Pink Floyd, The* ‎– See Emily Play / Scarecrow

One of the finest pop songs ever written by one of the true geniuses of the last century: Syd Barrett. His skill was in writing the most wonderful, twisted psychedelic music and adding lyrics that could only come from the mind of someone who was a child at heart.

See Emily Play was released in June '67 (the very pinnacle of the "Summer Of Love"), and no other song seems better suited to the vibe of that incredible time. Right from the screeching start the funky bassline and twisting organ grab your attention, then the wonderful drop takes you into Syd's first verse. It truly is a special moment every time I hear it.

A lot can be interpreted with Syd Barrett's lyrics (both with Pink Floyd and his solo work), but I will not bore you with what my personal thoughts are. With a line as beautiful as "Float On A River, Forever And Ever, Emily" it would be wrong to dissect.

This perfect pop song also has a fantastic b-side called Scarecrow (an album cut from Pink Floyd's debut album Piper At The Gates Of Dawn). Much like that album as a whole, it takes the listener on a journey to places only they know in their minds. This was one of Syd Barrett's brilliant touches; the ability to paint personal images in the listeners minds with his perfect use of words. He was a fan of poetry, and it shows.

Of course this was only the start of Pink Floyd's journey. Syd wouldn't be along for the ride, but with material like this he was always going to be remembered.