What is the most beautiful song ever?

all sublime those...

But then I saw "Belfast"...

Now there is conflict.

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

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

OTM. Profoundly beautiful, in a very exciting way

Was music more beautiful in the '60s?

I think, certainly more melodic.

The Left Banke-Pretty Ballerina

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

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"

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

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

'god only knows' is certainly up there too

"God only knows" - The Beach Boys
"L'anamour" - Francoise Hardy
"Avenue" - Saint Etienne
"Song to the Siren" - This Mortal Coil
"Being Boring" - Pet Shop Boys
"Maria, Maria" - Stephin Merritt

And there's also John Lennon's "Beautiful Boy."

Vocal harmonies,melody or the sense of spiritual subject matter?

A few more
-------
Chris Bell: You And Your Sister
Lush: Monochrome
Moose: Butterfly Collector

And I half agree with various Beach Boys nominations, except that the "ba-ba-ba-ba-ba" bits spoil it for me in most cases.

New nomination: Divine Comedy - "Tonight We Fly"

From the realm of classical-music I'd nominate Brahms's Piano Trio No. 1 (Op. 8), especially the first movement.

I'm not alone!!

http://san.dmusic.com/music/stream/hifi/112242/.845b2c8a/stream.m3u

In fact, about 80% of his work from "Ballad of TR" through to "Todd"...

Obviously.

Words, etc.

beach boys - dont worry baby
beach boys - in my room
beach boys - heroes and villains
my bloody valentine - off your face
brian eno - here come the warm jets
big star - september gurls
rolling stones - i am waiting
beatles - ive just seen a face
neu! - hallogallo
bob dylan - sad-eyed lady of the lowlands

a jaw-droppingly beautiful song indeed. but is it more beautiful than the classical piece that brian wilson borrowed the angelic vocal melody from? (composer, name of piece, and all other details excape me at the moment. but the melody wasn't a brian original.)

Most of my other choices are already covered above: "'Til I Die," "Northern Sky," "In My Life," "God Only Knows," "Walk Away Renee," "Perfect Circle," etc.

* The La's, "There She Goes"
* Marshall Crenshaw, "Cynical Girl"
* Raspberries, "Let's Pretend"

Fleetwood Mac - Sara

Arvo Part - Cantus In Memoriam Benjamin Britten (put to chilling effect in Farenheit 9/11)
Dylan - Love Minus Zero/No Limit, Simple Twist of Fate, Don't Think Twice It's Alright, Mr. Tamborine Man
Prince - Sometimes It Snows In April
Patty Griffin - Rain, Top Of The World
Emmylou Harris - The Pearl
Gillian Welch - Orphan Girl, Barroom Girls
Julie Miller - By Way Of Sorrow
(I've seen the last 5 this week, that's why they come to mind)
Neil Young - Borrowed Tune, See The Sky About To Rain
Richard Thompson - 1955 Vincent Black Lightning, From Galway To Graceland, Dimming Of The Day, Beeswing, Keep Your Distance
American Music Club - Firefly, What Holds The World Together, Gratitude Walks
Mark Eitzel - Mission Rock Resort
Joni Mitchell - River, Circle Game, pick any of a bunch more

I second all of the Big Star/Chris Bell calls up there.

I suppose I could go on and on.

end of thread

In conclusion:

Olatunji!, "Akiwowo"

Lots more--those are the ones that spring to mind right now.

Joni Mitchell: A Case Of You
Tom Waits: Martha
Yo La Tengo: Tears Are In Your Eyes (this is ridiculously beautiful)
Stevie Wonder: You And I
My Morning Jacket: Come Closer
Velvet Underground: Candy Says
Ron Sexsmith: Speaking With The Angel
Neil Finn: Try Whistling This
Flaming Lips: Do You Realise
Ben Folds: The Luckiest (my wife's choice)

But the all time number one winner that always gets me (even if a little cheesy) is:

The Hollies: He Ain't Heavy

Coz my sister sings it to me.

Definetely a contender, as is "Protection" (if Jed means Massive Attack)

Draft Morning - The Byrds

or

No train to Stockholm - Lee Hazlewood

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.

Talk Talk - "After the Flood"
Olivia Tremor Control - "NYC-25"
Sonic Youth - "Karen Revisited"

I'll spare you the entire tracklist of Loveless.

The latter is great enough to redeem Sinead for whatever folk fault her for. The former could be the saddest song ever written, with a great central metaphor: "You made an impression, and sometimes I still feel the bruise."

