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10 songs that feel like Vexations

Matched to Vexations by Erik Satie 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
Vexations
Erik Satie
moderate 34/100 intensity 60 BPM
Sea of Pulses — Tim Hecker moderate 60 BPM

A 96% feel-match — carries the same contemplative pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (38/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (60 BPM).

Listening in Depth — Labradford moderate 70 BPM

98% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (35/100). Same layered texture.

Mar — Labradford moderate 70 BPM

Keeps the same contemplative pull — lands at almost exactly the same energy (35/100). Measured 98% alike.

Brot — Olafur Arnalds safe 60 BPM

Measures 96% the same. It lands at almost exactly the same energy (34/100). Same layered texture.

Only the Winds — Olafur Arnalds safe 60 BPM

A 96% feel-match — carries the same contemplative pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (34/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (60 BPM).

Unraveling — Olafur Arnalds safe 60 BPM

96% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (34/100). Same layered texture.

Tomorrow's Song — Olafur Arnalds safe 60 BPM

Keeps the same contemplative pull — lands at almost exactly the same energy (34/100). Measured 96% alike. Nearly the same tempo, too (60 BPM).

A Red Score in Tile — William Basinski moderate 60 BPM

Measures 96% the same. It lands at almost exactly the same energy (34/100). Same layered texture.

Castratos Dream — William Basinski moderate 60 BPM

A 96% feel-match — carries the same contemplative pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (34/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (60 BPM).

Opus — Ryuichi Sakamoto safe 60 BPM

96% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (34/100). Same layered texture.

…and if you want it calmer

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

Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2 by Frédéric Chopin
Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2 — Frédéric Chopin safe 60 BPM

Keeps the same feel of the original, but it stays in our safe band start to finish. Intensity 25/100, down from 34. Nearly the same tempo, too.

Kiss the Rain by Yiruma
Kiss the Rain — Yiruma safe 60 BPM

Nothing in it lurches or startles, so it lands at 16/100 — the pull without the edge. Nearly the same tempo, too.

What Was I Made For by Billie Eilish
What Was I Made For — Billie Eilish safe 60 BPM

If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while its dynamic range stays a gentler 4 where the original climbs to 6. Reads 14/100. Nearly the same tempo, too.

Across the Universe by The Beatles
Across the Universe — The Beatles safe 69 BPM

Holds the same feel while nothing in it lurches or startles. 27/100, versus the original's 34. Nearly the same tempo, too.

That's the Way by Led Zeppelin
That's the Way — Led Zeppelin safe 72 BPM

Keeps the same feel of the original, but its dynamic range stays a gentler 4 where the original climbs to 6. Intensity 21/100, down from 34.

Marion by Bon Iver
Marion — Bon Iver safe 75 BPM

Its dynamic range stays a gentler 3 where the original climbs to 6, so it lands at 12/100 — the pull without the edge.

All Cats Are Grey by The Cure
All Cats Are Grey — The Cure safe 70 BPM

If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while its dynamic range stays a gentler 3 where the original climbs to 6. Reads 11/100. Nearly the same tempo, too.

Sinking by The Cure
Sinking — The Cure safe 65 BPM

Holds the same feel while its dynamic range stays a gentler 3 where the original climbs to 6. 11/100, versus the original's 34. Nearly the same tempo, too.

Frequently asked

What songs sound like “Vexations” by Erik Satie?

The closest feel-matches we measure are “Sea of Pulses” by Tim Hecker, “Listening in Depth” by Labradford, “Mar” by Labradford — 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 “Vexations” but calmer?

“Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2” by Frédéric Chopin, “Kiss the Rain” by Yiruma, “What Was I Made For” by Billie Eilish keep a similar feel while measuring gentler — lower dynamic swing, fewer sudden shifts, or a calmer overall level.

How intense is “Vexations”?

It measures 34/100 on our intensity scale, computed from a dynamic range of 6/10, layered texture, mild sudden shifts, and instrumental. Tempo is 60 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

On our 19k-song scale this lands in the middle band — more energetic than 22% of songs, calmer than the other 78%. Its intensity reading of 34/100 comes from a dynamic range of 6/10, layered texture, mild shifts, and instrumental. 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 100% 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

Sleep6/10
Focus10/10
Workout2/10
Dinner7/10
Party / hype2/10

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

Mixes smoothly with

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

The fingerprint

Intensity34
Dynamics56
Tempo11
Surprise25
Density33
Predictability50
Vocal force0
Trigger load25

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

Want the single closest match, with every dimension compared?

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