Most hauntingly beautiful song ever?

[DoctorX]

Time: Hans Zimmer (plus Johnny Marr and some rather attractive musicians)

https://youtu.be/va1oiojnGrA

[Crackie]

Nils Frahm - My friend the forest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d99p-SPn5Tc

[crofty1984]

This one is currently getting me in the feelings.
Chip Taylor, thank you for the offer.

https://youtu.be/yEdEhnGVn6I

[cherryowen]

Crackie said:

Nils Frahm - My friend the forest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d99p-SPn5Tc

Ooof!

[itcaptainslow]

Not sure if this (Angels by The XX) has been suggested before-can’t believe it was released 8 years ago!

https://youtu.be/_nW5AF0m9Zw

[PBCD]

I've just spend a pleasurable hour or so clicking on links in this topic - some really soul-stirring stuff,
including quite a few from artists I wouldn't have considered capable of being so blissful.

On that note, my humble contribution is this standout track from (normally grungy) band Cranes:

Cranes - The Maker Of Heavenly Trousers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1McfQFpzV4w

[PBCD]

GloverMart said:

In terms of being "hauntingly beautiful", many would argue that "A Dustland Fairytale" by the Killers wouldn't count.

It starts off slowly, gets quicker in the middle then ends in an absolute crescendo of words, emotion and instruments in a wonderful combination.

Reading that description reminded me of something else, but it took me few days to remember that it was...

Silversun Pickups - Growing Old Is Getting Old:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC-ZZTxOVGI

[PBCD]

I said:

my humble contribution is this standout track from (normally grungy) band Cranes

Having had a few days to trawl through my MP3 collection,
here are a few more suggestions:

Fever Ray - keep the streets empty for me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWFb5z3kUSQ

Lights out Asia - MIR:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4On_Npv6too

Lori Carson - 16 Days:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EETc66vAdak

Air Formation - Still:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvOxd2oqK4E

London Grammar - Bones Of Ribbon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOvpwdPStQg

The Verve - Beautiful Mind:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6aAKM2GKHo

HAERTS - Wings:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk52XHSpmF4


I tried to limit my search to vocal tracks, but couldn't resist a couple
of instrumental 'honourable mentions'...

Robin Guthrie - Everlasting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVUZfot6vFk

U2 - Bass Trap:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjO0A2hqRyw

Edited by PBCD on Sunday 16th February 10:50

Edited by PBCD on Sunday 16th February 10:50

[rayny]

dandarez said:

Heard this played this earlier driving home, a cover, and it took me back to 1976 when it was first released.
Back then in 76 my first thought was it was one of my favourite singers, Gladys Knight, but it wasn't.

Stood, and still stands, the test of time.

Great story behind it too, which began 3 yrs earlier in 1973 when the US singer in question didn’t have a car at the time, so she took the bus to Jackson to Malaco Records, who'd asked her to come in and possibly record a song the owner thought would suit her.

She liked it, so they decided to record it. She sang the song from lyrics typed on a piece of paper and did it in just one take.
The record company shopped major labels to see if they wanted it. They didn't. It stayed hidden. Eventually Malaco released it. Bingo! It took off.
And did so over here too.

She said at the time that the song was meant for her.
She was right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFUDub7m3cU

Bugger me - that brings back memories - Thank you dandarez.

[272BHP]

stevejh said:

Has anyone mentioned Suzanne by Leonard Cohen. I'm not a huge fan of him but this is a haunting track.

Few songs transport me so immediately as this song. If there is any truth that some songs have a drug like effect on the listener then this is definitely one of them.

[Magnum 475]

I'll just leave these two here. The downside of both of these is that you do need two exceptional singers to really make them work. Thankfully, these are two exceptionally talented singers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u0M4CMq7uI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf42IP__ipw - this really starts at about 1:10

[teecee]

Magnum 475 said:

I'll just leave these two here. The downside of both of these is that you do need two exceptional singers to really make them work. Thankfully, these are two exceptionally talented singers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u0M4CMq7uI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf42IP__ipw - this really starts at about 1:10

Well done! You might like this as well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noHQXogDsA0

[cherryowen]

Magnum 475 said:

I'll just leave these two here. The downside of both of these is that you do need two exceptional singers to really make them work. Thankfully, these are two exceptionally talented singers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u0M4CMq7uI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf42IP__ipw - this really starts at about 1:10

[Joyrider1]

A couple from Jon Crosby/Vast, lovely stuff....

Lady of Dreams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFgic1mt3QI

Flames
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ichCCegTbnA

Edited by Joyrider1 on Monday 24th February 20:50

[Grrbang]

Piano, double bass, drums is the ultimate formula for haunting songs.

E.S.T - Viaticum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuQ3EztCDFE

Avishai Cohen Trio - Seattle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHIOXqdnalc

Edited by Grrbang on Thursday 27th February 00:01

[Grrbang]

Joyrider1 said:

A couple from Jon Crosby/Vast, lovely stuff....

Lady of Dreams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFgic1mt3QI

Flames
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ichCCegTbnA

Edited by Joyrider1 on Monday 24th February 20:50

Thanks for that, really liked it and have just started listening to Visual Audio Sensory Theater.

[Welshbeef]

Kate Bush - child in his eye

[Joyrider1]

Grrbang said:

Joyrider1 said:

A couple from Jon Crosby/Vast, lovely stuff....

Lady of Dreams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFgic1mt3QI

Flames
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ichCCegTbnA

Edited by Joyrider1 on Monday 24th February 20:50

Thanks for that, really liked it and have just started listening to Visual Audio Sensory Theater.

The ‘April’ album is his best - some of the others are a bit hit and miss

Edited by Joyrider1 on Thursday 27th February 08:19

[Speed 3]

Joyrider1 said:

A couple from Jon Crosby/Vast, lovely stuff....

Flames
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ichCCegTbnA

oof, that is really rather good

Unfortunately one of the very rare tracks that doesn't appear on Spotify

Edited by Speed 3 on Thursday 27th February 09:48

[Joyrider1]

Speed 3 said:

oof, that is really rather good

Unfortunately one of the very rare tracks that doesn't appear on Spotify

Edited by Speed 3 on Thursday 27th February 09:48

Try these, they're just as good in the same melancholy way (these are on the April album which is on Spotify - Not a bad song on that album IMO):

One More Day - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbRELg8iJvA
She Visits Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxxJGyQr4Tk