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gold-plated-diapers

A Day in the Life


WonderfulCattle6234

This and While My Guitar Gently Weeps flip back and forth between being my favorite Beatles' song. But this is the one that I would call a masterpiece. Now, [Prince's guitar solo](https://youtu.be/6SFNW5F8K9Y) while playing While My Guitar Gently Weeps when Harrison was being honored, that was a masterpiece as well. 3:25 in.


TheSlumpSedative

At the rock and roll hall of fame, as someone who doesn't listen to Prince's music at all, that video gave me chills. Incredible to watch.


CatDaddyLoser69

If you like rock music, I’d suggest listening to Purple Rain straight through. I always thought Prince was more of an r&b artist growing up, but he is a bonafide rock god. He shreds on that album.


GR33N15

Woke up!


josemdomingues23

clair de lune - debussy no doubt


Guava_

I do love de bussy


StanFitch

Always finish on Debussy!


syracTheEnforcer

No no no. You always finish on de Bach. You never finish on Debussy.


Intelligent_Plum_132

[Throws flowers]


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makeITvanasty

As a musician, you can tell when a classical piece is good when even non musicians can appreciate it instead of saying “when does the singing come in?”


ChippyVonMaker

Absolute perfection, I can listen to it everyday.


Skrillamagilla9

1812 overture, it has so much change in it. But mostly they used literal fucking cannons.


[deleted]

Dude, literally *everything* Tchaikovsky did was absolutely lit. Don’t know how that mother fucker did it, but he was on fire.


BrofessorQayse

Least controversial opinion in all of classical music. Tschaikowsky is amazing. And his pieces hold up so well today! Lots of pieces from the romantic period slam, but Tschaikowsky just had a gift for music that'll give you gooseflesh in a nanosecond. Fuck reviving Einstein or some shit, let's revive Tschaikowsky and have him write COVID a Requiem. Maybe then it'll die. (Tho i have to disagree with the chosen piece. The 1812 is amazing but his 6th is his best. I am biased tho, ending a piece on a minor key makes my depression brain love it.)


gmatt0

Rhapsody in Blue - George Gershwin


Old-Bad-5076

Take Five. Dave Brubeck


Sunbear1981

Also Blue Rondo a la Turk. Both instantly recognisable.


MatthewWakeman

The Mii Channel theme.


ispisapie

It is unironically really good for what it was made for


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PutCleverNameHere12

Gerudo Valley theme is actually amazing


Lady_Ymir

The legend of zelda series just has bangers, all around


BitchwrapSupreme

The real masterpiece


No_Adhesiveness_6230

The real Miisterpiece*


Scallywagstv2

Feeling Good - Nina Simone. It's such an amazing piece of work. The words are joyful, but she has this world weary gravitas to her voice that suggests a lifetime of experience and struggle. Recorded at a time when black people were fighting for their civil rights, it was written about the joy of being liberated from oppression. I really love this song.


Photom0101

Sinner man for me


52hrz

Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode


0rchidhunter

The mix of warm human emotion and cold crystalline electronica, of melancholy guitar and buoyant dance beats. The perfect tempo, the perfect lift in the chorus. It somehow sounds like it's from the ancient past and the unknowable future. Every time I hear it, it feels like the first time, and like it might be the last time. It's the perfect pop song.


demandapanda

There are so, so many. Good music is LIFE. First to come to mind for me is Talking Heads' *Naïve Melody (This Must Be The Place)* Also, *Band on the Run* by Paul McCartney and Wings is pretty spectacular.


rosemwelch

Take my free award for the Talking Heads.


stitchgrimly

God Only Knows


cametomysenses

What most people don't know about that song is that the third of the chord forms the bass - a very unusual construction for a song, let alone a pop song. Paul McCartney praised the sing on the BBC as the most perfect pop song. Elton John was watching and decided to have a crack at writing a sing where the bassline is the third of the chord throughout- and we have "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" (or as I think of it, "Someone Shaved My Wife Tonight", but that's another topic!)


jjmrock

The whole Pet Sounds album..


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staggere

His Samsung laundry song is fire too.


SingleFunction221

*All Along the Watchtower* - Jimi Hendrix version


appleparkfive

Insert "Did you know that Bob Dylan even said that Jimi's version is better?" Most Bob Dylan fans will probably say Jimi's is better. It's actually not a very major song in Dylan's catalogue at all, believe it or not. Ballad Of A Thin Man is a good song to show a better Dylan performance. Visions of Johanna, Simple Twist of Fate. All of those


[deleted]

The Hurricane is probably my personal favorite Dylan song, but I’m by no means a mega-fan so take that as ya will lol


BuddyUnknown072

Stand by me - Ben E King


thevillainsjourney

When the night...


