What is the most laid-back hit song of all time?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Notice I specify hit song. Three candidates:

Eric Clapton, "Wonderful Tonight"
Don Williams, "I Believe In You"
The Eagles, "New Kid in Town"

Any others?

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 29 December 2003 02:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Kenny G - "Songbird"

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 29 December 2003 02:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Afroman "Because I Got High"

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Monday, 29 December 2003 02:51 (twenty-two years ago)

All reggae hits to thread!
(even when the lyrics are about injustice/armagideon/burning Babylon to the ground)

― pete s, Monday, 29 December 2003 02:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Awnaw is laided back,
and all Reggae is not laid back.

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 29 December 2003 03:01 (twenty-two years ago)

gin and juice too!

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 29 December 2003 03:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Dixie Cups - Iko Iko

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 29 December 2003 03:06 (twenty-two years ago)

"Don't Worry Be Happy" - Though the reaction it inspires in some people is anything but laid back.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 29 December 2003 03:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Camron - Hey Ma

― bnw (bnw), Monday, 29 December 2003 03:18 (twenty-two years ago)

is this exclusively a bpm question?

― teeny (teeny), Monday, 29 December 2003 03:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Donovan, "Mellow Yellow"

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 29 December 2003 03:33 (twenty-two years ago)

is this exclusively a bpm question?

Let's say that bpm is a crucial factor to laid-backness, but not the only one.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 29 December 2003 03:43 (twenty-two years ago)

A few of these are way too perky to qualify, I think.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 29 December 2003 03:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Enya - "Only Time"

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 29 December 2003 03:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Not that Enya song!

― Aja (aja), Monday, 29 December 2003 03:51 (twenty-two years ago)

"is this exclusively a bpm question?
Let's say that bpm is a crucial factor to laid-backness, but not the only one.
A few of these are way too perky to qualify, I think. "

a slower then expected bpm is a side effect of a song having a laid-back feel.
Using my conception of laidbackness it has to be a little bit perky. (listening back to Awnaw just now, I think that is a very strong qualifier for quintessential laidback song) Like for example lionel richie's "Easy like Sunday Morning" does not seem laid-back to me because it's too easy-going. There's not enough groove to lay back into.

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 29 December 2003 04:02 (twenty-two years ago)

My idea of laidbackness is that I need to be able to picture someone driving in a low-rider with the top down, and the seat really far back, with one hand on the wheel, moving in slow motion.

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 29 December 2003 04:05 (twenty-two years ago)

oh, well then "Low Rider" ownz.

― teeny (teeny), Monday, 29 December 2003 04:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Jimmy Buffett, Margaritaville

― laibach, Monday, 29 December 2003 04:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Fade Into You?? Maybe something by Cowboy Junkies??

― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Monday, 29 December 2003 04:55 (twenty-two years ago)

"One on One," Hall & Oates
"On and On," Stephen Bishop

― s woods, Monday, 29 December 2003 04:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Neil Young "Roll Another Number for the Road"

Little Feat "Willin'"
(The slow electric one, not the acoustic one from their first album.)

― earlnash, Monday, 29 December 2003 05:13 (twenty-two years ago)

"Escape (the Piña Colada Song)," Rupert Holmes

― p.j. (Henry), Monday, 29 December 2003 05:18 (twenty-two years ago)

"Sailing," Christopher Cross

― p.j. (Henry), Monday, 29 December 2003 05:19 (twenty-two years ago)

The video clip of Rupert Holmes singing his hit on Solid Gold is one for the ages. He perhaps may be the dorkiest pop singer EVER.

It is well worth checking out.

― earlnash, Monday, 29 December 2003 05:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Cocaine- Jackson Browne

― Speedy Gonzalas (Speedy Gonzalas), Monday, 29 December 2003 05:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Fleetwood Mac's "Albatross"

Surely this defines "laid-back", and a quick google reveals it got to #1 in the UK at least.

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Monday, 29 December 2003 05:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Pink Floyd — "Pillow of Winds"

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Monday, 29 December 2003 05:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Nairn: [...] in slow motion

Julee Cruise, "Falling"

― OleM (OleM), Monday, 29 December 2003 09:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm Not in Love - 10cc

― may pang (maypang), Monday, 29 December 2003 09:34 (twenty-two years ago)

"o superman" surely

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 29 December 2003 09:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Summertime In The LBC
Set Adrift On Memory Bliss
Rock WIth You

― DarrensCoq (DarrenK), Monday, 29 December 2003 09:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Devin The Dude to thread.
King Tubby to thread.

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 29 December 2003 10:44 (twenty-two years ago)

All I Need - Air

― JoB (JoB), Monday, 29 December 2003 10:59 (twenty-two years ago)

ALBATROSS

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 29 December 2003 11:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Using my conception of laidbackness it has to be a little bit perky. (listening back to Awnaw just now, I think that is a very strong qualifier for quintessential laidback song) Like for example lionel richie's "Easy like Sunday Morning" does not seem laid-back to me because it's too easy-going. There's not enough groove to lay back into.

Ha! Dictionary.com uses "easy-going" to define "laid-back." "Gin and Juice" still has the faint pot-stink of paranoia (the synth); "Awnaw" a little too goofy; "Iko Iko" too perky. "Laid-back" music to my mind stuff you listen to in a big, comfortable ratttan chair. Music you sit down to. Or maybe you slow-dance to it.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 29 December 2003 11:34 (twenty-two years ago)

And "The Pina Colada Song" is too...uh...too rock.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 29 December 2003 11:35 (twenty-two years ago)

(The chorus, I mean.)

