Most hauntingly beautiful song ever?

[robsa]

PS

For classical tracks, this is hard to beat - the great Maria Callas singing the heart-stoppingy beautiful and mournful 'Ebben? ne andrò lontana' from La Wally:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVwjk3-n6tk&fea...

Sends chills down my spine every time I hear it.

[Joyrider1]

I'm sure 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' has been posted here already, but this version live in Ledreborg with the Danish National Orchestra and Choir is excellent:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_aASQOjej0


Also this one, Oasis and the Crouch End Choir doing 'I'm Outta Time' at the Electric Proms:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV7HVBhN1dg


Must be something about choirs with this type of music make it so uplifting (same as the Elbow track mentioned earlier in this thread)

[Mark34bn]

I haven't read the whole thread so these may be pearoasts..

Oasis - Champagne supernova http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3C7DECI0jU

Zero 7 - Destiny http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INn1C6ImJKg

[FlyInMySoup]

The Waterboys - Stolen Child

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg-oJKYIinQ&fea...

[robsco]

otolith said:

If we're including classical music, there's too much to choose from, but this springs to mind;

Purcell When I am laid in earth ("Dido's Lament")

Otolith, interesting to see this suggestion. I listen to a rather strange German artist called Klaus Nomi, who does an absolutely incredible version of this, though the song is named Death. Here it is, anyway. Very haunting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwsR71YZPac

ETA - Despite the voice, he's actually a man.

Edited by robsco on Sunday 19th December 23:04

[Chris_w666]

Not sure if any of these are pea roasts but:

The Arcade Fire - Tunnels http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz-WDk7Tbsc

Adele - Hometown Glory http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXG0YMv5Fvk

Por ti volare - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZmFmcy2S38&fea...

Concerto D'aranjuez - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9DOtuPLqNI&fea...

Roger Sanchez - Another Chance (Afterlife mix) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B44qp47hizY

Jack Savoretti - Dreamers (His other stuff is worth a listen too) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dgNc5S8cLI

Andain - Beautiful things - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5igNue4PLDI&fea... - After this my thoughts have turned to lots of very nice trance tracks that make this more like a mix tape than a forum post.

Edited by Chris_w666 on Monday 20th December 00:16

[tank slapper]

robsco said:

Otolith, interesting to see this suggestion. I listen to a rather strange German artist called Klaus Nomi, who does an absolutely incredible version of this, though the song is named Death. Here it is, anyway. Very haunting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwsR71YZPac

ETA - Despite the voice, he's actually a man.

Klaus Nomi was certainly an unusual chap, however high tessitura male voices wasn't so unusual in music in the past. It was normally achieved through castration before puberty, and produced an incredibly powerful voice that sounded very different to a woman's.

Alessandro Moreschi was the last surviving castrato and the only one who made any recordings (it's from 1904 so quality is a bit dodgy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alessandro_Mores...

Here is a recording of the Agnus Dei from Bach's Mass in B Minor, which would have most likely been sung by a castrato at the time it was composed (here by Andreas Scholl, a counter-tenor). I think it fits the thread topic:

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

Edit - the closest modern equivalent is Michael Maniaci, whose voice never broke for some reason, but is otherwise normal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOMZ2bEKQdY

Edited by tank slapper on Monday 20th December 03:53

[otolith]

robsco said:

otolith said:

If we're including classical music, there's too much to choose from, but this springs to mind;

Purcell When I am laid in earth ("Dido's Lament")

Otolith, interesting to see this suggestion. I listen to a rather strange German artist called Klaus Nomi, who does an absolutely incredible version of this, though the song is named Death. Here it is, anyway. Very haunting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwsR71YZPac

ETA - Despite the voice, he's actually a man.

Reminds me of this quite well known recording by Jeff Buckley:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOAD6cvQc7Y

It certainly has a different feel sung in a male falsetto - less beautiful but maybe more haunting.

[JeS10]

I think the keyword is 'haunting' - There is nothing more sobering than beautifully, haunting music. It is so aesthetically complex, and there should be no desire to analyse it. I do that with far too many things, but its nice to have something which can just be enjoyed.

So, all I can suggest is listen to these tracks, because they really are amazing. I've already spent ages sifting this thread and as such have added lots of new things to my Grooveshark playlist. I'll be visiting the record shop for a good number of new albums I think, so cheers folks If you're not already using Grooveshark, its really good - better than Spotify, but free and legal.

Anyway, listen to these:

Martin Grech - Ashes Over Embers

http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/Ashes+Over+Embers/...

Sufjan Stevens - John Wayne Gacy Jnr. - I think the story of it adds to the cathartic effect. Not to mention the vocal falsetto on 'Oh my God' is great.

http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/John+Wayne+Gacy+Jr...

Another, less well-known artist is Micah Hinson. You might've heard one of his tracks getting used on Five USA's advert 'Beneath the Rose' - Its a very raw sound, but haunting. This one is currently one of the favorites in my household. The lyrics are simple, but again, very nice.

http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/Drift+Off+To+Sleep...

