This week, I offer this playlist of nine of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. These are not my top nine, but just a collection of music I adore listening to.
Desert Song by Säje
Quite honestly this song is the reason I came up with this post. The singers’ unison makes me want to cry happy tears. The unison enhances the harmonies and even when they are singing harmonies, they are each still connected so tightly that it is hard to believe they are four separate people. These women are singing, breathing, and acting as one. I could listen to this song all day. Also, if anyone wants to transcribe the vocal parts (I am too lazy and currently don’t have a piano), my sister and I would greatly appreciate it and we’ll find people to sing it with.
Baedeker by Gabriel Kahane
I can hear just the amount of piano and just the amount of voice I want. I love both parts and find them equally beautiful. Gabriel Kahane brings the most natural and yummy vocals in this. I love this whole album but this is song perfection to me. Lots of movement in both the vocal line and piano part but not busy at all.
Joy by Kadhja Bonet
This song is much busier than the last two on the list but just as pleasant. It makes me want to be outside. I don’t have much else to say about this one!
Fields and Pier by Avriel & the Sequoias
I listened to this when it came out in 2017 and Avi Kaplan had just left Pentatonix. This was his first solo release. It was so nice to hear his incredible range at the forefront, I mean, just listen to that smooth transition from him singing the melody to him singing the bass line and that sweet B1. I was so happy to rediscover this song in the past month and drool over it just as much as I had before.
Lest We Forget (blood) by Esperanza Spalding
Let’s get one thing straight, all hail Esperanza Spalding. I am equally obsessed and in awe of everything she does. Singing and playing the bass is so incredibly difficult yet she has ascended in her ability, doing much more than mastering the craft. That doesn’t really have anything to do with this song though, haha, mostly to do with her writing and that recurring humming melody. When it comes as a round in the last 40 seconds, I melt. It is the most exciting and beautiful round I have ever heard. If you listen to only one part of this song, let it be the last 40 seconds.
Marion by Bon Iver
I cry or at least consider crying every time I hear this song. Everything from the lyrics to the raw vocals to the guitar part culminates into the most thought-out, beautiful combination of mess and beauty. I love everything about Bon Iver and their process. I recently listened to the Song Exploder podcast episode in which they were featured and where Justin Vernon cried describing aspects of what they were recording. I’ve always been drawn to how emotional their music was but it was definitely magnified hearing it first-hand.
Kitte Kitte by Morgonrode
Norwegian folk! It’s here! I mentioned it in my shower etiquette post. A lot of their music sounds scary and ominous to me but this song is the most beautiful in their collection. I have no idea what they are singing about but it is a great marriage between freaky melodies and what I can only describe as lullaby-like sounds. Please give Morgonrode a chance! I can’t think of a good reason not to.
O Que Será de Ti by MARO
Soon after I started listening to MARO religiously, I found out she was going to be a part of Jacob Collier’s show which I already had tickets to. I was thrilled to say the least. Pretty much any of her songs could be on this list and I chose this one randomly. She sings in both Portuguese and English in the most beautiful voice.
A Nearer Sun by The Westerlies
Another song I don’t have much to say about! Felt like a good song to finish off the list.
To listen to all 9 songs on Spotify, click here
To listen to all 9 songs on YouTube, click here
Have a lovely day!
Let me know if you’ve transcribed Desert Song.
9 thoughts on “Some Beautiful Music”
I’m going to listen to this playlist on my way home from work today, Little Bip! Thank you so much! My favorite is your reference to Avi’s sweet B1. Scientific Pitch Notation, people!!
Biiig shout out to SPN! Thanks for listening!
I can’t stop listening to this playlist. It’s so very lovely.
What … nothing by Queen???
Well, you could offer your own link here for beautiful Queen music. 🙂
My main goal with these playlists is to introduce music to my audience that they haven’t heard before. Queen does have some beautiful music!
I listened to every song and read your comments as I listened. I loved every piece and your words made me feel like you were listening with me! The first piece makes me wish I could blend with other voices that way — exquisite. Baedeker and Lest We Forget close seconds for me. Total pleasure 🙂
What a fantastic list! I so enjoyed listening to each of these! I am amazed at your ever-growing knowledge and how many artists you know about. I learn so much from you and appreciate the details you offer in your comments about the songs here. My favorite songs from your list are Desert Song, Fields and Pier, and Kitte Kitte. I also think Maro has a gorgeous voice! Thank you for introducing me to all of the artists on this list!
I just heard Desert Song and have to applause! Will share. I’ll listen to the others soon.