Simply Beautiful Songs

Five quick ones

Because... DC5
Angie... Rolling Stones
Crying in the Rain... Everly Brothers
Dream Girl... Dave Matthews
Aja... Steely Dan

 

Haven't gotten through the whole thread, so these might have been mentioned...

Garth Brooks -The Dance
Jimmy Buffett - Delaney Talks to Statues
Joe Cocker -You Are So Beautiful to Me

If we count hymns, Amazing Grace.

 

I have never heard the Kelly Clarkson version of this but I just about shit when I heard Brian Fallon's take on this:

Stunning.

 

Sure, "Amazing Grace" counts.

So does "Silent Night." I think of my dad every time I hear it, pretty much any rendition, because of his story about how the fighting stopped in Korea on December 25, 1951, and someone started singing that carol. Before long, it was all you could hear through the lines. It must have been an incredibly emotional experience.

 

I believe it was actually World War I that that happened. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_truce

Garth Brooks also sings a song about that, called Belleau Wood off his Sevens album. Another great song.

 

Any slow song by Van Morrison

 

Yep. It's a wonderful story. It wasn't nearly as elaborate a deal in my dad's case, though.....I don't think the Chinese and North Koreans joined in with the singing, and they certainly didn't exchange gifts or play soccer.

 

"She" as sung by Elvis Costello.

"Save The Last Dance" became more beautiful once I heard the story behind it (Doc Pomus was unable to dance at his own wedding - his brother had to be his stand-in for the first dance and the song was inspired by his feelings from that night.)

 

All The Right Reasons by The Jayhawks

In My Life, Something, Golden Slumbers, Long and Winding Road (W/o strings), Julia, Mother's Nature Son by The Beatles

The Book of Love, Peter Gabriel

Nightswimming, REM

Come Way With Me, Norah Jones (Thanks Serve it Up, forgot about this one)

Easy Silence, Dixie Chicks

Such Great Heights, Iron & Wine Version

California Stars, Billy Bragg and Wilco

Via Chicago, Wilco

God Only Knows, beach Boys

Question, Old 97s.
'
Just a few off the top of my head

Also: All I Want is You, U2. If nothing else than for sentimental reasons.

 

Great calls on the Simon and Garfunkel tunes, "Overkill" by Men At Work and a bunch of others. A few more:

"You Can't Be Too Strong" - Graham Parker

"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" - The Hollies

"Only One Woman" - Marbles (with Graham Bonnet)

"Teo Torriatte" - Queen

"Van Occupanther" - Midlake

"With Arms Outstretched" - Rilo Kiley

"No Surprises" - Radiohead

"Against The Wind" - Bob Seger (Sure you've heard it before)

 

nice call on "Linger" by the Cranberries. I wouldn't have thought of that one.

Another vote for "Nightswimming" by REM. Also would add "Flowers of Guatemala" from the boys from Athens.

Others:

"Tangerine", Led Zeppelin
"Bron-Y-Aur", Led Zeppelin (no lyrics, just a gorgeous instrumental)
"Fire and Rain", James Taylor
"Father and Son", Cat Stevens
"Wanderlust", Paul McCartney

But, the gold standard for me in this category is "Moonlight Mile" by the Rolling Stones. Nothing comes close to that one in my view.

 

was wondering when "tears in heaven" would make the list.