50 Perfect Songs
Per·fect song - /pur-fikt sawng/ : 1) A song that you find to be perfect; one in which you would not change a single note, beat or word. 2) A song that you connect to emotionally, or attach to a memory, a special person, or an experience. 3) Songs that speak directly to you or about you.
We here at Blendetta have decided to compile a top 50 list of what can only be described as perfect songs. No two people will have the same reasons as to why they find a song to be perfect, so we made two separate lists. So without further ado, here are the songs and the reasons why they are perfect, to us:
“One” – U2
I don’t know if I get the song or if the song gets me. It’s amazing that a song can be so ambiguous and meaningful: it speaks personally to so many people and but doesn’t necessarily say the same thing twice.
“Thank You” – Led Zeppelin
Zeppelin recorded many love songs, but this one takes the cake. There is something wonderful about the vulnerability that’s heard in Robert Plant’s voice. 80’s rockers WISH they could have written ballads like this.
“Where Are We Going” – Mavin Gaye
It’s incredible that this song, which Marvin recorded just before the “Let’s Get It On” sessions wasn’t released until 2001 – 17 years after his death. I once heard his work described as “joyful sadness”. This song is that.
“The Old Apartment” – Barenaked Ladies
Anyone who’s ever had to move from their “home”, not their house, gets this song. It makes me miss the giant, tacky wooden fork and spoon that hung on the wall in the kitchen of my childhood home… and brings a tear to my eye.
“Say Goodbye” – Dave Matthews Band
This is such a sexy song. It takes my breath away every time I hear it. I love this song for a few reasons, but I’d prefer to keep them private… like you can’t figure it out on your own : )
“Angie” – Rolling Stones
This is one of the greatest break-up songs ever written. This song pretty much sums up relationships that end bitter-sweetly. If you’ve been there, you get this song.
“Unchained Melody” – The Righteous Brothers
For me, this is THE essential love song. It’s also, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful, touching songs ever written.
“Part of the Queue” – Oasis
I guess could describe Dundalk, Maryland, where I grew up, as a town that’s on “the wrong side of the tracks”. Living there was sometimes difficult because of my name, and living elsewhere was twice as hard because I was from Dundalk. Lyrics like “suddenly I found that I’d lost my way in this city” mean something to me.
“The Very Thought of You” – Billie Holiday
It is amazing that a jazz standard, written almost 75 years ago as held the test of time. It has always and will always be one of my favorites. Billie’s vocals on this song are just simply beautiful.
“Born to Run” – Bruce Springsteen
Not a Bruce fan, but I love this song! It might be because I was once young and dumb, “invincible” and hung out with guys who drove fast cars. It also might be because of Bruce’s emotional vocals and Max Weinberg’s bad-ass drum work.
“Everlong” – Foo Fighters
Everyone really liked this song when it was released, including me. But years later, at HFStival 2005 at M&T Bank Stadium, I attached new meaning and new wonderful memories to this song. It was the perfect soundtrack to an amazing experience.
“Midnight Train to Georgia” – Gladys Knight & The Pips
After a long night of bar hopping and / or drinking with friends, this song always ended up closing our evening. It almost reminds me of the “Tiny Dancer” scene from Almost Famous, minus the “Tiny Dancer” part. “Woot Woot!”
“Stuck in a Moment” – U2
I’ve been there – stuck in a moment. This song is about moving on but not forgetting. I get that whole-heartedly and this song got me through some rough times. U2’s “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” has meant so much to me. It kind of summarizes my theory that you can run far away from anything, but you always have to take yourself with you…
“Unsatisfied” – Nine Black Alps
“Everything Is” is an amazing album, but “Unsatisfied” is definitely the stand-out track. The opening guitar riffs had me before I heard the lyrics, which are great. We’ve all been there at some time or another: “Just sick and tired of all I’ve tried, unsatisfied”.
