Understanding 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. I-V)'

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Imagery from Getty

[quaramher]

Man, it's really impressive how the script is written to accompany the song. It's really cool to have a part of the music described and then there's a pause in the script to direct our ears to listen to it.

[reecedanielss]

I saw “come on you painter” as a simple homage of one of Syd’s main hobbies: painting. It honestly brings me a tear to my eyes, as it’s very close to home and personal. He was a painter. That’s one of the memories or Syd that was left behind for Roger.

[janhanchenmichelsen]

Heard the album first time when I was 11. In 1977. It changed everything. Almost 40 years later, when he was around 10-11, my youngest son heard the album. And he was spellbound. Now, he’s 18, playing bass guitar in a local band. Space, blues, prog, psychedelia. And yesterday he bought tickets to Water’s farewell concert i Norway. Two whole days travelling to get there and back. Life goes on. With Floyd, for yet another generation.

[chrispatten]

Call me crazy, but I honestly hear in the first four iconic notes "Are you still here?" And I feel like it just hits more than I expected.

[justinatest]

"Come on you target for far away laughter" always struck me as admission of guilt by Roger. That the band had mocked Syd behind his back for his behaviour.

[thanos]

This album is an example of music that is not only good, but beautiful.

[lelanddyer]

My dad ALWAYS blasted this song from their Pulse live album. So glad to find others appreciate this art as much as I do!

[axelcordova]

This album and Syd's story never fails to make me cry.

[cyclonasaurusrex]

I’m an old, so I’ve listened to this probably thousands of times. Although I was paying attention to your voice-over, I was subconsciously aware of the song’s progression underneath—and the imminence of that iconic 4-note lick.
And when you mentioned the lick just as the song reached it—simultaneously four minutes into the song and into your video—I just shook my head in amazement. Well played.

[bettastudios]

Bro, your work never fails to amaze me. This is top quality, and the fact that this stuff is free to view is just.. wow. Bravo bro, you have a real talent

[ValdemarDeMatos]

It’s also important to note that David was already a good friend of Syd before he officially join the band.
Great script 🙌 amazingly synced with the progression of the song.

[vinq]

This seemed like the best place to say this anecdote. I went to one of Roger Waters’ nights at MSG for the ‘This is Not a Drill’ tour. I’m immensely lucky. When they got around to SoYCD I was literally pinned to my seat. There was a narrative in screen about Waters’ panic attack and how the song came about. The entire bottom end, kick drums, bass, synths were massive. They all were so loud and intense that I really truly pushed on my chest like a panic attack. An inexplicable sense of fear creeped up. As I say there I thought about how well Roger had communicated that panic attack feeling. That for me cemented Waters as a true musician, as I had never experienced such a pure and clear communication of a emotion

[axelcordova]

You know, it's been a while since I've last listened to this album. And now, I'm about to be reminded why I love it so much.

[johnpaulcross]

Still my favorite album of all time. Truly a perfect record in my opinion, can’t take a single note out of this album.

[ChadVanHalen]

One of my favorite pieces of music from one of my favorite albums... The the pure bitterness at Syd's wasted potential from the last lines always gives me shivers. Roger's words and delivery, combined with the musical build up are just perfect. Like Roger is pleading for Syd to come back, he has too much to offer to just disappear into the darkness
"Come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner... And shine!"

[ahorrell]

I once saw this song reduce a party of skinheads to tears. 3 of their mates had recently died in a car crash and it a week or two after the funerals - the party was something like a memorial. Everyone was on edge, and me and another long-haired mate put this song on. It tore the place to pieces.

[HenrySchecker]

Shine On You Crazy Diamond makes me cry my eyes out. Something about the music is mournful and immense. I think about my parents who've both passed away. I think about friendships I've lost. I think about how lonely life feels and how even though I'm doing better than I have in years its a hollow victory for everything I lost in exchange

[kimqueiroz]

Oh boy, this video just made me cry.

Shine On You Crazy Diamond is my favorite music, and I consider it a true masterpiece. It's a song that connects deeply with my soul, and knowing more about the story behind it makes it even more impactful and touching for me.

Thank you Polyphonic for such an incredible study that lead to this so well-crafted video about this magnificent piece of art!

[robertlandrum]

Can’t wait to see the rest of the Wish You Were Here analysis. Hope you will also do more of their albums in the future like this.

[Carhill]

This made me cry.

I truly wish I could show this to my dad. My love of Pink Floyd is thanks to him, and I know he would have appreciated this video so very much.

This presentation is not only technically excellent but the idea to pace the history and analysis to the song, and to have done so this smoothly feels like a form of art more-so than most videos. Well done.

Thank you. ❤