# Really Beautiful Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 23, 2002, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484 "2002-10-23T06:00:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/81 "2002-10-25T06:59:54Z")
Nick Drake, **River Man** Cast of Godspell, **By My Side** Cast of Godspell, **On the Willows** The Beatles (John Lennon), **Julia** Linda Ronstadt, **Faithless Love** The Flamingos, **I Only Have Eyes for You** Wilhelmina Wiggins Fernandez, Aria from **La Wally** The Beach Boys, **In My Room** Stevie Wonder, **You and I** Joni Mitchell, **Green** Simon & Garfunkel, **Scarborough Fair** Simon & Garfunkel, **Bridge Over Troubled Water** Rickie Lee Jones, **On Saturday Afternoons in 1963** ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/82 "2002-10-25T07:09:23Z")
Original post by Spooky: > [@](#): > > "My flavor of the moment is Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor. Listen for the “falling stars” (that’s how I describe his piano style). " My first year in college, my roommate played that every night as we were going to sleep. When I transferred schools, I had to go and buy the record so that I could get some rest. Later in college, I had broken up with a piano student who played this with the orchestra for his final recital. Afterwards, he threw me a kiss. Oh it was so marvelously tragic! I have the exact same image of falling stars when I listen to the second movement of Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/83 "2002-10-25T07:32:23Z")
Bruce Springsteen, **Meeting Across the River** Julie Andrews, **Whistling Away the Dark** Extreme, **Only Words** Matthew Sweet, **You Don’t Need Me** Ella Fitzgerald, **Little Boy Blue** “Io t’ho ghermita” from **Madama Butterfly** Buddy Holly, **True Love Ways** ---
**Author:** ![Hoops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoops/32/6408_2.png) [@Hoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoops)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/84 "2002-10-25T07:51:34Z")
**Radiohead** specialize in this sort of thing. Subterranean Homesick Alien, The Tourist, Kid A, Pyramid Song, How To Disappear Completely . . . Also, I nominate **Jane Siberry** ’s The Valley and **The Roches** ’ Quitting Time. Matte Kudasai by **King Crimson**. Birthday, **the Sugarcubes**. And in the interest of complete obscurity, **Morton Feldman** ’s Rothko Chapel, particularly the last part. (Can you spot the ex-music-grad-student?) ---
**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:** [October 25, 2002, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/85 "2002-10-25T10:53:15Z")
I notice that stylize includes "Songbird” by Fleetwood Mac, that photopat includes Isreal Kamakawiwo’ole’s versions of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World”, and that Trancey and Wearia include Louis Armstrong’s version of “What a Wonderful World”. Eva Cassidy has done versions of all those songs, and I think her versions are the best anyone has ever done. ---
**Author:** ![Jerrybear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8c91f0/32.png) [@Jerrybear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jerrybear)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/86 "2002-10-25T13:24:10Z")
Here are some that I do not think have been mentioned yet: “Janis” by Country Joe and the Fish. Yes, it is about the one and only Hippie Rock and Roll Goddess, Ms. Joplin herself. I have listened to this with my eyes closed and I swear that I feel the presence of her spirit. The Grateful Dead also did a tribute to Janis, titled “Bird Song.” Also from the Grateful Dead, “Black Muddy River” and “Box of Rain.” Two very emotionally moving songs which also happen to be the last two that the Dead played in concert. ---
**Author:** ![panache](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c77e96/32.png) [@panache](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/87 "2002-10-25T14:25:42Z")
To add to the instrumental lists here, I gotta go with **Finlandia** , (I mean, the piece caused riots!) which I had the good fortune to play at one point, and **American Symphony** from the Mr. Holland’s Opus soundrack- A crap disc overall, but rescued from complete suckiness by that song, and **Hey Jude**! ---
**Author:** ![Merejane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@Merejane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merejane)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/88 "2002-10-25T14:56:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by PRNYouth \* > \*\*“When Somebody Loved Me” by … um … just slipped my mind. Anyway, it’s from Toy Story 2. (Go ahead, laugh. But listen to it!) 🙂 \*\* It’s by Sarah McLachlan, and I agree, it is beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/89 "2002-10-25T15:27:44Z")
The Velvet Underground - Stephanie Says ---
**Author:** ![Bomzaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Bomzaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bomzaway)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/90 "2002-10-25T15:35:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zoe \* > \*\*_Are You Going With Me?_ by Pat Matheny was the only music at my wedding and the title is engraved inside my wedding band. \*\* OMG! I haven’t heard that in over a decade! Excellent choice! ---
**Author:** ![Bomzaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Bomzaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bomzaway)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/91 "2002-10-25T16:15:09Z")
Going through my MP3’s… Must be love - Rickie Lee Jones Maybe I’m amazed - Wings Don’t let the sun go down on me - Elton John In a daydream - Freddy Jones Band (It’s like…the sunrise) Let my love open the door - Pete Towsend (the re-mix from the Gross Pointe Blank soundtrack) I just downloaded Tom Waits’ _Innocent when you dream_. Very nice. ---
**Author:** ![Thomas\_Stearns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Thomas\_Stearns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thomas_Stearns)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/92 "2002-10-25T17:51:17Z")
Stevie Wonder: Overjoyed, As, Lately, and Never Dreamed you’d Leave. ---
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/93 "2002-10-25T22:10:27Z")
**Don’t Stop Believing** --Journey **Fields Of Gold** – Sting **Just You And I** – Eddie Rabbit & Crystal Gayle ---
**Author:** ![deadparrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@deadparrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deadparrot)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/94 "2002-10-25T23:29:02Z")
**Romeo and Juliet** - Dire Straits **A Perfect Indian** - Sinead O’Connor Any version of **Silent Night** ---
**Author:** ![Badandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@Badandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badandi)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/95 "2002-10-26T00:10:05Z")
“America” by Simon and Garfunkel “Send in the Clowns” by Judy Collins and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” coverd by Tori Amos Good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/96 "2002-10-26T03:33:07Z")
**Walloon** & **Bomzaway** , I think the **Extreme** song is titled _More Then Words_ and _Maybe I’m Amazed_ is officially a **Paul McCartney** solo tune. **Bette Midler** --The Rose **Oasis** --Wonderwall **Guns N’ Roses** --Sweet Child O’ Mine **Guns N’ Roses** --Estranged **Stevie Nicks & Don Henley** --Leather & Lace ---
**Author:** ![ouisey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9fc29f/32.png) [@ouisey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouisey)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/97 "2002-10-26T04:27:37Z")
Pale September by Fiona Apple. And I hear ya on Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed”. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/98 "2002-10-26T07:22:50Z")
Walloon, Callas’s version of La Wally has about as much depth and feeling as I can tolerate without doing something tragic. Good choice!!! But can you tell me if it is pronounced just as it is spelled? ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/99 "2002-10-26T07:41:28Z")
> [@](#): > > ## Originally posted by Zoe Are You Going With Me? by Pat Matheny was the only music at my wedding and the title is engraved inside my wedding band. > > \*\*Bomzaway: > > OMG! I haven’t heard that in over a decade! Excellent choice! \*\* One of my friends mistakenly referred to the music at our wedding as “Are You Coming with Me?” ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484/100 "2002-10-26T07:52:59Z")
That’s a good question, **Zoe**. La Wally is the female lead in the opera of the same name. The libretto is in Italian, but it’s from a German novel titled _Die Geier-Wally_, and is set in the Tyrol. Given that Italian doesn’t have native words that begin with “w”, and given the German origin and setting of the story, I am guessing that “La Wally” is pronounced “La Vally”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-beautiful-songs/133484.md?page=6)