The Great Gig in the Sky
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- For the tribute band, see The Great Gig in the Sky (band)
| The Dark Side of the Moon | ||
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| Album by Pink Floyd | ||
| Released | March 2, 1973 | |
| Recorded | Abbey Road June 1972-January 1973 |
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| Genre | Progressive rock Electronic music Musique concrète |
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| Length | 43:00 | |
| Label | Harvest (UK) Capitol (US) |
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| Producer(s) | Pink Floyd | |
| Professional reviews | ||
| Tracks | ||
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"The Great Gig in the Sky" is the fifth track[1] from British progressive rock band Pink Floyd's 1973 album, The Dark Side of the Moon. It features soaring voice instrumental music by Clare Torry. The song was called "The Religion Song" during recording. The vocals resemble wailing and screams, indicating the horror of dying.
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[edit] Clare Torry's vocals
In an interview[2], Clare mentioned that she was trying to emulate an instrument. So it was, from all published accounts, an improvisation with Clare apparently using her songwriting skills to give it form and function.
In fact, she mentions in her interview that she was never clearly told that the song was about death. In a different interview on the DVD "The Dark Side of the Moon" (Eagle Vision EV 30042-9 US NTSC version), Richard Wright mentions that she began singing words and they knew they didn't want that. Published interviews mention that she recorded the takes very quickly - on the DVD, the track sheet shows four tracks used for her vocals.
In her interview, she mentions that an accountant at Abbey Road called her; other interviews with band members mentioned that Alan Parsons suggested her.
Chris Thomas, who was brought in to assist Alan Parsons in mixing the album (arguments over the use of overall compression supposedly ensued) mentions that they were actually in mixdown at the time. On the DVD, various members mention that they had this song and weren't quite sure what to do with it. Wright further mentions that when she finished, she was apologetic about wasting their time even though those present were amazed at her improvisation.
In Clare's interview she mentions that she left thinking that it wouldn't be included on the final cut. In fact, she states that the only way she knew it was used was when she saw it at a local record store, saw her name in the credits and purchased it.
During live performances by Pink Floyd, up to three singers were used, each taking different parts of the song. For example, Durga McBroom performed on the A Momentary Lapse of Reason and The Division Bell tours, as well as at Knebworth and on Gilmour's solo tours.
Aside from the soaring vocals there are two spoken parts, an introduction at 0:38 spoken by “Gerry” (an Irish Abbey Road Studios doorman at the time), and Myfanwy 'Miv' Watts' (wife of roadie Peter 'Puddie' Watts, and mother of actress Naomi Watts) voice at 3:33.
In 2004, Torry sued Pink Floyd and EMI for songwriting royalties, on the basis that her contribution to "Great Gig in the Sky" constituted co-authorship with Rick Wright; originally, she was paid the standard Sunday flat studio rate of £30. In 2005, a settlement was reached in High Court in Torry's favour, although terms were not disclosed[3] In the P*U*L*S*E DVD booklet, The Great Gig In The Sky is credited to Wright and "vocal composition by Clare Torry".
[edit] Composition
Most of the song is a slightly altered arrangement of the beat and bassline from the song "Breathe". However, due to the altered beat and bassline, it is not directly related to "Breathe", unlike the last part of "Time" (sometimes listed in songbooks as "Breathe (Reprise)"), and "Any Colour You Like" (sometimes nicknamed "Breathe (2nd Reprise)").
When the Dark Side of the Moon suite was performed in 1972 (before the album was released), the song was completely different and went under the title "The Mortality Sequence". Then, it was simply an organ and samples of people speaking about death being played during the performance.
[edit] Spoken parts
(At 0:38)
And I am not frightened of dying. Any time will do; I don't mind. Why should I be frightened of dying? There's no reason for it—you've gotta go sometime.
—Gerry
(At 3:33, faintly)
I never said I was frightened of dying.
—Myfanwy 'Miv' Watts, wife of roadie Peter 'Puddie' Watts, and mother of actress Naomi Watts
Sometimes misheard as "if you can hear this whisper, you're a dime" or "if you hear this whisper, you are dying."
[edit] Trivia
- At the end the song, with about 13 seconds left, the track speeds up. This puts the music slightly out of tune.
- A re-recorded version piece was used as the backing music in a UK television advert for an analgesic (Nurofen) in the early '90s (the band were not involved in this version, but Clare Torry again did the vocal)[4]. The original version was used in a Dole banana commercial around the time of the release of DSotM.
- The song was mentioned by Jack Black in the movie "School of Rock".
- The song was used in the film "C.R.A.Z.Y.".
[edit] Alternative and Live versions
- P*U*L*S*E features a live version sung by host of backing singers. Similarly, the Delicate Sound of Thunder video features three different backing singers who provide the vocalisations for the song.
- On the Echoes compilation album, the song segues from Marooned into Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun.
[edit] Notes
- ^ The track number depends upon the album version; some releases merge the two tracks "Speak to Me" and "Breathe," for instance.
- ^ http://www.brain-damage.co.uk/interviews/torry.html
- ^ http://www.kget.com/entertainment/music/story.aspx?content_id=496814A9-C736-429E-8686-7ADB0B52B02F
- ^ Echoes FAQ. Retrieved on August 29, 2006.
