Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
A haunting ballad that expresses profound sorrow and longing, often associated with themes of loss and despair.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: introspective, melancholy, reflective
Traditions: blues, jazz
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 7/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.
Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
Texture: smooth.
Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.
Vocal style: soft vocals.
Where this sits in Billie Holiday's catalog
We have 25 songs from Billie Holiday in the library. Of those, 8 are rated Safe, 16 Moderate, and 1 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 7/10 sits above the artist average of 6.1, making it the #5 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
Other tracks from Billie Holiday Sings
We have 9 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.
- When You're Smiling — safe DR 4
- Don't Explain — moderate DR 6
- I'll Be Seeing You — moderate DR 6
- That Ole Devil Called Love — moderate DR 6
- Fine and Mellow — safe DR 5
- Summertime — safe DR 6
- Mean to Me — moderate DR 6
- Yesterdays — safe DR 5
1944 context
Released in 1944. We have 8 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.0/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 1940s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Why this rating
We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-16. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
Frequently asked about "Gloomy Sunday"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "Gloomy Sunday" by Billie Holiday?
"Gloomy Sunday" by Billie Holiday rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 7/10, mild sudden changes, smooth texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.
How loud is "Gloomy Sunday" — what is its dynamic range?
"Gloomy Sunday" has a dynamic range of 7/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.
Does "Gloomy Sunday" have sudden or surprising changes?
"Gloomy Sunday" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
What is "Gloomy Sunday" best for?
In our library "Gloomy Sunday" is recommended for: deep listening, emotional release, relaxation. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Gloomy Sunday" released?
"Gloomy Sunday" is from 1944, on the album "Billie Holiday Sings". It appears in our 1940s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Gloomy Sunday"?
We tag "Gloomy Sunday" as introspective, melancholy, reflective. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Gloomy Sunday"?
The vocal style is soft vocals.
Should I listen to "Gloomy Sunday"?
"Gloomy Sunday" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.
Songs with the same DNA
smooth texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
Safer alternatives with a similar feel
These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.
What this song means to people
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