Songs With Beautiful and Powerful Melodies

Submitted by dalejohnson99 on Fri, 12/10/2010 - 13:39
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  1. Travelin' Kind - Orval Prophet
  2. Danny Boy - Jim Reeves and many others
  3. Amazing Grace - James Galway and many others
  4. Que Sera Sera - Doris Day
  5. Have I Told You Lately - Ricky Nelsonn
  6. Good Luck Charm - Elvis Presley
  7. All For The Love of a Girl - Johnny Horton
  8. Most of All - Hank Thompson
  9. It's Such a Pretty World - Wynn Stewart
  10. Rag Doll - Four Seasons
  11. Ramblin' Boy - Tom Paxton
  12. Cruel War - Peter, Paul & Mary
  13. Stranger on the Shore - Ackrer Bilk
  14. North to Alaska - Johnny Horton
  15. Running Scared - Roy Orbison
  16. Desolation Row - Bob Dylan
  17. My Girl - Temptations
  18. Red River Valley - Boxcar Willie
  19. Love Is Blue - Paul Mauriat
  20. Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel
  21. Homeward Bound - Simon & Garfunkel
  22. Mr. Tamborine Man - Byrds/Bob Dylan
  23. Pleasant Valley Sunday - Monkeys
  24. I Started a Joke - Bee Gees
  25. Nowhere Man - Beatles
  26. Hickory Wind - Byrds
  27. In The Morning - Bee Gees
  28. Yesterday - Beatles
  29. Peace Will Come - Melanie
  30. Question - Moody Blues
  31. Forgotten Land - Mungo Jerry
  32. Without You - Harry Nilsson
  33. Air That I Breath - Hollies
  34. Try a Little Kindness - Glen Campbell
  35. I'd Love You To Want Me - Lobo
  36. Imagine - John Lennon
  37. Goodbye - Mary Hopkins
  38. Helpless - Neil Young
  39. Candida - Dawn
  40. I Still Believe in Tomorrow - Ann and John Ryder
  41. Melody Fair - Bee Gees
  42. Rivers of Babylon - Melodians
  43. Killing of Georgie - Rod Stewart
  44. Isn't It a Pity - George Harrison
  45. Joshua Gone Barbados - Johnny Cash
  46. Seven Spanish Angels - Willie Nelson and Ray Charles
  47. Timeless Skies - Al Stewart
  48. Joshua Come Home - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
  49. Purple Heather - Rod Stewart
  50. Ribbons of Blue - Boney M.
  51. Jersey Girl - Tom Waits
  52. I Want to Break Free - Queen
  53. Kind of Magic - Queen
  54. Every Breath You Take - Police
  55. Sweetheart of the Rodeo - Emmylou Harris
  56. Reunion - Jimmie Dale Gilmore
  57. Fly Away to Zion - Owen Gray
  58. Islands in the Stream - Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers
  59. Dances With Wolves - John Dunbar Theme - John Barry
  60. Ashokan Farewell- Jay Unger and Molly Mason
  61. Andante, Andante - Abba
  62. Heaven and Hell - Vangelis
  63. House of Gold - Willie Nelson
  64. Poncho & Lefty - Willie Nelson
  65. Lover's Waltz - Jay Unger and Molly Mason
  66. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
  67. Stolen Car - Bruce Sprinsteen
  68. Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
  69. Lake Charles - Lucinda Williams
  70. Everybody Hurts - REM
  71. Whispering Pines - Iris DeMent
  72. Afraid - Ted Hawkins
  73. Halcyon - Chicane
  74. Hope - Shaggy
  75. Change of Heart - Teddy Thompson
  76. Love Generation - Bob Sinclair
  77. Juliana - Nicole Reynolds
  78. We Could Have Met - Nicole Reynolds
Author Comments: 

This musical list spans a period of over 60 years of music. Some songs are fairly well known, while others are very obscure. Most songs are on the soft side, which is the logical style for a powerful melody. The style of music also varies greatly from rock, country, folk, reggae, rock & roll, and even techno. I tried to include songs where the melodies jump out at you. You will find a few songs that I included that are in the genre of "bubblegum". Bubblegum music was popular in the 60's and 70's and appealed to juveniles because the melodies did jump out at listeners who had not yet developed well trained ears for music. I've also tried to list the songs in a fairly close chronological order. Feel free to include your picks.

avl2880412/23/2011

Kudos for the Springsteen "Stolen Car" choice--to me that's the quintessential pick on your list. Great call.

Might I also suggest:

Feels Like Rain - John Hiatt
Monday Morning Coming Down - Kris Kristofferson
Who'll Stop the Rain - CCR
Tower of Song - Leonard Cohen
Ol' 55 - Tom Waits
Rain Dogs - Tom Waits
'Cross the Green Mountains - Bob Dylan