“Wish You Were Here” – Pink Floyd
The lyrics to this song are so poignant, but I’d probably still love it even if it were instrumental. “Wish You Were Here” has that perfect blend of melody, emotion and heartfelt lyrics.
“Whiter Shade of Pale” – Procol Harum
When I hear the phrase “haunting lyrics” I think of this song. I’m not sure what the song means… Some claim it’s about a cocaine overdose, some claim that it’s about Marilyn Monroe. It’s doesn’t matter to me; it’s beautiful either way.
“I Have Nothing” – Whitney Houston
This is probably my favorite female vocal of all time. Of all of the amazing songs that Whitney has recorded, I believe that this one best showcases her incredible range. It still gives me chills every time I hear it.
“A Minor Incident” – Badly Drawn Boy
Written for the About A Boy Soundtrack, it’s a song about parting ways, making amends, and forgiveness. It’s simple, delicate, beautiful and deeply meaningful.
“A Long December” – Counting Crows
I could list every line of this song and explain what each one means to me, but I won’t. I’ll just say that every time I hear “the smell of hospitals in winter” and the refrain “A long December and there’s reason to believe, maybe this year will be better than the last” speaks volumes to me.
“God Only Knows” – Beach Boys
I’ll put it this way – before my husband and I got married I made him a mix CD. This song was the first and last track of the mix. It makes me think of him and how much he means to me. I’m sorry but I’m sappy like that.
“Run” – Snow Patrol
Last time I heard this song was right after someone close, who had been very sick, had passed away. It’s been connected to a memory and I haven’t listened to it all of the way through since then. It’s crazy how much emotion a song can evoke…
“Hurt” – Johnny Cash
I loved this song when Nine Inch Nails released it, but I love the Cash cover even more. There’s something about hearing a man at that age, with voice trembling, recite those lyrics.
“Layla” – Derek and the Dominos
As much as I love those guitar riffs, the stunning piano piece might be my favorite part of this song. And I know that all love songs have a meaning behind them but this one in particular is interesting. For those of you who don’t know it, be very ashamed of yourselves!
“What It Takes” – Aerosmith
Another perfect break-up song. It reminds me of a particular relationship that I knew I needed to leave, although I still loved the person. But as Steven Tyler says, “I don’t (didn’t) want to burn in paradise”.
“Maybe I’m Amazed” - Paul McCartney & Wings
I was fortunate enough to see Paul perform “Maybe I’m Amazed” live a few years ago. Thing is, I was balling so hard that I barely remember it! It’s the kind of song that does that to me.
“Love Will Tear Us Apart” – Joy Division
Not to discount the lyrics, but Ian Curtis says everything he needs to say here with the tone of his voice. There’s a distant quality to Curtis that flawlessly conveys the very sound of a relationship that barely seems worth fighting for. Perfection.
“Mis-Shapes” – Pulp
Jarvis Cocker always made me feel good about not fitting in back in high school. “Mis-Shapes” was like a rallying cry to all the smart kids, weird kids, poor kids, and everybody else who just generally didn’t fit. Not being a cheerleader didn’t seem so bad when you thought you could grow up to be as effortlessly cool as Jarvis instead.
“What Difference Does It Make?” – The Smiths
Years ago, a friend gave me a Christmas card that he’d written a few of this song’s lyrics in. We’d had a lot of problems with each other, and I couldn’t have begun to explain our relationship – but somehow this song did. I really could’ve picked any Smiths or Morrissey song for this list (there aren’t many I don’t love) but when a song can put your own life into words you could never find, that’s one that’ll stay with you forever.
“Bohemian Like You” – The Dandy Warhols
With references to working at a vegan restaurant, being in a band no one’s heard of, and living with the ex (cause he still pays the rent) – this will forever remind me of any number of indie kids I’ve known throughout my life. Plus, it’s catchy as all hell and one of my favorite songs to dance to.
“Stratford-On-Guy” – Liz Phair
Liz Phair has an uncanny ability to turn the mundane into something sublime. This deceptively simple song about a flight to Chicago is nothing if not the perfect example of that ability.
