Do a deep dive into Pink Floyd, they’re quite possibly the finest rock band…ever.

Your analysis of this song was really amazing. It's awesome to see someone discovering the incredible lyrics and emotions of Pink Floyd for the first time. If this band doesn't make you have an existential crisis, nobody can. :)

Again, I’m going to agree with others before, “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” is a must. A tribute to Syd Barrett and may be my favorite Pink Floyd song. I get lost in it every time. As always, great reaction my friend.

The "violin" part is actually a steel guitar, which Gilmore is very adept at (recommend "High Hopes" reaction at some point, if you can) And the horns are from a 70's synthesizer keyboard. Richard Wright is the unsung hero of Pink Floyd, especially on the entire WYWH album. Thx!

U need to do the whole ,Dark side of the moon album......its life changing

As others have said, the song is directed to their old bandleader Syd Barrett, who drifted into insanity after 2 years of leading them from obscurity to fame in the London Underground, and a successful singles band. The rest of the band soldiered on without him, but seemed to have felt tremendous guilt about him being left behind while they went on to such success on his blueprint. He was their hero, and now was a ghost, institutionalized. They missed him, and wished he was still with them.Syd’s a topic they returned to often, particularly Shine on you Crazy Diamond.

Congratulations on the growth of your channel! You deserve it….your reactions are thoughtful, intelligent, and respectful of the music. Yeah, Zep and Floyd are the two biggies for me…..very different, with different goals in mind.

Love your reactions, giving your quick interpretation. You have hit 4 of the top 5 classic rock bands, Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin & Floyd. Only missing the Who.

A trademark of Floyd's music is the incorporation of sounds, commonly heard sounds (clocks, cash register, shoes (sound of running)) and snippets of dialogue. You will come across this as you cover more of their work. In a way, they were "sampling" before that term was widely used.

Many people mistakenly think this is about Syd Barrett, but in an interview Roger Waters said quite emphatically that the only song on the WYWH album that was about Syd was "Shine on you crazy diamond". He went on to say that when he wrote the lyrics to Wish You Were Here he had in mind someone close who had refused to move on in life and had been left behind. He also said that at other times they meant something else, and that some days he didn't really know what they meant himself. He deliberately made the lyrics enigmatic so that the listener could make them mean whatever they wanted them to mean, and the whole song has become an anthem for anyone who has lost someone close to them. The opening guitar chords were composed by David Gilmour who had in mind someone listening to a poor quality radio all alone in their bedroom late at night, and hearing the opening chords, and then joining in himself with the crisper sound of the second guitar. Overall, a stunningly beautiful composition, both instrumentally and lyrically, and a work of complete genius. I associate it with someone very close that I lost long ago and it never fails to bring a tear to my eye.

Your review is spot on; song is inspired by former band mate Syd Barrett who lost his mind, then David Gilmour joined the band. The horn sounds are actually keyboards by Rick Wright. This whole album is amazing; hope you react to the entire album as well as Dark Side of the Moon (which should probably be done first). I'm also a huge Led Zeppelin fan and yes, they are very different from Pink Floyd. Of course I also grew up with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Hendrix etc.

Astute analysis Syed. Can't wait to continue this journey with you. This is my favorite album of all to time. Shine on you Crazy Diamond is a must listen

R.I.P. Syd..Thanks For ALL You Gave Us..Gone But Definitely Not Forgotten. 🙏 ❤

Wow! That was a perfect description of the song. I've never heard this song describe quite that way. Happy to join the 3000 club, keep them oldies coming, the best music was written back then.

Very cool interpretation of the song. I love hearing the perspective of people who have the ability to delve deep into lyrics and music. I've always been so superficial when it comes to music. i.e., good music, cool lyrics, etc. But to hear it with a deeper understanding/interpretation is really cool and one of the reasons I'm addicted to reaction videos. It's like I'm re-experiencing the music of my youth for the first time. You are definitely one of the better interpreters. Thank you. I'm definitely going to subscribe to your channel. Thank you! 💯

Another great reaction and insight into the music! You speak the words I've been looking for throughout the decades to describe this song. Thank you, brilliant!

You're one of the few reactors that actually does background "homework" on the songs. Excellent.

I think, you hit it right, because I once heard David Gilmore say in an interview that the title of the song says it all :"wish you were here, because we weren't

I believe those horns to be the french horn mode on Rick Wright's keyboard, He uses it on "Shine on..."

