Top 5 Best Piano Songs of All Time

[The-Piano-Man]

I thought I'd start a topic to see what everyones top 5 Best Piano Songs of all time are.   Don't just think classical either, don't forget some of the great songs of today.


sadly i dont know the songs of most piano songs, just what they sound like... and im having a heard time coming up with 5 great ones.
1.  (I can't think of anything worthy of being the best piano song of all time)
2. Clocks
3. Dance of The Sugar-Plumb Fairy
4. Piano Man
5. 5th Symphony
hopefully u guys can come up with some better ones...

[Tash]

no.1 FUR ELISE HAHAHA

also, welcome to the forum! and the first thing you must learn is that they're 'pieces' not 'songs'- i swear that should be this forum's motto

[janice]

and the first thing you must learn is that they're 'pieces' not 'songs'- i swear that should be this forum's motto

YES!!!  Tash, we appoint you to stand at the door and tell everyone who enters that they cannot call a piano piece a 'song'!  (Hey, whatever happened to our frat house?  Tash could be appointed to be the hostess and stand at the door and tell everyone who enters that the word 'song' is forbidden!  lol

[goansongo]

Haha, you guys make such a big deal when someone calls a piano "piece" a "song."  It's kind of ridiculous.  We all know what he means anyway.  The point of his posting is to ask for the top 5 songs, not to correct his English.   I just know that while reading this, SOMEONE is going to be saying in his head "yeah, but a song has words and it's meant to be sung."  Whatever, we all get the main point of what he's asking for.  

[Tash]

YES!!!  Tash, we appoint you to stand at the door and tell everyone who enters that they cannot call a piano piece a 'song'!  (Hey, whatever happened to our frat house?  Tash could be appointed to be the hostess and stand at the door and tell everyone who enters that the word 'song' is forbidden!  lol

haha yes i'll be like 'what's the secret password?' and you'll have to say 'it's a 'piece' not a 'song'' hahahaha

but out of that, hopefully this forum will provide lots of knowledgable information for you piano man and you'll learn more piano pieces as time goes by cos they're great and worth listening to!

[janice]

haha yes i'll be like 'what's the secret password?' and you'll have to say 'it's a 'piece' not a 'song'' hahahaha

YES!!!!!!  I love it!!!!!!  You go, girl!  Let's start up the "Word Game" again, and post this there, ok?

[rlefebvr]

Yes the word " song " is such a bad word. After all it implies music and we don't want anybody confusing what we do with music....but I digress.


Anyone who freaks at this, should go rent the movie "Educating Rita" and if you don't get it then, you never will.

[maxy]

best piano songs...
I guess we must pick songs about piano...

pianoman maybe?

[donjuan]

1.  (I can't think of anything worthy of being the best piano song of all time)
2. Clocks
3. Dance of The Sugar-Plumb Fairy
4. Piano Man
5. 5th Symphony
hopefully u guys can come up with some better ones...

Welcome to the forum.  You are about to quickly learn I dont sugar coat anything I say:

"5th Symphony" *** "Clocks"

what the hell is this supposed to mean?!

[Daevren]

Try to be nice. Remeber young children also use the internet these days.

[donjuan]

Try to be nice. Remeber young children also use the internet these days.

The only cases I can see are, yes...thepianoman is a young child who stumbled across this site, or an ESL student who doesnt know the language too well, or an ignorant person.

When he says stuff like "clock", I dont know what the hell he is talking about!  It sounds like some piece from one of those primary grade one books where they dont give the composer, and the piece consists of 4 or 5 different notes, designed to help you learn where middle C is!

Now, I am hoping the piano man can find his way back to the site to explain this.
donjuan

[benji]

Clocks is a great song by the band Coldplay. It has an interesting piano part, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's one of the best piano pieces of all time.

