13 More Remarkably Beautiful Songs | Playlist

13 More Remarkably Beautiful Songs features songs by Alec Benjamin, Al Green, Benson Boone, Joe Cocker, Taylor Swift, and Thomas Rhett.

We were BEAUTIFUL once, and now, we’re BEAUTIFUL again! WTF are you talkin’ ‘bout, you ask? Well, 13 More Remarkably Beautiful Songs, the musical compendium at hand, serves as the sequel to 11 Remarkably Beautiful Songs (2021). That’s right, 13 more songs to add to a huge list of beautiful songs written and performed by numerous musicians.  BEAUTY is NOT allowed – that’s a separate list! Only BEAUTIFUL songs – no gorgeous, handsome, or pretty ones – are permitted here. With that said, 13 More Remarkably Beautiful Songs features songs by Alec Benjamin, Al Green, Benson Boone, Joe Cocker, Taylor Swift, and Thomas Rhett. So, you beautiful humans, and you’re all beautiful, let’s dive into this beautiful collection of songs!

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~ Table of Contents ~ 

1. The Rascals, “A Beautiful Morning”

2. Benson Boone, “Beautiful Things”

3. Forrest Frank, “BEAUTIFUL AS EVER” (Ft. Powfu & nextseasons)

4. Taylor Swift, “Sad Beautiful Tragic (Taylor’s Version)”

5. Ray Charles, “America The Beautiful”

6. DJ Khaled, “BEAUTIFUL” (Ft. Future & SZA)

7. The Black Keys, “Beautiful People (Stay High)”

8. Miguel, “A Beautiful Exit”  

9. Alec Benjamin, “Different Kind of Beautiful”

10. Thomas Rhett, “Beautiful As You”

11. Bazzi, “Beautiful World”

12. Joe Cocker, “You Are So Beautiful”

13. Al Green, “Simply Beautiful”

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1. The Rascals, “A Beautiful Morning”

Time Peace: The Rascals’ Greatest Hits // Atlantic // 1990 

“It’s a beautiful morning, ah / I think I’ll go outside a while and just smile.” The positive, feel-good vibes are alive and well on “A Beautiful Morning”, the 1968 classic by The Rascals.  What better way to begin a beautiful playlist? The Rascals had been called The Young Rascals. “A Beautiful Morning” is credited to The Rascals. Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati, vocalists for The Rascals, penned the blue-eyed soul classic.  Unsurprisingly a pop hit, it peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968.

 

“If the weather’s fine and you got the time

It’s your chance to wake up and plan another brand-new day

Either way, it’s a beautiful morning, ah.”

Good, positive vibes were crucial to the success of “A Beautiful Morning.” So was the musical accompaniment.  Enthusiastic from the onset, the ringing wind chimes set the tone.  From there, the listener is blessed with a soulful drum and percussive groove, a big bass line, and sublime guitar and keys. Also amplifying “A Beautiful Morning” instrumentally are the bright, articulated horns. The lead vocals (Cavaliere) are sensational – assertive and gritty from the beginning. Adding to the excellence is a tuneful melody. Also, the harmonized background vocals are superb too, adding sweetness. Nearly 60 years after its release, “A Beautiful Morning” remains the ultimate, feel-good, morning vibe.

Appears in :

• The Rascals, A Beautiful Morning: Throwback Vibez 109 (2024)

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2. Benson Boone, “Beautiful Things”

Fireworks & Rollerblades // Night Street / Warner // 2024

22-year-old Benson Boone had a big year in 2024.  The biggest triumph by the big-voiced pop star was his viral, no. 2 Billboard Hot 100 hit, “Beautiful Things.” “Please stay / I want you, I need you, oh God / Don’t take / These beautiful things that I’ve got,” he belts in the energetic, unforgettable chorus.  Boone (and those vocal cords) gives his all during the song’s most memorable section.  The chorus signals ‘hit’ the first time you hear it, hence why the song has been streamed a lot.  What’s interesting about the highlight from Fireworks & Rollerblades is the contrast. He still ‘cuts’ singing the verses (he has that type of voice) but exhibits more poise and performs at a softer dynamic level.  “Beautiful Things” is a beautiful song, thanks to Boone’s vocal abilities, his immense faith (“And I thank God every day / For the girl He sent my way”), and, of course, the production (Evan Blair) and songwriting (Blair, Boone, and Jack LaFrantz).

