Just wondering if anyone else has a particularly simple, yet memorable and haunting melody they like to hear on occasion.

There are two for me. The fist is the Prelude to Bach's Cello Suite nr. 1. Second, also by J.S. Bach is Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring.

I have to admit that what really made these pieces stick in my head was that they were used on the Menu/Title screens for Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth and Neon Genesis Evangelion: End of Evangelion. Particularly the way these melodies were integrated in with everything else had a very strong effect on me. This was compounded by my predilection for Bach even in the first place.

Anyone else have any suggestions along those lines?

Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata, 1st Movement...

Soundtrack to The Good,The Bad and the Ugly.

Theme From A Summer Place...it always makes me kinda wistful and nostalgic! I'm also oddly affected by I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face from My Fair Lady.

Oh geez...almost forgot...the title instrumental for "Endless Summer" by The Sandals.

Gordon Lightfoot -the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Teresa Silva Carvalho Verdes Sao Os Campos

Two. Koyaanisqatsi and...

The Theme from 'Two and a Half Men'.

Movement #3 from Philip Glass Symphony #3. When the violin kicks in it is the most haunting classical music piece I know.

Diana Krall's first album: Steppin' Out.

The track is called Jimmie

Can't put in words how much this cut works for me.


Best,

Paul

The very short LP ending instrumental on Roxy Music's Avalon LP.


Steve

The very short LP ending instrumental on Roxy Music's Avalon LP.



Now there's something I haven't thought about in, oh, 20 or more years. I'll have to get that out for a listen.

Great suggestion, Steve. :thmbsp:

"Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's 9th
The piano solo at the end of "Layla"
"Badge" by Cream

Regards,

D-Ray

Helen Reddy - The Las Vegas Years

Scott

...very short LP ending instrumental on Roxy Music's Avalon LP.



Just listened, very sweet little instrumental piece showcasing an Andy Mackay saxophone solo, also a cool & unusual synth sound - could be guitar synth?

The piano solo at the end of "Layla"


Regards,

D-Ray[/QUOTE]

I have told my family & friends I want this played at my funeral. If they don't, I shall come back & haunt them....BOOOOOO !! (grin)

Though I'm not overwhelmed by the whole album, the song "Molly Bán" sung by Alison Kraus on The Chieftains' "Down the Old Plank Road" is great. It's a classic Irish lament and truly wonderful :tears:. If the word "haunting" doesn't describe this song, I'm not sure what would.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOpY0wQdJ5w

Years ago (I was a teenager at the time) the violin melody in --don't laugh!-- Young Frankenstein (the Mel Brooks spoof film) "haunted" me. I wanted badly to buy it on a record, just so I could keep listening to it over and over, but couldn't find it. Just one reason I loved that film (back then).

Tschaikowski's Fourth and Fifth Symphonies have had moments that did it for me, too.

"Svidanie," a very soulful, almost mournful old Russian folk song seldom heard, is one of the most haunting songs (melodically and from content) that I've ever heard, if it is well performed.

There is also an old Voodoo chant from Haiti, called something like "A Zaoum" (or La Zaoum(?) - not sure of the spelling) which is beautiful and haunting, too. I used to have it on a long-gone LP of Voodoo music, which, alas, I've never seen another copy of.

Can't think of anything that grabs and "haunts" me quite that way today... but I look forward to finding the next one! :yes: :D

This is the one that does it for me... Gluck: Melody from Orpheus and Eurydice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tenI_FyFeZ0

Not quite the most haunting interpretation of this piece that I have heard. Another famous violinist - whose name escapes me at the moment, seemed to play it even better to my mind and ears.

EDIT: Isaac Stern - a heartrending performance.

I have told my family & friends I want this played at my funeral. If they don't, I shall come back & haunt them....BOOOOOO !! (grin)

The funniest choice for a funeral song I have heard is from "The Big Chill" where they played RS "You Can't Always Get What You Want" at the funeral of a suicide.

Regards,

D-Ray

"Here Comes the Bride". Scares the bejesus outta me every time.

'Love Songs on the Radio' by Mojave 3. sweet guitar work.

speaking of classical; 'Swan Lake' (Tchaikovsky). beautiful.

when it's done right...'O Holy Night'.

a Native American chant/song 'Circle of Friendship'.

The Chipmunks...ALVIN!!! .:lmao:

"Here Comes the Bride". Scares the bejesus outta me every time.

That's Number 1!! a close second Karen Carpenter "Close To You"

But I'll add: "The Three Fates" off the self titled album "Emerson, Lake & Palmer"

Chorus of "Marie Laveau", 1949, by Oscar "Papa" Celestin.
Haunting Negro Spiritual, many voiced, over a simple brass band five piece led by Celestin's horn.

