What makes Unchained Melody so darn good?

Hate every single version of this song.

I hate this song as well. I want to blame oldies radio for driving it into the ground but can not recall a time when I ever liked it.

I think "cloying" would be a word I'd want to use here. In theory the bit towards the end where it hits the top notes for "I nee-ee-eed your love" ought to be my thing totally, but somehow the whole tune just comes across all square and needy and cloying to me.

I prefer Gene Vincent's version of this.

no i've never enjoyed this song. there's a lack of real hooks and it just meanders in an awkward way. if i had to choose i'd prefer "you've lost that loving feeling", but i don't like that one much either.

The trouble is everyone knows just the one version and thanks to endless Cowell dilutions people forget what a fine song it is.

That having been said, my favourite version is the Goons' one: "I need your love I need your love/God speed your love God speed your love/Ying-tong-ying-tong-iddle-i-po/I played me ukulele as the ship went down"...

Elvis' versions on his final tours are my favorites.

Roy Hamilton's version is staggering (and Elvis certainly listened to it).

It's all about Phil Spector. The guy was a fucking genius. I've been listening a lot to his "Back to Mono" set. Jesus, what a fucking amazing set of music.

I was watching "I Am Cuba" the other night, the early scene in which the two Cuban nightclub lounge singers sing "Crazy Love" was like the Spanish "Unchained Melody" -- rambling, repetitive, and seemingly endless, like a crazy Mobius strip of a song.

Wasn't this originally a b-side?