# Most achingly beautiful songs ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 17, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584 "2010-08-17T23:15:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/181 "2010-08-20T17:40:54Z")
**Steve Burns** [A Song for Dustmites](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2_xl7ZK3Kw) ---
**Author:** ![Mecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Mecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mecky)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/182 "2010-08-20T17:48:03Z")
“Bookends” by Simon and Garfunkel Pachelbel’s “Canon in D Major” ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/183 "2010-08-20T18:01:23Z")
Anyway, just in case it hasn’t been mentioned, I can listen over and over to [Time To Say Goodbye](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbN0g8-zbdY), and I love this video. ---
**Author:** ![Mustardseed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mustardseed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mustardseed)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/184 "2010-08-20T18:06:24Z")
Sometimes the most beautiful songs are from bands that are not the usual suspects. A good example is the German Avantgarde/Industrial-band ‘Einstürzende Neubauten’. Infamous for their drumming on industrial waste, sheets of metal and tubing, they nevertheless managed to write one of the most beautiful love-songs ever - Stella Maris here it is with English subs: [Stella Maris](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LynF9ScDYs&feature=related) and here a HQ live-version (even more beautiful but without subs) [Stella Maris live](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhnfdNym2ug) ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/185 "2010-08-20T18:44:23Z")
> [@NetTrekker](#): > > I’ll see your Mingus and raise you a [Maynard](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktEiZ9AlDRY) 🙂 See this is a weird thing with me and jazz stuff. The tune you’ve linked to just sounds like dull big band music to me, whereas the Mingus thing I linked to sounds fucking mental - everybody in the place jumping around to an absolutely shit hot band. I don’t know, perhaps I’m not getting the skill involved or something. It would hardly be the first time. I’m not even going to look at the first hundred posts on the thread though. Aaaaaargh, I don’t even want to know what youtube videos I posted. Was there Bauhaus? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/186 "2010-08-20T18:58:21Z")
> [@Mustardseed](#): > > Sometimes the most beautiful songs are from bands that are not the usual suspects. A good example is the German Avantgarde/Industrial-band ‘Einstürzende Neubauten’. > Infamous for their drumming on industrial waste, sheets of metal and tubing, they nevertheless managed to write one of the most beautiful love-songs ever - Stella Maris > here it is with English subs: [Stella Maris](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LynF9ScDYs&feature=related) > and here a HQ live-version (even more beautiful but without subs) [Stella Maris live](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhnfdNym2ug) Are we sure those two aren’t French? Their profiles confused me. Is that mean? Sorry. 😉 Anyway, I actually enjoyed the video more, because _could_ read the subtitles. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/187 "2010-08-20T19:24:34Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > > [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > > > “Can’t Help Falling” (Elvis) > > The melody for _Can’t Help Falling_ is based on an old French song called _Plaisir d’Amour_, which is also quite beautiful. My favorite version is by Jean Redpath, who sang it as part of a medley on the CD _Love Is Teasin’_. Unfortunately, I can’t find this performance on line. [Nana Mouskouri](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WvXpgLtTwY) did a good version of it. Thank you. I was almost certain it wasn’t an original melody. Now I have to see what the original lyrics were. . ---
**Author:** ![Mustardseed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mustardseed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mustardseed)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/188 "2010-08-20T19:47:04Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > > [@Mustardseed](#): > > > > Sometimes the most beautiful songs are from bands that are not the usual suspects. A good example is the German Avantgarde/Industrial-band ‘Einstürzende Neubauten’. > > Infamous for their drumming on industrial waste, sheets of metal and tubing, they nevertheless managed to write one of the most beautiful love-songs ever - Stella Maris > > here it is with English subs: [Stella Maris](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LynF9ScDYs&feature=related) > > and here a HQ live-version (even more beautiful but without subs) [Stella Maris live](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhnfdNym2ug) > > Are we sure those two aren’t French? Their profiles confused me. Is that mean? Sorry. 😉 > Anyway, I actually enjoyed the video more, because _could_ read the subtitles. pretty sure the band is German - native German here and I can understand the lyrics quite well. [Here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einst%C3%BCrzende_Neubauten) they are on Wikipedia (english) ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/189 "2010-08-20T20:19:33Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > “Dust In The Wind”, Kansas I prefer the [Gabriel & Dresden](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jxEorLOGfE) version. Speaking of Gabriel & Dresden, I’ll nominate [As the Rush Comes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGLI1joTZ0c). > [@meanoldman](#): > > Seems to me we have a confusion of terms, and not just a difference of opinions. > Achingly beautiful in what way? Lyrics? Instrument/sound? Ambiance? Combination? > > Some songs are lyrically beautiful. Some have beautiful musical arrangements. Others show an amazing pure beautiful vocal ability. A rare few have all. > > All of these are a matter of opinion, of course. Ear of the beholder and all. > > Just had to get that out there, because I read some people’s entries and think “WTF! Really?” Yeah. Someone upthread mention Fairytale of New York. Great song. And there’s a lot about is that is beautiful. But while Shane MacGowan’s vocals are very moving and appropriate, incredibly so, I’d hardly call them beautiful. Yeah, I know, there’s beauty in their honesty etc. but I was reading this thread differently (which makes my interpretation of beauty right! ;)). To each their own. > [@RickJay](#): > > ["God Moving Over The Face of the Water,](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IXg8t8Ybs)" Moby Good pick. Which is about to make me a hypocrite with my next pick. Moby’s not known as a great singer, but I find [Porcelain](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1Fcaro25Ek) very beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/190 "2010-08-20T21:02:22Z")
Sufjan Stevens - [For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j2zH-q8rPo) ---
