Elton John's "Your Song" or John Denver's "Annie's Song"

Sir Elton john

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I'm a fan of both, but "Your Song" is just so beautifully simple I have to go with it.

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Maybe so.

Your Song might technically be the better song...

But I think Annie's Song just takes you to another place emotionally imo.

Your Song easily

Your Song is one of the simplest but closest to perfect pop songs in history. And it reminds me of a good but bittersweet time in my life (I didn't get the girl because I was too shy at the time )

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beezylsu

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That John Denver is one hell of a singer and songwriter. Just absolutely awesome.

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Fixed it for you.

Like john denver, but you can't touch "your song". That shite is perfection.

I like "anna's" song more

Although I have a passing familiarity with both of these songs, I have never really analyzed either and therefore I consider my opinion to be very unbiased by past experience or existing feelings about EJ or JD. I am a very minor fan of both, and an experienced listener of neither. Basically, this is the first time I have thought about either of these songs for more than 10 seconds.

So here's Your Song:

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It's a little bit funny this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you

And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world

I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross
But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song
It's for people like you that keep it turned on

So excuse me forgetting but these things I do
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue
Anyway the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen

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Well that is certainly a very sweet sentiment. The conversational tone and "sing-songy" melody lend an air of authenticity and make it feel quite personal (if unsophisticated). There is beauty in the simplicity of it. It is pretty light on imagery (the moss on the roof, the sun, the big house etc really bear little relation to the object of his love or even to his own feelings). Nevertheless, it's a simple, honest, and personal message.


Now Annie's Song:

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You fill up my senses
like a night in a forest
Like the mountains in springtime
like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert
like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses
come fill me again

Come let me love you
let me give my life to you
Let me drown in your laughter
let me die in your arms
Let me lay down beside you
let me always be with you
Come let me love you
come love me again

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Wow, that is very beautiful. Almost every line is dripping with evocative imagery. The concept of his senses being "filled up" is a powerful starting point as an expression of love. Every listener can relate to those listed sensations, but may have never equated them to the feeling of being in love. It's a pretty brilliant use of imagery. Musically speaking, a descending, arpeggiated chord progression is juxtaposed to a rising melody line with overall crescendo to the end. Not highly original, but very beautifully employed. Creates drama. I could do without all the humming and strings at the end. Makes it start to feel a little phony, but hey this was the 70s.


IN SUMMARY:

Both well executed songs, worthy of pop love song modern classic status. For superior poetry and use of language, melodic sophistication and sheer beauty, Annie's Song wins going away.


eta: /thread