on guitar. I was already a fan of Pink Floyd with limited knowledge of their work, specially The Wall stuff. That changed when my guitar teacher lent me his Animals album and told me to listen to some different styles of rock. When I heard Pigs, something changed inside my mind. I still love metal and hard rock, but I'm a prog head ever since.
Dimash Dimash Dimash SOS Please sir. When a famous Russian Composer comes out of retirement to write and compose songs with and for you its special. He has a7+ octave range and is a beautiful humble guy.
Got to love that this was not written for the radio or The Corporate Entity! Love long songs, The Lads Rule! 9:00 , Think I'll join you Doug! 😎 Well done as always!
After Waters left the band, he said in an interview that he (at that time) thought of David Gilmour when singing the first verse. The Mexico City performance shows that he has a brand new target.
@@silentqueue2344 Yes!! It's an incredible ending. As the instruments fade out, you can almost feel the blades of grass. I love when everything drops down a gear halfway through with the bold, eerie synth and organ. I just don't know why the track isn't celebrated.
I think it is Margret Thatcher in that second verse, but it's the last one who was Mary Whitehouse, that always gets confused for "The Whitehouse." Though it fits all too well. Great reaction and breakdown as usual.
Yup, V3 is explicitly Mary Whitehouse, the self-appointed chair of the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association, who wanted to censor just about everything. V2 is not explicit, but few doubt that it was Margaret Thatcher. V1 is generally considered to be a composite of the moneyed classes / corporate greed / contemporary capitalism (cf George Harrison's Piggies on 'The White Album'). I think that's probably the case, though from the moment I first heard it (and I bought it on release) I suspected the "keep on digging" line of being a loose allusion to Winston Churchill's "Dig for Victory".
Margret Thatcher was actually leader of the opposition at the time - she wasn't elected PM until two years after Animals was released. So it would be interesting if they were referring to her in any way.
Nice comments at the end there .. couldn't agree more. Roger is for peace regardless of what, or who's, side you are on .. folks struggle with that ..sadly.
The Floyd began as this: using effects as music, and also music.. for to affect. No other band seems to have sustained this path and achieved such lofty might. the whole cowbell lounge dream impression in Pigs is there to stick us into a pub hearing this, and then at the end, in your car, your Rolls, Bentley, Aston M... on the AM radio.
Dogs and Sheep were written in 1974 with different titles ("You Gotta Be Crazy" and "Ranting and Drooling", IIRC). Pigs was written in 1977 to complete the concept, and the Pigs on the Wing parts were written to soften all the electric sounds.
Pink Floyd is as much performance art as it is music. You don't just listen to it, you experiance it. One of the reasons Pink Floyd is in my type 2 favorite bands.
My favorite PF album. It wasn’t always, but it grew on me over time.
Same😎
Same here it wasnt always
The fourth for me after Dark side, Meedle and Wish you were here.......
Same
Animals is a very underrated album. Everybody talks about Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and The Wall.
I remember hearing an interview with Roger who said that the Pigs were 1. James Callahan (Prime Minister at the time). 2. Margaret Thatcher (Leader of the Opposition) and 3. Mary Whitehouse (a campaigner for "decency" in public life - no swearing or sex on telly, etc). Animals has always been my favourite Floyd album, it's just so raw and biting. Plus, it came out at the height of Punk, when people were saying that the old bands had nothing to say about society and people's real lives. You can almost hear Roger's "hold my beer!"
Roger is notorious for revisionism. No one claimed that verses one and two were about Callaghan and Thatcher at the time (1977). At the time is was agreed that the figures in verses one and two were generalised repressive archetypes. Verse three, on the other hand was about a specific example of a repressive type, Mary Whitehouse. When Thatcher emerged 4-5 years later as something a bit like the figure in verse 2, claims started to be made in retrospect.
You are correct...James Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher and Mary Whitehouse....'Hold my beer' indeed. What was funny, is Johnny (Rotten) Lydon was and remains a big Floyd fan.
Pigs is Pink Floyd’s homage to punk.
Also, fun fact. Gilmour did the bass work for this song and Waters did the rhythm guitar parts
I think they actually both play the rhythm guitar parts here in the main chord progression. You can hear it's definitely double tracked in some places.
And the bass line is absolutely amazing. Both the intro solo and the accompanyment during the verses and chorus.
