This Friday, the 20th, the veterans of Body Count released a heavy version of “Comfortably Numb ”, a Pink Floyd . Although unexpected, the biggest surprise was the participation of David Gilmour , one of the composers of the original song, taking up the guitar and praising the group's reinterpretation.
The announcement surprised many people, including one Instagram user who commented on one of the posts that "a Pink Floyd cover definitely wasn't on your Body Count bingo card." However, the most dedicated fans weren't so surprised, since the cover of "Comfortably Numb" has been played at the group's shows for some time. The cover even has several amateur videos published online.
The reinterpretation retains some central characteristics of the original song, such as Gilmour's solos and the introductory verses, which have now become choruses. The lyrics, although different, carry the same dramatic tone, only more acerbic and less poetic, with reflections on life, society, inequality, and violence.
Body Count's lyrics became more scathing, reflecting the current world.
In a video posted on Instagram, the band's vocalist and leader, Ice-T , said that the lyrics are a reflection of his observations about the world and the reality he lives in. “'Comfortably Numb' is introspective. It's me saying that I'm old now,” he said. “It's just me trying to figure out what's going on. But we're in a place where we don't have to deal with reality and we can watch the chaos of the world like a TV show,” he added.
Also in the video, David Gilmour recounted that initially the band contacted him to ask for permission to use the song, but he liked the result so much that he suggested he play on it as well. “I really liked the new lyrics. They talk about the world we live in today,” he commented. “The words struck me and I thought they were really interesting. Very much in line with the world we are living in, which is frightening.”
The track will be included on the setlist of Merciless , Body Count's eighth studio album, scheduled for release on November 22nd. This is the band's third single released this year, but it's the first with a big-name guest appearance, featuring David Gilmour.