What's the most PERFECT song ever recorded?

[Bicoastal]

I'm inclined to believe it's this one. (NOT Mr. Rick Roll)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNn361umypM

[darkstar]

1. That is a great one.

Song, singing and vocal arrangement. Truly in my top ten of "perfect" songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGz7-K-mnBs
Here's one that is a bit obscure perhaps, but in my top 10 as well. Rundgren does everything here. Kind of early electronica with the organ beat box and synths. But in particular, his overdubbed vocal arrangement is pure genius, IMO. Lovely sentiments, and it's short, another mark in it's favor.

:hi:

[bunkerbuster1]

2. Here's an underappreciated gem...

Badfinger's "Day after day."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dclISza-DJ0

Is it perfect? Maybe. (and corny, and slow, but still brilliant.)

[darkstar]

3. I might be wrong, but I thinks that might have been produced by Mr. Rundgren above

Great song and arrangement and vocal and production, either way.

[bunkerbuster1]

6. Nope, it was... Geoff Emerick

I happen to have the album right here.

But hey, Todd produced the New York Dolls' debut. So he'll always rate in my book...

[HuskerDU]

8. Now THAT is the perfect record.

New York Dolls

[bunkerbuster1]

9. Sure it's not "New Day Rising?"

there is no perfect record, of course...

[HuskerDU]

10. No perfect record. In fact, I much prefer the Dolls demo

recordings before Rundgren took over production. "New Day Rising" approaches perfection too.

[darkstar]

74. hmmm...sorry I had to run out yesterday without checking back or

googling.

Emerick produced No Dice, it seems. Harrison and Rundgren produced Straight Up, it appears. The history is kind of muddled as to who did what. Maybe Emerick worked in capacity of chief engineer on this one?

[x-g.o.p.er]

26. So here's to you Mrs. Robinson...

Jesus loves you more than you will know, whoa whoa whoa...

[Glorfindel]

64. "Baby Blue" is also great.

Badfinger is severely under-appreciated, I think.

[Orsino]

4. There is none greater than...

...the Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUbGLVvfB7Y

The Who's Next version is sheer perfection, but this live one has a lot to recommend it.

[hippywife]

5. Nessun Dorma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VATmgtmR5o4

[ruiner4u]

46. amen...

that interpretation by Pavarotti should be sent into space via the next probe as one of the finest achievements of mankind

[underpants]

7. My 2- Don Dixon's "Preying Mantis" or The Verve's "Bittersweet melody"

:headbang:

[Xipe Totec]

11. We all have our favorites

The Original Minds Eye - Love Found (Stanley & Stella)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfofOQjE2NU

[Xipe Totec]

14. And here is another one

Madredeus - O sonho (The Dream)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT4yrqpHvjE

[jus_the_facts]

12. Drift Away ~ Dobie Gray

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjMPj1HXR1A

[jus_the_facts]

20. So Into You ~ Atlanta Rhythm Section

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpPdLb69-qk

[Bennyboy]

13. The correct answer would be this one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41APzy5kqBU

[Xipe Totec]

15. Classical music from the XXXth Century

Don't believe me?

Check Futurama's "A fish full of Dollars"

[deucemagnet]

40. I prefer this version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCv2cgIlnHA

:P

[Bennyboy]

52. That should be illegal!

man oh man....

[Kingofalldems]

16. Convoy

Circa 1979

[doc03]

17. Here's the most Perfect country song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmv64RP1dzY

[HuskerDU]

18. "Every Country Song" by Steve Goodman

But it wasn't perfected until DAC added the parts about mama and trains and prison etc.

[doc03]

19. Here's another favorite tune

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c56KTtGFWs

[hellbound-liberal]

21. Gotta be Desperado by the Eagles! I think the well-written lyrics speak to many people

and they are flawlessly surrounded by beautiul music and fantastic harmonizing. One of my favorites of all time!

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

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses,
You've been out ridin fences for so long now,
Oh and you're a hard one, but I know that you've got your reasons,
The things that are pleasin' you can hurt you somehow.

