10 years ago, I picked up my first Pink Floyd album and I remember it as yesterday. I was on my way home from school and listening to "Bedlam in Belgium" on my Sony Discman. I decided to drop by the local music store. As I was looking for some new music, the cover of "Dark side of the moon" caught my eye. I had no idea of who Pink Floyd was, but the album cover was pretty cool, so I had to have it.
I have never been as incredibly overwhelmed and mesmerized by a CD before as by "Dark side of the moon". That day remains as one of the most important days in my life.
It feels like a lifetime ago and I have spent so many hours, so many nights, so many walks home from school just listening to Pink Floyd and have developed truly special relationship to this band. If I had to explain it, it would probably take me hours and I would end up talking something about Gilmour bringing the air into motion and wavelengths. but I know I always bore everyone to death when I start that conversation.. no, it's rather a monologue... So I will just go on to my top 10 Pink Floyd songs and try not bringing up wavelengths.
Here we go!
10. Young Lust
Album: The Wall (1979) 
Fun, fresh and I love the easygoing melody and the line: uuuhhh I need a dirty woman , uuuh I need a dirty girl" So groovy and it always gets me. It's a quite simple and straight forward song with some cool guitar and bass - nothing really new. Many will probably wonder why I've picked this one. My answer to that question is, the fact that this song improves my mood instantly! it always puts a smile on my face and makes me dance all over the place.
Favorite moment:Uuuuuuhh I need a dirty woman, uuuhhhhhh I need a dirty girl!
9. Wish you were here
Album: Wish You Were Here (1975)
A classic Pink Floyd song. It's simply impossible not to love it! it's very touching in a very down to earth way. The lyrics are some of my favorite from the band.
Favorite moment:
"How I wish, how I wish you were here. We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year. Running over the same old ground, what have we found? The same old fears.
Wish you were here".
8. Money
Album:Dark Side Of The Moon (1973)
One of the greatest albums in the history of rock. A timeless classic. Guitar, drums, bass, well every respective instrument deliver 100 %. It feels like you're listening to a huge flow of great moods.
Favorite moment:
The money you hear in the start, the bass, and listen to that sax!
I love that little "game" with the vocals and guitar at the end.
7. The Great gig in the sky
Album: Dark Side Of The Moon (1973)
The Great Gig In The Sky is an incredible piece of music, it's epic.
Clare Torry's vocal is unbelevieable, I've never heard anything as bombastic.
It's as if her voice manages to awake everything inside of you. Every time I listen to the song, it's as if I feel everything and when it's over, I feel very empty and speechless. Be careful, this song might mess your head up!
Favorite moment:
The bulid-up with the piano and then Clare Torry explodes!
6. Time
Album: Dark Side Of The Moon (1973)
Probably everyone knows this song - it's one of the most popular songs by Pink Floyd. It's the one with the insane ticking and ringing clocks! And that epic guitar solo by Gilmour.
This song has the perfect summer-chill atmosphere and a beer along is a must. The lyrics are stunning and so true.
Favorite moment: The ringing clocks in the beginning will blow your mind and drive your neighbors insane . especially if you put it on repeat!
"Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way" - I love that line.
5. Comfortably numb
Album: The Wall (1979)
Comfortably Numb is an extraordinary piece of art. The second guitar solo, in the song, is one of my all time favorites ever. It's simply everything I want from a guitar solo. You feel the passion, the pain.. it just expresses so much that it kind of hurts. I don't know how many times I've rewinded and listened to that second guitar solo. Every time is something truly special, even though I know every note.
Favorite moment:
"Hello, is there anybody in there?" And the second guitar solo.
4. Marooned
Album: The Division Bell (1994)
One of the most touching, relaxing and atmospherically instrumentals I've ever heard.
The guitar sound is like a wind full of very passionate emotions and the timing in every note is perfect. This instrumental is perfect for one of those moments of deep thoughts or when you just feel lost in life and need to get time to listen to yourself.
3. Dogs
Album: Animals (1977)
The guitar chords in the beginning hold such a happy mood. It is a very well structured song with many different and interesting sections. The keys are pretty much in front during the whole song and really stand out in the midsection with some cool psychedelic tones. The guitar solos are mindblowing - in that fantastic Gilmour way. That man plays with so much feeling and emotion.. One of my all time guitarist
Favorite moment:
I'm crazy about the opening line: "you got to be crazy, gotta have a real need" it's delivered in the catchiest way I can think of.
2. Shine On You Crazy Diamond Part One
Album: Wish You Were Here (1975)
Is one of my favorite songs of all time, and the album "Wish You Were Here" is my favorite Pink Floyd album. It's the album that I'm taking with my when I die, because I consider it as one of the most amazing things humans have created on earth. And because this album has followed me, in good, bad and way out crazy times!
The mood in the beginning is quite tense and spacey but it becomes more relaxing as the song evolves , however, this doesn't affect the thrilling atmosphere which is primarily created by Gilmour's splendid guitar solos, with many highlights.
Favorite moment: The tense beginning. 2:09 - that's when Gilmour enters in the most magical way ever. At 5:12:Gilmour continues whit his magical touch. And no, he is not done yet, listen at 7:35 some out of this world Gilmour moments!
1. Echoes
Album: Meddle (1971)
There is something extremely seductive over this masterpiece, there's is just something about the soundscape that just drags me into this universe that is impossible for me to describe.. well I consider it as one of the wonders of the world, 23 minutes and 31 seconds of total progressive bliss! Echoes, It's simply to die for! The feeling you get from the first tones from the keyboard and the first smooth and warm tones from the guitar are simply priceless.
If you're totally new to Pink Floyd and progressive music, then I wouldn't recommend listening to "Echoes" as the first Pink Floyd song. Yes, it's my favorite; however I have a feeling that you will be disappointed. The long weird midsection might be boring and overall, it's a song that takes a lot time to get into. It toke me a couple of years to realize that this is a masterpiece.
If you decide to spend 23 min. and 31 sec. of your life, then it's probably best if your use headphones - then it's less "fluffy" to get into.
Favorite moment: The beginning, the midsection, the ending. the whole thing. A piece of art that you can lose yourself in.
Well that's my top 10 Pink Floyd songs. It was a pretty difficult job, because I somehow always manage to find something that's interesting in their music. So even though I've heard each one of the songs that are on this list countless times, I still had to listen at least 10 times more to each (of course) just to be completely sure.
Another thing that amazes me about Pink Floyd is, the fact that I always manage to hear some Pink Floyd in "newer" music (I have actually started a list). So after 10 years I've come to the conclusion that Pink Floyd is one of the most influential bands in the history of music. I know many others have come to this conclusion way before I was born, however, now I've by myself concluded this.
Be ready for a journey into the most beautiful universe of the loveliest wavelengths, well it's basically air in motion, however, I can't believe that human beings can put so much feeling into an instrument. It's fascinating!
