Post the greatest song ever

[mau5trap]

Dubstep all day "erryday"

 

[sgt. soap mctavish]

Could this be a qualifier?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqup_10wizo&list=FLI4nsDITmOXZSE26hnGuPig&index=1&feature=plpp_video

 

[DragonChi]

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

I'll just let this speak for itself, lol.

 

[Filiecs]

My personal favorite song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7m1gCdHi0s&feature=related

 

[repeating integers]

Alright, you seem to know what you're about, so I'll ask you: What do you like about Radiohead? I've seen a lot of people who like them (especially on the Guardian, which almost makes me dislike them) but rarely have I seen explanations as to why, and I'm interested (as well as being terrified of things I don't understand). I personally love OK Computer, but am a bit iffy on the rest of their stuff. That song, for example, had some interesting percussion, but I found Yorke' high-pitched whine really annoying (speaking as somebody who loves both Muse and Coldplay).

Well, I'm not sure how typical a Radiohead fan I am, but I'll give it a shot.

There are many things I like about Radiohead. One of the biggest is the fact that they've continued developing steadily throughout their career, without putting out the same album twice (possible exception: Kid A/Amnesiac). They show clear influences from a lot of different genres, but don't simply force themselves to play some new thing they found (possible exception: the dubstep on their most recent album.) They always seem to have a clear vision of the kind of music they want to play, and nearly always pull off everything they attempt without seeming forced or ripoffish.

That said, I don't think they're a crazy-innovative experimental band, either. They don't really use any techniques that weren't pioneered by someone else, and they don't produce hard-to-listen psychedelic muck. Even their most out-there songs (see: Kid A) have clear melodies. This is another thing I like about them: They never forget they're making music, never forget that the noises they're making are supposed to be enjoyable to listen to.

As for musical expertise and style, well, I can understand anyone who doesn't like Thom Yorke's voice. He's not always high-pitched or "whiny" (listen to "Myxomatosis" or "My Iron Lung"), but he's always quivery and insecure-sounding, and I understand that some people wouldn't like the sound of it. It's an acquired taste even for most of the people who do enjoy it. It's funny you mention Coldplay and Muse, because those are both bands that are very heavily influenced by Radiohead (I sometimes joke that Coldplay based their whole body of work on "Fake Plastic Trees". ) I think the difference is that those singers have more traditionally pleasing falsettos as opposed to Yorke's thinner, shaky tone.

Yorke is actually a very capable singer though---listen to "Nude"; it's one of his best vocal performances.

I think Radiohead's instrumentals are unmatched. No fancy solos or in-your-face instrumental virtuosity, but I honestly don't think tasteful, subtle playing gets any better. Listen to the beat in "There There" or "Where I End And You Begin", the guitar in "Bodysnatchers", or the bass in "House Of Cards" or "Myxomatosis". Every member is exceptionally talented on their instrument, they just don't rub your face in that fact.

Anyway music is obviously subjective and you could disagree with or dislike anything I talked about, but that's what I see in Radiohead.

Sorry it took me a while to get back to you, another guy PMed me.

Anyway, as I said to that guy, I give Radiohead points for their constant changing, but it comes at the cost of a "signature sound". It throws me somewhat - usually, if I hear a new song by a favourite band of mine, I can identify it from the first few notes, but about the only unifying feature of Radiohead's albums is Thom Yorke's voice. And I understand that that's challenging, but it demands attention - I have to be in a very particular mood to listen to post-OK computer Radiohead.

It's odd that you mention Kid A having clear melodies, because I thought it was one of the weakest albums when it came to melodies. Of all the Radiohead albums, that is the one I am least sure on. Hated it at first, like many, but now I just don't know what to make of it. Maybe I'll end up loving it eventually.

I think you hit the nail on the head with why I dislike Thom Yorke's voice - "quivering and insecure" are the perfect words. I have no problem with fragile voices - Mark Linkous, of Sparklehorse, can reach a very fragile falsetto range (e.g [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiG_3_JsaeM]), but to me, it sounds much more... loveable than Yorke's. When I hear Mark Linkous' wavery, non-confident voice, I want to give him a hug, or at least a pat on the back. When I hear Yorke's, I want to tell him to stop feeling so sorry for himself.

