The Most Relaxing Song Ever? Marconi Union – Weightless

Every band has different ambitions. Some are happy playing local pubs, some want to be the biggest in the world, while one band from Manchester, want to write the most relaxing song ever. The trio are called Marconi Union, and they even met with sound therapists to record that they claim is the most relaxing song ever (via NME). The song is apparently SO relaxing that scientists say it shouldn’t be listened to while driving! I would have to agree, as I fell asleep listening to it while doing this blog post. That might be because I just drank a bottle of cough syrup though. It’s Friday after all.

The goal of the track was to slow breathing and reduce brain activity, the latter being a specialty of Nickelback songs. To determine if the song was actually relaxing, the song was then played to 40 women as part of a study commissioned by shower gel and shampoo producers Radox. Not sure of the correlation between relaxing music and shampoo products.

Asked what made the song so relaxing, Lyz Cooper, founder of the British Academy of Sound Therapy, said: “It is important that the song is eight minutes long because it takes about five minutes for this process, known as entrainment, to occur. The gaps between notes – have been chosen to create a feeling of euphoria and comfort. And there is no repeating melody, which allows your brain to completely switch off. Instead, there are random chimes, which helps to induce a deeper sense of relaxation. The final element is the low, whooshing sounds and hums that are like buddhist chants.”

In poor scientific technique, the study then released their list of the 10 most relaxing songs, and the song that they worked on with Marconi Union topped the poll – quelle surprise! Check out the list below.

1. Marconi Union – ‘Weightless’
2. Airstream – ‘Electra’
3. DJ Shah – ‘Mellomaniac’ (Chill Out Mix)
4. Enya – ‘Watermark’
5. Coldplay – ‘Strawberry Swing’
6. Barcelona – ‘Please Don’t Go’
7. All Saints – ‘Pure Shores’
8. Adele – Someone Like You
9. Mozart – Canzonetta Sull’aria
10. Cafe Del Mar – We Can Fly

Listen to the song below (not while driving) and have a relaxing Friday.

Marconi Union – Weightless
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