So when Richard Orpheus Campbell smashes RedVal quotes together it's a poignant and heartwrenching audio experience, but when we, the Bryony Tumblr Fandom
(after the cut there's a deeeeeep analysis of these two) (beware: delusional theories)
[i love it] mainly because it made me realize how high the possibility is of this song being about Roger. Like I remember I was sitting in my room listening to it, and when those three lines were sang-
-I was like hmmmmmm it's about him isn't it
And I generally think this version is more genuine, which is contradictory to it's title, and the vibes of the released one, and THAT'S what makes it the more unique one out of the two for me.
So, on a closer look:
The "Released In 1975" version is, well, perfect. It fits perfectly with the title, it sounds like a mechanism thanks to every aspect of it: the bass, the drumming, the piston (?) sounds throughout the whole song, the pressure, Roger's voice and a second, deeper voice behind it with a slight delay- yeah I love this song. And still it manages to have such an emotional element in it like an acoustic guitar. And I also really like the key solos they're super duper cool. And yeah the emotion portrayed in this one is . . . Complicated to say the least. The combination of this broken voice with the whole song being so artificial and electronic, with the acoustic guitar being the only other emotional thing here, is just so deep y'know (bro this analysis just became a whole lot more cringe . . . ). So I'd call this emotion "silent raging tragedy" because I don't think I know a fitting word for it.
The "Released 50 Years Later" version is . . . Very very different to say the least, it's got no "mechanism" vibe, no "warm voice among cold machinery" thing, but it's called differently too for that matter: machine song. It sounds much softer, which I think fits the overall vibe of this version. This song is based solely around acoustic guitar, which is considered to be a very emotional instrument, and, as opposed to the original, the voice in this one is more crying, when the original is already broken. It's got no sharp elements and no distinct instrument solos, it starts quietly, it ends quietly. Might I say, it's a completely different song! I think that due to the fact that a song that is a metaphor on the government machine and generally the controlling world is very emotional in this case, it portrays an emotion different to the first version. I'd describe it as simply, "silent crying".
To compare the two generally, the 1975 version ('75 ver from here on) sounds colder than the 2025 version (2k25 ver from here on). It works on the element of contrast between a lone human voice surrounded by emotionless machinery, while the new one works on it feeling like the last emotional thing on earth, with machinery coming in only at the end. It sounds like a logical sequence, kinda . . .
Doesn't remind you of anyone, no?
(third edit already) Adding to that, you might've noticed that I used "silent" for both of them, and that's not accidental because what unites these two is the fact that they both are meant to portray silent, pressed emotions, even if it doesn't seem like it. So, I don't even know what to say anymore both are masterpieces.
But what the fuck kind of eargasm is the raw version of Shine On You Crazy Diamond? Can you fall in love with the sound of a guitar because that’s it...
