# Simple and beautifull songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 2, 2006, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815 "2006-03-02T21:28:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Country\_boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@Country\_boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Country_boy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/1 "2006-03-02T21:28:04Z")
I am not much of a music expert. In fact I can’t sing, dance or play an instrument yet I love music. In this place there are lots of experts, so I would like you to introduce me to songs I’Ve never heard. Here is the catch, I am looking for simple songs, that is a singer and a guitar, (other instruments may be accepted), no effects, no anything else. Here are some examples: 1.- Landslide by Fleetwood Mac. 2.- Blackbird and Yesterday by the Beatles. 3.- Blowing in the wind, Lady la Lay? By Bob Dylan. 4.- More than words by Scorpions. 5.- Tears in heaven by Eric Clapton. Also, I doubt many of you have heard them, and thus they are my contribution to this thread: 6.- Oleo a una mujer con sombrero by Silvio Rodriguez. 7.- Papa cuentame otra vez by Ismael Serrano. This one despite the fact that it has more instruments is simply too beautifull to be left behind. Your turn ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/2 "2006-03-02T21:32:41Z")
“Sabbath Prayer” and “Sunrise Sunset” from Fiddler on the Roof. “God’s Own Country” from “The Beautiful Game” ---
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/3 "2006-03-02T21:37:39Z")
I’m guessing you’ve never heard “Some of Shelly’s Blues” by The Monkees. ---
**Author:** ![Calliope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Calliope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calliope)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/4 "2006-03-02T21:39:49Z")
The Lighthouse’s Tale by Nickel Creek is hauntingly beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/5 "2006-03-02T21:44:52Z")
“The Wind” by Cat Stevens. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/6 "2006-03-02T21:52:20Z")
Pick up: [Song to a Seagull by Joni Mitchell](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000002KOE/qid=1141335727/sr=1-8/ref=sr_1_8/104-7185424-2702314?s=music&v=glance&n=5174) [The Pentangle by Pentangle](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000057OWC/qid=1141335886/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/104-7185424-2702314?s=music&v=glance&n=5174) As two acoustic albums you can’t go wrong with – Then find a “Yerushalaim Shel Zahav” performance by Rachel There are many others, but that’s off the top. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/7 "2006-03-02T21:58:07Z")
A number of my favorite songs fit this category. Two of the very best: “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley and “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan. You might want to look for the work of Leadbelly, King of the Twelve-String Blues Guitar. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/8 "2006-03-02T21:58:22Z")
Also, since you include Dylan, I LOVE “Boots of Spanish Leather” ---
**Author:** ![Country\_boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@Country\_boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Country_boy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/9 "2006-03-02T21:59:15Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > “The Wind” by Cat Stevens. That was actually the first song I was going to mention. Cat Steves actually has a lot of songs that would comply with this thread… ---
**Author:** ![oxydatazealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@oxydatazealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oxydatazealot)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/10 "2006-03-02T22:20:28Z")
I guess along the lines of this thread, I would have to contribute a pop-classical tune: “Time To Say Goodbye” by Andrea Boccelli & Sarah somethingorother In my 37 years I’ve visited Punk, Post-Punk, Classical, Present-Modern, Post-Modern, ScreamoEmo, Shoegaze, Motown, Hip-Hop, Jazz, and on and on. This one is just right up there with “Ribbon In The Sky” by Evets Rednow ---
