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Can someone please explain Pink Floyd to me? Is it the lyrics that are cool? Do you have to be on drugs? I'm not being facetious, I would very much appreciate a

Can someone please explain Pink Floyd to me? Is it the lyrics that are cool? Do you have to be on drugs? I'm not being facetious, I would very much appreciate a link to a song, more specifically a part of a song that you like, and ideally a brief blurb about why you like it. I've tried on multiple occasions to listen to them, and my experience every time has been "this must just not be one of the songs people like."

scojomodena 3y ago
Comfortably Numb is my favorite song, of all types. For me, David Gilmour's amazing guitar solos are the best part. Psychedelic rock is the genre and I don't know anyone else that sounds like this band. https://youtu.be/x-xTttimcNk https://youtu.be/x-xTttimcNk
- Joeboy 3y ago
  > Comfortably Numb Good pick IMO. Narratively, it evokes stories of Syd Barrett's increasing inability / refusal to function as part of the band. Syd was like the archetype of the creative genius who flew too close to the sun and crashed to Earth, leaving the band after 1.5 albums. Roger Waters sings the verses, David Gilmour sings the choruses. The song went through multiple iterations and was apparently more or less the end of their ability to work productively together. I'm left pretty cold by both musicians' solo outputs, but together they were an absolutely brilliant team. This is one a few tracks where they switch vocals mid-song, all of which I love. The choruses touch on the theme of a lost youth. Over the years the band had three main songwriters (maybe four if you count Rick Wright), and they all leant heavily into this area. It's classic Floyd territory. The closing solo is just deathlessly epic. If I had to cite one thing that made me want to learn to play guitar, it'd be that solo. Still sounds incredible 40 years and an almost entirely unsuccessful musical career later. But maybe it's just not ralusek's cup of tea and that's fine. Also sometimes it's the fate of brilliant things that they get copied so much it's hard to see what the fuss was about.
nzoschke 3y ago
Listen to Dark Side of the Moon start to finish. If you have and still don’t like Floyd, that’s ok. They are amazing musicians, pioneers of psychedelic rock, modern studio recording, and storytelling through long play albums. Imagine buying this LP in 1973 when there was far far less entertainment options in general. Fast forward to now and it still sounds fresh and modern and transports me somewhere else for an hour.
- Joeboy 3y ago
  > They are amazing musicians I'm a huge fan as you can see from elsewhere in the thread, but they actually kind of weren't. At least, they weren't particularly virtuosic musicians. Which I think led them to be ultimately more interesting and adventurous.
  - nzoschke 3y ago
    I see your point in terms of individual musical talent and skill. I think we agree… They unlocked something as a band where the musical sum is greater than the individual parts, which makes them special.
  - nervousvarun 3y ago
    That's an interesting take. Richard Wright was a trained classical pianist (if memory serves) and Gilmour always makes the shortlist of greatest rock guitarists. Waters was an average bass player (but outstanding lyricist) and Mason I guess was an average drummer but they weren't really writing tempo-based pieces. Do agree though that their sum was greater than their parts (but their parts weren't too shabby).
  - literalis 3y ago
    [flagged]
    - Joeboy 3y ago
      Not particularly keen on the way you said it, but I'm basically 100% on board with the spirit of what you're saying.
ks2048 3y ago
Pink Floyd is best experienced through whole albums. Take 45 minutes and listen to "The Dark Side of the Moon". Or, "The Wall", which could be called more "theatrical". Those are probably their two most celebrated albums, but there's more. If you're just looking for "part of a song" to get you hooked, then maybe it's not for you. You don't need to be on drugs and I'd say it's combination of lyrics and music (but probably more music part, because they do have some great songs with few or no lyrics).
- philwelch 3y ago
  I actually think “Comfortably Numb” stands up better as a single than The Wall does as an album though.
  - rhaway84773 3y ago
    The wall is best enjoyed by watching the movie. Once you’ve done that then you can enjoy listening to the music by itself.
    - philwelch 3y ago
      I've done that. I stand by my previous take that Comfortably Numb is a considerably better single than The Wall is an album.
greggh 3y ago