@@Goldhand28 doesn't stop it from Roger recording it twice, in seperate takes. It just feels a lot more like his guitar work. He likes that crunchy dissonant sound.
@@TheGerkuman I honestly barely know what his electric guitar work would sound like :D but yeah maybe youre right. Setting up that sound though I would imagine David was definitely involved. it is heavily EQed obviously but still sounds like Dave's drive pedal (Colorsound Powerbooster) into a Hiwatt amp.
Again I am just talking about the main chord progression of the verses and choruses. The middle part rhythms with the talkbox solo are played by David I think. That swirly sound is just something only he would use. Also later on in that part there is a second guitar above it which might be Roger again. Well doens't matter who played what here really it sounds fantastic ;)
Waters played all the rhythm parts, Gilmour played lead, talk box and fretless bass.
Mary Whitehouse said at the time that she used to like listening to Pink Floyd, but after this album she didn't any more. Job well done, then, Roger.
I never did like Mary Whitehouse at the time. However, recently there's been quite a bit of untold information about legislation that she help pass which protected children and vulnerable people. In retrospect, I feel I may have been a bit harsh judging her way back then?
@@pittarak1 In the context of a political album, it's not precisely about determining whether a person or politician simply goes in the good or bad column. It's about the concept of someone being piggish, about a structure of society that has pigs in it, and what the might mean. Whitehouse like almost everyone has some good and some bad. It would be lovely to imagine a bad island we could send all the completely bad people to, but in my experience are all a mix of angel and demon.
That doesn't mean I don't make choices about whom to support and what to agitate for, but I don't think of people like that as "enemies" -- I just don't want them in power and when motivated I will fight hard against them and their policies. Is how I see it.
@@pittarak1 Mary Whitehouse tried to ban a wide range of art and expression. So yes she tried to ban pornography but she also tried to ban many things we would never consider banning in the 21st century. She was opposed to sex before marriage, for example.
@@pittarak1 Nah, you had it right first time. Protecting children and vulnerable adults came along with a virulent assault on homosexuality, feminism, sexual and artistic expression. So any positive effects she had are a bit like preventing air disasters by banning all flight. The attempts to reassess and rehabilitate her are less than convincing, she remains preposterously censorious.
@@pittarak1 Even a sociopath serial killer can be a respected pillar of their own community. Some of the most evil people in the world, outwardly gave to charities, were active members of their communities, were church-going god-fearing and kind to the less fortunate. It's a smokescreen for these people. The brighter the picture, the darker the negative.
45 years and.........the world is the same old shit!
Thanks Pink Floyd and Doug !
Awesome track
Awesome album
Why would it ever change? The great unwashed masses are every bit as unsound in their thinking as those they despise.
@@ettio worse
It’s now 2024, and already looking lined up to be worse than 2023…
The extended soundscape section is actually David Gilmour going nuts with a guitar effect pedal called a TalkBox...it basically does what the name describes - sends a microphone input mixed in with the guitar signal and various filters to make the funky sound. David is particularly good at singing along with his guitar (also evidenced cleanly in Wish you Were Here)I. The effect was also popularized by Peter Frampton around this time but for my money, this is still the coolest use of the effect to date. Close second goes to Tool.
In this instance I call the pedal “the snarling pig”
Don’t forget about the Scorpions’ The Zoo!
Joe Walsh's Rocky Mtn Way pre dated all of the above by years....and there were others as well. etc etc etc
Sweet Emotion yo.
Close second is Roger Troutman from Zapp & Roger.
As a tool fan, I had to set straight and Troutman was killed by his own bro in a car in 1999, *right* after California Love.
Quite possibly my favorite Pink Floyd album. Such atmospheric yet accessible music coupled with such pointed or even caustic lyrics.
A 70's classic!
Caustic ehh it burns 4 sure peace2theglobe
One of my desert island releases.
David Gilmour, normally the guitarist for Pink Floyd, also played all of the fretless bass on this song.
If there’s ever a really melodic bass line in PF, you can be pretty sure that Gilmour played it.
@@dreadpirate88 He also plays bass on One of these days. Waters is not comfortable playing funky stuff like on Pigs, or all these delays on One of these days. That's why live those songs never sounded like the record.
@@ThibautKurt23 ~ "One Of These Days" has two basslines: Gilmour from one channel, Waters from the other.