“From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea” – The Cure
With no real verses or chorus, this is basically a narrative set to music. And oh what a narrative it is, as Robert Smith does what he does best, weaving a desperate tale of a doomed romance over a beautiful gothic rock soundtrack.
“Kool Thing” – Sonic Youth
When I imagine myself as the 60s B-movie bad girl that some part of me thinks I was always meant to be, this is the song that plays in my head. Manages to combine feminist leanings with music that feels like it belongs on the soundtrack for “Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” Further proof that Kim Gordon is the coolest woman on the planet.
“This Corrosion” – Sisters of Mercy
I could not even begin to count the number of times I danced to this at Alchemy, the DC goth night I had a lot of great times at. Anyone who’s spent time at a club like that should be well familiar with this one — besides being a gothic classic, it’s 10 minute length makes it the song DJs like to put on when they have to go to the bathroom.
“Take Me Out” – Franz Ferdinand
I’ve also spent a fair bit of my life at indie dance clubs, and there’s no song I associate more with those nights than “Take Me Out.” When that slow-build intro would start in with, “So if you’re lonely…” you knew you had roughly one minute to put your drink down and get to the dancefloor before the song you’d been waiting all night for kicked in.
“She Sells Sanctuary” – The Cult
Proof that a line as simple as, “The sparkle in your eyes keeps me alive,” can be amazing when it’s sung this passionately. Also tied to some fond memories for me, since my favorite manager from my record store days used to always play this over the store speakers for me.
“Every You Every Me” – Placebo
Placebo’s frontman, who I’ve always found fascinating, is often at his most engaging when he’s bluntly admitting to things that most people won’t. “Every You Every Me” is his best confessional, a candid ode to using someone, knowing it’s wrong, and also knowing you’re not going to stop.
“The Good Old Days” – The Libertines
The Libertines were one of the bands that made me believe in new music again, after a period of time where there didn’t seem to be any current bands worth caring about. I remember hearing this song and its refrain of, “If you’ve lost your faith in love and music, oh the end won’t be long” and thinking that finally, somebody gets it.
“Rock ‘n’ Roll Star” – Oasis
If ever there was a song that summed up Oasis as a band, this is it. But it’s also a song that resonates with anyone who’s ever looked at their regular job, everyday existence and thought, “Wasn’t I supposed to do so much more?”
“Harder Better Faster Stronger” – Daft Punk
The most insanely catchy example of Daft Punk’s robot rock shtick, this is the kind of electronic track that sounds just as good on the car stereo as it does on the dancefloor. No wonder Kanye West sampled nearly the entire thing for his hit, “Stronger.”
“Dear God” — XTC
I was around 15 when I first heard “Dear God” on the Sunday afternoon retro show they used to have on local alterna-radio station WHFS. I remember feeling like someone had taken all of my confusion and general ambiguity toward organized religion and put it into one of the most amazing songs I’d ever heard.
“Low” – Cracker
Grabs you from note one with what may be the greatest guitar riff of the mid-90s alternative scene. Keeps you there with a sleepy vocal that proves itself a seductive match.
“Chemical World” – Blur
I grew up in the type of suburban mediocrity described in Blur’s “Chemical World.” Characters
like the girl who uses chocolate as her way of forgetting she’s spent too much to pay her rent could be a whole lot of people I’ve known, and I doubt that’s particular to me. It’s such a typically “middle class” way of coping — Blur had a talent for writing songs about the general malaise that often underlies suburbia.
“Loverman” – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
You can play me any black metal band in the world, and I’ll still tell you nobody writes darker songs than Nick Cave. Dripping with sleaze wrapped in a lush lounge vibe, “Loverman” is like a car crash on the side of the road – you feel dirty for watching, and yet you can’t turn away.
