By Corbin Carkner ’25
The Frederick Gunn School is home to a diverse range of musical tastes. Various songs from all kinds of genres can be heard echoing from the windows of dorms on a walk through campus. In this series, journalists from the Civic Journalism and Media Making class break down some of their favorite albums at Gunn. In this article, Corbin Carkner ‘25, reviews the Dark Side of the Moon, highlighting the songs “Money” and “The Great Gig in the Sky.”
From the great opening of the first song to the last, each one is a great listen, opening up the ears of every listener. The album greatly showcases the human condition, including themes of madness, time, and mortality. These themes help listeners tremendously relate with each song they listen to. Perhaps the most significant song in the album is “Money.” It includes an iconic sound of a cash register at the beginning of the song, adding a unique trademark to the album, and setting a tone to the song. The lyrics delve into consumerism and capitalism, highlighting modern patterns of greed and a desire for wealth. The music in the song is striking, featuring memorable guitar solos, adding a depth and intensity to the track. Overall, “Money” is a song that really resonates with its listeners and leaves a lasting impression.
“The Great Gig in the Sky” is an entirely distinctive song, mirroring nothing that has been made before. It features operatic-style singing by Clare Torry, with wordless vocals that add to the pure musical gravity of the song, without adding labels to its meaning. This song is completely up to the listener to decode the meaning and understand it for themselves. The song is breathtakingly beautiful, with emotional instrumentals providing a backdrop to the singing.
The Dark Side of The Moon is a crowning achievement and considered one of the greatest albums in the whole realm of rock music. The album is a masterpiece for all listeners to enjoy. It cements itself as one of the greatest albums of all time.
