Slow

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For a very long time I have thought that, to enjoy music, the music must be faster than your internal clock. It must pull you along, not slow you down.

But when I was assembling my post on rediscovered songs, I encountered something completely different. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Ewan MacColl, 1957), Roberta Flack's original, 1969, version, breaks my concept. (Later shortened by removing some repeated lines and issued as a single in 1972.)

1969 version

1972 version

Very slow. But listen carefully. Listen to the way she enunciates and shapes every word. Listen to the emotion in her voice. Listen to the dynamics. Listen to the lyrics. Listen to the melody. Listen to the accompaniment. This grabs my attention and shuts out the rest of the world.

There is another version on YouTube, faster, still wonderful. But not as gripping.

live version

I can't think of any other song/recording that offers this experience. Perhaps one exception doesn't invalidate my thesis.