Greatest song ever written

tones said:
Well, I will confess to liking some, Erik - I have a very small collection of pop/rock, mainly for one track, perhaps two, on a CD, the rest of which never gets listened to. However, with my overwhelmingly classical tastes, I could never vote for a rock song as being really great.

In fact, if I had to choose quality popular music, it would have to be back in the 1920s-1940s, when the likes of Rogers, Gershwin, Kern, Lerner & Loewe, Porter, produced music and lyrics the quality and sophistication of which have never been surpassed, with only the Beatles at their most creative coming anywhere near. Somebody elsewhere in this thread mentioned Sinatra. Before he became an institution, with people obliged to applaud every groan, the young Frank was brilliant in his delivery of songs, with phrasing and style rarely equalled. Old Sinatra collections are a bargain. It's like classical - once you get a taste for it, you can never go back.
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As always exhaustive and convincing, Tones. Suppose such nature makes it easier to appreciate classical music. ;)

As a member of the 'lower sentiments' generation and getting a little older meanwhile, I find myself more and more looking for the craftsmanship of those who in the first place choosed for their abilities instead (if tolerated by the industry) of the wish for popularity.

Everything was better in the past and this will never change. Which explains why, despite that modern times allow of recognizing and stimulating talents and have them flourishing in areas of science or sports, more and better then ever before in history, when it comes down to art, any modern output is not as appealing as the legacy of the Beatles, Gershwin, Bach, Van Gogh or Rembrandt. The sheer lapse of time and the coincidence of being discovered discerns qaulity from chaff at least as much as the presence of talent itself.

Will add Sinatra's early Columbia years to the shortlist.
 
We really need Ian (Sideshowbob) here as the resident jazz expert. When Frank fronted Tommy Dorsey's band in the 1940s, he was, IIRC, the first singer over which girls screamed (à la Beatles). The voice was light, airy and effortless. IMHO, the best came later when the voice had darkened slightly ("The wee small hours", etc.). The same flawless delivery and phrasing, but used with greater wisdom.

Interestingly, Frank was very friendly with many of the singers at the New York Metropolitan Opera, and it was to them he turned for advice on voice preservation, but without an operatic style (in which all the power comes from the diaphragm and the vocal chords only provide the melody - which is why opera singers can fill a theatre over an orchestra without microphones and still preserve a singing voice).
 
Saab said:
good question!!

Nick Drake has written some wonderful songs in the seventies,Pink Moon certainly ranks very highly,and then there is Paul Simon,many of his with Garfunkel are classics

80s? hmmm harder still.A controversial choice would be Marc Almonds Say Hello Wave Goodbye,a wonderful song

90s? Wonderwall? I am The Resurrection?
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80s I would say Morrissey/Marr; 90s I would say the weird and wonderful Julian H Cope, having just listened again to his magnificent '20 Mothers' album.
 
tones said:
Aha, but Dom, it's universally acknowledged that you're a hopeless case :D
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He he he - and not just in musical taste either!

Erikfh - woah - so she's still got it then? I've got their "see jungle..." LP (with the banned cover) and it's very cool indeed - love that drum sound and some of the awesome basslines :)
 
Choosing a 'Best Song Ever' is pretty hard....the usual nominations get so much airplay that you grow bored of them and their brilliance fades. Blowin' In The Wind is obviously a good song but I can't bear listening to it. I think its pretty impossible to choose, for every tune in the top 100 theres 10 that you'd prefer to hear instead. Heres some songs for you off the top of my head that will probably never make a top 100 list...

Into My Arms - Nick Cave
Fruit Tree - Nick Drake
I Can't Run - Paul Simon
In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel
Breaking Into Heaven - Stone Roses
Do It Again - Steely Dan
Beck - Bottle Of Blues
:boogie:
 
Joe said:
80s I would say Morrissey/Marr; 90s I would say the weird and wonderful Julian H Cope, having just listened again to his magnificent '20 Mothers' album.
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Julian Cope par exellence!

70's: Marvin Gaye (What's going) and Stevie Wonder (Innervisions)
80's: Midnight Oil and REM
90's: Girl power!
 
Saab said:
good question!!

Nick Drake has written some wonderful songs in the seventies,Pink Moon certainly ranks very highly,and then there is Paul Simon,many of his with Garfunkel are classics

80s? hmmm harder still.A controversial choice would be Marc Almonds Say Hello Wave Goodbye,a wonderful song

90s? Wonderwall? I am The Resurrection?
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Keen choices!
Almond's classic is the kind of song get's a frequently separate spin just to enjoy its sheer beauty.
 
domfjbrown said:
He he he - and not just in musical taste either!