“Golden Touch” – Razorlight
Most pop bands will work their entire career and never write a melody as perfect as this track from Razorlight’s debut. Lyrically clever as well, painting a picture of a girl who’s both worshipped from afar and despised by nearly everyone she knows.
“Can’t Make A Sound” – Elliot Smith
Back in college, when I wanted to drown out my annoying roommate and the makeshift “sorority” she would drag through our room, I would play Elliot Smith’s Figure 8 record at top volume. It probably would have been more annoying for her if I’d put on one of my Skinny Puppy CDs, but Elliot Smith always made me feel better. “Can’t Make A Sound,” in particular, seemed an apt description of feeling isolated no matter how many people were around.
“Pyromance” – Chemlab
One of the sexiest industrial-rock songs ever written, “Pyromance” moves like a violent waltz in a darkened alley. There’s a delicate balance between the sinister and the sexual here that’s as intoxicating as it is ominous.
“Walk on the Wild Side” – Lou Reed
When I was in elementary school listening to the oldies station my mom played in the car, I didn’t really pick up on the drug dealers, transvestites, and prostitutes inhabiting this Lou Reed classic. But I knew I loved the music. Once I was old enough to actually understand the lyrics, I had a whole new respect for Reed’s talent – you’ve gotta give it a man who can write a subversive song even an 8-year-old can love.
“I Wanna Be Your Lover” – Prince
Prince’s first hit was a slice of poppy R&B magic. Has a classic theme of “The rich guy can’t treat you better than me,” but being that it’s Prince, in this case it’s a bit more like, “The rich guy can’t treat you better than me…in bed.”
“Long Snake Moan” – PJ Harvey
Raw, vicious, and somehow also quite tuneful, “Long Snake Moan” is Harvey’s wicked tour de force. There’s possibly nothing more simultaneously captivating and chilling than PJ moaning, “Is my voodoo working?”
“The Drowners” – Suede
Part ’70s glam rock, part ’90s Britpop, Suede’s early work was an alluring combination, nowhere better displayed than on “The Drowners.” With a driving guitar riff guiding Brett Anderson’s hazy vocals and sexually ambiguous lyrics, this one sucks you in and never lets go.
If you would like to add some songs and the reasons why they are perfect to you, please leave a comment. We’d be interested to see what makes songs perfect to for other people.
Tags: aerosmith, Badly Drawn Boy, Barenaked Ladies, Beach Boys, Billie Holiday, Blur, Bruce Springsteen, chemlab, Cracker, Cult, Cure, Daft Punk, Dandy Warhols, Dave Matthews Band, Derek and the Dominos, Elliot Smith, Foo Fighters, Franz Ferdinand, Gladys Knight, Johnny Cash, Joy Division, Led Zeppelin, Libertines, Liz Phair, Lou Reed, Marvin Gaye, Nick Cave, Nine Black Alps, oasis, paul mccartney, Pink Floyd, PJ Harvey, Placebo, Prince, Procol Harum, Pulp, Razorlight, Righteous Brothers, rolling stones, sisters of mercy, Smiths, Snow Patrol, sonic youth, Suede, u2, Whitney Houston, XTC
October 28th, 2008 at 12:05 am
Love the lists ladies! Very enjoyable reading. Now I feel like I need to do a list of my own - maybe 10 or 20. Thanks for sharing.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Some great stuff on both lists! So that means I will spend part of my day (at work) listening to a number of the songs you both picked to get a feel of the thoughts you wrote about them. I will also work on a few that I would add to the list.
Interesting read and Great Job!
October 28th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Funny, my very first thought concerning a perfect song was “One”. And there it was, top of the page.
I wouldn’t want to criticise a personal choice. But I’d add some stuff by either Edith Piaf or Brel in there to be complete.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:45 am
It’s like you read my mind…
October 28th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Nice reviews of songs. Looks like you gals and me have about the same taste in music. Keep on blogging :) U doing a FANTASTIC JOB :)
October 28th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Great site and great taste in music too.
