TheGreek Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 There will be differing opinions on what is a great track and why it's great. Nothing to do with genre either - great songs come from every genre, even if I don't like some of them. There are artists who some think are great while others can't understand why that artist stands above others. Let's not have the "eye of the beholder" discussion. Great tracks and why they are "great" please. I say a little prayer - Aretha Franklin: Well written song delivered faultlessly by somebody with a powerful and beautiful voice. Pitch perfect, even the high notes. Covered many times I would hazard but never bettered. An example for others to aim for. I will always love you - Whitney Houston Amazing song, written by Dolly Parton who said that she was blown away when she heard Whitney's version - "Yes it's my song but it's her record" - Dolly, huge star in her own right, said that she'd have loved to have been able to deliver the song in the same way. Another beautifully delivered song, again pitch perfect which Whitney was able to do live (YouTube is your friend). Dolly says it fits so many applications - not just for lovers - parent/ child, friends, etc. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 (edited) Topics such as this will, every time, receive a tribute to the much-missed Sandy Denny ... As a bonus, it's drumming like this that inspired me to take up drums, with that sly, discreet 'killer' whip on the hi-hat. Not much to fault with the Fairports of this epoch. Edited November 24, 2023 by Dad3353 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammybee Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 Written by Ashford and Simpson.. Everything they touch turns to gold anyways, and with Diana singing just tops it off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 (edited) 3 hours ago, TheGreek said: I will always love you - Whitney Houston Amazing song, written by Dolly Parton who said that she was blown away when she heard Whitney's version - "Yes it's my song but it's her record" - Dolly, huge star in her own right, said that she'd have loved to have been able to deliver the song in the same way. Another beautifully delivered song, again pitch perfect which Whitney was able to do live (YouTube is your friend). Dolly says it fits so many applications - not just for lovers - parent/ child, friends, etc. A pretty safe choice there. Whether you like the genre or not, or even if you don't like the song, one of the greatest vocal performances ever recorded...! Edited November 24, 2023 by peteb 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 How are you judging greatness? Hotel California must be up there if popularity has anything to do with it. Loved on a truly global basis. Nice enough song, but why is it just so huge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldon Tyrell Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 Ask Rick Beato. 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 3 hours ago, peteb said: A pretty safe choice there. Whether you like the genre or not, or even if you don't like the song, one of the greatest vocal performances ever recorded...! Agree. Although I prefer Dolly Partons version as there’s a vulnerability to it that Whitney Houstons version doesn’t have, the latter is truly a vocal masterpiece. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munurmunuh Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 I would love to hear Dolly Parton's seemingly infinite generosity of spirit tackling the challenge of commending the Sisters of Mercy's cover of Jolene 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dclaassen Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 Jackson Browne “The Load Out”…anthem for musicians everywhere.Makes me smile every time I hear it! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard R Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 13 minutes ago, dclaassen said: Jackson Browne “The Load Out”…anthem for musicians everywhere.Makes me smile every time I hear it! Just played that (thanks Spotify!). Great song - you can imagine it as the last encore and the road crew joining on stage to take a bow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfoundfreedom Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 (edited) 14 hours ago, TheGreek said: I will always love you - Whitney Houston Amazing song, written by Dolly Parton who said that she was blown away when she heard Whitney's version - "Yes it's my song but it's her record" - Dolly, huge star in her own right, said that she'd have loved to have been able to deliver the song in the same way. Another beautifully delivered song, again pitch perfect which Whitney was able to do live (YouTube is your friend). Dolly says it fits so many applications - not just for lovers - parent/ child, friends, etc. 12 hours ago, peteb said: A pretty safe choice there. Whether you like the genre or not, or even if you don't like the song, one of the greatest vocal performances ever recorded...! It just goes to show how very different people are. I will always love you is one song which would have me running for the off button every single time. I could just about cope with Dolly's version, but Whitney's is screechy, over sung, overbearing and overplayed to death. Different horses and all that. For me one of the greatest songs ever recorded is Janie's Got a Gun by Aerosmith, and I highly doubt many people would agree with me. Edited November 25, 2023 by Newfoundfreedom 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 this is perfection. I've never even thought about the bass line or any individual part, it's just one solid entity of musical bliss. I think it's the sheer emotion, it's sad but hopeful, everything about the performance is pushing those emotions. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 2 minutes ago, Newfoundfreedom said: Different horses and all that. For me one of the greatest songs ever recorded is Janie's Got a Gun by Aerosmith, and I highly doubt many people would agree with me. I don't agree that it's the greatest ever but I will listen to it more closely, good call! That's why I like these discussions, find something completely new or take a different perspective on something you thought you knew well. Great thread @TheGreek 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diskwave Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 Like parts of the body, every ones got one and there all slightly different....but to be slightly serious. There is no diffinitive answer...best way I deal with it is to break it down to this. Why is it 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' is such a phenomenaly amazing piece of music. I mean its a bit silly, simple soppy, stupid even....but its iconic, and its iconic because it is very cleverly written to fit the genre it was written for. In other words what ever you write has to work. It doesnt matter how daft or serious it is..it simply has to be well written for the genre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 as the late, great, Reg Presley (of the Troggs) once observed, nobody knows, some songs just have the mythical magic dust sprinkled on them, if anyone knew what the secret was every track they wrote would be great, even the greatest songwriters have written some turkeys, 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandy_r Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 6 minutes ago, PaulWarning said: ...even the greatest songwriters have written some turkeys yep, his Walrus was definitely better than his Turkey! 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted November 25, 2023 Author Share Posted November 25, 2023 2 hours ago, Newfoundfreedom said: Different horses and all that. For me one of the greatest songs ever recorded is Janie's Got a Gun by Aerosmith, and I highly doubt many people would agree with me. What, for you, makes it great? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 2 hours ago, Newfoundfreedom said: Different horses and all that. For me one of the greatest songs ever recorded is Janie's Got a Gun by Aerosmith, and I highly doubt many people would agree with me. Yes, it's a really good track - but I thought that you didn't like 'screechy' and 'over sung'? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfoundfreedom Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 5 hours ago, TheGreek said: What, for you, makes it great? It's a combination of the vocal harmonies, the musicality and especially the lyrics which are about child abuse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfoundfreedom Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 5 hours ago, peteb said: Yes, it's a really good track - but I thought that you didn't like 'screechy' and 'over sung'? Fair comment. 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steantval Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 21 hours ago, Mykesbass said: How are you judging greatness? Hotel California must be up there if popularity has anything to do with it. Loved on a truly global basis. Nice enough song, but why is it just so huge? Could also be something to do with the superb guitar solo on it 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SH73 Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 Easiest song to learn by ear to cover, you just turn up for the gig, plug in and off you go 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Edge Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 11 hours ago, dclaassen said: Jackson Browne “The Load Out”…anthem for musicians everywhere.Makes me smile every time I hear it! That falsetto by David Lindley in Stay always makes me smile. Saw them do that live a few times. Don’t forget Running on Empty on the same album. Another great song in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dclaassen Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 17 minutes ago, Cliff Edge said: That falsetto by David Lindley in Stay always makes me smile. Saw them do that live a few times. Don’t forget Running on Empty on the same album. Another great song in my opinion. That whole album is amazing…. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard R Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 https://brynhaworth.bandcamp.com/album/sunny-side-of-the-street The opening track of this album "Good Job". Is it the best thing Bryn Haworth has ever done? Maybe not. Is it a great track? Yes, just the sheer enthusiasm. One to crank up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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