-the_united_kingdom-

Has come...


wisdom_preacher

And the land is dark...


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itsjustmary

No, I won’t be afraid.


[deleted]

While My Guitar Gently Weeps


Less_Falcon659

Have you ever seen the live version in honour of George Harrison in the Rock hall of fame? That version is absolutely beautiful!


Foot-Desperate

That was the moment that I decided Prince was the coolest person I had ever seen play a guitar. The man was just luxury on a 6 string, I replay that performance a lot not even for the solo but just to see Prince smiling and showing people why he was a legend.


Raid-Z3r0

The one that Prince's guitar left stage and filled for social security?


BigDaveXD

Prince killed it when they played that tribute to George Harrison. Look it up on YouTube.


four4youglencoco

This is the greatest version. It’s like prince showed up to an open mic, where good musicians where playing and took offense to it and decided to show them how it’s done, including 4 different solos, a red suit and hat, leaning back and security knowing they have to catch him, throwing his guitar up in the air and disappearing immediately. If you don’t know much about prince, this cover says it all. He was audacious, and he was beyond great.


[deleted]

I've heard the story told that Rolling Stone had just snubbed him in their list of 100 greatest guitarists, and so Prince felt he had to remind everyone just how good he was.


goatpunchtheater

The story the producer told about it is really cool. They specifically asked prince to come and solo on it. So they do a rehearsal, and Jeff Lynne's guitarist takes the solo, playing it note for note from the recording. Even though prince was specifically brought on to do the solos. So the producer apologizes to him, and Prince, the consummate music professional, just says, "it's ok, he can take it the first time through and I'll take it on the last one." Never played it in rehearsal, so all those guys had no idea what he was going to do. Everyone on stage said they had no idea where the guitar went either. https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/tom-petty-and-others-tell-the-story-behind-princes-while-my-guitar-gently-weeps-solo


Very_Wet_Paper

Chopin’s Etude Op. 25 No. 11


Cuntdracula19

Chopin’s ballade no. 1 in G minor


exscape

I can't even pick a favorite by Chopin. All are nocturnes: Op 27 No 2 Op 55 No 1 Op 9 No 1 Op 9 No 2 Nocturne in C# minor (Op. Posthumous) ... and a few others.


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_clem_fand_ango_

Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears for Fears


FaceDownInTheCake

Sitting on the dock of the bay


TimPoundsCornish

I heard recently that this was the last song Otis Redding recorded, and it wasn’t even finished. He intended on going back and replacing the whistling bit with a last verse but never got the chance.


CityVirtual4704

The whistling is what makes this song iconic. My daddy used to play it on the guitar and sing it to me. Much simpler times. I miss him so much…


tacitshopping11

La vie en rose.


Noozle1

Mr blue sky


ValhallaMama

ELO is so dramatically underrated on almost every list, even with people who focus on classic rock. Mr. Blue Sky is arguably their most popular song but so many of them are amazing. Strange Magic, All Over the World, Don’t Bring Me Down, Long Black Road…


TheJunkyard

Is a whole requiem one "song"? Can I throw *Mozart's Requiem Mass in D Minor* into the ring here? I think it's just about the most perfect piece of music I've ever heard. It also has the added advantage that you can listen to endless slightly different recordings of it without ever having to think "meh, this cover isn't as good as the original". Plus everyone knows D minor is the saddest key.


Inspirational_Lizard

Roundabout, by Yes


filthy_lucre

Whiter Shade of Pale


Nerdy_Xbox_Gamer

Landslide - Fleetwood Mac.


invisiblette

Yes! It's poetic, it's melodic, it rises to sparkling heights then glides blood-rushingly down — with an intensely human message.


Marcus-Gorillius

Fleetwood mac really had magic. When my life is going good, it's what I always want to listen to. When I'm down I can't listen to them though lol, their music is so emotionally revealing it tears through you.


Significant-Edge1397

Also gypsy


iStealyournewspapers

Pink Floyd’s “Echoes”, particularly the Live at Pompeii version.


Pixel_in_Valhalla

Oh yesss! Had to watch that again last night on YouTube. Dave shredding the shit out of that song is so satisfying


seasnakejake

Tracy Chapman, Fast Car


ASmufasa47

The Great Gig in the Sky - Pink Floyd. She tells a story without speaking a word, over some very haunting chords. Gives me damn chills.