November 6th, 2008 at 3:04 am
Love the list. Have around 20 of em. Will be collecting the others. Nice blog BTW.
December 12th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
overall good list but there is one major omission queen- bohemian rhapsody def should be on
December 14th, 2008 at 7:22 am
The one song I would add to replace ‘Unchained Melody’ is ‘You’ve lost that loving Feeling’ also by the Righteous Brothers.
December 14th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Soothsayer - Buckethead
Angie is an amazing song.
As is Hurt.
And Say Goodbye.
December 16th, 2008 at 6:33 am
Yule Shoot Your Eye Out ~ Fall Out Boy
It’s not a very well known song…but it should be.
December 17th, 2008 at 10:37 am
good list but you forgot the two greatest songs ever produced.
Dig by Incubus
Wish You Were Here by Incubus
December 17th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I don’t agree that Johnny Cash’s version of hurt is better than Trent’s. There is a delicate, trembling pain in Trent’s voice as he says “You were someone else… I am still right here.” and the bridge right after that…
According to an interview I read back when The Downward Spiral first came out, he was crying in the studio while singing the song.
I give Johnny Cash props, but the emotion of the songwriter comes through in the NIN version.
December 17th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
excellent, excellent list.. glad to see some elliott smith on there. i think youre missing “fast car” by tracy chapman… not since i first heard it have i heard another song that makes me want to just get in a car and escape for a while
December 18th, 2008 at 12:17 am
You have forgotten the most perfect song ever written.
James Taylor - Your Smiling Face.
December 18th, 2008 at 10:45 am
I had to comment simply for the song “Dear God” which i had never heard before today and has absolutely blown me away. Thank you.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
You forgot to add Jeff Buckley’s version of Hallelujah to the list. That song is one of the most beautiful and perfect songs i have ever heard
December 19th, 2008 at 4:13 am
Definitely second the Incubus!
December 19th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
You forgot Lynard Skynard’s Free Bird.
December 20th, 2008 at 3:50 am
Was Dust In The Wind by Kanas on the list? I think it should be.
December 20th, 2008 at 6:31 am
Wow, The Libertines, Blur, Nick Cave, Johnny Cash…a lot of excellent picks here. :) I’ll have to do a list of Perfect Songs on my blog sometime soon.
December 22nd, 2008 at 4:38 am
hmm… i’m ok with most of it… just the u2 bothers me… i really… really… really hate u2… like with a passion…. like if i could cure cancer or remove u2 from ever existing… well i’d probably still go with curing cancer but i’d beat the hell outta bono… god i hate them so much…
December 22nd, 2008 at 9:31 pm
to be honest i think there are parts of your list that have a large amunt of truth in being one of the 50 greatest songs of all time- layla and one to name a few. howevere, i think you have grousely misjudged the real talent in a large amount of these songs. for example, i am a big snow patrol and razorlight fan, but would you relaly put run in over spitting games based purely on musical content? and why do you have no real beatles songs in this compilation! maybe im amazed is a true gem but you cannot place it above blackbird, back in the ussr or when im 64?!
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:05 am
Wow… looking at the majority of the artists listed I can hardly believe that “Bittersweet Symphony” from The Verve didn’t make your list. Seems like it would fit in perfectly.
December 28th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
apparently nobody here has heard of the red hot chili peppers.
1. Under The Bridge
2. I Could Have Lied
3. My Friends
4. Don’t Forget Me (Slane Castle)
5. Scar Tissue
6. Slow Cheetah
7. Dosed
8. Pretty Little Ditty
Non-Peppers
9. Your Hand in Mine (Explosions in the Sky)
10. Hey Joe (Jimi Hendrix)
11. Wonderwall (Oasis)
December 28th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
One to definately add to the list, Woman In Chains by Tears For Fears
December 29th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Oh for gods sake Rachel give it a rest. It says at the top these are songs that have a special meaning for her, she even explains each one. At no point does she say that the musical content makes them better than any other.