[shasta]

5.  The C-C# leitmotif of "Jaws"
4.  Chopsticks
3.  Heart & Soul
2.  that black-key-only knuckle thing
1.  4'33"

MUAAAHAHAHAHAAA

[benji]

5.  The C-C# leitmotif of "Jaws"
4.  Chopsticks
3.  Heart & Soul
2.  that black-key-only knuckle thing
1.  4'33"

MUAAAHAHAHAHAAA

You forgot the first nine notes of Fur Elise!!!!11  

[monk]

*Yawn*

You all forgot the ONE,

the GREATEST,

the most HEARTWARMING,

the most DIFFICULT TO PLAY WELL,

the simply TRANSCENDENTAL piece:

"Ballade Pour Adeline" by Richard Clayderman!

*thundering applause in the background*

Best Wishes,
Monk

[rlefebvr]

*Yawn*

You all forgot the ONE,

the GREATEST,

the most HEARTWARMING,

the most DIFFICULT TO PLAY WELL,

the simply TRANSCENDENTAL piece:

"Ballade Pour Adeline" by Richard Clayderman!

*thundering applause in the background*

Best Wishes,
Monk

Now that's funny...

A couple of months ago, my teacher wanted me to learn La Valse D Amelie, but could not find his sheetmusic. I went on the internet looking, but could not remember the name of the song or composer. I thought he had said Ballade for Adeline so I brought it in for him the next week.

He took it in his hands and ripped it to threads.

[Swan]

top 5 Best Piano Songs of all time are.

When I think of 'songs' and the piano, I can't go passed Billy Joel!  Legend of a songwriter and piano player.

1.  New York State of Mind
2.  Innocent Man (jntro especially)
3.  And So It Goes
4.  Always a Woman
5.  She's Got a Way

and of course "The Piano Man" - now that's fun to play!
I don't know about 'best of all time', but these are ones that come to mind.
Alicia Keys is also pretty impressive.  Delta Goodrem's not too bad either.

[rlefebvr]

It's funny how we all love the Piano Man. Joel has been quoted to say, it's one of the worse songs he has ever written.

Calls it more of a limerick then anything else. Understands why people love it, but says musically, it sucks.

[steinwaymodeld]

Dance of sugar plum fairy? You meant the Pletnev piano transcription?

Beethoven 5th symphony? You meant the Liszt Piano transcription?

And I have yet to see any piano 'sing' a 'song' yet.

[Tash]

Now that's funny...

A couple of months ago, my teacher wanted me to learn La Valse D Amelie, but could not find his sheetmusic. I went on the internet looking, but could not remember the name of the song or composer. I thought he had said Ballade for Adeline so I brought it in for him the next week.

He took it in his hands and ripped it to threads.

LOL

you know i actually have the sheet music to la valse de amelie on my computer- haven't tried playing it yet but it sits there waiting for me to print it...so if you still need it then i have it!

[Tash]

5.  The C-C# leitmotif of "Jaws"
4.  Chopsticks
3.  Heart & Soul
2.  that black-key-only knuckle thing
1.  4'33"

MUAAAHAHAHAHAAA

i vote for this order!!! most definatley they win hands down

[monk]

Now that's funny...

A couple of months ago, my teacher wanted me to learn La Valse D Amelie, but could not find his sheetmusic. I went on the internet looking, but could not remember the name of the song or composer. I thought he had said Ballade for Adeline so I brought it in for him the next week.

He took it in his hands and ripped it to threads.

Now that's even more funny  

Does your teacher really think "La Valse D Amelie" is better music than "Ballade pour Adeline"?? *LOL*

Best Wishes,
Monk

[rlefebvr]

Actually it's a great piece for someone at my level.

There is a very slow first movement, sort of like Erik Satie's Gymnopedie , but a little easier.
Second movement needs a very soft left hand to bring out the melody of the right hand
Third and fourth movement is filled with arpeggios. Great practice.

I know it's not a great classical piece, but it has some merit.

[monk]

Of course.

If you just want to practice some arpeggios, dynamics etc., these pieces are usable.

But musically they are crap. Just like sometimes french fries with ketchup are just fine, but they aren't what one would call a good meal.

Or like those self-painted pictures sold on the streets - somehow one can learn from them about painting, but they are in no way art and often downright awful.

Best Wishes,
Monk

[redbaron]

Well, if we're talking piano songs then as in the wider musical landscape and not just classical pieces then in no particular order:

Tori Amos - Cornflake Girl
Elton John - Your Song
Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights
John Lennon - Imagine
Billy Joel - Piano Man

[counterpoint]

5. 5th Symphony

5th Symphony - one of the top 5 of the best piano songs...?     