Important note: This might be hard to notice since you're listening to individual tracks: "most" of the tracks on their famous albums (Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and The Wall) seamlessly flow over into each other, that's why all the tracks seemingly have quirky intro's and outro's. Love the analysis btw, keep em coming!

Steel Breeze was the sound from the strings of the electric guitar. The song intro creates reliving the glory of days past, with your old music still playing on the radio. BTW in the photo.... Yep he really was on fire! There's was no photo shop back then! He's really burning!

this whole album is amazing, u should defo listen to the whole of dark side of the moon and another brick in the wall too they're classics

"Shine on You Crazy Diamond", all of it. It's long, it's amazing. It's their master work.

Hey Syed - REALLY enjoying your reactions. Some of the most insightful, respectful, introspective, and genuine on YT. Excellent job! 👍👍

You mentioned “absence” a couple of times and that is the single word that best describes the theme of this entire album. There is some ambiguity in the lyrics and you said a few things that I’ve never thought of. Syd is most obviously the main inspiration for this album. But what you said about the absence of a part of yourself as well resonated with me. I literally hear, feel, or understand something new every time I hear their songs. Also I know others have already said this, no violins or horns in this song. But there is an alternate version they recorded that does have violin. It’s worth listening to if you look for it

I am a new sub here in Virginia. I really enjoy your reactions and I would like to offer a suggestion. I haven't watched anyone react to this song on its own and it's from Pink Floyd's 'The Wall' album. Give a listen to "Nobody Home" and I genuinely have faith that you will be amazed at the humble beauty of that song. Keep up the great job!

beautiful song fire reaction perfect video keep on da grind broo

Great interpretation--saying goodbye to the old version of oneself. I've never thought of that before. Love your channel, all the best.

Listening to my favorites for 45 years. You bring out perspective I love. Subscribed. Thanks brother.

Excellent reaction made my day thank you.

Thank you for such a perceptive reaction. I've seen other reactors who had been spellbound by Pink Floyd and clearly feel profoundly touched right in a very core, but I've never seen any reactor articulate as well as you have just done in your understanding of the song. Fantastic ! Your plan is a good one to listen to the whole of dark side of the moon in the right order - and preferably in one sitting, as it is written to be heard that way, and each song blends into the next one. Once you have done that, the other album you should listen to is their live album of their 'Pulse' concept from 1994. Incredibly they manage live performances which are at least as good as the studio versions and in some cases are even better for literally every song in the concert. And the visuals are unimaginably brilliant and completely co-ordinated with the music. How I wish I had been there at that concert ! Jim Bamford

Great song and reaction, I’d suggest “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” next. It’s off the same album and deals with the subject Syd Barrett also, and is arguably Pink Floyd’s greatest song.

Another great band you havent covered yet is The Doors -- Try Riders on the Storm -- I have many favorites but When The Musics Over is right up at the top

You've got a great ear, mate, and a great sense not only of the details in the music but of the emotional currents of the lyrics. Very impressed.

Very intelligent reviews. Good job!

Love your reactions and analysis - on this one its a shame you had to stop at the end of Wish You Were Here - the transition from that to the next part of Shine on you Crazy Diamond is wonderful

Huge PF fan here. Clearly you "get" them. This is the best first react to this song and PF i've seen. Well done young man!

Just subscribed, i really enjoyed your analysis, you're definitely a real music lover 😉

This is excellent syed. I feel like you understood this song on the first take, whereas it took me years to understand its true meaning. Really cool.

Hello, Syed. This morning I came across your channel for the first time, choosing to start with “Wish You Were Here.” Awesome! I immediately subscribed and have now listened to 12 of your reaction videos -and have several more on my ‘Watch Soon’ list. I feel the amount of research you do ahead of time greatly enhances your interpretations and reactions. I’m 62 years old who, when I was hearing many of these songs in my youth I was, even then, a bit of a wordsmith and great fan of lyrics. You having them pulled up and ready to easily and accurately discuss adds so much to your presentation of things. You are an outstanding communicator and I often say that indicates that one a good listener too. I am very happy to have found your channel so early in its existence and plan to follow along closely. My remarks are somewhat driven by having watched many of your other videos before commenting here. I will comment on some of them in the comment section for them. First impression: you are enthusiastic yet/and/while earnest in your remarks. Excellent. Thank you!

