{{Short description|1979 three-part song by Pink Floyd}} {{About|the song|the opera|Another Brick in the Wall: The Opera{{!}}''Another Brick in the Wall: The Opera''}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Use British English|date=August 2010}} {{Infobox song | name = Another Brick in the Wall | type = song | artist = [[Pink Floyd]] | album = [[The Wall]] | written = | published = Pink Floyd Music Publishers | released = 30 November 1979 | recorded = April–November 1979 | studio = | venue = | genre = * [[Art rock]] * [[hard rock]] * [[progressive rock]] | length = '''8:28''' (All three parts) * 3:11 (Part 1) * 3:59 (Part 2) * 1:18 (Part 3) | label = * [[Harvest Records|Harvest]] (UK) * [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] (US) | writer = [[Roger Waters]] | producer = * [[Bob Ezrin]] * [[David Gilmour]] * [[James Guthrie (music producer)|James Guthrie]] * [[Roger Waters]] }} {{Infobox song | name = Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 | cover = PinkFloydAnotherBrickCover.jpg | caption = | border = yes | type = single | artist = [[Pink Floyd]] | album = [[The Wall]] | B-side = "[[One of My Turns]]" | released = 23 November 1979<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pinkfloyd.com/history/timeline_1979.php|title=Pink Floyd official site}}</ref> | recorded = April–November 1979 | studio = | venue = | genre = * [[Art rock]] * [[funk rock]] * [[disco]] * [[protest song]] | length = * 3:11 (single version) * 3:59 (album version) * 3:54 (''[[A Collection of Great Dance Songs]]'' version) * 5:50 (album version combined with "[[The Happiest Days of Our Lives]]", alternative radio edit) | label = * [[Harvest Records|Harvest]] (UK) * [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] (US) | writer = [[Roger Waters]] | prev_title = [[Have a Cigar]] | prev_year = 1975 | year = 1979 | next_title = [[Run Like Hell]] | next_year = 1980 | misc = {{Audio sample | type = single | file = }} {{External music video|{{YouTube|HrxX9TBj2zY|"Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2"}}}} }} "'''Another Brick in the Wall'''" is a three-part composition on [[Pink Floyd]]'s eleventh studio album ''[[The Wall]]'' (1979), written by the bassist, [[Roger Waters]]. "Part 2", a [[protest song]] against [[corporal punishment in schools]] and rigid and abusive [[school]]ing, features a children's [[choir]]. At the suggestion of the producer, [[Bob Ezrin]], Pink Floyd incorporated elements of [[disco]].
"Part 2" was Pink Floyd's first UK single since "[[Point Me at the Sky]]" (1968). It sold more than four million copies worldwide and topped singles charts in 14 countries, including the UK and the US, and was the [[List of UK singles chart Christmas number ones|UK Christmas No. 1]] of 1979. It was nominated for a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]] and was ranked number 384 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s list of the "[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]".
== Concept == The three parts of "Another Brick in the Wall" appear on Pink Floyd's 1979 [[rock opera]] studio album ''[[The Wall]]''. They are essentially one verse each, although Part 2 sees its own verse sung twice: once by Floyd members, and the second time by the children's choir along with Waters and Gilmour. During "Part 1", the protagonist, Pink, begins building a metaphorical wall around himself following the death of his father. In "Part 2", traumas involving his overprotective mother and abusive schoolteachers become bricks in the wall. Following a violent breakdown in "Part 3", Pink dismisses everyone he knows as "just bricks in the wall."<ref name="RockOpera">{{Citation|title=Rock Milestones: Pink Floyd – The Wall|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/383755/Rock-Milestones-Pink-Floyd-The-Wall/overview|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=30 May 2010}}; {{Citation|title=Pink Floyd's Roger Waters Announces The Wall Tour|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1635892/20100412/pink_floyd.jhtml|publisher=[[MTV]]|access-date=30 May 2010|archive-date=25 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425224021/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1635892/20100412/pink_floyd.jhtml|url-status=dead}}; {{Citation|title=Top 14 Greatest Rock Operas/Concept Albums Of All Time|url=http://music.ign.com/articles/706/706219p4.html|publisher=[[IGN]]|access-date=30 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309184426/http://music.ign.com/articles/706/706219p4.html|archive-date=9 March 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Schaffnerpp210211">{{Harvnb|Schaffner|1991|pp=210–211}}</ref>
Lyricist, co-lead vocalist and conceptual leader [[Roger Waters]] wrote "Part 2" as a [[Protest song|protest]] against oppressive schooling. "Another Brick in the Wall" appears in the [[Pink Floyd – The Wall|film based on the album]]. In the "Part 2" sequence, children enter a school and march in unison through a meat grinder, becoming "putty-faced" clones, before rioting and burning down the school.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2008/07/rock-history-101-another-brick-in-the-wall-part-ii/|title=Rock History 101: Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II"|date=30 July 2008|website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence of Sound]]|language=en|access-date=13 December 2018}}</ref>
== Recording == At the suggestion of the producer [[Bob Ezrin]], Pink Floyd added elements of [[disco]], which was popular at the time. According to the guitarist, [[David Gilmour]]:
{{Blockquote|[Ezrin] said to me, "Go to a couple of clubs and listen to what's happening with disco music," so I forced myself out and listened to loud, [[four on the floor (music)|four-to-the-bar]] bass drums and stuff and thought, Gawd, awful! Then we went back and tried to turn one of the parts into one of those so it would be catchy.<ref name="choir and disco">{{Cite journal|date=October 2009|title="Good Bye Blue Sky", (Pink Floyd: 30th Anniversary, The Wall Revisited.)|url=http://www.guitarworld.com/article/pink_floyd_goodbye_blue_sky?page=0%2C3|url-status=dead|journal=[[Guitar World]]|publisher=Future|volume=30|issue=10|pages=79–80|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513090114/http://www.guitarworld.com/article/pink_floyd_goodbye_blue_sky?page=0%2C3|archive-date=13 May 2011|editor=Simmons, Sylvie|df=dmy-all}}</ref>}}
Gilmour recorded his guitar solo using a 1955 [[Gibson Les Paul]] Gold Top guitar with [[P-90]] pickups.{{sfn|Fitch|Mahon|2006|pp=75–76; see also "The David Gilmour Guitar Collection", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E6mIYNO3So at 3:30}} The American [[Session musician|session]] guitarist [[Lee Ritenour]] said in a 2024 interview that Ezrin had him record some ideas for the solo, as Pink Floyd could not decide how to end it. Though his parts were not used, he said he detected his influence in the last bars of Gilmour's solo.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reijman |first=Alison |date=2024-11-23 |title='Pink Floyd said they weren't sure how to get out of the 'Another Brick in the Wall' solo – would I like to try?' How jazz master Lee Ritenour helped David Gilmour track the band's epic single |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/lee-ritenour-pink-floyd-the-wall-pt2 |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Louder]] |language=en}}</ref>
Despite his reservations about the disco element, Gilmour felt the final song sounded like Pink Floyd.<ref name="choir and disco" /> When Ezrin heard the song with a disco beat, he was convinced it could become a hit, but felt it needed to be longer, with two verses and two [[Refrain|choruses]]. The band resisted, saying they did not release singles; Waters told him: "Go ahead and waste your time doing silly stuff."{{sfn|Fielder|2013|p=135}}
While the band members were away, Ezrin edited the takes into an extended version. He also had the engineer Nick Griffiths record children singing the verse at [[City of London Academy Islington#Islington Green School|Islington Green School]], close to Pink Floyd's studio.{{sfn|Fielder|2013|p=135}} Griffiths was instructed to record only two or three children. Inspired by a [[Todd Rundgren]] album featuring an audience in each stereo channel, he suggested recording a school choir. The school allotted only 40 minutes for the recording.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mason|first=Nick|title=Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd|publisher=[[Chronicle Publishing Company|Chronicle]]|year=2005|isbn=978-0-8118-4824-4|pages=343–344|author-link=Nick Mason}}</ref>
Alun Renshaw, the head of music at the school, was enthusiastic, and said later: "I wanted to make music relevant to the kids – not just sitting around listening to [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]]. I thought the lyrics were great – 'We don't need no education, we don't need no thought control' ... I just thought it would be a wonderful experience for the kids."<ref>{{Harvnb|Blake|2008|p=273}}</ref> The children's choir in the recording featured 23 students, who practised for about a week to prepare.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 December 2004 |title=Kick against the bricks |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/kick-against-the-bricks-20041230-gdkeem.html |access-date=7 August 2023 |website=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |language=en}}</ref> Renshaw hid the lyrics from the headteacher, [[Margaret Maden]], fearing she might stop the recording.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/pink-floyd-pupils-sue-for-royalties-7257969.html|title=Pink Floyd pupils sue for royalties|date=26 November 2004|website=[[The Standard (London newspaper)|Evening Standard]]|language=en|access-date=12 December 2018}}</ref> Maden said: "I was only told about it after the event, which didn't please me. But on balance it was part of a very rich musical education."<ref name=":4" />
Renshaw and the children spent a week practising before he took them to a recording studio near the school.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/kick-against-the-bricks-20041230-gdkeem.html|title=Kick against the bricks|date=30 December 2004|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=13 December 2018}}</ref> According to Ezrin, when he played the children's vocals to Waters, "There was a total softening of his face, and you just knew that he knew it was going to be an important record."<ref name="choir and disco" /> Waters said: "It was great—exactly the thing I expected from a collaborator."<ref name="choir and disco" />