Classical:
Messiaen - the cello/piano movement from Quatuor Pour le Fin de Temps (yeah alright, or the violin/piano one - I'm a cellist ok?)
Ravel - slow movement from the Piano Concerto in G (this is probably the most beautiful piece ever, but I may change my mind)
Mahler - take your pick from Symphonies 1, 4, 5, 6, 7...
Schubert - slow movement from E-flat piano trio, any movement from the Quintet for strings

Pop/rock:
Elvis Costello - Shipbuilding (HIS VERSION! Kills all the others, even Robert Wyatt's)
Belle & Sebastian - Don't Leave The Light On Baby
John Cale - Heartbreak Hotel, or (I Keep A) Close Watch (live from Fragments of a Rainy Season
Cocteau Twins - oh dammit, I can't decide... ella megalast burls forever is what I played on my birthday Utility Fog the other night, so maybe that? Does HTML markup work or did I fuck that up?
Leonard Cohen - Famous Blue Raincoat
Nick Drake - River Man / Fruit Tree
Elliott Smith - Waltz #2 (lots of other choices, but hey...)
Bobbie Gentry - Ode To Billie Joe
Talk Talk - The Rainbow/Eden/Desire, or your choice from Spirit of Eden or Laughing Stock...
Heligoland (astounding Tim Friese-Greene solo thing) - Bluebird
Machine Translations - Out To Sea
The Tall Dwarfs - The Slide
The Triffids - Tender Is The Night (The Long Fidelity)
Tom Waits - Cold Cold Ground / Yesterday Is Here
Mara Carlyle - Lost To Sea (etc)

I'm thinking about Tori Amos, the Clouds (or Jodi Phillis), and various other favourite artists, but... have they written really "beautiful" songs, as opposed to kick-ass, or moving, or...? I'm not sure.

Electronic/post-rock:
Aphex Twin - the suggestions above seem fine to me ;)
Autechre - eutow / that last track from Envane I think...
Boards of Canada - Everything You Do is a Balloon (this used to move me to tears, just like the Ravel above)
Dom & Roland - City (yes, it samples Badalamenti's City Of Lost Children soundtrack, but I think its beauty is down to the use within a drum'n'bass track)
Four Tet - And They All Look Broken Hearted (etc)
Fridge - Cut Up Piano And Xylophone
Funckarma - Lignite (from Part 5 12")
Gescom - Sciew Spoc
Global Communication - any choice from Pentamerous Metamorphosis, 76:14 (12:18 listed above may do the trick!)
Hood - too many to list! There must be one or two to pick out, but I can't think right now
Dntel - Suddenly Is Sooner Than You Think
Mia Doi Todd - Growing Pains (Dntel remix)
Plaid - Manyme (feat Mara Carlyle!) / Eyen
Squarepusher - Tundra
µ-Ziq (did that come out right? or:) µ-Ziq vs the Auteurs - Lenny Valentino 3 (1st track on the CD)
b.fleischmann - Take your time (esp last section)

Jazz/klezmer/gypsy
The Necks - Hanging Gardens / Mosquito (well I'm loving it right now)
Tin Hat Trio - anything from the last three albums? ;)
John Zorn - argh, not enough time to search through; one of the Masada String Trio ones from Bar Kokhba or Circle Maker probs
Kroke - Tzigoyner Tantz or... or...

...and I'm running out of steam. That'll do. Uh.

mahler 2 is really good!

(this is a shameful list cos it's basically what i would have answered in high school but then I still think the three are on the money.)

joy division 'atmosphere'
isaac hayes 'walk on by'
the cocteau twins 'cherry coloured funk'
prince 'sometimes it snows in april' (prince has probably been involved in a quarter of the 100 most beautiful)
johnny cash 'hurt'
depeche mode 'enjoy the silence'
jimmy cliff 'many rivers to cross'
primal scream 'come together'
bjork 'joga'
the beach boys 'matchpoint of our love'
daft punk 'digital love'

PJ Harvey "Sweeter Than Anything"
Pet Shop Boys "Rent"
Tindersticks "Trouble every day"
Depeche Mode "Lie to me"

But Cocteau Twins owns this thread. "Carolyn's Fingers" and "Whales Tails" in particular.

It might have been withdrawn, or limited to the first pressing, or something.

For a new nomination from a reoccuring band.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm pretty sure Run2 was a single in the UK - in fact, I know it was, because I've got it.
It might have been withdrawn, or limited to the first pressing, or something.

