# Songs That Give You the Chills **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 3, 2001, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802 "2001-08-03T17:09:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![hardygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@hardygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardygrrl)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/41 "2001-08-04T03:09:54Z")
Thought of a couple more… **Something in the Way** …Nirvana **All I Want is You** …U2. Years before I met Stinky Paws, Bono writes a song that perfectly sums up my feelings for him. Another vote for **Disarm** ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/42 "2001-08-04T03:10:11Z")
Ghost in You – Psychadelic Furs Desert Rain – Sting Fields of Gold – Sting Diary – Bread Ghost Riders In The Sky – Johnny Cash The Wheel – Roseanne Cash Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel Good Mother – Jann Arden About half of Mary Chapin Carpenter’s stuff but most especially her version of “10,000 Miles” which was heard in the Fly Away Home soundtrack. Is It Over Yet – Wynonna (Judd) Personal Jesus – Depeche Mode Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald – Gordon Lightfoot The Queen & The Soldier – Suzanne Vega (she did Tom’s Diner, BTW) The Night Chicago Died – can’t recall artist The Rainbow Connection – Kermit the Frog Uninvited – Alannis Morrisette The Dance – Garth Brooks. I always liked this song, but the video adds even more to it, because it makes the song about death instead of love gone wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/43 "2001-08-04T03:16:10Z")
I am afraid that much of the music that “gives me chills” is blatantly church music. Right now I am listening to a CD called “And I Heard a Great Voice, Luther College Nordic Choir, 1995-97.” Luther is a little (2500 students at most) Lutheran supported college in Decorah, Iowa, about 25 miles from my home, and about the only pretence we have to culture and learning in the immediate area. At any rate, Luther has had a tradition of fine choral music and the several choral performances each year are well attended with tickets hard to get if you are not a big donor or the parent of a performer (much the same as being a big donor). This particular recording is, in my uneducated judgment, a triumph. It includes Paul Christiansen’s “And I Heard a Great Voice,” Morten Lauridsen’s “Oh, Magnum Mysterium,” and Rachmaninoff’s “Ave Maria.” They are all real barnburners. My view may be influenced by the fact that I can almost hear my daughter’s voice in some of the alto passages. Copeland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man’ never fails to bring me to my feet, but then so does “Marching Through Georgia.” ---
**Author:** ![Skijumper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3e96dc/32.png) [@Skijumper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skijumper)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/44 "2001-08-04T03:28:53Z")
**Song to The Siren** - This Mortail Coil. I have not heard Tim Buckley’s original, but the lyrics and Liz Fraser’s voice give me the chills, even after repeat playing. ---
**Author:** ![Ascha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Ascha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ascha)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/45 "2001-08-04T03:48:14Z")
“More Than Words” and “To Be With You”??? I feel like I’m in grade 8 again! But those songs still affect me… Other than that… “One” by U2–can make me cry every time. “Path of Thorns” by Sarah MacLachlan–the last line: “Funny how it is that all I try to do, seems to make no difference to you.”–shivers. “Lightning Crashes” by Live–something about those repetitive chords just builds and builds until you can’t take it anymore. Also… Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor Op. 13 “Pathetique”–if I could only listen to one piece of music ever again it would be this. Chopin’s Prelude in E minor No. 4 Op.28–it’s simply transcendental but oh so simple. That’s just a smattering of the songs that move me. ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/46 "2001-08-04T04:49:36Z")
although i have come to despise cher since her big sonny funeral comeback , i think that the way she sings “and when im sad, you’re a clown, and when i get scared, you’re always around” in “i got you babe” is almost perfect and just typing it gets to me- (it reminds me of my daughter) ---
**Author:** ![muffinman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@muffinman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muffinman)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/47 "2001-08-04T04:51:55Z")
Strange Fruit, by Billie Holiday (imagine that she’s describing the death of your most cherished love one, and it really hits home.) Hotel California, by the Eagles Anything by Eagle-Eye Cherry City of New Orleans, by Arlo Guthrie Brick, by Ben Folds Five. I’ll probably think of more and post again. ---
**Author:** ![LocalLoop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@LocalLoop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LocalLoop)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/48 "2001-08-04T05:35:10Z")
The most shocking thing for me was how many of you picked songs that were _right on_. Already mentioned: Cool Water - Talking Heads Everlong - Foo Fighters Wish you were here - Pink Floyd Human Behaviour - Bjork My additions: “Pushit” - Tool, Aenima “Aenima” - Tool, Aenima (“Learn to swim”, gets me every time) “Immortality” - Pearl Jam, Vitalogy “Don’t stand so close to me” - Police “Christiansands” - Tricky, Pre-Millenium Tension “Something” - Beatles, Abbey Road ---
