Comfortably Numb, if it were written by Dire Straits

Comfortably Numb, if it were written by Dire Straits.
I had a ton of request for this one and it's taken quite a while to figure out how to make it work, but this is what I came up with.
The most notable change is probably the chorus and the last solo being in double time. I believe it was the best option for this song, to give it a more Dire Straits feel and to make for a more interesting final solo.
Played on my Fender Vintera 50s mod through a Fender Blues Junior amp.
Effects used:
Polara Reverb
TC Electronics Flashback Delay
Ibanez TS-9 Tubescreamer
MXR Dyna Comp compressor
If you have any questions regarding the track or the guitar playing, feel free to ask. I'd love to answer some questions!
If you want to hear more of my covers, lessons or original music, feel free to subscribe or follow me on other platforms!
Instagram:
➤ / laszloburing
Facebook:
➤ / laszloburing

[@alisonanthony1228]

Half of me is screaming "Blasphemy! Burn the Heretic! " And the other half is simply in awe at the sheer talent you have. Amazing!

[@Phoenix_cataclysm_in_2040]

That's not herecy, that's a parallel reality where Gilmour and Knopfler wrote each other's songs.

[@warrenmusselman9173]

I'm in complete agreement

[@karma3101]

Couldn't have said it better.

[@ofranzen]

I'm doing both with equal ferocity.

[@snowgorilla9789]

First it's WTF then it's WOAH

[@abidulislam2159]

Life is still beautiful because this type of thing exists.

[@floydfreak-vn2uj]

Gilmour and Knopfler are my two favourite guitarists. I've been listening to both of them for decades, and I love this.

[@brianconnors4485]

I feel like Gilmour is one of the very, very few guitarists that could properly do justice to Knopfler's style.

[@truthmatters1950]

The Sultans of Numb? The Comfortable Swing? Pure genius brother! Glad you put such an explanatory title to this post else my brain would've fried trying to work out what my ears were hearing!

[@tiagovgc6745]

Money for numb

[@suzypaton1597]

He is better when the blues goes on mmm..

[@amppf]

Comfortable swing fits perfectly

[@GoudLoodje]

@@tiagovgc6745 Moneyfly Numbthing

[@williamthomas2278]

An homage of the highest order, this is how you pay respect to your favorite artists. Beautifully played.

[@brianwood7480]

I came across this guy by accident, it was as if two of my favourite musical algorithms had gotten together and said "let's fuck with Brian's head". There's someone in my head but it's not me. Thank a whole lot Laszlo, you leapfrogged clean over 40 years of junk music and beautifully channeled my two favourite guitarists of all time. I would love to see you onstage with Mark & David.

[@LaszloBuring]

Thanks a lot man!

[@uwe1969]

Knopfler and Gilmour shaking their heads and grinning. Awesome 😊

[@shubanggautam1516]

Mark Knofler's brother who played rhythm guitar briefly for Dire Straits is named David Knofler while David Gilmour's brother who played rhythm guitar on the five-song promotional film aimed at promoting David Gimour's self titled album is called Mark Gilmour...coincidence?

[@CasperUK31]

Imagine having the skill to play one of the best solos of all time in the style of another one of the best guitarists of all time and nailing it. Obviously, if your name is Laszlo you don't have to imagine, you're living it.

[@macarotto]

Love this take on Comfortably Numb, that last solo especially is just pure Knopfler

[@thecalculator1000]

It's like as if David Gilmour is watching though.

[@franciscoaragao5398]

Yes

[@MikeSparksMusic]

2:39 - Mark Knopfler never yells but his guitar gently screams

[@LaszloBuring]

That was the only way to put those notes in there, right? 😂

[@bartjanssen3837]

@@LaszloBuring with a swell (brothers in arms style)?

[@domenicov_versus3789]

Listen freeway flyer from local hero

[@PutItAway101]

Mark knows all the chords, AND he wants to make it cry and sing

[@florinbucur145]

@@PutItAway101 that's guitar george 😂

[@kendavis6081]

The change in tempos is pure Knopfler. Love it. Two of my favorite guitarists are Gilmour and Knopfler. One uses sustained notes that are vocal like and the other is more of a picker, almost banjo style. I love them both. This artist understands production and sound styles. Impressive!

