What Are Most Psychedelic Rock Songs About?
The most psychedelic rock songs are about love, drugs, and the occult. They often explore dark and trippy themes, and can be very psychedelic.
Psychedelic Rock Basics
Psychedelic rock, also called psychedelia, is a style of rock music characterized by distorted guitars, lyrics about drugs and mind alteration, sitar sounds, extended solos, and other sonic experimentation. The first psychedelic rock band is often considered to be The Beatles, whose landmark album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, contained songs with drug references and sound effects that created an altered state of mind.
Defining Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attemptsto replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It often uses new recording techniques and effects, sometimes specifically intended to simulate drug experiences, and borrows from other genres like Indian classical music, jazz, electronica, and garage rock.
The Birth of Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that became popular in the 1960s. It is characterized by distorted guitars, mind-altering lyrics, and extended improvisational jams. The first psychedelic rock band was the American group The Grateful Dead, who began playing in 1965. Psychedelic rock quickly spread to Britain, where it became popular with bands such as Pink Floyd and The Moody Blues. By the end of the 1960s, psychedelic rock was one of the most popular genres of rock music.
Themes in Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock songs often explore themes of existentialism, psychedelia, and social commentary. The genre is known for its unique soundscapes and trippy lyrics. If you’re a fan of psychedelic rock, see if you can spot these themes in your favorite songs.
Drug Use
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture, which is itself inspired and influenced by Eastern mysticism, cannabis and acid. The style often makes use of distorted electric guitars, electronically effects such as feedback, wah-wah and fuzz bass. This sound is often accompanied by keyboards and trippy lyrics.
Psychedelic rock songs often explore themes of drug use, particularly acid and cannabis. Other common themes include Eastern mysticism, the quest for spiritual enlightenment, love and sex, and the fear of death or madness.
Social Commentary
A huge part of psychedelic rock is social commentary. Many of the biggest hits from the genre were based on political and social issues of the time. For example, “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield is an anti-war song that was written during the Vietnam War. Other popular songs with social commentary include “Let’s Work Together” by Canned Heat, “People Are Strange” by The Doors, and “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” by The Animals.
Escapism
Psychedelic rock is a genre of music that is often characterized by extended improvisation, surreal lyrics, and trippy sounds. The genre is also known for its themes of escapism and mind-expansion.
In the 1960s, many young people were dissatisfied with the traditional values of their parents’ generation. They turned to drugs and music as a way to escape from the everyday world. Psychedelic rock was the perfect soundtrack for this rebellious journey into self-discovery.
The lyrics of psychedelic rock songs often explore themes of alienation, paranoia, and self-doubt. The music itself is designed to take listeners on a journey to another place. The result is a sound that can be both beautiful and unsettling.
Psychedelic rock began to lose its way in the 1970s, as bands became more interested in commercial success than mind-expanding experimentation. However, the genre has experienced a recent resurgence in popularity, thanks to bands like Tame Impala and Animal Collective.
If you’re looking for an escape from reality, put on some psychedelic rock and let your mind wander.
Notable Psychedelic Rock Songs
Psychedelic rock is a subgenre of rock music that emerged in the late 1960s. This type of rock is characterized by its use of psychedelic and mind-altering drugs, as well as its focus on themes of mental expansion, love, and introspection. Many well-known psychedelic rock songs are about these topics.
“A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum
This song was released in 1967 and quickly became a huge hit all over the world, reaching number one in many countries. It is often cited as an example of a perfect psychedelic song, with its references to Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” and its use of sound effects such as a slide guitar.
“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” by The Beatles
The song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” by The Beatles is often cited as one of the most psychedelic rock songs of all time. The song is about a girl named Lucy who is on a trip and sees a vision of diamonds in the sky. The lyrics are expressionistic and full of imagery, which makes them perfect for a psychedelic experience.
“Paint it Black” by The Rolling Stones
“Paint it Black” is a song by the English rock band The Rolling Stones. It was first released as a single in the United Kingdom on 7 May 1966, and was later included as the opening track to the US version of their 1966 album, Aftermath. It became a number one hit in both countries and is one of the Rolling Stones’ most popular and influential songs.
The song’s music and lyrics are credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, but its distinctive sitar-like sound was created by Brian Jones. The recording also features contributions from conga player Jimmy Ruffin and double bassist Bill Wyman. It is one of the first pop songs to feature a sitar, which was becoming popularised at the time through the work of Anglo-Indian musician Ravi Shankar.
The song has been described as “a classic example of psychedelic rock”, with Jagger’s vocals being praised for their “evocative power”. In 2010, Rolling Stone ranked “Paint it Black” number 125 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” by Iron Butterfly
Released in 1968, this song is one of the most well-known and iconic psychedelic songs ever made. The 17-minute track features a slow, trancy build-up that suddenly breaks into a fast, driving beat complete with distorted guitars and wailing vocals. The lyrics are mostly nonsensical, but the overall feel of the song is highly psychedelic.