-- coco (coli...), January 24th, 2005.
you're lucky to get this.
is it diferent to the cd mix ?
we're both right.
it was withdrawn....according to official site

I'm not even sure how it's possible that neither has been mentioned already

I'm doing a 'songs that, in the right circumstances, in the right company, can make me cry like a baby' CDR at the the moment.

also, the correct V.U. song is "Jesus."

or Afterhours.

oh shit and Thelonious Monk's "This Is My Story, This Is My Song"

OTM.

John Cage - In A Landscape (especially performed on the harp by Susan Allen)
Debussey - Claire de LunI e
Webern - Bagatelle No. 5
Seconded: Gorecki - Symphony No. 3 (hardly a "song" though) and the piano / cello movement from Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time.

The *real* winner though for me is Messiaen's "O Magnum Mysterium"--honestly I think the most beautiful song I've ever heard.

Steve Martin/Bernadette Peters' take on "Tonight You Belong to Me" is really beautiful. Probably not "the most beautiful song ever" but as beautiful as most of the songs listed in this thread...

Somewhere in the 219 messages I skipped there may be a vote for "Little Wing" as recorded by Hendrix. Lovely, lovely song and the only extant version of it without a 49-minute wankeriffic guitar solo, I'll bet.

My Beefheart pick is "My Head is My Only House Unless it Rains." "I'll let a train be my feet if it's too far to walk to you...My arms are just two things in the way until I can wrap them around you"--good stuff.

Oh that is an awesome lyric ella :D

Spiritualized - "I Think I'm In Love"
Massive Attack - "Teardrop"
Radiohead - "Planet Telex"
My Bloody Valentine - "Soon"
Kraftwerk - "Autobahn"

Since already a number of mentions for good ones from Low (though I'd put in my 2 cents for "I Started A Joke" and "Venus"), "Protection," Nick Drake, etc. here are some others:

JJ Cale - "Magnolia"
Van Morrison - "Astral Weeks"
Gene Clark - "With Tomorrow"
The Dixie Cups - "People Say"
Lloyd Price - "Lawdy, Miss Clawdy"
Townes Van Zandt - "If I Needed You"
Cowboy Junkies - "Sweet Jane"
Bonnie Raitt - "Angel From Montgomery"
The Allman Brothers - "Blue Sky"
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - "Christina"
Dionne Warwick - "Walk On By"
Thea Gilmore - "The Old Laughing Lady"
Gilberto / Getz - "Corcovado"

Good call on Hendrix's "Little Wing."

oh curtis

what

Nico - "Afraid"

Easy: Prince, "Condition of the Heart." I have only recently realized that this is possibly my favorite song of all time.

'this is why i'm hot'

"Gold Soundz"... I say that because I heard it on the radio today.

Also "Oh Comely" or "Two Headed Boy pt. 2" by NMH.

"What does your soul look like? Pt. 1 (Blue sky revisit) / transmission 3" - DJ Shadow. I think that's the whole title, anyways it's the last track on Endtroducing.

I'm sure a few tracks off Fennesz's Endless Summer would rank up there for me, perhaps the title track and "Happy audio"

"Sligo River blues" - John Fahey

Somebody a few years back mentioned Tom Waits' "Tom Traubert's Blues", that's a good pick. Those Eno picks were OTM, too, especially "Big Ship", I'd throw "Becalmed" on there, as well.

John Coltrane, "Seraphic Light" off the Stellar Regions album. So majestic... I just think of some kind of otherworldly kind of royalty when I here this amazing song.

William Basinski, Dlp 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 - they're all variations on the same piece. So expansive, gorgeous, really moving. I didn't see what the big deal was them at first but now I think they're so beautiful.

Track 4, on Wolfgang Voigt/Gas' Pop.

Some Tim Hecker stuff on Radio Amor is doing it for me, too, but I haven't digested it as well as the other stuff on I mentioned.

I think it's interesting that, with few exceptions, what we consider to be beautiful songs are often tinged with a lot of sadness, melancholy, etc., they're almost tragic how beautiful they are. If I played most of the songs I think are beautiful for people who are more casually into music or who usually just want to hear something "upbeat", they would probably find them really depressing.

badfish

lol badfish. the dc metro area's best sublime tribute band!

good lookin out on "sligo river blues"

"i saw your photograph," merrell fankhauser

A tie between Ishrab Sharab ahl as- Safa & Bil Hawa Qalbi Ta'alaq

And in english:

http://www.divshare.com/download/1322250-c5f & shenandoah

wot, no Joni? A Case of You!

