Singing with the choir
January 30, 2006 8:18 AM Subscribe
Looking for pop music in the last 20 years that make use of a choir where normally it is just a single singer, examples below.
U2 - Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten
Madonna - Like a Prayer
Rolling Stones - Can't Always Get What You Want
The Killers' "All These Things That I've Done" is a recent example.
posted by padraigin at 8:27 AM on January 30, 2006
posted by padraigin at 8:27 AM on January 30, 2006
I suspect the Rolling Stones one has passed the 20-year expiration date. Unless they released another version.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 8:33 AM on January 30, 2006
posted by KirkJobSluder at 8:33 AM on January 30, 2006
"The Living Years" - Mike and the Mechanics
posted by staggernation at 8:40 AM on January 30, 2006
posted by staggernation at 8:40 AM on January 30, 2006
I hate to say this, but "Faith" by George Michael.
*runs off to wash hands*
posted by The Bellman at 8:42 AM on January 30, 2006
*runs off to wash hands*
posted by The Bellman at 8:42 AM on January 30, 2006
Primal Scream: Movin' On Up
Spiritualized: plenty, especially on Let it Come Down
Electrelane: The Valleys, which really needs to be heard to be believed
Smog: Hit The Ground Running (choir of kids, yes, but still a choir)
Cat Power: Good Woman (more kids)
Parts of Björk's Medúlla
There are loads more, I'm sure, but those were the first few that sprang to mind ...
posted by Len at 8:58 AM on January 30, 2006
Spiritualized: plenty, especially on Let it Come Down
Electrelane: The Valleys, which really needs to be heard to be believed
Smog: Hit The Ground Running (choir of kids, yes, but still a choir)
Cat Power: Good Woman (more kids)
Parts of Björk's Medúlla
There are loads more, I'm sure, but those were the first few that sprang to mind ...
posted by Len at 8:58 AM on January 30, 2006
*runs off to wash hands*
*runs off to wash eyes, mouth, ears, and curse up a storm, after which to perform complete Wudhu*
posted by mds35 at 8:58 AM on January 30, 2006
*runs off to wash eyes, mouth, ears, and curse up a storm, after which to perform complete Wudhu*
posted by mds35 at 8:58 AM on January 30, 2006
Response by poster: KirkJobSluder:
You're right, the Stones is past the 20 year mark. I guess 20 years doesn't go as far back as it used to.
Remembered one more, kids as well, just mumbling apparently:
Jem - They
posted by gfroese at 9:04 AM on January 30, 2006
You're right, the Stones is past the 20 year mark. I guess 20 years doesn't go as far back as it used to.
Remembered one more, kids as well, just mumbling apparently:
Jem - They
posted by gfroese at 9:04 AM on January 30, 2006
The Sisters of Mercy, "This Corrosion" most notably, but a lot of their stuff is like that.
posted by Gator at 9:14 AM on January 30, 2006
posted by Gator at 9:14 AM on January 30, 2006
"This Corrosion" by Sisters of Mercy (other tracks on Floodland might also have choir backing tracks)
posted by luneray at 9:16 AM on January 30, 2006
posted by luneray at 9:16 AM on January 30, 2006
"Puzzlin' Evidence" by Talking Heads on the album "True Stories"
posted by planetkyoto at 9:25 AM on January 30, 2006
posted by planetkyoto at 9:25 AM on January 30, 2006
"If I found out" by Athlete features a gospel choir. It's a great track, too.
posted by Lotto at 9:31 AM on January 30, 2006
posted by Lotto at 9:31 AM on January 30, 2006
Doesn't 'Pray' by MC Hammer have a choir? Maybe not, or maybe that doesn't count -- as I think it's more in the vein of a traditional gospel choir backup sort of thing (as opposed to taking over from a single voice).
*Sigh* Hammer was the first thing that popped into my head...
posted by penchant at 10:26 AM on January 30, 2006
*Sigh* Hammer was the first thing that popped into my head...
posted by penchant at 10:26 AM on January 30, 2006
Also, sort of, the end of 'After the Last Laugh' by Archers of Loaf.
posted by penchant at 10:27 AM on January 30, 2006
posted by penchant at 10:27 AM on January 30, 2006
A-ha's "Sun Always Shines on TV" immediately comes to mind.
posted by itchie at 10:36 AM on January 30, 2006
posted by itchie at 10:36 AM on January 30, 2006
David Bowie--"Underground" (off the Labyrinth soundtrack, 1986).
posted by Prospero at 10:50 AM on January 30, 2006
posted by Prospero at 10:50 AM on January 30, 2006
I think Sting has a song called "Let Your Soul be Your Pilot" or something. That has a choir.
