Do You Have a Bit of Music That Brings Great Comfort?

I like to dance slow with the husband to Johnny.

Anyone who can hear "Shenandoah," even via Stafford, and think it has something to do with American beauty shows a considerable lack of understanding of what the song in its variants is about.

Beautiful as it can be.

“Close to You” by Sarah Vaughan (not the similarly titled Carpenters hit).

I love the chorus in this.

I had to post this piano version of Oh, Shenandoah in contrast to the OP's version, especially for everything that happens after timemark 1:41.

Sheila Walsh’s song “Hide”.

I'm not American so I'm not 100% if this band aren't Confederate reenactors. But I always like the wistfulness of this version of Shenandoah.

I love this, by The Weavers. Singing their standard Irene Goodnight when they finally made it to Carnegie Hall. Lee Hall was desperately ill, but he gave it his all. At 3:46 you can see him struggling. It's deeply touching to see Ronnie Gilbert trying to swallow her emotion. I watch this video all the time when work is getting me down.

George Winston- any of his albums but especially December. It’s the musical equivalent of a warm mug of hot chocolate. It brings light to the dark month for me.

"Only Yesterday" -- Carpenters

Not the words, but their beautiful voices blending.

The instrumental version of Vince Guaraldi's 'Christmastime is Here':

This music needs to be listened to carefully.

I've been listening to this lately. I don't realize how stressed I've become until I feel my shoulders come down from around my ears.

These days, "Living on My Own" by Freddie and "Somebody to Love". Reminds me of the good old days and also just the lyrics resonate. Call me crazy. I am also listening to more arias from operas by Bizet and to Vivaldi symphonies....their beauty reminds me that somehow, some day...things will be normal again.

[quote]Vivaldi symphonies

I like his concertos, too. He wrote nearly 500 of them.

R2, I'm not sure what you mean. Where is the lack of understanding?

I am not Orthodox, or even Christian, but I love this, both the music and the words. Moves me to tears, especially as I grow older:

(from Psalm 71):

Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,

Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.

Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.

But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

I’ve always liked this. Even as a little kid, it would catch my ear.

Percy Faith's cover of Beautiful Ohio

I have a playlist of calming/comfort music.

One is the band Innocence Mission. They've been around for decades.....something about their music and the singer's voice just calm me.

Speaking of Percy Faith, his cover of Shenandoah:

This comforts me because I associate it with my grandmother and my childhood:

My brother is in his 70s and still loves Kate Smith‘s version of “When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain.”

My meditation

I've loved Silvetti's 'Atmosphere' since the first time I heard years ago. A gorgeous piece that never gets old.

'Pastel Sea' by Casiopea. A new discovery for me that I can't stop listening to. Everything I've heard by this band has been outstanding!

Cinema Paridiso

Gabriel's Oboe.

Mozart Clarinet Concerto - K622

Pachelbel's Canon in A.

I find this uplifting when I'm down. I find myself braiding my hair and dancing around going "De herta herta herta".

A bit of easy listening...

I shared this in a post several years ago, but want to reshare.

For me, this is *the* quintessential piece of American nostalgia, and perhaps the single greatest piece of American music ever composed. Agee’s words and Barber’s are perfection together.

Hills of Tomorrow

^ Barber’s MUSIC

Following this thread! A good one.

Speaking of Samuel Barber's music, here's "Summer Music."

Yes!

A piano cover of a pop song.

Fort Saganne by Philippe Sarde

This morning I happen to be enjoying some of the dances from Terpsichore (Michael Praetorius, 1612), specifically 𝐿𝑎 𝐵𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑒́𝑒 and 𝐿𝑎 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑒 (at the link below, beginning at 54:45):

Stephen Foster's "Linger in Blissful Repose." Now thought of as funeral music, but not composed as such. Used to great effect in the film "Big Eden."

"If....." by Bread. This was my and my late husband's song.

"The Moldau," by Smetana. Stirring, evocative and ultimately comforting.

"Ave Maria." Makes me think of my maternal grandmother, a staunch non-religious woman. She would sing it every Christmas, in Italian( I think it was a holdover from being educated in a convent as a young girl)

"You Are My Sunshine." My late husband's lullaby. His mother, close to the end of her life and after months of no communication whatsoever, sang the entire song, prompted by my husband playing the tune on a piano in the nursing home. Not a dry eye in the house. I always tear up when I think of it. I purchased a small, paper banner with the lyrics on it, found at a local Dollar Tree.

I was going to post "You Are My Sunshine," too, Bronzie. I like Carly's version. I must have liked some other version in childhood, but when I encountered this version 10 or 12 years ago, I couldn't stop playing it.

[quote] "If....." by Bread. This was my and my late husband's song.

Oh, BronzeAgeGay, this made me cry in the middle of the day.

Once Upon A Time In The West

I am comforted as well by Barber's Adagio for Strings.

And the Beach Boys' "You Still Believe in Me" still comforts me.

James Horner's "The Ludlows" from Legends of the Fall movie, always makes me appreciate on how wonderful good music is.

Anyone remember an old Fifties song called "Mr.Blue"?

Even more obscure is an Elton John (mostly) instrumental called "Song For Guy", released after his Seventies success, but before his Eighties hits. It's a beautiful song that was big in England, but flopped in America.

The Beatles (White Album)

A beautiful piano rendition of " Film Out."

I just found out about Jo Stafford today. But not Jo Stafford—Darlene Edwards, of Jonathan and Darlene Edwards.

Holy shit, their version of “I Am Woman” had me rolling on the floor. I actually started to get a headache from the laughter. Dataloungers, if you’re not familiar, please set aside some time for these two comedic geniuses.

!!!!!