Also in the wall David plays bass sometimes
@@AlobytesOgniddove the fretless bass on Hey You is played by David
For me it's the best album they have done, its just an amazing experience, I have always said that they don't write songs but they write stories in song form.... The best band in the world ever and no one will ever surpass them.... Simple....!!!!
It was funny to hear Doug listening to the middle guitar solo and not recognising it was a guitar solo.
This is such a great album musically and lyrically.
Apart from the Whitehouse part , big mistake .
@@patrickkparrker413 Clearly not that big..... Mary Whitehouse was the stool pigeon that enabled the initiation of much greater powers of intrusion and surveillance over everything we see from the UK media that is not "the proscribed view" from the BBC.
It is notable that away from the public gaze, within UK Government / political spheres, there is no such regard for standards of decency in any view of their daily life: it is now much like Versailles in the time of Louis 14th.
Chaos and debauchery.
@@patrickkparrker413 Not really, it was written about someone and now that it's not relevant, it can be used for the White House which is cool
I saw this album tour on my 16th birthday in 1977 in Phoenix, AZ alone. Nobody could go that night so I just bought one ticket. They played this entire album and had the flying pig and laser beams. They took a break, then played all the songs on Wish You Were Here; behind them ran animation that would become The Wall. It was un-****ing believable. I had a chunk of some black, tacky stuff my friend gave me to smoke, so I can honestly say that I saw Pink Floyd in their prime, the way they were meant to be seen. I was overwhelmed, and this will always be my favorite Pink Floyd record. So my birthday's coming up in a few days.
I love my daily dose of pink Floyd. I don't believe you can go a day without hearing some pink floyd on your play list or on radio. Yes they do have great messages in there songs if you listen.
Can’t miss a Pink Floyd reaction.
Fortunately, there is no therapy to cure this addiction.
@@thepragmatic6383You could consider Pink Floyd’s music as a therapy for social disease.
I just want to add: The fact that this song, about the people who have everything in excess, is so simple and bare bones is genius. Animals is my all time favorite Floyd album.
2:52 Yup, and that's because it's David Gilmour who's playing the bass in this track. Few people know this fun fact.
@@youtubemetdehalfjes8945 He really didn't play it on the last tour, there is a secondary bass player in the shadows if you ever watch any video of the tour.
Gilmour was actually soloing during that middle section, but he's subtly using a talk box to "sing-a-long" with the pigs. The cover by the Australian Pink Floyd Show features guitarist Steve Mac performing the talk box solo, but more to the forefront so it can be heard better.
Under-rated out solo on this track - I think it's up there with some of his best. I remember reading the term 'stinging' used about the guitar work on this album and I think certainly fits this solo.
I've heard someone describe this outro as Godzilla destroying Tokyo, sounds about right.
I love the bass over the outro. It goes into double time.
It saved this track only fault it was too short .
I could take another 30 minutes of that outro solo. My favorite Gilmour solo ever. Ever.
Doug, I understand why you might say there isn't a "solo" in the middle section break down. But as I've listened to this song over the years, (I bought this album as a teen in 1977) I've always viewed the pig sounds AS the solo. I believe those sounds are played on guitar, in fact, using a talk box. Although the pig effects have very sparse phrasing and integrate completely with the other soundscape elements, I hear a consistent direction to the phrases and a clear resolution to tonic at the end of this section. So to me, at least, it actually does sound like a solo.
Correct on all counts.
Yes. The talk box in collaboration with the guitar IS the solo. So inventive.
great point!
It’s a solo when you’ve dropped some acid lol.
David’s angry, fuck-you, steamrolling guitar solo at the end of the monotony knocks you over like a Mac Truck. As he meant it to. Genius.
The BEST Floyd album. Hands down. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve listened to this one. It all started back in the 80’s when I was a teen with headphones on, laying on the floor and just being taken away.
I know every note, nuance, lyrics to a tee!!!!
fantastic song. whole album is a masterpiece
ANIMALS: a masterpiece. Great songs. It has everything a great album should have. it's timeless
That was Gilmour on the piggy sounding voice box AND bass on this one, while you were complaining why aren't they using Gilmour. LOL. Then of course the extraordinary solo at the end. Turns out he was utilized quite well on this one.
I thought that was a funny comment as well, since he was busy yapping through the entire first solo.
@@neptune9 yeah he really talked right through most of the good parts. But I ain't mad at him. At least there was actual information being dispensed, though I understood very little of it not being a musician.
