not really a jazz question.

[hardbop grandpop]

what song has the most haunting and unforgettable melody? my pick is greensleeves. anyone got any other ideas. gord

[JHC]

The Day Thou Gavest Lord is Ended, always brings a tear to my eye as I remember dear friends
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4GqctJh3Fo
and God be in my Head The Choir of King's College, Cambridge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qif2r...eature=related

They just get to me

[Dorsetmike]

Purcell's Didio's Lament," When I am Laid in Earth"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gyQW...eature=related

Brings a big lump to my throat and me eyes start to leak.

But to stick to jazz, then some of the slower renderings of "What's new" can be quite moving

[teddy]

Need your love so bad - pete green. It was largely responsible for the birth of my second daughter.

teddy

[JHC]

It is funny that as we get older and face our mortality we remember the tunes/songs whatever that keep reminding us so "" I want to be happy""

[OLDUDE]

"For all we Know" (we may never meet again), from The Misty Miss Christy album,
never fails to send shivers up my spine.

[marval]

Hi Colin, I like "The day thou gavest Lord is ended" we had it at my mother's funeral.

"The Humming chorus" from Madame Butterfly, I find fairly haunting.
"Hushabye Mountain" has a certain something too, especially the jazz version.

John, my hubby says try the instrumental of "for all we know" by Paul Desmond, from the album "Blue Desmond" (only on vinyl.) That brings tears to his eyes, also Nat King Cole's version of "Stardust".


Margaret

[OLDUDE]

Hi Margaret,
As you know am a great PD fan. I have 3 of his CDs (not to mention the Brubeck 4s) ,but not that particular track . I made the decision to convert all my vinyls to Cd format several years ago and now have no immediate way of playing them.
However I'll keep my eyes open for what I know will be a lovely version of the tune.

[marval]

Hi John

Good luck in your search for that version.

This is PD and DB.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZnp6AK31Hc


Margaret

[OLDUDE]

Thanks Margaret for your help,
I have now listened to the Youtube version and another 2 0n Spotify (all with Brubeck) but hey! I'm a long term fan of Brubeck anyway)
They're all great versions
Cheers John

[marval]

Hi John

Glad you were able to listen to three versions.


Margaret

[JHC]

For me, It has to have words to convey a definite meaning whether it is Classical, Jazz or Folk, Music by itself is too subjective by this I mean music that has never had words and not an instrumental version of a song, if you follow me.

[OLDUDE]

Hi Colin (I'm pleased you're back with us),
To return to the thread, the original question by Gord was specifically about haunting songs and essentially posts have been confined to such.
That is till Margaret and I got side-tracked into a little discussion about how a particular lovely song was treated instrumentally by Paul Desmond on alto. (Sorry about that Gord).
I think I see the point you are making, that lyrics can lend their own poignancy and beauty to music, in a way that only language can influence certain of our human emotions.
However, that is not to say that purely instrumental music cannot be equally "haunting and unforgettable", presumably by stirring other of our strong emotions.

[Intern Steve]

This isn't jazz, its contemporary prog rock but it is quite chilling Sacraficed Sons by Dream Theatre http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhudSW-d4Gs. Awesome instrumentals.

[OLDUDE]

I see this thread has taken off again thanks to Steve.
The song "Moon River" has particular significance to my wife and I.