As for Muse, I have to say I've never really heard the similarity. To paraphrase one of Yahtzee's better lines (I know it's meant to be derogatory, but it's otherwise perfect for the situation), Muse sound like the result of a communal spunking session between Nirvana and Queen, during which lingering eye-contact was made with Pink Floyd. They're heavy, grungy, proggy and HUGELY overblown (which is exactly why I love them) - Radiohead are soft, to the point and muted, almost the exact opposite. As for Coldplay, yeah, I can definitely hear them in Fake Plastic Trees (in fact, now that I think of it, Green Eyes sounds almost suspiciously similar), but I do think they've been branching away as their career's gone on. Viva la Vida in particular was something I'm pretty sure I've never heard in any Radiohead song.

As for the instrumentation, I think you're completely correct. Radiohead's instrumentation is subtle, measured, but very good - that doesn't mean it's necessarily my thing. Fact is, huge and overblown instrumentation really appeals to me. I think this is why their song Paranoid Android is possibly my favourite - about halfway through, it contains one of my favourite guitar riffs ever, and it's simply brilliant playing. You mention the bass on House of Cards, which is very good, and complements the song nicely - but in the end, I prefer Hysteria [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dm_5qWWDV8]'s bass, because it's so huge. Incidentally, Coldplay are odd when it comes to this - Viva la Vida proves they CAN do tricky, complex instrumentation, but on their earlier albums they were somehow minimalist and overblown at the same time. Politik [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31fw5QsFgpk&feature=related] is probably the best example of this - 2 guitar chords, a very basic piano, really basic drumming, all bludgeoned into your ear, and it somehow works (well, until about halfway in, where the piano gets a lot more complex and the song basically explodes). I think Chris Martin doesn't get enough credit for his songwriting skills.

Thanks for your input, by the way - I'm not determined to hate Radiohead (I am in fact planning to listen to all their stuff again, in sequence, starting tomorrow), and seeing all these reasons is very informative. I'll listen a lot closer next time.

 

[Magicmad5511]

I can only think up a tribute to the greatest song ever...song.

Ah ninja'd! I saw this thread and thought `I am totally going to post Tribute` XD

Yep. Me as well. Tribute is pretty great.

Thinking on it though, considering the movie "Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny" and the very end bit, the greatest song in the world may have been this.

Spoiler: Beelzeboss

OT: OK serious time now. Actually I don't think I could place a single song as the best in the world, just because there are so many candidates with different reasons for awesome.

I'll submit this to the thread though. I think it good enough.

 

[emeraldrafael]

<spoiler=While its not my personal favorite, I'd have to say this><youtube=N_GPxe91hWE>

Mostly cause it would be known as Layne's Song after he died.

amazing song. It truly is a shame what happened to him.

It is, but then again, a good portion of the Layne era ones are. And the Duvall era songs are good too.

 

[Freaky Lou]

Sorry it took me a while to get back to you, another guy PMed me.

Anyway, as I said to that guy, I give Radiohead points for their constant changing, but it comes at the cost of a "signature sound". It throws me somewhat - usually, if I hear a new song by a favourite band of mine, I can identify it from the first few notes, but about the only unifying feature of Radiohead's albums is Thom Yorke's voice. And I understand that that's challenging, but it demands attention - I have to be in a very particular mood to listen to post-OK computer Radiohead.

It's odd that you mention Kid A having clear melodies, because I thought it was one of the weakest albums when it came to melodies. Of all the Radiohead albums, that is the one I am least sure on. Hated it at first, like many, but now I just don't know what to make of it. Maybe I'll end up loving it eventually.

I think you hit the nail on the head with why I dislike Thom Yorke's voice - "quivering and insecure" are the perfect words. I have no problem with fragile voices - Mark Linkous, of Sparklehorse, can reach a very fragile falsetto range (e.g [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiG_3_JsaeM]), but to me, it sounds much more... loveable than Yorke's. When I hear Mark Linkous' wavery, non-confident voice, I want to give him a hug, or at least a pat on the back. When I hear Yorke's, I want to tell him to stop feeling so sorry for himself.

