Pop Waltz Plea
So I was just thinking how I rather like pop songs set to waltz tempo, since I happen to have three on my playlists: one from Fiona Apple’s new album, and the other two from Elliott Smith’s XO. And now I’m wondering what others might be out there (how awesome would it be to have a mix of pop-waltzes? Surely at least worth a novelty listen…).
Tomorrow perhaps I’ll break down and try a google-search, but does anyone happen to know other examples off-hand?
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Update: I’ve been referred to more…
Kanye West’s “Spaceship”
Julie Delpy’s “Waltz for a Night’ from the ‘Before Sunset’ soundtrack
And see Parker’s comment below…
And ahhh, how I miss the halycon days of unbridled Napster usage… it would come in so handy right now…
Oh, I am a great fan of songs that don’t use “common time,” but I suspect some of the ones I have are, uh, a tad obscure… The Charlatans, “The Blonde Waltz,” from “Us and Us Only”; “Boxing” by Ben Folds (the man also responsible for the awesome “The Last Polka”; “Witch Hunt” by the Church (Priest = Aura, I think); “1000 Umbrellas” by XTC (Skylarking); I’m sure Ryan Adams has a waltz somewhere; …and those are just the ones I can identify easily. I’ll post more if I find ‘em…
Comment by pjm — October 25, 2005 @ 6:52 am
The Beatles have several songs in 3/4 or similar, foremost in my mind being ‘Norwegian Wood’. For an awesome modern mixed meter rock song, check out System of a Down’s ‘Question!’.
Comment by mdawaffe — October 30, 2005 @ 1:01 pm
Hmm, maybe that’s why I like Norwegian Wood so much…
Also, a friend just informed me that:
“Triple rhythms (based on 3) were favored as “perfect” by the Medieval Church, who basically held sway over the proliferation and composition of music through the Renaissance. These “tempi” were thought to symbolize the Trinity. Duple rhythms, which dominate contemporary music, were thought to be imperfect.”
So now you know…
Comment by Administrator — October 31, 2005 @ 10:43 pm
I wonder what the Church would have had to say about my personal favorite, 12/8, which isn’t quite a waltz, but isn’t quite 4/4, either–more like 4/4 played entirely in triplets.
Comment by pjm — November 1, 2005 @ 8:31 am
I’m trying to collect all the modern waltzes I have on various CDs onto one and here’s what I’ve got so far. These are “a bit” older than yours, but here goes: Queen’s “Millionaire Waltz”, “The Tennessee Waltz” (many folks have recorded this), “Mannix” (TV theme song), “How Can I Be Sure?” by The Young Rascals, “I Hear A Symphony” by Diana Ross & the Supremes, “What’s New, Pussycat” by Tom Jones…. I’ve just begun my web search and your page is a great start. (Bette Midler recorded Ben Folds’ “Boxing” and I love Ben Folds, didn’t know he wrote that; it’s not on the …. hey: so is his song “Smoke”!) The list grows longer….
Comment by Greg — October 14, 2006 @ 2:15 am
“Kiss from a Rose” by Seal is a great one. Also “Champagne High” by Sister Hazel and “Sweet Afton” by Nickel Creek, “Fiction” by Nik Kershaw and “Sweet Baby James” by James Taylor.
Comment by Ellie — February 8, 2007 @ 2:37 pm
I’m a little late, but since the comments have been revived:
Leonard Cohen’s Take This Waltz is definitely worth a listen, not just for the music but for his translation of Federico García Lorca’s poetry. Cohen’s no stranger to 3/4 time, e.g. Sisters of Mercy and If it Be Your Will. (And of course there’s Hallelujah — more 6/8 than 3/4. Call it a fast waltz. Listen to the brilliant Jeff Buckley cover of it.)
Kate Bush: Army Dreamers is haunting and sad.
It’s not a pop waltz, but Danny Elfman’s Waltz to the Death from the Batman soundtrack is fun.
There are more, but none springing to mind at the moment. Check out YouTube for live concert recordings if you can’t find them elsewhere.
Comment by Virge — February 11, 2007 @ 1:38 am
Bit late too ! This is the first blog I’ve enjoyed - well done - I’ll be back I’ve bookmarked you! I hope I’m right with these - delete as appropriate:
Jeff Buckley “Grace” ; Avril Lavigne “I’m with you” ; Nelly Furtado “Back in God’s Hands” ; R.E.M “Try not to Breathe” ; The Sundays “I Kicked a Boy”. Mecano “Hijo de la Luna”
Comment by Audi — April 17, 2008 @ 5:31 pm