[@marinaschwalm3164]

❤

[@E.L.O596]

same

[@johnmarkham4873]

Is it Dire Floyd or Pink Straights?

[@ianmorrison554]

Honestly this is the best stuff on youtube! So much better than these note-for-note exact copies of famous solos. You're doing something really creative and different. I'd pay to go watch this live!

[@donaldsalkovick396]

A lot of people do that

[@kurt5490]

Me too!

[@nipoch3827]

Knopflerably Numb

[@michaelallen1432]

Comfortably Knumb 🤣

[@Davitamon76]

😎 nice

[@Gillesgab]

Sei un genio !!

[@SodiumWage]

This is now the gold standard of playing one song in the style of another. Many have come before you, but you have ascended the dizzying heights of awesomeness and now reign supreme over all others.

[@TheCanadianWifier]

My two favourite guitarists combined into one masterpiece, thank you for everything you're doing it's honestly spectacular

[@arcsomniac]

Genuine audiophile savant, you are! I would never have believed anyone could channel Mark Gilmour and David Knopfler so beautifully! :)

[@volodymyrgandzhuk361]

David Knopfler exists, Mark's brother

[@Lochstina]

@@volodymyrgandzhuk361 so does Mark Gilmour, David's brother :)

[@Huwbacca]

that run around 2:08-2:16 is probably some of the most knofpler-esque guitar I've heard by not Knopfler... that's spot on... Really excellent.

[@inncogneato6341]

Knopflerised...Knopfleresque...is there anything not Knopfler?

[@HiroNguy]

Great Knopflerian vocals!

[@KassiDephinia]

As a child my favorite band was Dire Straits, and as an adult it's Pink Floyd, so this cover made my hair stand on end from like the third second and my brain is in love with this. So much. So so much. I love even the idea of this. At first I was a little thrown by the juxtaposition of the double-time chorus which felt more 'On Every Street' era Dire Straits than 'Communiqué' era Dire Straits (my fave DS song will always be 'News'). I leaned in hard, and the guitar solo TOTALLY paid off as promised! Plus the fade-out left me hungry for more. Bravo! Wooo! Your style & skill at performing Pink Floyd in the style of Dire Straits, plus the work it took, is much appreciated by me. Thank you for sharing

[@alessandroarcuri209]

The double time feel on the chorus was a master touch!

[@christopherwelsh7008]

Yes- That made me smile spontaneously, interrupting my desperate attempt to be cranky on a rainy Monday morning.

[@brianwood7480]

Imagine being in Laszlo's head while it's also occupied by our two favourite legends: Mark & David ? "There's someone in my head and it's not me" .

[@frankiefourfingers6717]

Wish these two could do an album

[@ronwilken5219]

@fourfingers__ unless I'm grossly mistaken this is played. By one guitarist emulating two, the difference being accentuated by the different colour shirts but look at the hands, the rings and watch are the same. Very clever mixing but not impossible. Beautiful music none the less. Thank you for sharing your talent and hard work.

[@ChaseNovack]

What a fitting tribute to two absolute masters of the Strat. This is next level composition and playing!

[@HEDGE1011]

As a huge Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler fan and admirer of David Gilmour as well, I think this is beyond brilliant. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your talent and ear for music. Thank you!

[@LaszloBuring]

Thank you very much! 😄

[@NiKmetropolis]

Astonishing! You could Knopflerize anything! The guitar in the place of screaming vocals at 2:40 is a pure touch of class...

[@alejandroangarita79]

Knopflerize, my new favorite word.

[@saskk2290]

That is essential Knopfler. Deleting lyrics for profound effect! Lol. Granted it's Floyd, but he knows we know the words 😂

[@johndaugherty4127]

Fantastic. Even the vocals are perfect.

[@MrLuigiFercotti]

You are not just great guitar player, you are a real musician. And that might just be a greater compliment.

