What is the most beautiful song ever?

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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)

Miles Davis' "Shh/Peaceful"

nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 12 February 2004 15:17 (twenty-two years ago)

no no wait it's "Your Kid Committed Suicide Because You Suck" by Anal Cunt yeah

nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 12 February 2004 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

"Black Metallic" and "Carolyn's Fingers" are both way up there, yeah.

The Good Dr. Bill (Andrew Unterberger), Thursday, 12 February 2004 15:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Miles Davis's version of "Concierto de Aranjuez" always gets to me.

Most Billie Holiday, but esp. All of Me and Gloomy Sunday.

stephen morris, Thursday, 12 February 2004 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Classical - "Moonlight Sonata", L.V. Beethoven
Jazz - "Naima", John Coltrane
Pop - "She Comes In Colors", Love

Myonga Von Bontee, Thursday, 12 February 2004 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Some other contenders =

Dave Brubeck Quartet "Take Five" (actually by Paul Desmond but whatev)
Ween "Sarah"
Talvin Singh "Butterfly"
Buckethead "Lone Sal Bug"

nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 12 February 2004 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)

"Song to the Siren" as rendered by This Mortal Coil
"Those Eyes, That Mouth" by Cocteau Twins
"Protection" by Massive Attack
"I'm Not in Love" by 10cc

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 February 2004 16:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Most of "Dekkagar" by The National Trust.

@d@ml (nordicskilla), Thursday, 12 February 2004 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

"Visions of Johanna" Bobby D.

AleXTC (AleXTC), Thursday, 12 February 2004 17:27 (twenty-two years ago)

"Cherry" by JJ Cale!

Conor (Conor), Thursday, 12 February 2004 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

'ooh baby baby' by smokay robinson

'god only knows' is certainly up there too

adam b (adam b), Thursday, 12 February 2004 17:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Train from Canvas City by The Shangri-Las

Paul T, Thursday, 12 February 2004 17:48 (twenty-two years ago)

rhapsody in blue

roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 12 February 2004 18:55 (twenty-two years ago)

"Dear Faraway Friend" by Northern Picture Library. That or, as a few others have said, "Carolyn's Fingers".

Rick Spence (spencerman), Thursday, 12 February 2004 19:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Razorblade by Low. Or any song by low.
Another one: in love with a view - Mojave 3.

Rush Rhees (Rush Rhees), Thursday, 12 February 2004 21:03 (twenty-two years 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)


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