I’ve given this a great deal of thought, and I’m not sure why I’m bothering to start a thread on this, since the answer is unarguable, but:
The prettiest song ever is “Ripple” by the Grateful Dead (off American Beauty).
Glad to enlighten you.
No, the prettiest song ever is “Life In A Glass House” by Radiohead.
Or “No Surprises”, by the same.
Or, very possibly True Love Waits also by Radiohead.
On second thought, what about Perfect Day by Lou Reed. That may just be influenced by its appearance in *Trainspotting[/] which is where I first heard it, and which beautiful overdose scene (oxymoron?) it colors being inseperable from that song in my mind.
Also Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space by Spiritualized. Or Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain as performed by Willie Nelson. Or, or,or, screw it. I’ll shut up now.
The Beatles, Julia
Julie Andrews, Whistling Away the Dark
The Beach Boys, In My Room
Roberta Flack, The First Time (Ever I Saw Your Face)
Simon and Garfunkel, Scarborough Fair/Canticle
Gavin Bryars, Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet
My nominees:
Tori Amos, “Winter”
The Beatles, “In My Life”
Bruce Springsteen, “Thunder Road”
U2, “All I Want Is You”
“Fog” (aka Alligators in New York Sewers) is my favorite “pretty” song.
Or “Scatterbrain”
“Your Song” by Elton John. I loved how they used it in Moulin Rouge.
Definitely Scarborough Faire/Canticle and also Sound of Silence and The Boxer.
Also most everything by Loreena McKennet.
Blue, by Joni Mitchell
My top three:
Yes, Anastasia ~ Tori Amos
Fade into you ~ Mazy Star
Kissing you ~ Des’ree (romeo + Juliet soundtrack)
“Crayon”, from Manitoba’s amazing album from earlier in the year Up In Flames. Other contenders would have to include Boards of Canada’s “Turquoise Hexagon Sun” and “avril 14th” by Aphex Twin.
My vote is for “You are the Everything” by R.E.M. That song singlehandedly (sp?) made me fall in love with the Michael Stipe of that era…not the "hey look at me with my famous friends"thing he became.
I also love “The Long and Winding Road” by the Beatles. I know practically everyone hated the Spector production on that song but, I thought it complimented the beautiful writing perfectly.
The Flower Duet, from Lakme by Delibes.
“I’m Not A Man You Meet Everyday” and “Sunnyside of the Street” both by the Pogues.
Andrwe Bird’s Bowl of Fire, Wait.
Wow, six words and I misspelled 16% of them. That’s “Andrew,” of course.
Beautiful Things by Andain
Bad by U2
Fear by Sarah McLachlan the (Hybrid’s Super Collider Mix)
Liberation by Matt Darey Presents Mash Up
Panis Angelicus
“Sweet Thursday” by Pizzicato Five
or “Rainy Night in Soho” by the Pogues
or “Sweet Thing” by Van Morrison