The children of Islington School received tickets to a Pink Floyd concert, an album and a single.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2 October 2007|title=Just another brick in the wall?|language=en-GB|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7021797.stm|access-date=12 December 2018|work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> Though the school received a payment of £1,000, there was no arrangement for [[Royalty payment|royalties]] for the children.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|date=13 March 2012|title=Payout after Pink Floyd leaves them kids alone|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list/profile/article/payout-after-pink-floyd-leaves-them-kids-alone-3t5rlwxm7k8|access-date=14 September 2012|website=[[The Times]]}}</ref> Following a change to the [[copyright law of the United Kingdom]] in 1996, they became eligible for royalties from broadcasts. After the royalties agent Peter Rowan traced the choir members through the social network service [[Friends Reunited]] and other means, they successfully lodged a claim for royalties with the Performing Artists' Media Rights Association in 2004.<ref name=":5"/>
== Reception == "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2" was released as a single, Pink Floyd's first in the UK since "[[Point Me at the Sky]]" (1968).<ref>{{Cite book| publisher = [[Omnibus Press]] | isbn = 978-1-84938-370-7| last = Mabbett| first = Andy| title = Pink Floyd - The Music and the Mystery| date = 2010}}</ref> It was also the [[List of UK singles chart Christmas number ones|Christmas number one]] of 1979 and the final number one of the decade in the UK.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/10/drugs-austerity-and-thatcher-what-christmas-no-1s-tell-us-about-britain|title=Drugs, austerity and Thatcher – what Christmas No 1s tell us about Britain|last=Robinson|first=Peter|date=10 December 2015|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=13 December 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> It remained at the top until mid-January, in the process also becoming the first UK number of the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/pink-floyd-another-brick-in-the-wall/ | title=Another Brick in the Wall | website=[[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]] }}</ref> In the US, it reached number 57 on the disco chart.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|publisher=Record Research|year=2004|page=203|author-link=Joel Whitburn}}</ref> The single sold over 4 million copies worldwide.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/9111636/Pink-Floyd-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-band.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/9111636/Pink-Floyd-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-band.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Pink Floyd: 10 things you didn't know about the band, Telegraph, February 28th, 2012|author=Rock and Pop Music|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph#Website|Telegraph.co.uk]]|access-date=14 September 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]'' described it as a "catchy but foreboding selection, with its ominously steady drum work and angry lyrics."<ref name=cb>{{Cite news|title=CashBox Singles Reviews|date=19 January 1980|page=24|newspaper=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]|accessdate=1 January 2022|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1980/CB-1980-01-19.pdf}}</ref> Critic Mike Cormack said "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2" was a "magnificent achievement: its catchy rhythm undercutting the darkness of the song's theme, the irony of its chorus belying the acidulous disdain of the lyric, Waters' quality as a wordsmith on display with the excellent phrase 'dark sarcasm', and the simplicity of its structure giving it a tight focus."<ref>{{Cite book |title=Everything Under The Sun: The Complete Guide to the Music of Pink Floyd |last=Cormack |first=Mike |publisher=[[The History Press]] |year=2024|isbn=978-1803995359|location=London}}</ref>
The song won Waters the 1983 [[British Academy Film Awards|British Academy Award for Best Original Song]] for its appearance in ''The Wall'' film.<ref name="BAFTA">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/nominations/?year=1982|title=Past Winners and Nominees – Film – Awards|publisher=[[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110050630/http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/nominations/?year=1982|archive-date=10 January 2011|url-status=live|access-date=26 December 2010}}</ref> "Part 2" was nominated for a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]] for Best Performance by a Rock Duo or Group.{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}} It appeared at number 384 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s 2010 list of the "[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]".<ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-151127/pink-floyd-another-brick-in-the-wall-part-2-53873/|title=500 Greatest Songs of All Time|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=7 April 2011|access-date=5 June 2020}}</ref>
The lyrics attracted controversy. The [[Inner London Education Authority]] described the song as "scandalous", and according to Renshaw, then-Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] "hated it".<ref name=":6" /> Renshaw said, "There was a political knee-jerk reaction to a song that had nothing to do with the education system. It was [Waters'] reflections on his life and how his schooling was part of that."<ref name=":6" /> The single, as well as the album ''The Wall'', were banned in South Africa in 1980 after it was adopted by supporters of a nationwide school boycott protesting instituted racial inequities in education under [[apartheid]].<ref name="dprp.net">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dprp.net/proghistory/index.php?i=1979_012|title=Counting out time Pink Floyd the wall – song was banned in South Africa in 1980|date=30 November 1979|publisher=Dprp.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606150608/http://www.dprp.net/proghistory/index.php?i=1979_012|archive-date=6 June 2011|url-status=live|access-date=11 May 2011}}</ref><ref name=":3">(UPI) "South Africa Bans Floyd's 'The Wall'" ''[[The New York Times]]'' 15 July 1980: C6</ref>
