For some reason I don't believe this video was actually made in 1973, though "The Dark Side of the Moon" the album containing both songs were from it. Reason:
the video concept is far ahead for its time even though all of the political figures presented on it were the leaders and makers at the time: Nixon, Arafat,
Kissinger, Idi Amin, Wallace and others (one of the Nixon images seem to come from his resignation speech so...1974). And while "Brain Damage" was composed
as a reminder of Syd Barrett's erratic behavior during his last times with Pink Floyd - as counted by Roger Waters - the video gives a more amplified notion
about the insanity coming from the political world of the early 70's, a good combination between song and images though the group is far from serving as
socio-political commentators (they have songs about it but never out in the open as many artists from the period and before).
What you get there are two songs put together in one video, the final tracks of "Dark Side..." that play so glued to each other it gives the impression of
being one. Besides the criticism of the showing how crazed the political system was (still is) around the globe, the director gives us other impressive shots
to make audiences feeling as if they're all going to succumb to the madness by entering this hospital room, then images from record players exploding with the band's vinyl records; a close-up from one
colorful eye wide-opened in despair; and other archive images are played at slow speed until we reach to the outer space with an eclipse happening. And while the looners on their path are enjoying controlling the world,
they laugh. They all laughed. The images from the different nations leaders are all laughing at something, in a very amusing way but with such collage of events,
and knowing about the historic period and those guys actions, it's easy to understand that we're not supposed to laugh. It's a comprehensive and direct attack
on their acts, their moral flaws and what they represented what's wrong with the system, the ones in charge of changing the world for better or worse.
The images are all closed in so you can get that idea; Pink Floyd's lyrics apply to that and more thanks to their poetry, their metaphors and symbolisms. What makes the case
profound and resonating to us is the artistic values of the junction of both and with that we can raise lots of questions, some doubts, few answers. It's open to
many interpretations. I wonder: who's going insane? Society or the people in power? To lose one's mind or reasoning, to be the lunatic is acceptable, twisted or a survival tool? For me, it works as a mentality test that makes you feel things, question reality, generate deep thoughts about life, mankind, or at least to figure out explanations for the images, the song, their union. There's always something to explore in those.
The problems, the dilemmas, the things as we know (or don't) are all played out in "Dark Side...", one of the most significant and important
albums ever made, and the one that got Pink Floyd beyond everything under the sun. It's a masterful classic.
Just some thoughts, hope you enjoy it and please watch this video, listen to the music (which sadly isn't played fully, a large chunk of "Brain Damage" is cut), hear the songs. It's all meaningful, eye-opening, and of a superb
artistic integrity despite some dated effects and the analysis from a past period (but that'll make you look things in different perspective, how times evolved
from the 1970's to now and/or beyond, or it'll make see how cuckoo and lost mankind has got from there). To call it just great is an understatement. This here is revolutionary clip - on a minor note Vh1 and MTV generation got the chance to see/hear a different experience and know the band way back beyond "The Wall".
And always remember that the lunatic is on the grass... (laughs, intense laughs). 9/10
