PSA: Info about "Weightless" by Marconi Union, and some songs better than it for relaxing.

Link is provided below, but please read this first.

I see this image posted a lot, and I want to clear up some things about this song. Some people like it, but others hate it, and before you listen, I'd like to explain why.

 "Weightless" by Marconi (It's not Macaroni, look again. I know, I read it that way too) is supposedly the most relaxing song in existence. The reasoning behind this has to do primarily with the song's pitch and rhythm. The song starts at 60 beats per minute, but gradually slows down to 50 beats per minute over the course of about 8 minutes. The pitch of the song is also very low, so it's not meant to be straining on the ears, and resonates with the body.

HOWEVER, This is only the case with some people. For many others, myself included, this is one of the worst songs to listen to. If you have anxiety, I personally would not recommend listening to this song. In most cases I've seen, this song can increase anxiety and discomfort in people who are already under high levels of stress, anxiety, or depression. If you fall into any of these categories, then I have some potentially better playlists at the end of this post.

There are several reasons this song increases anxiety for some people:

- The song's tempo gradually slows down, which means it gradually changes. This means that it's impossible to find a steady, rhythmic beat at any point, because there never is one.

- At points, the song gets extremely low in pitch and sounds like it's pounding. This can create a lot of stress for some people. For my fellows out there with synesthesia, it sounds very much like a headache feels.

- The song has no repeating melody or sounds (This was on purpose. I know, right?) This can be anxiety-inducing for people with anxiety and/or OCD because it's impossible to predict, and patterns are often a much better way to calm these people down, as it allows them to have something to ground themselves to.

- The song ends on a very high pitched note, which can ruin any relaxing effects that the rest of the song had on you. If you even manage to make it that far, that is.

"So what are some alternatives?" I hear you asking from behind your phone screen at 2 in the morning.

Well, a good friend and I have found you some great alternatives that are actually relaxing. As someone with a lot of anxiety and stress, I've found that these playlists have calmed me down and made me feel more at peace than anything else. This may just be me personally, but I have to recommend some actual music before I let you go drive yourself crazy with eight minutes of low-pitched noise.

https://youtu.be/aK4JSwhdcdE - Skyrim Music & Ambience, Night - This is the only playlist that's ever actually put me to sleep. The soothing, gently echoing strings and nighttime ambience added in are always enough to calm me down. Definitely give this one a listen.

https://youtu.be/dd10InDdvJE - Skyrim Music & Ambience, Taverns - Another Skyrim one. Not as slow or tranquil as the previous one, but the gentle strum of a lute and the sweet song of a penny whistle shouldn't be overlooked. The repetitive nature of this one may not lull you to sleep, but it might put a smile on your face and make you want to comfort yourself with a hot meal and a stiff drink.

https://youtu.be/NntQ86FHcMY - Relaxing Breath of the Wild Music - I quite enjoy the slow piano in this one. Again, not one to fall asleep to, but one that can help you chill out after a rough day. No ambient sounds in this one, but sometimes the instruments simulate ambience and sounds of nature, which can be very calming and melodic.

https://youtu.be/-N-jQzBXkUU - Relaxing Super Mario Galaxy Soundtrack - Noticing a theme with the video games? I thought so. Maybe that's because video game music is better engineered to give you a feeling while still adhering to traditional musical rules. Anyway, This one is a mixed bag, some slow, some fast, but all calming. Wouldn't recommend this to sleep by, but if you need to sit for a half hour and listen to something peaceful, this one is good too.

https://youtu.be/7LEmer7wwHI - Relaxing Studio Ghibli Piano - Hey look one that's not a video game! As the title implies, this one is all piano. A few of these are more somber, but the piano is always very soft and calming with these songs either way. I like this one when I'm doing nothing important, like just texting friends or just lying down for a few.

Those five are the best I could find. If you want to listen to Weightless after all, here's the link. Again, I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS, but it works for some people.

******WARNING THIS IS THE SONG I WAS TALKING ABOUT******
https://youtu.be/UfcAVejslrU

Calming Cat Tax. Thanks for listening. Here's hoping you have a wonderful, relaxing morning/afternoon/evening/night.