**Author:** ![exchicagoan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@exchicagoan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/exchicagoan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/49 "2001-08-04T05:36:34Z")
The “celebration”/ending to 1812 OVERTURE. The bells, that stunning pacing. FORTUNA IMPERATIX MUNDI from CARMINA BURANA. The QUARTET from WEST SIDE STORY. ----raises the hair on my arms every time. Agree with---- AMAZING GRACE----with bagpipes. CON TE PARTIRO—ANDREA BOCELLI–both versions. Church music---- TANTUM ERGO PANIS ANGELICUS by Franck SHUBERT’S AVE MARIA OH HOLY NIGHT OPERA---- UN BEL DI, VEDROMO—MADAMA BUTTERFLY E LUCEVAN LE STELLE—TOSCA INTERMEZZO from CAVALLERIA RUSTICANNA POP MUSIC—very little 3 by QUEEN—WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, WE WILL ROCK YOU, BOHEMIAN RAPSODY. ---
**Author:** ![darian00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dfb087/32.png) [@darian00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/darian00)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/50 "2001-08-04T06:10:08Z")
_Metallica_ Nothing Else Matters Fade to Black The Unforgiven The Unforgiven II Orion Wherever I May Roam (I actually want this played at my funeral) One _Pantera_ Cemetary Gates Planet Caravan _Guns and Roses_ Patience November Rain Estranged _Queensryche_ Empire Silent Lucidity Another Rainy Night _Bon Jovi_ Bed of Roses Never Say Goodbye Blaze of Glory Wanted, Dead or Alive _Cyndi Lauper_’s Time After Time. We did this my junior year in high school for the Winterguard competition. While I wasn’t actually in Winterguard, I was on the loading and stage crew. That show brought chills to me every time I saw it, and to this day it’s all still very vivid. Another one for _Extreme_’s More than Words, and _Smashing Pumpkins_’ Disarm. _Beethoven_’s Moonlight Sonata _A Perfect Circle_’s Three Libras ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/51 "2001-08-04T07:03:03Z")
Interstate Love Song - Stone Temple Pilots Songs with perfect moments: Plush - Stone Temple Pilots Creep - Stone Temple Pilots Still Remains - Stone Temple Pilots Coma - Guns N’ Roses Estranged - Guns N’ Roses One - Metallica The Unforgiven - Metallica Wherever I May Roam - Metallica Take This Bottle - Faith No More Just a Man - Faith No More Midlife Crisis - Faith No More A Small Victory - Faith No More King for a Day - Faith No More The Way - Fastball Brick - Ben Folds Five Neverending Story - Limahl Everlong - Foo Fighters Shimmer - Fuel Forever Autumn - Moody Blues Lightning Crashes - Live Selling the Drama - Live Most of Nirvana’s work Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town - Pearl Jam Black - Pearl Jam Living Type - Powderfinger These Days - Powderfinger If You Could Only See - Tonic What Becomes of the Broken Hearted - various people. Castles Made of Sand - Jimi Hendrix There are more. This is more than enough 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@Chum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chum)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/52 "2001-08-04T17:01:31Z")
**bean\_shadow** , I do know exactly what you mean about “ **Su Sudio**.” And what a great movie **American Psycho** is, eh? **Katisha** , I can’t believe I forgot about **Les Miserables**! I get chills at the exact part you described, and also during “ **On My Own** ” when she sings, “I love him, but every day I’m learning/ All my life I’ve only been pretending.” **Superdude** , I get chills from “ **Father Figure** ” as well, but for a different reason. **Mangetout** , **jayjay** , **racinchikki** , and **Ascha** , it is absolutely wonderful to know that “ **More Than Words** ” affects other people in that way. My friends all think that I’m insane. **LocalLoop** , I definitely agree with “ **Aenima** ” by Tool. Same part. And I’d also add “ **Sober** ,” right after the “trust me” part. I just thought of “ **Spiders** ” by System of A Down. That song is really wonderful, and I’m still confused about its lack of real radio play. It seems to me that everyone is defining “chills” differently. To me, a lot of the metal songs that people suggest give me the “creeps” (in a good way, though). I usually get chills at the peak of a song. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/53 "2001-08-04T17:11:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by flickerwolf \* > **Tom’s Diner - DNA (I hope someone out there remembers it…)** I do. It was based on the same diner where the gang of _Seinfeld_ always ate. **Chum** : _American Psycho_ is perhaps one of the most underrated films in the past ten years. Curse Lions Gate for not advertising this great movie more. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/54 "2001-08-04T17:36:09Z")
“The Origin of Love” from _Hedwig and the Angry Inch_. A poignant retelling of a fable from Plato’s _Symposium_, the animation sequence in the movie had me in tears. Cheryl Barnes’s soaring rendition of “Easy To Be Hard” from the movie version of _Hair_ still gives me chills up and down my spine. “O Death” from _O Brother, Where Art Thou?_ (The song at the Klan rally) “Porcelain” by Moby “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” from \*Dreamgirls[/]. Jenniefer Holiday’s pain still puts a hurt on my soul. “Rejoice In The Sun” by Joan Baez The opening trio between Gandhi, Krishna, and Arjuna (“Field of Kuru”)from Philip Glass’s opera, _Satyagraha_ “Undertow” by Tool “Starless” by King Crimson ---
