Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
A poignant reflection on loss and memory, 'Fourth of July' captures the bittersweet essence of familial love and the passage of time.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: introspective, melancholy, reflective
Traditions: indie folk
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: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
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: soft vocals.
Where this sits in Sufjan Stevens's catalog
We have 44 songs from Sufjan Stevens in the library. Of those, 18 are rated Safe, 20 Moderate, and 6 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 6/10 sits above the artist average of 5.4, making it the #19 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
Other tracks from Carrie & Lowell
We have 11 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans safe in sensory profile.
- Death with Dignity — safe DR 3
- Should Have Known Better — safe DR 3
- Carrie & Lowell — safe DR 3
- The Only Thing — safe DR 3
- Drawn to the Blood — safe DR 3
- No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross — moderate DR 4
- John My Beloved — safe DR 3
- Blue Bucket of Gold — safe DR 3
- Eugene — safe DR 3
- Now That I'm Older — safe DR 5
2015 context
Released in 2015. We have 372 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 2010s.
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: 2026-04-13. 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 "Fourth of July"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "Fourth of July" by Sufjan Stevens?
"Fourth of July" by Sufjan Stevens rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 6/10, mild sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.
How loud is "Fourth of July" — what is its dynamic range?
"Fourth of July" 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 "Fourth of July" have sudden or surprising changes?
"Fourth of July" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
What is "Fourth of July" best for?
In our library "Fourth of July" 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 "Fourth of July" released?
"Fourth of July" is from 2015, on the album "Carrie & Lowell". It appears in our 2010s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Fourth of July"?
We tag "Fourth of July" 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 "Fourth of July"?
The vocal style is soft vocals.
Should I listen to "Fourth of July"?
"Fourth of July" 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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