Appears in :

• 40 Best Songs of 2024 (So Far) 

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3. Forrest Frank, “BEAUTIFUL AS EVER” (Ft. Powfu & nextseasons)

“BEAUTIFUL AS EVER” // river house // 2024 

“You’re beautiful as ever / No one compares when it comes to you / A basket full of petals / Just like this song, it’s all a gift to you.” Nextseasons is the first voice heard on the Forrest Frank song, “BEAUTIFUL AS EVER.” “BEAUTIFUL AS EVER” is a remix of the 2023 nextseasons and SSJ Twiin song, “As Ever”. In addition to featuring nextseasons, Canadian rapper Powfu (Isaiah Faber), best known for his hit “death bed (coffee for your head)” guests in the second verse. Forrest Frank sings the last part of the initial chorus before singing the first verse filled with love and dedication. “On and on we’ll be together, you’re a bird and I’m a feather,” he sings, continuing, “Waiting for the wind to take us home again.”  Following the second chorus (Frank sings the entire time),  Powfu raps the second verse. He builds off the love and dedication established by Frank (“If I pass away, I suffocated from cuddles / It’s a different color world when I’m inside of your bubble /And this won’t ever change, I can’t get bored of your kisses”). Besides the sincere and sweet love lyrics, “BEAUTIFUL AS EVER” features sweet production, which supports Frank’s radiant vocals and Powfu’s romantic and thoughtful bars.  “BEAUTIFUL AS EVER,” hence, is beautiful!

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4. Taylor Swift, “Sad Beautiful Tragic (Taylor’s Version)”

Red (Taylor’s Version) // Taylor Swift // 2021

“‘Cause we had a beautiful, magic love there / What a sad, beautiful, tragic love affair.” Ah, a song about a relationship! Grammy-winning superstar Taylor Swift excels at songs about boys, love, and heartbreak. “Sad Beautiful Tragic (Taylor’s Version)” is the 12^th track on Red (Taylor’s Version), released in the fall of 2021. “Sad Beautiful Tragic” was a song from the original, 2012 album. Swift is the sole songwriter, while she produced with Christopher Rowe.  As always, her magnificent pen stands out the most. “I stood right by the tracks, your face in a locket,” she sings in the first verse, continuing, “Good girls, hopeful they’ll be and long they will wait.”  At the end of the second verse, she asserts, “And time is taking its sweet time erasing you / And you’ve got your demons and darlin’, they all look like me.” There is also a dramatic bridge – “Distance, timin’, breakdown, fighting” – capturing this tragedy! Even rerecorded, “Sad Beautiful Tragic (Taylor’s Version)” is magical.  Swift sings expressively, and the instrumental accompaniment is strong, led by acoustic rhythm guitar.  Nothing tragic about the performance!

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5. Ray Charles, “America The Beautiful”

 A Message From the People // Tangerine // 1972

“Oh beautiful, for heroes proved / In liberating strife,” Ray Charles sings in the first verse of his rousing, soulful rendition of “America The Beautiful”.  The tried-and-true patriotic record features the poetic text of Katharine Lee Bates.  Charles, of course, takes more liberties in this interpretation, continuing the obscure verse, “Who more than self, our country loved / And mercy more than life.” He then delivers the chorus, though much like his first verse of this gem from A Message From the People (1972), it’s not the one you expect. No worries, of course, as in the second verse, Charles opts for the familiar, beloved ‘first verse’ and chorus (with a few ad-libs):

“Oh beautiful, for spacious skies 

For amber waves of grain 

For purple mountain majesties 

Above the fruited plain 

…America, sweet America 

You know, God done shed his grace on thee 

He crowned thy good, yes he did, in a brotherhood 

From sea to shining sea.” 