Lol yes, Gilmour is soloing half of the song, doing some of his best work ever. That song is insane, it's Shine on you Crazy Diamond's evil twin.
@@Alex-nk8bw 🤭
Man OK that kind of makes sense, I can play this entire song *except* for the bass octave progression at the end.
This was the first time Floyd used a voice box. Gilmore did all the pig sounds using that device. Same effect Peter Frampton used in "Do you feel like I do ?" On his live album
Joe Walsh as well...
@ 8:16 yes, David's there... & you were just served the "appetizer"...hope your chair has a seat belt! Hold on! I've always held this as my favorite studio album. It was Floyd's "response" to the prevailing music at the time: punk rock. The album [musically] very "raw", again, masterfully "scoring the lyrics". Saw the tour in '77 in Houston @ Rice Stadium. they played the entire "Animals" album while it poured down rain. Then, during the break, as night fell & the rain had stopped, they played the entire "Wish You Were Here" album, encored with "money" & "Us & Them". I'm grateful for the experience.
David Gilmour is very present in what is supposed to be a solo... he is the one making the pig noises using a "talk box". He will also use it in Keep Talking
This song has, in my opinion, the best guitars ever recorded... I can hear, i think, 5 or 6 different guitars at the same time. GIlmour is AWESOME.
David: In the top five best guitar players of all time, without a doubt.
It's actually Waters playing rhythm guitar on this track and Sheep while Gilmour played bass respectively in addition to his lead guitar.
@@NGC6144 The bass is clearly Gilmour's and the rythm guitar could be Waters, but there are a lot of texture guitars I'm pretty sure have Gilmour sound and feel.
@@NGC6144 only on the live version
@@NGC6144 Waters didn't play every single guitar part. During the middle section there are at least five guitars going on and you can tell that DG is playing many of them--lots of effects and bends/vibrato that are Gilmour staples.
By far my favorite Pink Floyd album. From the moment it was released I have loved every second of it!
The moment you grabbed the bong and ghosted the hit made me laugh so hard cause i totally didn‘t expect that 😂😂 But it definetly help to hear music on another level and analyze it 👌🏼
Still my favorite PF album. Second most political album after Final Cut.
This track could easily fit on dsotm and wywh or the wall melodically.
I stumbled upon Doug doing an interview with Annie Haslam of Renaissance, a band I have listened to and loved for years. When I saw he had done analyses of Pink Floyd songs, well, being my ATF band, I had to listen. It's interesting to get an impression from someone who really understands music. Roger Waters will be doing what I suspect will be his last tour, This is not a Drill. If you have never seen a Pink Floyd or Roger Waters show, I strongly encourage you to go. The music is incomparable for sure. The accompanying videos and graphics are unlike any other performer does. I use the word 'show' because it is so much more than just a concert. And yes, they were the pioneers of visual effects in their earlier performances. Not to mention, Roger has never been hesitant to be critical of greedy self serving politicians. Thanks so much for your analysis of this great tune!
Gilmour plays the bass on this track. One of most amazing bass tracks of all time.
And it wouldn’t be so good if Rog had done it. Gilmour is genius on a guitar, and Rog is not…
Steady on, it fits the song.
Gilmour is not a fantastic bass player and neither is Waters.
THE most underated album by Floyd. Much more appreciated generally today than I recall it was at the time of its release.
Great freaking album! From Meddle through the Wall, one of the best runs of music ever, bar none.
Animals is one of those albums that i only listen to as a complete song series. start to finish. It's that good.
Well, it's Pink Floyd, it's a concept album, and it's prog, so it should definitely only be listened to from start to finish.
Yes Sir and don't forget to turn it over for there is more btw just lit me some Moroccan reefer
Doug, absolutely LOVE your videos! I want to say that up front because I hate to be that guy but I also want to point out a mild critique and/or point of fact. David Gilmour is actually “soloing” during the emin-cmaj vamp in the middle section. He’s using a talk box to recreate the sound of squealing pigs. Personally, I think it’s a fantastic reimagining of a guitar solo. He could’ve absolutely shredded in emin but chose to play in a way that supports the imagery of the song. One of my favorite moments on the album and it makes the epic solo at the end that much more special. Please keep up the amazing work! I dig it.
This whole album in an absolute masterpiece. Hard for me to choose one album as their best, but this might be my favorite. Glad to be able to listen with you!