== Charts == {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
=== Weekly charts === {|class="wikitable sortable" ! Chart (1979–80) ! Peak<br />position |- | Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref>{{Cite web|title= The biggest hits that never made No. 1 in Australia |url= http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/music/the-biggest-hits-that-never-made-no-1-in-australia/story-fni0bvjo-1226793217048|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|Daily Telegraph]] |date= 2 January 2014 |access-date= 18 May 2015}}</ref> | align="center" | 2 |- {{single chart|Austria|1|artist=Pink Floyd|song=Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)|date=1 March 1980|access-date=12 April 2013}} |- {{single chart|Flanders|2|artist=Pink Floyd|song=Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)|date=26 January 1980|access-date=12 April 2013}} |- | Canada Top Singles ([[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'']])<ref>{{Cite web|title= RPM Volume 32, No. 26 |url= http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9488a&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5|publisher=[[Library and Archives Canada]] |work= [[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] |date= 22 March 1980 |access-date= 12 April 2013}}</ref> | align="center" | 1 |- | Denmark ([[Hitlisten]])<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schlüter |first=Johan |author-link=Johan Schlüter |date=25 July 1980 |title=Official Danish Singles Chart |work=IFPI Report |issue=Week 30 |agency=[[IFPI Danmark]]}}</ref> | align="center" | 5 |- | Finland ([[Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref>Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (Tammi, 2005; ed. Jake Nyman).</ref> | align="center" | 1 |- {{single chart|Germany|1|artist=Pink Floyd|song=Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)|year=1980|songid=622|access-date=13 February 2019}} |- | Ireland ([[Irish Singles Chart|IRMA]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |title=The Irish Charts – Search charts |publisher=IRMA |year=2008 |id=To use, type "Another Brick in the Wall" in the "Search by Song Title" search var and click search |access-date=17 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609154740/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |archive-date=9 June 2009 }}</ref> | align="center" | 1 |- | [[Israel]] Singles Chart<ref name="BOOK">{{Cite book |title= Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd |last= Blake |first= Mark |editor= Da Capo Press Inc. |year= 2008 |publisher= Hachette Books |isbn= 978-0-306-81752-6 |url-access= registration |url= https://archive.org/details/comfortablynumbi00mark }}</ref> | align="center" | 1 |- | Italy (''[[Musica e Dischi]]'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=[[Musica e Dischi]]|language=it|access-date=30 May 2022}} Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Pink Floyd".</ref> | align="center" | 2 |- {{single chart|Dutch40|3|artist=Pink Floyd|song=Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)|year=1980|week=3|access-date=12 April 2013}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|4|artist=Pink Floyd|song=Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)}} |- {{single chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Pink Floyd|song=Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)|access-date=12 April 2013}} |- {{single chart|Norway|1|artist=Pink Floyd|song=Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)|access-date=12 April 2013}} |- | [[Portugal]] Singles Chart<ref name="BOOK" /> | align="center" | 1 |- | [[South Africa]]n Chart ([[Springbok Radio]])<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(P).html |title= Another brick in the wall (part II) in South African Chart |last= Samson |first= John |access-date= 1 June 2013}}</ref> | align="center" | 1 |- | Spain ([[Productores de Música de España|PROMUSICAE]])<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://listadesuperventas.blogspot.com/2010/02/1980.html |title= Listas de superventas: 1980 |author= Davidalic |publisher= Listas De Superventas |work= [[Productores de Música de España|AFE]] |date= 12 February 2010 |access-date= 12 April 2013}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=April 2013}} | align="center" | 2 |- {{single chart|Sweden|1|artist=Pink Floyd|song=Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)|date=21 March 1980|access-date=12 April 2013}} |- {{single chart|Switzerland|1|artist=Pink Floyd|song=Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)|date=3 February 1980|access-date=12 April 2013}} |- {{single chart|UK|1|artist=Pink Floyd|song=Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)|date=1979-12-15|access-date=12 April 2013}} |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=Pink Floyd|song=Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)|date=12 April 1980|access-date=12 April 2013}} |- {{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|57|artist=Pink Floyd|song=Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)|date=31 May 1980|access-date=21 March 2023}} |- | US ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]'' Top 100<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19800405.html |title=CASH BOX Top 100 Singles Week ending APRIL 5, 1980 |access-date=7 February 2016 |archive-date=22 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222015224/http://www.cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19800405.