# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/161 "2010-08-19T22:32:59Z")
The Air that I breathe… The Hollies… [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb7S8-Iewi0) Tell me you still care… SOS Band… [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf-WQrB6EUE) Lovely day… Bill Withers… [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sYi7uEvEEmk/hqdefault.jpg "Bill Withers - Lovely Day (Original Version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYi7uEvEEmk) Wouldn’t it be nice… Beach Boys… [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L--cqAI3IUI) Never my Love… The Association or the Fifth Dimension cover… [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXN7wkSRVZg) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4G2fF02IqGM/hqdefault.jpg "Never My Love featuring Marilyn McCoo") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G2fF02IqGM) Too Shy… Kajaagoogoo [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKWbMJOIkUk&feature=av2n](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKWbMJOIkUk&feature=av2n) ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/162 "2010-08-19T23:36:46Z")
> [@MTCicero](#): > > Another Madonna: [“Oh Father”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvVvN0QvzTk&feature=av2e) > > Another Lyle Lovett: [“Old Friend”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_ZYgIFapIY) Wow i forgot about Oh Father.. yeah what an incredible song and video.. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/163 "2010-08-19T23:50:26Z")
[“Do You Realize?” by The Flaming Lips](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zYOKFjpm9s). ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/164 "2010-08-20T00:13:59Z")
How about a little Glenn Miller, Moonlight Serenade. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AQseFAcWvtE/hqdefault.jpg "Glenn Miller Orchestra - Moonlight Serenade") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQseFAcWvtE) Also, Miracles by Jefferson Starship [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKBttQmhDBw) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/165 "2010-08-20T02:38:49Z")
["God Moving Over The Face of the Water,](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IXg8t8Ybs)" Moby ---
**Author:** ![satogata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@satogata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/satogata)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/166 "2010-08-20T03:16:26Z")
Another vote for Eva Cassidy, but when I see the phrase ‘achingly beautiful’ I think of her rendition of [Autumn Leaves](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSXYu-3r1S8), made all the more haunting 'cuz she died so young. ---
**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:** [August 20, 2010, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/167 "2010-08-20T03:23:20Z")
Saint Cad, there are some quotes from Sting about Eva Cassidy’s version of “Fields of Gold” on this page, about two-thirds of the way down: [http://evacassidy.blogspot.com/](http://evacassidy.blogspot.com/) I don’t know what primary evidence would be, unless you actually spoke directly to Sting. ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Incognito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guy_incognito/32/3920_2.png) [@Guy\_Incognito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Incognito)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/168 "2010-08-20T03:47:09Z")
I’m happy to see other people have already mentioned “Coming Up Close” by Til Tuesday. Here are a few of my favorite beautiful songs: “Here Comes the Flood” - Peter Gabriel “Deborah’s Theme” - Ennio Morricone “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own” - U2 ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/169 "2010-08-20T04:40:13Z")
My nominations: “Red Rain” - Peter Gabriel [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAecdC3W3Yg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAecdC3W3Yg) “King of Pain” - the Police [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGEJcizQEXk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGEJcizQEXk) “Cuts You Up” - Peter Murphy [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpz2AWu4PZg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpz2AWu4PZg) Someone already beat me to Ultravox’s “Vienna.” ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/170 "2010-08-20T05:06:01Z")
[Love Under Will](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzVIMLf0CfM)- Fields of the Fallen Heavenly Giants/Titans. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/171 "2010-08-20T07:27:44Z")
I love these threads, I always read them with[Grooveshark](http://listen.grooveshark.com/#) or [Spotify](http://www.spotify.com/uk/new-user/) open in the background. Three others, as yet absent. Kate Bush - [this woman’s work](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSCQPSrlNbk) Always puts a lump in my throat Massive Attack -[teardrops](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXI77b6OlpE) Whenever I put this on in the car when my kids were tiny they would stare in silence at the speakers. Carpenters-[superstar](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9Nm_0pC4FM) Well this is cheating, it is Karen Carpenter after all. She could sing out the contents of the phone book and break your heart. And, as dreadful as it may be, she more ill she looks the more achingly, beautifully, desperate it sounds. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/172 "2010-08-20T08:25:40Z")
I can’t find it online, but the Audra McDonald/Brian Stokes Mitchell duet of _Sarah Brown Eyes_ from \*\*Ragtime \*\*is breathtaking. As is pretty much anything she sings. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/173 "2010-08-20T10:13:45Z")
Am I really the one who get’s to post [The Beatles - Yesterday](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONXp-vpE9eU)? Seems like it should have been on the first page. (Gonna feel dumb when someone points out that it was and I missed it.) In that same vein, [John Lennon - Imagine](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okd3hLlvvLw&feature=search). ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/174 "2010-08-20T10:19:18Z")