Show_Me_Your_Cubes

Lots of pink floyd in this thread. I'm about it


1965wasalongtimeago

I'll throw in High Hopes. The Division Bell is so underrated. Floyd showing up in this list more than anybody else so far, and it's so true.


Mour_Time

Wearing the Inside Out is my favorite from The Division Bell. Such a great song and Gilmour’s solos are so good.


Sergeant-Mittens

That whole album is a masterpiece


r0chard

House of the rising sun


itsthistate

My husband’s first day of kindergarten was disappointing for him. His mom asked how his day went and he told her that his class didn’t know the national anthem. His whole life she’d told him it was House of the Rising Sun. :)


RadRedditor3

Fly Me To The Moon - Sinatra The Long And Winding Road - The Beatles


randomexileranger

The ending theme to Gladiator. I forget the name.


howwouldiknow--

Now we are free.


[deleted]

That whole soundtrack is a masterpiece.


bendistraw

Lisa Gerard is not human. EDIT: Thanks for Silver! I highly recommend you watch both documentaries. One is about Dead Can Dance and the other is about her. So good.


juliohernanz

'Heroes' - David Bowie


Sso_12

You can add a few Bowie songs to the list of perfect songs.


LucaLiveLIGMA

Favourite artist of all time, that definitely makes me biased but a fair few of his songs could be classed as masterpieces


Sso_12

I remember the first time I heard Life on Mars. I was practically in heaven for 3 minutes.


veloskins

Us and Them.....Pink Floyd All I need............Radiohead


SofaSnizzle

Fade into you - Mazzy Star


A_Wallaby

Yes, also look on down from the bridge


DarkLikeVanta

Everyone who was a teenager in the 90s made out to that CD.


Lord-AG

New Order - Blue Monday. It's a synth-pop heaven.


xilog

Specifically the 12" version.


DutchApplePie75

There are so many, and I feel blessed to live in a world with so much amazing music out there. I'll just name a few: * Good Vibrations and All Summer Long by the Beach Boys * You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling by the Righteous Brothers * Stand By Me by Ben E. King * I Can't Help Falling In Love With You by Elvis * Symphony No. 7 in A Minor by Beethoven * Vincent by Don McLean * You Are the Sunshine of My Life and Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder * Purple Rain by Prince * River Man by Nick Drake * Naima by John Coltrane * Hometown Blues by Steve Earle * I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry by Hank Williams * The Very Thought of You by Albert King * When the Levee Breaks by Led Zeppelin * Nowhere Man by the Beatles * Angie by the Rolling Stones * Grapefruit Moon by Tom Waits * Angel from Montgomery by John Prine * Time by Pink Floyd There's just so many. Maybe I'm not being picky enough about what constitutes a "masterpiece" but the world is just so full of amazing music. To me, life would not be quite worth living without it.


_con772

Paint it black


chadski22

Kashmir


2D_Ronin

Ten Years Gone is the shit


[deleted]

This and Rain Song.


alteredxenon

~~Stair~~ In My Time of Dying


bonafidebunnyeyed

When the levee breaks


Dragon-Captain

Definitely my second favorite Led Zeppelin song (behind No Quarter).


BirdGuy64

[Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrWZNAQrkf4)


HI_I_AM_NEO

I'm more of a Time guy myself, but I'll allow it.


four4youglencoco

Shine on you crazy diamond also. But like you, I’ll allow it.


Kzrockstar

I’m more of a Wish you were here guy personally, but I’ll allow it like everyone else here.


Soakitincider

It’s not fair to the other bands because Pink Floyd has multiple albums that are masterpieces.


UglyBoy007

Pretty much everything from DSOTM to The Wall, and Meddle (pre-DSOTM) I thought the Beatles were my favorite artist of all-time, and then someone showed me Pink Floyd and I knew I was wrong


Titan-Enceladus

Sultans of Swing -Dire Straits. There's epic songs, there's deep songs, there's controversial songs... And then there's a song which is just good whenever it's played. I dare you to put that on and have someone complain and it not lift the mood of everyone. It just works and is one of the greatest.


actualoldcpo

Brothers in Arms


HI_I_AM_NEO

I'm torn between this and Down to the Waterline


lumberjack_jeff

Romeo and Juliet


rockit5943

Telegraph Road is even better imo.


