More music

[prismaticbleed]

 

Yep, I thought of an interesting idea and I'm going to keep the WIP list here, because I love this journal.

Top 20 Best Song Endings (from my current iTunes library!)
In no particular order.

I came up with this idea because some songs have endings that absolutely haunt you, that rocket a song right up to 'favorite' status thanks to a few brilliant final seconds. I decided to list my favorites right here.
And yes, I agree that some songs like Billy Talent's Red Flag and Incubus' Anna Molly have great endings (plus I love those two songs), but the endings I'm listing here are the ones that made a song really stay with me, the kind that then echoed in my head for hours afterwards.

Unfortunately, this doesn't work with songs that fade out! These endings are actual endings; they're a special case and that's why I'm singling them out.
(Note: I'll typically add some extra seconds to the ending times so you get an idea of what the song preceding it is like.)
Lastly, this is all my humble opinion. It's okay if you disagree with me; we all have our own likes and dislikes!
Enjoy!


1. "Broken Bones" (Aqualung)
Ending starts at: 3:00 (song), 3:03 (movie)
It starts with a simple but sad piano solo, which is slowly overtaken with a "bad reception" fuzz, and then ends with a sudden burst of static. I find it very moving, actually.

2. "City Of Blinding Lights" (U2)
Ending starts at: 5:12 (song), 3:48 (movie)
If this song starts playing on a store radio or in any other public place, I will always stop whatever I'm doing during the last 40 seconds of this song, just to hear that closing piano note. It's simply euphoric.

3. "It's About Time" (Barcelona)
Ending starts at: 3:23
For some reason, I just love how the powerful chorus suddenly dissolves into a single voice with piano for the last few moments. It gives the ending a very touching feel, and the lyrics suddenly mean so much more.

4. "Echoes" (Cousteau)
Ending starts at: 3:17
As if this song wasn't gorgeous enough, it had to have a perfect ending as well. The instrumental ending fades into a simple yet moving finale at 3:46, when the piano takes over and carries the echoes to the end. This song more than deserves it's spot as one of my all-time favorites.

5. "From Bath With Love (feat. T-Lace)" (Danny Byrd)
Ending starts at: 4:46
Come on, a liquid funk song that ends with not only an acoustic guitar, but also a whistled version of the melody and the sound of an actual bath draining? That's genius right there, and it's ridiculously fun to listen to.

6. "Mister Blue Sky" (Electric Light Orchestra)
Ending starts at: 3:46
You knew I was going to list this. Not only is this an incredible song, but the ending is completely unexpected-- and extremely well done. They combine guitars, strings, piano, a choir, and a vocoder to create one of my favorite song endings of all time.

7. "Lupinne" (The Drowners)
Ending starts at: 1:58
This ending actually begins halfway through the song, and then gradually builds up to the finale-- progressing from solemn to shouting vocals and then abruptly falling into the sound of shivering breathing. I was transfixed when I first heard this, and it still gets me every time. And hey, here we can forgive the fact that the last 3 seconds fade out.

8. "Desperado" (The Eagles)
Ending starts at: 2:29 (song), 2:44 (movie-- watch it, it's fantastic)
Sorrowful, reflective, emotional, and absolutely classic. Need I say more?

9. "Move On Now" (Hard-Fi)
Ending starts at: 4:03
Very different from Hard-Fi's usual fare, this song is simply arranged and beautiful despite the subject matter. The ending is unusually haunting, though, considering that it doesn't really end-- it just trails off. The last sound you hear is that of the piano's damper pedal being released, and then the sound stops... it's a very unique feeling.

10. "The Moment I Said It" (Imogen Heap)
Ending starts at: 2:56
Just listen to this one right now. Seriously. The ending borders on surrealism with it's use of unique sounds and harmonies, but it's those freaking chords starting around 4:12 that get me every time. They can give me chills on a perfectly sunny day, I swear.