As for Muse, I have to say I've never really heard the similarity. To paraphrase one of Yahtzee's better lines (I know it's meant to be derogatory, but it's otherwise perfect for the situation), Muse sound like the result of a communal spunking session between Nirvana and Queen, during which lingering eye-contact was made with Pink Floyd. They're heavy, grungy, proggy and HUGELY overblown (which is exactly why I love them) - Radiohead are soft, to the point and muted, almost the exact opposite. As for Coldplay, yeah, I can definitely hear them in Fake Plastic Trees (in fact, now that I think of it, Green Eyes sounds almost suspiciously similar), but I do think they've been branching away as their career's gone on. Viva la Vida in particular was something I'm pretty sure I've never heard in any Radiohead song.

As for the instrumentation, I think you're completely correct. Radiohead's instrumentation is subtle, measured, but very good - that doesn't mean it's necessarily my thing. Fact is, huge and overblown instrumentation really appeals to me. I think this is why their song Paranoid Android is possibly my favourite - about halfway through, it contains one of my favourite guitar riffs ever, and it's simply brilliant playing. You mention the bass on House of Cards, which is very good, and complements the song nicely - but in the end, I prefer Hysteria [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dm_5qWWDV8]'s bass, because it's so huge. Incidentally, Coldplay are odd when it comes to this - Viva la Vida proves they CAN do tricky, complex instrumentation, but on their earlier albums they were somehow minimalist and overblown at the same time. Politik [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31fw5QsFgpk&feature=related] is probably the best example of this - 2 guitar chords, a very basic piano, really basic drumming, all bludgeoned into your ear, and it somehow works (well, until about halfway in, where the piano gets a lot more complex and the song basically explodes). I think Chris Martin doesn't get enough credit for his songwriting skills.

Thanks for your input, by the way - I'm not determined to hate Radiohead (I am in fact planning to listen to all their stuff again, in sequence, starting tomorrow), and seeing all these reasons is very informative. I'll listen a lot closer next time.

I think each Radiohead album has its own signature feel. In Rainbows doesn't sound at all like The Bends, but each song fits perfectly in with all the others on each album (except on The King Of Limbs, where three songs jump out because they're the only good ones.)

Anyway, it's no trouble; I like talking about this sort of thing. I'm going to listen to Coldplay a bit more now since I do agree with you that their songwriting isn't given enough credit.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Utada Hikaru- Sakura Drops
The song was a smash hit when it first aired in Japan.

 

[Littaly]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SEULZIHru0

Sultans of Swing

Great choice

I can't really make up my mind about it, but I'll go with this one..

 

[KingOfGreyfell]

Shame on you for forgetting this one!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv-Nn-yNpAQ&ob=av3e

 

[Mestraal]

-snip-

I disagree with the song, but yay Bruce Springsteen =D

My personal favourite, just because they're so openly ridiculous


More known for their songs Gay Bar and Danger! High Voltage. But they're all round awesome!

 

[SonicKoala]

A.K.A. That song at the end of 'Fight Club'

 

[IxHADOUKENxI]

Zis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKg4g9zMeHI
Zis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSkb0kDacjs&feature=fvst
Und Zis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lCLXaqc1K4

Yeah Yeah there's 3 but listen to them...You'll thank me later

 

[ChickenZombie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zEyRixsDZY

 

[Bloodfeat]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygI-2F8ApUM

really not a song as such but still quite awesome.

 

[Dr Jones]

I'm dissapointed in the lack of any works from one of the best lyricists ever, in this thread..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk3mAX5xdxo

 

[Sleepy Sol]

Honestly, I really have a hard time picking favorites since I listen to a lot of music that I enjoy greatly, but Rosetta Stoned is up there for me.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Spoiler

I like a lot of stuff, but I always come back to Lizzy. I've loved them my entire life, and although I guess a lot of people might see it as a bit trad I just don't think there is a song as powerful to me as this (or with a better solo). Phil Lynott, you fucking legend (in the proper sense).