# Moving songs with just voice and piano **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 6, 2019, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082 "2019-11-06T16:31:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/41 "2019-11-07T23:41:05Z")
Jack was a good person to get rid of. He was pretty sociable and a smooth liar. Jamal is too much of a pompous ass to win, I think. Jeff was so excited for Survivor to be socially relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus\_alba](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quercus_alba/32/4061_2.png) [@Quercus\_alba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus_alba)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/42 "2019-11-07T23:57:38Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > [Lullaby for a Stormy Night](https://youtu.be/mlmhMS_luX8) - Vienna Teng > > I love this song so much. I frequently sing it to my son even when it’s not stormy. I knew the artist in high school. She was the choir accompanist, so I knew she was a stellar piano player. I had no idea she had that voice. Gosh yes–one of the few songs that can make me spontaneously tear up all by itself. Discovering her (via Pandora about 10 years back) opened up a whole world of lovely female voices to me. Right now loving on Aoife O’Donovan – guitar, not piano (sorry OP) – and her cronies such as Sarah Jarosz, et al. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/43 "2019-11-08T00:08:39Z")
John Denver’s Season of the Heart. [Link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVhTM9oSPOM) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/44 "2019-11-08T00:42:02Z")
Well, some of these songs are not _just_ piano & voice, so I’ll also suggest [Ben Folds Five “The Luckiest”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9bRmuP-kQY). (It has strings, but “Your Song” has strings and drums in it, too, so I assume the OP is casting the net a little wider than literally just voice and piano.) ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/45 "2019-11-08T03:15:59Z")
I can’t believe no one’s mentioned Joni Mitchell. She has so many beautiful songs that are just piano and voice, especially on “Blue”. One of my all-time favorite songs is from that album - [River](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpFudDAYqxY). ---
**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:** [November 8, 2019, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/46 "2019-11-08T03:25:03Z")
One of the many versions of Paul Robeson singing [Ol’ Man River](https://youtu.be/iEQEeNhtosg). ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/47 "2019-11-08T04:49:23Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Well, some of these songs are not _just_ piano & voice, so I’ll also suggest [Ben Folds Five “The Luckiest”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9bRmuP-kQY). (It has strings, but “Your Song” has strings and drums in it, too, so I assume the OP is casting the net a little wider than literally just voice and piano.) Might as well throw in **New York State Of Mind** , then. ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/48 "2019-11-08T06:55:33Z")
[Marie Digby](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI2wnRAZeO4) covering Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/49 "2019-11-08T07:42:34Z")
Most of my gal’s Hap’s quiet, pretty songs are accompanied by keyboards or acoustic guitar, but here’s a short, beautiful song with a piano. [“In Hiding”](https://youtu.be/0_uANJVYfoM) ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/50 "2019-11-08T08:04:42Z")
[Angel, by Sarah McLachlan](https://youtu.be/3pvf_OBuJVE) apparently has an upright bass on it in addition to the piano and vocals, but I never noticed it before this moment. I hardly hear it now. Frankly, I can’t believe this one’s still on the board after 48 follow-ups. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/51 "2019-11-08T21:55:06Z")
A slight cheat (some strings, a guitar[?] and sleigh bells) but still beautiful: [Remember (Christmas)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujBU32Ghvgs) - Harry Nilsson ---
**Author:** ![Sandwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@Sandwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandwood)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/52 "2019-11-09T01:57:37Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > **Antony and the Johnsons** [Hope There’s Someone](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woIiVr5_tE4) I came to post this too. That link does not work for me though, it says blocked in my country. My favourite live version of the song is this one: [https://youtu.be/loNU4fVpO8E](https://youtu.be/loNU4fVpO8E) That tiny pause at around 1:07 always makes me feel like my heart wants to break. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2019, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/53 "2019-11-09T09:42:07Z")
Erica Patoka, “Old Souls”: I stumbled across this some time ago, when I was searching for renditions of "Old Souls," which is a song from the movie \*Phantom of the Paradise\*. The movie version is done by Jessica Harper, and done very well in the movie; but Erica's beautiful voice at the same time as she is confidently playing the piano, elevate her version above Jessica's, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/54 "2019-11-10T03:48:15Z")
As has been mentioned: Schubert and other German composers of the Romantic period wrote many stunning and moving lieder to be sung with piano accompaniment only. You can’t go wrong with Schubert’s “Standchen” (Serenade) or “An die Musik” (To Music), or “Du Bist Wie eine Blume” (You are like a flower) by Schumann, or Beethoven’s mini-song-cycle “An die Ferne Geliebte” (To the Distant Beloved). Among many others. We could throw in Edvard Grieg of Norway and his setting of Andersen’s poem “Jeg Elsker Deg” (I Love You) as well. But I’m just scratching the surface of these. I will also admit to having a soft spot for many American songs of the 1840-1880 period, many of which were designed to be sung with piano accompaniment. “Somebody’s Darling,” “Beautiful Dreamer,” and “Gentle Annie” are all somewhat maudlin, lyrics-wise, by the standards of today, but the whole effect of melody, accompaniment, and music can be quite moving. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/55 "2019-11-10T06:03:16Z")
Multiple ticks for Schubert’s An die Musik, especially as sung (to my taste) by [Kathleen Ferrier](https://youtu.be/oLUyY8m3dPA) or [Dietrich Fischer Dieskau](https://youtu.be/RxsFgJF6XS4) And I’d add to “Jeg Elsker Deg” Grieg’s “Varen” (The Last Spring) sung by [Barbara Bonney](https://youtu.be/2bCS1lqKwdU), also her recording of Alfven’s [and Clara Schumann’s “[URL=“[- YouTube](https://youtu.be/YSJzTbHcp2Q)”]Liebst Du Um Schõnheit” (If You Love For Beauty)]([- YouTube](https://youtu.be/P5CEc8snQnU)"Så Tag Mit Hjerte (Take My Heart)[/URL) (It"s not hard to find the words translated into English). ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/56 "2019-11-10T06:33:35Z")
And on a completely different tack, [Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit”](https://youtu.be/-DGY9HvChXk) ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/57 "2019-11-10T06:42:46Z")
Managed to garble that earlier post. Bonney singing Alfven’s “Så Tag Mit Hjerte” (Take My Heart) and Clara Schumann’s “Liebst Du Um Schönheit” (If You Love For Beauty). [https://youtu.be/rQ5eSFaff2I](https://youtu.be/rQ5eSFaff2I) [https://youtu.be/YSJzTbHcp2Q](https://youtu.be/YSJzTbHcp2Q) ---
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/58 "2019-11-10T08:59:58Z")
May I submit the first ~35 seconds of “Let it Be” by the **Beatles**? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/59 "2019-11-10T09:01:53Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > I can’t believe no one’s mentioned Joni Mitchell. She has so many beautiful songs that are just piano and voice, especially on “Blue”. One of my all-time favorite songs is from that album - [River](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpFudDAYqxY). Stellar selection. Love it! ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082/60 "2019-11-13T08:17:08Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Like, all of Franz Schubert’s songs? Johannes Brahms, Hugo Wolf, and Gustav Mahler also too. And Debussy. “Beau Soir” (click on “show more” for English translation) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtMMOr41EFU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtMMOr41EFU) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-songs-with-just-voice-and-piano/843082.md?page=4)