Don't you draw the Queen of Diamonds boy, she'll beat you if she's able.
You know the Queen of Hearts is always your best bet.
Now it seems to me some fine things have been laid upon your table,
But you only want the ones you can't get.

Desperado, you ain't gettin no younger,
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin you home,
And freedom, oh freedom, well that's just some people talkin.
Your prison is walking through this world all alone.

Don't your feet get cold in the wintertime,
The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine,
It's hard to tell the nighttime from the day.
And you're losin all your highs and lows,
Ain't it funny how the feelin goes away?

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses,
Come down from your fences- open the gates.
It may be rainin, but there's a rainbow above you.
You'd better let somebody love you,
LET SOMEBODY LOVE YOU.
You'd better let somebody love you,
before it's too late.

[mitchum]

31. I think this one is even better..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6TzioaNJyw

And I don't even like the Eagles
However, everything about this song is perfect. Meisner's voice, the melody, lyrics, orchestration, production. Everything. Perfection.

[hellbound-liberal]

49. Randy Meisner's voice was just right for that song! Here's my favorite song

by the Eagles. I don't much care for anything after On the Border

Midnight Flyer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCmQB5k12Uw

[EMdamascus]

22. Allman Brothers

Statesbobo Blues, Stormy Monday, or anything off the Filmore album. Dickey Betts at his best!

[hellbound-liberal]

25. I was going to say that In Memory of Elizabeth Reed might be the best instrumental piece ever done

but I really prefer Jessica. Dickey and the boys really cook on that song!

[mitchum]

35. I have to agree with you about "Jessica"

someone told me that Betts was inspired by watching his horse run.
And that piece does sound like beauty in motion.
It is breathtaking.

[EMdamascus]

57. Hell yes, Jessica!

Elizabeth Reed is a fine example of D.B's abilities, But Dickey and Warren doing One Way Out is fantastic lead-slide duet work.

[ThoughtCriminal]

23. Gaudete

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_0pOj_zvo4

performed by Steeleye Span

[terrya]

24. "The Way You Look Tonight"

If it's not THE perfect song, it's pretty damn close. It's easily the most perfect romantic song ever recorded.

[deucemagnet]

38. Good one!

I'd also nominate Eva Cassidy's version of "At Last".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_HKRyv_9B8

[siouxsiecreamcheese]

27. Serguei Rachmaninov-Vocalise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7UZhorAki4

[Deja Q]

28. Ain't nuttin that's better than this:

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

[HughBeaumont]

29. Elton John - Someone Saved My Life Tonight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_hY80oaQWE

[intaglio]

30. Ella - Every time we say goodbye

/sniff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsoBvz66twY&feature=related

[mitchum]

32. "Pale Blue Eyes"...and here's a couple of old geezers doing a wonderful version...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLFk18LfDsM

[ismnotwasm]

44. I was going to say "Heroin"

By The Velvet Underground.

[EMdamascus]

58. Sweet Jane

But the version with the best intro ever.

[cloudbase]

33. About anything by The Platters.

When you absolutely have to polish your belt buckle.

[jumptheshadow]

34. White Bird by It's a Beautiful Day

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6Dk_gsPLlCU

[Bennyboy]

56. That song is so beautiful!

I love it!

[Adsos Letter]

36. This one...

Emerson, Lake & Palmer: "From the Beginning"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nUId91rPF4

[Adsos Letter]

41. and then there's this one:

Elton John: Levon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lXOuZgm_eY

[Adsos Letter]

42. or this one

Pink Floyd: Comfortably Numb

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

[Glorfindel]

63. Yes. You're right.

I was going to say "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, but you're right. Coming in 3rd would be "No Sugar Tonight," by the Guess Who, at least for me. :hi:

[Skittles]

37. "Street of Dreams" - Rainbow

:thumbsup:

[jus_the_facts]

69. Mmmm Joe Lynn Turner.....

....love me some o'his velvet voice too. :evilgrin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg-2nyCBY6E

:hi:

[Tikki]

39. "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"....Mr. Marvin Gaye...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hajBdDM2qdg


Tikki

[begin_within]

43. Closest thing so far to a perfect recording of a perfect song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtZKwp6cjd4

[Manifestor_of_Light]