Backtracking, some other notes must be made about this amazing rendition.  It begins with an exceptional opening snare drum cadence, followed by the addition of horns.  This sets up this uniquely Ray Charles version of “America The Beautiful”. Accentuating the beauty is the organ, which adds a gospel component, and, of course, a signature, bluesy performance by the icon, who brings ample personality to this record.  Celebrating America never sounded better !

 

Appears in :

• Ray Charles, America The Beautiful: Music Lifts 36 (2022)
• Must-Hear, All-American Songs, Pt. 2 (2024) 

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6. DJ Khaled, “BEAUTIFUL” (Ft. Future & SZA)

GOD DID // We The Best x Influence / Epic // 2022

“Every single night we burn sage ‘cause we toxic / Mushrooms got us outside our bodies.” Oh, really ? Oh, snap ! WE THE BEST MUSIC! Woo! You know what it is, rather, who it is! DJ Khaled delivers ‘another one’ with “BEAUTIFUL,” the eighth track from his 2022 LP, GOD DID. “BEAUTIFUL” was produced by DJ Khaled and TM88. Notably, this smooth, piano-led melodic rap cut samples “Tuluminati”, a 2023 song by rapper, Fabulous. Khaled, known for his curating skills, enlists the talents of Grammy winners Future and SZA. Future brings his signature, melodic rap vocals to the intro and verses. His flow is flowin’ – PLUTO!

“Almost went to therapy but you was all I needed

I can’t even front, you gave me somethin’ to believe in

Show more Audemars, takin’ your talent to Philippe

You can’t up and leave ‘cause you caught a nigga cheatin’.”

Word… words… The best aspect, rather, the most beautiful, is the utterly sublime singing by SZA in the chorus (“I took a flight for the Patek, you said, ‘Bae, you’re so dramatic,’ I guess / Anything you want, boy, forget it, you just make me feel so [beautiful]”).  She steals the show on this ‘beautiful’ cut.

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7. The Black Keys, “Beautiful People (Stay High)”

Ohio Players // The Black Keys / Nonesuch // 2024

“All of those beautiful people (Say ‘hey’)!” The Black Keys – Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney – wowed on “Beautiful People (Stay High)” the hella funky promo single from their 2024 album, Ohio Players. Prepare to tap your feet something fierce! “Beautiful People (Stay High)” keeps things brief, clocking in under three minutes. That’s plenty of time for The Black Keys to make our ears perk up.  The groove is electrifying – the rhythm section is firmly ‘in the pocket.’ Gotta love the use of distorted guitars, old-school piano, and horns. The duo constructs an awesome blend of retro rock, bluesy, and funky vibes. The riffs, well, they kick ass and take names. Beyond the instrumental skill – Carney’s drumming and Auerbach’s guitaring – Auerbach serves up strong, commanding vocals. “Hard as it’s been, to begin once again,” he sings in the second verse, adding, “Just a friend on the wind seekin’ shelter.” Oh my! Furthermore, he gives us no shortage of playful moments: “Nah, nah-nah-nah-nah / Never coming back down.” Woo! The musical high is legit on “Beautiful People (Stay High)”, a must-hear by the beloved Akron duo.

Appears in :

• Bops That Pop: January 2024 

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8. Miguel, “A Beautiful Exit”  

Wildheart // RCA // 2015

“Believe yourself, trust your intuition,” Miguel sings in the first verse of “A Beautiful Exit,” a highlight from his 2015 LP, Wildheart.  He adds, “You’re here for a reason, you know.” Word.  The second verse is penned similarly by the  Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter: “No fear, no shame, wild hearts can’t be broken / You’re here for a reason, you know.” Did you catch the wild hearts reference? Did you notice how he used the same lyrics to conclude both verses?  There is also a third verse on this beautiful opener from Wildheart.  Guess what? It also uses the same lyric ! “A Beautiful Exit” is an R&B song mixed with pop and old-school R&B/funk sensibilities.  The guitars shine. Miguel showcases his artistic versatility through his singing, writing, and producing (Happy Perez co-writes and co-produces). The chorus is the crowning achievement – the crème de la crème:   

“Speeding through all of these red lights, fast life

Dreaming of a beautiful exit

We’re gonna die young.”  

