The 1967 song David Gilmour, David Bowie, and Pete Townshend called one of the greatest in pop music: “Timeless”
Ray Davies’s songwriting, particularly the Kinks’ 1967 song “Waterloo Sunset”, is praised by musicians from very different parts of rock music. David Gilmour called it the perfect pop song, while David Bowie described it as deeply moving and “timeless”; Pete Townshend said Davies’s work was perfect in his eyes.
The article argues that Davies showed how pop could move beyond simple party music, using vivid, distinctly English settings and ambitious songwriting. It links his influence to the work of Pink Floyd, The Who and Bowie, and notes that Paul McCartney once wanted to see the Kinks perform while the Beatles were touring with them.
In short
- “Waterloo Sunset” was released by the Kinks in 1967.
- Gilmour called it the perfect pop song.
- Bowie and Townshend also praised Ray Davies’s songwriting.
Explained simply
The Kinks were an English rock band led by singer and songwriter Ray Davies. They emerged in the 1960s, when many popular songs were made for dancing and radio, and Davies became known for writing about everyday life in Britain.
“Waterloo Sunset” is a Kinks song from 1967. Its story centres on two people meeting in London, with the city’s streets and river forming part of the song’s setting. The song is often discussed as an example of pop music built around detailed scenes and a reflective mood.
Musicians including David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, David Bowie and Pete Townshend of The Who have praised Davies’s songwriting. Their comments reflect the Kinks’ place in the wider history of British rock and the influence Davies’s approach had on artists who followed.