The Perfect Song

[Islandboy]

What’s the absolute perfectly crafted and executed song that makes you stop everything you’re doing to take it in any time you hear it?

I just thought about this the other night after hearing “Vincent” by Don Mclean, probably better known by its unofficial title “Starry, Starry Night”.

I’m sure most of you know this, but Don Mclean wrote this as a musical tribute to Vincent Van Gogh, and I can’t think of a single thing about the song that’s not pure perfection, and poetry in motion. It’s definitely a bit melancholy for me, but even that is masterfully tempered by the eloquence of the phrases crafted and the flow of Don’s guitar playing.

Looking forward to hearing what other songs the family here thinks hit the mark without question (and which song by the Boss Ken’s gonna pick ).

 

[dominattorney]

Mohammads Radio by Warren Zevon. Most songs by him but that one in particular. 

[SigmundChurchill]

 

[jakebarnes]

"How to Disappear Completely" by Radiohead might be one of the most pure musical expressions in my opinion. Just perfection.

[Bords]

Dylan Sweetheart Like You

Great use of Dylan’s voice, building intensity, and heartbreakingly beautiful guitar solo at the end by Mick Taylor (I always thought it was Knopfler who played it!).

The track has such great production and warm analog feel, Dylan just crushing it and his band doing just enough to let it breathe.


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[hrs1]

 

[JohnS]

 

[Ford2112]

 

[Islandboy]

8 hours ago, dominattorney said:

Mohammads Radio by Warren Zevon. Most songs by him but that one in particular. 

Been a while since I last listened to Warren’s music, thanks for the reminder. I sadly didn’t discover him until a few years prior to his passing, and he put out “The Wind” during his final fight with cancer, that album was as haunting as it was beautiful. But I just gave Muhammad’s Radio a spin, and halfway through thought, man that’s got some Jackson Browne dna. And of course, turns out JB was the producer.

Stumbled on this version by The Offender and The Pretender:

 

[Islandboy]

1 hour ago, JohnS said:

 

Oh yeah! Nothing out of place, nothing missing, simple and to the point. Gotta go way back, but this was a perfect song for me many moons ago.

[99call]

I can't believe A, the Beach Boys have been mentioned and B, that 'God Only Knows' wasn't the song.    A testament to how impactful their music was, and that a number of different songs could be considered. 

I'm not sure about other countries but in the UK when 'best song of all time' polls are carried out,  invariably 'God Only Knows' often wins, and quite rightly so.

The song, is so perfectly pitched, in many ways it's overly sweet and soft, but the aspect of paranoia, regret, fear of loss somehow balances everything out.  All of the instrumentation is quite random, in many ways you could be confused for thinking it's a Christmas song.  a sort of horse hoof trotting sound, sleigh bells, a heralding French horn.  The building of the instrumentation it epic.

The most interesting thing this song does is simultaneously represents a states of love that are beginning, middle and end.   It has the idealism of initial attraction, the conviction of a real love found, and at the same time a sort of sadness of something that has fallen apart and died. 

Brian Wilson in time, will be considered more and more to be one of the most important people ever to have made music.     

 

 

[dominattorney]

8 hours ago, Islandboy said:

Been a while since I last listened to Warren’s music, thanks for the reminder. I sadly didn’t discover him until a few years prior to his passing, and he put out “The Wind” during his final fight with cancer, that album was as haunting as it was beautiful. But I just gave Muhammad’s Radio a spin, and halfway through thought, man that’s got some Jackson Browne dna. And of course, turns out JB was the producer.

Stumbled on this version by The Offender and The Pretender:

Nice work. I couldn't embed because I never figured out how. Stevie Nicks also sings on the original cut, and Lindsay Buckingham plays the guitar licks. Really nice ensemble piece in my opinion and one that shows lyrical range. 

[Bri Fi]

@Islandboy when I clicked the thread I thought the first one was going to be Iz “Over the rainbow” 

[asudevil08]

12 hours ago, 99call said:

Brian Wilson in time, will be considered more and more to be one of the most important people ever to have made music.     