I interviewed the drummer from Badfish. It went something like this: "So, why are Sublime important?" "Uh, they're not...But that's why they're good!"

that opinion is cool!

wait are badfish actually from around here or are they just playing the state theatre every six minutes?

also, can we just turn this into a badfish discussion thread?

whoa nevermind they're from PROVIDENCE, badfish is n01z3

I've been pretty sure that it's "My Wandering Days Are Over" for a while now.

They play Columbia multiple times each year.

"I Believe She Will" by Eddie & Ernie (thx John Peel)
"Truth Is Marching In"/"Our Prayer" by Albert Ayler

Both are contenders for continually putting a lump in my throat.

..a few thoughts;

Bennie Green - You're Mine, You
Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra - Adagio for Strings
Tom Waits - Innocent When You Dream (78 Version)
VU - Ride Into the Sun
Grateful Dead - It Must Have Been the Roses (ala Reckoning)
Marion Williams - Just to Behold His Face
Brother Joe May (actually his daughter, Annette)- Vacation in Heaven

Girls Aloud - No Good Advice
Daft Punk - One More Time
The Avalanches - Two Hearts in 3/4 Time

the first 8 bars of christopher cross "sailing" on a loop

for real, though, lots of otms up there.

i'll add
"just my imagination," temptations
"ain't no woman like the one i've got," four tops

actually, tons of temptations and four tops qualify. i'll add a few.

"pink frost," the chills
"computer love," kraftwerk
"child of the ghetto," horace andy
"new broom," horace andy
"my only friend," opal
"alberto balsalm," aphex twin
"wet tip hen ax," aphex twin

"once upon a time," sonny sharrock

Tom Waits - Innocent When You Dream (78 Version)

I agree, but I think the Barroom version is sooooo much better!!! He seems to sing the chorus differently in the 78 one, pronouncing the "when you dream" part in some kind of flat way that doesn't hit me as hard as it does in the barroom one.

The first time I heard the song (the barroom version) was in the film Smoke, during Harvey Keitel's monologue story at the end of them... it almost had me in tears.

Also:
"alberto balsalm," aphex twin
"wet tip hen ax," aphex twin

completely OTM, see also "Fingerbib" on the RDJ album

"I Kill Everything I Fuck" by GG Allin

...I think the Barroom version is sooooo much better...

Agreed. I didn't remember which version i was thinking of - but yes, the barroom version really gets the ol' pints rollin'!!!

haha yep

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.

I like "Cupid de Locke" by smashing pumpkins. At the moment, that's my choice. A few years ago I would have said "Agateis Byrjun" or however you spell it.

I apologize for criticizing someone's choice of Pink Floyd upthread. I was in a bitchy state of mind that day.

everybody's coming down

"once upon a time," sonny sharrock

-- andrew m., Friday, July 20, 2007 7:00 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Link

dude on point for seriously

kersal massive

i can't believe there's only one mention of "over the rainbow".

eno "always returning"

a bay bay

Lately I'm in love with "When the Body Speaks" by Depeche Mode and "Shine" by Ulrich Schnauss.

todd rundgren - boat on the charles

Quadrant - Dub

Some neglected bands+songs on this thread:

Mogwai - either 2 Rights Make 1 Wrong or Kids Will Be Skeletons
Yes - And You And I
The The - Lonely Planet
Bark Psychosis - Rose
Mercury Rev - Frittering

Nice to see the new(ish) Eluvium album with some representation here, but I'd have chosen 'Indoor Swimming At The Space Station' rather than 'Repose In Blue' myself.

Morning, from the Peer Gynt Suite

christmas in oaxaca

I would now have to add a couple of Vashti Bunyan songs to my picks above - especially "Glow Worms" and the demo version of "Winter Is Blue."

Also: Radiohead's "Everything In Its Right Place" and "Pyramid Song." Both beautiful and nightmarish.

Madvillian (MF Doom + Madlib) - Fancy Clown (originally titled "Pretty Blood")

Until She Comes - Psychedelic Furs

method man & raekwon - respect mine

It's Rosehip November

Canon in D?!?!?!?!

King Creosote - Counselling
(hands down)

that is my final answer

props to those who said:

Beach Boys - Til I Die
Kraftwerk - Computer Lover

Anyway, my answer is:

Neutral Milk Hotel - Two-Headed Boy Pt. 2

or

Beethoven - Symphony No. 9 in Dm

or

Beethoven - String Quartet No. 14 in C#m (if we're not limiting ourselves to songs)

^I agree with you there (obviously)

Steve I was 16 in 2004 and attended too many weddings that year

also it wasn't my real answer

even Pachelbel beats NMH in my book though

abba - the day before you came

What is it with Canon in D and weddings anyway. Yargh.

