What is the most beautiful song ever?

I'd consider

Nara Leão - Berimbau (1st album) or Consolaçao
Jorge Ben - Oba la vem ela (among others)
Björk - Hidden Place
Thione Seck - Bamba
Carla Morrison - Disfruto
Pete la Roca - Lazy Afternoon
Joanna Newsom - On a good day (or Only Skin)
Camera Obsura - Forests and Sands
Caetano Veloso - It's a Long Way
The Smiths - There is a light that never goes out (yes, fuck you)
Wailing Souls - Very Well
Orchestre Régional de Kayes - Sanjina
The Paragons - Only a smile
Ijahman Levi - I am a levi (demo version)
Something by the Heptones.
Raekwon - Verbal Intercourse
Erykah Badu - Soldier
Something by Sam Cooke.
Maybe Ann Peebles - I'm gonna tear your playhouse down
James Brown It's a man's man's man's world.
Something by Van Morrison (Madame George).
Sister Sledge - Lost in Music
Can - Future Days
Something by Fela Kuti.
Japan - My New Career.
Yes - Close to the Edge

I'm getting started I think

definitely "turn me on" by kevin lyttle

Beethoven's Heiliger Dankgesang eines Genesenen an die Gottheit, in der lydischen Tonart from his 15th String Quartet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vTSpfWbSGs

^ I agree! I thought about posting that clip or the Busch Quartet earlier. The Heiliger Dankgesang is just incredible.

If we're including instrumental pieces, my default vote is always for the Prelude from Bach's Cello Suite 1 in G, BWV 1007. (But will listen to a lot of these clips when I can! The Darling sounded good yesterday.)

New Grass is a good call

Topaz by The B-52's would be my choice today.

Gavin Bryars - Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1lnSi7QWY8

New Grass

― Mule, Saturday, June 3, 2017 3:21 AM (fourteen hours ago)

Strong candidate right there.

"Feeling Yourself Disintegrate / Sleeping on the Roof" by the Flaming Lips is often what pops into my head when I consider a question like this.

'New Grass' is definitely up there.

But my final answer would probably be Claude Vivier's Lonely Child:

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

(But will listen to a lot of these clips when I can! The Darling sounded good yesterday.)

― Tomorrow Begat Tomorrow (Sund4r)

Glad you liked it! The whole thing is worth hearing, really. One of ECM's finest moments, imho.

Lil Uzi Vert - XO TOUR Lif3

― dance cum rituals (Moka), Friday, June 2, 2017 5:26 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

This may have been the first song that came to my mind when I saw the thread title

The David Darling piece that revived the thread reminds me of the closing theme of the Incredible Hulk tv show, which also belongs on this thread.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzMSfaNXYZg

Heh, I was not expecting that. I can hear the connection, though.

Speaking of sound and vision, I'm also reminded of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg0cmhjdiLs

One more for the road, rarer and perhaps more of an acquired taste:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G774tcYlv1I

little feat - long distance love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZOh-_yYLAQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGs_vGt0MY8

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

About half a dozen tracks from the KING album from last year would be strong contenders

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m-6bU4x7us

This would be my go to Sakamoto melody, so unbearably nostalgic sounding it crushes me to atoms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFVwV9-qtIQ

while we're on that path, this track by Hosono fits that same description to me, it's overwhelmingly lonely

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D3ue553fEo

that is superb, maresnest, ty

https://youtu.be/ACZ1b5MUVEQ

https://youtu.be/ACZ1b5MUVEQ

Not even close pally

Dead Can Dance – Sanvean

Videos don't embed for me properly and I'm too dumb to work out why, so these are de-linkified, anyway these are some that come to mind:

James Blackshaw - Cross
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIW_TeQj_ds

Jaga Jazzist - Toccata
www.youtube.com/watch?v=56bcPg58Kow

After Dinner - KA-NO-PU-SU-NO-HA-KO
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT5C-QqIgjw

King Crimson - Trio
www.youtube.com/watch?v=szX7ZOkFAP0

I mean 3/4 are instrumental therefore not 'songs' technically but whateeeveeer

'New Grass' is still the best answer anyway

For song qua song, I might boringly cosign "God Only Knows".

Maybe "Farewell Farewell" by Fairport Convention, for songs with singing.

Fleetwood Mac - Never Going Back Again

Jaga Jazzist - Toccata

yes to this 100%

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kncyLpAS4RQ

The Cure - 'Plainsong'

Yes mcalmont/butler

This song from a somewhat obscure Renaissance album:

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

Annie Haslam has got to have one of the best voices I have ever heard - that high note she hits in the chorus is pretty nuts

Ugh rude

It's yes by mcalmont butler fyi

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzWYUomBpwg&sns=em

That or Stephanie Says. Or this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBDdsNyuLG8&sns=em

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m-6bU4x7us

this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O92UBBaiI4&sns=em

Maybe not “beautiful” in the sense that most of the songs in this thread are, but the lamentably short piano sectionof this song that goes from like 3:25 to 4:10 might be my favorite moment in all of music.

That track is magical.

1er Gymnopédie

game of Life- dusty springfield
stardust- nat king cole
hallelujiah- jeff buckley
one- u2
hang me in red- maria mckee
needle & the damage done- neil young
born slippy- underworld
angel- sarah mclachlan
i know- jude
amazing grace- anyone
but you really should try to find:

she moves through the fair- phil coulter

i'm also partial to the song during the baptism sequence of oh brother where art thou too.

― darragh.mac (darragh.mac), Monday, September 27, 2004 12:37 AM (thirteen years ago)

do you still rep for any of these in 2018? Dusty's 'Goin' Back' is eternal, though idk if it's the most beautiful song of all time (pretty sure that honor goes to some Suede bro's side project)

I'll rep for a few of them but a good few wouldn't make a top list now alright

I wouldn't go with Coulter's version although it might be fair to say that most versions or interpretations you might hear would probably be heavily influenced.

"Somewhere over the rainbow" is indelible.