“A Beautiful Exit” is one of the best songs from the Miguel catalog.  

 

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9. Alec Benjamin, “Different Kind of Beautiful”

12 Notes // Elektra Entertainment // 2024

“You’re a different kind of beautiful, the kind that makes me scared / The kind that makes me turn around and act like I’m not there.” Pop singer/songwriter Alec Benjamin brought some fire on his 2023 single, “Different Kind of Beautiful”, which appears in his 2024 album, 12 Notes. He penned it with StarGate – Mikkel Storleer Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen – who also produced the resulting bop.

“I try to speak, but I can’t find the words

Knees gettin’ weak and my speech gettin’ slurred

Hands feelin’ heavy, and vision is blurred.”

Benjamin impresses from a vocal perspective.  His instrument is beautiful, distinct, and boyish. The boyish timbre of his voice is no insult – it is charming.  Benjamin rides the production, with its sophisticated sound, stupendously. The StarGate backdrop hearkens back to the past (it’s the plucked sounds) while simultaneously embracing the 2020s. Alec nails the rhythmic melodic lines, singing with incredible agility.  The crowning achievement – the crème de la crème – is the catchy, tuneful chorus. Excerpted above, it continues as follows: “The kind that takes my breath away and leaves me without air / Maybe I’m delusional, you’re just that kind of beautiful.” “Different Kind of Beautiful” is a truly beautiful song.

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10. Thomas Rhett, “Beautiful As You”

About A Woman // Fifty-One / Forty-Nine / The Valory Music Co. // 2024 

“Baby girl, you out your mind, you’re way too good for me / Thinkin’ ‘bout the day we met, you coulda just ignored me.” Yep, this beautiful song is about a beautiful woman. “Beautiful As You” is the fourth track from About A Woman, the seventh studio album by Thomas Rhett. In the second verse, continuing to tout her beauty, he sings, “How someone as beautiful as you could just fall out of the blue / When you’re walkin’ ‘round in my sweater, girl, there’s no better view.” Aww, that’s – wait for it – BEAUTIFUL! Like many contemporary songs, there are plenty of cooks in the kitchen – lots of songwriters – including Rhett. “Beautiful As You” exemplifies modern country, incorporating more electronic and pop elements. The record thrives from its rhythmic and tuneful melody.  Rhett delivers well-rounded, sound vocals.  The best part, unsurprisingly, is the chorus:

“What’s someone as beautiful as you

Doin’ ridin’ ‘round with someone like me?

I swear, girl, you could have anyone you choose

I should stop askin’ questions ‘fore you get up and leave.”

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11. Bazzi, “Beautiful World”

“Beautiful World” // Artist Partner Group, Inc. // 2022

“I’ve had my reasons to believe in / Somethin’ bigger than us,” Bazzi sings in the first verse of “Beautiful World”.  The world is a big, expansive place, however “Beautiful World” the song runs under two minutes. Even though there’s not much song, there’s plenty to like. It was produced by Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman and Kevin White. The sounds are amorous and beautiful throughout, as they should be – it’s a beautiful world, after all. The record makes nice use of guitars, strings, and eventually, fresh drum programming, which appears during the second verse.  Bazzi is the star. He sings smoothly from start to finish, flaunting his radiant instrument. After touting somethin’ bigger than us, in the second verse, he gets geographical, mentioning London and Paris. He mentions these lavish places in the beautiful world, which he’s already seen and experienced, feeling new because of her:

“Girl, I been here before, but with you, it feel new 

You’re lookin’ at art, and I’m lookin’ at you  

What a beautiful sight (Yeah, yeah) 

Seeing the world through your eyes.” 