I don't do any drugs, never have. I've also never had alcohol. So I know you can enjoy Pink Floyd without being under the influence of anything. I just love the music, the lyrics, the points being made. And I am a big fan of whole albums. I dont like singles much. I want songs that blend into each other, an hour long experience. That is why I like Pink Floyd so much.
lapcat 3y ago
> Do you have to be on drugs? It helps. ;-) IMO here are some of the more "accessible" Pink Floyd songs: Money from Dark Side of the Moon Wish You Were Here (title track) Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 (AKA We don't need no education) and Hey You from The Wall
tylerag 3y ago
I suppose different people appreciate different things about them, but for me, it's just the experience (for lack of a better word). It's the musical equivalent of being in the flow state, and tickles my brain the same way. The crescendo of Echoes or Brain Damage/Eclipse makes me feel the same way as when I find the perfect solution to a problem I've been working on. You can't link to part of a song and say "this is the epitome of Pink Floyd." There are certainly certain segments that are better than others, but to fully appreciate it, you have to have listened to the previous parts of the album. The songs build on themselves. Some people like the lyrics, I think Roger Waters bloviates too much. Weed certainly makes it more enjoyable, but it isn't necessary.
Mystery-Machine 3y ago
The obvious masterpieces are Another brick in the wall and Wish you were here. But let's say you don't like those two. Another great whole-life-story-of-a-person song is Time. It sums up a majority of people's lives. You go through your life trying to figure out what you need/want to do in life...and then it's over, you never figured it out. Great introspection song. Makes you ask yourself...
kagakuninja 3y ago
The first thing to realize is that there are 4 main phases of Pink Floyd, and can be considered different bands: 1) the Syd Barrett era. They were a psychedelic pop / experimental band, led by charismatic singer / songwriter / guitarist Syd Barrett. They had 1 album (Piper at the Gates of Dawn), and several singles. I like this era a lot. Try listening to Arnold Layne, Lucifer Sam, See Emily Play... 2) Middle period - after Syd went nuts, they brought in Dave Gilmour to replace him. Everyone tried their hand at writing songs, and it took some time to get their footing. This is a more introspective, laid back period, and when they did those sound track albums people are talking about. They were in the top 40, but not really stars yet. The culmination of this era was the movie Live at Pompeii. 3) Roger Waters era - bass player Waters wrote an entire album of songs about madness and alienation, this was Dark Side of the Moon, their most popular album, which propelled Pink Floyd to the top of the charts. Waters had developed into a genius song writer, but with each successive album, became more domineering and difficult to work with. These albums tended to be ambitious concept albums, dark and disturbing, in contrast to the laid back vibe of the previous era. The last 2 Waters albums, The Wall and Final Cut were essentially Waters solo albums, and at the end, half the band had departed. 3) Dave Gilmour era - Waters went solo, and expected the band to end, but Gilmour decided to bring back the 2 ousted members of the band, and continue as Pink Floyd. This period isn't very interesting IMO. So my personal tastes: I find The Wall and most of the Waters-era albums kind of overpowering and negative. I prefer the Barrett stuff, as well as Live at Pompeii. YMMV...
- bestham 3y ago
  While I like the Meddle and Roger Waters eras I love the later Gilmour period. I have listened to the Division Bell hundreds of times if not more and it is still interesting and I’m discovering new things that just feel right about it. It resonates with my body and mind in ways that no other music. Each to their own.
  - kagakuninja 3y ago
    I admittedly haven't given those albums a fair listen. I heard songs like Learning To Fly on the radio and wasn't impressed.
jccalhoun 3y ago
I think people suggesting listening to a whole album are going down the wrong track. If you aren't already inclined to like what you have heard on the radio then the albums probably won't do it for you. I would just suggest listening to a greatest hits album. They have some amazing, world class songs, and then there are a lot that are not my cup of tea that are sound collage-adjacent and instrumentals that I do not enjoy.
dave333 3y ago
For me it's the guitar solos and also the driving rhythms. At the time in the 70s there wasn't and had not been anything called metal and although Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath were both big. The lyrics are also non-trivial. A lot of the music is what used to be called growers, i.e. they grow on you the more you listen to them. DSOTM, Animals, Wish You Were Here and The Wall, Meddle.

