In a recent issue of Entertainment Weekly dedicated to obscure and underrated gems, comedian (and Late Night bandleader) Fred Armisen had this to say about today’s SOTD, by The Damned:
There’s a song called ‘Life Goes On’ which is one of the most beautiful songs ever written on planet Earth. That’s not my opinion, that’s fact. That’s the fact. It’s one of the most beautiful songs ever written. The lyrics have gotten me through bad times, they’ve gotten me through happy times… the lyrics of ‘Life Goes On’ are what life is about.
You read something like that and of course you have to seek out the song, right?
No matter how good the song, it would be basically impossible to live up to that description. And ‘Life Goes On’ isn’t that good a song, though I do like it.
But I’m more interested in the way songs can connect with people. How great for Fred Armisen that he has ‘Life Goes On’ to reassure him. And I’m sure he has plenty of company out there — a disparate yet connected community of people who find special meaning in The Damned.
My own ‘Life Goes On’ might be a song by Fiona Apple, R.E.M. or Bob Dylan. Why those, and not this? Is it the way my brain is wired, or some accident of the time, place and situation in which I first heard those songs? Could ‘Life Goes On’ mean as much to me as it does to Armisen if I’d heard it under different circumstances?
if you think it’s all gone wrong
go on and on and on
life’s a con a con a con
if you think you can’t go on
go on and on and on
chorus :
but always remember,
this is the happiest day of your life
(repeat first verse)
and as the years they move along
i see it now, there’s something wrong
‘cos life is for always
take your time
who cares what fools say
i don’t mind
‘cos this is my day
i’ll live it my way
today, there’s just today
Meet Me In Montauk 
Well, as you said, no song could possibly live up to the hype of being dubbed one of the most beautiful songs ever created on the planet, but I suspect that, even without that high praise inflating expectations, I would not come away feeling that way about this song. Sure, part of it may be a lack of familiarity with the band or the song, but I don’t really think that’s it. The word “beautiful” doesn’t spring to mind when I hear this and the lyrics are a bit too trite and overtly inspirational for my personal taste.
For me, the most beautiful song on the planet would probably be the Beatles’ “In My Life,” though Billy Joel’s “Vienna,” Elton John’s “Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters” and Elvis Costello’s “Shipbuiling” would all be in contention.
I’m sure Fred Armisen heard this song when he was experiencing some pain in his life, and it helped him through it so for him it’s a “beautiful” and important song. The words certainly have a cheerleader quality, and people use poems and sayings all the time to make them feel better about their situations, esp. if they are troubled.