Lyle Lovett has a song about some preacher who just keeps preaching despite the congregation wanting to wrap it up. That has a choir. Sorry - can't remember the name.
posted by quadog at 10:50 AM on January 30, 2006
Lyle Lovett has a song about some preacher who just keeps preaching despite the congregation wanting to wrap it up. That has a choir. Sorry - can't remember the name.
posted by quadog at 10:50 AM on January 30, 2006
I'm pretty sure Dylan worked with a choir fairly regularly during his gospel phase in the early/mid eighties, but I'd have to sift through the individual songs to be sure. I'm really not very familiar with that period of his career.
However, I can tell you that the Lyle Lovett song in question is "Church" and can be found, appropriately enough, on the album "Joshua, Judges, Ruth."
posted by Clay201 at 11:12 AM on January 30, 2006
However, I can tell you that the Lyle Lovett song in question is "Church" and can be found, appropriately enough, on the album "Joshua, Judges, Ruth."
posted by Clay201 at 11:12 AM on January 30, 2006
nothing fails by madonna
there's got to be a way by mariah carey
posted by heartquake at 11:18 AM on January 30, 2006
there's got to be a way by mariah carey
posted by heartquake at 11:18 AM on January 30, 2006
It may be stretching the term "pop" too far, but Oneida's "Turn It Up (Loud)" makes use of the Grace Church Boys' Choir.
posted by dersins at 11:21 AM on January 30, 2006
posted by dersins at 11:21 AM on January 30, 2006
Oh, speaking of Mariah Carey, her cover of Harry Nilsson's "(I Can't Live If Living Is) Without You." (Which apparently was actually originally a Badfinger song. Wikipedia tells me something new every day.)
posted by Gator at 11:28 AM on January 30, 2006
posted by Gator at 11:28 AM on January 30, 2006
Talking Heads - "Road to Nowhere"
posted by Robot Johnny at 11:34 AM on January 30, 2006
posted by Robot Johnny at 11:34 AM on January 30, 2006
Laibach's cover of "Across The Universe" uses a beautiful women's choir, Opus Dei, from Ljubljana
posted by mds35 at 11:36 AM on January 30, 2006
posted by mds35 at 11:36 AM on January 30, 2006
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under the Bridge
posted by discokitty at 1:52 PM on January 30, 2006
posted by discokitty at 1:52 PM on January 30, 2006
Donnal Summer - State of Independance
posted by chocolatepeanutbuttercup at 2:03 PM on January 30, 2006
posted by chocolatepeanutbuttercup at 2:03 PM on January 30, 2006
"Panic" by The Smiths and "Year of the Rat" by Badly Drawn Boy both use children's choirs. (Panic might be just outside the 20 year bracket, I'm not sure)
posted by bunglin jones at 4:06 PM on January 30, 2006
posted by bunglin jones at 4:06 PM on January 30, 2006
Tina Turner - We Don't Need Another Hero. I think it's within your 20 year cutoff. And deborah nailed my first choice.
posted by schoolgirl report at 4:21 PM on January 30, 2006
posted by schoolgirl report at 4:21 PM on January 30, 2006
in 2000, Elbow released an album called Cast of Thousands. The thousands in question are an audience, and as such do not sound like a professional choir, but the point is the same. :)
posted by hyperfascinated at 6:47 PM on January 30, 2006
posted by hyperfascinated at 6:47 PM on January 30, 2006
Rilo Kiley - With Arms Outstretched. Great tune.
posted by ludwig_van at 6:56 AM on January 31, 2006
posted by ludwig_van at 6:56 AM on January 31, 2006
Tori Amos - Caught A Lite Sneeze
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 10:25 PM on January 31, 2006
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 10:25 PM on January 31, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
Elbow - "Fallen Angel" from Cast of Thousands
I'm still thinking...
posted by mds35 at 8:24 AM on January 30, 2006