What is the most beautiful song ever?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Not all messages are displayed: show all messages (645 of them)

bonnie price billy with the marquis de tren: II-XV

― jed_ (jed), Thursday, 12 February 2004 01:55 (twenty-two years ago)

"Wichita Lineman", & classical, Faure's "Requiem".

― Chris Hill (Chris Hill), Thursday, 12 February 2004 01:55 (twenty-two years ago)

pop : Louie Armstrong "What a Wonderful World"
ambient : Global Communication "12:18"
techno : Orbital "Belfast" (last two minutes)
classical : Beethoven "Symphony No.9, 4th Movement" (last four minutes)
or Mozart "Bassoon Concerto, 2nd Movement"

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 12 February 2004 01:57 (twenty-two years ago)

As for beautiful ambient/new age, I cannot help being a sucker for part two from Jarre's "Equinoxe"

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 12 February 2004 02:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Freebird

― Dude (The Yellow Dart), Thursday, 12 February 2004 02:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I cannot help being a sucker
-- Geir Hongro (geirhon...), February 12th, 2004.

― omg, Thursday, 12 February 2004 02:04 (twenty-two years ago)

"Have You Seen Her?", The Chi-Lites
"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", Hank Williams
"Aquele Abraco", Gilberto Gil
"I'll Be There", The Jackson 5
"Midnight Sun", many artists but I favor Ella Fitzgerald's version

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Thursday, 12 February 2004 02:06 (twenty-two years ago)

oh and I forgot "Comb Your Hair" by the Boo Radleys and "Peace Music" by Pizzicato Five and "Tha Crossroads" by Bone Thugs N Harmony

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Thursday, 12 February 2004 02:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Loesser and Carmichael's "Two Sleepy People" (as done by Fats Waller particularly)
Saint Saens' "The Swan"
Bedrich Smetana's "Die Moldau"
Chi-Lites' "Have You Seen Her?" *indeed*
Barry White's "Never Never Gonna Give Ya Up"
10cc's "I'm Not In Love" (esp. in terms of production/use of sound)

all sublime those...

― Tom May (Tom May), Thursday, 12 February 2004 02:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Love is all -Ronnie James Dio

― ipsofacto (ipsofacto), Thursday, 12 February 2004 02:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Brian Eno - The Big Ship

― tipustiger, Thursday, 12 February 2004 02:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I was going to assuredly say Beach Boys' "God Only Knows."

But then I saw "Belfast"...

Now there is conflict.

― The Good Dr. Bill (Andrew Unterberger), Thursday, 12 February 2004 02:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Captain Beefheart "Yellow Brick Road"

― otto, Thursday, 12 February 2004 02:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Nick Drake's Northern Sky but whoever said Witchita Lineman is somewhat OTM, too.

― may pang (maypang), Thursday, 12 February 2004 02:31 (twenty-two years ago)

BLAAAAACK IS THE CULURRRRHHHHHH...OF MY TRUE LOVE'S HAIR.
- Nina Simone rip

― Etta Wu, Thursday, 12 February 2004 02:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Ack, "Northern Sky," I KNEW I was forgetting one! That and "Fly" are now rivalling my previous choice.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Thursday, 12 February 2004 02:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I was going to assuredly say Beach Boys' "God Only Knows."

-- The Good Dr. Bill (fadeout9...), February 12th, 2004.

this was going to be my response. 'don't talk' would be a suitable alternative too.

― Mil, Thursday, 12 February 2004 02:35 (twenty-two years ago)

coltrane's version of "my favorite things"

― fjkdsl, Thursday, 12 February 2004 02:35 (twenty-two years ago)

You're both wrong. The most beautiful Beach Boys song is 'Til I Die!

