What is the most beautiful song ever?

The Moon's a Harsh Mistress - Jimmy Webb

Scott Walker - Montague Terrace (in blue)

Wulu Bunun & David Darling - Lugu Lugu Kan-Ibi

love that record. i don't think it'd be my #1, but one of the song of the -- pieces on there (lots of Ms in the title, blanking on the name) is mindblowing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIPfKi6IHTQ

honestly think it's this one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDR4-VJxMx4

Ben Watt - Some Things Don't Matter

I'll see that and raise you

Everything but the Girl - The Night I Heard Caruso Sing

Big Star, "Blue Moon."

Probably "I Only Have Eyes For You" for me as well, but a bunch of other good ones here not mentioned (for those making mixes etc.):

Kraftwerk "Tanzmusik"—All-time favorite Kraftwerk song, could listen to it forever
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M5sV-IWQlE

Grateful Dead "Stella Blue"—Big reason you should not hate Jerry Garcia, or the Dead
Low/Springheel Jack "Bombscare"
Sea and Cake "Parasol"
Lambchop "The Book I Haven't Read"—Maybe sentimental favorite
Mayo Thompson "Dear Betty Baby"
Robert Wyatt "Just As You Are"
Led Zeppelin "Ten Years Gone"—In remembrance of my sappy 13-year-old self

Til Tuesday - "Coming Up Close"

"Ten Years Gone" is totally justifiable, grandavis! Most of my candidates have been covered somewhere on-thread, but my for-serious choice hasn't: Mahalia Jackson and Duke Ellington, "Come Sunday" from Black, Brown, and Beige. The wordless part at the end...oh, man.

Probably "I Only Have Eyes For You" for me as well, but a bunch of other good ones here not mentioned (for those making mixes etc.):

Ugh...that one gives me the creeps every time I hear it. No idea why but it has such a surreal atmosphere to it. I find it hard to listen to because it's so emotionally powerful.

It is creepy, as well as almost so clinically pretty that it is overwhelming. I eat it up though, just so good.

Well, not most beautiful ever, but on that "clinically pretty and creepy" angle, I always think of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNgo-ppXZt0&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mecNrIaWOA

Oh, and a bunch of Innocence Mission songs make it to misty-eyes-from-beauty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr25sF18DZY

I was looking for the original, but this cover is not bad at all!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXxlQ1rPu8U&playnext=1&list=PLA7E5C0549FD17B49

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYDrkG2EGwg

Hello [on a cellphone], greetings, it's me, an outlaw,
I ask you, my love, to accept happiness.
Hello, hello, it's me, Picasso,
I sent you a beep [cellphone signal], and I'm brave [or strong],
But you should know that I'm not asking for anything from you.

You want to leave but you don't want don't want to take me, don't want don't want to take me, don't want don't want don't want to take me.
Your face and the love from the linden trees,
And I remember your eyes.

I call you [over the phone], to tell you what I feel right now,
Hello, my love, it's me, your happiness.
Hello, hello, it's me again, Picasso,
I sent you a beep [cellphone signal] and I'm brave [or strong],
But you should know that I'm not asking for anything from you.

― Steve Shasta, Friday, July 20, 2007 12:26 PM (3 years ago)

Pretty Things - "Parachute"

June Tabor - And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Arvo Part - Spiegel Im Spiegel
Morita Doji - Our Failure
Singers & Players - Moses
Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 21: II Andante
Leonard Cohen - The Partisan
Massive Attack - Black Milk
Kelan Phil Cohran and Legacy - White Nile (obscure, but jawdroppingly beautiful)
Michel Moulinie - Lente Course
Sarah Gorby - Moyde Ani
Ewan MacColl - Sweet Thames Flow Softly (an idiosyncratic choice perhaps)

Arvo Part - Spiegel Im Spiegel

Great choice. Would add Brian Eno's "An Ascent" too.

That's a pretty nice list, actually, crimpback (the ones I know, anyway).

Right now, T.G.T.T by Duke Ellington

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThVjVO3YBdU

Can't pick one, but it's probably somewhere on here: http://www.rawkblog.net/2009/02/elliott-smith-the-complete-live-covers/

The Association - Never My Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCniFuHlPG0

Not 'ever' but this year at least.

Scritti Politti - P.A.s

http://youtu.be/vqWzwJ8RTkI

Clammbon - Folklore

http://youtu.be/t8_Yg6yXLMI

Blue in Green - Miles Davis

Not a song but the entirety of David Darling's Cycles. Here's the first track:

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

This thread is a nice read.

keith m's post up top still makes me laugh

Brian Eno - The Big Ship
― tipustiger, Wednesday, February 11, 2004 9:17 PM (thirteen years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Is it the canonical "Canon in D Major"?

― Curt1s St3ph3ns

ugh, yeah, and the saddest song is valse triste, right?

"Not Sport, Marital Art" by Jim O'Rourke.

Gentle Movement Toward Sensual Liberation by Naomi Punk

There are probably 100 songs that, while I am listening to them, seem like the most beautiful song of all.

Peter Hammill, "This Side of the Looking Glass"
Leonard Cohen, "Take This Longing"
10,000 Maniacs, "Verdi Cries"

Let's Stay Together by Al Green

Little Fluffy Clouds

I feel like going with Miles Davis's Flamenco Sketches today, or Beethoven's Hammerklavier sonata, adagio sostenuto.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62xHsMa1siI

came to mind

Cecil Taylor's recording of "This Nearly Was Mine"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nrwd6J5HO2U

Some David Axelrod songs. . . stuff like 'The Human Abstract', 'Song of Innocence', 'A Dream', Price's 'A Hope. . .that stuff is so gorgeous, it almost aches to listen to.

And, of course, Miles has some: 'Fran-Dance' comes to mind, in addition to what's already been mentioned. And, even though the mid-70's electric stuff isn't usually associated with being "pretty" music, there are some passages on 'Gondwana' that definitely fit the mood.

And, Bill Evans. Always. 'Peace Piece', 'Blue in Green', 'Waltz for Debby', 'RE: Person I Knew.' Just to scratch the surface, but man, just about 90% of what he played qualifies.

Sorry, that should be Pride's 'A Hope.'

La Mer

O My Stars by Michael Hurlsey

*michael hurley

Should poll these once its got to 50

Either Song to the Siren by This Mortal Coil or Hammond Song by Roches