Most beautiful Radiohead song is 'Meeting In The Aisle'

mmm, probably 'kind of girl' by low

arg the beuty of the song I picked is so beautiful. His voice.... has more heart than...[fill in the blank]. yes I am spamming. sorry.

'When You Were Young' by The Killers

Follow me through
A city of frost-covered angels
I swear I have nothing to prove
I just want to dance in your tangles
To give me some reason to move
But to take on the world at all angles
Requires a strength I can't use
So I'll meet you up high in your anger
Of all that is hoping and waiting for you

not sure about the music, but right now, that verse seems like the most perfect series of words ever written (lol emo)

'When You Were Young' by The Killers
-- Ismael Klata, Thursday, October 4, 2007 4:50 PM (24 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g191/formathardrive/noose2.jpg

As long as the Mary Margaret O'Hara thread has been revived, I'd say "Help Me Lift You Up".

Or Satie's Gymnopedies.

Or "Bell Bottom Blues" by Derek & The Dominos.

actually wait, I think I want to change my vote to... whatever the name of the Varttina song I played on my last radio show was, cuz it almost made me cry.

the for carnation - moonbeams

no-one said 'the look of love'

Impossible Germany - Wilco

God Only Knows is a good, and obvious, choice. There are many other, less obvious, but worthy contenders (maybe my "next tier"):

Walk Away Renee or Pretty Ballerina by The Left Banke
Many Rivers To Cross by Jimmy Cliff
Gloomy Sunday by Billie Holiday (beautifully sad, I suppose)
The Ocean by Richard Hawley
Silver Springs by Fleetwood Mac
Oh No by The Commodores
The Trapeeze Swinger or 16, Maybe Less by Iron & Wine
Carry Me Ohio by Sun Kil Moon
Always On My Mind by Willie Nelson
I Won't Share You by The Smiths
You And Your Sister by Chris Bell
In The Backseat by Arcade Fire (see Gloomy Sunday)
Will The Circle Be Unbroken, the Greg Allman version
Please Call Home by Greg Allman

And lots of songs by The Clientele. For now, let's say Dreams of Leaving. I've excluded classical works (if included, though, Pachelbel's "Cannon in D" would be hard to beat; Pachelbel's is the original "one-hit wonder"), and I know I'm forgetting a lot of worthy songs, but there it is.

Oh, and you know what? I second Kate. Impossible Germany is a worthy song, too, even with that searing guitar solo by Nels Cline. Please Be Patient With Me, from the same Wilco disc, is also worth consideration.

I just re-read my post; sorry to have sounded like a jackass. "And obvious" wasn't meant to criticize (to the contrary, God Only Knows is my choice for "most beautiful song," too). And the "Oh, and you know what" line at the end was needlessly snarky.

Normally, I'd ignore the (frequent, egregious) flaws in my writing. I'm feeling particularly un-snarky today, so I bristled when I saw my tone, and felt compelled to correct it.

eno "always returning" seconded

Max Richter - "The Trees".

God this song, relentlessly pushing upward toward something, always scraping past and bouncing back, and perpetually balancing in that spine-tingling breath before resolution. I LOVE IT

I think it was used in Waltz with Bashir.

Now, don't roll your eyes (although I'm sure I would if I hadn't heard it), but there's a bit of incidental music on the We Love Katamari soundtrack called "Beautiful Star" that just floors me every time it pops up on shuffle. It's so evocative and lovely and sad-sounding.

saddened and amazed that there's been no mention of eyvind kang on this thread. so many lovelinesses to choose from in his catalogue, but 'asa tru' and 'innocent eye, crystal see' are for me just about the most gorgeous pieces of music imaginable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKdsImfBnX0

ugly casanova - smoke like ribbons
thievery corporation - heaven's gonna burn your eyes
arkestra one - how could I love you more

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Keu_1ovu6Zs&feature=related

happy or sad, you always shine. never before, I've met your kind.

Contenders not yet mentioned: "My Creole Belle," Mississippi John Hurt
"Days," The Kinks
"Belle," Al Green
"Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," The Shirelles
"It Was a Very Good Year," Frank Sinatra
"Nature Boy," Nat King Cole
"Smile," Nat King Cole

Weirdly enough, it's a Pink Floyd song.
"Green is the Colour"

The first minute of You Never Give Me Your Money.