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> | align="center" | 1 |- |} {|class="wikitable" ! Chart (2012) ! Peak<br />position |- {{single chart|France|118|artist=Pink Floyd|song=Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)|date=3 March 2012|access-date=12 April 2013|refname=Francesinglechart118}} |} {|class="wikitable" ! Chart (2014) ! Peak<br />position |- {{single chart|France|164|artist=Pink Floyd|song=Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)|date=22 November 2014|access-date=9 January 2022|refname=Francesinglechart164}} |} {{col-2}}
=== Year-end charts === {|class="wikitable sortable" ! Chart (1980) ! Rank |- | Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name="aus80">{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/kTGdGUZ|title= National Top 100 Singles for 1980|publisher= [[Kent Music Report]] |issue= 341 |via= [[Imgur]] |date= 5 January 1981 |access-date= 17 January 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo%3Dviewthread%26id%3D40275 |title=Australian-charts.com – Forum – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts) |access-date=11 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006134948/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40275 |archive-date=6 October 2014 }}</ref> | align="center" | 4 |- | Canada <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.0272&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 |title=Top 100 Singles (1980) |publisher=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] |access-date=21 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425051319/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.0272&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 |archive-date=25 April 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | align="center" | 1 |- | Germany <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1980 |title=Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts 1980 |language=de |access-date=14 February 2018 }}</ref> | align="center" | 2 |- |Italy (''TV Sorrisi e Canzoni'')<ref>{{cite book|last=Racca|first=Guido|year=2013|title=50 Anni di Superclassifica Singoli: Sorrisi e Canzoni|edition=2nd|p=21|section=1980|publisher=[[TV Sorrisi e Canzoni]]}}</ref> | align="center"| 9 |- | Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1980|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1980|publisher=[[Dutch Top 40]]|access-date=22 September 2020}}</ref> | align="center" | 61 |- | Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1980|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1980&cat=s|publisher=[[MegaCharts]]|access-date=22 September 2020}}</ref> | align="center" | 44 |- | New Zealand <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1980-12-31 |title = Top Selling Singles of 1980 {{!}} The Official New Zealand Music Chart}}</ref> | align="center" | 5 |- | South Africa <ref>{{Cite web|title=Top 20 Hit Singles of 1980|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sahits_1980.html|access-date=2 September 2018}}</ref> | align="center" | 8 |- | Switzerland <ref>{{Cite web|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1980 – Singles|url=http://swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1980|access-date=24 December 2022|website=swisscharts.com}}</ref> | align="center" | 1 |- | US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]<ref>''Billboard'' 20 December 1980: TIA-10</ref> | align="center" | 2 |- | US ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]'' <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1980YESP.html |title=Top 100 Year End Charts: 1980 |work=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox Magazine]] |access-date=22 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915071244/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1980YESP.html |archive-date=15 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | align="center" | 3 |- |}
=== All-time charts === {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" ! scope="col" | Chart ! scope="col" | Position |- ! scope="row" | US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 (1958–2018)<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100-60th-anniversary|title=Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | 146 |- ! scope="row" | UK Singles (Official Charts Company)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-biggest-selling-singles-of-all-time__21298/|title=The UK's biggest selling singles of all time|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=5 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624234820/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-biggest-selling-singles-of-all-time__21298/|archive-date=24 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> | align="center" | 104 |} {{col-end}}
