Best song for immediate impact when presenting or testing?


I, as most of you, have my regular tunes that I play or listen to when trying out a new system or playing music for friends. My current starter is 'Feels like Rain' by Aaron Neville. It engages me immediately because I love it so, but it is also very well recorded and has a bass voice doing backup which in the right system has a real visceral impact.

I was at an Audio shop recently, listening to my standards, and wanted to show the sales consultant a piece that he might not have heard. I played 'Golden Rust' off the Miles Gurtu album. After about 30 seconds, he pulled out his device and added the song to his favorites. I asked why did he add so quickly, and he said that the opening electronica had a three dimensional stereophonic quality that made a remarkable impression right off the bat. I paraphrase lightly; that was his comment.

What pieces do you play of any genre that have an immediate impact, especially for people listening to a good system for the first time?
128x128cmjones

Showing 3 responses by cmjones

Thanks to all who joined this conversation in the spirit intended. I'll listen to all.

As mentioned, I usually start with Aaron Neville's Feels Like Rain. Next is Time After Time, Eva Cassidy. Taj Mahal: Queen Bee. Angelique Kidjo, Summertime. Girl From Ipanema, Getz Gilberto (this song played on a good system in 1995, brought me into hi quality systems). Then I take requests, and finish up with The End by the Beatles. If they're in the mood for something downbeat, You Want it Darker, by Leonard Cohen.

Fudai - shame.
Greetings all. Thanks for playing. I created a public playlist on Qobuz called Cheap & Tawdry. It's about 80% accurate. Some tracks I couldn't find, and I often selected another from the same artist. When a whole album was called out, I picked the first track. 

The variety of songs is wider than I expected. Some are amazing, many are good to great, others leave me puzzled. As always, de gustibus non disputandum est. Cheers!