See Emily Play

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Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd

About See Emily Play

"See Emily Play" is a song by English rock band Pink Floyd, released as their second single in June 1967. Written by original frontman Syd Barrett and recorded on 23 May 1967, it featured "The Scarecrow" as its B-side. It was released as a non-album single, but appeared as the opening track of the American edition of their debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967). "See Emily Play" is included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list and reached No. 6 in the United Kingdom singles chart. As of 2018, the song has never been mixed to stereo, so the US album version was rechannelled and all subsequent reissues have been in mono. 


Year:
1971
2:53
134 
#1

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Syd Barrett

Roger Keith "Syd" Barrett (6 January 1946 – 7 July 2006), was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and painter, best remembered as a founder member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic direction in their early work. He is credited with creating their name, but left the group in April 1968 amid speculations of mental illness exacerbated by drug use, and was briefly hospitalised. more »

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10 facts about this song

Creation Process
"See Emily Play" was written and performed by Syd Barrett, the original frontman of Pink Floyd. It is considered an essential part of the band's early psychedelic repertoire.
Release Information
The song was released on June 16, 1967, as a single and later appeared on the U.S. edition of the band's debut album "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn".
Chart Performance
"See Emily Play" is one of Pink Floyd's earliest hits, reaching number 6 on the UK singles chart. It remains one of the band's most successful singles in their home country.
Song Inspiration
Barrett reportedly wrote "See Emily Play" after seeing a girl named Emily Young dancing at a gig in Cambridge. Young later became a respected sculptor.
Barrett's Mental State
Many speculate that Barrett's heavy use of LSD influenced the dreamlike, surreal lyrics and sound of "See Emily Play". His subsequent mental health issues led to his departure from Pink Floyd in 1968.
Unique Song Structure
Rather than having a conventional verse-chorus structure, "See Emily Play" is divided into sections labeled A, B and C. The sections are organized in an unusual ABACABA pattern, adding to the song's unique character.
Recording Techniques
The song features various groundbreaking production techniques for the time, such as tape echoes, reverse tapes, and pitch modulation, contributing to its psychedelic sound.
Unplanned Breaks
During the initial recording sessions of "See Emily Play," Syd Barrett was rumored to have hidden the band's equipment, causing unplanned breaks.
Cover Versions
"See Emily Play" has been covered by multiple artists over the years, such as David Bowie on his album "Pin Ups" in 1973.
Connection to Fashion
The song's title character, Emily, inspired a particular style of dress in the '60s known as the Emily look, or "the psychedelic schoolgirl".

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