Roger Waters- RESIST

US AND THEM

Without music where would we be? It’s an expression of our culture, our generation and our opinions. From the beginning music was used to empower society and bring us together. But now more than ever there is a clear divide, a “them and us” if you will, those who care and those who don't. The man and the scraps of society.

PICTURE BY AMY STEWART

From his time in Pink Floyd, Waters has always used his music as an expression of his values and beliefs. Like many great artists before him, he covered the true meaning of his music with a catchy line and cool guitar riff before they could notice the meaning, with the message already in our subconscious- RESIST. Writing songs such as “money”, “another brick in the wall” and “pigs (three of them)”, all songs with the same message. RESIST the bankers and politicians, RESIST the government and RESIST the man. The one telling you not to care about your fellow people, to just keep consuming and distracting yourself from our shitty reality. But to that Water’s says “fuck the pigs”, fight the good fight and keep pushing for a better tomorrow, one without misery, racism and prejudice.

Waters recently toured to once again to push his message. His concert was like a rally for the misfits, and he was in complete control. He didn’t even have to say a word before everyone was glued to him. After he plucked his first string the room erupted. The median age went from 40 to 17 in a matter of seconds, the rebellious teen in everyone came out as the audience screamed and swayed along to “money”, the atmosphere was ecstatic. Though it wasn’t until “pigs (three of them)” began before the message was crystal clear. With massive pig balloons bearing the words “stay human or die” and surveillance cameras floating around the room, as well as his extremely subtle “fuck the pigs” sign.

Though Waters didn’t say much during his concert, he offered a speech at the end of the performance. Urging the audience to fight back for humanity, for the immigrants and refugees, for the other race and for us, not them. We have to RESIST.

However, no matter your background, race or gender we can all agree that the vengaboys’ “BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM” is an absolute banger and is the glue of our society as a whole. So maybe there isn’t a them and an us after all.