[@kevins2144]

Love the take. Bent my brain at first. Then I realized it's Comfortably Numb played by Knopfler and sang by Chris Rea.... Wow.

[@FrosteAto_]

That guitars is outrageously close to how knopfler sounds. Amazing work dude!

[@inncogneato6341]

It’s Knopflerescent.

[@willo7734]

That last solo is absolute fire

[@SpiritmanProductions]

Dire Floyd lol. Great stuff 😂

[@LaszloBuring]

Thanks! Or is it Pink Straits 🤔

[@SpiritmanProductions]

@@LaszloBuring I considered both, but plumped for Dire Floyd because then the purists can laugh, too, as it says 'dire'. 😉

[@ProtoNeoVintage]

@@LaszloBuring its 2021. It'd be "Pink Straits".

[@AndrewFishman]

@@ProtoNeoVintage It is actually 2022...

[@ProtoNeoVintage]

@@AndrewFishman so what is your point?

[@NickB_Yorkshire]

Absolutely loves this. As an avid fan of both Pink Floyd and Dire Straits, I can doubly appreciate it 🥰🎵🎶🎵🎶

[@asmrcompilations2023]

This is absolutely brilliant! The musical talent to produce this is mind blowing! Thanks for blessing us!

[@comfortablynumb9342]

You figured out how to mix my 2 favorite bands without pissing me off. Well done.

[@LaszloBuring]

Glad I could! Cool name btw!

[@brianglendenning1632]

It actually messes with my head! Great stuff!

[@JohnSmith-ss6mp]

Amazing. The chorus sounds a little like Sultans of Swing. Would be cool,to hear a Gilmore version of Telegraph Road

[@DMSparky]

Dude that solo was insanely cool. Kinda at a loss for words. Despite being someone else’s solo, in someone else’s style that was flippin nuts you outta be proud of what you played very unique take on both.

[@stevecrone6931]

Outrageously brilliant. Left a giant smile on my face. Bravo!!!!!! More!!!!

[@KrishK8055]

Sultans of numb

Comfortably Swing

[@rollyon9415]

Well done! The guitar playing here and in the reverse example is terrific. As an aside though it reinforces something I noticed recently listening to Dire Straits again, is how Knopfler uses tempo changes to such great effect, doesn’t really work in this song, where the Chorus is an upswell of emotion but not a pulse quickening but anyway it is masterfully used in his compositions, something rarely done in this age of DAW, working to the grid.

[@kinasc1575]

Lady writer, sultans of swing, water line, ect. its all there, marvellous work Laszlo.👌👍

[@borayurt66]

You have analyzed Knopfler really well, this is truly amazing.

[@satyajitsahu]

"Comfortably to the waterline" ... brilliant! I would love a reaction video from Waters/Gilmour :-)

[@douglasgates1302]

The sounds of two of my favourite bands put together in a way that I could not have ever imagined. This is awesome.

[@JerseyRepresenting]

I saw Dire Straits at MSG when I was a kid. I've yet to hear guitars sound as sweet as that night again. Well done.

[@LaszloBuring]

I can only imagine. Lucky you! Thanks!

[@mr.prower]

If Dire Straits had written Free Bird but with Comfortably Numb x) Still awesome as always ! Keep up the good work, I'm always looking forward for more coming from you !

[@didierfavre]

Breathtaking...especially the second solo, wich is THE solo of pop-rock music. Astonishing, awesome, you are high talented 👏🎸🍾🎄

[@jimbofarrar]

This is awesome ! I am a huge fan of Dire Straits AND Pink Floyd, and I can tell you this version pays tribute to each of them ! Wonderful, thanjk you, thank you, thank you !!!

[@jimmyj2563]

It’s pretty bloody good hey!!

[@gunsbeersmemes]

I wish I could show Dad this video. My dad passed away 2 years ago this month, he way a huge Pink and Dire fan. Funny I listen to this on Father's Day as a father, and my second without father. Keep doing these. I have loved your videos since the 3rd one you've made.