December 30th, 2008 at 2:43 am
This list gets little credit: no hip hop, no Beatles, no Hendrix, no Metallica, far too much U2. But to each their own, I suppose.
December 30th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
I loved this list!
I bought eveyone one of them. Thank you so much for expanding my range beyond what I hear on the radio!
I really enjoyed the comments as well.
Oh sure, I have some favs that aren’t listed, but
I loved this list!
January 1st, 2009 at 1:44 pm
I would have to include George Jone’s “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” One of the greatest songs ever written. He loved her till he died.
Great list!
Jon
January 2nd, 2009 at 8:11 pm
You know nothing of music! this is mainstream crap! no jazz. no classical. No folk. No hip hop. I mean - Suede???!!Placebo??? Come on, man. Why don´t you just list Creed and Sum 41 also- you need to be enlightened, my friend. But it´s Ok to try. ( PJ and Smith are ok.)
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:55 am
I agree with many of them, but no Beatles? They have numerous “perfect songs”.
Also, as much as a I respect Bruce Springsteen, “Born to Run” is the most overly-produced (thanks to Spector’s Wall of Sound) and Cliche song in the world. Wow, Bruce, in this song you use a common literary device to compare a motorcycle engine, to your manly chest (which, at a whopping 130 pound frame, is quite silly to think about). Sounds more like Poison or Great White lyrics, than Bruce lyrics.
January 3rd, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Okay, as one of the authors of this post, I feel the need to comment here because, judging by most of these comments, I think many people did not quite understand the concept of this list.
This was not meant to be a list of the 50 most perfect songs of all time. This was intended to be a list of songs that the two authors find to be perfect because they’ve had some kind of meaning to our lives. This is why we wrote explanations for each song, and why it meant something to us or why particularly like it. This is also why we made two individual lists, as no two people are going to have been impacted by the same songs.
Had we been making a list of the 50 best songs of all time, it probably would have been quite different. I also think it would have been far less interesting.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Apply some pressure - Maximo Park
Carried me through many departures and into new beginnings
January 8th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Nice lists. Max Weinberg wasn’t the drummer on Born To Run. By the time he and Roy Bittan joined the E Street Band BTR had already been recorded with Ernest “Boom” Carter on drums and David Sancious on keyboard.
January 10th, 2009 at 12:40 am
How about some Elvis? In the Ghetto is amazing, the emotion and power of that song…
Yesterday Once more by the Carpenters is an entirely different flavor, but should be there too.
Throw in American Tune by Paul Simon, And Sweet Caroline and you have a list.
January 10th, 2009 at 1:23 am
I honestly thought this was a terrible list, especially since it’s mostly boring pop music. But then again, music is subjective and I’m an elitist prick.
January 10th, 2009 at 6:01 am
well what can i say there’s loads of bands i love,but it makes me sad not to have seen “gong” ,awesome music also the “blockheads” lyrics are the best,plus “hawkwind” what a trip!!!! and as iam welsh not forgetting “super fury animals”, all the songs these bands make truly make me happy even “system of the down” i loves it, another great band the “stranglers” iam one of them who loves to jump around,nice list and good choice of musical artists ,ps not forgettin “placebo” all good, thx jay
January 12th, 2009 at 3:23 am
right from the beginning the list was ruined by U2. i didnt even look at the rest of the list because they are that terrible
January 12th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
the reckoner by Radiohead
the valley road by bruce hornsby
January 13th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Under The Bridge - RHCP
About Keidis’ heoin addiction. He thought the band would laugh at him when he read them the poem, instead they each walked off and started composing what they thought should be the song then they out it all together. ‘little trivia, Flea’s mom and her church chior lady friends are the background singers at the end of the song. I think its just a perfect piece of music and it makes me feel the way you explain a perfect song should make you feel. I wouldnt change a note. Thanks for the list.
January 20th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
the only good artists on there were pink floyd, procol harum, and marvin gaye.
