What is the greatest song of all time?

[Cratylus]

Beethoven's 9th, IMO... but dunno if I'd use the term "song" to describe a symphony or even any single movement or part of a symphony.

I'm sure that many of the classical music greats are going to be left out at the expense of great modern day songs, so it's nice to see Bach and Beethoven being given some appreciation. Hopefully somebody will nominate something from Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Verdi and Puccini.

 

[FiveThous]

Beethoven's 9th, IMO... but dunno if I'd use the term "song" to describe a symphony or even any single movement or part of a symphony.

I mean Moonlight Sonata is better, but I won't split hairs with this take.

 

[pl4tinum]

If we're talking classical, maybe something by Debussy... like Clair de Lune. View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvFH_6DNRCY

 

[Cratylus]

I won't try to turn this thread into a classical music love fest, but I will post two more pieces of music that deserve consideration (although maybe not from the crowd here on RCF). The emotionally evocative nature of these two songs has brought me to literal tears on many occasions. You may not appreciate opera (I didn't until I hit my late 30s), but these are up there with anything in any other genre of music.


Giacomo Puccini - Turandot: Nessun Dorma. In my opinion, Andrej Kucharsky's performance is the benchmark against which all others of this piece must be judged.





Giacomo Puccini - Gianni Schicchi: O Mio Babbino Caro. Anna Netrebko's performance is simply perfect.

 

[JMoneyYourHoney]

 

[Mike Manifesto]

Anything by Coldplay or the National Anthem are your only logical answers.

 

[CleveRocks]

Its got to be Wagners Ring..

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

It's either Africa or Stairway to Heaven

Both were already mentioned so I'll just grandpasimpson.gif my way out of here

 

[1B4IGO]

I should have said anything by Otis Day and the Knights.

 

[Cavatt]

ABBA - SOS

Upbeat, tragic, beautiful. Nothings better than a sad song that sounds happy

 

[bigfoot5415]

Africa
Backstreets Back
Black Parade
Billie Jean
Let's Go

So hard to nail one down

 

[Sebastian]

Obviously Rasputin by Boney M.

I mean, Putin destroys the planet with his sick moves.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhPvJOnHotE

 

[Sebastian]

Perhaps a measure of greatness is universal applicability across genres. Always on My Mind was a hit as a rock ballad by Elvis, a country tune by Willie Nelson and, oddly perfected, as a New Wave Electro-Pop Dance track by the Pet Shop Boys.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf2KtxEtsEM


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7f189Z0v0Y


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDe60CbIagg

 

[karlxhungus]

https://youtu.be/JE7leMgxKbY

Obviously, it's Stagger Lee.

 

[Tlyons]

Family Matters theme song bitches.