Love to hear your reaction on Rogers lyrics " amused to death". Roger wrote the music and lyrics after watching the Gulf War on TV. Roger said he doesn't watch TV anymore. By far his BEST lyrics of all time . Take your pick "bravery of being out of range". "Perfect sense part 1 & 2", " It's a Miracle", " title song " amused to death". Roger being so political is reason the band an him split. Did like the direction, just listen to the words in Pink Floyds " sorrow"
I'm with you on the quality of Amused To Death. A truly great album. The songs you list are probably the best, but the one that really touches me is Three Wishes. I didn't realise what the lady was talking about for a while, but when I got it, it broke my heart.
Definitely his best solo album, the spiritual successor to The Final Cut. Pros and Cons is also excellent, Radio KAOS was a bit disappointing in comparison. Still a good album but nowhere near as good as those other two.
Sorrow isnt a Waters song if im right, it is on Momentary Lapse of Reason
@@jamesderekeikeland9048 sorrow is a song written by David and wife Poly. Listen the the words and it talks about how angry Roger was and couldn't stop living in the past. cAN'T BLAME HIM CAUSE HIS DAD'S FATHER WAS KILL IN ww! AND rOGERS dA
Amused To Death needs to be an extended lounge, entire album thing. It's one of my all time favourite albums with absolutely amazing lyrics and astounding musicians. Usually brings me to tears on Yellow Rose, followed by a smile when the piano lid comes down.... can't speak highly enough of the entire album.
True, so relevant today, even more. Love this riff adventure 🥰. Tyvm for this precious gift
Awesome album. Ever thought of doing Alan Parsons Fall of the House of Usher? You mentioned a storm rolling in, made me think of that song. Have a great night!
Pigs (Three Different Ones) is the climax of the album, a violent charge against the top of the pyramid, the institutions, the powerful represented by loathsome boars. The caricature of the Soviet leaders in The Animal Farm turns into an allegory of capitalism which devours the world by gorging itself on its profits (1st pig), political power (2nd pig) and the power of controlling thought (3rd pig). Unusual fact about this song is that it's David Gilmour who plays bass.
9:50
In the 70s, they had flying puppets on (and above) the stage... among them the famous pig.
The three animals are all masterpieces
Way way back in the day this album, numerous times, took me to internal places I can't begin to explain. Suffice it to say this album changed my life at a time when I knew nothing about music and it opened up a world of discovery that has never left.
Pink Floyd just released their first song in 7 years, and it's backing a Ukrainian artist in protest of the Russian invasion. And Roger's not even in the band anymore! They've always been happy to speak out.
Pink Floyd backing the Nazis.
Lol
@@theirishhammer9451 im guessing this is because of the whole “Ukraine has a neo-nazi division in their military”, the song was for humanitarian relief, not to fund arms. Even so, Ukraine isnt a Nazi country, its a company that happens to have some nazis in it, and there are more in America than you think.
@@theirishhammer9451 Russia backing the communists
I had the pleasure of seeing the Animals tour in Cleveland Stadium in 77. One of the high points of my life. Saw the Momentary Lapse of Reason tour in Pittsburgh in 88 I'd have to say that show was even better.
Just wanted say hi Doug. Cheers and thanks for doing what you do. Cheers.
About the middle interlude; I love the guitars bouncing off each other here, like different voices, getting more and more intense. The solo at the end, one of Davids best. His work on this album is something else.
I think it’d behoove you to give “Picture That” from Waters’ last solo album a listen. To me, it’s the most “Floydian” solo track he’s ever released, yet still full of his venom for the politicians of the world.
Gets my vote. Bloody brilliant lyrics.
Yup, every time I think Roger’s done, he releases another new LP that blows me away. The last album and tour were awesome, full of piss and vinegar and I had seen him other times, over the years. Never fails to stun me, always makes you think.
I hope Doug reviews the entire Amused to Death album someday.
Musically it's a really good song. Conceptually... meh. Back in the 70s Roger was more on point and consistent with his political message. Lately, he's been a bit clueless and contradicting. He spent his entire career singing against war and when he gets an anti-war president in the White House he goes all out against him. You can think whatever you want about that particular president, but it is a fact that he has not started any wars and has brokered several historical peace agreements in the Middle East. His message was not on point.