And, another not so well-known chap - Phosphorescent:

http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/Wolves/wa4os

http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/Permanently+Lonely...

Now, for one of my favorites and commonly under-rated, often overlooked vocal talents of the 20th-Century; Tim Buckley. I'm sure a good deal of you will be familiar with him, probably for being Jeff's dad, but hopefully for being an outstanding artist in his own right. I personally prefer Tim, but they're both amazing. I could list hundreds of folk-rock tracks, but I won't just now...

Tim Buckley - Chase The Blues Away (Live at the Troubadour)

http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/Chase+The+Blues+Aw...

Tim Buckley - I Had A Talk With My Woman

http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/I+Had+A+Talk+With+...

And, one cannot forget Sandy Denny, with The Fairport Convention doing 'Who Knows Where The Time Goes?'

http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/Who+Knows+Where+Th...

Oops, well that is a fair few, and I couldn't resist a little essay, rather than mere links. Hopefully someone will enjoy these tracks, or even better, they already do.

[kiteless]

tank slapper said:

Alessandro Moreschi was the last surviving castrato and the only one who made any recordings (it's from 1904 so quality is a bit dodgy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alessandro_Mores...

I never knew that Castrati were still performing into the 20th Century, as I thought the practice had died out hundreds of years before.

Andreas Scholl does possess a lovely quality in his voice, but I admit it's divisive. This is one of my favourites by him - She Walks Through The Fair:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqK5NjUJeQI

[robsa]

JeS10 said:

And, one cannot forget Sandy Denny, with The Fairport Convention doing 'Who Knows Where The Time Goes?'

http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/Who+Knows+Where+Th...

Oops, well that is a fair few, and I couldn't resist a little essay, rather than mere links. Hopefully someone will enjoy these tracks, or even better, they already do.

Or how about Pentangle, 'The trees grow high'?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU3Xeo0kabc

That is one of the most haunting songs EVER!

or 'let no man steal your thyme'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwT0COKXFMM

Is beautiful too.

[SonnyM]

Robert Leiner - Dream or Reality (Razormaid remix)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oXub-y6Dk4

[silvagod]

First post...but I win

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFr03FpjVP8

thank you and good night

[shakotan]

thehappyotter said:

Nine Inch Nails - Leaving Hope

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-GwX5x1cio

A haunting instrumental from the end of the 'Still' CD which came with Live: And All That Could Have Been.

One of my most listened too albums recently.

You win...

[SAB888]

I also like John Murphy - In the House In a Heartbeat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSYYEDXaGo0

[Bomber Denton]

Felt (feat Elizabeth Fraser) - Primitive Painters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgrSiVpS6gs

Doves - Sea Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXB_h9Ybc2I

Micheal Nyman - The Sacrifice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Su8LXNS16A

Art Of Noise - Moments In Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2aKezCqvDc&fea...

Japan - Ghosts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNYYRl86R4g

Amy Wadge - Nothing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFTa4pfr12A

The Cure - Six Different Ways
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouitmsVcXqY

Bjork - Hyperballard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Beu3ZLr-UEA

Ride - Vapour Trail
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygGw_zo_W8A

Ryuichi Sakamoto - Forbidden Colours
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfKIb90bNO0&fea...

Hazel O'Connor - If Only
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no7_HmaN04w

The Aloof - One Night Stand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VktWNq2ver8

Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZv9R-KWcJM

Levellers - Julie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZeAoG8_nW0



And for me the greatest one ever....

The Who - Love Reign O'er Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygOaNo3M_Hw

[OneDs]

+1 for massive attack - unfinished sympathy

Another one from that era/genre that I haven't seen posted

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1ar62_enigma-sad...

Enigma Sadeness

edit to add IZ's somewhere over the rainbow/ wonderful world has made so many film/tv scores it's untrue.

http://vimeo.com/8578344

and edit for one from the King (in the ghetto)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHHEF2IwqTs

And from Nat King (Nature Boy)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq0XJCJ1Srw

Edited by OneDs on Thursday 23 December 09:53

Just a question why do people seek to "end of thread" and provide one definitive source as though they have superior knowledge/taste to everyone else, surely this is just everybody subjectively sharing their own favourites not trying to out do each other?

Edited by OneDs on Friday 14th January 14:05

[baz1985]

Vocal trance-

OceanLab- Satellite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MZmPoPvJYE (2003)
Lange- Drifting Away: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKWqvvqNfBs (2001-2002)

[ShadownINja]

Speaking of trance, I quite like this... not a song, though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUahTHCTJG8

(Have put it on a mix I'm uploading as I type. Will post a link in the sub-forum later on.)

Edit: ooer, Mike Foyle appears to have done more stuff:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CC0pgmqEqQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-2aV-WhG94

Edited by ShadownINja on Thursday 23 December 22:04

[kiteless]

As far away from trance as one can get.

Spem In Alium by Thomas Tallis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtJvtk6EHZE

The Miserere by Allegri:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh31j6L95Ok&fea...

Yet equally enhanced by a toke or two from a large spliff.....