― may pang (maypang), Thursday, 12 February 2004 02:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Waterloo Sunset

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Thursday, 12 February 2004 03:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Young-Holt Unlimited - "Soulful Strut"

― Mark (MarkR), Thursday, 12 February 2004 03:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree both "'Till I Die" and "Waterloo Sunset" are very special, but still get all goosebumpy for "Walk away Renee" by The Left Banke

― jim wentworth (wench), Thursday, 12 February 2004 03:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Slip Inside This House.
Elevators

― sam., Thursday, 12 February 2004 03:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Perfect Circle

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Thursday, 12 February 2004 03:41 (twenty-two years ago)

"Under Pressure"

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 12 February 2004 03:42 (twenty-two years ago)

"Walk Away Renee" totally...I'm crying just thinking about listening to it

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Thursday, 12 February 2004 03:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Xtal - Aphex Twin. It's very, very pretty-sounding at least.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Thursday, 12 February 2004 03:47 (twenty-two years ago)

spacemen 3/sonic boom - ecstacy

― A Nairn (moretap), Thursday, 12 February 2004 03:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Black Metallic!

― John 2, Thursday, 12 February 2004 04:04 (twenty-two years ago)

"An Ending (Ascent)," Brian Eno

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Thursday, 12 February 2004 04:07 (twenty-two years ago)

"Aquele Abraco", Gilberto Gi

OTM. Profoundly beautiful, in a very exciting way

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Thursday, 12 February 2004 04:13 (twenty-two years ago)

"You Will Call Me Kompressor." Kompressor.

― janni (janni), Thursday, 12 February 2004 05:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Waterloo Sunset OTM
God Only Knows OTM

Was music more beautiful in the '60s?

― Debito (Debito), Thursday, 12 February 2004 05:23 (twenty-two years ago)

"You Are Too Beautiful" - our song! (The wife and me, that is.)

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Thursday, 12 February 2004 05:24 (twenty-two years ago)

"Was music more beautiful in the 60's?"

I think, certainly more melodic.

― jim wentworth (wench), Thursday, 12 February 2004 05:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I think it has more to do with production than melody. But who can say for sure, really?

― may pang (maypang), Thursday, 12 February 2004 05:31 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the most beautiful song is an old black gospel song that I think is called "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" I'm not a Christian, but whenever I heard that song when my parents took me to church on Easter when I was a kid it would fuck me right up. The chorus goes "Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble." It's really a very powerful song.

― Jaromil (Jaromil), Thursday, 12 February 2004 07:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Fratres Arvo Part

― Jole, Thursday, 12 February 2004 07:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Jim is a man after my heart....

The Left Banke-Pretty Ballerina

MOST...BEAUTIFUL...SONG...EVER!

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Thursday, 12 February 2004 08:17 (twenty-two years ago)

My first thought was Bill Wither's "Ain't No Sunshine", but the Good Dr. Bill is probably right about the Beach Boy's "God Only Knows". Depending on who is doing it, "Walkin' After Midnight" is a beautiful song as well.

― grapeshine (grapeshine), Thursday, 12 February 2004 08:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I like The Clientele's "Reflections After Jane".

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Thursday, 12 February 2004 08:37 (twenty-two years ago)

wire - outdoor miner

― pete b. (pete b.), Thursday, 12 February 2004 09:22 (twenty-two years ago)

With beats:

Tom and Joyce - "Vai minha tristeza"

Without beats and sad:

Townes van Zandt - "Rex's blues"

Weirdly affecting cheesy with beats choice:

Q Tex - "Power of love"

― Jacob (Jacob), Thursday, 12 February 2004 10:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Eno, "By This River"

― Jeremy (Jeremy), Thursday, 12 February 2004 10:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Bill Withers OTM! I also like Brand New Day - Sebadoh and Foggy Eyes - Beat Happening. Weird there haven't been a lot of songs mentioned w/female vocals because thats what I'd assume would have the most potential for beautyality.

― christhamrin (christhamrin), Thursday, 12 February 2004 10:37 (twenty-two years ago)

"Pavane pour une infante défunte" - Ravel
"In My Room" - Beach Boys
"Last Day on Earth" - Swervedriver
"I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore" - Walker Brothers/Jerry Butler

― Rocco, Thursday, 12 February 2004 14:00 (twenty-two years ago)

La La Means I Love You.