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 29 December 2003 11:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Maria Muldaur - "Midnight At The Oasis"

― John Fredland (jfredland), Monday, 29 December 2003 11:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Paul McCartney & Wings - "Another Day"

― John Fredland (jfredland), Monday, 29 December 2003 11:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Walk on the Wild Side to thread.

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Monday, 29 December 2003 12:01 (twenty-two years ago)

my vote's on Chris Cross's Sailing and Lou's Walk on the Wild Side

― JP Almeida (JP Almeida), Monday, 29 December 2003 12:25 (twenty-two years ago)

r.kelly 'ignition (remix)'
because laid-back /= relaxing. to be laid-back you have to be cool in the first place. enya's not cool.

― pete b. (pete b.), Monday, 29 December 2003 13:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Young Rascals: Groovin'

― harveyw (harveyw), Monday, 29 December 2003 13:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Alan Parsons Project - Time

― Kim (Kim), Monday, 29 December 2003 13:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Natural One - Folk Implosion.

― Dave P., Monday, 29 December 2003 13:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Beth Orton - "Thinking About Tomorrow"

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Monday, 29 December 2003 14:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I think 'Slow hand' by the Pointer Sisters applies here.

― spICK spACK, Monday, 29 December 2003 14:03 (twenty-two years ago)

"White Horse" by...Laid Back.

― mike a, Monday, 29 December 2003 15:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, there's some bloke with a piano and a singer currently at the top of the hit parade in the UK, so I suppose that counts...

― Old Fart!!! (oldfart_sd), Monday, 29 December 2003 16:33 (twenty-two years ago)

'Regulate' by Warren G and Nate Dogg.
'Right Here (Human Nature)' by SWV.
'The Next Episode' Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg
'Bump N Grind' R Kelly
'Turn Me On' Kevin Lyttles
That terrible xmas song with the bald guy, recent

― peckham rye, Monday, 29 December 2003 16:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I think "laid back" and "easy going" have slightly different subtleties within them. But I know and can't be too spacy or hypnotic like the julee cruise or laurie anderson songs mentioned.

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 29 December 2003 18:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Summertime

― Nick H (Nick H), Monday, 29 December 2003 19:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Stan Getz - "The Girl From Ipanema"

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 29 December 2003 19:07 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Dock of the Bay" or "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss"

― Jeremy (Jeremy), Monday, 29 December 2003 19:36 (twenty-two years ago)

oops, Set Adrift was mentioned upthread.

― Jeremy (Jeremy), Monday, 29 December 2003 19:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Otis Reading - Sittin' On The Dock of the Bay

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Monday, 29 December 2003 19:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Leon Redbone - "So Relax"

― udu wudu (udu wudu), Monday, 29 December 2003 20:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Neil Young, "Long May You Run"

― alba, Monday, 29 December 2003 20:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Albatross
Garota de Ipanema

but my fave is Back and Forth by Aaliyah. Also have a crush on Rock the Boat, also by Aaliyah

― Nik (Nik), Monday, 29 December 2003 20:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Summertime

Word.

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Monday, 29 December 2003 21:05 (twenty-two years ago)

"Sleepwalk" by Santo & Johnny

― Rich Hecht, Monday, 29 December 2003 22:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Gino Vannelli "I Just Wanna Stop"

― donut bitch (donut), Monday, 29 December 2003 22:13 (twenty-two years ago)

OTM May Pang with 10 CC's "I'm Not In Love" -- that song is super slow, I mean Lemon 714 slow, to begin with and then it totally dissovles mid-way through, whew!

― yetimike (McGonigal), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 00:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Lauryn Hill, "Turn Your Lights Down Low"

― nu jeru, Tuesday, 30 December 2003 00:14 (twenty-two years ago)

elo "can't get it out of my head"

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 00:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Seals & Crofts: "Summer Breeze"

― mike a (mike a), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 00:29 (twenty-two years ago)

folks folks, none of these are "hit" songs, I'm goin with "cuz 2 out of three ain't bad"

― ronnie, Tuesday, 30 December 2003 03:25 (twenty-two years ago)

The Girl From Ipanema

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 03:27 (twenty-two years ago)

yes, surely The Girl From Ipanema was never a hit, that's some weird song from some other country.

― A Nairn (moretap), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 03:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Crazy mexicans.

― may pang (maypang), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 03:34 (twenty-two years ago)

It hit number five on Billboard.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Tuesday, 30 December 2003 03:34 (twenty-two years ago)

And it's been mentioned approx. six hundred times on this thread.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Tuesday, 30 December 2003 03:36 (twenty-two years ago)

steal my sunshine!

― maura (maura), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 04:12 (twenty-two years ago)

folks folks, none of these are "hit" songs, I'm goin with "cuz 2 out of three ain't bad"

Dock of the Bay was #1 all over billboard. I don't know how else to gauge a hit.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 04:22 (twenty-two years ago)

some versions of Gal Costa/Caetano Veloso's "Baby" are extremely laid back and beautiful

― Nik (Nik), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 13:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Let's Go Smoke Some Pot by DASH RIPROCK

― Pinche Pendejo (Pinche Pendejo), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 14:18 (twenty-two years ago)

OMC - "How Bizarre"

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 14:20 (twenty-two years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.