Actually, strike that.
It's "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)"

Wow, What a question!
Stardust, I Only Have Eyes For You, and Corcovado are definitely at the top for me.

I'll contend this is one of the most beautiful songs ever.
Music by Roger Nichols and lyrics penned by the great and vastly underrated genius Paul Williams.
Beautiful stuff here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU4mSiyPA98

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKHWUYT_c3g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWFYIwj1kXE&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keids7cscUo&feature=related

I couldn't find the Curtis Mayfiled Live! version on YouTube, but it may the best cover of it ever.

for me, it's the original version of

"Turn Turn Turn" by Pete Seeger

some of the best lyrics ever (from Ecclesiastes, mostly) and the combination of his voice & the 12 string guitar, and the audience singing along with him, it's a very spiritual feeling for me
a few other favorites:

That Lucky Old Sun - Louis Armstrong
The Troublemaker - Willie Nelson
Colorado Girl - Townes Van Zandt
The Water Is Wide - Pete Seeger
This Will Be Our Year - The Zombies
It's Raining Today - Scott Walker
Hobo's Lullaby - Woody Guthrie
Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain - Hank Williams
All I Wanna Do - The Beach Boys
Moonshiner - Bob Dylan
I Only Have Eyes For You - The Flamingos
The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore - The Walker Brothers

oh also this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_UjN3zsKZM

Dunno about most beautiful ever, but I find this lovely as anything:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbBJvy_Hi04

It's Raining Today - Scott Walker

I'd plump for 'big louise' myself, but almost anything off of that album could qualify.

i agree very beautiful stuff

unless anyone wants to get into a philosophical debate about the aesthetic difference between beautiful and sublime, but i'll save that for another day

not the most beautiful songs ever but a couple real good treats off the new califone album (since I had already uploaded them)
9) evidence
12) krill

I think more threads should be like this one, people sharing their favorite music / music they find most beautiful. it's a discussion of actual music / songs as opposed to a discussion of the "idea" of music or what bands represents in the abstract, or the related politics

don't know if that made any sense

There's this particular tempo and chord progression that I always associate with 'beautiful'. It's I -> V (1st inv.) -> vi -> either I (2nd inversion) or IV, played ~90 BPM.

Sometimes it comes off saccharine, i.e. "Let It Be", every other Elton John song. But the best examples, off the top of my head: Gram Parsons "$1000 Funeral", Nina Simone "Do What You Gotta Do" or "Mr. Bojangles", John Cale "Paris 1919".

^^ Nick Drake's "Saturday Sun" iirc

I-V-vi-IV is a pretty obnoxiously common progression but I'm as guilty of using it in my songs as anyone else

I'd say all of these are very beautiful

Bionic Boogie-Hot Butterfly
Spiritualized-Broken Heart
Pet Shop Boys-Being Boring
Kate Bush-This Woman's Work
David Sylvian-Darkest Dreaming
Radiohead-Motion Picture Soundtrack
Billy Mackenzie-Nocturne seven
The Beach Boys-I Just Wasn't Made For These Times, God Only Knows, Till I die, Be With Me etc.
War-Deliver The Word
The Go-Betweens-Twin Layers Of Lightning
Bjork-Hyperballad
Morrissey-Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself
The Go Team-The Ice Storm
Goldfrapp-Hairy Trees
Scott Walker-Angel Of Ashes
The Divine Comedy-Our Mutual Friend
Talk Talk-New Grass (Pretty much all of their last 3 albums)
The B-52's-Topaz
Minnie Riperton-Come To My Garden
Magazine-Parade
The Cardigans-Communication
Marvin Gaye-Please Stay

I was certainly hoping you'd include some Billy Mackenzie given your handle.

Actually, scratch my previous suggestions, I forgot the one true answer to this question:
"Crucifixo," by the Kafala Brothers. Really, truly one of the most beautiful things ever done by human beings.

another vote for julia, maria b mentioned it more than 5 years ago. it's the most personal love song i had the chance to hear. part of its beauty comes from the intimacy another part from its simplicity and the last part from the lyrics full of images.

I was certainly hoping you'd include some Billy Mackenzie given your handle.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, December 7, 2009 9:13 PM (12 minutes ago) Bookmark

Beyond The Sun was actually my first Billy purchase. I was going through a big Jeff Buckley phase and I was looking for another tragic troubadour to get into. It is a stunning album and did satisfy that need for a while but I was in for a huge shock when I bought Sulk a few weeks later, which is beautiful in a completely different way.