11. "Beady Eyes On The Horizon" (Jukebox The Ghost)
Ending starts at: 3:14 (song), 7:33 (movie-- this song doesn't start until 4:05)
Listen to the piano accompaniment in this thing. Seriously, it just makes the ending-- but I have to admit, my favorite part of it is simply the last 20 seconds, with those simple yet foreboding final words and lingering last note. The perfect ending to this song.

12. "Can't Stop Now" (Keane)
Ending starts at: 2:40
Beautiful song, and another one of those with the 'surprise' endings. The mood completely switches once the piano kicks in, and the final surge of instruments during the last 40 seconds is simply gorgeous to hear. I really don't know how else to describe it; it's truly a memorable ending for me.
(Trivia: This song will forever remind me of General Grievous because I listened to it almost daily in 2005-- the same year I was obsessed with the General.)

13. "This River Is Wild" (The Killers)
Ending starts at: 3:31
An amazing song in every respect... but the last 30 seconds of this used to make me tear up, seriously. I don't know if it's just their stark contrast in sound to the rest of the track, but they sure sound fantastic in there, and that's why this song is on the list.

14. "Saigo No Mameshiba" (Maaya Sakamoto)
Ending starts at: 1:41
Unusual pick? Maybe, but this song has an absolutely beautiful ending. It starts with that string section and the fast rhythm, sure, but they quickly fade to leave just the piano notes-- and what sounds like a music box-- echoing for the last 40 seconds. It's simplicity at it's best.

15. "Ao no Ether" (Megumi Nakajima)
Ending starts at: 2:45
This song is gorgeous all the way through. It's almost heart-wrenchingly sad in its fragility and simplicity, containing only the sounds of a piano, a string section, and Megumi's voice. The ending fits the mood perfectly, ending on a yearning note and a feeling of distant sadness that you can't help but ache over.

16. "Eternally Missed" (Muse)
Ending starts at: 5:32
This ending is almost disturbing. The soaring guitars suddenly crash into a meandering music box version of the melody, and Matthew's voice suddenly warps into a whispering, nightmarish sound, gasping out the ending verse with unsettling deliberateness.

17. "Still Grey" (Pendulum)
Ending starts at: 6:46
A classic Pendulum song for me, with a perfect ending. The sound slowly softens until only the rhythmic synth is heard, and a bell-like chime begins to play in the background. This chime becomes louder as the other sounds eventually dissolve into silence, and the song ends in a beautiful, resonating bell.

18. "LAST DINOSAUR" (The Pillows)
Ending starts at: 3:09
FLCL was an awesome show that gave me some great memories during high school. This song captures the feeling I got from it quite well. It begins with energy and drive, but with an oddly nostalgic edge. It continues in enthusiasm until the very end, when the vocals instead become a falsetto harmony that accompanies the guitars wonderfully, ending with a wistful but strong chord.

19. "Experiments In Mass Appeal" (FROST*)
Ending starts at: 5:25
Oh FROST*, how I love you. This band has a lovely song quirk where their rocking sound will suddenly cut out into a sole piano melody. That's exactly what happens to bring in the ending of this song. The piano is quickly joined by drums and a quiet chorus of voices, though, and these become progressively louder and stronger until they are an incredible proclamation, guitars winding around them and bringing them all to a final held vocal note.

20. "Big Julie" (Jarvis Cocker)
Ending starts at: 2:56 (song), 2:26 (movie)
Saving the best for last. I adore this song, and the ending is nothing short of amazing. Jarvis takes the building chorus and keeps it running, turning it into a driving finale which ends on a cymbal crash and a few simple words that leave you smiling in spite of yourself. It's beautifully brilliant, and my description doesn't do it justice-- go listen!

BONUS: "No Jokes - Fact" (Hot Hot Heat) (Full song + ending chord)
Ending starts at: 0:00. It's the whole freaking song.
For being stuck in the middle of an album (and right between my two favorite songs, no less), this tiny little track is simply beautiful. I've picked up a habit of burning it as the last track on most of my CDs, and listening to it as the ending song for my day. Sadly its hard to find online.



That's it for now... class tomorrow and I'm still feeling sick.