**Author:** ![godix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/278dde/32.png) [@godix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godix)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/191 "2010-08-20T21:26:36Z")
[The Gunners Dream](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghFN1UFtQho) by Pink Floyd [When You Dream](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30ONDVl__9Q%5B/url) by Barenaked Ladies - Odd since I’m not a parent, but I still like the song [Aria di Mezzo Carattere](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaavtbeP2g0) from, of all places, a final fantasy game [Ave Maria](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQVz6vuNq7s) by Schubert ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/192 "2010-08-20T21:46:04Z")
> [@meanoldman](#): > > I’ve got no links: > “Amazing Grace” by Judy Collins, the version that sounds like it was recorded in a church with a choir for a background. (No, I am not religious). I’m not religious either. Not by any measure. “Amazing Grace” is a beautiful song, and it doesn’t take a Judy Collins to sing it beautifully. ---
**Author:** ![mol106](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8edcca/32.png) [@mol106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mol106)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/193 "2010-08-20T21:51:44Z")
> [@carlb](#): > > She’s also on my “Achingly Sad” list with [Whiskey Lullaby](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elZs9SkiOZs) (with Brad Paisley). My God, that song makes me cry like a little baby. “He put that bottle to his head and pulled the trigger” has got to be one of the saddest lyrics in popular music. If you like that song, you should listen to Jon Randall’s version (he co-wrote the song). [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohSrY6DOA2I&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohSrY6DOA2I&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d9b06d/32.png) [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichini_Sanshigo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/194 "2010-08-20T22:28:18Z")
**[Ruins (With Strings)](http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/ruins-with-strings)** It’s just _hauntingly_ beautiful. Not a mainstream release; it’s from the Homestuck soundtrack, which is chock full of incredible music from incredible people. This song is a personal favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/195 "2010-08-20T23:47:25Z")
> [@Tibbytoes](#): > > Then, of course, there are Chopin’s second set of etudes (Op. 25), which he dedicated to his mistress (those naughty **18th** century composer/virtuosos just couldn’t keep their pants zippered!). My bad, slip of the keyboard, that would be **19th** century, of course \*\*—\*\*not like me to blur the line between the Classical and Romantic Periods. Only Ludwig Van can do that, what with his tiring of _owning_ the Classical (much like Camden, New Jersey’s top pimp owning his whores), then inventing/ushering-in the Romantic Period with his 9th Symphony \*\*—\*\*the greatest (ergo, most “achingly beautiful”) musical composition of all time \*\*—\*\*past, present or future. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/196 "2010-08-20T23:47:56Z")
Sigur Ros’ [Milano](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8PIGWF-Tj4) Listen to the whole thing, just once. In the car while stuck in traffic is a good place. -I probably never would have ever heard this whole song, except my ride to work played it on teh way home, so I was stuck. Partway through the song I started spacing off a little, and by the end of the song I didn’t know if I was crying or smiling; all I knew was that I just made a little mental video of my own to it, and… This song is the sound of crystal-blue winter, snowflakes fading in and out in 8mm home-movie fashion. Kids mugging for the camera with snowballs behind their backs. It’s bare aspens, bright against the blue sky, with snow and sun and earth all competing to outshine each other. Anyway…I don’t know if I’ll ever get into anything else of theirs, though I’ve tried a bit here and there. But Milano is just… Don’t bother trying to translate the lyrics. They are just vocalizations, not words, not in any language, except that of fierce, joyful sun-kissed winter. Dang. I like the song a lot, apparantly! ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/197 "2010-08-21T00:16:18Z")
A lot of my votes have already been covered but it’s fascinating to see what others consider “achingly beautiful”. I’ll just add my favorite. Michael Jackson [_She’s Out of My Life_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etUN5yrCAWI&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d9b06d/32.png) [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichini_Sanshigo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/198 "2010-08-21T01:05:09Z")
And how could I forget **[The Wind that Shakes the Barley](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p2g2WuGXwE)** by Dead Can Dance? Lisa Gerrard’s voice is just… indescribable. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/199 "2010-08-21T04:40:57Z")
Say what? No Azam Ali? From one of the groups she’s a vocalist in, Vas: [Kali Basa](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd-te93n_Go) [Prayer for Soheil](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTMIz5KCsuo) [In the Garden of Souls](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fxrLIZpuvo) From her solo stuff: [Abode](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kDj_uAT83Y) [Endless Reverie](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRT7L3913BU&feature=related) Really, though, all of her stuff is great. Her voice is hauntingly beautiful. And now, some hymns n’ stuff: [Down To the River to Pray](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htSXKYs8sQM) [Nearer My God To Thee](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwLl5nY5WPI) [O Magnum Mysterium](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn5ken3RJBo) [Shalom Chaverim](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJQmUooPfo8) (ignore the cheesy piano intro and butchered Hebrew) [Fiddler on the Roof - Sabbath Prayer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnaZqHy2ZHE) Really, I could go on, but that’s enough links for now. ---
**Author:** ![Barking\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Barking\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barking_Dog)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/200 "2010-08-21T14:19:46Z")
The cover of [Hurt by Johnny Cash](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584.md?page=11)