What Is This Thing Called Love
Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
A melancholic jazz standard from Cole Porter, delivered by Frank Sinatra with Nelson Riddle's lush orchestration on his 1955 concept album exploring late-night loneliness.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: intimate, melancholy, reflective
Traditions: jazz standard
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 4/10 is within the normal pop-mix band. There is variation between verse and chorus, but it's the kind of variation most listeners encounter routinely.
Sudden changes: none. Transitions are musically signaled — nothing will surprise you if you're only half-listening.
Texture: smooth.
Predictability is high — the song telegraphs what it will do next. A sensory-sensitive listener can usually guess where it's going without close attention.
Vocal style: soft vocals.
Where this sits in Frank Sinatra's catalog
We have 38 songs from Frank Sinatra in the library. Of those, 31 are rated Safe, 7 Moderate, and 0 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 4/10 sits below the artist average of 5.1, making it the #28 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
Other tracks from In the Wee Small Hours
We have 6 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans safe in sensory profile.
- In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning — safe DR 3
- Mood Indigo — safe DR 4
- Last Night When We Were Young — safe DR 4
- Ill Wind — safe DR 4
- Glad to Be Unhappy — safe DR 4
1955 context
Released in 1955. We have 31 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 5.3/10. This track is quieter / less dynamic than the year average. Explore more from the 1950s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Why this rating
We rate this song Safe because its dynamic range stays within our low-variance band, there are no unsignaled changes, and the texture and vocal style are both in the low-fatigue range. Our methodology uses an AND rule for Safe — a song has to clear every dimension to earn the rating.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-14. 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 "What Is This Thing Called Love"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "What Is This Thing Called Love" by Frank Sinatra?
"What Is This Thing Called Love" by Frank Sinatra rates as Low-Intensity. Dynamic range 4/10, no sudden changes, smooth texture. Our Low-Intensity rating means no single dimension triggers the higher-intensity thresholds.
How loud is "What Is This Thing Called Love" — what is its dynamic range?
"What Is This Thing Called Love" has a dynamic range of 4/10. Within normal pop-mix variation. Movement between verse and chorus but nothing dramatic.
Does "What Is This Thing Called Love" have sudden or surprising changes?
No. "What Is This Thing Called Love" has no sudden unsignaled changes. Every transition is musically telegraphed.
What is "What Is This Thing Called Love" best for?
In our library "What Is This Thing Called Love" is recommended for: anxiety relief, deep listening, relaxation. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "What Is This Thing Called Love" released?
"What Is This Thing Called Love" is from 1955, on the album "In the Wee Small Hours". It appears in our 1950s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "What Is This Thing Called Love"?
We tag "What Is This Thing Called Love" as intimate, 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 "What Is This Thing Called Love"?
The vocal style is soft vocals.
Should I listen to "What Is This Thing Called Love"?
If you want gentle, low-arousal music, "What Is This Thing Called Love" is a solid pick — Low-Intensity across every sensory dimension.
Songs with the same DNA
smooth texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
What this song means to people
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