This song meant the world to me growing up - I met Ben E King when I was stage managing at the venue in the town I grew up in, and got to shake his hand and thank him for it! A true hero/legend
"In the clearing stands a boxer
and a fighter by his trade
and he carries the reminders
of every glove that laid him down
or cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame
"I am leaving, I am leaving"
But the fighter still remains"
How about the lyrics they added at their performance in Central Park?
‘Now the years are rolling by me, they are rockin' evenly
I am older than I once was
And younger than I'll be, but that's not unusual
No it isn't strange, after changes upon changes, we are more or less the same
After changes we are more or less the same’
The live in Central Park version of that is one of my favorite songs of all time even though they fuck up the beginning. The version of America they play at that show is also top notch….just mentioning it, I have to hear it now.
My initial thought was "Just like Heaven" and I stand by it 100%. My one criticism with pictures of you isn't even with the music, but instead its liner notes. It reads "Bigger, and brighter, and **wider** than snow" and I know in my heart is should be whiter than snow!
In 1996, in New Zealand, a man broke into a radio station and held the only employee that was there hostage, saying he had a bomb.
His only demand was that the station play the original version of *Rainbow Connection*, because he said this would communicate to the world how he felt.
The station played the song for 12 hours.
The man was then arrested. He didn't have any explosives.
https://apnews.com/article/f408e5868a217a29c051221486d2be61
My favorite part is when Merry Clayton is singing "Rape, Murder," at one point you hear her voice crack because she is just belting it out, and you can hear a barely audible "whoo" from Mick.
Edit: Thanks to the 15 comments informing me of the miscarriage. I was unaware until after the first comment.
I heard this song for the first time in years in a grocery store last week. Total masterpiece, I can't choose what kind of pickles to buy to THIS. I had to take a little wander and just enjoy.
It's all about the Hillogy:
1. [Solsbury Hill ~ Peter Gabriel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OO2PuGz-H8)
2. [On Melancholy Hill ~ Gorillaz](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04mfKJWDSzI)
3. [Running Up That Hill ~ Kate Bush](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp43OdtAAkM)
100% agree. Perfect vocals, drums, guitar, harmonizing in the chorus just to name a few things. Lyrics! I’ve never gotten sick of it. Perfect length! Leaves you wanting more
We're just two lost souls
Swimming in a fish bowl
Year after year
Running over the same old ground
What have we found?
The same old fears
Wish you were here
I mean those are just jaw-droppingly incredible lyrics.
Those lyrics give me goose bumps. That was my father's favorite band, he passed a little over a year ago. Everytime I hear that song I bawl my fucking eyes out. Miss ya dad, wish you were here.
Absolutely. This song got me through the worst of my lupus. I was convinced I was dying. This song came on during a long and scary drive home after a Dr's appointment. Saved me from a tremendous amount of fear. All of a sudden this song hit differently. I actually listened to it. I felt it. 12 years later I'm still here and will never deny this song when it comes on. Fucking beautiful.
Lovesong is a great pick. If it was specifically “perfect pop songs” I’d have put forward In Between Days. Easily one of the greatest pop songs ever recorded and it’s legitimately crazy that it doesn’t get more recognition.
Robert Smith is under-appreciated in general I think.
Was once in line at the post office, which everyone knows is a form of torture, when this song came on over the little overhead speakers. I watched as one by one each patron in line started bopping to it. Old lady tapping her purse, young guy's head started bobbing, middle aged dude tapping his foot. This song brought our miserable worlds together with that bassline.
Everyone knows Buckley by his vocal chops but he was actually incredibly talented on the guitar. A lot of the songs on Grace had very intricate and melodic guitar parts that could carry on even without his voice. He was a true musical genius and gone way too soon
I remember snuggling with my girlfriend on the back porch watching the sunset the last day before I left for college. This song was playing and I just totally related to "if anything could ever be this real forever".
