Dark Side Of The Moon changed your life!
Written by Matt   
Friday, 09 June 2006

You will recall that the other day, we reported that Pink Floyd's 1973 classic album had been included in a special shortlist of "Music To Change Your Life" - a special search for a song that has the power to change lives, that was held on BBC Radio 2.

Music To Change Your Life
Music To Change Your Life
The UK radio station's presenter Jeremy Vine initiated the search, his listenership suggested the top ten tracks (although in Floyd's case, it was a whole album!), and then it went to a public vote. Many thousands made their choice, and a decisive winner was Dark Side Of The Moon!

"Dark Side of the Moon won hands down. People just love it. For its mammoth sense of scale and all the invention, it's still wonderful," Jeremy explained.

For each song, a member of the public put the case for the music, to two "musical virgins" - two men who have never bought an album in their life. To persuade them of Dark Side's worth, Brain Damage's Bruce Tippen was enlisted to explain what makes it so special.

With Bruce's comments helping to seal the victory of the album, BBC Radio 2 managed to set up a quick conversation between Bruce and David Gilmour, who said of the album getting the top spot: "It's fantastic. What can I say except be thrilled. It's a good combination of great music and great lyrics. It's music for people who have a brain as well as a soul, I think.

"The theme that Roger tackles so well with his words are universal and they are just as relevant today as they were 33 years ago when it first came out."

Here's the full result of the public vote:

  1. Dark Side Of The Moon - Pink Floyd (23%)
  2. Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley (17%)
  3. God Only Knows - Beach Boys (16%)
  4. Chorus Of The Hebrew Slaves - Giuseppe Verdi (9%)
  5. Everybody Hurts - REM (8%)
  6. Imagine - John Lennon (8%)
  7. Something Inside So Strong - Labi Siffre (7%)
  8. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen (7%)
  9. Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland (3%)
  10. Say a Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin (2%)

Our congratulations to Pink Floyd for triumphing in this poll, against some stiff opposition.

You can listen to the nomination for Floyd in Thursday's show, and the interview with David in Friday's show, through www.bbc.co.uk/radio2 and follow the "Listen Again" link. Select the "Jeremy Vine show" and click on Thursday, or Friday. These will be available for seven days following broadcast.