― Rick Massimo (Rick Massimo), Thursday, 12 February 2004 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

"This Woman's Work" by Kate Bush

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 February 2004 15:09 (twenty-two years ago)

"Carolyn's Fingers" -- Cocteau Twins

― rainman (rainman), Thursday, 12 February 2004 15:11 (twenty-two years ago)

down town train-tom waits

― luke gretton (Lukey G), Thursday, 12 February 2004 15:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 545 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Three Dog Night - Easy To Be Hard is what has been in my mind in this category lately

― glumdalclitch, Saturday, 18 October 2025 15:49 (eight months ago)

Another that's wayyyy up there. Sometimes I cry all the way through this, especially if I'm coming to it after listening through the whole double album. Morio Agata's Saikō ∞ Mugen / 彩光∞無限

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORWPlLl4igA

And while I'm on Agata, I must also mention Itoshi no Dairoku Wakusei / いとしの第六惑星

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APYNTe5HklE

― TheNuNuNu, Saturday, 18 October 2025 15:55 (eight months ago)

Going with Keith Jarrett's Landscape for Future Earth, probably what I posted in 2011 but the link is gone. It's got enough of the Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood end-credits warmth to avoid being esoteric, but without compromising Jarrett's complexities.

― the way out of (Eazy), Saturday, 18 October 2025 16:09 (eight months ago)

Mojave 3 - Sarah
Pram - Sea Jungle

― epistantophus, Saturday, 18 October 2025 16:46 (eight months ago)

Too lazy to see if I already posted this by Your Sweet Live by Lee Hazlewood.

― dan selzer, Saturday, 18 October 2025 18:43 (eight months ago)

If you lie down with me - lana del rey

Don’t worry baby - the beach boys

Elegy to the void - beach house

Voila - francoise hardy

― treeship 2, Sunday, 19 October 2025 01:27 (eight months ago)

TS: Yo La Tengo's "I Heard You Looking" vs Yo La Tengo's "Blue Line Swinger"

― mookieproof, Sunday, 19 October 2025 01:34 (eight months ago)

I heard you looking

― treeship 2, Sunday, 19 October 2025 01:43 (eight months ago)

"Kingsize" by the Boo Radleys is my most beautiful song. Sice's best vocal performed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSXvIrwTGoo

― Bee OK, Sunday, 19 October 2025 02:06 (eight months ago)

― the way out of (Eazy), Saturday, October 18, 2025 5:09 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

i've been on a jarrett kick lately, this is beautiful, think i need that first studio album.

― she freaks, she speaks (map), Sunday, 19 October 2025 02:50 (eight months ago)

Or:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpL_TF_GPng

― Bee OK, Sunday, 19 October 2025 05:09 (eight months ago)

XP to TheNuNuNu

Hey, I think that would have been the theme from Shining Boy and Little Randy, particularly the version on his /05 Piano record.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeMPb0iXyJA

― Maresn3st, Sunday, 19 October 2025 12:24 (eight months ago)

Judee Sill - The Kiss

― J. Sam, Sunday, 19 October 2025 13:09 (eight months ago)

Three Dog Night - Easy To Be Hard is what has been in my mind in this category lately

The version by Cheryl Barnes on the Hair movie soundtrack is a heartbreaker.

― Hideous Lump, Sunday, 19 October 2025 13:49 (eight months ago)

Next time I’m sick in bed I’m gonna collate all these noms and reach some conclusions about what typically constitutes a song being described as “beautiful”

There are too many moments in Baroque music to list one as “most beautiful” but with a gun to my head it’s the second movement of the Bach Double Violin Concerto.

― We're sad to see you. Go! (flamboyant goon tie included), Sunday, 19 October 2025 13:59 (eight months ago)

d’angelo - “send it on”

― harper valley paul thomas anderson (voodoo chili), Sunday, 19 October 2025 14:05 (eight months ago)

Darkness has reached it’s end - Virginia Astley is up there for me

― Mule, Sunday, 19 October 2025 16:34 (eight months ago)

gotta throw a nom to this all-time banger that we can thank the late, great JD Twitch for discovering and sharing with the internet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRgLhEGEetc
Mariah - 心臓の扉 (Shinzo No Tobira)

― Judi Dench's Human Hand (methanietanner), Sunday, 19 October 2025 17:07 (eight months ago)

That’s the song that somehow foretold the XX

― dan selzer, Sunday, 19 October 2025 17:44 (eight months ago)

frogbs, what were these? One must have been La Travida Malĝojo de Giovanni.