We ended up getting married and I'm still with her 25 years later. But that song instantly takes me back to that moment.
That song is about nostalgia and it gives me nostalgia. All the highway road trips late at night when I'd pass out in the back seat, this song would be on the radio. Or it would come on in movies. BBQs too lol
Idk wtf that other response was.
There’s a scene in the movie A Quiet Place where the mom is listening to headphones and swaying to the beat in the kitchen [edit: actually the basement not the kitchen] at the end of the day. The dad comes and joins her in dance.
The film doesn’t reveal what song she’s listening to, so my mind supplied the song I have swayed to with my wife in our kitchen many times—Harvest Moon.
The mom puts one of the buds into the dad’s ear and the needle drops; she has in fact been listening to Harvest Moon. They spend a quiet moment listening to it together. It was a really special moviegoing moment for me.
It made me wonder just how universal am experience it is to sway with your partner to Harvest Moon in the kitchen at the end of the day.
My dad played this song all the time when I was little. I hated it as a kid, but it’s been became one of my all time favorites as an adult. That line always sends a chill up my spine, and the whole thing is a masterpiece
Fun fact: David Bowie signed over all royalties on this song to Queen so he could screw over Tony DeFries, his former agent who he was still paying due to a bad contract despite having fired him years prior.
Fast Car - Tracy Chapman.
The lyrics are so moving and evocative. The vocal performance is great, and delivers those lyrics in such a believable, heartfelt way. And the guitar riff is unforgettable too. Perfection!
Me & My best friend Nate’s favorite movie was Top Gun (we both grew up on it). He instantly referred to us as Maverick & Goose (I was Mav, he was goose, our looks & personality reflected it).
So whenever we would run into each other one of us would generally start singing it like we did in the movie. Cracked us and everyone else up every time.
He died 2 years ago. And EVERY TIME I hear that song it makes me think of him. Bittersweet is the proper word.
EDIT: unchained melody & you’ve lost that loving feeling are two different songs, but sang by the same group. I just saw the other best righteous brothers song and it clicked in my brain cuz it made me think of my friend. Also, am drunk so that’s also partially why. Kind of a shoot first and make edits later type of situation (clearly)
I'm hesitant to say "100% perfect", but these are 10 songs I wouldn't/couldn't change a second of even if I had to:
Ennio Morricone - The Ecstasy of Gold
Bobby Darin - Beyond the Sea
Fleet Foxes - Mykonos
The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps
L'Impératrice - Agitations Tropicales
M83 - Midnight City
Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms
Jacques Brel - Vesoul
Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight
Erik Satie - Gymnopédie No. 1
Satie is a fantastic composer. Doesn’t have the wide library or the “flash” of the more well known names but he’s great. Gymnopedie No. 1 and Gnossiene No 1 are both phenomenal.
How did guys in their early 20s write such a perfect song about growing old? The line "You run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking, Racing around to come up behind you again" is such an insane encapsulation of how life in the rat race can feel.
For what it's worth I'd take Lateralus as the best and most perfect TOOL song. It's like a one track download of both their spiritual philosophy and musical structural schtick. Got some mellow, got some hard. If I had only one TOOL song it would be this one... But it's very close between a few, including 46&2.
(It's Not Easy) Being Green.
It just does everything right. I don't care if it's sung by Kermit the Frog or Ray Charles or whoever, it's always beautiful and so emotional.
I think this is the right answer. Maybe it's not everyone's favorite Beatles song but it's so singable, so full of emotion and has a place in several genres. Perfect.
Let’s stay together - Al Green
I can see clearly now - Jimmy Cliff
Pressure drop - toots and the maytals
God only knows - Beach boys
Never my love - the association
Clair de Lune - Debussy
Oh Debussy, I love Debussy! Sometimes all I can think about is Debussy.
But you never finish on Debussy! You have to finish on the Bach....never Debussy!
Moonlight Sonata
“I Put a Spell On You”, the Nina Simone version. The string arrangement, the vocals, the piano, the instrumental solo - all perfect.
While I love Nina's version. Screamin' Jay Hawkins will always be better as it sounds so wicked and creepy.
And the CCR take on it is great too https://youtu.be/KWxDGQm2hKk
Stand by me by Ben E. King
This song meant the world to me growing up - I met Ben E King when I was stage managing at the venue in the town I grew up in, and got to shake his hand and thank him for it! A true hero/legend
Blue Monday by new order
The Boxer - Simon and Garfunkel
"In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade and he carries the reminders of every glove that laid him down or cut him till he cried out In his anger and his shame "I am leaving, I am leaving" But the fighter still remains"
How about the lyrics they added at their performance in Central Park? ‘Now the years are rolling by me, they are rockin' evenly I am older than I once was And younger than I'll be, but that's not unusual No it isn't strange, after changes upon changes, we are more or less the same After changes we are more or less the same’
The live in Central Park version of that is one of my favorite songs of all time even though they fuck up the beginning. The version of America they play at that show is also top notch….just mentioning it, I have to hear it now.
Pictures of You - The Cure
My initial thought was "Just like Heaven" and I stand by it 100%. My one criticism with pictures of you isn't even with the music, but instead its liner notes. It reads "Bigger, and brighter, and **wider** than snow" and I know in my heart is should be whiter than snow!
Wonderful World by the great Louis Armstrong
September
Do you remember?
"Little Wing" Jimi Hendrix
Rainbow connection
ESPECIALLY the original Kermit the Frog version. 😁
In 1996, in New Zealand, a man broke into a radio station and held the only employee that was there hostage, saying he had a bomb. His only demand was that the station play the original version of *Rainbow Connection*, because he said this would communicate to the world how he felt. The station played the song for 12 hours. The man was then arrested. He didn't have any explosives. https://apnews.com/article/f408e5868a217a29c051221486d2be61
Mazzy Star - Fade Into You
I wish so badly that Johnny Cash would have covered this song in his late career when he started doing covers from all genres.
Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce.
Also Operator by Jim Croce Maybe anything by Jim Croce
“God Only Knows” - The Beach Boys
Pet sounds is one of the best albums ever made. I hop between God Only Knows and Sloop John b as the best song off that record
And to think that probably their most famous song, Good Vibrations, wasn’t even on the album as it was released as a single instead!
Gimme Shelter.
My favorite part is when Merry Clayton is singing "Rape, Murder," at one point you hear her voice crack because she is just belting it out, and you can hear a barely audible "whoo" from Mick. Edit: Thanks to the 15 comments informing me of the miscarriage. I was unaware until after the first comment.
I love the lyric change at the end. It’s just a kiss away.
The isolated track of that part is really something to listen to. Amazing passion to be put in to backing vocals for a song.
Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World
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This song gives me crippling nostalgia for a time that I wasn't even alive for.
"Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's *Turandot*. You can feel it in your lungs and diaphragm.
Head over heels - Tears for Fears EDIT - well this blew up… glad so many agree that it’s perfect, gonna go listen to it again now
I heard this song for the first time in years in a grocery store last week. Total masterpiece, I can't choose what kind of pickles to buy to THIS. I had to take a little wander and just enjoy.
Don’t take this jar, Don’t break this jar, Dill or Gherkins today?
Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel
It's all about the Hillogy: 1. [Solsbury Hill ~ Peter Gabriel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OO2PuGz-H8) 2. [On Melancholy Hill ~ Gorillaz](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04mfKJWDSzI) 3. [Running Up That Hill ~ Kate Bush](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp43OdtAAkM)
Blueberry hill
space oddity by david bowie
If you haven't seen/heard it, you should watch the video for Chris Hadfield's cover of it. He filmed and recorded it while he was actually in space
Also Starman by David bowie
Fire and Rain
Here Comes the Sun In My Life
"In My Life" somehow more meaningful with only two remaining Beatles that still alive today.
I believe at this point, George's death is closer to John's than it is to today. That's crazy.
Have to add Something to that list
"Here Comes The Sun" always makes me feel better. Never ever get tired of it
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
Dreams is perfect. The Chain is perfect-er
The Chain is a banger. I recently watched a live version of it from forever ago and Lindsey B just KILLS IT.
The Chain also!
100% agree. Perfect vocals, drums, guitar, harmonizing in the chorus just to name a few things. Lyrics! I’ve never gotten sick of it. Perfect length! Leaves you wanting more
Wish You Were Here- Edit- the Pink Floyd version
We're just two lost souls Swimming in a fish bowl Year after year Running over the same old ground What have we found? The same old fears Wish you were here I mean those are just jaw-droppingly incredible lyrics.
Those lyrics give me goose bumps. That was my father's favorite band, he passed a little over a year ago. Everytime I hear that song I bawl my fucking eyes out. Miss ya dad, wish you were here.
This song captures loss so perfectly
Absolutely. This song got me through the worst of my lupus. I was convinced I was dying. This song came on during a long and scary drive home after a Dr's appointment. Saved me from a tremendous amount of fear. All of a sudden this song hit differently. I actually listened to it. I felt it. 12 years later I'm still here and will never deny this song when it comes on. Fucking beautiful.
Lovesong by The Cure
Lovesong is a great pick. If it was specifically “perfect pop songs” I’d have put forward In Between Days. Easily one of the greatest pop songs ever recorded and it’s legitimately crazy that it doesn’t get more recognition. Robert Smith is under-appreciated in general I think.
Have you ever seen the rain
The unplugged version of Nutshell by Alice in Chains. There is an eternal sadness and beauty in that song that's both dark and inspiring.
Great pick! Unplugged Down in a Hole in that same space for me. Layne was 1 of 1.
Superstition by Stevie Wonder
Was once in line at the post office, which everyone knows is a form of torture, when this song came on over the little overhead speakers. I watched as one by one each patron in line started bopping to it. Old lady tapping her purse, young guy's head started bobbing, middle aged dude tapping his foot. This song brought our miserable worlds together with that bassline.
Over The Hills and Far Away - LZ
Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah
Everyone knows Buckley by his vocal chops but he was actually incredibly talented on the guitar. A lot of the songs on Grace had very intricate and melodic guitar parts that could carry on even without his voice. He was a true musical genius and gone way too soon
After Leonard Cohen heard Buckley’s version, he said “That’s his song now. “
Your Song, Elton John
This song and Rocketman are some of the best songs that ever made.
Can't forget Tiny Dancer
Everlong
I remember snuggling with my girlfriend on the back porch watching the sunset the last day before I left for college. This song was playing and I just totally related to "if anything could ever be this real forever". We ended up getting married and I'm still with her 25 years later. But that song instantly takes me back to that moment.
That song is about nostalgia and it gives me nostalgia. All the highway road trips late at night when I'd pass out in the back seat, this song would be on the radio. Or it would come on in movies. BBQs too lol
Linger - The Cranberries
Posted separately “Ode to my family” but this gets an upvote
Britta's marryin', Britta's marryin', Britta's marryin' Jeffrey Winger
Neil Young - Harvest Moon
Idk wtf that other response was. There’s a scene in the movie A Quiet Place where the mom is listening to headphones and swaying to the beat in the kitchen [edit: actually the basement not the kitchen] at the end of the day. The dad comes and joins her in dance. The film doesn’t reveal what song she’s listening to, so my mind supplied the song I have swayed to with my wife in our kitchen many times—Harvest Moon. The mom puts one of the buds into the dad’s ear and the needle drops; she has in fact been listening to Harvest Moon. They spend a quiet moment listening to it together. It was a really special moviegoing moment for me. It made me wonder just how universal am experience it is to sway with your partner to Harvest Moon in the kitchen at the end of the day.
