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10 songs that feel like Leaving New York

Matched to Leaving New York by R.E.M. on how the music actually moves — intensity, dynamic swing, texture, tempo — not by genre tag. Here's what makes each one a match.

The song you love
Leaving New York
R.E.M.
moderate 25/100 intensity 72 BPM
I Threw It All Away — Bob Dylan moderate 80 BPM

A 98% feel-match — carries the same emotional pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (26/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (80 BPM).

Visiting Hours — Ed Sheeran moderate 72 BPM

96% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (25/100). Same smooth texture.

Childhood — Michael Jackson safe 80 BPM

Keeps the same nostalgic pull — lands at almost exactly the same energy (26/100). Measured 98% alike. Nearly the same tempo, too (80 BPM).

Here Comes the Sun — Nina Simone safe 70 BPM

Measures 99% the same. It lands at almost exactly the same energy (25/100). Same smooth texture.

The Tree of Forgiveness — John Prine safe 90 BPM

A 89% feel-match — carries the same nostalgic pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (21/100).

Faded Love — Patsy Cline moderate 72 BPM

96% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (29/100). Same smooth texture.

Homesick — Dua Lipa safe 98 BPM

Keeps the same nostalgic pull — lands at almost exactly the same energy (27/100). Measured 95% alike.

Elephant — Jason Isbell safe 75 BPM

Measures 99% the same. It lands at almost exactly the same energy (25/100). Same smooth texture.

That's the Way — Led Zeppelin safe 72 BPM

A 96% feel-match — carries the same emotional pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (21/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (72 BPM).

Always with Me — Yumi Kimura safe 72 BPM

96% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (29/100). Same smooth texture.

…and if you want it calmer

Same feeling, measured gentler — for when Leaving New York is more than you want right now.

I Remember Everything by John Prine
I Remember Everything — John Prine safe 75 BPM

Keeps the same feel of the original, but its dynamic range stays a gentler 2 where the original climbs to 5. Intensity 8/100, down from 25. Nearly the same tempo, too.

The Tree of Forgiveness — John Prine safe 90 BPM

Nothing in it lurches or startles, so it lands at 21/100 — the pull without the edge.

Both Sides, Now by Joni Mitchell
Both Sides, Now — Joni Mitchell safe 82 BPM

If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while nothing in it lurches or startles. Reads 27/100. Nearly the same tempo, too.

Love of My Life by Harry Styles
Love of My Life — Harry Styles safe 72 BPM

Holds the same feel while its dynamic range stays a gentler 3 where the original climbs to 5. 11/100, versus the original's 25. Nearly the same tempo, too.

All of Our Yesterdays by Mac DeMarco
All of Our Yesterdays — Mac DeMarco safe 72 BPM

Keeps the same feel of the original, but nothing in it lurches or startles. Intensity 15/100, down from 25. Nearly the same tempo, too.

Never Die Young by James Taylor
Never Die Young — James Taylor safe 72 BPM

Nothing in it lurches or startles, so it lands at 15/100 — the pull without the edge. Nearly the same tempo, too.

Passing Afternoon by Iron & Wine
Passing Afternoon — Iron & Wine safe 60 BPM

If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while nothing in it lurches or startles. Reads 14/100.

Quiet Eyes by Sharon Van Etten
Quiet Eyes — Sharon Van Etten safe 60 BPM

Holds the same feel while nothing in it lurches or startles. 14/100, versus the original's 25.

Frequently asked

What songs sound like “Leaving New York” by R.E.M.?

The closest feel-matches we measure are “I Threw It All Away” by Bob Dylan, “Visiting Hours” by Ed Sheeran, “Childhood” by Michael Jackson — 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 “Leaving New York” but calmer?

“I Remember Everything” by John Prine, “The Tree of Forgiveness” by John Prine, “Both Sides, Now” by Joni Mitchell keep a similar feel while measuring gentler — lower dynamic swing, fewer sudden shifts, or a calmer overall level.

How intense is “Leaving New York”?

It measures 25/100 on our intensity scale, computed from a dynamic range of 5/10, smooth texture, mild sudden shifts, and soft vocals. Tempo is 72 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 sits near the calm end of everything we've measured — gentler than 84% of the 19,209 songs in the library. Its intensity reading of 25/100 comes from a dynamic range of 5/10, smooth texture, mild shifts, and soft vocals. Relatively few songs occupy this exact corner of the spectrum.

What makes it unusual

What stands out most about this song is a slow, unhurried pace: 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 full chaos — sudden changes, huge quiet-to-loud swings, and relentless energy — 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

Sleep7/10
Focus9/10
Workout1/10
Dinner8/10
Party / hype1/10

Scored from this song’s tempo, intensity, dynamics and texture — not crowd votes.

2004 in context

The 334 songs we’ve measured from 2004 average a dynamic range of 6.4/10. At 5/10, this track is gentler and steadier than its year.

Mixes smoothly with

Within a few BPM and close in feel — they flow without a jarring transition.

The fingerprint

Intensity25
Dynamics44
Tempo18
Surprise25
Density0
Predictability0
Vocal force25
Trigger load0

The 8-dimension measurement behind every rating on this page.

Want the single closest match, with every dimension compared?

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