There's a lot of songs scattered through his back catalogue that I could have included on my list. The Rhythm Divine, Baby, No, Breakfast, His versions of Wild Is The Wind and God Bless The Child. I can't think of a more beautiful voice.

I know I've mentioned this song before. Also, not sure if it's most beautiful or most sad/emotionally-powerful. In any event:

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

There's a sort of desperate quality to his near-destroyed voice by this point.

I will get made fun of for this, but

Blue Ridge Mountains - Fleet Foxes

Not yet mentioned:

Laurie Anderson - Blue Lagoon, White Lily, The Dream Before, and maybe a dozen spoken word tracks on United States Live and The Ugly One with the Jewels
Heidi Berry - Ariel
Harold Budd - Too numerous to mention
Cocteau Twins - Lazy Calm
Nick Drake - Voice from the Mountain
Brian Eno - Julie With...
Fleetwood Mac - Never Make Me Cry
Led Zeppelin - The Rain Song
Sinead O'Connor - In This Heart
Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Now Nothing
The Roches - Losing True
Paul Simon - The Rhythm of the Saints
Dusty Springfield - Goin' Back
David Sylvian - Orpheus
The Who - Sunrise
Neil Young - Hangin' on a Limb

Ride - Vapour Trail

I more often use "beautiful" just to pronounce it "beeyootiful", a snarky put-down, yes. But there are times when it fits and the standbys like "saccharine" don't. It's when the beauty is too up-front, or something.

atm
gilberto/getz - corcovado

"over you" - velvet underground
"no children" - mountain goats

yeah, canon & gigue in D maj is v hard to beat, but some pieces & performances i love:

te deum - arvo part
the girl from ipanema - astrud gilberto
sea of love - phil phillips
i don't want to set the world on fire - the ink spots
georgia on my mind - willie nelson
ebben? Ne andrò lontana (aria from la wally) - alfredo catalani
brandenburg concerto #5 in D maj, 2 affetuoso - johan sebastian bach
who does she hope to be - sonny sharrock
a love supreme, acknowledgement - john coltrane
hallogallo - neu!
me and my arrow - harry nilsson
endless summer - fennesz

i second Gilberto/Getz

The first song to come into my head when I saw the question was "Cupid de Locke." Turns out I already stated this answer upthread, so I guess my opinion hasn't changed much.

Love Reign O'er Me by The Who
Many have tried to sing this but none come close to Roger.
Here's the lyrics.
------------------------
Only love
Can make it rain
The way the beach is kissed by the sea
Only love
Can make it rain
Like the sweat of lovers
Laying in the fields.

Love, Reign o'er me
Love, Reign o'er me, rain on me

Only love
Can bring the rain
That makes you yearn to the sky
Only love
Can bring the rain
That falls like tears from on high

Love Reign O'er me

On the dry and dusty road
The nights we spend apart alone
I need to get back home to cool cool rain
I can't sleep and I lay and I think
The night is hot and black as ink
Oh God, I need a drink of cool cool rain

My completely arbitrary of the top of my head submissions:

Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus: Fleurette Africaine
Yo La Tengo: Ballad of the Red Buckets
Ashra: Sunrain
Leonard Cohen: Suzanne
Sade: Love is stronger than pride
something by Stars of the Lid

Rhythm & Sound - Smile

All of Talk Talk's later stuff is deserving, but "Inheritance" particularly stands out.

stardust performed by nat king cole, or lakmé performed by just about anyone

and yea 'suzanne' up there too.

possible spin off thread: most beautifully sung song title

stardust, then

Rasputin

The Lilys - "Eskimo"

that eyvind kang song is amazing. I vote also for "Do You Realize???", Flaming Lips, and "That's the Way", Led Zeppelin

and of course

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5H7MvT1HVU

Beach Boys- In the Back of My Mind

For a new nomination from a reoccuring band.

― Cunga (Cunga), Saturday, February 26, 2005 5:45 AM (5 years ago)

Wow, five years ago to the day...

and it's a nice song but way off, brah.

Ok. What is the most beautiful ALBUM ever? Of course, we probably all define this differently but hey whatever man...I'm just drinking a little wine and watching the rain.

don't mean to snub you, but i spent all day listening to the ethel waters and ella fitzgerald versions of "miss otis regrets" and that is absolutely without a doubt the most beautiful song ever.

Nah it's cool, I mean yeah...first and foremost this thread is for individual tunes. Just curious, what's theeee most beautiful record as a whole?