**Author:** ![oxydatazealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@oxydatazealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oxydatazealot)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/11 "2006-03-02T22:26:22Z")
> [@Country boy](#): > > I am not much of a music expert. In fact I can’t sing, dance or play an instrument yet I love music. > In this place there are lots of experts, so I would like you to introduce me to songs I’Ve never heard. Here is the catch, I am looking for simple songs, that is a singer and a guitar, (other instruments may be accepted), no effects, no anything else. Here are some examples: > > 1.- Landslide by Fleetwood Mac. > 2.- Blackbird and Yesterday by the Beatles. > 3.- Blowing in the wind, Lady la Lay? By Bob Dylan. > 4.- More than words by Scorpions. > 5.- Tears in heaven by Eric Clapton. > > Also, I doubt many of you have heard them, and thus they are my contribution to this thread: > > 6.- Oleo a una mujer con sombrero by Silvio Rodriguez. > 7.- Papa cuentame otra vez by Ismael Serrano. This one despite the fact that it has more instruments is simply too beautifull to be left behind. > > Your turn Country Boy, Might you be speaking of the band “Extreme” for your 4th choice? ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/12 "2006-03-02T22:32:10Z")
Leadbelly is excellent, as is basically most of the early blues. Kansas Joe’s “When the Levee Breaks”, a lot of Robert Johnson, Little Hat Jones’ “Bye Bye Baby”, Mississippi John Hurt’s “Candy Man”, Etta Baker’s “One Dime Blues”, Elizabeth Cotten’s “Vastapol”, etc etc. Just guitars and a voice - not much too simpler. Also, classic folk is great for this. There is not much complexity behind Woodie et al, because they were writing songs for the people. They wanted everyone to listen, and to participate, so it all feels so genuine and beautiful and simple. For more modern stuff, there is too much to name. Most of Jolie Holland fits the bill, but that is because she is pretty much blues. There is also Neutral Milk Hotel, which has either complex or “simple” songs, but all are beautiful. Simple and beautiful would probably go to “A Baby for Pree.” Modest Mouse has “Talking Shit About a Pretty Sunset”, which is simple in context, but just barely on its own. I also have this live track of Ben Kweller’s “Walk On Me”, and it fits perfectly, as well. They Might Be Giants have “When Tornadoes Take Over the World” and “Where Do They Make Balloons?” Simple and beautiful, but for it’s coarse, raw feel has to go to Beat Happening for “Jamboree.” In fact, everything they do is simple and beautiful, but in a completely different way. Also, Sparklehorse almost always release(s/d) simple, beautiful stuff - unless they felt like rawking out. They have some so-simple-it-hurts songs on most of their work, and it all sounds beautiful. However, out of all these, the most basic, beautiful song I can think of is, surprisingly, a Bright Eyes one. “Lua” is just him singing slowly, playing just as slow, but it seems so spontaneous and on the verge of collapse that you can’t tell what to make of it. You never know when he’ll end, and you’re not sure if you want him too. Good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/13 "2006-03-02T22:33:32Z")
> [@oxydatazealot](#): > > “Time To Say Goodbye” by Andrea Boccelli & Sarah somethingorother Brightman ---
**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:** [March 2, 2006, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/14 "2006-03-02T22:36:25Z")
> [@Country boy](#): > > I am not much of a music expert. In fact I can’t sing, dance or play an instrument yet I love music. > In this place there are lots of experts, so I would like you to introduce me to songs I’Ve never heard. Here is the catch, I am looking for simple songs, that is a singer and a guitar, (other instruments may be accepted), no effects, no anything else. I not only can give you songs, I can give you mp3s to listen to, all legal, with permission. The only problem is that I don’t have a lot of time to look up URLs at the moment, so I’m going to cheat. [Check out this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7052193&postcount=38), then click on any of the songs. Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/15 "2006-03-02T22:37:10Z")
I would be remiss in my duties if I did not use this opportunity to plug Patty Griffin once again. With your specifications I would recommend her first recording \*“Living with Ghosts” \*. Just terrific. If you like that, follow up with _“1000 Kisses”._ Eva Cassidy has a beautiful voice. I’d recommend _“Songbird”_, a compilation from previous CDs. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t like her interpretation of _“Fields of Gold”._ ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/16 "2006-03-02T22:48:48Z")
“Amazing Grace” by Judy Collins “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” sung achapella or only with guitar by someone I can’t recall. ---