60. So is it time for another ALLLAAANNNN freakout thread?

In the comments section under this video, somebody referred to Alan Rickman as "walking, talking sex-on-a-stick". :rofl:

[begin_within]

62. I can't find that

[MrScorpio]

45. The Isley Brothers doing Todd Rundgren - Hello, It's Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHp1Tr_4_A8

[leeroysphitz]

47. Ontono by Orbital. N/T

[Starbucks Anarchist]

48. I don't know, but I think Roy Orbison's "In Dreams" is definitely up there.

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

[Bicoastal]

51. Really?

This is MY favorite Orbison song...and a great live performance on this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzezIg2Ei0A

[Starbucks Anarchist]

54. I think "Crying" is my second-favorite Orbison song.

But "In Dreams" just does it for me.

[ruiner4u]

50. Second choice.. Ave Maria

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQVz6vuNq7s

[rug]

53. Righteous, brothers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7827EMkm5ko

[opiate69]

55. "Uninvited"

Alanis..
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FjTB6EG3xGo

[Steven_S]

59. There are many...

and I like a lot of your choices. For me it's a toss-up between this:

A Hard Days Night http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNf046Uo2gI

and this:

Tool - Reflection: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvFN1p6dzNk

I have varied tastes. :)

[opiate69]

61. Hard to argue against "Reflection"..

[Glorfindel]

65. Maybe not the greatest, but definately great

"Mull of Kintyre" by Paul McCartney and Wings. I first heard it on the car radio, and I had to pull over and stop when the bagpipes kicked in. Goosebumps followed by tears of sheer joy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzs5aOYr8B4

[momophile]

66. I thought everyone already agreed that it is "dream-weaver"

didn't we?:shrug:

[JCMach1]

67. "Troy"- Sinead O'Connor

I you say no, I will rip a picture of the pope!

[Barack_America]

68. Well, here's the best song for heart-wrenching anguish anyway.

From Otis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLIwvYUfTt0


And the best New Wave/Art Rock song ever (please don't judge it by the video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfgU4iQr8PU


And the best Shoegazer song ever (one of my favorite obscure genres):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JXk_oV4nbo


But the best SONG ever? Yikes, I don't know.

[Corgigal]

70. Supremes & Four Tops - River Deep, Mountain High (1971

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNfYh6PIeXU

[AngryOldDem]

71. "Stardust" (the obligatory answer)....

...and my personal favorite, "Cherish" by The Association.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

72. Perfect? Maybe not but definitely apropos.

" Let's Think About Living "
by Bob Luman (1960)

In every other song that I've heard lately
Some fellow gets shot
And his baby and his best friend both die with him
As likely as not
In half of the other songs
Some Cat's crying or ready to die
We've lost most of our happy people
And I'm wondering why

Let's think about living
Let's think about loving
Let's think about the whoopin'
and hoppin and boppin'
and the lovie, lovie dovin'
Let's forget about the whinin' and the cryin'
And the shooting and the dying
And the fellow with a switchblade knife
Let's think about living
Let's think about life

We lost old Marty Robbins
Down in old El Paso a little while back
And now Miss Patti Page or one of them
Is a-wearing black
And Cath's Clown has Don and Phil
Where they feel like a-they could die
If we keep on a-losin' our singers like that
I'll be the only one you can buy'

Let's think about living
Let's think about loving
Let's think about the whoopin'
and hoppin and boppin'
and the lovie, lovie dovin'
Let's forget about the whinin' and the cryin'
And the shooting and the dying
And the fellow with a switchblade knife
Let's think about living
Let's think about life

[Forkboy]

73. That's like asking me to find the perfect grain of sand on a beach.

I can literally sit here all night naming tunes that I think fit the bill. Seriously. Over a 1000 Cds gives one plenty of options. :D

And on edit - My musical tastes are very, very different, so what I think is perfect won't even be close to the choices I see in this thread. But to ME, they are perfect. And that's the beauty of music. It's so subjective. One person can think Tesla is the coolest and another, say someone like me, can find bands like the Dead Kennedys to be perfect (listen to Holiday In Cambodia or Nazi Punks Fuck Off if you don't beleive me lol).