Yep , it’s a banger 💫
the live versions of this song are also amazing, with Roger imitating pigs and extended guitar and keyboard solos. The live version in Oakland Alameda Stadium especially have some amazing stuff, and imo the best Gilmour solo
I really enjoyed this one.My Father is a huge Pink Floyd fan and I took him to Roger Waters' Us And Them show here in Dunedin New Zealand for his 70th birthday.It was an amazing show. The part in this song where you spoke of the lack of a solo was when the huge floating pig hovered over and around the crowd so at the concert there was alot visually going on. Many many images of a previous resident of the Whitehouse and nothing about Mary. Deep Purple also had a song lambasting her. Old hag indeed.
Too bad they did not show biden instead.
As usually a great analysis and well summed up. Appreciate your chanel.👍
In my opinion, this is their best album. I can't count the number of times I've listened to it.
Be sure to check out the excellent Pigs cover from last years Animals Reimagined. It features James LaBrie, Al Di Meola, Joe Bouchard, Patrick Moraz and Billy Cobham. Remains true to the original's production as well highly recommend it.
FINALLY! Thanks Dough, I've been asking for AGES about this! You re the best 👌
Think about a 5/6 years old kid being exposed to this music in the 70s, well here I am. And indeed the message of this song will never die, PIGS have us all and DOGS are watching after us (just calling out another amazing tune of this album), the never-ending truth.
I wonder when will we wake up and get rid of them?
The middle Instrumental part of the song, with those pigs.... man, I could listen to that foreva, so simple yet so fkn amazing.
Much love to you bro!
There is a solo in that middle part. He's using a voice box effect on the guitar and it's down more in the mix. Very understated.
With Pink Floyd it is just as much about the air in between the notes as it is the actual notes. They give the music a place to breeth and dwell. Ultimately we remember it forever.
the minimalism is just what gets me with this song. Pigs is one of the masterpieces of spacerock. Glad there are no solo's.
The picture on the album is Battarsea Power Station where a huge inflatable pig was suspended between the chimneys to advertise their concert. One day the pig slipped its moorings and caused air traffic control problems for a while.
Love your breakdown of Pink Floyd's music and how you can just call out the keys and chord progressions. I look forward to more Pink Floyd videos. 🤟
Thank you Doug for helping me learn a little bit of theory.. the way you see music and talk about it has evolved my writing by leaps and bounds! Much love, sir! 🤘
Nothing goes better with Pink Floyd than a healthy bowl!
I was looking forward to seeing the reaction to this song!
Hey Doug~~~
Another great player for jamming over Em progressions is Neil Young, especially with his perennial collaborators Crazy Horse. His album "Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere"(1971), with its Em-A7 jam on "Down By the River," exerted a mighty influence on PF's masterwork "Dark Side of the Moon," particularly "Breathe" and "Any Colour You Like."
When you said a public roast, I couldn’t help but think of pig roast.
Good stuff! Could you please react to “Careful with that axe, Eugene” by Pink Floyd. There’s multiple versions of this song, but I recommend listening to the Pompeii version. Thank you Doug
I like the ummagumma version the best. Heavy as hell
Esa es la PRIMER CANCIÓN DE BLACK METAL en la Historia....!!! Saludos...! y arriba el Monterrey!!
Love your deconstruction of your song's thank u. Merry Xmas ❤️ I've learned loads of chords ect.
Don´t forget Sheep from the album! I hope you will play that track soon.
Lol, when you’re so disappointed there isn’t a traditional mid section Gilmour solo because Gilmour has worked out how to make his guitar squeal like a pig. He serves the song not his ego. One of the reasons I think he’s so highly regarded.
Doug I really like when you talk about Pink Floyd songs, Its my favorite band so glad you talked about his one love the song and bass at the end its superb
Interesting about the approaching storm. I've always felt that most of Animals, and the first few parts of Shine On You Crazy Diamond fit perfectly with images of a storm moving in. Probably because those are all "atmospheric" tracks. Perfect experience when seen/heard live on a dank drizzly evening (Anaheim, 7 May 1977).
Saw Pink Floyd perform this song in '77 and during the middle part of Pigs is when the Large Pig begins to move across the arena, very cool.
Well, to me, as a rock fan and amateur musician, this is the song that changed everything. I was listening to a lot of metal and learning those songs on guitar. I was already a fan of Pink Floyd with limited knowledge of their work, specially The Wall stuff. That changed when my guitar teacher lent me his Animals album and told me to listen to some different styles of rock. When I heard Pigs, something changed inside my mind. I still love metal and hard rock, but I'm a prog head ever since.