[retrouvailles]

5th Symphony - one of the top 5 of the best piano songs...?     

It could be Sorabji's 5th symphony for solo piano...

[alpacinator1]

Haha. Most likely not. I assume he is reffering to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, which is not a piano song.

[wotgoplunk]

Haha. Most likely not. I assume he is refering to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, which is not a piano song.

Or a piano piece at that! 

[njalli]

all 2nd piano conserto by rachmaninoff without symph hahahahhah mwhahahahhahaahhhahahahahhahaha

[pianochick93]

Ok, I say back off about the 'song' thing. We all know what he meant, or we could all be misinterpreting it, and he could be meaning songs, yes actual songs, that have good piano parts. Personally if I had just joined a forum, and I made such a common mistake as calling a piece a song and got attacked for it, I would leave, thinking it not to be a very fun place to be around if one mistake earnt you an attack on proper english.

On the original topic. Piano Man rules!
Clocks is pretty good both vocally and piano-ishly, but the piano part does get a little boring and repetitive. Still it is fun to play, the first couple of pages at least.

[prongated]

Ok, I say back off about the 'song' thing.

...what about the "top 5 piano numbers of all time"?

[pianochick93]

That would work.

[communist]

1 Xenakis Synaphai

2. Sorabji Opus Clavicembalisticum

3. Xenakis Herma

4. Ferneyhough Etudes Transcendantales

5. there are so many others i dont know which to choose

[healdie]

5. 5th Symphony

Whos 5th symphony? there are many great 5th symphonies
Mahler?
Shostakovich?
Sibelius?
Tchaikovsky?

[pianisten1989]

Haha! This post is probably the funniest i've ever read.
It took like a moth for everyone to accualy write their favourite pieces/songs.
Hilarious!

Uhm.. anyway.. "it's a piece not a song".. there

1. Beethoven Waldsteinsonata third mov.
2. Rachmaninov prelude g sharp minor
    Chopin Ballade no 1 
    Chopin Winterwind etude
3.  Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2 and 4
4.  Liszt Tarantella from the third year or the pilgrim-"suite"
5.  A billion pieces, but I can't think of any right now...

[retrouvailles]

4. Ferneyhough Etudes Transcendantales

Those aren't for piano.

[jpowell]

1 Xenakis Synaphai

2. Sorabji Opus Clavicembalisticum

3. Xenakis Herma

4. Ferneyhough Etudes Transcendantales

5. there are so many others i dont know which to choose

I love all of these, but there is no piano part in the Ferneyhough - could'nt we substistute another of his pieces, perhaps a solo piano one?

[retrouvailles]

I would substitute Lemma-Icon-Epigramm for the Etudes Transcendantales. I would nominate Opus Contra Naturam maybe, but does that count as a piece for solo piano?

[michel dvorsky]

Bach - Goldberg Variations
Schubert - Wanderer Fantasie
Chopin - Ballade 4
Liszt - Sonata
Alkan - Festin D'Esope
Scriabin - Sonata 5

[mikey6]

Bach - Goldberg Variations
Schubert - Wanderer Fantasie
Chopin - Ballade 4
Liszt - Sonata
Alkan - Festin D'Esope
Scriabin - Sonata 5

That's 6 and unfortunately none of them are songs

[communist]

I love all of these, but there is no piano part in the Ferneyhough - could'nt we substistute another of his pieces, perhaps a solo piano one?

i was making fun of soliliquy

[sphennich]

Noobs

Eddie Van Halen could easily make the top 5 and I see him listed nowhere?!?!
And please don't talk to me about Van Hagar, Sammy's contribution was epic and the result was the best composer in our lifetime EDDIE VAN HALEN!
Maybe they were pieces, whatever, Bach off lol
So that being said...
1, it's got what it takes(why can't this be love) Van Halen
2, home sweet home, Mötley Crüe...should be # 1 it's epic.
3, piano man(billy Joel) NOT!!! Really guys?
3, paradise by the dashboard lights(meatloaf)

That it!