ARKAY- was the title of that record "Voodoo Suite"? If so, I've got it.


Also, Miles' "Someday My Prince Will Come".

The sax lead on Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street" and the wailing falsetto/doo wop intro on the Four Seasons' "Rag Doll."

"May the Circle Remain Unbroken" by the 13th Floor Elevators is tender and haunting in its reverb-soaked way.

Ken

Ok MJ, now you've got me humming Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. :music:

Y'all gonna laugh, but I've had a jones for the piano piece Spock played in "Requiem for Methuselah"...Also the "love theme" when Kirk sees Ruth...And Spock has the hots for Leila on that planet where the plants shoot spores at them...IIRC, they were the only 2 shows they used that particular theme..It was primarily a flute theme, & was VERY pretty...I was just old enuff to be starting to wonder why I DIDN'T wanna throw rocks at girls anymore, & why I'd started to think they were actually-Gulp !- pretty, & there was this one tallish blonde, Melissa, that set that "Love Theme" to playin' in me gulliver every time I saw her...Hehehehehe...

Right now it would be Clair de lune by Debussy or Meditation (from Thais) by Massenet.


Theme From A Summer Place...it always makes me kinda wistful and nostalgic! I'm also oddly affected by I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face from My Fair Lady.

Now this is something I haven't thought of in years. Thanks for the reminder!

1. Movement 1 of Beethoven's string Quartet Op 131 in C# minor
2. Adagio for Strings- Samuel Barber

Barbara Allen, pick 'em

Heroin, VU

Wondrous Love, Jean Ritchey

I Dream A Highway, Gillian Welch

Poncho and Lefty, Towne van Zandt

Dies Irae, Gregorian Chant

Panis Angelicus, Gregorian Chant

Symphony No.7: Allegretto, Ludwig van Beethoven

"Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's 9th
The piano solo at the end of "Layla"
"Badge" by Cream

Regards,

D-Ray

You know Badge was written by George Harrison?

George Harrison - Beware of Darkness
Fleetwood Mac - Hypnotized

The last 60 seconds of Shine On You Crazy Diamond Part 7 by Pink Floyd.

O Mio Babbino Caro (Puccini) from Gianni Schicchi

Endtrance - Poi Dog Pondering.
Don't know why - it just gets to me.

Enjoy the music,
-Mark

The Vanilla Fudge did a cover of "Season of the Witch" which is about the spookiest sounding song I have heard. It's not the lyrics, because Donovan's version has a happy sound, I think. The Fudge's version is definitive of "haunting molodies."

Not super "haunting" but certainly dark, sinister alternatives to the originals:
- Type O Negative did a cover of Seals and Crofts "Summer Breeze"
- "Roxanne" (Police) in the movie "Moulan Rouge" (newer one)

"The Perfect Song," Originally the theme for the 1929 Amos and Andy radio show, much later used as theme and bridge music in the TV series "Dark Shadows." Also "Quentin's Theme" (Starts as harpsichord, expands into full orchestra) from the final year of that series. And of course the Dark Shadows opening theme.

"One fine day" from Madame Butterfly. Some 40 years ago I was engaged to a Chinese girl from Malaya; she was in the U.K. training to be a state registered nurse. Her family found out about me and she had to go home. Few months later I followed, tried to sort things out but without success. So I went back to the U.K., Su was to follow when she could. Then of course I got the "Dear John" letter. Why the hell does a 40 year old memory suddenly pop back in glorious Technicolor????????

2. Adagio for Strings- Samuel Barber

great piece of music, esp the ending.

'Pavane for a Princess' (another classical)

Two things are springin' to mind right now...the movie "The Saddest Music in The World" (Isabella Rosselini plays a double amputee who has a contest to see who can play the saddest music in the world)...and a relatively new Nick Lowe song entitled "I Read Alot" (which is one heck of mournful tune with even more downbeat lyrics).

Chorus of "Marie Laveau", 1949, by Oscar "Papa" Celestin.
Haunting Negro Spiritual, many voiced, over a simple brass band five piece led by Celestin's horn.

ARKAY- was the title of that record "Voodoo Suite"? If so, I've got it.


Also, Miles' "Someday My Prince Will Come".

That MIGHT have been the title. It has been so many years, I'm not sure any more of the exact title. It was NOT a single work, though, like a Suite would normally be. It was a collection of actual Voodoo songs, more of an academic documentary thing, but that one song on it was particularly haunting and pregnant with emotion.

1. Movement 1 of Beethoven's string Quartet Op 131 in C# minor
2. Adagio for Strings- Samuel Barber

great piece of music, esp the ending.
'Pavane for a Princess' (another classical)

Completely agree with both of these (The Adagio and Pavane) choices. I'll add a third with a similar feel to it: Faure's 'Pavane'. There is one particular version that is particularly haunting, but I can't remember who did it (I'm still looking for it; the versions I've found and bought so far aren't it). Others versions are not quite as good, but still nice.

