I'm a bit shocked at the selections here. Much of the early work is from experiences of LSD drug hallucinations, along with the associated psychotic forms of madness - mostly though Syd Barrett, with the latter work more on the general rise of battle-weary Britain and rise of the desperately sad post-war dreams of its mostly downtrodden controlled people by government and conformity.
For me the best of Pink Floyd is the underlying story of Roger Waters and the affects that WWII had on him, the loss of his father, and his own future in the post-war blues of the modern world. This general theme stretches from
Dark Side of the Moon to
Momentary Lapse of Reason , whose culmination is
The Wall and
The Final Cut.
Probably the best song is
When the Tiger Broke Free a terrifying account of the demise of Water's father near the end of the WWII. The lyrics of this still are chilling. I.e.
"It was just before dawn
One miserable morning in black ’forty four.
When the forward commander
Was told to sit tight
When he asked that his men be withdrawn.
And the generals gave thanks
As the other ranks held back
The enemy tanks for a while.
And the anzio bridgehead
Was held for the price
Of a few hundred ordinary lives."
And its cutting concluding end; "
And that's how the High Command took my daddy from me."
Overall I seriously do think that much of the music of Floyd is really confronting, often depression, and mostly forlorn, whose only true remarkable saving grace is the quality of the music and the incredible thoughtfulness of the implied lyrics.
If I were now to list my Top 5 Floyd tunes, it would be;
1. Wish You Were Here
2. When the Tigers Broke Free
3. Southampton Dock
4. Run Like Hell
5. Welcome to the Machine
(These five being in order on my iPod.)
I like the song
Learning to Fly on the Album
Momentary Lapse of Reason (but most of the purists think it is not a true Floyd album without Waters.), especially the lyrics;
"Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies,
Tongue-tied and twisted
Just an earth-bound misfit,
I"
Finally, the most moving is
Vera on the
The Wall album;
"Does anybody here remember Vera Lynn?
Remember how she said that
We would meet again
Some sunny day?
Vera! Vera!
What has become of you?
Does anybody else here
Feel the way I do?"
I still listen to Pink Floyd only occasionally in recent years, but much of the rebellion in me has moved on to less aggressive music tastes. Love Dark Side and Wish You Were Here, but the early instrumental stuff I've left well behind.
Anyway, that's what I think.
So sad.
My best of the Floyd...
What a great idea - a themed party. Fabulous!