scojomodena 3y ago

Comfortably Numb is my favorite song, of all types. For me, David Gilmour's amazing guitar solos are the best part. Psychedelic rock is the genre and I don't know anyone else that sounds like this band. https://youtu.be/x-xTttimcNk https://youtu.be/x-xTttimcNk

Joeboy 3y ago
> Comfortably Numb Good pick IMO. Narratively, it evokes stories of Syd Barrett's increasing inability / refusal to function as part of the band. Syd was like the archetype of the creative genius who flew too close to the sun and crashed to Earth, leaving the band after 1.5 albums. Roger Waters sings the verses, David Gilmour sings the choruses. The song went through multiple iterations and was apparently more or less the end of their ability to work productively together. I'm left pretty cold by both musicians' solo outputs, but together they were an absolutely brilliant team. This is one a few tracks where they switch vocals mid-song, all of which I love. The choruses touch on the theme of a lost youth. Over the years the band had three main songwriters (maybe four if you count Rick Wright), and they all leant heavily into this area. It's classic Floyd territory. The closing solo is just deathlessly epic. If I had to cite one thing that made me want to learn to play guitar, it'd be that solo. Still sounds incredible 40 years and an almost entirely unsuccessful musical career later. But maybe it's just not ralusek's cup of tea and that's fine. Also sometimes it's the fate of brilliant things that they get copied so much it's hard to see what the fuss was about.

nzoschke 3y ago

Listen to Dark Side of the Moon start to finish. If you have and still don’t like Floyd, that’s ok. They are amazing musicians, pioneers of psychedelic rock, modern studio recording, and storytelling through long play albums. Imagine buying this LP in 1973 when there was far far less entertainment options in general. Fast forward to now and it still sounds fresh and modern and transports me somewhere else for an hour.

Joeboy 3y ago
> They are amazing musicians I'm a huge fan as you can see from elsewhere in the thread, but they actually kind of weren't. At least, they weren't particularly virtuosic musicians. Which I think led them to be ultimately more interesting and adventurous.
- nzoschke 3y ago
  I see your point in terms of individual musical talent and skill. I think we agree… They unlocked something as a band where the musical sum is greater than the individual parts, which makes them special.
- nervousvarun 3y ago
  That's an interesting take. Richard Wright was a trained classical pianist (if memory serves) and Gilmour always makes the shortlist of greatest rock guitarists. Waters was an average bass player (but outstanding lyricist) and Mason I guess was an average drummer but they weren't really writing tempo-based pieces. Do agree though that their sum was greater than their parts (but their parts weren't too shabby).
- literalis 3y ago
  [flagged]
  - Joeboy 3y ago
    Not particularly keen on the way you said it, but I'm basically 100% on board with the spirit of what you're saying.

ks2048 3y ago

Pink Floyd is best experienced through whole albums. Take 45 minutes and listen to "The Dark Side of the Moon". Or, "The Wall", which could be called more "theatrical". Those are probably their two most celebrated albums, but there's more. If you're just looking for "part of a song" to get you hooked, then maybe it's not for you. You don't need to be on drugs and I'd say it's combination of lyrics and music (but probably more music part, because they do have some great songs with few or no lyrics).

philwelch 3y ago
I actually think “Comfortably Numb” stands up better as a single than The Wall does as an album though.
- rhaway84773 3y ago
  The wall is best enjoyed by watching the movie. Once you’ve done that then you can enjoy listening to the music by itself.
  - philwelch 3y ago
    I've done that. I stand by my previous take that Comfortably Numb is a considerably better single than The Wall is an album.

greggh 3y ago

I don't do any drugs, never have. I've also never had alcohol. So I know you can enjoy Pink Floyd without being under the influence of anything. I just love the music, the lyrics, the points being made. And I am a big fan of whole albums. I dont like singles much. I want songs that blend into each other, an hour long experience. That is why I like Pink Floyd so much.

