(No, not music to clean to.)
I’m looking for songs that have some sort of an exhilarating, sweepic, epic feel. Examples I can think of off the top of my head (so you get what I’m getting at) are “Rebellion (Lies)” by The Arcade Fire, “Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens, or “Us” by Regina Spektor. I’d prefer stuff a little less cheesy than U2, but I trust your judgement.
“Cold Cold Water” by Mirah.
Most any Sigur Ros song comes to mind. I’ve always been taken by the epic ever building feel of Untitled #8 (a.k.a. “Popplagið”) on the album called (). It just might be the most accurate representation of the female orgasm ever created. I doubt that was the intent but it’s incredible. The entire song (and last half of the album for that matter) builds up to a single vocal note.
Another, better known, Sigur Ros song is “Svefn-g-englar.” This seems to fit the bill also.
Pink Floyd “The Great Gig in the Sky” - Clare Torry is a vocal genius. Even if you dislike Floyd, you can’t deny the beauty of this song.
Oh, I thought you meant songs about sweeping the floor. I was all set to recommend “I Am Not Your Broom” by They Might Be Giants.
There’s also Mopping, by the Bobs.
Green & Grey and Vagabonds by New Model Army. I think it’s the violins.
Track 1 of the second disc of “Lift your skinny fists like antennas to heaven” by God Speed You Black Emperor…
Yes’s Starship Trooper always felt sweeping and epic to me.
The Killers’ “When You Were Young.”
Try the Brian Eno album Apollo : atmospheres and soundtracks. It’s ambient music written to accompany footage of the NASA missions to the moon. If the track An ending (Ascent) doesn’t make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end, I’ll eat my hat. It is so beautiful and “sweeping” and awe-inspiring.
The Coasters’ “Yakety Yak” is a good sweeping song:
*Just finish cleanin’ up your room
Let’s see that dust fly with that broom
*
Al Stewart’s Roads to Moscow
I first heard the song playing Guitar Hero and have NO IDEA what they are singing about, but it sounds “sweeping” to me.
Héroes del Silencio - Avalancha
“Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve
Fanfare for the Common Man written by Aaron Copeland.
Spitting Venom by Modest Mouse.
Though there are a lot of songs from We Were Dead… and Good News… that seem epic to me.
“Africa” by Toto.
Welcome to the Black Parade - My Chemical Romance
Somewhere Only We Know - Keane
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Half the stuff on Led Zeppelin IV
I wouldn’t agree about Good News…, although of course “Float On”'s hook does awaken the “universal longing” so reached for in music.
But it’s surprisingly true about We Were Dead… Lots of songs seem like they’ll be just your standard MM wallow-fest (NTTAWWT :))but build into something more, or at least different.
Joe Jackson, “Shanghai Sky”