Best song ever?

[Bossy Monkey]

You know, I think it may be Free Bird? No? I didn't think so.

I dunno, whatta you think? Feel free to range across the entire history of music and the entire range of genres, but for argument's sake, let's say to be a song it has to have words.

This is a test of the Lounge Negativism Network. I'm posting 'Worst Song Ever?' simultaneously; we'll see which one gets the most replies/views.

[skygazer]

1. I will reply to this but it's a lot harder than the worst

Because there are so many great songs out there and a lot depends on what kind of mood I'm in. Still, Comfortably Numb is right up there so I'll give it a vote. What the hell.

[billyskank]

2. Sultans Of Swing

[QuestionAll...]

60. ooo, early vote for that one

the old impala radio shook big time with that one.

[Archae]

3. "A Day In The Life" by the Beatles.

Anyone ever does a cover of it, it'll be sacriledge.

[Skittles]

67. it always reminds me of my beloved English grandfather

"found my way upstears an 'ad a smoke".......we always went upstairs on the double-deckers so he could smoke

[querelle]

4. I Would Say..........

It's entirely subjective. However my favourite song of all time is "Someone To Watch Over Me" as sung by Frank Sinatra. I don't cry easily but that song as sung by Sinatra turns me into a blubbering vulnerable baby every time. By the way.......I don't want this info to get out. This is just between me and you. OK?

Q

[begin_within]

5. "Stardust" by Hoagy Carmichael and Mitchell Parrish

and the best recording of it was by Nat King Cole

[querelle]

6. Oh Yeah!

I went to see "Running With Scissors" last night and Stardust by Nat King Cole was in the soundtrack. I listened to it this morning because of the movie. Truly a great rendition of that tune. I also like the Artie Shaw rendition, which is instrumental.

Q

[begin_within]

9. The same Nat King Cole recording was used in "Sleepless in Seattle" and

it's on "The Very Best of Nat King Cole." I have actually had to pull over and stop driving when it came on the radio, I was spellbound by it.

[querelle]

10. Same Thing Happened To Me Recently

Radio staion played Nature Boy by Nat King Cole and I pulled off onto a side street to listen to it.

Q

[OzarkDem]

21. I listened to it during labor

when my oldest was born. Gorgeous song.

[Bridget Burke]

81. The opening credits of "My Favorite Year".....

Were accompanied by the intro to Stardust--by Nat King Cole.

And now the purple dusk of twilight time
Steals across the meadows of my heart
High up in the sky the little stars climb
Always reminding me that we're apart

You wander down the lane and far away
Leaving me a song that will not die
Love is now the stardust of yesterday
The music of the years gone by

[taterguy]

7. Shaver's Georgia On A Fast Train

Maybe not the best but I was checking and I noticed it's the song that shows up most often on mix CDs I make, probably because most people haven't heard it and I think it needs more exposure. It fucking rocks:

I've been Georgia on a fast train honey, I wasn't born no yesterday, got a Christian raising and a 8th grade education, ain't no reason y'all are treating me this way. Aw, throw down Eddie.

Or maybe I just think our country needs to revamp its transportation policies and encourage high speed rail

[Left Is Write]

14. That's a darn good song.

[ghostsofgiants]

8. "New Noise" by Refused.

Next question?

[WeRQ4U]

55. That song is so fucking rad...

It WAS on MTV you know. Suprised the hell out of me.

[ghostsofgiants]

71. Something tells me it wasn't in very high rotation though, haha.

[WeRQ4U]

79. Nah...

I remember seeing the video for it late one night in my apartment. Both my roommate and I were dumbfounded.

Not a bad video though if I remember right.

[ghostsofgiants]

80. Yeah, I remember seeing it on Muchmusic's "Loud" program. The show played all metal/punk/hardcore

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8MkVIe9xGc

[grace0418]

11. "Walking on the Spot"- Crowded House

Best song ever.

[hippywife]

12. Way, way, way too many

to even think about picking only one! I love music too much. :hi:

[Left Is Write]

13. Freebird might qualify as the Worst Song Ever.

[speedoo]

23. I'd say it's tied with "Stairway to Heaven" as worst song ever.

Both have suffered from overplay. I'm sick of them both.

[Left Is Write]

34. I'm sick of Stairway To Heaven also, but at least I enjoyed it once.

I've never liked Freebird.

[Joey Liberal]

25. You must be joking n/t

[Left Is Write]

33. No, I'm not.

If I were to make a list of my most hated songs, Freebird would be near the top.

[Throd]

43. Concierto de Aranjuez by Rodrigo

[donheld]

63. I wont say it's the worst song

but I will say it's pretty bad. :crazy:

[Cyrano]

15. "Amazing Grace." But the way that Meryl Streep sang it in "Silkwood."

[Xipe Totec]

16. Don't know about best,

But certainly a very good one by Vladimir Vissotski. Very poignant, and his voice is unique and instantly recognizable around the world.