12 hours ago, 99call said:

I can't believe A, the Beach Boys have been mentioned and B, that 'God Only Knows' wasn't the song.    A testament to how impactful their music was, and that a number of different songs could be considered. 

I'm not sure about other countries but in the UK when 'best song of all time' polls are carried out,  invariably 'God Only Knows' often wins, and quite rightly so.

The song, is so perfectly pitched, in many ways it's overly sweet and soft, but the aspect of paranoia, regret, fear of loss somehow balances everything out.  All of the instrumentation is quite random, in many ways you could be confused for thinking it's a Christmas song.  a sort of horse hoof trotting sound, sleigh bells, a heralding French horn.  The building of the instrumentation it epic.

The most interesting thing this song does is simultaneously represents a states of love that are beginning, middle and end.   It has the idealism of initial attraction, the conviction of a real love found, and at the same time a sort of sadness of something that has fallen apart and died. 

Brian Wilson in time, will be considered more and more to be one of the most important people ever to have made music.    

They've been woefully underrepresented for decades.  Its unfortunate that the whole "surf music" tag has overtaken all the amazing music that they made after 1965.  The late 1960- early 1970s beach boys music might be some of their best music that no one has ever heard.  They realized they needed to change musically, and actually became a band, versus simply relying on Brian to create all the genius.  Lets also not forget the ability of Carl being able to sing this.  

[99call]

15 minutes ago, asudevil08 said:

They've been woefully underrepresented for decades.  Its unfortunate that the whole "surf music" tag has overtaken all the amazing music that they made after 1965.  The late 1960- early 1970s beach boys music might be some of their best music that no one has ever heard.  They realized they needed to change musically, and actually became a band, versus simply relying on Brian to create all the genius.  Lets also not forget the ability of Carl being able to sing this.  

It sounds incredibly wanky, but so much of music doesn't really focus on the simple pleasure of sound.   Having done acid in the past. It's incredibly interesting how some music is a definitive "YES!" and some music is almost unbearable to listen too.     When we suggest musical greatness, it's often lyrical ability, or how well someone can play an instrument.   but Brian Wilson was almost more of conductor, or sound within himself, an original, or the origin.      Sometimes an artist appears and they are everything, they don't need a producer or a sound engineer, or a writer, or etc etc,  they are just like a force of nature and tsunami of creative power. 

I agree with you, that arriving on the crest of the 'surf music' wave, or like a fad,  was very reductive. and in some ways you can see lots of lines of correlation to Zappa, or Captain Beefheart etc. but actually nice to listen to HA!. 

Im truly grateful we had the Brian Wilson we got, but 'god only knows' what Brian Wilson we could have had, if his life had played out differently.   It's hard to re-cut the deck, but i feel as his is potential wasn't truly realised. 

[mprach024]

Easy

 

[99call]

In terms of the 'perfect song' a love the construction of this. It's so tight, and the verse, chorus progression is seamless.  It's just such a joyous song. 

Massive Four tops fan,    Levi Stubbs' voice is one of the masterpieces of Motown

 

[joeypots]

This works.

 

[LizardGizmo]

Bruce Hornsby's "The Way It Is" and namely this performance of it:

 

[asudevil08]

5 hours ago, 99call said:

Im truly grateful we had the Brian Wilson we got, but 'god only knows' what Brian Wilson we could have had, if his life had played out differently.   It's hard to re-cut the deck, but i feel as his is potential wasn't truly realised. 

Agreed.  Imagine Brian being able to complete Smile, and not diving face first into acid.  Oh the wonders that would have existed (potentially). 

[JohnS]

2 hours ago, asudevil08 said:

Agreed.  Imagine Brian being able to complete Smile, and not diving face first into acid.  Oh the wonders that would have existed (potentially). 

Indeed. A whole album in the style of 'Good Vibrations'. Just imagine...

[Fuzz]

22 hours ago, JohnS said:

 

As much as I used to like this song, it has been ruined for me by The Good Guys.

[Bri Fi]

I’m only wish the song was longer like the live version. 

[BrightonCorgi]

Trace Adkins "Hot Mama"

 

[tuff]

Dylan: Masters of war