One of the best songs I've heard this year is Damien Rice - The Blower's Daughter, heard on the soundtrack of Closer. Rice starts out simply, singing softly, capturing the feeling of infatuation oh so well, before breaking into the chorus repeating the refrain, "I can't take my eyes off you" with such passion, it breaks my heart. And then as his voice rises in volume and emotion, the incredible yearning you hear in his voice just blows me away. And just when you think you can't get any more emotionally involved in the song, Lisa Hannigan breaks in, asking in a soothing yet haunting manner "Did I say that I loathe you? Did I say that I wanted to leave it all behind?" and this just went straight to my heart. It's melancholy and yet so optimistic at the same time.

I've heard this song a hundred times by now, and its effects have yet to wear off.

The Blower's Daughter
Damien Rice

And so it is
Just like you said it would be
Life goes easy on me
Most of the time
And so it is (he has)
The shorter story
No love, no glory
No hero in her sky

I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes...

And so it is
Just like you said it should be
We'll both forget the breeze
Most of the time
And so it is
The colder water
The blower's daughter
The pupil in denial

I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes...

Did I say that I loathe you?
Did I say that I want to
Leave it all behind?

I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind...
My mind...my mind...
'Til I find somebody new