Oooh! House, MD theme!!
The Prettiest Pop Song Ever (1900-present)
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Sia's version of "Under the Milky Way."
[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRpzmAMsz90[/yt]
[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRpzmAMsz90[/yt]
I would go with Eleanor Rigby. Though I'm not sure how to translate the word 'Pretty' to music.
"Something," by The Beatles.
This is a lot harder than I thought it would be. It all comes down to what we all subjectively find to be pretty, which often falls to being those that are our favourites.
I think I'll go with this one: Boston & St John's by Great Big Sea.
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5UoU6clpVk[/yt]
I think I'll go with this one: Boston & St John's by Great Big Sea.
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5UoU6clpVk[/yt]
The Cure, Friday I'm in Love
A million times, yes.
A million times, yes.
It is hard to define. I wouldn't necessarily say my choice was one of my favorites though, it's okay, but it is the first thing I think of when I think of a pretty song.
I would personally define pretty music as being calm, soothing, with a really smooth female voice. It's really hard for me to think of any song with a male singer that I would describe as pretty. I guess Coldplay and Moby songs would be the exception.
That's a good one.
"Over the Rainbow" is pretty much the only valid answer to this question.
Yeah, personal aesthetics. It's hard because it really does come down to what we're all familiar with. At the same time, I tried to not be too subjective and think more in general terms.
Ok, along your line of thought, I'd put forward Eva Cassidy's version of Songbird. Such a pretty song.
One nomination that isn't a Beatles Song: M83 - Kim and Jessie.
"No More I Love Yous," by Annie Lennox.
I had thought about posting this song but hesitated because I wasn't sure it fit the category of "pop". But regardless, one of the prettiest melodies ever written.
I once read that MGM asked composer Harold Arlen to tweak the song a bit so that it sounded more like something a child would sing -- so Arlen came up with that gorgeous bridge. And it does give the song a kind of sing-song child-like quality.
I totally dig that song, but the chorus is too grand and belted-out for me to call it "pretty" as a whole...
Very solid pick. Much more so, IMO, than "Eleanor Rigby", which is much too downbeat and staccato in the verse sections to qualify...
Agreed!
By " staccato", you are referring to the string arrangement, I presume. As I recall, the string arrangement has a "baroque" feel to it. At one point they play a series of quarter notes (during the verse, I think) which does sound "staccato", but why this would disqualify the song from being considered "pretty" is beyond me.
As for the song being "downbeat", I assume you are referring to the song's story. Why would a song's story have to be "upbeat" in order to be considered "pretty"? There are many examples of songs with dark stories that are quite beautiful. Staying with the Beatles, there is "She's Leaving Home", which is a very dark story written against an upbeat melody. This song is beautiful, IMO.
Stevie Wonder's "All is Fair In Love" is an example of a pretty song with a dour melody, arrangement, and lyrics. Check out Billy Joel's "Leningrad" for another example of a pretty song with downbeat lyrics and an almost durge-like melody. Stevie Wonder's "They Won't Go When I Go", is another example of down lyrics, down melody, pretty song. Another shout out to Billy Joel for "The Downeaster Alexa". Pretty song, (kinda) down story.
Since no one has mentioned master melodist, Burt Baccarach, guess I will. Genius melodist. His "Kentucky Bluebird" (Message to Michael), "One Less Bell", "Walk on By", are some of my favorites, but I could go on and on with this guy. Other than McCartney, I can't think of anyone who has written as many beautiful songs.
[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW9OYsMn4ds[/yt]
In addition to the much-mentioned Beatles, might I recommend some Smokey...
[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly8G9Psdqxw[/yt]
...or perhaps some Marvin?
[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efiDnHS3fzk[/yt]
Granted, both cases straddle the blurry boundary between "pretty" and "just awesomely smooth".
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