Daredevil album art

Daredevil

Fiona Apple
The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (2012)
Intense 120 BPM
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Song DNA

Dynamic Range8/10
Sudden Changesextreme
Texturecomplex
Predictabilitylow
Vocal Styledynamic vocals
Notes: Frenetic percussion and manic descending piano create a panicked, anxious atmosphere that suddenly shifts to sparse, vulnerable moments. Fiona's vocal delivery ranges from aggressive screaming to intimate pleading.

Misophonia Triggers

Mouth Soundsnone
Percussive Clickspresent
Breathing Soundsmild
Repetitive Micro-soundsmild

An emotionally intense exploration of recklessness, self-destruction, and the desperate need for validation, featuring jarring instrumental shifts that mirror the song's psychological turbulence.

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Hear it the way it was made

The right gear changes everything.

Moods: aggressive, anxious, cathartic, intense, introspective

Traditions: alternative, art pop, experimental

How this song sits on each sensory axis

A dynamic range of 8/10 is in the upper band of our library. This song has a significant quiet-to-loud arc. For sensory-sensitive listening, set the opening volume well below your comfortable top-end; the climax will land harder than the intro suggests.

Sudden changes: present. This song uses surprise as a feature. For focus or background listening, it's likely to pull your attention away; for active listening, that's often the point.

Texture: complex.

Predictability is low — this song does not follow standard verse-chorus form closely, and rewards active listening more than passive listening.

Vocal style: dynamic vocals.

Where this sits in Fiona Apple's catalog

We have 46 songs from Fiona Apple in the library. Of those, 3 are rated Safe, 32 Moderate, and 11 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 8/10 sits above the artist average of 6.7, making it the #5 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.

Other tracks from The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

We have 5 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.

2012 context

Released in 2012. We have 261 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.5/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 2010s.

Explore by mood and tradition

Moods
aggressive · 528anxious · 56cathartic · 1429intense · 2409introspective · 5721
Traditions
alternative · 135art pop · 110experimental · 149

Why this rating

We rate this song Intense. Our rule is deliberately conservative: any one of high dynamic range, present sudden changes, harsh texture, or a strained/screamed vocal is enough to trigger Intense on its own. Full scoring rubric: methodology.

Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-13. 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 "Daredevil"

Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.

What is the sensory intensity of "Daredevil" by Fiona Apple?

"Daredevil" by Fiona Apple rates as Intense. Dynamic range 8/10, extreme sudden changes, complex texture, dynamic vocals vocal style. Any one of high dynamic range, present sudden changes, or harsh texture triggers the Intense rating.

How loud is "Daredevil" — what is its dynamic range?

"Daredevil" has a dynamic range of 8/10. Substantial quiet-to-loud arc. Start at a volume well below your top-end; the climax will land harder than the intro suggests.

Does "Daredevil" have sudden or surprising changes?

Yes. "Daredevil" uses surprise as a compositional feature. Expect unsignaled transitions.

What is "Daredevil" best for?

In our library "Daredevil" is recommended for: deep listening, emotional release, meltdown recovery. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.

When was "Daredevil" released?

"Daredevil" is from 2012, on the album "The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do". It appears in our 2010s catalog.

What is the emotional mood of "Daredevil"?

We tag "Daredevil" as aggressive, anxious, cathartic, intense, introspective. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.

What is the vocal style of "Daredevil"?

The vocal style is dynamic vocals.

Should I listen to "Daredevil"?

"Daredevil" is Intense in our ratings — dramatic dynamics, possible sudden changes, or strong vocal or textural energy. Best with intention rather than ambient use. If you are sensory-sensitive, the alternatives section surfaces calmer songs in the same mood family.

Songs with the same DNA

complex texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.

World in Motion
New Order
intense
DR 8
Eve
Converge
intense
DR 9
Intergalactic
Beastie Boys
moderate
DR 7
John the Fisherman
Primus
intense
DR 7
One Nation Under a Groove
Funkadelic
intense
DR 8
Theme from Goodbye Goodbody
Squarepusher
intense
DR 8

Safer alternatives with a similar feel

These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.

Ribs
Lorde moderate
CPR
Wet Leg moderate
I've Gotta Get a Message to You
Bee Gees moderate
Rescue
Echo and the Bunnymen moderate
Super 8
Jason Isbell moderate

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