**Author:** ![flickerwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/13edae/32.png) [@flickerwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickerwolf)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/55 "2001-08-05T01:12:40Z")
Wow I’m LOVING this thread…I’m remembering songs that I…well…never thought I’d remember.🙂 **Criminal** - Fiona Apple **Velvet Rope** and **Got 'til it’s Gone** - Janet Jackson **You Wanted More** - Tonic **Spanish Lullaby** and **Take a Bow** - Madonna **Closer** - Nine Inch Nails…Yeah I know, but if _that_ song doesn’t freak you out or at least give you chills…well, I’d say there was something wrong with you. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/56 "2001-08-05T01:18:16Z")
[list][list][list]\*\* [li] Jingle Bells[/li][li] White Christmas[/li][li] Frosty the Snowman\*\*[list][/li]😛 ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_Nazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Soup\_Nazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_Nazi)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/57 "2001-08-05T02:32:14Z")
Definetly a good thread. **hell bent** by **Kenna** is definetly one of those slow, melancholy songs that give me the shivers. So is **Brick** by **Ben Folds Five**. **3 Libras** and **Brena** by **A Perfect Circle** are also on the top of the heap. ---
**Author:** ![Baraqiyal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@Baraqiyal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baraqiyal)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/58 "2001-08-05T06:11:14Z")
Chills eh? The following because of their haunting / ethereal / eerie qualities: **Questions in a World of Blue** by Julee Cruise **The Accident** by David Byrne **Summer: Ghosts** by Clint Mansell **The Black Dog Runs at Night** by Thought Gang **Hairshirt** by R.E.M. **San Jacinto** by Peter Gabriel The following because of their stirring qualities: **Battle March Medley** by The Pogues **Given to Fly** by Pearl Jam **Love Reign O’Er Me** by The Who **Cool, Cool River** by Paul Simon And **Last Kiss** by Pearl Jam because of its lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![VitrolicBump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a587f6/32.png) [@VitrolicBump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VitrolicBump)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/59 "2001-08-05T06:35:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by muffinman \* > \*\*Strange Fruit, by Billie Holiday > (imagine that she’s describing the death of your most cherished love one, and it really hits home.) > \*\* Funny you should mention this one. I have never heard “Strange Fruit”, but a song written by my favorite band (Placebo) made a song that is supposed to be a tribute to it. The song is called “Haemoglobin” and it gives me the most awful feeling. Here are the [lyrics](http://www.thebsh.com/lyrics/bmm.htm#haemo). I happened into another song that gave me chills. It was a remix of Placebo’s “Passive-Aggressive” (lyrics can be found through the same link). It probably had to do with the fact that I went into the Gap (the last place I would have thought to be playing Placebo) and heard Brian’s beautiful voice. When I heard it, I screamed(not loud, but never-the-less) and threw my hands to my face. I was in a state of giddiness and euphoria. I stayed in the store until it was over, just so that I could hear it. I didn’t care what I looked like, I was in heaven. 😛 I was the happiest girl in the world. That moment was the greatest part of my day. Even though I found some great things to buy. Aren’t I pathetic? ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802/60 "2001-08-05T09:44:42Z")
‘Zebulon’ by Einsturzende Neubauten ‘Heroin’ and ‘Sister Ray’ by The Velvet Underground ‘Sleep Alone’ by Rowland S Howard ‘Let’s Sing Another Song, Boys’ by Leonard Cohen ‘Master Song’ - also Leonard Cohen ‘Alexander The Great’ by Iron Maiden ‘Gimme Danger’ by The Stooges ‘Sue’s Last Ride’ by The Dirty Three ‘Nervous Breakdown’ by Black Flag ‘Blown To Bits’ by The Sick Things ‘Ballad of a Teenage Queen’ by Johnny Cash ‘I Believe’ by Stevie Wonder ‘Tannytown’ by Steve Earle ‘Off He Goes’ by Pearl Jam ‘Where Did You Sleep Last Night’ by Nirvana (studio outtake version) ‘All God’s Children’ (electric version) by Simon Bonney ‘Side of the Road’ (either version) by Lucinda Williams ‘Leaving It Up To You’ by John Cale ‘Guardian’ by Fates Warning ‘Black Hole’ by Urinals (or Yo La Tengo) ‘We Used To’ and ‘Jolene’ - Dolly Parton ‘Down From Dover’ - Nancy and Lee ‘Initials BB’ - Serge Gainsbourgh ‘I Think I’m In Love’ by Spiritualised - I remember walking down the street with my feet about a foot above the pavement listening to this song. Unbelievable. ‘Non Alignment Pact’ by Pere Ubu ‘Cyclotron’ by The Electric Eels Oh, one more Velvet Underground song, ‘I’m Set Free’ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-give-you-the-chills/74802.md?page=4)