Scientists Develop the Most Relaxing Tune

By John Farrier in Entertainment, Music on Oct 22, 2011 at 1:12 pm

Sound therapists and stress specialists worked with the band Marconi Union to develop “Weightless”, the most relaxing song ever:

Weightless works by using specific rhythms, tones, frequencies and intervals to relax the listener. A continuous rhythm of 60 BPM causes the brainwaves and heart rate to synchronise with the rhythm: a process known as ‘entrainment’. Low underlying bass tones relax the listener and a low whooshing sound with a trance-like quality takes the listener into an even deeper state of calm.

Dr David Lewis, one of the UK’s leading stress specialists said: “‘Weightless’ induced the greatest relaxation – higher than any of the other music tested. Brain imaging studies have shown that music works at a very deep level within the brain, stimulating not only those regions responsible for processing sound but also ones associated with emotions.” [...]

The top 10 most relaxing tunes were: 1. Marconi Union – Weightless 2. Airstream – Electra 3. DJ Shah – Mellomaniac (Chill Out Mix) 4. Enya – Watermark 5. Coldplay – Strawberry Swing 6. Barcelona – Please Don’t Go 7. All Saints – Pure Shores 8. AdelevSomeone Like You 9. Mozart – Canzonetta Sull’aria 10. Cafe Del Mar – We Can Fly

Would you add any songs to this list?

Recording of the Song and Story Link -via First Things

Photo (unrelated) by Flickr user ewen and donabel

Tags: relaxing

Neat stuff from the NeatoShop:

Dallas Crane
Oct 22nd, 2011 at 4:32 pm
I would hardly consider this a song. Just some nice noise though. Maybe because Im not a person who finds a dichotomy between variety and relaxation.
The CD “Sub-Counscious” by Phutureprimitive has this same vibe though, but still retains melodic and rhythmic variety. It keeps my brain in a very high state of activity while slowly transfering that activity from conscious to subconscious. really nice stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcb8WCaZAEw
teh yoshi
Oct 22nd, 2011 at 4:55 pm
Hey, if that Mozart hooplah can make it on that list, then I highly recommend Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor”.
Listen here (especially at work): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSeg69d3CQ8
jooliep
Oct 22nd, 2011 at 6:00 pm
Clair de Lune.
Jdoozie
Oct 22nd, 2011 at 6:24 pm
Definitely Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 the 4th movement….
John Farrier
Oct 22nd, 2011 at 7:04 pm
I vote for Claire de Lune, too.
Exxos
Oct 22nd, 2011 at 7:23 pm
That Weightless mp3 made me anxious and tense.
Mikey B
Oct 22nd, 2011 at 9:56 pm
I will have to second that recording making me incredibly tense
Groin Gremlin
Oct 22nd, 2011 at 10:25 pm
Sounds like Hemi Sync binaural beats
LLoyd
Oct 22nd, 2011 at 10:42 pm
Erik Satie: Gymnopédie No. 1-3
PacRim Jim
Oct 22nd, 2011 at 11:43 pm
That’s a cat on a synthesizer. When I want relaxing music, I listen to Delius or Butterworth.
Larfin Jackarse
Oct 23rd, 2011 at 12:27 am
Let’s hope those pesky sighandtests don’t start work on the worlds funniest joke.
raja
Oct 23rd, 2011 at 3:14 am
Hope for Enlightenment by Jean-Philippe Rykiel and Lama Gyurme
raja
Oct 23rd, 2011 at 3:21 am
Reflections by Swara, Music to Be With Volume 1
Ray
Oct 23rd, 2011 at 4:06 am
Years ago I went to a Reveen show where he used Moonlight Sonata to help hypnotize folks. It still makes me drowsy!
Jolly
Oct 23rd, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Didn’t find it relaxing at all, just dull and somewhat pretentious. I hunted down some other work by the band and found it dull and somewhat pretentious.

Would it make me sleepy? No. I often do doze of listening to soothing music that I enjoy, I didn’t enjoy this one little bit so it wouldn’t make me sleepy.
Willicent
Oct 23rd, 2011 at 3:22 pm
The Ascent – Brian Eno of the Apollo soundtrack is one of my all time favorites.
Josh
Oct 23rd, 2011 at 5:02 pm
That song if you can call it that is not very relaxing to me. If you want relaxing listen to something like Ryan Farish – Chasing The Sun or Amethystium – Autumn Interlude
Briannana
Oct 23rd, 2011 at 8:33 pm
John Cage – In a Landscape – much much better.
Dave G
Oct 23rd, 2011 at 10:12 pm
Albatross, by Fleetwood Mac
ChrisfromFrance
Oct 24th, 2011 at 4:12 am
76 14! The whole double album…
Tom Middleton at its best !

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/76:14
MadMolecule
Oct 24th, 2011 at 10:33 am
William Basinski’s “The Disintegration Loops” always puts me right to sleep. In the good way, I mean.
Kitaro
Oct 25th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Kitaro – Silk Road, the entire album, I love how this relaxes me almost instantly!
codyg
Oct 27th, 2011 at 6:55 pm
weightless kinda made me wanna puch someone at first
Ally
Nov 2nd, 2011 at 5:52 pm
“Sailing” by Christopher Cross.

Keep track of the comments with

Don't Miss: New Stuff | Bestsellers | The Cute Store
Funny T-Shirts | Zombie Shop

Need a gift? Get unforgettable gifts for:
Geeks | Pranksters | Kids | Hipsters | Shutterbugs

The latest from NeatoBambino: