# Have you ever heard a song so good, your jaw literally dropped?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [January 10, 2013, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703 "2013-01-10T01:58:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 18\
**Page:** 7

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**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703/121 "2013-01-21T23:52:25Z")

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> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#):
>
> BT + Michael Doughty = awesome ([Never Gonna Come back Down](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt52SoAeP48))

Similarly, BT’s track “Madskills Mic Chekka” - the first time I heard [this minute or so breakdown](http://youtu.be/fzYaQ4OYxWU?t=3m16s), I was blown away. I’d never heard anything like it before.

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**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703/122 "2013-01-22T00:29:49Z")

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I enjoy these threads, I’m sure I’ll come up with other examples in time though.  
[Diary of dreams - tears of laughter](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ0nfNWVyFo)

[sigur ros - samskeyti](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3OJTZVKZx8)

[Sia - Breathe me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSH7fblcGWM)

[Akron/Family - Love is simple](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBy1NUHi1I8)

[Joseph Arthur - Hallelujah](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60SCYzdzG1c)  
Also several songs from the album electroshock blues by the Eels.

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**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703/123 "2013-01-22T01:20:44Z")

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> [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](#):
>
> Just about every song written by Martin Simpson:-
> 
> [Home Again](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j35htcTqQ0)  
> [An Englishman Abroad](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTsdXSVu9ZI)  
> [Will Atkinson](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mIxwqNjOGM)  
> And best of all, his warts-and-all tribute to his father - [Never Any Good](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbvqxLxx3pI)

I didn’t know this one was one the 'net until now: One of his best [Love Never Dies](http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00q4ttm)

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**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703/124 "2013-01-22T03:48:15Z")

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ftg writes:

\> 25+ years ago I hear on a college radio station a cover of Haunted by a local  
\> group (Amanda Jones). The DJ said the original was by the Pogues.  
\>  
\> Never heard that cover again. Never found a recording of it anywhere.  
\>  
\> Trying to find the original wasn’t easy either. It originally wasn’t issued in the  
\> US on a regular Pogues album. It was on the Sid and Nancy soundtrack plus  
\> imports.  
\>  
\> Great song, my all time favorite.

It’s not clear to me what you’re claiming is impossible to find here, but the versions of “Haunted” by both Amanda Jones and by the Pogues are on YouTube.

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**Author:** ![gumpy3885](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@gumpy3885](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gumpy3885)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703/125 "2013-01-22T16:34:28Z")

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The last time I can remember my jaw dropping at a performance was when I came across Eric Whitacre’s “Virtual Choir”. There are 3 now with a 4th on the way. I listened to all three and felt the same way on all of them. The TED talked (linked to on Virtual Choir-\>History page) where he shares the history of how the choir came about is one of my favorite TED talks as well.

Link [here](http://ericwhitacre.com/the-virtual-choir).

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**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703/126 "2013-01-22T17:09:14Z")

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> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#):
>
> ftg writes:
> 
> \> \*\*25+ years ago \*\*I hear on a college radio station a cover of Haunted by a local  
> \> group (Amanda Jones). The DJ said the original was by the Pogues.  
> \>  
> \> Never heard that cover again. Never found a recording of it anywhere.
> 
> It’s not clear to me what you’re claiming is impossible to find here, but the versions of “Haunted” by both Amanda Jones and by the Pogues are on YouTube.

Things may have changed since they started looking. I remember having a devil of a time finding 10,000 Maniacs cover of “Because the Night.” About a decade later, it was everywhere.

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**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703/127 "2013-01-22T18:33:57Z")

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I haven’t read all the posts, so I don’t know if this song has been mentioned.

_Stan_ the unedited version. (Eminem, in case no one knows this song 😉 )

My sister was a huuuuge wigger back in the day. I’d stopped listening to rap/rapesque music b/c I felt it was misogynistic. She actually physically grabbed me and told me—“I know you! You HAVE to listen to it! I know you’ll love it!”

I did.

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**Author:** ![nate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nate/32/13085_2.png) [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703/128 "2013-01-22T21:59:51Z")

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[Edgar Meyer & Bela Fleck’s stand-up bass/banjo duet of “B Song” from Bonnaroo 2002](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AYz62UxLPg). I didn’t see it live, but on a DVD… It was the first time I had seen Edgar Meyer play and I was blown away.

I like the top-rated comment for that video: “its﻿ like their terrible dress sense gives them superhuman musical powers”.

