Scientists Claim to Have Found Most Relaxing Song Ever

It goes without saying that music is one of the best inventions ever. It can cheer you up when you’re feeling down, pump you up for a workout, help you fall to sleep and complement any possible mood you happen to be in. So, what song should be listening to if your ultimate goal is to relax? Believe it or not, a group of scientists have found that out.

The honor belongs to British ambient band Marconi Union with its song “Weightless” (perfect name, no?). The creation of the song was done with the help of sound therapists, so it’s not by coincidence that the song is relaxing. But how on earth did they manage to create a song more relaxing then Enya?

Apparently one key is to have the music play at a constant 60 BPM, which according to Shortlist.com “causes the brainwaves and heart rate to synchronise with the rhythm“.  With a combination of low bass tones and trance-like sound, this is a song that aims to relax or maybe even help you fall to sleep.

After listening to the song, I can see how it’d be considered to be one of the most relaxing songs out there, but I am not sure I’d call it the most relaxing. I don’t have the best examples on the top of my head, but there are definitely some OceanLab (Above & Beyond) tracks that should make the cut. Other songs I’d have to recommend are Air – All I Need and Röyksopp – Eple. I’d also have a hard time disagreeing with All Saints – Pure Shores, which did make the top ten. And speaking of:

• 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. Adele -Someone Like You
• 9. Mozart – Canzonetta Sull’aria
• 10. Cafe Del Mar – We Can Fly

* Additional credit for this track goes to Lyz Cooper, therapeutic sound expert and the founder of The British Academy of Sound Therapy.