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Masterpieces and popular songs by Pink Floyd

Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICKeisuke Hane
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. After working at a music studio and in wedding sound engineering, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with various instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in middle school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on personal music activities and professional experience, produces daily articles, including song introductions, features on music festivals around Japan, and live reports. Enjoys a wide range of music, from domestic and international rock to, more recently, a broad spectrum of J-pop.

Let me introduce songs by Pink Floyd, a rock band from the United Kingdom.

Pink Floyd performs in a style that blends psychedelic rock, blues, and folk, operating in a genre often referred to as progressive rock.

Their floating, atmospheric sound is particularly striking.

It’s said that the band’s formation was sparked when three of the original members, who were attending architecture school, got into a heated debate about contemporary music.

Now, please enjoy Pink Floyd’s songs with this playlist.

Pink Floyd’s greatest and most popular songs (11–20)

On The Turning AwayPink Floyd

♫ Pink Floyd – On The Turning Away [Lyrics]

On The Turning AwayPink Floyd

Pink Floyd achieved enormous success with their 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon, but over time Roger Waters’s increasing dominance became more evident.

Following events such as the dismissal of members and a legal battle over the rights to use the band’s name, Roger Waters eventually left the band.

In 1987, after his departure, the first album released by the rejuvenated Pink Floyd was A Momentary Lapse of Reason.

On the track On the Turning Away included on that album, you can sense their eagerness to embrace new, contemporary sounds without clinging to the progressive style they themselves had established.

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The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

Astronomy DominéPink Floyd

Pink Floyd – Astronomy Domine (Official Audio)

Astronomy DominéPink Floyd

The origin of the British rock band Pink Floyd—and a brilliant milestone in the history of psychedelic rock—is their 1967 debut, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn.

It’s known as the only studio album where the genius of founding member Syd Barrett truly exploded.

There’s also the famous anecdote that, at the time, the Beatles were recording in the studio next door at Abbey Road.

With experimental sounds that make full use of tape loops and echo, the album draws listeners into a fantastical sonic labyrinth.

This one-of-a-kind worldview is said to have opened the doors to progressive rock.

It’s a truly magical record that lets you relive the moment when rock history made a great leap forward.

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Goodbye Blue SkyPink Floyd

Goodbye Blue Sky

Goodbye Blue SkyPink Floyd

Goodbye Blue Sky begins with a scene where a girl tells her mother that there’s a plane flying in the sky.

It turns out to be a bomber, and the lyrics portray the horrors of war—how people must flee and hide even under a clear blue sky—and the suffering that continues even after the war ends.

Featured on the 1979 album The Wall, the song was written by Roger Waters based on his own experience of losing his father in World War II.

The gentle guitar sound further accentuates the sorrowful lyrics.

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Us And ThemPink Floyd

Pink Floyd – “Us And Them”

Us And ThemPink Floyd

A track by Pink Floyd known for its floating, airy sound.

Featured on the landmark progressive rock album The Dark Side of the Moon, this song captivates with its soothing saxophone melody.

The lyrics convey criticism of social division and war, resonating deeply with listeners.

Released in March 1973, the piece runs over seven minutes, yet its relaxed tempo envelops the listener.

It’s the perfect song when you want to unwind from work or the stresses of everyday life.

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MaroonedPink Floyd

Pink Floyd – Marooned (Official Music Video HD)

MaroonedPink Floyd

Among Pink Floyd’s long career, the only track to win a Grammy is Marooned.

It’s an instrumental piece included on their 1994 album The Division Bell (Japanese title: Tai/TSUI).

The highlight is, above all, David Gilmour’s stunning guitar solo.

Amazingly, he is said to have created the track by playing that solo almost entirely improvisationally.

It’s a masterpiece that lets you fully appreciate David Gilmour’s talent as a guitarist!

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BreathePink Floyd

Pink Floyd – Breathe

BreathePink Floyd

“Breathe,” from the 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon.

It’s a memorable track with a relaxed tempo and the beautiful tone of David Gilmour’s steel guitar.

The deep lyrics, which depict the growth of the album’s protagonist, Pink, are quintessential Pink Floyd.

The album The Dark Side of the Moon, released when the band was at the height of its popularity, is notable not only for its narrative but also for the way almost all of the songs flow seamlessly into one another.

I highly recommend listening to it all the way through at least once!

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Pink Floyd’s Famous and Popular Songs (21–30)

Lucifer SamPink Floyd

Pink Floyd – Lucifer Sam (Official Audio)

Lucifer SamPink Floyd

“Lucifer Sam,” included on the debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn released in 1967.

Lucifer Sam was the name of a Siamese cat owned by the band’s first leader, Syd Barrett, and the track is notable for its raw sound rooted in psychedelic rock and garage rock before the birth of progressive rock.

Unfortunately, soon after the album’s release, Syd Barrett left the band due to health issues.

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn ended up being one of the few albums where you can truly feel Syd Barrett’s abundant talent.

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