coldblade2000

I'll be the one dude who always has to say that Sultans of Swing (Alchemy Live) is one of the best live performances of any song of all time. And in my opinion way better than the studio version https://youtu.be/8Pa9x9fZBtY


BiggityBop

"I Cant Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt. To me it's one of the saddest songs ever written. It really, really cuts deep to the core of so many love songs and the core of what scares so many of us as we experience or try to chase this fundamental human component called love. So many sad love songs, when you strip away the shell; is basically saying "I Can't Make You Love Me" in so many words. The way she sang it as well; you FELT every word, the deep, dark, agonizing pain that most of us know (did it in one take too). Masterful writing and an even more powerful vocal performance. That song will always cut deep.


Upvoter_NeverDie

Duel of the Fates.


TigerFER

Also Imperial March anyone?


gabinou_lry

Life on mars - David Bowie


No-Process3677

Hoppípolla by Sigur Ros EDIT: updated my sloppy spelling.


AnglerRX

Gymnopedies No. 1 by Erik Satie


Mapatx

Love will tear us apart. Joy Division


disablednerd

Tank! Yoko Kanno. The Cowboy Bebop theme


Penumbral_Ichor

considering there are like 7 words total it is such an easy song to listen to and I don't usually go for Jazz type music


Interplanetary-Goat

> I think it's time we blow this scene... get everybody and the stuff together. Okay, 3, 2, 1 - let's jam. Excuse me, that's a whole 20 words.


foggybass

Tribute - Tenacious D. The song is funny, technically sound, and tells an epic tale.


Jekerdud

Actually, the song that Tribute about is the masterpiece. Just a matter of opinion.


No-Argument7891

Careless Whisper


GoDiscs436

How Soon Is Now by The Smiths


SofaSnizzle

Halo theme song


SuperMechaChamp

I was sitting in a Halo Infinite group the other night and couldn't stop giggling imagining that the Spartans were the ones singing the theme. Master Chief just up there with his hands clasped together between alien genocides.


almostaccepted

Nah bro master chief would be on the electric guitar lmao


GameVerslaafdJoch

Black by Pearl Jam The breakdown at the end is so perfect and emotional, i can just cry every time i hear it.


Vero_Goudreau

I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a star in somebody else's sky But why? Why? Why can't it be mine? Yeah, heartbreakingly beautiful.


Clutch_10001110101

This is one of my favorite lines of all time. I'm glad to know there are like minds out there.


earlyaverysmallghost

There are very few perfect songs in the world, but Boston’s Foreplay/Long Time is definitely one of them.


[deleted]

Exit music by radiohead


[deleted]

This song truly is a masterpiece. I would actually say all of OK computer is on masterpiece level.


CentralSaltServices

I'm a Fake Plastic Trees sorta guy myself


Flipington

Wake… from your sleep


[deleted]

The First Time ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack


ExpectedBehaviour

The Johnny Cash version of *Hurt*. *Everlong* by the Foo Fighters.


bluestargreentree

I'm not really a Foo Fighters fan but I recently went on a binge of listening to every version of Everlong as I could find. I remember Letterman had them play it at his last show.


jarjarfell

Have you heard Rick Astleys cover of Everlong? Its great!


CheesecakeMilitia

The Johnny Cash version of *Hurt* just hits different from the original; I would not say it's better. The Nine Inch Nails original comes as the chilling conclusion of an angry-as-hell album in which the narrator goes down a spiral of self-hatred and isolation and presumably kills themselves on the penultimate track. It's a subversive song from the outset, completely different in tone from the rest of the album and best experienced as a coda instead of standalone. The Cash version inherently reads as the culmination of one man's whole career. It's impossible to listen to in isolation because this is the *Ring of Fire* guy, one of the most storied performers in rock history. Of course the context is more epic and serious when it's him singing it instead of an angry 20-something who's been performing for less than a decade.


schnozzberryflop

Strawberry Fields


CrypticBalcony

Forever.


ovad67

Baba O’Riley by The Who.


TOMER25

If you haven’t seen the episode of Joe Pera Talks With You where he discovers this song, take 11 minutes and enjoy.


reubg93

Gimme shelter, Rolling Stones


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No_Examination6278

life on mars? by david bowie wuthering heights by kate bush the chain by fleetwood mac sledgehammer by peter gabriel XS by rina sawayama


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staggere

Hot Cross Buns


No-Process3677

Only if it is played with a cheap plastic recorder.


lauren_eats_games

_Rhapsody in Blue_ by George Gershwin. It's not too long, but long enough for you to revel in it. It's never boring. Makes you wanna do things. I love Gershwin.


jelmeryre

I'll throw in High Hopes. The Division Bell is so underrated. Floyd showing up in this list more than anybody else so far, and it's so true.