Dark globe-Syd barrett

beauty=truth

the waters of march

midnight train to georgia and rainy dayz are also pretty nice

lately I'm digging on this song
(not the most beautiful song ever but this thread has gotten to the point where we post the most beautiful songs of the moment)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMVlggVeGuk

this one gives me chills every time, I've actually had to shut it off mid-song...his music is usually pretty but this is just eerie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rk7c3Dz-u4

spider & i -- eno

when my friends wrote this we called it "the money song' because it was so pretty. it did not result it any money, itself. but it is still pretty. I gave it the final name.

charles atlas: antiphon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Wi4rfHwog&feature=related

Most beautiful song of all time:

Claude Debussy - Clair de Lune

Current favorite:

Ben Watt - Some Things Don't Matter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwpiFg8Oc6o

http://youtube/crkXA_aZvdk

Mark Hollis - The Colour of Spring

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

Mark Hollis - The Colour of Spring

Actually forget about Ben Watt. This is my current favorite: Wulu Bunun & David Darling - Lugu Lugu Kan-Ibi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lAI5QFXEFM

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

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

Such a difficult question, but my first reaction was Pleocene

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

stopping by the thread to say that I listened to "info freako" on Keith M's suggestion and it is indeed very very bad.

what's the most beautiful song ever? idk..."For No One"? "Caroline No"? "A Case of You?"?

Probably a different Jesus Jones song

on a serious tip, Golden by My Morning Jacket isn't the most beautiful song of all time, but maybe it's the prettiest?

Judee Sill - The Donor

I would like to put in another vote for "Hammond Song"

Ghostwriter by The Arcana

https://youtu.be/ACZ1b5MUVEQ

The Andante moderato movement from Mahler's 6th:

https://youtu.be/YsEo1PsSmbg?t=1480

"the ballad of red buckets" yo la tengo

Lil Uzi Vert - XO TOUR Lif3

Most beautiful song of all time:

Claude Debussy - Clair de Lune

― Moka,

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

The Donor is a good shout. I'd want to rep for No End by Sandy Denny - especially this home-recorded version:

https://vimeo.com/97535751

New Grass

Gilberto Gil - Toda Menina Baiana
Gilberto has such a joy when he sings almost every song in his catalogue.

Caetano Veloso - Terra
Composed while he was in jail... so gorgeous. Specially live versions. I was in Switzerland when I saw him live and there was a huge Brazillian crowd. That chorus sang by the audience is the closest I've been to a spiritual experience in a concert.

https://youtu.be/mWWIi65O5dg

It was something very close to this version.

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.

"Aguas de Marco" the Antonio Carlos Jobim version with Elis Regina. Runner-up would be "Otis" by The Durutti Column.

Might still be "Sometimes" by James.

7 years later, still Clair de Lune for me.

We need a spotify playlist of this one sans the joke suggestions.

here comes the rain again

OXBOW LAKES

and/or Seadrum/House of Sun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-0G_FI61a8

couldn't choose anything not slathered in personal nostalgia

Intro of "Brighter" by Slowdive, always heartbreakingly beautiful to me

Nanou 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5dcEXpViiI

this specific recording

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p4UML8qJNc&t=3s

sorry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p4UML8qJNc

This bitter earth

"Feather" by Little Dragon is definitely on the list
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnEw7c1Ozh8

'New Grass' is still the best answer anyway
i'd have maybe said that a couple of years ago but these days from talk talk i'd prefer i believe in you. it covers the whole world, a free rhythm, a touching melody, a heavenly choir, a wild & weird improvisation. it is like a small chamber symphony, just hanging there, rough & sweet. the instruments sound so natural, i have been thinking to buy myself new huge speakers just for this piece of music.

but in the end julia would still be my fave i guess. what i really love about that song is that lennon seems to whisper it into my ears and sing it directly to me. it is the most intimate song i know, i can only listen to it on my own as i'd feel very uncomfortable in a group.

"I Believe in You" is beautiful, but the last 90 seconds or so of "New Grass" gets to me more deeply than almost anything, so that in my view remains the better choice.

The version of “unchained melody” by the fleetwoods that is in things to come

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6meSQ9sj8Io

Oh, oops. Try this instead:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN07oRXzT50

New grass is a great answer. So many nights I’ve rolled that out to just feel at peace.

This woman’s work is also a good answer

lov

e and affection

thanks, browser

The Nelson song?

Kate Bush has been mentioned a few times - All the Love would be my pick

And Gabor Szabo's sublime version of Donovan's Ferris Wheel