10 songs that feel like Allentown
Matched to Allentown by Billy Joel on how the music actually moves — intensity, dynamic swing, texture, tempo — not by genre tag. Here's what makes each one a match.
A 98% feel-match — carries the same heavy pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (71/100).
95% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (74/100). Same complex texture.
Keeps the same heavy pull — lands at almost exactly the same energy (75/100). Measured 96% alike. Nearly the same tempo, too (132 BPM).
Measures 96% the same. It lands at almost exactly the same energy (75/100). Same complex texture.
A 95% feel-match — carries the same heavy pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (69/100).
95% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (74/100). Same complex texture.
Keeps the same heavy pull — lands at almost exactly the same energy (69/100). Measured 94% alike.
Measures 94% the same. It lands at almost exactly the same energy (73/100). Same complex texture.
A 94% feel-match — carries the same heavy pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (73/100).
93% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (73/100). Same complex texture.
…and if you want it calmer
Same feeling, measured gentler — for when Allentown is more than you want right now.
Keeps the same feel of the original, but it measures markedly calmer overall. Intensity 46/100, down from 71.
It measures markedly calmer overall, so it lands at 55/100 — the pull without the edge.
If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while it measures markedly calmer overall. Reads 52/100.
Holds the same feel while it measures markedly calmer overall. 53/100, versus the original's 71.
Keeps the same feel of the original, but it measures markedly calmer overall. Intensity 50/100, down from 71.
It measures markedly calmer overall, so it lands at 40/100 — the pull without the edge.
If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while it measures markedly calmer overall. Reads 50/100.
Holds the same feel while it measures markedly calmer overall. 46/100, versus the original's 71.
Frequently asked
What songs sound like “Allentown” by Billy Joel?
The closest feel-matches we measure are “She's Lost Control” by Joy Division, “Sign 'O' the Times” by Prince, “Drain You” by Nirvana — the top match scores 98% alike. Matching is by how the songs actually move (intensity, dynamic range, texture, tempo, predictability, vocal force), not by genre tag or popularity.
What songs are like “Allentown” but calmer?
“Working for the Man” by Roy Orbison, “Caroline's Monkey” by Depeche Mode, “Point Blank” by Bruce Springsteen keep a similar feel while measuring gentler — lower dynamic swing, fewer sudden shifts, or a calmer overall level.
How intense is “Allentown”?
It measures 71/100 on our intensity scale, computed from a dynamic range of 7/10, complex texture, moderate sudden shifts, and dynamic vocals. Tempo is 138 BPM.
How do you decide which songs are similar?
Every song in our catalog is measured on 8 dimensions — intensity, dynamic range, tempo, sudden changes, texture, predictability, vocal force and fine sound detail. Similarity is the distance between two songs across those measurements, so matches cross genres and eras. Shared mood tags break ties.
By the numbers: how this song compares
Computed from this song’s place among the 19,209 songs we’ve measured.
Where it sits in 19,000 songs
This is one of the more intense things in our library — more energetic than 90% of the 19,209 songs we've measured. Its intensity reading of 71/100 comes from a dynamic range of 7/10, complex texture, moderate shifts, and dynamic vocals. Relatively few songs occupy this exact corner of the spectrum.
What makes it unusual
What stands out most about this song is blazing intensity: more extreme on that axis than 90% of everything we've measured. At the far opposite end of the library sit the songs built on near-total stillness — steady volume, no surprises, a slow and unhurried pulse — the kind of track this one is the counterpoint to.
Feels almost identical to
Closest matches by feel across all 19,209 measured songs — not by genre or artist, by how they actually move.
What it’s good for
Scored from this song’s tempo, intensity, dynamics and texture — not crowd votes.
1982 in context
The 211 songs we’ve measured from 1982 average a dynamic range of 6.5/10. At 7/10, this track is right in line with its year.
Mixes smoothly with
Within a few BPM and close in feel — they flow without a jarring transition.
The fingerprint
The 8-dimension measurement behind every rating on this page.
Want the single closest match, with every dimension compared?
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