lapcat 3y ago

> Do you have to be on drugs? It helps. ;-) IMO here are some of the more "accessible" Pink Floyd songs: Money from Dark Side of the Moon Wish You Were Here (title track) Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 (AKA We don't need no education) and Hey You from The Wall

tylerag 3y ago

I suppose different people appreciate different things about them, but for me, it's just the experience (for lack of a better word). It's the musical equivalent of being in the flow state, and tickles my brain the same way. The crescendo of Echoes or Brain Damage/Eclipse makes me feel the same way as when I find the perfect solution to a problem I've been working on. You can't link to part of a song and say "this is the epitome of Pink Floyd." There are certainly certain segments that are better than others, but to fully appreciate it, you have to have listened to the previous parts of the album. The songs build on themselves. Some people like the lyrics, I think Roger Waters bloviates too much. Weed certainly makes it more enjoyable, but it isn't necessary.

Mystery-Machine 3y ago

The obvious masterpieces are Another brick in the wall and Wish you were here. But let's say you don't like those two. Another great whole-life-story-of-a-person song is Time. It sums up a majority of people's lives. You go through your life trying to figure out what you need/want to do in life...and then it's over, you never figured it out. Great introspection song. Makes you ask yourself...

kagakuninja 3y ago

The first thing to realize is that there are 4 main phases of Pink Floyd, and can be considered different bands: 1) the Syd Barrett era. They were a psychedelic pop / experimental band, led by charismatic singer / songwriter / guitarist Syd Barrett. They had 1 album (Piper at the Gates of Dawn), and several singles. I like this era a lot. Try listening to Arnold Layne, Lucifer Sam, See Emily Play... 2) Middle period - after Syd went nuts, they brought in Dave Gilmour to replace him. Everyone tried their hand at writing songs, and it took some time to get their footing. This is a more introspective, laid back period, and when they did those sound track albums people are talking about. They were in the top 40, but not really stars yet. The culmination of this era was the movie Live at Pompeii. 3) Roger Waters era - bass player Waters wrote an entire album of songs about madness and alienation, this was Dark Side of the Moon, their most popular album, which propelled Pink Floyd to the top of the charts. Waters had developed into a genius song writer, but with each successive album, became more domineering and difficult to work with. These albums tended to be ambitious concept albums, dark and disturbing, in contrast to the laid back vibe of the previous era. The last 2 Waters albums, The Wall and Final Cut were essentially Waters solo albums, and at the end, half the band had departed. 3) Dave Gilmour era - Waters went solo, and expected the band to end, but Gilmour decided to bring back the 2 ousted members of the band, and continue as Pink Floyd. This period isn't very interesting IMO. So my personal tastes: I find The Wall and most of the Waters-era albums kind of overpowering and negative. I prefer the Barrett stuff, as well as Live at Pompeii. YMMV...

bestham 3y ago
While I like the Meddle and Roger Waters eras I love the later Gilmour period. I have listened to the Division Bell hundreds of times if not more and it is still interesting and I’m discovering new things that just feel right about it. It resonates with my body and mind in ways that no other music. Each to their own.
- kagakuninja 3y ago
  I admittedly haven't given those albums a fair listen. I heard songs like Learning To Fly on the radio and wasn't impressed.

jccalhoun 3y ago

I think people suggesting listening to a whole album are going down the wrong track. If you aren't already inclined to like what you have heard on the radio then the albums probably won't do it for you. I would just suggest listening to a greatest hits album. They have some amazing, world class songs, and then there are a lot that are not my cup of tea that are sound collage-adjacent and instrumentals that I do not enjoy.

dave333 3y ago

For me it's the guitar solos and also the driving rhythms. At the time in the 70s there wasn't and had not been anything called metal and although Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath were both big. The lyrics are also non-trivial. A lot of the music is what used to be called growers, i.e. they grow on you the more you listen to them. DSOTM, Animals, Wish You Were Here and The Wall, Meddle.