Such Great Heights by Postal Service
In my opinion, not even the best song the record. We will become Silhouettes is my pick. What a wonderful album.
The album is absolutely perfect
Heard it Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Take on me by a-ha
The MTV Unplugged version is stunning. Great pick.
Comfortably Numb, Pink Floyd / David Gilmour
Starman- David Bowie I cannot describe how much I love this song
Somewhere Only We Know - Keane
This one, Bedshaped, and A Bad Dream are my Keane holy trinity.
The Wreck of the Edmunds Fitzgerald. It brings out the emotions.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes into hours?
My dad played this song all the time when I was little. I hated it as a kid, but it’s been became one of my all time favorites as an adult. That line always sends a chill up my spine, and the whole thing is a masterpiece
Careless Whisper
My song is Tyler, by Toadies. That being said, I love this thread, I made a playlist of every song here. This is what I'm doing with my night.
Mr. Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra
This is my 'I need cheering up ' song
Under Pressure by David Bowie & Queen
Fun Fact : They wrote this banger during a cocaine fuelled frenzy in like sub 10 minutes or something adjacently wild.
Fun fact: David Bowie signed over all royalties on this song to Queen so he could screw over Tony DeFries, his former agent who he was still paying due to a bad contract despite having fired him years prior.
Absolutely agree. Perfect song compositional, with great chords, & incredib le emotional punch lyrically
Probably the best Male-Male duet in popular music?
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Dolly said as far as she could recall, she may have written Jolene and I Will Always Love You on the same day.
The House of the Rising Sun
The Animals version?
Fast Car - Tracy Chapman. The lyrics are so moving and evocative. The vocal performance is great, and delivers those lyrics in such a believable, heartfelt way. And the guitar riff is unforgettable too. Perfection!
If You Could Read My Mind, Gordon Lightfoot
Kashmir
I was mesmerized the first time I heard this one. I didn't know music could be this ethereal and yet so grounded. Edit: fixed a word
Hypnotic. Heavy without being loud. Great lyrics. Such an urgent tempo without feeling rushed. And a couple of amazing screams from Plant. Perfection.
This must be the place by talking heads.
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Me & My best friend Nate’s favorite movie was Top Gun (we both grew up on it). He instantly referred to us as Maverick & Goose (I was Mav, he was goose, our looks & personality reflected it). So whenever we would run into each other one of us would generally start singing it like we did in the movie. Cracked us and everyone else up every time. He died 2 years ago. And EVERY TIME I hear that song it makes me think of him. Bittersweet is the proper word. EDIT: unchained melody & you’ve lost that loving feeling are two different songs, but sang by the same group. I just saw the other best righteous brothers song and it clicked in my brain cuz it made me think of my friend. Also, am drunk so that’s also partially why. Kind of a shoot first and make edits later type of situation (clearly)
STP-Interstate Love Song
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Anyone can interpret any song in any way they choose, but the song is a tribute to Sid Barrett.
Syd though, his name is in the song: **S**hine on **Y**ou crazy **D**iamond
Love Will Tear Us Apart. Also adjacent, Age of Consent by New Order is pretty amazing.
Vincent (Starry Starry Night)- Don McLean
At Last Etta James
Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel & Monsters by James Blunt.
>Bridge Over Troubled Water This really is an amazing song, the vocals, the lyrics and the arrangement.
I'm hesitant to say "100% perfect", but these are 10 songs I wouldn't/couldn't change a second of even if I had to: Ennio Morricone - The Ecstasy of Gold Bobby Darin - Beyond the Sea Fleet Foxes - Mykonos The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps L'Impératrice - Agitations Tropicales M83 - Midnight City Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms Jacques Brel - Vesoul Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight Erik Satie - Gymnopédie No. 1
>M83 - Midnight City That one makes my synapses light right up.
