The Wizard of Oz and Its Eerie Connection to Pink Floyd
If you’re a fan of cult classic musical movies, The Wizard of Oz should definitely be on your watch list. It has an illustrious cast featuring iconic stars such as Judy Garland, Jack Haley, Frank Morgan, and so much more. The movie redefined storytelling and filmmaking, and interestingly, it has an urban legend attached to it. This is all tied to Pink Floyd’s 1973 album, but that’s not all there is to it!
The album sets up an interesting paradox between the two media. It also changed the entire perspective and approach to how one perceives the themes and elements of the movie. Here’s how this album redefined Oz in many ways.
The Wizard of Oz: Eerie Synchronicity With Pink Floyd
Released in 1973 by Pink Floyd, The Dark Side of the Moon is an impeccable album by the rock band. It is unconventional in the manner of its conception, but no one prepared fans for what’s to come. There were urban legends and lore that got associated with the tracks, especially those that had to do with the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. The album syncs perfectly with the movie once it’s played on the third roar of the lion.
That is, Metro Goldwyn Mayer’s opening sequence, where we see the lion in the logo. It is strange and uncanny how it fits perfectly with the entire scenario. It starts with Breathe followed by On the Run and then Great Gig in the Sky, where the tornado wreaks havoc in Kansas. Then comes Money, which syncs well with Dorothy’s entering the Munchkin land.
Then, we have Brain Damage, where the Scarecrow and Tin Man reveal their aspirations to Dorothy. One wants a brain while the other wants a heart. Eclipse is what closes in on the ending. What makes it even more spooky is that it was completely unplanned, contrary to popular belief. The band members refuted any allegations that the album and the songs were a deliberate response to the film in any case. It does, however, put forth a contrast, a paradox in a way.
Symphony Of A Paradox Explored Through Music
While Somewhere Over the Rainbow is a song of hope, self-discovery, and light, Pink Floyd’s album is a dystopian take. No wonder the band excels in storytelling in their own unique way. This isn’t to shade Oz in any manner but to present two contrasting viewpoints.
The 1939 movie is about finding your way back home and also discovering courage and self-identity. It is an exploration of your true self in many ways. Dorothy realizes that there’s no place like home and that she had the power in her, all along! And the dreams you dare really come true are what Judy Garland speaks of. She speaks of faith and hope that it exists, about the possibilities, and about the vision.
In case you missed it:
Why Vincent Price’s Deadliest 1952 Film Is A Masterclass In Financial Crime
Pink Floyd’s track Time overturns this concept as it brings in the idea of time and space. There’s death and decay, and with it come regrets. The time is gone, and 10 years have passed, but that’s not all. It brings with it a sense of longing and yearning for home. Here, home isn’t something the person has, but it is something they could go back to. That they could experience once more, be it the warmth or the nostalgia. The only exception being, “You’re older and shorter of breath and one day closer to death.”
In a way, it strips oneself of actual hope, but it’s the dystopia that makes it so much better. With Oz, the movie grounds you in reality through fantasy, and it’s fascinating how it does that. It appeals to all sensibilities, precisely why it’s still relevant to this day!
You might also want to read:
The Marilyn Monroe Movie So Chaotic It Ended With a Hollywood Icon Calling Her a “B**ch”