― TheNuNuNu, Saturday, October 18, 2025 10:46 AM (three days ago) bookmarkflaglink

knowing me, yes probably

I'm guessing "Trembling #1" might've been another. played loud enough that track hits some nerve center in my brain

― frogbs, Tuesday, 21 October 2025 18:52 (eight months ago)

Three that come to mind, in the same vein as several mentioned above -

Mojave 3: In love with a view
Son Volt: Left a Slide
Bedhead: Powder

― tobo73, Tuesday, 21 October 2025 19:35 (eight months ago)

this has been scientifically proven to be This Mortal Coil's "Another Day", lock thread

― sleeve, Tuesday, 21 October 2025 19:37 (eight months ago)

My recent answer to this is 'The Age of Miracles' by The Clientele. It is an autumn thing, but also god, the strings, the lyrics, the way it feels like someone wrote a song just for me.

― I would prefer not to. (Chinaski), Tuesday, 21 October 2025 19:40 (eight months ago)

I'd take 'Meniscus' by This Mortal Coil.

― I would prefer not to. (Chinaski), Tuesday, 21 October 2025 19:41 (eight months ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVBswE1ulJk

― dan selzer, Wednesday, 22 October 2025 04:09 (eight months ago)

Best finds from reading this thread:
Pharoah Sanders - Greeting to Saud (Brother McCoy Tyner)
Jaga Jazzist - Toccata

Agree with “New Grass” and My Bloody Valentine's “Soon" (among other picks), but out of songs not yet mentioned:
Round Five - Na Fe Throw It (Feat. Tikiman)
Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel of Love
Arne Weinberg - Isis
Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time

― secret ride, Wednesday, 22 October 2025 10:27 (eight months ago)

"Kingsize" by the Boo Radleys is my most beautiful song. Sice's best vocal performed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSXvIrwTGoo

Oh this is killer.

Thanks Mare, gonna play that recording 10 times a day for a week, I think...

And frogbs, hell yes! I've been on a huge Endless Talking kick this month. Ever since I found out last spring that the opener is simply a Nokto song that didn't make it onto the soundtrack (it's in the film -- the same exact recording), the album has come to feel even *more* like a warped mirror-image of Nokto... it's so cool too, because Nokto is surely one of the warmest and most emotional things Hosono has done, while The Endless Talking is the most alien!

― TheNuNuNu, Wednesday, 22 October 2025 11:38 (eight months ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dhFO3lLzBU

― TO BE A JAZZ SINGER YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SCAT (Jazzbo), Wednesday, 22 October 2025 12:34 (eight months ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWsXMLnsfE4

― Indexed, Wednesday, 22 October 2025 14:00 (eight months ago)

Sometimes it’s Nico’s cover of “These Days”

― assert (matttkkkk), Wednesday, 22 October 2025 14:19 (eight months ago)

Just reading Eminent Hipsters by Donald Fagen. He concludes his piece on Ray Charles with

"For me, and a generation of suburban boomers, Ray was the Professor of Desire, and 'Georgia on my Mind' – square-ass back-up singers and all – just may have been the most beautiful three minutes and thirty-nine seconds in all of twentieth-century music."

― Ward Fowler, Wednesday, 22 October 2025 14:29 (eight months ago)

Choosing between about a half-dozen songs by The innocence Mission and going with Brotherhood of Man.

― the way out of (Eazy), Wednesday, 22 October 2025 14:52 (eight months ago)

At this second, “Viel zu früh und immer weider; Liebeslieder” by Blumfeld

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYWKqePjvBY

― This dark glowing bohemian coffeehouse (Boring, Maryland), Wednesday, 22 October 2025 15:01 (eight months ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.