This Month Q magazine took a poll from a number of songwriters and musicians and came up with the a list for the top ten "perfect" tracks of all time.

A few years ago Rolling Stone did a top 500 list, but not a single song from that publication’s top ten made this new list by Q magazine. 

Fifty songwriters took part in the vote. The songwriters were asked to name their top three and from there the list was whittled down to the final top 10.

"The 10 most perfect songs ever"! (?)
And here are they:

1. Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley (Leonard Cohen)
2. Strawberry Fields Forever – The Beatles
3. Life on Mars? - David Bowie
4. Sympathy for the Devil – The Rolling Stones
5. Strange Fruit – Billie Holiday
6. Bitter Sweet Symphony – The Verve
7. Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen
8. God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
9. Blowin’ In the Wind – Bob Dylan
10. Perfect Day – Lou Reed

They´ve ignored completely David Gray!

And what about Dylan´s "Like a Rolling Stone", and "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones[:'(]!....and...

My favourite version of "Hallelujah" is John Cale's . His version really takes the song to even higher grounds. Did David Gray ever this great song?

...but that’s my opinion what’s yours?

http://allthemusicnews.blogspot.com/2007/09/q-magazine-10-most-perfect-songs-ever.html

Found this awesome version of "Hallelujah" live performed by four norwegian singers!

Hallelujah by L. Cohen  

Now I’ve heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don’t really care for music, do you?
It goes like this ..
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to her kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Baby I’ve been here before
I know this room, I’ve walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you
I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch
But love is not a victory march
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There was a time when you let me know
What’s really going on below
But now you never show that to me do you?
But remember when I moved in you,
And the holy dove was moving too
And from your lips they drew the Hallelujah.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Maybe there’s a God above
But all I’ve ever learned from love
Is how to shoot somebody who outdrew you
And it’s not a cry you hear at night
It’s not somebody whos’s seen the light
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain
Well I don’t even know the name
But if I did, well really, what’s it to you?
There’s a blaze of light in every word
It doesn’t matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn’t much
I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch
I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I’ll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

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"There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." Leonard Cohen

Good morning Nevermind.  That is an interesting article although I agree with you that there should be  a DG track on there.  I looked for the John Cale version of Hallelujah (part of my continuing Leondard Cohen education) and found one on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckbdLVX736U

I agree with Born to Run and Blowing in the Wind.  Some of the others I have never heard of, maybe I will check those out too.

Have a nice day.

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We are family, I got all my sistas with me..

Bluewater:

Good morning Nevermind.  That is an interesting article although I agree with you that there should be  a DG track on there.  I looked for the John Cale version of Hallelujah (part of my continuing Leondard Cohen education) and found one on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckbdLVX736U

I agree with Born to Run and Blowing in the Wind.  Some of the others I have never heard of, maybe I will check those out too.

Have a nice day.

Hi Bluewater!

THX for this awesome version. I would prefer his versions on the album "I´m Your Fan", a Cohen Tribute album and his version on the strongly recommended John Cale live album "Fragments of a Rainy Saison" ! In this "minimalist" version you have only Cale's voice & piano! This album is a kind of Cale´s unplugged and I´m happy I´ve been to one of his concerts a the time he recorded this live album!

Wikipedia has a page about this song!

See you!

   

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"There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." Leonard Cohen

One by one the guests arrive
The guests are coming through
The open-hearted many
The broken-hearted few

And those who dance begin to dance
And those who weep begin
Welcome, welcome, cries a voice
Let all my guests come in

Part of "The Guests"
by Leonard Cohen

... maybe a perfect welcome to all guest even on this board!

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"There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." Leonard Cohen

god only knows by the beach boys just may be my perfect song. makes me stop in my tracks and listen intently every time i catch it being played

chalmers:

god only knows by the beach boys just may be my perfect song. makes me stop in my tracks and listen intently every time i catch it being played

You are right. This Brain Wilson Song is nearly perfect. It's a song with perhaps the most beautiful melody in this list!

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"There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." Leonard Cohen

A perfect song not featured on this list above?

 

'From Here You Can Almost See The Sea' - by Mr David Gray 

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Welcome to DavidGray.com

Rena:

A perfect song not featured on this list above?

 

'From Here You Can Almost See The Sea' - by Mr David Gray 

THX!

Yeah!  It's my favourite David Gray song ! Why is this great song not on the Top 10 list?[:'(]

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"There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." Leonard Cohen

yeah rena , good choice there. back to brian wilson for a mo, i was surprised to find that his brother carl sang that song! another that just came to mind is 'here comes the sun' by the beatles and sung beautifully by george harrison!

chalmers:

yeah rena , good choice there. back to brian wilson for a mo, i was surprised to find that his brother carl sang that song! another that just came to mind is 'here comes the sun' by the beatles and sung beautifully by george harrison!

Me thinks you prefer "rainbow" related stuff. Let me tell you that this is ok! This Harrison song is really beautiful!

But why is there not one David Gray and a Dylan song on the list? 

There is one song I used to listen daily for a long time: it´s John Cales "(I Keep a )Close Watch". A nearly perfekt love song!

Close Watch live 1983

Album version (close your eyes because of the strange video)

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"There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." Leonard Cohen

not sure i am fully understanding of all this rainbow guff but if it means liking beach boys and beatles music then fair play to that! thinking again of harrison what about "something"? and dylan's "like a rolling stone" is not only my favourite track of his but quite possibly my all-time top tune.

weird just had chance to respond to nevermind's reply to mine from a bit ago and now find it has disappeared?? oh well, glad you are with me on the dylan tune. it is perfection from start to finish it is.

 

Yes I'm with you! Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone is a perfect song!

 

Here the Top 10 of the RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time:

1. Like a Rolling Stone Bob Dylan

2. Satisfaction  The Rolling Stones

3. Imagine  John Lennon

4. What's Going On  Marvin Gaye

5. Respect Aretha Franklin

6. Good Vibrations The Beach Boys

7. Johnny B. Goode  Chuck Berry

8. Hey Jude The Beatles

9. Smells Like Teen Spirit  Nirvana

10. What'd I Say Ray Charles

 

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs

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"There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." Leonard Cohen

Good news for all L. Cohen addicts:

On October 8th, 2008, Leonard Cohen and Philip Glass had a conversation, at Stanford's Memorial Auditorium–hosted by the Aurora Forum in association with the Stanford Lively Arts program – about Mr. Glass's theatrical version of Mr. Cohen's book of poetry called Book of Longing.

A relaxed Leonard Cohen definitely confirmed a charmed audience that he will go on tour again:

"I think I will go on tour again" !

see this on video:

http://enlightenmentdotcom.zaadz.com/blog/2007/10/leonard_cohens_talk

 

Pic.: A Conversation with Leonard Cohen and Philip Glass on June 2007 at Toronto's Winter Garden Theatre as part of LuminaTO. The talk was about Cohen's Book of Longing and Glass' musical interpretation of it.
Leonard Cohen jokingly described the collaboration: "It shouldn't have worked, but it did. Like that iceberg crashing into that museum,..., a beautiful catastrophe!" comparing the piece to Daniel Libeskind's new architectural addition to Royal Ontario Museum.

 

 

Source:

http://www.leonardcohenforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9489&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/07/06/03/

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"There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." Leonard Cohen

Now that's great news Nevermind. It's been 13 years since I saw Mr Cohen perform live and I would not have hoped for another chance to see him. Some interesting links as well. Thank you for sharing.

I am very fond of Daniel Libeskind's architecture too. Who, by the way, used to be a neighbour of mine a few years back. A real nice guy.

- Rena 

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