La Chasse aux Loups (The Wolf Hunt):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/clipserve/B000027JRD001018/0/ref=mu_sam_wma_001_018/002-2799909-9859229

from this album:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000027JRD/ref=pd_rvi_gw_3/002-2799909-9859229

[Xipe Totec]

28. Youtube link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3F7VKXoN6U&mode=related&search=

[YankeyMCC]

17. Imagine

[patrick t. cakes]

18. impossible....

"born to a family"

by the Go Betweens

a personal favorite.

[Xipe Totec]

19. Here's to Life!

(Gracias a la vida)

Mercedes Sosa



Also performed by Joan Baez in another album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyOJ-A5iv5I

[mvd]

20. I'll choose "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by S&G...

even though the Beatles are my favorite band. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" always soothes me in troubled times.

[Xipe Totec]

29. The Boxer

Though "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is a close second.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ibQJH_BFRk

[femmocrat]

22. "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers n/t

[Xipe Totec]

24. Eres Tu!

How could I forget!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZXxrA64K88

[Xipe Totec]

26. It ain't me, Babe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cmNRVL1drA&mode=related&search=

[bluedogyellowdog]

27. Afternoon Delight! Disco Duck! Billy Don't Be a Hero! Kung-Fu Fighting!

joking.

seriously, I don't have a dog in this race. There are a lot of great songs, but which one is the best song ever is always in flux. Maybe "Fire and Rain" by James Taylor.

[VeggieTart]

30. It really depends on my mood.

I can't say which one is best.

But I feel like screaming and throwing things (or throwing up) if I ever have to hear "You Are So Beautiful," which easily qualifies for WORST.

[Left Is Write]

35. See, that's the thing.

I can't pick a best song because I'm so often in the mood for different types of songs.

It's easier to pick a worst song, because the songs I hate, I hate, regardless of my mood.

[Glorfindel]

31. Anything by the Beatles...WAY too many to pick a favorite

but if forced, "Yesterday"

[Dude_CalmDown]

32. Badfish - The live version from Stand By Your Van

Sublime will never ever get old.

[av8rdave]

36. SRV - The Sky is Crying (live version)

[cautiouslywaiting]

37. Hurt

The Johnny Cash version. He is the coolest guy ever.

[bmbmd]

38. These guys say

"Over the Rainbow" was the greatest song of the twentieth century. I say"What a Wonderful World".

http://archives.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/07/list.top.365.songs/

[Tyler Durden]

39. The Louis Armstrong version of course.

Runs a close second to "Georgia" by Ray Charles.

[hfojvt]

40. it appears to be alot easier to be negative

there are not many sirius answers on this thread.

From the list on my Ipod, I'm gonna go with "Bad Reputation" by Joan Jett. Lyrically and musically, it totally kicks a$$. Which is why they used it for the wrestling scene in Shrek.

[Bossy Monkey]

44. Maybe I'm illiterate, but I only see one frivolous reply

and even that person gave a serious candidate in the body of the reply. However, let's argue about it furiously to get you up to your 10,000th DU post. (Premature congratulationage regardless.:toast:)

[raccoon]

41. "Don't Worry Baby" by the Beach Boys. nt

[Lautremont]

42. Holland, 1945, by Neutral Milk Hotel.

That's the first best one that popped to mind.

[Bossy Monkey]

45. Oh all right. Seriously? "Love at the Five and Dime," Nanci Griffith

or "The Way You Look Tonight" as performed by Fred Astaire
or "Free Bird." Seriously.

[SKKY]

46. Here's what I consider my "Top 10". Can't narrow it down to just one.

I have a few, and the order may change, but these make the list more than most.

1. "Never Let Me Down" Depeche Mode
2. "La Flaca" Jarabe de Palo
3. "Three Days" Jane's Addiction
4. "How Soon is Now?" The Smiths
5. "King of Pain" The Police
6. "Burn" Nine Inch Nails
7. "More Human than Human" White Zombie
8. "Peek-a-boo" Siouxsie and the Banshees
9. "Feeling Gravity's Pull" R.E.M.
10. "Pride (In the name of love) U2

[Guava Jelly]

47. Build me up Buttercup

the foundations
:7

[WannaBeGrumpy]

48. Stand Up by Def Leppard

:headbang:

[Oeditpus Rex]

49. 'Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)'

As performed by the Benny Goodman Orchestra.

[S n o w b a l l]

50. Just one of many!

Dion...Abraham, Martin & John

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLAXp-vQjbA&mode=related...

Hi DU! Long time lurker here. My first post!
:hi:

[speedoo]

59. Wonderful song... welcome to DU!

The video is in Japan... such a beautiful country. I visited there many years ago and it looks so familiar.

