I don’t know if it’s a great ending, especially as it sort of fades out, but the final chord of Plainsong. I love the song, don’t misunderstand but it is beautifully bleak and miserable, for a full 5 mins and 10s, but then – I don’t know enough music theory to know technically what happens – but the end is this dischord, that just as it fades (you need to listen hard, and have it quite loud) sort of ‘resolves’ into a beautiful warm, chord. I think resolve is a proper musical phrase so I’m not sure if that’s an accurate use but I know what I mean.
It’s the hint of watery sunshine on a dreary grey day. It’s putting its arm around you and saying ‘I know life’s shit but it can get better’. I hope it’s an exit poll on July the 5th…
and another…I love a cover version that changes the original and this fits the bill. Not everyone’s taste , my wife thinks it’s a dirge but for me it’s the same sound as my feeling when I was early 20’s, a sunday evening after a big weekend partying, kicking back with a cold beer and just letting the sun go down. The way it builds, then drops and then comes again (ooh, can I also claim Nimrod from the Enigma variations here)
Hey Jude. The ending is so good it’s longer than the song.
I do like songs like that – those that end with a long, often nonsensical – repeat. When I Dream by the Teardrop Explodes is another, as is The Great Curve by Talking Heads.
Die Arzte did a few. So as were in election mood and the song ends ständig wiederholen, ständig wiederholen, ständig wiederholen, ständig wiederholen… . It’s about politicians always talking the same bollocks
This isn’t the best sounding version but I love how the rest of the band are applauding Ed at the end of the song. A beautiful song bookended by wonderful piano. More poignant now that weird Ed isn’t with us.
The last 30s or so of To Ramona by Sinead Logan on YT (it’s all in the eyes)
The last note (I think it also resolves) of Allegri’s Miserere. Religious fervour does nothing for me but it has given us some beautiful music (and architecture). Ymmv.
I’m going with the end of While My Guitar… played by the all star band at the Rock n Roll Hall of fame induction where Prince takes his guitar off and throws it in the air
Or when Chrissie Hynde throws her harmonica into the crowd at the end of Middle of the Road.
Just listening to Rachmaninov’s 2nd piano concerto with my dad. He’s the classical fan, not me particularly, but this piece has special meaning to me and gets me a bit teary. The ending of the 2nd movement is absolutely perfect.
The closing of Tchaikovsky’s sixth symphony is beautifully sad. Whether he was foretelling his own death I guess we will never know (he probably wasn’t) but it’s so unlike the dramatic ends to most of his other works.
And on a rather different note, the closing few lines of I Went to a Wedding… by Half Man Half Biscuit are just such a brilliant contrast to the rest of the song. You can’t put your foot up in Europe etc.
The build up to the crescendo and then ending of Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence. One of those pieces of music that makes me sad, teary, ecstatic every time I hear it.
For pure ending, personally, has to be Tchaikovsky’s 1812 overture (with cannons)!