== Sales and certifications == {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|title=Another Brick in the Wall|artist=Pink Floyd|type=album|relyear=1979|region=Canada|nocert=true|salesamount=260,000|salesref=<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1981/BB-1981-01-24.pdf|title=Juno Album, Singles Data|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|via=World Radio History|page=102|date=24 January 1981|access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref>}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|title=Another Brick in the Wall|artist=Pink Floyd|award=Platinum|id= 13245|certyear=2023|access-date=5 December 2023}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|title=Another Brick in the Wall|artist=Pink Floyd|award=Gold|relyear=1979|certyear=1980|source=infodisc}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|title=Another Brick in the Wall|artist=Pink Floyd|award=Gold|relyear=1979|certyear=1993}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|title=Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)|artist=Pink Floyd|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1979|certyear=2019|id=6856|access-date=22 July 2019}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Pink Floyd|title=Another Brick in the Wall (Part Two)|award=Platinum|number=3|source=radioscope|certyear=2024|note=Part 2|access-date=19 January 2025|refname=RIANZ}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Pink Floyd|title=Another Brick in the Wall (Part One)|award=Gold|source=radioscope|certyear=2024|note=Part 1|access-date=19 January 2025|refname=RIANZ1}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=South Africa|artist=Pink Floyd|title=Another Brick in the Wall|type=album|nocert=true|access-date=18 October 2021|salesamount=60,000|salesref=<ref name=abitwSAsales>{{Cite journal |last=Garcia|first=Sérgio|date=25 May 1980|title=Pra não dizer que não falei de som|url=http://memoria.bn.br/DocReader/764809/2409|journal=O Jornal|language=pt |access-date=18 October 2021|quote=(...) the group is in a hot water in South Africa due to censorship. A song from Pink's recent album, which has been on the charts for 20 weeks, "Another Brick in the Wall", which has now sold 60,000 copies, is now banned from being played. (...)}}</ref>}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|artist=Pink Floyd|title=Another Brick in the Wall|relyear=1980|certyear=2024|award=Platinum|access-date=30 November 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|title=Another Brick in the Wall Pt.2|artist=Pink Floyd|award=Platinum|id=525-1497-1|relyear=1979|certyear=1980|salesamount=1,146,548|salesref=<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-official-chart-millionaires-revealed__20459/|title=The UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=19 September 2017|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref>}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|title=Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)|artist=Pink Floyd|award=Platinum|relyear=1979|certyear=2001|note=physical|access-date=2 March 2021}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|title=Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)|artist=Pink Floyd|award=Gold|relyear=2000|certyear=2008|note=digital|digital=true|access-date=2 March 2021}} {{Certification Table Summary}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|title=Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)|artist=Pink Floyd|nocert=true|salesamount=4,000,000|salesref=<ref name=":2" />|access-date=2 March 2021}} {{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}
== Personnel == Personnel, according to ''The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia''.<ref name=p737688>{{Cite book|last=Fitch|first=Vernon|title='The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia|year=2005|isbn=1-894959-24-8|edition=3rd|pages=73, 76, 88|publisher=[[Collector's Guide Publishing|Collector's Guide]] }}</ref>{{clear}} '''Part 1''' * [[Roger Waters]] – lead vocals, bass guitar * [[David Gilmour]] – guitar, harmony vocals * [[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]] – [[Prophet-5]] synthesiser, [[Minimoog]] '''Part 2''' * Roger Waters – bass guitar, vocals (unison with Gilmour) * David Gilmour – guitar, vocals (unison with Waters) * [[Nick Mason]] – drums * Richard Wright – [[Hammond organ]], Prophet-5 synthesiser * [[Islington Green School]] students (organised by Alun Renshaw) – vocals '''Part 3''' * Roger Waters – bass guitar, vocals, rhythm guitar * David Gilmour – guitar * Nick Mason – drums * Richard Wright – Prophet-5 synthesiser
== Roger Waters versions == {{Infobox song | name = Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 | version = Live in Berlin | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = [[Roger Waters]], with [[Cyndi Lauper]] | album = [[The Wall – Live in Berlin]] | B-side = "[[Run Like Hell]]" (Potsdamer Mix) | released = 10 September 1990 | recorded = 21 July 1990 | studio = | venue = [[Potsdamer Platz]] ([[Berlin]], Germany) | genre = * [[Rock music|Rock]] * [[disco]] | length = 6:29 | label = [[Mercury Records|Mercury]] | writer = Roger Waters | producer = Roger Waters<br />Nick Griffiths | chronology = [[Roger Waters]] | prev_title = Who Needs Information | prev_year = 1987 | next_title = [[The Tide Is Turning#The Wall – Live In Berlin version|The Tide Is Turning]] | next_version = Live in Berlin | next_year = 1990 | misc = }}
A live version of "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2" with [[Cyndi Lauper]] on vocals, recorded on 21 July 1990 at [[Potsdamer Platz]], was released as a single on 10 September 1990 to promote ''[[The Wall – Live in Berlin]]''. The [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] was the live version of "[[Run Like Hell]]" performed with the German [[hard rock]] band [[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]] at the same concert.
