Simply Beautiful Songs

The aforementioned Jason Isbell will occasionally do a cover of this at his shows. Great song.

 

Nice choice. It's actually called "Lift Me Up," an unreleased track from the Throwing Copper days, and Smith wasn't just looking for the most appropriate place -- it was that he couldn't get permission from the record company to use it until "Zack and Miri." He's said he had tried on about three different films.

 

It's easy to bust on PM Dawn, and nobody's ever going to claim they were anything other than a product of the 90's with no real impact on today's music, but that really is a great song. Being So Not For You (I Had No Right) is good in that vein, as well.

 

I Need You America

Mustcrat Love America

 

In the Springsteen catalog, my choice for the pretty is always "Secret Garden."

 

I will have you know that both Bread and America were very good 'scene-setters' back in the day and they both get a free pass from me.

Color My World - Chicago

 

Also receiving votes:
"Round Here" and Along the lines of BF5's "Brick," "A Long December" - Counting Crows
"Just Like Heaven" - The Cure
"Disarm" and "Perfect" - The Smashing Pumpkins
"The Radiator Hums" - Cursive
"Earth Stopped Cold at Dawn" - Hootie and the Blowfish and Alanis Morissette
"Spoon" - Dave Matthews Band and Alanis Morissette
"Head Over Feet" - Alanis Morissette
"Blue in the Face" - Alkaline Trio
"She's Mine" - Brett Dennen
"We Are Nowhere and It's Now" - Bright Eyes

 

Sinatra's version of "Send In the Clowns"

Roxy Music - "More Than This'

Tragically Hip - "Wheat Kings'

Great to see some love for Blue Rodeo earlier. I'll throw out one of my faves, "Bad Timing". Can't believe some Nashville yahoo hasn't had a huge hit with this one.

I'll second or third or whatever "Into The Mystic".

 

I'm glad to see how this thread has taken off.

Babar, while I didn't bust out crying during that scene, there was something so powerful about it that created an instant connection for Glen and Marketa to each other despite it being so early in the film. I saw the movie three times in theaters, the only movie I've ever done that with. They are playing a tour for their new album and I have every intention of seeing them when they come through here.

As for other candidates, I have many with my love of singer/songwriters.

Here's Priscilla Ahn, with "Dream":

"Gravity" by Sara Bareilles: http://www.youtube.com/user/sarabareilles?blend=1&ob=4#p/a

 

Yeah, maybe that was it. I remember him saying something or another held him from using it.

 

If we're going with Chicago, Wishing You Were Here is my pick for a beautiful song by them
And People and Places by Journey off the Departure album

 

Two more...

Ultravox, "Vienna"

U2, "The Unforgettable Fire"