[martymar64]

51. Ripple

by the Good Old Grateful Dead

[greendog]

52. "Suzanne"

Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river
You can hear the boats go by
You can spend the night beside her
And you know that she's half crazy
But that's why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges
That come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell her
That you have no love to give her
Then she gets you on her wavelength
And she lets the river answer
That you've always been her lover

And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you know that she will trust you
For you've touched her perfect body with your mind.

And Jesus was a sailor
When he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching
From his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain
Only drowning men could see him
He said "All men will be sailors then
Until the sea shall free them"
But he himself was broken
Long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human
He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone

And you want to travel with him
And you want to travel blind
And you think maybe you'll trust him
For he's touched your perfect body with his mind.

Now Suzanne takes your hand
And she leads you to the river
She is wearing rags and feathers
From Salvation Army counters
And the sun pours down like honey
On our lady of the harbour
And she shows you where to look
Among the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed
There are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love
And they will lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds the mirror
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you know that you can trust her
For she's touched your perfect body with her mind.

(Leonard Cohen)

[speedoo]

57. Love that song... in my top 10 for sure. nt

[dback]

53. "Over the Rainbow," of course

Wonder, delight, mysticism, hope, and then the wistful reality: "Why oh why can't I?" I know a lot of people love the Hawaiian guy who did it a couple years ago (now being used in a Rice Krispies commercial), as well as Eva Cassidy; Rufus Wainwright also did a heart-rending version at Lance Loud's memorial service.

But let's not mince words: Judy Garland owns it. Her mythos--young, full of life and promise, and then dying prematurely after a long, hellish ride to the top and the absolute bottom--is a quintessential American story, along with Dean, Monroe, Joplin, Morrison, Hendrix, Belushi, Cobain, Elvis, etc. It's not just the song, but the world of meaning and associations that come with it, that make it #1.

(Streisand commented that she thought it was the finest song ever written, and Garland one of the greatest singers who ever lived; out of deference, Streisand has only sung it once, on the "One Voice" concert, which she dedicated to Garland.)

[Radio_Lady]

54. Un Bel Di, (One Fine Day) from Puccini's Madame Butterfly.

[WeRQ4U]

56. Good Vibrations.......

I love that song. WAAAAAAAAAAAY ahead of it's time.

[otherlander]

58. Scarborough Fair/Canticle

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3OJpSyLFnpA

Such a pretty, intricate melody. The second set of lyrics is so beautifully sung that if you didn't pay attention you'd never guess it was about war "for a cause they've long ago forgotten".

[acmavm]

61. How about 'But Not For Me' or 'Willow Weep for Me' or

'Strange Fruit' or 'God Bless the Child' all by the wonderful Billie Holiday.

[carpetbagger]

62. Purcell "Dido's Lament"

Pure gushing emotion. That's what music catches best.

Here's Jessye Norman singing...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cba-K57LxoA

I personally prefer a singer with a lighter-timbred voice for tragic soprano roles, like Kathleen Battle or Dawn Upshaw.

Here's Lynne Dawson...
(Track 38, although the section really plays out from 37 to 39)

http://www.amazon.com/Purcell-Dido-Aeneas-Gerald-Finley/dp/samples/B000EBD92G/ref=dp_tracks_all_1/002-9198534-6009659#disc_1

[CanuckAmok]

64. Not a Beach Boys fan at all, but "God Only Knows" is certainly one of the best.

Especially the version performed by Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet.

Also, "A Day in the Life"... that might be the best.

[donheld]

65. You are a freeper. No question about it

:evilgrin::hide: No really to make me narrow all the songs I like down to is just too difficult. I guess it depends on my mood. I could vote for a multitude of songs.

[leftofthedial]

66. Summertime

and the livin' is easy

[Shakespeare]

68. A Day in the Life

There may be other songs that are as good as that one, but I can't think of any that surpass it. It's an incredible piece.

[WCGreen]

69. The Ninth Symphony...

Nothing even comes close...

The ultimate musical experience...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

70. I agree.........

Especially "The Ode to Joy..."

I am always transported by it........

[Burma Jones]

76. The Universal Anthem of when things are good......

[Clintmax]

72. "Settle For A Slowdown" by Direks Bentley

That gets my vote! Best.Song.Ever! :hi::bounce:

[billyskank]

74. Clint!!!

:hi:

[Clintmax]

77. Hail, Billy!

:hi::hug:
Good to see you, my friend!

[billyskank]

83. Even better to see you!!!

Are you coming back in the mornings any time soon? :hug:

[annonymous]

73. Here are my top 3

Yesterday by the Beatles
Imagine by John Lennon
Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers

[Montauk6]

75. "Wichita Lineman" penned by Jim Webb, sung by darn near everybody.

And now I need you more than want you,
And I want you for all time

Hey, call me an ol' softie but I just LOVE the yearning devotion expressed in that lyric. Absolutely beautiful...

[ElboRuum]

78. She Sells Sanctuary... The Cult n/t

[Stevendsmith]

82. The Pass (Rush)