[@Phoenix_cataclysm_in_2040]

There's never enough of Mark Knopfler's calming music/voice. Please play more. 🎸🔊 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@jelmervanlenteren773]

You are a GENUINE GENIUS!!!!

[@fredvanweerd5197]

Wow, this is the second video I've seen, your ability to transfer the style of each band and still make it sound just as good as the original is real talent my friend!! Being 60 er 61 on Christmas I grew up on Pink Floyd and Dire straits and Rush etc, I hope your making a living as a studio musician or in a band because you have great talent.

[@florianlegac2379]

I'm a DS n Mk fan and I like Pink Floyd . Amazing the way you touch those 2 songs together. Not to motion they are friends. Well done.

[@deanlawson6880]

Really good arrangement of this classic Floyd tune! Cool Mark Knopfler sounding vocals too!! Nicely Done! Thanks for this!!

[@martinteed5737]

My favorite Pink Floyd song and you have brought it to another level. A true tribute to David Gilmour! Bravo!

[@davidriley1188]

There's just too much talent on this channel...how are the rest of us gonna' process this ? Awesome work.

[@majidp1981]

Great stuff. Now time for "Sultans of Swing" if written by Gilmour!

[@adipriya724]

Is already out there. Great stuff 🎸

[@MrMarlinmc]

Brilliant! I love well-done cover songs and reasoned they came in two flavors; 1) an homage to the original or, 2) figure out a new way to do it and make it your own. I think you've added the 3rd category - interpreting a song through the style of another well-known artist. That could be doubly hard. I also like the focus on the playing. Getting to watch the fingerwork that produces the distinctive sound of different artists is really interesting.

[@jimmyj2563]

You nailed it.. a new crossover of musical styles and not just a cover.. not quite sure what to term it.. maybe crossover cover ?? Open to suggestions people.

[@denniswilken7130]

I'm often very critical of cover versions, but this is really very well done. Keep it up :)

[@13IanH]

Genius! Having been a Floyd fan since '74, I really expected to hate this, but I actually think that it's a really valid version. Well done 😎🤘🏻

[@AlfredoLozanoManso]

Bravo! Espectacular 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@zipiol.]

absolutely amazing! you sound indistinguishable from Knopfler. blows my mind every time! I can't believe you actually listened to my suggestion. you made my day. 😀 amazing job as always! if I can suggest anything else please do Time next 😀

[@h0rk3d]

In my mind, the two tunes was similar. Now I realise that they have very different feel to them. Cant mix it, it doesnt work. At least not for me. But what you did here is still really awesome, love it! Not sure I would have come to this realisation without it. Wish we had more music-alchemists like this. I think this is what real musicians do, this is one of the things you can only do if you can play instruments. Most of all, music is about experimenting - or should be, I think. Experimenting is the most effective way to get inspired.

[@grinellsmith]

Absolutely nailed it! Voice, guitar riffs, leads, cord phrasing.. stunningly good!!

[@LaszloBuring]

Thank you very much! 😁

[@mikketanska]

Love it how also the universe approves with this by greeting with a sudden prism effect on the light reflecting from the guitar finish at 1:51

[@davidhartley5657]

Excellent send up of both Mark knopfler and David gilmour!

[@arthouston7361]

I don't know how this popped up in my feed, but hey...not bad. You captured the essence of the song and the band.

[@SnaggleX]

You got a sub for this one. Looking forward to going through your videos

[@IanHillan]

This wins the internet today. Brilliant.

[@benschafer1660]

I was questioning the increased tempo’s but it all came together beautifully in the end. I’m giving a standing ovation rn 👏👏👏

[@JohnTaylor-cc6tm]

Brilliant. From a 5o+ year PF and 45 year DS fan.

[@manoahvanderwolf3259]

hitting the nail on the head. feels like actually going back in time during the dire straits' height.

[@peterbartels1874]

Brilliant take on Comfortably Numb and very much in Mark Knopfler style 👏👏👏 4:55

[@Espresso139]

Fantastic. It's like you're playing guitar with a signature accent. Beautiful work

[@MetteC5]

How can something so wrong (my cells fashioned to 40 years of PF Comfortably Numb are SCREAMING) be so right (you NAILED how MK would most likely play it!)?? You're an absolute genius, Laszlo!

