# What are songs with great climaxes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [June 12, 2025, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545 "2025-06-12T21:29:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545/101 "2025-06-18T01:56:08Z")
Johnny Cash’s cover of [Hurt](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AHCfZTRGiI) ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545/102 "2025-06-18T11:08:55Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Hardly a “song” but the finale to Stravinsky’s **Firebird Suite** moves me to tears. Well, how about the climax to his _Rite of Spring_ ? https://www.youtube.com/embed/5UJOaGIhG7A?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=RD5UJOaGIhG7A&start=1406 ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545/103 "2025-06-18T19:01:41Z")
**Rite of Spring** is one of my very favorite classical pieces, the first 20 minutes or so are transcendental for me. But this thread is about codas (“climaxes”) and the final three minutes of **Firebird** have the same impact on me. No coincidence that the pieces are by the same composer within three years of each other. ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545/104 "2025-06-19T07:16:46Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > But this thread is about codas (“climaxes”) and the final three minutes of **Firebird** have the same impact on me. That’s correct. I’ll withdraw my suggestion above. Can I replace it with the last 2-3 minutes of that piece? Apart from the super short ascending flute motif just before the final bang, they’re relentlessly intense. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545/105 "2025-06-19T20:06:02Z")
Absolutely. Whatever floats your boat. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545/106 "2025-06-19T20:11:57Z")
“Afternoon Delight” 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545/107 "2025-06-19T20:15:58Z")
Led Zeppelin’s “Fool in the Rain” has a great samba-fueled climax before the final verse. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545/108 "2025-06-19T20:27:34Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > “Afternoon Delight” > 😁 “I Touch Myself” ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545/109 "2025-06-19T20:50:24Z")
Richard Thompson’s guitar solo in the second half of this live version of [“Calvary Cross”](https://youtu.be/sZ1WvdvI-gI?si=wYQ182gOCSJKo7dK). ---
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545/110 "2025-06-19T21:04:03Z")
The final section has the inevitability of a glacial advance. Great idea with the naming. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545/111 "2025-07-01T15:53:38Z")
> [@whitetho](#): > > Paradise By The Dashboard Light by Meatloaf. I think Jim Steinman really knew how to build a song to spectacular ending. I came in to say “I Would Do Anything for Love” and “Bat Out of Hell.” ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545/112 "2025-07-01T17:21:48Z")
Another very favorite of mine- the ending of Ginastera’s **Variacones Concertantes**. The entire 20 minute suite is exquisite and the coda hits it out of the park. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJpixQVkh3M&list=RDeJpixQVkh3M&start\_radio=1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJpixQVkh3M&list=RDeJpixQVkh3M&start_radio=1) ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545/113 "2025-07-01T17:46:27Z")
OK, I waited more than two weeks to make my second suggestion. “She Sheila” by The Producers. (And covered by, of all groups, Nelson.) Great slow bridge that erupts into a short instrumental pre-chorus. This song (and video) have always been a great favorite of mine. Most of my friends don’t remember it at all, even though it was performed live on MTV’s New Year’s Special in 1982. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545/114 "2025-07-01T17:52:55Z")
I almost forgot a really amazing example with a super-surprising climax : [Eskimo - Damien Rice](https://youtu.be/hFySnZl2O8o?feature=shared) I almost fell out of my chair the first time I heard this. Give it a go - if you’re not familiar with it, I bet you’ve never heard anything quite like it before. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545/115 "2025-07-01T18:18:52Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > “She Sheila” by The Producers. (And covered by, of all groups, Nelson.) Great slow bridge that erupts into a short instrumental pre-chorus. This song (and video) have always been a great favorite of mine. Most of my friends don’t remember it at all, even though it was performed live on MTV’s New Year’s Special in 1982 . Great song … know it very well. Famous Wayne’s keytar opening is 💰 The Producers frequently played clubs and small venues in New Orleans and Baton Rouge back in the day. Our local '80s radio station still plays a few of their songs, keeping their memory alive. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545/116 "2025-07-01T18:44:53Z")
Good on ya, mate!! The Marvelous 3 do a great cover of the song (minus keyboards when live, however). Very high energy and true to the source. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545/117 "2025-07-01T18:48:13Z")
“Forest Fire” ends the first side of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions’ first album, _Rattlesnakes_ (1984). [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7q4EIkKx9V4/maxresdefault.jpg "Forest Fire (Extended Version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q4EIkKx9V4) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-songs-with-great-climaxes/1019545.md?page=5)