That Ole Devil Called Love
Song DNA
A song that explores the complexities of love.
Cultural Context
An iconic piece showcasing her vocal prowess.
Listening Prompt
Listen for the nuances in her voice.
What to Expect
Maintains a captivating flow.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: intimate, melancholy
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 6/10 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: none. Transitions are musically signaled — nothing will surprise you if you're only half-listening.
Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.
Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.
Vocal style: dynamic 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 6/10 sits below the artist average of 6.1, making it the #15 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
- Fine and Mellow — safe DR 5
- Summertime — safe DR 6
- Mean to Me — moderate DR 6
- Gloomy Sunday — moderate DR 7
- Yesterdays — safe DR 5
1945 context
Released in 1945. We have 6 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.3/10. 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: 2026-04-05. 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 "That Ole Devil Called Love"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "That Ole Devil Called Love" by Billie Holiday?
"That Ole Devil Called Love" by Billie Holiday rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 6/10, none sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.
How loud is "That Ole Devil Called Love" — what is its dynamic range?
"That Ole Devil Called Love" has a dynamic range of 6/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.
Does "That Ole Devil Called Love" have sudden or surprising changes?
No. "That Ole Devil Called Love" has no sudden unsignaled changes. Every transition is musically telegraphed.
What is "That Ole Devil Called Love" best for?
In our library "That Ole Devil Called Love" is recommended for: focus, meditation. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "That Ole Devil Called Love" released?
"That Ole Devil Called Love" is from 1945, on the album "Billie Holiday Sings". It appears in our 1940s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "That Ole Devil Called Love"?
We tag "That Ole Devil Called Love" as intimate, melancholy. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "That Ole Devil Called Love"?
The vocal style is dynamic vocals.
Should I listen to "That Ole Devil Called Love"?
"That Ole Devil Called Love" 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
layered 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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