The Vanilla Fudge did a cover of "Season of the Witch" which is about the spookiest sounding song I have heard. It's not the lyrics, because Donovan's version has a happy sound, I think. The Fudge's version is definitive of "haunting molodies."

The version on the 'Super Session' LP (the one with Stevie Winwood) is also quite good. I agree that Donovan's is not as good, too "happy" sounding. [I think the same thing about BB King's blues: as good as he is, he so obviously enjoys making the music so much that it doesn't sound 'blue' enough!]

"Windmills Of Your Mind" by Vanilla Fudge.

Hutterite Mile - 16 Horsepower

Anything David Eugene Edwards (16 Horsepower & Wovenhand) writes, plays, or sings is haunting.

Roberta Flack - First Time Ever I saw Your Face. First time I remember hearing it was at a drive in watching Play Misty for me.

Lipstick Sunset.....John Hiatt

Ry Cooder's slide guitar just makes this song work SO WELL!!


Steve

I have a lot of haunting songs I like, but lately...

John Lennon, Plastic Ono Band, Working Class Hero

The simple guitar and vocal track just recorded "dry" with no special studio tricks or anything and the fact that Lennon's gone and all. Because of the simplicity it seems so personal to me. Like he's singing it right in front of me. Gives me the chills.

The main theme to the 4th movement of Mahler's 9th Symphony. As has been pointed out it's vaguely reminiscent of the hymn "Abide With Me" which coincidentally is one of my favorite hymns.

For a truly haunting melody, listen to Blind Willie Johnson - "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Grave." It is a religious experience. Ry Cooder called Blind Willie the greatest slide guitar player he had ever heard. I was shocked to hear this on the soundtrack of one of the West Wing episodes, and they somehow managed to fit some commentary about the piece into the script.

Regards,

D-Ray

Dreamwalk by Santos and Johnny. Gets me every time.

Robbie Robertson & the Red Road Ensemble
"Ghost Dance"

Soundtrack to The Good,The Bad and the Ugly.

That bring's back memories. When I was a kid my dad would play that as my sister and I were headed to bed. I liked it but it freaked out my sis.

2 more I'll toss in are Anna Moffo performing Ave Maria and Songs of the Auvergne.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO78AqC1IE4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJo_Y-S01sw

Soundtrack to The Good,The Bad and the Ugly.

That's a good one but I prefer Once Upon a Time in the West, the main theme is just amazing.

I once made a CD of songs that really moved me, mostly electronic/ambient stuff but still dramatic. I am a sucker for haunting synth textures. I will dig around the collection for it but here are a few:

DJ Food "The Sky at Night" on Kaleidescope
Jega "Geometry" on Geometry
KLF the Chill Out album
Aphex Twin "Match Sticks" on Selected Ambient Works II (the best, go listen to this now, it's like the soundtrack of a dying galaxy)
Kenji Kawai "MO5 II Ghost City" on Ghost in the Shell soundtrack
Vangelis "Blade Runner End Title" Bladerunner soundtrack

Ok, that's a start.

The sax lead on Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street"

When I was a kid in the late 70's/early 80's my local PBS station use to use this and Dave Brubeck's "Take Five" for bumper music and I just loved hearing both of those.

Oh, another excellent haunting electronic tune is by Royksopp "So Easy" on Melody A.M. (also has a song made famous from the Geico Cavemen commercial) This song has a sample of "Blue On Blue" by Bobby Vinton which is also good in it's own right.

Though I'm not overwhelmed by the whole album, the song "Molly Bán" sung by Alison Kraus on The Chieftains' "Down the Old Plank Road" is great. It's a classic Irish lament and truly wonderful :tears:. If the word "haunting" doesn't describe this song, I'm not sure what would.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOpY0wQdJ5w

very nice. thanks for the link.

Motherlode's "And When I Die"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpeGHYazHdo&feature=related

The melodic refrain of the second movement of Antonín Dvořák's "From The New World" symphony.

For a truly haunting melody, listen to Blind Willie Johnson - "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Grave."

D-Ray

Good call sir, and a good shout-out to a too often overlooked musician.

Barber's "Adagio for Strings" has been mentioned a time or 2...I fell in love w/that piece when I was a kid. It is SO incredibly sad, yet so compellingly beautiful. I remember it being played on one of the 9/11 tributes, & me sitting there, bawlin' like a baby to it....

The melodic refrain of the second movement of Antonín Dvořák's "From The New World" symphony.

+1 to that!