In promotion of ''The Wall – Live in Berlin'' a new studio version was recorded by Roger Waters and [[the Bleeding Heart Band]] that was released on promotional compilation album titled ''The Wall Berlin '90'' featuring Pink Floyd and Roger Waters solo recordings.
Another live version appeared on Waters' album ''[[In the Flesh – Live]]'', integrated between "[[The Happiest Days of Our Lives]]" and "[[Mother (Pink Floyd song)|Mother]]" as on the original studio album, but with a reprise of the first verse ending the song.
For later shows, Waters usually employed local school choirs to perform the song with him. During [[The Wall Live (2010–2013)|The Wall Live]] concert series, Waters added an acoustic coda called "The Ballad of [[Killing of Jean Charles de Menezes|Jean Charles de Menezes]]".<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 February 2013|first=Jeff|last=Giles|title=Roger Waters Adds New Song to 'The Wall'|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/roger-waters-the-wall-new-song/|access-date=30 May 2021|website=[[Townsquare Media#Web publications and services|Ultimate Classic Rock]]|language=en}}</ref> A recording was released on the concert film ''[[Roger Waters: The Wall]]'' and [[Roger Waters: The Wall (album)|its live album]].
=== Track listings === {{Track listing | headline = 7" single | title1 = Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 (Edited Version) | length1 = 4:02 | title2 = [[Run Like Hell]] | length2 = 5:07 }} {{Track listing | headline = 12" single | title1 = Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 (Full Version) | length1 = 6:29 | title2 = Run Like Hell (Potsdamer Mix) | length2 = 6:18 }}
{{Track listing | headline = CD | title1 = Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 (Full Version) | length1 = 6:29 | title2 = Run Like Hell (Potsdamer Mix) | length2 = 6:18 | title3 = Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 (Edited Version) | length3 = 4:02 }}
{{Clear}}
== Cover versions == {{anchor|Korn}}{{anchor|Korn version}}{{anchor|Korn_version}}{{anchor|Korn song}}{{anchor|Korn_song}}{{anchor|Korn Song}}{{anchor|Korn_Song}} * The American [[nu metal]] band [[Korn]] covered all three parts, along with ''The Wall'' song "Goodbye Cruel World", for a track on their 2004 compilation album ''[[Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (Korn album)|Greatest Hits Vol. 1]]''. It was released as a promotional single. Will Levith of ''[[Townsquare Media#Web publications and services|Ultimate Classic Rock]]'' called Korn's cover "one of the worst covers of a classic rock song of all time,"<ref>{{Cite web|work=Ultimate Classic Rock|last=Levith|first=Will|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/korn-another-brick-in-the-wall-terrible-classic-rock-covers/|title=Korn, 'Another Brick in the Wall' – Terrible Classic Rock Covers|date=29 August 2013|access-date=18 October 2018}}</ref> while Jason Birchmeier of [[AllMusic]] described the cover as "overwrought, yet enticingly so".<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|last=Birchmeier|first=Jason|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/greatest-hits-vol-1-mw0000301944|title=Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 – Korn|access-date=18 October 2018}}</ref> A live music video was released, directed by Bill Yukich.<ref>{{Cite web | title="Another Brick in the Wall, Pts. 1-3" by Korn {{!}} Music Video {{!}} VH1.com | url=http://www.vh1.com/video/korn/39715/another-brick-in-the-wall-pts-1-3.jhtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022115248/http://www.vh1.com/video/korn/39715/another-brick-in-the-wall-pts-1-3.jhtml | url-status=dead | archive-date=22 October 2012 | work=[[VH1]] | publisher=[[Viacom Media Networks]] | access-date=20 October 2012}}</ref> On the ''Billboard'' magazine (US), the version peaked at number 37 on the [[Alternative Airplay|Modern Rock Tracks]] and number twelve on the [[Mainstream Rock (chart)|Mainstream Rock Tracks]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/korn/chart-history/mrt/|title=Korn Chart History – Alternative Songs|access-date=18 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/korn/chart-history/rtt/|title=Korn Chart History – Mainstream Rock Songs|access-date=18 October 2018}}</ref> * The American [[alternative rock]] [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]] [[Class of '99]]'s only known recordings were cover versions of "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2" and "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 1", recorded in 1998 for the soundtrack to [[Robert Rodriguez]]'s science fiction horror film ''[[The Faculty]]'', the film and soundtrack being released later that year. In 1999, the cover of "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2" was issued as the only single from the soundtrack. These recordings were [[Alice in Chains]]' lead vocalist [[Layne Staley]]'s final studio appearance prior to his death by drug overdose in April 2002.