January 26th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Normally here I’d make a very sarcastic point saying why wasn’t some band I made up just then on the list, but I’m not going to. I mean how boring would it be if they had all the cliche’d songs in there? Like the author said it would not be anywhere near as interesting if they put the top 50 songs ever, this list has far more soul.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:43 am
maybe you should give a listen to ‘tom trauberts blues’ by tom waits sometime…or anything by van the man….nice songs though…
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:42 am
Welcome Home by Tegan and Sara
My best friend moved across the country (I live in Canada, that’s a hell of a lot of country). The first time I heard this song I thought of him. “You moved so far I knew exactly how far” is perfectly simple and summarizes exactly the lonely, longing and wistful feeling. Without getting all gushy. It’s also got one of the most perfect song endings I’ve come cross. A lot of the time when I listen to a song I can still hear it after it’s ended, something was left hanging (or something that went on too long). Not so here, it stops exactly when and how it should.
February 7th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
boring mainstream crap if you hear it on the radio it sux
February 9th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
I love your list-here’s what I’d add:
I’d have to say Van Halen’s ‘Why Can’t this be love’. Eddie’s soaring guitar, The lack of David Lee Roth, the simple appeal-what the hell is love anyway if it isn’t this? Been there. Also, ‘Help’, the Beatles. Nothing, no song anywhere, delivers such a rare truth in such a melodic song. Can anyone be unhappy listening to this song? Antonio Carlos Jobim ‘Aguas de Marco’ is late spring distilled and sung back. ‘Southern Cross’ C, S, and N has harmonies to make me weep, and emotional truth to spare.
February 16th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
ah, i love this :D it makes me so curious to hear these songs; just because of the sheer emotion attached to them. thanks for sharing :D
February 16th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
wagon wheel - old crow medicine show
February 20th, 2009 at 1:58 am
I think “Gimme Shelter” by the Stones is perfect
February 20th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Amsterdam by Guster
I think this is the perfect song. It reminds me of traveling in my youth and of lost love. But more than anything it reminds me of Amsterdam, the best city on Earth :)
February 20th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Where the FUCK, was anything by Jeff Buckley?
March 6th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
This is the most boring music list I have ever read. I fell asleep reading it.
March 7th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Green Day- Basket Case
Without a doubt one of the most iconic songs of the 90’s bringing punk rock in all its forms once again back into peoples minds.
March 12th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
my ten perfect songs.
With or Without You/ U2
Gates of the Country/Black Lab
Creep/Radiohead
Please/U2
Chasing Cars/Snow Patrol
Better Be Home Soon/Crowded House
Reckless/Australian Crawl
Lost/Anouk
Teardrop/Massive Attack
Gorecki/Lamb
March 17th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
I would add:
“Brother”-Alice in Chains
“September Sun”-Type O Negative
“Radio”-Alkaline Trio
“Nocturne”-Chopin
“The Answer”-Tupac
“Mastermind”-Deltron 3030
“Everchanging”-Rise Against
“All Caps”-Madvillain
“What a Wonderful World”-Ministry
“Question the Answer”-Strike Anywhere
and “Planet Caravan”-Black Sabbath
March 17th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Rock Band much? this list is lame.
March 18th, 2009 at 8:28 am
@Chris Wow, Rock Band has bands like The Smiths, Sisters of Mercy, and Nick Cave? Awesome, I want that version…
March 18th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
pink floyd’ wish you were here is the greatest song ever to grace our ears with it perfet sound.
March 18th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
This list is filled with nothing but the same old shit I hear on the radio every day. Booooo!
March 19th, 2009 at 5:14 am
Um… I totally disagree with a good majority of this list. The songs are only perfect TO YOU.
March 19th, 2009 at 8:34 am
@Curtis Well, yes, that was the whole point of the article. As we stated in the intro paragraph, this is a list of “songs and the reasons why they are perfect, to us.” This was not a list of the most perfect songs of all time — it was two different lists of songs that are perfect to the two authors specifically because of the meaning they’ve had in our lives.
