Classic Cover: Roger Waters – “Comfortably Numb 2022” (original by Pink Floyd)

Yes, yes, I know Roger Waters is the original singer of the original version but arguably this is still a “cover” of sorts as this is a new rendition and released under his own name. It’s also superbly chilling. The 1988 original is one of Floyd’s best songs (personal opinion) and Waters has done a great job of maintaining the haunting feel while adding some interesting tweaks. The video is below, the song can be streamed online, and the press release follows…

“Comfortably Numb 2022” was recorded during Waters This Is Not A Drill North American tour and was produced by Roger Waters and Gus Seyffert. Appearing on the track are:

• Roger Waters – Vocals
• Gus Seyffert – Bass, Synth, Percussion, Vocals
• Joey Waronker – Drums
• Dave Kilminster – Vocals
• Jonathan Wilson – Harmonium, Synth, Guitar and Vocals
• Jon Carin – Synth, Vocals
• Shanay Johnson – Vocals
• Amanda Belair – Vocals
• Robert Walter – Organ/Piano
• Nigel Godrich – Strings

If you like what we do, consider ing us on Patreon for as little as £1 per month!

Waters commented:

During Lockdown I made a demo of a new version of “Comfortably Numb” as an opener for our new show This Is Not A Drill. I pitched it a whole step down, in A Minor, to make it darker and arranged it with no solos, except over the outro chord sequence, where there is a heartrendingly beautiful female vocal solo from Shanay Johnson, one of our new singers.

The accompanying video was produced and directed by Sean Evans. Photography by Kate Izor.

Roger Waters’ This Is Not A Drill will tour Europe in 2023 with 40 shows across 14 European countries, starting in Lisbon on 17 March 2023 at the Altice Arena.

Don’t fancy Patreon? Buy us a one-off beverage!

Header image: Andrés Ibarra, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Check out our Classic Covers playlists from 2021 onwards