Also:

And When I Die-Blood Sweat and Tears
Through Her Eyes-Dream Theater (off of the Live in new York 3 CD set)
Millennium Theater-Ani DiFranco
Baker Street-Gerry Rafferty
L'Arena-Ennio Morricone
The entire Nebraska album-Bruce Springsteen
The Sage-Emerson, Lake and Palmer (from Pictures At An Exhibition)
Tubular Bells-Mike Oldfield
Shine On You Crazy Diamond-Pink Floyd
Requiem-Geinoh Yamashirogumi (From the Akira soundtrack)
Red Sector A-Rush
Desert Rose-Sting
Hongkingaton-Gorillaz
The Rose-Lincoln Mayorga and Amanda McBroom

that's just a quick list...

How about Link Wray's "Rumble". A program in the early 70's on WGN in Chicago called "Creature Features" on every Saturday night used the song as their theme and played old Horror flicks.

Horror Flick Listing

http://epguides.com/CreatureFeatures/

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn205/1902783das/CreatureFeatures.jpg

"Maggot Brain" -- Funkadelic!

Rome

"Maggot Brain" -- Funkadelic!

Rome

That's an awesome LP Rome, Cheers, CB

Another one that's been a fave of mine since forever is Borodin's "Polovtsian Dance" from "Prince Igor"...It was later made into a popular song, "Stranger in Paradise".

Alan Parsons Project---"With time on your side"---It just seems to fit my life experience.

Mazzy Star---"Sweet Mary of Silence"---It reminds me of a "mind altering" experience I had with an ex-girlfriend a long time ago. Her name wasn't Mary, but we were very, very stoned. And for some reason this song, which didn't exist at the time, reminds me of it. Wierd.

Genesis---"Wind and Wuthering"---The entire album. It reminds me of wintertime in Northeast Ohio where I grew up, "Dark and grey", kind of like England I always imagined.

The James Gang---"Ashes, the rain, and I"---Again, for some odd reason, it makes me homesick for Ohio.

Springsteen---"Youngstown"---Because it IS about my hometown. And it is LOADED with truth.

Rachmaninov---"Isle of the Dead"---If that isn't haunting, what is?

Samual Barber---"Adagio for Strings"---It has a powerfully meditative effect. And it is one absolutely gorgeous piece of work.

I could go on and on, but I need to get my day going.

Dave

ditto on 'First Time ever I Saw Your Face'; and 'New World'; and 'Mary of Silence'.

back in the mid 90s I was watching some mystery movie; the scene shifted to some biker bar/roadhouse, all the patrons and band members in denim and studs and some chick in black leather steps up to the microphone. this is going to hurt, I thought, reaching for the 'mute' button...and instead I heard two of the most intensely beatiful pieces of music mankind has ever produced; 'The Nightengale', and 'Falling'. Every time I hear either, those lush synth chords and Julee Cruse's hushed vocals...
Twin Peaks.
unforgettable...

"Man! Smell those trees! Smell those Douglas Firs!"

That's an awesome LP Rome, Cheers, CB

Ahhh CB!
Yea, it is a great LP & I have Maggot Brain on a 45. It is truly a haunting song amid great guitar savy.

Rome

Emmanuel was written by French composer Michel Colombier. Released on album "Wings" in 1971

Performed here on Youtube by Chris Botti(trumpet ) and the fabulous Lucia Macarelli ( the epitome of emotional performances )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8NN4fpdm40&feature=channel

Got to see them perform this last month. She always gets an immediate standing ovation at every concert.

Dreamwalk by Santos and Johnny. Gets me every time.

good song, correct title: "Sleep Walk"

I have told my family & friends I want this played at my funeral. If they don't, I shall come back & haunt them....BOOOOOO !! (grin)

Not sure I'll haunt if they don't play these tunes at my funeral, I'll see when I get there. But something about "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" performed by Israel Kamakawiwo (IZ) makes the hair stand on the back of the neck for me. I've asked that it and "What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong (Satchmo) be played at my end of days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ltAGuuru7Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5IIXeR5OUI

Frank Zappa- Watermelon in Easter Hay

Not sure why it popped into my head while reading this, but Your Latest Trick by Dire Straits seems to fit the bill. On a related note, Your Own Sweet Way by the Notting Hillbillies.

Opeth - Isolation Years (from Ghost Reveries album)

real soundstagy..and tight bass

I was watch X-Files videos this weekend. That theme belongs in here also. Sounded nice through my setup. :scratch2: Bridge over River Kwai. :D

I'm on Fire, Bruce Springsteen
Leader of the Band, Dan Fogelberg(playing right now)
Jackie Brown, John Mellencamp
Crazy Love, Poco

Bridge over River Kwai. :D


Great flick!:thmbsp: