David Gilmour’s Collab With Wife Would Probably Make Roger Waters Angry
David Gilmour / Youtube
As the world of rock ‘n’ roll wades through its complex and intricate history, certain collaborations continue to stir the pot of controversy. David Gilmour’s latest project, ‘Luck and Strange,’ does just that, particularly because of the involvement of Polly Samson, his wife and creative partner. Roger Waters, with his known disapproval of Samson’s contributions to Pink Floyd’s legacy, might take issue with this creative partnership.
Reflecting on Creation and Controversy of ‘Luck and Strange’
Gilmour and Samson opened up to Uncut magazine about their process behind ‘Luck and Strange.’ Samson’s remark sheds light on the thematic foundation of the album: “It’s written from the point of view of being older. Mortality is the constant.” Gilmour affirms this perspective with his response, “We spent a load of time during and after lockdown talking about and thinking about those kind of things.”
The tension between Gilmour’s present and past creative collaborations becomes apparent when considering Waters’s stance. Samson, who has played a key role in penning lyrics for Gilmour over the years, has faced ridicule from Waters, particularly for her work on past Pink Floyd projects. In an openhearted 2021 conversation with Rolling Stone, Samson reflected on the backlash she received from Waters, a response that initially took her by surprise.
“I don’t hide anymore. The first time I wrote lyrics, I got a pretty bad response from David’s former lyricist which really kind of stung at the time. It shouldn’t have, but I didn’t know anything about these things at the time. When I first wrote lyrics on ‘The Division Bell,’ I didn’t want my name on it because we just lived in a time where things were really sexist.”
The strife didn’t stop at professional critiques; it brimmed with personal jabs as well. Samson continued by mentioning a particularly disheartening comment, underscoring the gender-biased scrutiny she encountered.
“And in fact, the angriest fan of all was the person who said, ‘Oh, how tragic, getting the wife to write lyrics.’ And I wasn’t even his wife. And anyway, what difference does being married make? So I felt like I hadn’t really wanted to stick my head above the parapet, and David forced me to.”
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Gilmour and Samson’s Creative Resilience
Gilmour himself acknowledged the dynamic between him and Samson in their creative process. His outlook speaks to an evolving partnership that transcended initial expectations.
“Initially, she was trying to make me write the lyrics and just be there to nudge and remind and critique. But I quickly forced her into a more prominent role, which she then had to take some credit for.”
This collaboration has not existed without contention from external parties. For instance, when Waters faced accusations of antisemitism, which culminated in the cancellation of some of his shows, Samson did not shy away from making her stance on Waters’s behavior known. On X, she called him a ‘Putin apologist, lying, thieving, hypocritical, misogynistic antisemitic’ and later asserted that she stood by her critique.
These polemics are not just fleeting spats in the music industry; they reveal the deeply personal undertones often interwoven into artistic collaboration and public perception. Gilmour and Samson’s creative union on ‘Luck and Strange’ emerges as a testament to their shared artistic vision and their resilience amid critical voices, including Waters’s persistent naysaying.