But I’ve said all this before. I really wish more people had bothered to read the intro paragraph (which explained what this article was supposed to be about) before commenting.
March 19th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
first of all U2 should not be anywhere near this list. I know its your opinion but in my opinion U2 is the worst band ever. Just terrible music and Bono can take it up the ass. Then you forgot the greatest Rolling Stones song ever. Gimme Shelter. and its not because of guitar hero. Another song that should be on there is Audioslave “Show Me How To Live”. awesome song. everything else is good except Sonic Youth. Terrible music.
March 20th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Hello to the good people at Blendetta.
WOW! I stumbled back on this today looking for something else. I took the time to read most of the comments. I am truly amazed at all the drama and trauma the inclusion of U2 songs on your list has caused for some of your readers. You know the saying about the “thin line between love & hate.” I think your readers who have expressed so much contempt for Bono and disgust about the music of U2 must secretly love the band, but think they are too cool to for it.
How unfortunate for them.
March 20th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
@Kitty As the person who wrote the second list — the one that didn’t have any U2 songs on it — and as someone who doesn’t particularly like the band, even I found all the U2 bashing to be rediculous. U2 is one of those bands that its become cool not to like, so I give Krissy a lot of credit for being honest with her list and including songs she really does like, despite how many people are going to need to prove how cool they are by making fun of it.
March 23rd, 2009 at 9:42 am
Seriously? “Balling hard” at a Macca gig? Bawling, possibly…:)
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:37 am
How about some Beatles? Overall, these lists just suck.
April 15th, 2009 at 4:19 am
Ew… Johnny Cash– Hurt, what about nin?
April 16th, 2009 at 10:36 am
You seriously think that all of the worlds top perfect songs were written inside the last 75 years?
April 16th, 2009 at 10:57 am
@JayReif I’m aware that there was some very beautiful music created prior to the last 75 years. Mozart, Beethoven…yes, I have heard of them.
However, as I’ve said about 9,876,897 times now - this wasn’t a list of “the worlds top perfect songs.” It was a list of songs that the two people making the lists defined as “perfect” because of the meaning they have to us. If you bothered to read the descriptions of the songs and our reasons for listing them, you’d see that for some of them, the musical content wasn’t even the reason for their inclusion. Sometimes a song is “perfect” for a person because of the lyrics; sometimes it has more to do with a memory you associate with the song. Sometimes a song can even be technically not that great, but still be “perfect” for a particular person. That is what this list was about.
I have no problem with negative comments — if they’re relevant. But it does get a bit annoying when people are commenting who obviously haven’t actually read the article.
April 19th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I disagree, its really pretentious to name YOUR list perfect songs when really its a list for middleaged women to listen to and cry. These songs are not good, their just songs that are old and uninteresting. Thats all people do nowadays; pick a song thats really old and slow and say its a “classic”. Can we please move on with our lives? Ive had way more than enough of fucking Led Zeplin and U2 their NOT GOOD or by any means classic.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:47 am
@justin I really don’t understand how it’s pretentious to make a list of songs that you find to be perfect, for whatever reason. Especially when we’ve gone out of our way to say that this isn’t intended to be an all-encompassing list of the most perfect songs in the world, but, instead, a list of songs that’ve had meaning for us. Yes, we called the list “50 Perfect Songs,” but we clearly explained in the introduction that one of the many definitions of a “perfect song” can simply be one that “you connect to emotionally, or attach to a memory, a special person, or an experience.” I’m not saying that you aren’t entitled to your opinion, but I do think its sad that you feel that we aren’t entitled to ours.
Also, I am really confused about why you think these lists had nothing but classic rock on them. I don’t think anyone in their right mind would define Pulp, Nick Cave, Chemlab, Sonic Youth, Franz Ferdinand, Prince or The Libertines as music for “middleaged women to listen to and cry.” And if you do, then wow, you know some awesome middleaged women.