In 1980, This Legendary Rock Track Was Dominating The Charts

On March 22, 1980, iconic rock group Pink Floyd was dominating the Billboard Hot 100 with their brand new single, "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)".

The single marked Pink Floyd's first No. 1 hit in the U.K. since "Point Me at the Sky" in 1968, despite the huge success of The Dark Side of the Moon album in the 1970s. It was their first and only No. 1 hit in the U.S.

"Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)" would remain at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks following its release in 1980, marking a revival of the band's mainstream success. It also sold more than 4 million copies across the world and has since been named on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The song is a biting, socially aware protest song that discusses the use of corporal punishment in schools, featuring a children's choir that repeatedly chants: "We don't need no education". The song received plenty of attention for its rebellious attitude towards contemporary school conditions.

Pink Floyd were known for frequently making social statements with their music, but The Wall saw the band go even further and more overt than they had previously allowed themselves to. The result was a dark, relevant album that resonated with listeners across the country and cemented the band as one of the defining rock voices of their generation.

There are three parts of "Another Brick in the Wall" that appear on Pink Floyd's unique concept album, but "Part Two" has endured as the most powerful and memorable entry in the musical trilogy.

In the song's music video, a group of children is seen marching through a school in unison as they enter a meat grinder and become "putty-faced" clones of each other who ultimately burn down the school (via Consequence). The video received plenty of attention for its daring, progressive visuals.

Although Pink Floyd would not score another No. 1 hit single, the band's albums would continually perform well in the U.K. and U.S. The Wall, The Division Bell, and Pulse (Live) all climbed to No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 Albums Chart.