When I think of a rock song or ballad that has been elevated to the status of legendary, and also very beautiful, I automatically think of the Beatles' Yesterday. I can remember reading reviews of this song many years ago, and many seemed to think this song would stand the test of time. Also, the lyrics are intelligent and insightful.

Are there any Stones songs out there that would be considered musically brilliant?

What about Angie?

Maybe "Wild Horses," "Moonlight Mile" or "You Can't Always Get What You Want." And of course, "Satisfaction" still stands the test of time as the pinacle of a 3-minute rock song.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-12-21 00:59 by TornAndFried.

gomper - certainly has the most gomp of any of their songs....

Musically and lyrics Wild Horses and musically Ruby Tuesday

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Overall, I think a lot of Brian Jones' influenced songs had the most artistic merit.

Followed by songs like Gimme Shelter and Rocks Off (with that shimmering interlude).

Maybe Angie--its apex of brilliance to me is in the lines, key change, and Mick's delivery of "But Angie. I still love you, baby. Everywhere I look, I see your eyes. There ain't a woman that comes CLOSE to you."

But, re: Angie: I don't know who wrote the piano interlude and strings for Angie; Brian was long dead so it wasn't Keith or Mick...so Jack Nietzche and Nicky Hopkins? And if so, is the "artistic merit" the Stones?

- swiss

YCAGWYW
Time Waits for No One
CYHMK
Midnight Rambler
SFTD
Gimme Shelter
Moonlight Mile
Shine a Light


Second tier:

Monkey Man
Jigsaw Puzzle
Miss You
Memory Motel

As Tears Go By

2 1 2 0

It's a weird question; "musically brilliant". "Honest I Do" is musically brilliant' as is "Respectable".

2000 Light Years From Home

Winter

Sittin' on a Fence
What To Do
Mother's Little Helper
Sister Morphine (chord progression/rhythm extraordinary, difficult to sing)
Wild Horses
Dead Flowers
Moonlight Mile
Angie
Time Waits for No One
If You Really wanna be My Friend
Memory Motel
Beast of Burden (4 chords, simple progression, but great harmony)
Almost Hear You Sigh
This Place is Empty

>> Brian was long dead so it wasn't Keith or Mick <<

... why would anyone imagine neither Keith nor Mick could write piano/string parts after Brian died?? -
or was that a typo and you meant "so it was Keith or Mick"?

artistic merit? i don't do mosts, but off the top of my head ... Under My Thumb, Backstreet Girl, JJF, Salt of the Earth,
Gimmie Shelter, Bitch, All Down the Line, Memory Motel, Before They Make Me Run, Black Limousine, Too Much Blood,
Sleep Tonight, Break the Spell, Moon Is Up, Thru & Thru, Thief in the Night/How Can I Stop, Laugh I Nearly Died ...
and so on

Mick Jagger came up with the strings arrangement for Angie, and sure it was Nicky Hopkins who came up with the piano interlude.

Let it Loose (like Winter, it was like nothing before or since)
Gimme Shelter
Moonlight Mile
Winter

2000 Light Years From Home.

How does one define artistic merit, anyway? Where does craftsmanship end and artistry begin? Is the distinction even useful?

Hard to pick just one; a lot of their songs for me was ''wow, I've never heard anything like this before''
But the first one that jumped on me was Ruby Tuesday

Street Fighting man for its very unique sound and instrumentation, Sister Morphine for perfectly capturing and conveying the emotions of a drug addict fighting for his life

'She's A Rainbow' is quite unique. Nicky Hopkin's piano is brilliant. They were in uncharted territory, on par with the best of the Beatles.

Thinking about rock songs in terms of "artistic merit" reminds me of prog rock snobs from 40 years ago. Three chords and a cloud of dust is OK any time!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-12-24 07:30 by ab.