I had this on 8track in 78. It was great then and it is great now.
Animals is definitely my favorite Pink Floyd album!!!
Dimash Dimash Dimash SOS Please sir. When a famous Russian Composer comes out of retirement to write and compose songs with and for you its special. He has a7+ octave range and is a beautiful humble guy.
Believe me this music doesn't need solos :) It's so atmospheric, ethereal.
Got to love that this was not written for the radio or The Corporate Entity! Love long songs, The Lads Rule! 9:00 , Think I'll join you Doug! 😎 Well done as always!
Definitively the best Pink Floyd album.
After Waters left the band, he said in an interview that he (at that time) thought of David Gilmour when singing the first verse. The Mexico City performance shows that he has a brand new target.
“Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream” probably my favorite Pink Floyd lyric
My favourite PF album and probably my favourite track on the album!!!
Sheep is my favourite track, but it always seems to be overshadowed by the others on this album. Underrated album.
A-frigging-men! Frustrated by the lack of love for that track. The guitar at the end feels....cathartic.
@@silentqueue2344 Yes!! It's an incredible ending. As the instruments fade out, you can almost feel the blades of grass. I love when everything drops down a gear halfway through with the bold, eerie synth and organ. I just don't know why the track isn't celebrated.
The fretless bass is likely Gilmour playing because it's so melodic just like Hey You
I think it is Margret Thatcher in that second verse, but it's the last one who was Mary Whitehouse, that always gets confused for "The Whitehouse." Though it fits all too well. Great reaction and breakdown as usual.
its both
MT also appears as 'Maggie' in 'The Post War Dream'.
Yup, V3 is explicitly Mary Whitehouse, the self-appointed chair of the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association, who wanted to censor just about everything. V2 is not explicit, but few doubt that it was Margaret Thatcher. V1 is generally considered to be a composite of the moneyed classes / corporate greed / contemporary capitalism (cf George Harrison's Piggies on 'The White Album'). I think that's probably the case, though from the moment I first heard it (and I bought it on release) I suspected the "keep on digging" line of being a loose allusion to Winston Churchill's "Dig for Victory".
Margret Thatcher was actually leader of the opposition at the time - she wasn't elected PM until two years after Animals was released. So it would be interesting if they were referring to her in any way.
@@dan.vitale Neo-Libs what can U do?
Doug , the darkness you experienced coming over your apartment comes as part of the album , atmospherics LOL !!!!
Truly a master piece, Thanks universe for Pink Floyd, this album will live in everyone's heart forever.❤
My favorite Gilmore solo ever. It is so passionate and raw.
I believe that sound is actually a muted cow-bell not a wood-block bro 😎
Nice comments at the end there .. couldn't agree more. Roger is for peace regardless of what, or who's, side you are on .. folks struggle with that ..sadly.
You mentioned bass. David Gilmour played a fretless bass on this cut. He also played the bass on Sheep.
Gilmore played the bass on this track , that's why it's so good !
I saw Roger in the Us+Them tour in Costa Rica! And it was EPIC!
The Floyd began as this: using effects as music, and also music.. for to affect. No other band seems to have sustained this path and achieved such lofty might. the whole cowbell lounge dream impression in Pigs is there to stick us into a pub hearing this, and then at the end, in your car, your Rolls, Bentley, Aston M... on the AM radio.
Did my man just zero a bong hit mid way through the video... what a legend
Animals is a masterpiece
Watch the Roger Waters Pigs version Live from Mexico- awesome
Love that dark into. My favorite Pink Floyd song 🖤
I've always loved this album. Particularly Dogs and Sheep.
Same. The entire album is incredible, but those are my faves.
Dogs and Sheep were written in 1974 with different titles ("You Gotta Be Crazy" and "Ranting and Drooling", IIRC). Pigs was written in 1977 to complete the concept, and the Pigs on the Wing parts were written to soften all the electric sounds.
They are much better than Pigs, to me. Very close to home.
@@christopherheckman7957 *Raving and Drooling
@@erksworld9661 I was closer than I thought I was. 8-)
Pink Floyd is as much performance art as it is music. You don't just listen to it, you experiance it. One of the reasons Pink Floyd is in my type 2 favorite bands.