# Prettiest Song Ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 22, 2003, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949 "2003-10-22T18:46:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![big\_alex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e56c9b/32.png) [@big\_alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/big_alex)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/41 "2003-10-23T19:48:46Z")
“Blossoms Falling” - Ooberman, very pretty song. ---
**Author:** ![Baby\_Fish\_Mouth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@Baby\_Fish\_Mouth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baby_Fish_Mouth)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/42 "2003-10-23T20:55:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Super Gnat \* > \*\*I’ll go old school and say “Ave Maria”. God that song is gorgeous. \*\* Which version? There four different versions by Verdi, Gounod, Bach, and Schubert. Schubert is probably the best known, but I love the Bach too. My vote goes to Rachmaninov’s **Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini**. It was the theme to the movie _Somewhere In Time_. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/43 "2003-10-23T21:41:47Z")
It may not be number one, but Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” deserves a mention in a thread like this. And re the Jim Croce mention above, he wrote all of his own material. (Well, almost all. “I’ve Got a Name” is a rare exception.) Personally, I think “Age” aches more than “Time in a Bottle,” but that’s probably just me. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/44 "2003-10-23T22:23:46Z")
_The Green Leaves of Summer_ (Dmitri Tomkin) _Private Universe_, _How Will You Go_, _She Goes On_ and _Better Be Home Soon_, by Crowded House _Lover’s Cross_ (Jim Croce) _And So It Goes_ (Billy Joel) _The Rose_, as performed by Bette Midler (don’t know who wrote it) _Because_ (The Dave Clark Five) _We Belong_ (Pat Benatar) _All I Want Is You_ (U2) _Suo Gan_ - the Welsh lullaby used in _Empire of the Sun_ And on the classical side of the collection: I second the nomination on _Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini_. Rach rocks. _Au fond du temple saint_ from _The Pearlfishers_ (Bizet) _Summertime_ from _Porgy and Bess_ (Gershwin) _There Was A Time_ from _The Gondoliers_ (Gilbert & Sullivan) _O Mio Babbino Caro_ from _Gianni Schichi_ (Puccini) _Flower Duet_ from _Lakme_ (Delibes) ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/45 "2003-10-23T22:42:13Z")
Nat King Cole’s recording of “Stardust”. Best song ever. ---
**Author:** ![violacrane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c57346/32.png) [@violacrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/violacrane)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/46 "2003-10-23T23:02:11Z")
The Kinks’ Waterloo Sunset, so poignant. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/47 "2003-10-24T02:01:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kalhoun \* > \*\*My personal favorite is the theme from The Deer Hunter. I can’t remember the name, but its mostly just a beautiful guitar and it’s just the best thing ever. Does anyone know the name? Artist? \*\* It’s called _Cavatina_, and was “[c]omposed by Stanley Myers with John Williams”. This John Williams (who plays the song) is not the soundtrack composer, but a respected [classical guitarist](http://plum.cream.org/williams/biog2.htm). My two nominations for prettiest song: Gordon Lightfoot’s [_If Children Had Wings_](http://www.corfid.com/gl/Albums/Endless_Wire/If_Children_Had_Wings.htm) and Amy Grant’s [_I Will Remember You_](http://www.romantic-lyrics.com/li114.shtml). ---
**Author:** ![Roadwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@Roadwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadwalker)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/48 "2003-10-24T02:44:01Z")
Cool, I’m the first to mention my favorite: Walthz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker. Also E Ku’u Home o Kahalu’u by Olamana ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/49 "2003-10-24T02:49:03Z")
two of my favs… Pretty Ballerina - Left Banke Even In The Quietest Moments - Supertramp ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/50 "2003-10-24T02:58:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fessie \* > \*\*How about the very end of “Appalachian Spring” by Copeland? \*\* **Simple Gifts** , based on a Shaker spiritual Hymn: \*'Tis the gift to be simple, 'Tis the gift to be free, Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be, And when we find ourselves in the place just right, It will be in the valley of love and delight. When true simplicity is gained, to bow and to bend , we will not be ashamed. To turn, turn, will be our delight, 'Til by turning, turning, we come round right\* We’re going to have it as a hymn at our wedding. I also like R.E.M.s **Nightswimming**. ---
