During his concerts in Brazil, Roger Waters took a stand against the presidential candidate.
Roger Waters , co-founder, bassist and composer of Pink Floyd Us + Them tour in Brazil last week on October 9th and 10th. The musician took to the stage at Allianz Parque in São Paulo and delivered a politically charged show that generated significant buzz.
On the first night, Waters presented the names of politicians from around the world in a list he titled neo-fascists. Donald Trump, the president of the United States, was one of them, but the name that caused discomfort in the audience was that of Jair Bolsonaro, the PSL candidate for president of Brazil.
Amid boos and applause, the British musician maintained his criticism of the Brazilian throughout the performance. With phrases like "respect women" and "don't blame the children," and with the appearance of the #EleNão hashtag, Waters' message was clear.
Roger Waters was born in Surrey, England, in 1943, a time when the world was suffering the consequences of World War II, which had already been raging for four years. At five months old, Waters lost his father, Eric Fletcher Waters, a British soldier who died on the battlefield of Anzio, Italy – now known as the city of Aprilia.
Even though he's unaware of it, Waters carries a strong connection to his father and, especially, to the circumstances of his death. The subject is the inspiration for dozens of the British artist's songs, including his work with Pink Floyd.
Syd Barrett 's departure from the band in the late 1960s, after only one album released, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn , Waters defined the artistic direction they would take from then on. Full of philosophical questions and political and social critiques, Pink Floyd became one of the greatest bands of the genre.
Fourteen albums later – all with political themes – the members of Pink Floyd went their separate ways. Waters went on to release several albums with his solo project, including Is This The Life We Really Want?, an album released in June 2017, filled with songs about anti-fascism and anti-imperialism, ideas he had already preached in Pink Floyd.
Waters' political and social discourse is not merely lyrical. The musician has participated in charity events, is a spokesperson for the NGO Millennium Promise, which helps fight poverty, canceled concerts in protest against the situation in Palestine, and encouraged artists not to perform in Israel, such as Bon Jovi and even Caetano Veloso, who received a letter from Waters asking him not to perform in Tel Aviv, the Israeli capital.
The political views of the singer and Pink Floyd have never been a secret, but many of those who attended the show in São Paulo were surprised by the tone of the event, as they held different interpretations of the British band's songs. Here, we discuss some of the tracks that most explore this theme, to better understand the work and legacy of Pink Floyd and Roger Waters.
“Money” from Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side Of The Moon
Like other songs on the album, "Money" speaks about the afflictions of modern man. The dominance of money over man is the main theme of the track, which is sung in ironic verses. "Money, it's a crime / Divide it fairly / But don't take a piece of my pie," he sings.
“Dogs” from Pink Floyd’s Animals
Originally recorded for the album Animals , a work inspired by George Orwell's book Animal Farm , the track exposes the aggressive and cruel competition of the capitalist business world.
“Another Brick In The Wall” from Pink Floyd’s album The Wall (1979)
One of the band's biggest hits, "Another Brick In The Wall Part 2" is the second part of a three-part series, and all three songs carry a critique of the rigid education system. "We don't need no education / We don't need control over our minds / No dark humor in the classroom / Teachers leave these kids alone."
“Pigs (Three Different Ones)” from Pink Floyd’s album Animals (1977)
Also featured on the album inspired by the work of George Orwell, "Pigs" reflects Waters' vision of the social scale, with "pigs" representing those at the top who possess the wealth and power necessary to manipulate the rest of society.
“Welcome To The Machine” from Pink Floyd’s album Wish You Were Here (1975)
The second song on the album, "Welcome To The Machine," exposes the industrialization of the music world and society in general. The track tells the story of an aspiring musician who is hired by a greedy manager. The lyrics reflect the band's disillusionment with the music industry, seeing it as a money-making machine rather than a service to art.
“The Fletcher Memorial Home” from Pink Floyd’s The Final Cut
Composed entirely and co-produced by Roger Waters, the track is a rant by the musician about his frustration with the way the world was led after World War II. Waters mentions the names of world leaders such as Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Richard Nixon, suggesting that they were not good rulers because they only understand the language of violence. Fletcher, a name mentioned in the song's title, is in memory of Waters' father.
“Us and Them” from Pink Floyd’s album The Dark Side Of The Moon (1973)
The song that gave its name to Roger Waters' current solo tour, "Us and Them," offers a sad and realistic reflection on war and its consequences. In the lyrics "Forward!, he shouted from the rear / And the front line was decimated / And the general sat down, and the lines on the map / Moved from side to side," the band shows the importance that world leaders give to war, without considering the personal sacrifices of the soldiers.
“Smell the Roses” from the album Is This the Life We Really Want? (2017) from Roger Waters' solo project
Part of Waters' latest studio album, Is This The Life We Really Want?, the track features themes already explored by the British artist, such as war, corrupt governments, capitalism, and conformity. “This is the room where they make the explosives / Where they put your name on the bomb / This is where they bury the 'buts' and the 'ifs' / And scribble words like right and wrong.”
Photo by: Miluhy
