
No, it’s not quite a Pink Floyd reunion, but both Roger Waters and David Gilmour have – separately – taken to social media in the past week with new cover songs.
Roger Waters paid tribute to John Prine with a cover of “Paradise.” He wrote in the YouTube caption, “My friend John Prine died. This is his song, ‘Paradise.’ Miss you, brother.” This was Waters’ first run at “Paradise,” but he has covered Prine’s “Hello in There” a few times. He first performed it backed by My Morning Jacket at Newport Folk Festival 2015. Then, at the same festival two years later, he sang it with Prine himself (and did sit in for the all-star “Paradise” closer).
David Gilmour paid tribute to another songwriting legend, albeit one who died a few years back: Leonard Cohen. In a live stream to promote his wife and sometimes co-writer Polly Samson’s new novel, he played “Bird on the Wire” and “So Long, Marianne.” Samson’s novel Theater for Dreamers takes place on the Greek island of Hydra during the 1960s. Cohen himself lived there then, and wrote these songs inspired by his time, so they were perfect choices for the occasion. (“Bird” starts at 7:30, “So Long” at 30:08).
Did you know Gilmour and Waters used to perform in a band together? Get aquainted with The 40 Best Pink Floyd Covers Ever.