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**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703/129 "2013-01-23T01:48:41Z")

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I was in VA about 12 years ago and my friend I was staying with had the coolest dad in the western world. He made me a tape, recorded off his Alexandria-library quantities of vinyl, and this song was on it, it blew my mind then and still does now: [- YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hhm0NHhCBg)

What amazes me is that it was actually a Top 20 hit in the UK when it was released. Such an ethereal, esoteric song. It makes my jaw drop anytime I hear it.

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**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703/130 "2013-01-23T01:52:19Z")

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A few others that made my jaw drop:  
[Les Paul & Mary Ford - How High The Moon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0ffdwBUL78).  
[The Tornados - Telstar](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuA-fqKCiAE)  
[Alvino Rey Orchestra - My Buddy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKrhaFlHNBk).

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**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703/131 "2013-01-23T14:31:07Z")

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My jaw fell off and went missing after hearing Van McCoy’s “The Hustle”. My index finger dislodged it on one of the up and across movements.

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**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703/132 "2013-01-23T16:12:30Z")

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> [@the\_diego](#):
>
> Pachelbel’s Canon  
> Joplin’s Weeping Willow  
> Crawford’s version of Music of the Night  
> The Four Seasons’ Let’s Hang On

I have to concur with Pachelbel’s Canon, but for me it was the electronic version by Isao Tomita. Almost made me cry.

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**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703/133 "2013-01-23T16:33:47Z")

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Recently, the version of “Another Love” by Tom Odell that he performed on Jools Holland dropped my jaw. Unfortunately I can’t find it now on the intratubes in the states, but here is the music video for it.

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/MwpMEbgC7DA/maxresdefault.jpg "Tom Odell - Another Love (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwpMEbgC7DA)

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**Author:** ![Sevencl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sevencl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevencl)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703/134 "2013-01-24T01:17:52Z")

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Not jaw-dropping, but grinning like a maniac: [- YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oRKvpZ7PjE)

Just looked that up for the first time, despite it being fairly common music for a particular type of seen in TV shows. Love it! Wish I’d known about it when SWIM used to… get larger.

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**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703/135 "2013-01-24T01:41:35Z")

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[Muse - Butterflies and Hurricanes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzCKrwOme2U)

Seriously, if you’re into alternative rock at all and haven’t heard the song, click that link.

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**Author:** ![Sevencl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sevencl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevencl)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703/136 "2013-01-24T02:02:18Z")

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> [@Sevencl](#):
>
> particular type of seen in TV shows..

Why the fuck do I do that all the time now? Until 2012 I NEVER accidentally wrote a phonetically similar word. I meant scene, obviously.

Other piece of music that shocked me (though not awe-inspring like the first I posted): [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW3DFMSahP4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW3DFMSahP4) I’ve never seen the movie, but everyone’s heard THAT part of the opening. So someone nagged me into listening to the rest and wow, it’s catchy, and probably the most… evocative of the film’s genre? piece of film score I’ve ever heard, tied with: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNGe7iK1O-4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNGe7iK1O-4)

Both of those conjure up Western images in my mind, and I’ve never even seen the movies or scenes of the movies they accompany.

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**Author:** ![Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703/137 "2013-01-29T01:20:35Z")

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My father’s been having health problems, leading me to think about the day when he will pass on. I was looking for a traditional version of “Scarboro Fair/Canticle” and randomly came across [John Tavener’s “Funeral Canticle” as used in the movie “The Tree of Life”.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCxDZaWRAvo&list=UU8gN4zSZ8BRu3Wyo08FPo8g) I was enjoying the scenes from the movie, then read a bit about its origin:

> [@](#):
>
> The Funeral Canticle is one of two works inspired by the passing of the composer’s father, Kenneth. The other, Eternal Memory, is a co-memorial to Tavener’s father and to the late Lady Diana, Princess of Wales…(T)he Funeral Canticle is more explicitly religious, having been prepared for the interdenominational funeral service that his father had requested…As is the case with many of Tavener’s other works, an overarching motto permeates the piece. Here, it is a solemn chant in Greek: “Remember eternal things.”

When I read it was written for his late father, I lost it - I buried my face in my hands and wept for the rest of the song. For a son to create something so beautiful for his father, it broke my heart.

I’ve had “The Tree of Life” DVD sitting by the TV for six months. I’m putting off watching it until I feel I can handle it. This is is the opening song-sheesh!

That’s the strongest reaction I’ve ever had to a piece of music, and it came on my second listen, so I hope that meets the spirit of the OP.

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**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-a-song-so-good-your-jaw-literally-dropped/646703/138 "2013-01-29T04:18:17Z")

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The band before this one, tonight.

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