Erikfh - woah - so she's still got it then? I've got their "see jungle..." LP (with the banned cover) and it's very cool indeed - love that drum sound and some of the awesome basslines :)
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That's my thought Dom! Got the pic (from a gig last year) from Pollstar, so she can still be enjoyed here and there.

Never heard the album but its famous for the portrayal of Manet's 'Dejeuner sur l'herbe', which caused a stir as she was only 15 at the time. Malcolm and Vivian striked again.

Didnt' manage to copy the album cover, but here's a link to the pic: Lunch on the gras
 
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Bit of an urban legend Anabelle and Bow wow wow, reckoning they kidnapped her to go on tour and 'a mate of mine's' - 'brother, saw them live' - 'and she was masturbat1ng on stage!' Go wild in the country was one of my fave songs at middle school but my parents wouldn't let me have it! :(
 
Naked teens as art is ok, naked teens as porn isn't - a fine line it has to be said. I have an artistic disposition but would feel uncomfortable photographing a naked child over the age of 5-6 as art. No probs with 16+ though ;)

That being said I would be more than ok drawing/painting a naked youth. I would struggle to get a model though and can't remember what naked 15 year old girls look like :(
 
tones said:
We really need Ian (Sideshowbob) here as the resident jazz expert. When Frank fronted Tommy Dorsey's band in the 1940s, he was, IIRC, the first singer over which girls screamed (à la Beatles). The voice was light, airy and effortless. IMHO, the best came later when the voice had darkened slightly ("The wee small hours", etc.). The same flawless delivery and phrasing, but used with greater wisdom.

Interestingly, Frank was very friendly with many of the singers at the New York Metropolitan Opera, and it was to them he turned for advice on voice preservation, but without an operatic style (in which all the power comes from the diaphragm and the vocal chords only provide the melody - which is why opera singers can fill a theatre over an orchestra without microphones and still preserve a singing voice).
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You're obvious referring to his infamous Capitol period (Songs for Swinging Lovers, Only the Lonely).

Frank might have been ahead of his time, as many big artists followed his example when, faced with harmed chords, they got learned how to spare the voice through different breathing techniques.

Your description of operatic style kind of resembles (or vv) the gospel/soul tradition where technique, volume (singing in front of the crowded church without the aid of amplification) and devotion were combined to attain glorious vocal heights.
 
running gun said:
Did anyone see the Rolling Stone article regarding GSEW apparently its:
Like a rolling stone by Bob Dylan.
Satisfaction by the Stones 2nd
Imagine by Lennon 3rd

Mmmm Im sure we can do better than that
Here is my two pence worth
Stairway - Zeppelin
Ball of confusion - Temptations
Wish you were here - Floyd
Rg
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(and this is my last reply) For anyone interested, the Rolling Stone list can be found on Rhino's webpage.
 
Imagine is such a shitty song when you think about itââ'¬Â¦its slow, its dull, its unimaginative! Okââ'¬Â¦its poignant I suppose but who ever actually requests it on the radio (except as a token play after a death or terrorist attack!?) or has it on the top of their pile of regularly played stuff? Its on a par with Silent Night and no one rates that as one of the greatest songs ever written. I'd say Jackson sung by Johnny Cash and June Carter is way betterââ'¬Â¦hell I'd even say Crazy In Love by Beyonce is better!
 
Heavymental said:
Imagine is such a shitty song when you think about itââ'¬Â¦its slow, its dull, its unimaginative!
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And the crashing irony of 'Imagine no possessions' being sung in a mansion by a very rich bloke appears to be lost on most people.
 
ErikfH said:
Its even worser than Brian Ferry's version of Jealous guy.
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...which itself is a Lennon song - back full circle.

BTW - I *do* actually like "Imagine", but it's nothing like as good as "Mother" or "Instant karma!". The irony wasn't lost on me re "Imagine" though.
 
Lord said:
:007:
Luxury Liner - International Submarine Band.
Baby's On Fire - Brian Eno.
September Gurls - Big Star.
Poptones - Public Image Ltd.
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Heard Luxury Liner for the first time last weekend. Great stuff indeed. Wasn't aware that 'Do you know how it feels to be lonesome' was recorded before (Gilded Palace of Sin) with ISB.

Even if you don't like country at all (like me), you owe it to yourself to listen to some Gram Parsons repertoire (and the sob in his voice, if that is good English).

Wonder how many rock bands (other than Teenage Fanclub) are dutiable to Big Star. Genius band.
 
for me it would have to be either
rez - underworld
or
halcyon (and on and on) - Orbital.
honorable mention would have to go to
little fluffy clouds - the orb.
cheers


julian.
 

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