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Terich |first1=Jeff |title=Layne Staley's Final Recording: See Alice, Rage, Jane's Members Cover Pink Floyd in 1999 |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/layne-staleys-final-recording-see-alice-rage-janes-members-cover-pink-floyd-1999/ |website=[[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]] |access-date=6 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921185620/https://www.revolvermag.com/music/layne-staleys-final-recording-see-alice-rage-janes-members-cover-pink-floyd-1999/ |archive-date=21 September 2022 |date=21 September 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> * "[[Proper Education]]" – a 2007 remix of the song by Swedish DJ and record producer [[Eric Prydz]], with the band credited as Floyd.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/2068/eric-prydz-vs-floyd/|title=ERIC PRYDZ VS FLOYD | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company|website=[[OfficialCharts.com]]}}</ref> * The rock band [[Blurred Vision]] released a cover of "Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2" dubbed "Hey Ayatollah Leave Those Kids Alone". Filmmaker [[Babak Payami]] produced a [[music video]], which quickly went viral on the video-sharing platform [[YouTube]]. The remake was also publicly endorsed by Roger Waters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/7918129/Pink-Floyd-backs-Iranian-protest-song.html|title=Pink Floyd backs Iranian protest song|date=30 July 2010|work=Telegraph.co.uk}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> In October 2022, Blurred Vision published an updated clip in reaction to the [[Mahsa Amini protests]], featuring scenes from these protests with women taking off their obligatory headscarves.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO0hlH6Ygzo |title=Blurred Vision – Another Brick In The Wall pt.2 (Hey Ayatollah Leave Those Kids Alone) |date=29 September 2022 |publisher = BlurredVisionMusic |access-date=8 October 2022}}</ref>
== See also == * [[List of anti-war songs]] (pertaining to "Part 1")
== References == === Citations === {{Reflist}}
=== Sources === {{Refbegin}} * {{Cite book|last=Fielder|first=Hugh|title=Pink Floyd: Behind the Wall|publisher=Race Point Publishing|year=2013|isbn=978-1-937994-25-9}} * {{Citation|last1=Fitch|first1=Vernon|last2=Mahon|first2=Richard|title=Comfortably Numb: A History of "The Wall": Pink Floyd 1978–1981|year=2006|publisher=PFA Publishing|edition=1st US hardcover|location=St. Petersburg, Florida|url=http://www.pfapublishing.com/|isbn=978-0-9777366-0-7|access-date=21 December 2010|archive-date=8 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208072402/http://pfapublishing.com/|url-status=live}} * {{Citation | last = Schaffner | first = Nicholas | title = Saucerful of Secrets | publisher = [[Sidgwick & Jackson]] |location=London| year = 1991 | edition = UK paperback| isbn = 978-0-283-06127-1}} {{Refend}}
== Further reading == * Fitch, Vernon and Mahon, Richard, ''Comfortably Numb – A History of The Wall 1978–1981'', 2006
== External links == {{Wikiquote|The Wall}}
{{The Wall}} {{Pink Floyd}} {{Pink Floyd songs}} {{Korn}} {{UK Christmas No. 1s in the 1970s|song}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Another Brick In The Wall}} [[Category:1979 songs]] [[Category:1979 singles]] [[Category:1980 singles]] [[Category:Anti-war songs]] [[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]] [[Category:British disco songs]] [[Category:British funk songs]] [[Category:Christmas number-one singles in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Cashbox number-one singles]] [[Category:Music censorship]] [[Category:Columbia Records singles]] [[Category:Epic Records singles]] [[Category:Eric Burdon songs]] [[Category:Funk rock songs]] [[Category:Harvest Records singles]] [[Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles]] [[Category:Mercury Records singles]] [[Category:Number-one singles in Australia]] [[Category:Number-one singles in Belgium]] [[Category:Number-one singles in Denmark]] [[Category:Number-one singles in Germany]] [[Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand]] [[Category:Number-one singles in South Africa]] [[Category:Number-one singles in Spain]] [[Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland]] [[Category:Pink Floyd songs]] [[Category:British protest songs]] [[Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles]] [[Category:Song recordings produced by Bob Ezrin]] [[Category:Song recordings produced by David Gilmour]] [[Category:Song recordings produced by Roger Waters]] [[Category:Songs about childhood]] [[Category:Songs about educators]] [[Category:Songs about school]] [[Category:Songs about World War II]] [[Category:Songs written by Roger Waters]] [[Category:UK singles chart number-one singles]] [[Category:Song recordings produced by James Guthrie (record producer)]]