O sung wu, I am of the same era as you, more or less, I guess.

My formative music days were a few years after the Beatles, around the time of Abba.

I like them both greatly. But I’m afraid I can’t stand anything remotely like opera!

I like Nat King Cole, Andy Williams, Diana Krall, Simon and Garfunkel, The Eagles, Elvis… and Rod Stewart’s renditions of lots of old 40s and 50s songs.

Oh and the Oils and Acca Dacca!

But the singer that really hits the emotive nerve is Eva Cassidy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1TD-7k52y4

Good one o sung.

I'm a bit surprised at you being such a low brow Luddy, I guess we are more similar than I thought. I'm rather partial to Nat King Cole & Simon and Garfunkel, add in Harry Belafonte, & the big band stuff, with a bit of Acker Bilk with that please.

Stranger On the Shore always sends a shiver down my back, as does the march from the Dam Busters.

Not real interested in hearing the fat lady sing, perhaps being married to a ballet choreographer for a short while in my silly youth turned me off the heavier stuff.

Then there are those tunes that relate to special times, people or places in your life, that can make smoke get in your eyes, as the song goes.

You could start with Rod Stewart,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCccPGtjaCU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RkWs6P2IwE

He has good taste in musicians too, including saxophonists.

Hasbeen,

You might be interested in this,
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2170

To capture my soul, music needs to be elevating, it needs to be directed at God, or at least whatever is beyond the mundane.

Most religious music does so, regardless which religion or whether I agree with the factual accuracy of the verbal statements (if words are used).

Here are a few of my favourites:

Handel's Messiah - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1vNacrcobI

Bach's immortal Art of the Fugue - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_TNaDNFg5s

Delalande's "De Profundis" (out of the deep) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOjYz-MVho4

Bruch's "Kol Nidrei" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXqPGQm1UFI

Finzi - Prelude Op. 25 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvG-JCVpRyY

The chant of Metta - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5JAVk3Qwi8

N'kosi sikeleli Africa - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFW7845XO3g

These are of the serene quality, but at times when you are stuck in inertia and need something more active to take you out of there, I suggest Krypteria's Liberatio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjoK98zdFD0

Finally, there is one other class that captures my soul, which is the very young musical talents like these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN2SQ4m7M04 then http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlVEjrBZhs0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8W0LWDjkfI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyEL3NJSHIk

Hi o sung wu,
You beat me to it. I was just about to start this thread. Anyhow for me there's one melody & the lyrics of which are sung in just about every language & every singer who is worth their two bob has recorded it. This particular melody/song is claimed to be the most popular & most recorded in the history of music. It was written in Cuba in 1861 & is called La Paloma.
No matter what mood I'm in it makes me feel good whenever I hear it. I find it impossible to pick a favourite version but I must admit Nana Mouskouri with julio Iglesias is a good one as are Andre Rieu & Elvis's No more. Some of the chinese versions are excellent also.
Watching Andre Rieu in Mexico on Youtube the reaction of the crowd when they realise what they are about to play is a clear indication of the mentality of this song.