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10 songs that feel like Crosseyed and Painless
Matched to Crosseyed and Painless by Talking Heads on how the music actually moves — intensity, dynamic swing, texture, tempo — not by genre tag. Here's what makes each one a match.
A 96% feel-match — carries the same intense pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (70/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (120 BPM).
96% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (69/100). Same complex texture.
Keeps the same intense pull — lands at almost exactly the same energy (70/100). Measured 96% alike. Nearly the same tempo, too (120 BPM).
Measures 95% the same. It lands at almost exactly the same energy (65/100). Same complex texture.
A 91% feel-match — carries the same intense pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (66/100).
91% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it runs a little hotter at 73/100. Same complex texture.
Keeps the same intense pull — sits a little calmer at 57/100. Measured 88% alike.
Measures 90% the same. It lands at almost exactly the same energy (70/100). Same complex texture.
A 90% feel-match — carries the same intense pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (61/100).
90% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it sits a little calmer at 60/100.
…and if you want it calmer
Same feeling, measured gentler — for when Crosseyed and Painless is more than you want right now.
Keeps the same feel of the original, but it measures markedly calmer overall. Intensity 53/100, down from 66. Nearly the same tempo, too.
It eases off just enough to take the edge off, so it lands at 60/100 — the pull without the edge. Nearly the same tempo, too.
If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while it measures markedly calmer overall. Reads 54/100. Nearly the same tempo, too.
Holds the same feel while it eases off just enough to take the edge off. 60/100, versus the original's 66. Nearly the same tempo, too.
Keeps the same feel of the original, but it measures markedly calmer overall. Intensity 53/100, down from 66. Nearly the same tempo, too.
It eases off just enough to take the edge off, so it lands at 59/100 — the pull without the edge. Nearly the same tempo, too.
If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while it eases off just enough to take the edge off. Reads 61/100.
Holds the same feel while it measures markedly calmer overall. 57/100, versus the original's 66.
Frequently asked
What songs sound like “Crosseyed and Painless” by Talking Heads?
The closest feel-matches we measure are “Hunter” by Björk, “Working for the Knife” by Mitski, “Trashed” by Black Sabbath — the top match scores 96% 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 “Crosseyed and Painless” but calmer?
“Making Flippy Floppy” by Talking Heads, “Cities” by Talking Heads, “Forerunner” by Ornette Coleman keep a similar feel while measuring gentler — lower dynamic swing, fewer sudden shifts, or a calmer overall level.
How intense is “Crosseyed and Painless”?
It measures 66/100 on our intensity scale, computed from a dynamic range of 7/10, complex texture, moderate sudden shifts, and dynamic vocals. Tempo is 118 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 87% of the 19,209 songs we've measured. Its intensity reading of 66/100 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 87% 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.
Dial the feeling up or down
What it’s good for
Scored from this song’s tempo, intensity, dynamics and texture — not crowd votes.
1980 in context
The 257 songs we’ve measured from 1980 average a dynamic range of 6.3/10. At 7/10, this track is louder and more dynamic than 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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