The Best Psychedelic Rock on YouTube
Contents
- The Beatles – “A Day in the Life”
- The Doors – “Light My Fire”
- Jimi Hendrix – “All Along the Watchtower”
- Pink Floyd – “Another Brick in the Wall”
- The Rolling Stones – “Paint It Black”
- The Who – “Won’t Get Fooled Again”
- Led Zeppelin – “Kashmir”
- David Bowie – “Space Oddity”
- Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”
- Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
This list celebrates the best Psychedelic Rock songs of all time as determined by YouTube data. If you enjoy Psychedelic Rock, check out these videos!
The Beatles – “A Day in the Life”
“A Day in the Life” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as the final track of their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Credited to Lennon–McCartney, it was primarily written by John Lennon, with contributions from Paul McCartney. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential songs in popular music history.
The Doors – “Light My Fire”
The Doors were one of the most influential and controversial American rock bands of the 1960s. They were formed in Los Angeles in 1965 by singer/songwriter Jim Morrison and keyboardist Ray Manzarek, with guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore joining soon afterwards. The Doors’ sound was a unique amalgamation of rock, blues, jazz, classical, and acid rock, and their live shows were electrifying.
“Light My Fire” was the first single from The Doors’ self-titled debut album, released in 1967. It was an instant hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song’s success helped to make The Doors one of the most popular bands of the 1960s.
The Doors’ music has been widely influential, with their songs being covered by a number of artists. “Light My Fire” has been covered by such artists as Jose Feliciano, Willie Nelson, Jerry Garcia, and many others.
Jimi Hendrix – “All Along the Watchtower”
Few debut singles are as mind-blowing as “All Along the Watchtower.” The opening moments are familiar enough, with a strummed acoustic riff and Dylan’s lyrics, but when Hendrix comes in with his searing electric guitar, the song takes on a whole new life. It quickly became one of Hendrix’s signature songs, and has been covered by everyone from Bob Dylan to U2.
Pink Floyd – “Another Brick in the Wall”
“Another Brick in the Wall” is a song by Pink Floyd. It was released as a single in 1979, and later included on The Wall album. The song is about a schoolboy’s feelings of anger and rebellion against authority. The lyrics were written by Roger Waters, and the music was composed by Pink Floyd.
The song was extremely successful, reaching number one in the UK and number three in the US. It has been covered by many artists, including U2, Bruce Springsteen, and Roger Daltrey.
The Rolling Stones – “Paint It Black”
One of the most enduring hits of The Rolling Stones – “Paint It Black” is a song that exemplifies the dark side of the band’s sound. The lyrics, which deal with depression and paranoia, are set to a music that is both dark and catchy. This is one of the most influential songs of the psychedelic rock genre, and it remains a favorite of fans today.
The Who – “Won’t Get Fooled Again”
The Who – “Won’t Get Fooled Again” The best psychedelic rock on YouTube doesn’t just come from the 60s and 70s – in fact, some of the best examples come from much more recent years. This track from The Who is a perfect example of how modern musicians can create something that sounds like it could have come from the height of the psychedelia era. With its swirling guitars and trippy sound effects, “Won’t Get Fooled Again” is a track that is sure to get you nodding your head along in agreement.
Led Zeppelin – “Kashmir”
Led Zeppelin – “Kashmir”
One of the most iconic riffs in rock history, Kashmir is a perfect example of Led Zeppelin at their very best. Jimmy Page’s slide guitar work is nothing short of incredible, and Robert Plant’s vocals are as powerful as ever. This is a must-watch for any fan of classic rock.
David Bowie – “Space Oddity”
The first song on our list is “Space Oddity” by David Bowie. The original album version of the song was released in 1969 and it was one of Bowie’s first hits. The song is about an astronaut who is cut off from communication with Earth and begins to feel like he is losing his mind. The song is written in a major key and has a slow, spacey feel to it. The music video for the song was released in 1973 and it features Bowie performing the song in a zero gravity environment.
This video is from a live performance that Bowie did in 1976. The performance is much more energetic than the original album version of the song. Bowie is dressed in his iconic Ziggy Stardust outfit and he really seems to be enjoying himself. The audience loves it too and they can be seen dancing and singing along with Bowie.
This performance is from Bowie’s farewell concert in 1972. By this time, Bowie had already relocated to America and he was starting to distance himself from his earlier work. This performance is much more subdued than the other two on our list, but it’s still a great example of Bowie’s talent as a performer.
Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Freddie Mercury wrote “Bohemian Rhapsody” at his home in London. It was released as a single in 1976 and reached number one in the UK, where it stayed for nine weeks. The song has since been covered by many artists and is considered one of the greatest rock songs of all time.
Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is one of the best examples of psychedelic rock on YouTube. The song was released in 1991 and quickly became a global hit. It features a catchy melody, distorted guitars, and powerful vocals from Kurt Cobain. The music video is also one of the most iconic videos of the 90s, featuring a group of teenagers who are clearly enjoying themselves despite the chaotic world around them.
