To me, Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon,” released in 1973 is one of the greatest records of all time. It’s where my love for music all started. It’s the record that acted as the key that opened up the doors of my musical horizons. I still remember how it all started back in 2007, when I was starting Junior High (Grade 7.) My former friend visited one day and brought 2 CDs. The first one was “Dark Side of the Moon,” but the second one was Bruce Spingsteen’s “Born to Run.” Both are great records. And, I still remember exactly what he told me.“Marco, we need to play this, you’ll thank me for it, trust me!” INDEED I DID! It felt as if I was experiencing some sort of religious experience. My ears couldn’t believe what I was listening to, I didn’t know that each track can be musically intertwined from one to the other. I finally understood the meaning of being lost within the music. What songs meant, how melodies are meant to appeal to us, how other musical genres or styles can blend with each other, and what a great record meant. It all just made sense to me. This is what I call “the musical pick” that started my love, and appreciation for music.
And, let me just tell you that this entire record is great. Not only because of the melodies, or even its flowability, but also the meanings behind each and every song. “Time,” is my most favorite song from this record. All of the other songs are great, don’t get me wrong! But to me, this one stands out the most. I remember listening to this for the first time, and amazed at how that ticking sound is made from a palm muting picking technique on the electric bass. WOW! And, being shaken up unexpectedly at how all the bells would go off, kinda giving you that sense of “the time is NOW, GET READY!” But, the melody of the song starts off mysterious, where you don’t know which direction it’s going in, but you get that sense that you know it’s going to be good, and worth the listen. Slowly building up to the actual song, where the beat aligns perfectly with the melody, and the lyrics have some sort of depth meaning, just see for yourselves.
“Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way.”
Or even this part of the song.
“Tired of lying in the sunshine, staying home to watch the rain
And you are young and life is long, and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun.”