[@sbutler860]

Very, very good indeed my friend. Often I watch videos of this type (i.e. cover versions) and they are just copies. But this took some thought and some imagination. You didn't just copy Gilmour's notes and play them in a Knopfler style, you did ask the question of yourself, well, what if Knopfler DID write this, and you worked the solos from the ground up. And not just the solos either; the vocals, the rhythm changes, the approach of the chords - all fantastically well done. My only problem with it is that it could have been longer. It was over too quickly. I would love it, for example, if you recorded the whole of The Wall album as if by Dire Straits, or The Dark Side of the Moon. But you can be very proud of this version. Well done! x

[@danw1955]

Absolute freakin' genius to be able to combine the styles of these 2 legendary artists, and make it all sound like it was written that way!!!! Man, you got my respect as a musician!🤩🎵🎶👍👍👍

[@radiofreeabqband]

This is absolutely brilliant. Well done, mate, and thank you for sharing. Your playing is incredible.

[@danielasena668]

Este señor es un dios de la guitarra

[@Jonners]

This is awesome 👏

[@ortizmo]

Breathtaking. My god. 😮

[@c.j.cleveland7475]

That was outstanding! A combination that I would never have thought of. And to double the pace through the solo was way cool: definitely Knofpleresque! Well done, sir! Well done! 😁👍

[@richardphillipslivemusic]

You skillfully encapsulate a central idea, adeptly weaving it into the fabric of two or more additional concepts, creating a cohesive and harmonious integration of thoughts. ranslation: You've reached god level.

[@PickerWilly]

This is a fantastic piece of work! An absolute joy to listen to! Thank you. Would be interesting to hear your take on if something like The Trooper by Iron Maiden was written by Dire Straits. Quite honestly you could probably do it with just about any piece of music at this point

[@multi-purposebiped7419]

Mark Knopfler, the perfect substitute for the great Mr Gilmour. They more than any other guitarist have the ability to reach down into their guitars and pull out that One Orgasmic Note that leaves listeners a quivering mess. Nicely imagined and executed by the talented Laszlo.

[@alfonsomartinb]

Really awesome. You understand the essence and technical both Gilmour and Knopfler.

[@jamiehaigh1707]

Loved that outro Solo.

[@JoeD500]

Absolutely fantastic 👍

[@fletches4084]

On the one hand this makes you recognise just what a spectacular piece of music Comfortably Numb played by Gilmour is and on the other how good it could sound in the hands of someone who can genuinely put their own take on it rather than just trying to emulate it. Flip side to this would be Telegraph road done in the style of Gilmour. And on a tangent another great crossover to watch is Gilmour doing Purple Rain.

[@TimH86]

Haha the singing cracks me up, so well done! I can’t stop seeing Marks face trying to actually sing this song, so unlike his style 🤣 Great stuff, love the style shift!

[@urlight13]

Well damn, thank you sweet algorithms for bringing this into my life! Awesome adaptation - sounds fantastic!

[@johnsimion2893]

You are truly a guitar genius - I wish you had a band and would give concerts!

[@jesseharrold1812]

This is my favorite small channel I discovered this year. Merry Christmas, Laszlo!

[@FumblingArborist]

This is insanely brilliant

[@jeffreymore6799]

Im back for another listen still i am enjoying the style of Mark knopfler brought together with a comfortable numbness that brings my brain down to a level headness

[@blanemitchell227]

Your feel...wow! Great job.

[@anthonyclarke5579]

I can't stand it! You have completely done my head in for the rest of the day...MAGNIFICENT. Telegraph Road please.👍👏

[@m.h.vandermarel9928]

My initial reaction was: "Don't fuck up the best rock song ever! “ But this is absolutely brilliant! Simply lovely😇

[@waltermega2924]

Excelente, increible version , voz guitarra, increible fusion de las dos bandas de musica a mi entender mas importantes de la historia.

[@TrueNeutralEvGenius]

Bravo, that's something truly quite outstanding you are doing here.