**Author:** ![guy\_from\_wpa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@guy\_from\_wpa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guy_from_wpa)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/51 "2003-10-24T03:06:57Z")
We Have All The Time In The World–Louis Armstrong from “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” ---
**Author:** ![available\_light](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@available\_light](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/available_light)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/52 "2003-10-24T04:18:02Z")
I’ll probably have to come back & make other suggestions later as I think of them, but off the top of my head: “Tears in the Rain” by Joe Satriani and as runner up “Angel” by Sarah McLachlan These two aren’t necessarily my _favorite_ songs (although I do love them!), but for sheer stop-you-in-your-tracks beauty, I think they rank right up there. I always love threads like this. I’ve discovered so much good music through the sdmb! ---
**Author:** ![look\_hergo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85e7bf/32.png) [@look\_hergo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_hergo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/53 "2003-10-24T05:29:57Z")
“Alice Blue Gown” as played by Wayne King and his orchestra, for prettiest melody. “You are the Everything” by REM for lyrics, though the tune is a winner, too. ---
**Author:** ![Teelo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@Teelo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teelo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/54 "2003-10-24T05:30:08Z")
‘How I made my Millions’ by Radiohead. I was awestruck! ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/55 "2003-10-24T06:05:17Z")
My current favourite song (because of its sheer beauty) is _Nwahulawana_ by **Wazimbo & Orchestra Marrabenta Star De Mocambique**. It’s been around for a while, and was in a movie too, I think. I’ve only just discovered it though. There is a brief snippet of it available [here](http://www.petrolrecords.org/petrol/africa.htm) on MP3\*. \*Mods: the site is the record company’s own one, and the MP3 is only a “bite” of a few seconds’ duration. ---
**Author:** ![teleute12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@teleute12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teleute12)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/56 "2003-10-24T06:27:35Z")
You’re all wrong, because the prettiest song ever is Pachebel’s Kanon. End story. ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/57 "2003-10-24T07:09:06Z")
Pretty? You want pretty? How about sweet honey goodness, driftingly casually devastatingly beautiful harmonies, sung by what can only be goddesses tipsy on love and the nectar of spring, which will stun you every single time you hear it performed? I give you “Dôme épais, le jasmin” by Delibes, from the opera Lakme. Be careful… that song’s enough to send just about anybody into a diabetic coma. In a more pedestrian sense of pretty… hmm… _Red Right Ankle_ - **The Decemberists** _Vibrate_ - **Rufus Wainwright** _Prayer for the Paranoid_ - **Mojave 3** _Northern Sky_ - **Nick Drake** _Your Favorite Music_ - **Clem Snide** _The Blowers Daughter_ - **Damien Rice** ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/58 "2003-10-24T10:09:52Z")
Sorry I came into this thread so late; I could’ve saved everybody a lot of time. The prettiest song ever recorded is called [“Angelika Suspended,” by Palm Fabric Orchestra](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000001WX7/qid%3D1066990727/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/102-2973594-7293729). (That recording is near impossible to find nowadays, so you’ll have to settle for it as performed by Poi Dog Pondering.) You hear it and wonder how they could’ve ever finished writing it, without just collapsing into tears of rapture. It’s amazing to see Poi Dog perform it live, too; no matter how noisy the crowd has been, they all just stand in rapt attention as soon as the band plays this song. ---
**Author:** ![twit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twit)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/59 "2003-10-24T10:18:42Z")
“Venus de Milo” by Prince 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Adamcomic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/977dab/32.png) [@Adamcomic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adamcomic)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever/208949/60 "2003-10-24T11:22:56Z")
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