Ach was… for nostalgia, [Tausendmal Du '86](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpZbqVGx9fQ) ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/175 "2010-08-20T13:42:11Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Am I really the one who get’s to post [The Beatles - Yesterday](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONXp-vpE9eU)? Seems like it should have been on the first page. (Gonna feel dumb when someone points out that it was and I missed it.) Meh. I’m a _huge_ Beatles fan, and I can take or leave that song. A much, much more beautiful Beatles tune, IME, would be either [“Blackbird”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAgceen153I), [“Mother Nature’s Son”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIM30qFCLa4), [“Here, There, and Everywhere”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8THouU576WY), [“For No One”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6iAykoKLog), or [“Julia”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIItlo5TlFM). ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/176 "2010-08-20T14:04:50Z")
I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a bad version of _Wuthering Heights_. Even the Icelandic version. Ditto for [Bonny Portmore](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYkg6styqfM&feature=search). Though, really, I think I lose my “hauntingly beautiful” cred if I don’t nominate [“Che Soave Zefiretto”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8CdzZWREbk&feature=search) from _The Marriage of Figaro_. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/177 "2010-08-20T14:29:27Z")
My two nominations for hauntingly beautiful are Chinese songs. The fact I can’t understand the lyrics may be much of what makes them haunting! 🆒 (1) The [Teresa Teng song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31JlJMzDfJU&feature=related) _Tian Mi Mi_. It was the theme song in a [1996 Hong Kong movie of the same name](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comrades:_Almost_a_Love_Story), a bittersweet love story which I’d seen. While Googling, I found an [English version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70tcwgCnpM&feature=related) of _Tian Mi Mi_. (2) Another Chinese song haunts me even more, becasue I don’t know the name and therefore can’t find it on YouTube, etc. (Though it’s now played regularly on Thai TV in a commercial for MK Restaurants! :eek: ) Can anyone help me identify this song? The beginning notes of the melody are approximately CCDECAG CCDECAG CCDE EG’A’ A’G’A’G’ED CCAD DDCE CCA’G’ECAGC (Some of the A’s and G’s are higher than C – I’ve marked this with a mark: ’ ) ---
**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, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/178 "2010-08-20T16:15:28Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > > [@DragonAsh](#): > > > > Nocturnes, Op 9 - Chopin > > There are _two_ pieces in in Chopin’s Op.9. I’m going to guess you mean the more famous [Op. 9, No. 2 Nocturne in E-flat Major](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI_2MSxiMIA). > > A couple more from Chopin: > > [Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48 No. 1](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjRky-ACSJg) > [Etude in E Major, Op. 10 No. 3](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzIthKbraqc) Ah, you can keep your nocturnes (well, Op. 48 No. 1 is rather nice), mazurkas, polonaises, ballades and such…give me a good Étude series and I’m happy. Glad to see someone else who can appreciate a good etude (musical study) as potentially “achingly beautiful.” Here are Chopin’s first set of Études (Op. 10), which he composed at age 23 and dedicated to his friend, Franz Liszt—performed by the lovely and supremely talented, Valentina Lisitsa. Chopin Etude Op10 [No.1](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROVy9PC8_8A&feature=channel) [No.2](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx02vWfSGiU&feature=channel) [No.3](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpiJbQvBP8A&feature=related) [No.4](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUVCGsWhwHU&feature=channel) [No.5](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pyqLbi2wLU&feature=channel) [No.6](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wzUsOJVkoc&feature=channel) [No.7](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHT5J1_Ms94&feature=channel) [No.8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43mvd1lKd3k&feature=channel) [No.9](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v17BIT7-3Mw&feature=channel) [No.10](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCtL9vLdnz4&feature=channel) [No.11](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzLc49Bok2k&feature=channel) [No.12](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi5VTBdKbFM&feature=channel) 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!). Here’s No. 12, you can search for the first 11 on your own, if you’re interested. [Etude Op 25 No.12](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFPcy2h-H9E&feature=channel) I had the privilege to see Valentina perform at a small, intimate venue last year and introduce my daughters (ages 7 and 9) to her after the show. _“Girls”_, said I, _“Get that lady Gaga person out of your system and learn to play half as well as Ms. Lisitsa someday, then your old man won’t die bitter and disappointed"_ (sometimes you have to play the guilt card with your kids to get results). Here’s a 10 minute interview of Valentina that I found enlightening and maybe you will too: [Valentina](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1VnAdqEjRs&feature=search) I’m more a fan of Liszt than Chopin, however, and his Transcendental Etudes never fail to blow me away, though you may not find them as “achingly beautiful” as I do. Here’s No. 4 (Mazeppa) from that series, admirably played by Boris Berezovsky…(I believe you need strong man-hands to give justice to the Liszt etudes): [Mazeppa](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrqDIo2lNck&feature=search) ``` On the pop/rock side, if we wish to call that "real" music ;), I always found the Rolling Stone’s [Ruby Tuesday](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUKz2fvb6jY&feature=related) to be hauntingly beautiful, and of course, much of the Beatles body of work is quite nice. ``` ---
**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, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/179 "2010-08-20T16:52:39Z")
“Traces” (Dennis Yost/Classics IV) “Keep Me From Blowing Away” (as performed by Linda Ronstadt) “Don’t Worry, Baby” (Brian Wilson) “Can’t Help Falling” (Elvis) Me too for: “Ashokan Farewell” “For No One” (McCartney) “Julia” (Lennon) ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/180 "2010-08-20T17:01:25Z")
> [@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. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584.md?page=10)