**Author:** ![oxydatazealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@oxydatazealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oxydatazealot)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/17 "2006-03-02T23:47:12Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Brightman I just wanted to express my gratitude for Annie’s help on that last artist… and to sneak in another recommend. I can’t help myself!!! Much recorded stuff has expertly ornamented guitar tracks. That is, lightly touched guitar strokes to titivate the mood of the piece to the max. Great guitarists have put out great guitar albums and are great guitarists ‘live’ as well. (live and studio often don’t jide). They also seem to have a penchant for proliferation on par with Bach. (a.k.a. chosen-field junkies). Alot are obscure in that are constantly filling in with other bands till they hit that “arch” that “sweet spot” in their career where they record a doosy. One that comes to mind is David Grissom. But some more circulated notables (a.k.a. collective conscience) are Most of the Black Blues artists mentioned in this thread (and those not.) Willie Nelson Bob Dylan John Prine Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings Roy Harper John Williams Christopher Parkening Segovia the italian favorite Succaro or Zuccaro (or something…see Starbucks music)) (going back) Django Reinhardt I won’t go on. Before I leave my last tune, I just wish to impress with yall the fan(atic) I’ve become of my own local artists who are hopeless causes to their field. Many have literally surrrendered to an entire lifetime of marginal employment all for their love of music. And when you hear them play, it’s for REAL. Coffee Houses are back!! Get out there and listen to a legend for $3. Maybe even dance with a _honey_! Here’s me tune: Never Goin’ Back Again. -Fleetwood Mac (Rumours) The key in this song though is the unbelievable F# chord harmonized by the \entire\ Fleetwood Mac entourage. ---
**Author:** ![oxydatazealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@oxydatazealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oxydatazealot)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/18 "2006-03-02T23:51:21Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Brightman I just wanted to express my gratitude for Annie’s help on that last artist… and to sneak in another recommend. I can’t help myself!!! Much recorded stuff has expertly ornamented guitar tracks. That is, lightly touched guitar strokes to titivate the mood of the piece to the max. Great guitarists have put out great guitar albums and are great guitarists ‘live’ as well. (live and studio often don’t jide). They also seem to have a penchant for proliferation on par with Bach. (a.k.a. chosen-field junkies). Alot are obscure in that are constantly filling in with other bands till they hit that “arch” that “sweet spot” in their career where they record a doosy. One that comes to mind is David Grissom. But some more circulated notables are: Most of the Black Blues artists mentioned in this thread (and those not.) additionally, Willie Nelson Bob Dylan John Prine Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings Roy Harper John Williams Christopher Parkening Segovia the italian favorite Succaro or Zuccaro (or something…see Starbucks music)) (going back) Django Reinhardt I won’t go on. Before I leave my last tune, I just wish to impress with yall the fan(atic) I’ve become of my own local artists who are hopeless causes to their field. Many have literally surrrendered to an entire lifetime of marginal employment all for their love of music. And when you hear them play, it’s for REAL. Coffee Houses are back!! Get out there and listen to a legend for $3. Maybe even dance with a _honey_! Here’s me tune: Never Goin’ Back Again. -Fleetwood Mac (Rumours) The key in this song though is the unbelievable F# chord vocal harmony at the end of this short gem. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/19 "2006-03-03T00:03:59Z")
**Blue** - Lucinda Williams from _Essence_ ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815/20 "2006-03-03T00:10:41Z")
There’s a song by (The?) White Stripe(s?) with the refrain “I can tell that we are going to be friends.” Simple and beautiful song. “Exqusite Dead Guy” by They Might Be Giants–both Simple and Beautiful, IMO. But that’s going to be controversial probably. (Simple, yes, but beautiful? Well… Its the juxtaposition of the whistling-in-the-dark “exquisite dead guy” portion of the song with the purity and honesty of the “How’m I supposed to let you know how I feel about you” part that gets me. I know its wierd to feel this way about a TMBG song, but seriously, it sometimes causes tears to begin to form in the corners of my eyes. I wouldn’t mind having that song played at my funeral. Probably the family wouldn’t go for it though :).) -FrL- [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-and-beautifull-songs/346815.md?page=2)