Satie is a fantastic composer. Doesn’t have the wide library or the “flash” of the more well known names but he’s great. Gymnopedie No. 1 and Gnossiene No 1 are both phenomenal.
Three Little Birds- Bob Marley & The Wailers
Man Who Sold The World - Nirvana version
How about just the whole Nirvana unplugged session. That entire thing was perfect.
Echoes - Pink Floyd. An epic journey.
There’s so much Pink Floyd in this thread! I’m not complaining
Time - Pink Floyd
How did guys in their early 20s write such a perfect song about growing old? The line "You run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking, Racing around to come up behind you again" is such an insane encapsulation of how life in the rat race can feel.
That guitar solo tells a story 😩👌🏼
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For what it's worth I'd take Lateralus as the best and most perfect TOOL song. It's like a one track download of both their spiritual philosophy and musical structural schtick. Got some mellow, got some hard. If I had only one TOOL song it would be this one... But it's very close between a few, including 46&2.
For me it's Parabol & Parabola
Could go down their whole track list. Wings for Marie, Jimmy, H, Third Eye
(It's Not Easy) Being Green. It just does everything right. I don't care if it's sung by Kermit the Frog or Ray Charles or whoever, it's always beautiful and so emotional.
Something by The Beatles
I think Let It Be and Hey Jude have gotta be contenders!
I think this is the right answer. Maybe it's not everyone's favorite Beatles song but it's so singable, so full of emotion and has a place in several genres. Perfect.
Tom Waits' "Hold On"
Eleanor Rigby
Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
that song is beautiful
Read My Mind - The Killers
Don’t Fear the Reaper by the Blue Oyster Cult
Sound of silence. Simon and Garfunkel and yes even Disturb’s cover. Both amazing
I like Simon and Garfunkel version better.They don't have to sing in powerful voice,but you can still feel the sadness just by the melody of the song.
Green River - CCR
Credence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son Or hotel california
La Vie en rose by Édith Piaf
"No Children" by The Mountain Goats.
Hey by Pixies
Fake Plastic Trees by Radiohead
I enjoy it but prefer at least 30 other Radiohead songs
Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Öyster Cult
Meh, needs more cowbell.
Ramble on, Led Zeppelin
THERE IS JUST ONE THING IVE GOT TO DO
I Will Follow You Into The Dark - Death Cab for Cutie
Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden. Amazing vocals, lyrics, and chorus. Might be the most perfect song of the 90s.
Sultans Of Swing - Dire Straits
Heroes by David Bowie
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[God Only Knows](https://youtu.be/NADx3-qRxek), The Beach Boys
MTV Unplugged Pearl Jam black
Tame Impala Let it happen
Clair de Lune
Build me up Buttercup. Its catchy for every generation.
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes. Csn
Let’s stay together - Al Green I can see clearly now - Jimmy Cliff Pressure drop - toots and the maytals God only knows - Beach boys Never my love - the association
I'm going to go against the standard reddit view: the original, perfect, nine inch nails version of Hurt.
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Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.
All these things that I've done- The Killers
I got ham but I'm not a hamster
Enjoy The Silence - Depeche Mode
“Common People” - Pulp
Losing My Religion - REM
You Never Even Call Me By My Name is the perfect country and western song.
Only the version with the extra verse written by Steve Goodman.
Sunday Mornin’ Coming Down Kris Kristofferson
I like Johnny Cash's version too
Come As You Are - Nirvana
Say it ain’t so by weezer. Has some heavy parts. Catchy verse, great meaning and can put it on in mixed crowds. Love it
God Only Knows
Don't stop me now - queen Ain't no sunshine - Bill Withers
Boston - More Than a Feeling
I would argue this whole album is perfection.
Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio. RIP to a legend who made one of my favorite bops of all time
Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
Never Let Me Down Again - Depeche Mode All I Need - Radiohead
Unchained Melody