singley.org > blog archives > Desperado, and the Like 06.23.2004

There's a bit from Seinfeld where whenever this character hears the song "Desperado" by the Eagles, he stops whatever he's going to listen. He goes into this loopy trance, and hushes anyone who tries to interrupt The Song.

Now I'm not saying a song has to have exactly that dramatic an effect, but what do you think are particularly poignant songs? I'm talking the tracks that really hit you, whether lyrically, musically, or both. U2's "With or Without You?" Clapton's "Tears in Heaven?" Raffi's "Baby Beluga?"

If I am completely serious and put my guard down it would easily be Sarah Brightman singing Pie Jesu from Andrew Lloyd Webbers Requiem. It made me cry the first time I heard it and continues to make me cry every time I have heard it sense.

Buy Brightman's Classics, turn out the lights, crank the volume and just let it overwhelm you...

wow...that feels great to get that off my chest
Andrzej

yes new email. OK, I would definitely have to say "Air for Violin" by Aaron Jay Kernis. It's still the most beautiful piece of music I've ever heard. Buy the MN Orchestra recording of it - it's worth it.

Lynard Skynards "Freebird," hands down.

Oooh - I have lots of conversation-stopping songs!
Mostly Basement Jaxx but also a fair amount of U2 songs get cranked up, which effectively stops conversation - either because I'm singing along or just not answering. And despite my embarassingly faltering soprano, I MUST sing along to the Hallelujah Chorus.

From my limited knowledge of classical music I highly recommend Samuel Barber's Adagio (the famous one) and Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" (fun trivia fact: that was debuted on Tax Day).

Wow..."Bohemian Rhapsody", of course - I think that it is mandatory that everyone drop what they are doing and sing along - a la Wayne's World.

There are perhaps a million others that I just MUST sing along with, middle of a conversation, interview, family dinner, etc...

"Kashmir" by Led Zepplin, anything by Weezer (though "Say it ain't so" and "Island in the sun" stand out)....

Smashing Pumpkins, "Mayonnaise"....

Van Morrison - just about everything...

Sondgarden - "outshined"

Nirvanna - "S.L.T.S."

Guns and Roses - "sweet child o' mine"

Rage - "Killing in the name"

Beasties - "what ya want?"

Ok, I'm getting carried away...I could probably go on and on and on and on....I love music!