In the chorus, he sums things up, simply: “I could show you the world /… This beautiful world.” While  “Beautiful World” isn’t a game-changing pop song, it’s worthwhile and enjoyable. 

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12. Joe Cocker, “You Are So Beautiful” 

I Can Stand A Little Rain // A&M // 1974

“You are so beautiful / To me / You are so beautiful / To me / Can’t you see.” Sigh, those beloved, iconic lyrics hail from the Joe Cocker classic, “You Are So Beautiful”. That said, it must be noted that Cocker’s version came second.  Yes, that’s right! Billy Preston originally recorded it on his album, The Kids & Me. While both albums, released on A&M, arrived in 1974, Preston’s was released first while I Can Stand A Little Rain (Cocker) arrived later.  Preston penned this top-five hit for Cocker with Bruce Fisher.  We know that Preston is a legend in his own right, with three no. 1 hits to his name, but it is Cocker who owns the definitive take on “You Are So Beautiful.”   

 

How did Joe make this the beloved hit that it is today? Easy, his distinct voice.  The English singer possessed a dynamic, truly powerful instrument – truly one-of-a-kind. A gritty, rough-around-the-edge vocalist, which was part of his appeal and charm.  Here on “You Are So Beautiful,” Cocker shows more tenderness, while also exhibiting grit and even a dash of falsetto (at the end).  Listening to him sing, you believe it – he’s incredibly sincere. “You’re everything I hoped for / You’re everything I need,” he sings memorably, continuing, “You are so beautiful to me.” Making “You Are So Beautiful” even more compelling is the backdrop (Jim Price produces).  The core instrumentation is simple but effective – piano (Nicky Hopkins) and bass (Dave McDaniel).  Strings enter the mix, adding incredible lushness and warmth. What more needs to be said? “You Are So Beautiful” is one of the greatest songs of all time by a legendary artist.  

 Appears in :  

• Joe Cocker, You Are So Beautiful: Throwback Vibez 7 (2024)
• Incredible Songs: 1970s, Vol. 5 (2024)

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13. Al Green, “Simply Beautiful”

I’m Still in Love with You // Hi / Fat Possum // 1972 

“If I gave you my love / I tell you what I’d do / I’d expect a whole lotta love outta you.” That makes perfect sense, Rev. When “Simply Beautiful” was released, Al Green wasn’t Rev. Al Green.  He was still firmly entrenched in secular music – that utterly sublime Memphis soul (can I get an amen?!).  “Simply Beautiful” was neither a single nor a pop hit from his 1972 album, I’m Still in Love with You.  Still, “Simply Beautiful” is as beautiful as its title suggests – an album track that ranks at the top of his illustrious catalog. It was written by Green and produced by the late, great Willie Mitchell. Green delivers stellar vocals in his signature style. There is a cool energy.  His middle register and falsetto are equally effective – potent despite exhibiting poise. Lyrically, “Simply Beautiful” is simple, and that is part of the charm.  Green doesn’t have gargantuan demands for his lover. He requests lots of love, and states, “You gotta be good to me / I’m gonna be good to you.” To Al, the state of their relationship is, “Simply beautiful.” “What about the way you love me / And the way you squeeze me / Hey / Hey, simply beautiful.” Also, beautiful is the instrumental, steeped in that glorious Memphis sound (rhythm section, and strings). Another selling point is the fact that “Simply Beautiful” never feels forced or rushed – it feels easy.  “Simply Beautiful” is, indeed simply beautiful.  

Appears in : 

• Al Green, Simply Beautiful: Throwback Vibez 90 (2024)

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13 More Remarkably Beautiful Songs (2024) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Atlantic, Elektra Entertainment, Epic, Fifty-One/Forty-Nine, Night Street, Nonesuch, river house, Tangerine, Taylor Swift, The Black Keys, The Valory Music Co., Warner, We The Best x Influence; Abstract Photos, Dellon Thomas, Godisable Jacob, J-Scott Photography, Laoye Oluwatobi, Nicolah Rabs, TUBARONES PHOTOGRAPHY from Pexels]

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