To ask which songs stopped you in your tracks the first time heard you them?

[AngeloMysterioso]

Was listening to some music today and after my playlist was finished Spotify went off on its own little algorithm-y journey, and I suddenly found myself listening to a song so beautiful I had it on repeat for about an hour. That sort of thing happens to me very rarely, so I thought I’d see if anyone else could recommend songs that have struck them in a similar way.

In childhood:
Good Vibrations - the Beach Boys
Papa Was A Rolling Stone - The Temptations
In adulthood:
Unfinished Sympathy - Massive Attack:
More recently:
Crossing Muddy Waters - I'm With Her

Another vote for Johnny Cash and Hurt
Games without Frontiers, Peter Gabrielle.
Changes by Ozzy Osbourne will bring a lump to anyone's throat

Sade By your side
Cassandra Wilson Watch the Sunrise
Counting Crows Omaha

A song by a wonderful new artist called Milly Pye, the song is Lucky and it's hauntingly beautiful. Give it a listen - she deserves to get her music listened to!

Perfect Symphony - Andrea Bocelli & Ed Sheeran

Listen to the David Grey version.

Family Portrait by Pink. Only had that affect the very first time (was over-played on every channel after that) but still remember what shop I was in the first time I heard it!

Same. I absolutely bawl when I hear this. It really rips me apart.

Sinead O’Connor - Troy
Elvis Costello - I want you
The Mission - Severina
Springsteen - Thunder Road
The Smiths - This Charming Man
Chris Isack - Wicked Game

If I was a boy - Beyoncé

The same deep water as you by the Cure

Sunshineismyfavourite ·

Somewhere over the rainbow by Eva Cassidy - first heard this on the radio on the Terry Wogan show in the late 90s I think it was, Wow she had an incredible voice - still gives me chills

I was reading through the comments to see if this song was mentioned before I mentioned it myself.

My brother and I heard this song shortly before our sister passed away. When we were planning the funeral with my parents, we both suggested this song be played. As soon as my parents heard it, they both agreed with us.

Although my sister left us 20+ yrs ago now, I can’t bring myself to listen to Eva Cassidy. She was a wonderful singer, with an amazing voice, but it’s too painful for me to listen to.

Embarrassing but the first time I heard “Time to Say Goodbye” by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli I was driving home. I had to stop the car as I was crying so much. I was very depressed at the time. That’s my excuse anyway

2008, we were selling a new collection of signed prints by Bob Dylan. I hadn't been a big fan, despite being the right age. We had customers buying his pics, at over £1,000 each, and talking about Dylan, his music and the effect he had on their lives. Well, in 2013 he had 2 gigs at Blackpool Opera House, so I got myself a ticket and went on my own to see him. I did a bit of homework, checked previous set lists, made sure I was familiar with all the songs, and had an idea of what to expect. In 2013 he would have been 72. He grumbled and mumbled his way through the first few songs.but it was a truly mesmerising sound. Then he played a lesser known song, 'Forgetful Heart' and in those few minutes, I suddenly got what people see in Dylan. The hair on the back of my neck tingled. He is on tour in the UK next month, but this is the first time since then I am not going, as the only venues close to me are huge stadia'. I know all the negatives people say about him, but I dont care. That one song switched me onto his music, like no other song has done.

Sia - Chandelier

Prodigy - Firestarter

Hendrix - Little wing

I don't think I can even articulate exactly why the following songs / pieces of music 'get' me all the feels, as well as some of you have already done but what a great idea for a thread OP and, as already suggested by others, a great idea for a playlist too!

Some of 'mine' have already been mentioned - unsurprisingly - Johnny Cash's version of Hurt in particular. Just pure raw emotion and so poignant given his death soon after recording.

Others:

Waterloo Sunset - The Kinks, just makes me feel extremely nostalgic for 'old' London. It always brings to mind a London pre mass development, with bomb sites, rail terminii before they were started up, Spitalfields before it was gentrified and so on. Not sure why it gets me so much, I hasten to add that I'm not personally old enough to remember 60s London.

Witchita Lineman - Glen Campbell. If only for the immortal line " ... and I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time'.

Paint It Black - Rolling Stones. First time I heard this was as a small child and to my ears it sounded like nothing else I'd heard before with this sense of something almost mystical due to the Middle Eastern vibes of the music. Unbelievably, despite hearing it several times since on the radio or as background music etc, I was well into adulthood before I found out what it was called or who sung it. I just knew it was amazing.

Unfinished Sympathy - Massive Attack. Just beautiful, love the strings.

Also, Teardrop - Massive Attack. So exquisite.

Sing Sing Sing - Benny Goodman. Not sure in what context I first heard this but in my imagination always takes me to a WW2 dance hall and the energy / urgency of dancers flying around the floor not knowing how long they might have left and therefore totally letting themselves go. Appreciate that might sound a bit OTT.

Now We Are Free - Hans Zimmer (Gladiator soundtrack). Beautiful in its own right but very tear inducing because I always picture the scene when Maximus is reunited with his murdered family.

Never Tear Us Apart - INXS. Very sensual ans emotive and instantly takes me back to an Australian trip late 80s.

Everlong - Foo Fighters. Perfect.

Will You - Hazel O'Connor. Powerful and very evocative of my teens.

Chop Suey - System of a Down. This crawls inside me and twists my guts with poignant due to the meaning behind it. But also a unique banger.

Grace by Aoife Scott.
Lost on You by LP
Cold by Chris Stapleton
Caruso by Luciano Pavarotti
Astral Weeks by Van Morrison (the whole album)
Ne Me Quitte Pas by Jacques Brel......there's a live recording of it on youtube....I'm a quivering mess every time I watch it

Piece by piece by Kelly Clarkson

Im gonna love you through it by Martina McBride

Human Touch by Bruce Springsteen. I was too young for his breakthrough years but at an impressionable age when that was released.

Coldplay- The Scientist 🤍

Into My Arms by Nick Cave, makes me sob
Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack, amazing
Insomnia by Faithless, still gives me rushes in my chest

Ruler of my Heart Irma Thomas
Life is a Long Song Jethro Tull
Once in a Lifetime Talking Heads
Alison Elvis Costello
God Save the Queen The Sex Pistols
No Woman No Cry Bob Marley

Hero by Enrique Iglesias.. back in the day. Literally woke me from a deep sleep, that voice

Berlin - Take my Breath Away

The piano solo in Uncertain Smile by The The

The air that I breathe - The Hollies.

How Did It End - Taylor Swift.
Hurt - Johnny Cash.