Keep it up you’re the best reaction vid commentary on KZfaq

Great analysising of the song I`m glad you enjoyed it

Great reaction -- I must say again that at some time you must watch a live version -- the Pink Floyd stage lighting is almost another band member -- Their lighting inspired bands to step up their game for sure

Just found your channel a few days ago, and you're making me wish I could hear these songs for the first time again. You've genuinely given me goosebumps a few times! Just wanted to say also that they're not horns in this song, that's David Gilmour replicating what he's playing on guitar with his own voice!

Excellent and courageous analysis. I'm very impressed with your willingness to honor the classic rock giants, while adding the contemporary dicection of "rap" for instance, I'd encourage to watch the many great videos available. Also reading and studying the history of Pink Floyd. Great to see you growing in this approach. It will inspire many of today's younger audiences,

I’m so glad you’re going back to their beginning catalog I love all their albums especially the ones with syd Barrett great albums

Hit you up several times over the last couple of weeks. Been very impressed. I've never looked/heard/cared about your subscription numbers until you mentioned them here. Your content is excellent. You are my first-ever reaction channel subscribe.

Love your reviews! This is one of their favorites. Waters (whom I love), was a control freak around this time.

appreciate your insight and ability to call out the instrumentations that others overlook. Richard Wright was so underrated, he solidified a whole track with just a few interspersed fills, a master of conveying a mood.

Keep this shit up. I love your analysis

Floyd had a 4 album run that stands up to any other group of all time. Starting with DSOTM, Wish you Were Here, Animals, and finishing up with the double album The Wall. Every single note of every second of all 4 albums is a masterpiece. Musical brilliance and technical expertise on a different level. I don't know what kind of deal they made with the devil but we're the beneficiaries.

I really liked hearing your analysis. It has opened up a whole new view for me. I had used to think there were french horns in some other of Pink Floyd music and when I got my first computer, and began seeing videos of them, I realized the "horns" are actually Richard Wright on his keyboards! He was an awesome genius on his keyboards. The wind at the end not only concludes this song, if you continue to listen it turns into the intro to the next song. Really good, looking forward to more.

love this review

Wow, spot on my brother 😎

When they were recording this album about Syd, he showed up in the studio. They hadnt seen him for years and didnt even recognize him at first.

I like that you get them right off I always said you don’t dance to Floyd you sit back and go one a life changing ride. Sit back and enjoy!

pink floyd songs are like taking a long journey,you leave where you are and you do go some place new,amazing how they do it every time but they do..you are on a trip in these songs...this one for sure.

Your analysis of the tracks is amazing. Intelligent and intellectual you are very smart

"'I'm sitting here having an existential crisis." Welcome to the Pink Floyd fan club! Oh, and one more subscriber.

Yes yes yes! Dark Side of the Moon & Wish you were here both mean so much more as a whole. Otherwise your reading single chapters instead of the book😉 The doubly applies to "The Wall" which tells the story of the life of a fictional character "Pink". BTW you'll get the joke about Pink when you hear "Have a cigar" from the album Wish you were here. The band frequently had music executives who thought Pink was a band member. So in The Wall the main character naturally is Mr Pink Floyd 🤣

Finally a real reaction channel, someone who doesn't just ask for likes and subscribes. You take the time to analyze what you are listening to, and you try to understand the meaning of the lyrics. Funny thing, on your video, at 4:09 you say it looks like they're tuning into a radio station. I hope you know how close you are to the reality, because in fact; During the tour (In the Flesh 1977), at the beginning of "Wish You Were Here", the "radio" intro of the track was picked up "live" on stage by Nick Mason (drummer), from local radio stations, so the intro to this song was unique to each concert.

So as an 'old' person, I spent much of my formative years, late teens - early twenties, listening to a 90 minute cassette in my car that one side was Wish You Were Here and the other side Dark Side Of The Moon, on auto repeat, forever. Driving down treed back roads, at night, just meditating about life.

I can't help but cry a little when I listen to this album.

“Did you exchange a walk on part in a war, for a lead role in a cage?” On of the best bars ever

Animals is my favorite album of theirs. I must say though that you should really try and listen to it all in one sitting. The tracks flow into each other and you lose something special when you just listen to one song off of it. Amazing album and my all time favorite.

Your emotions and intellect are very appreciated and engaging. COMFORTABLY NUMB seems to be a top reaction song. High Hopes also a favorite.

Love the line about exchanging a role in a war for one in a cage. The guitar in this song and in Shine on You Crazy Diamond is almost like it is a voice singing.

The lyrics and the musical composition of most Pink Floyd songs are like poetry, or exquisite paintings, in the sense that it appeals to your soul in a unique way. And it induces a specific interpretation based on your personal background and mental status or cargo that you carry around. The genius text writings by Waters in combination with the irresistible soulful guitar and vocals by Gilmour, accompanied by Wright and Mason, is just fantastic and unparalleled…

Really enjoyed your review...looking forward to your thoughts on Dark Side Of The Moon 👍🎸

Superb comments thank you for showing the way to understanding! X

No, it's about the loss of one of the founding band members, Syd Barrett, who went mad after too many drugs. Like Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall, this album needs to be listened to start to finish.

The horn sounds you are referring to are actually a sound effect on the keyboards played by Richard Wright. PS really enjoying your take on this one..

the song just before this one on the album, Have a Cigar, is a critique of the music industry, one of the ongoing themes of the album. The radio static sound is the transition from that track into this one, you could say the listener switching the station from one playing one Pink Floyd song to one playing another, because they were so successful they were oversaturating the airwaves.

Just discovered Your site.... Excellent Reviews. Loved The Time Review, by Pink Floyd. Best Wishes. RONNIE SCOTLAND 🎸

Very interesting analysis.

You’ve got to do the rest of the album. By far my favorite album of all time with shine on you crazy diamond being my favorite song. Was a hip hop head all my life until I discovered Pink Floyd a year and a half ago

Richard Wright again, playing the beautiful country piano sounds, and a VCS3 (a British analog synthesizer), giving the horns an electronic clarity. The winds at the end is the VCS3 too!

Shine on you crazy diamond for sure. ✌🏻❤️

WISH YOU WERE HERE live at the PULSE CONCERT (Earls Court, London, 1994) is definitely worth watching.

Your comparison of Zeppelin and Floyd was great! Fantasy and escape vs. introspection and inner exploration. Or, pot and alcohol vs. mushrooms and LSD back in the day, we all need a well balanced diet!! ;) Rock On!!

The twelve-string intro is meant to be a guitar part played on the radio, and the accoutic solo that breaks in represents someone listening to the radio and joining in.

I applaud you for letting your feelings go loose here. Of course this band has its way of reaching out, mesmerize and hypnotize you at first. Then they throw their lyricwriting skills and flawless production in the mix. There is nothing you can do but listen in awe and be a victim to their aim. We all recognise this. Furthermore I enjoy you being well informed about the history of the band. It's in the detail and the respect you show in this.

the starting acoustic guitar from the distance is Syd playing on the dark side of the Moon

You have wisdom beyond your years my friend...

On June 5, 1975, Pink Floyd was recording their "Wish You Were Here" album at Abbey Road Studios in London. Syd Barrett, who at this time in his life was heavyset, with a completely shaved head and eyebrows wandered into the studio while the band was recording. Because of his drastically changed appearance, the band could not recognise him for some time. When they eventually recognised Barrett, Roger Waters was so distressed he was reduced to tears. Apparently, when "Wish You Were Here" was played, "Sid stood up and said, 'Right, when do I put my guitar on?'" Richard Wright recalled. "And of course, he didn't have a guitar with him. And we said, 'Sorry, Syd, the guitar's all done.'" Wright has also said "Roger Waters was there, and he was sitting at the desk, and I came in and I saw this guy sitting behind him--huge, bald, fat guy. I thought, "He looks a bit...strange..." Anyway, so I sat down with Roger at the desk and we worked for about ten minutes, and this guy kept on getting up and brushing his teeth and then sitting--doing really weird things, but keeping quiet. And I said to Roger, "Who is he?" and Roger said "I don't know." and I said "Well, I assumed he was a friend of yours," and he said "No, I don't know who he is." Anyway, it took me a long time, and then suddenly I realised it was Syd, after maybe 45 minutes. He came in as we were doing the vocals for "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", which was basically about Syd. He just, for some incredible reason he picked the very day that we were doing a song which was about him. And we hadn't seen him, I don't think, for two years before. That's what's so incredibly weird about this guy. And a bit disturbing, as well, I mean, particularly when you see a guy, that you don't, you couldn't recognise him. And then, for him to pick the very day we want to start putting vocals on, which is a song about him. Very strange."

Pink Floyd was considered classic rock when I 1st started listening to it. When I was 14 I had a friend named Stacie A. who came from legit hippie parents, & grew up on her parents vinyl records. She made me watch The Wall (& Monty Python) & I became an instant fan of Pink Floyd. Within 6 mos of meeting her I was locked up for being a runaway delinquent & the cntr I ended up in was in the middle of nowhere. We weren’t allowed anything except like a boom box (we only got that when we achieved level, which meant we proved we wouldn’t tear it apart and make a shank out of it) & there were 3 radio stations that came in. One was country which I hated, 1 Easy listening, which I also hated, & the other a classic rock station. We also had limited TV time, and no cable, just basic TV. So we listened to music a lot. I ended up on 45/15 room plan when I got caught making out with my bf, which meant 45mins in my room & 15 out. (Actual torture for a 14yr old). What saved me was they had this band completion where they’d start with a bunch of classic rock bands and whittle down. (Evry year the top 2 were Led Zeppelin & Pink Floyd.) The whole grls unit got into it & we’d loose our sht fighting ovr PF vs LZ. I was always team PF. Especially the wall & wish you were here. I was this fcked up, neurodivergent kid with a traumatic childhood & Pink Floyd really spoke to me. It suited my depressive mood swings. I was in there with a bunch of grls who’d been SA’d, physically abused, runaways, & budding addicts. We couldn’t get enough of Pink Floyd. Tho funny story we planned this riot & we got into a massive fight over playing a PF song to make it feel surreal or Institutionalized by Suicidal tendencies to make it a rager. I can’t remember which we picked, it was Stephanie’s job to blast music when the riot started. Except she fvked up and hit radio and I guess she’d been listening to easy listening at night bc she starts blaring fvking billy Joel. So we fvking rioted to the lamest song ever. I get taken down by two PO’s while “I guess that’s why they call it the blues” is playing. It was so depressing. We managed to cause more damage then the boys unit did, about $1k, but it was legit disappointing. Some music isn’t made for sustaining a good riot.

you'll go far

You said “existential crisis” which is a prominent theme of much of their work. That was very insightful.

You will love Echoes live at Pompei, Comfortably Numb live Pulse, Dogs album version and Shine On You Crazy Diamond album version.

Its all about syd He had blown his mind

This song was the first I ever heard from Pink Floyd some 22 years ago, introduced to me by my physics professor in college at the time. I'm forever grateful to him for opening up the door to one of the greatest bands of all time. This song has gotten me through many a hard time. Edit to add: Also, those horns are a synthesizer. ;)

After you have delved into the Floyd collection you would most certainly enjoy the "Pulse" concert from beginning to end...

Shine on you crazy diamond...

Love your fist reaction of songs I have enjoyed for decades. You have a keen musical mind and excellent analysis. I don't think though I would define Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd as rivals. Jimmy Page hated when the press tried to create a rival between Led Zeppelin and the Beatles. Many of the 60's/70's bands actually rooted for each other and even collaborated in their search for truth.

David gives his secret to soloing in this song. He usually sings them first then plays them. Here you can hear him singing along with the guitar. When he is playing you can watch him mouthing his solos.

The two men shaking hands represents two business men shaking hands on a deal. When ever that happens, SOMEONE is going to get burned (screwed) in that deal. The musical part in the middle is actually David Gilmour "scatting" in falsetto and mimicking his scat on his guitar, note for note. What an expert!

You have to react to the live concerts. They are amazing live.

“Did you exchange a walk-on part in the War for a lead role in a cage” - what a brilliant poetic line. Would you rather be anonymous yet heroic in a war where you’ll probably die but for the overall cause you won’t get to see the ending of; or would you rather take the be here and now fake “bravery” of someone like a WWE wrestler? Where the outcome is already determined, you’re very safe but you can still “act” like a superficial hero to a crowd? What a question, what a band

He's singing questions they would ask Syd. Then in the chorus they sing about their loss.

I've been to the last two PF concert and several Roger Waters, the artists always dedicated something to Syd. He was the spark that started Pink Floyd, and they miss their old friend. While I truly appreciate the music that the band produced while Roger and latter David took over the writing, Syd will always my favorite. Syd influenced many musicians, and his material has been covered by Chris Cornell, REM, David Bowie and many more. Without him modern music wouldn't be the same. We would never have Dark side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here or any of the other Floyd albums without him. Great reaction, by the way.