I thoroughly enjoy classical and occasionally quiz my students on it but I firmly believe with time comes greatness and the last 30 years have given us the greatest to ever caress the ivory:)

[zezhyrule]

I smell a troll

[rachmaninoff_forever]

The four part chorale I had to make for my music theory final is by far the best work ever made in the history of man kind.

[johannvonhalen]

Noobs

Eddie Van Halen could easily make the top 5 and I see him listed nowhere?!?!
And please don't talk to me about Van Hagar, Sammy's contribution was epic and the result was the best composer in our lifetime EDDIE VAN HALEN!
Maybe they were pieces, whatever, Bach off lol
So that being said...
1, it's got what it takes(why can't this be love) Van Halen
2, home sweet home, Mötley Crüe...should be # 1 it's epic.
3, piano man(billy Joel) NOT!!! Really guys?
3, paradise by the dashboard lights(meatloaf)

That it!

I thoroughly enjoy classical and occasionally quiz my students on it but I firmly believe with time comes greatness and the last 30 years have given us the greatest to ever caress the ivory:)

I agree with you 99% If it were not for Edward Van Halen, the world would be missing out on such great piano pieces to skillfully master and recite for years to come!

[serenecheah]

My 1st ranked piece will be.......... PACHELBELL CANON in D ~~~ I love that 

[cmg]

YES!!!  Tash, we appoint you to stand at the door and tell everyone who enters that they cannot call a piano piece a 'song'!  (Hey, whatever happened to our frat house?  Tash could be appointed to be the hostess and stand at the door and tell everyone who enters that the word 'song' is forbidden!  lol

So, what's up with "Janice"?  A solo piano piece is NOT a "song."  Words have meaning, "Janice," and there's there no harm in being true to them.  That's how we communicate clearly.  Unless, of course, you think anti-intellectualism is a virtue.



(SONG) Noun

'A short poem or other set of words set to music or meant to be sung.
Singing or vocal music: "the young men broke into song."'

[laurenann7094]

Wow.  Thanks to those of you who actually answered the question.  Very classy, and I really enjoyed listening to your favorite songs!
I remember when I first started trying to learn about classical music. (My education did not afford me the experience.)  I was a broke waitress at a fine dining joint in New Orleans.  I was 17, had run away, and didn't have any friends. (Except a local homeless dude, but I started to notice he was forgetting to zip his fly every time we were alone together, so it didn't work out.)  I digress.  Anywho, one day I had a moment with the owner of the joint.  He was a fashionable, rich, gay man, and pretty much French Quarter royalty.  I found him fascinating.  One day, as he handed me my paycheck, I shyly tried to make smalltalk, and was asking him what composers he liked, since he picked out the music that played in the restaurant.  (Wait am I allowed to call it music?  I dunno. So confusin'.)  In the same pressured breath I said that I like Tchaikovsky.  He looked at me with contemp, arched a roguish eyebrow, and laughed loudly.  Everyone doing closing cleanup turned to watch as he pronounced "Oh my God WHY??  'Cause your mom took you to The Nutcracker or something?  That is so like amateur!"  He looked around smartly, everyone else tittered, and I slunk off.  I know that is not a real tear jerker for y'all, but at the time it was devastating to me.

Come to realize of course, that his father (the original owner) followed him around the restaurant like Stalin after Yakov, pretty much suffocating the kid with a cloud of disapproval.  The young man was frequently drunk, obviously filled with self loathing and feelings of inferiority.  Sound like anyone y'all might know?  Hmmmmm???

SOOO... Thanks ya snarky ***.  That brought out more than 2 hours of state mandated therapy ever could!  Why oh why can't you be polite?  And I mean really polite, not pretentious polite?  The dude asked for a song!  And I am totally calling it a song from here on out.  God what a bunch of boring, smug, pompous Bachs.

[transitional]

aww come on!!! almost every post on here is a joke post!!!

Here's my serious ranking (don't judge), very subject to change over time:

Mozart - K 533, 1st mvt.
Mozart - K 576, 3rd mvt.
Schubert - D 960, 1st mvt.
Bach - BWV 831, Overture
Debussy - Les collines d'Anacapri