Sometimes the sheer simplicity of a song marks its beauty and importance. For "The Scientist", this is so. Nothing is completely complicated in the composition of the song. Nothing complicated about the piano accompaniment, nothing complicated about the vocals, nothing complicated about the strings, guitar, and beat that later are introduced. Nothing about the components' interactions to form the song's texture. And nothing is complicated about the devotion and love that the narrator holds for his (ex)lover. And THAT'S what makes it so magical.

The track is reminiscient of something like "Imagine" [John Lennon, 1971], which contains a simple and beautiful message encased in a modest arrangement. In both cases, the songs' inherent quality is pure, sincere, and unadorned. The narrator's sincerity in his apology for destroying a friendship and his straightforward appeal to the listener for a second chance make this song so relatable.

The first time I heard this I was struck by its immediately apparent timelessness... and hundreds of listens later, its timeless beauty is holding steady. Certainly one of the most beautiful songs ever, if you ask me.

One of only a few songs I liked on the record.

I know this is gonna be hard to believe, but while the original version is certainly great, it's the Avril Lavigne cover that really brings out the immaculate beauty in the piece.