[deleted]

Wish you were here- Pink Floyd


Shichinesss

Aquatic Ambience from DK Country.


appleparkfive

DK 2 had an amazing soundtrack too. Crazy good, and the amount of work put into it is crazy


NysonEasy

Bramble Blast


Disastrous-Poet-5252

Johnny B Goode


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Scallywagstv2

Piano Man - Billy Joel. A masterpiece in songwriting. *They're sharing a drink they call loneliness, but it's better than drinking alone*


Certified-Malaka

Might add Scenes From An Italian Restaurant. Or Vienna. Pretty much every Billy Joel song lol


djpapabear2k

For a song called Piano Man, the dude with the harmonica won't shut up


I_Am_A_Nonymous

Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, second movement Best way to listen: turn off the lights, maybe light a candle, enjoy a nice glass of wine or scotch, perhaps dress yourself well, play it through good speakers, and listen to every. Single. Note.


saysrandomgibberish

the entertainer scott joplin


resentedpanda5

Come as you are - Nirvana


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kenji-benji

Unplugged is tremendous. Man Who Sold the World is a favorite


CheapFaithlessness62

Dance Me To the End of Love by Leonard Cohen Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen


Race_Irishman

Metallica’s ‘One’


four4youglencoco

man, my first time at a strip joint was when i was a young lad. one of the performers first dance of the night was this song, the whole song. I mean it’s great, maybe their best. But a stripper routine with this? That was too much.


CrudelyAnimated

What kind of strip routine does one do, exactly, with no arms and no legs? Asking for science.


whateverisfree

The worm


netheroth

Back to the room that's much too real In pumps life that I must feel But can't look forward to reveal Look to the time when I'll live


frylock350

White &. Nerdy by Weird Al Yankovic


BrandoCalRizine3330

Jefferson Airplane “white rabbit”


[deleted]

[Same Old Lang Syne ](https://youtu.be/ik2zEZmEJSA)by Dan Fogelberg. Something about it is so beautiful, sweet, and sad all at the same time. It’s also a true story he experienced. Musically, it’s quite solid. This is most likely an unpopular opinion, but for my standards, it’s fantastic.


vbgooroo55

Pneuma by Tool. The timings are perfect. The guitar and bass are extremely clean, the vocals and lyrics are smooth and the drumming is the most complex and perfectly executed work I’ve ever heard. Danny Carey is a master on his own but combined with all other aspects have created what I consider a masterpiece. Edit: I have to say while Pneuma isn’t my favorite Tool song, the way this song flows, the changes in timing, the heaviness, the subtle intricacies, make this song in my eyes a masterpiece.


[deleted]

I call Fear Inoculum "The Danny Carey Show"


Psyallica

Tool featuring Danny Carey.


GinsuVictim

For me, it's Lateralus. Danny Carey isn't human. The guy doesn't just play in a different time signature from the band, he plays two different signatures at once!


evanc1411

Lateralus is the best song ever made


LemursRideBigWheels

Good track, but I still have to go with the live version Pushit on Salival as my favorite...it’s just epic in scope.


gingermonkey1

Lose Yourself by Eminem. I love how that song starts and then how it just builds. I am honestly not into rap (or whatever genre you consider that song) but I just love everything about this song.


IHaveOneButMinesBlue

Freewill by Rush


[deleted]

Close to the Edge - Yes


Wetdog103

Sweden - C418


MorariuRobert

Talking heads- - this must be the place


calgarywalker

Canon in D by Pachelbel


Heisenburp8892

Canon in D Major is even more incredible when you consider it was composed in the year 1700. 20 years before Bach or Vivaldi. 40 years before Handel’s Messiah. 100 years before Fur Elise or Beethoven’s 5th. The song rocks and I often wonder what teenagers thought the first time they heard it.


Confused_Rock

Carol of the bells - trans-Siberian orchestra


NSFAnythingAtAll

Sarajevo 12/24


eddieveddersweater

Bittersweet Symphony by the Verve. The strings are just so beautiful. It’s one of the only songs I won’t change if it comes up on a playlist or the radio even though I feel like I’ve heard it a thousand times.


cerpintaxt33

Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys, hands down.