Roger Waters is a difficult man to win over. He not only freely and often expresses his opinions—both positive and negative—about other people. He asserts his distinct vision for the sound and purpose of music. Pink Floyd’s enormous influence is undeniable. However, even some of his contemporaries, like Keith Richards, believe that his self-critical tendencies were a bit excessive.
Pink Floyd produced five distinct albums under Waters’ direction, each of which saw varying degrees of success and critical acclaim. Of course, The Dark Side of the Moon, which many, including Waters, considered to be the greatest rock album ever recorded, was the apex of this period of transition. Waters even declared that the band had “reached the point we’d all been aiming for.” He said that “there was nothing more to do in terms of rock ‘n’ roll” after the album’s release. This suggested that they had nothing left to give.
If the album hadn’t been so unquestionably amazing, this would have been a much more pretentious viewpoint, but Waters’ views aren’t always so in line with the consensus. He has openly disparaged other rock and music icons on numerous occasions. For example, he harshly called the Sex Pistols “the worst aspects of the ‘look at me’ syndrome” and called Andrew Lloyd Webber “shallow, derivative rubbish.”
But occasionally, Waters does say something insightful. He once described The Who’s performance at Live Aid as “spectacular.” He called them a standout act in the hype surrounding Queen and David Bowie. In addition, he mentioned Neil Young, John Prine, Leonard Cohen, and John Lennon as musicians who are “really necessary to have around me.”
Though he finds a lot of modern rock and popular music tiresome, he has come across a few songs that have profoundly affected him, such as “Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M. He said in 2005, “That song is phenomenal,” to Word Magazine. And Sting’s “Every Breath You Take“,” he went on. “I adored the Wallflowers song ‘One Headlight.'”
Some may believe that “Everybody Hurts” has reached its peak in terms of widespread appeal and elaborate cover versions. However, Roger Waters appreciates more straightforward rock ballads. He values songs that genuinely speak to the state of the world. Similarly, despite its obvious simplicity, “Every Breath You Take” has established itself as a classic in the rock genre.
One of the most intriguing things to remember about Waters‘ praise of “Everybody Hurts” is that the song was not intended for individuals like him. Despite this, it still struck a chord with him. “The reason the lyrics are so atypically straightforward is because it was aimed at teenagers,” guitarist Peter Buck clarified. The song had a subtle connection to themes similar to those in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Groups of teenagers going through adolescence live near hell, either literally or figuratively.
