10 songs that feel like Ain't No Sunshine
Matched to Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers on how the music actually moves — intensity, dynamic swing, texture, tempo — not by genre tag. Here's what makes each one a match.
A 95% feel-match — carries the same heavy pull and sits a little calmer at 47/100. Nearly the same tempo, too (80 BPM).
95% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it sits a little calmer at 48/100. Same complex texture.
Keeps the same melancholy pull — sits a little calmer at 48/100. Measured 95% alike.
Measures 93% the same. It sits a little calmer at 44/100. Same complex texture.
A 85% feel-match — carries the same heavy pull and sits a little calmer at 41/100.
90% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (60/100). Same complex texture.
Keeps the same melancholy pull — lands at almost exactly the same energy (60/100). Measured 96% alike. Nearly the same tempo, too (75 BPM).
Measures 95% the same. It sits a little calmer at 47/100. Same complex texture.
A 95% feel-match — carries the same melancholy pull and sits a little calmer at 47/100. Nearly the same tempo, too (80 BPM).
95% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it sits a little calmer at 48/100. Same complex texture.
…and if you want it calmer
Same feeling, measured gentler — for when Ain't No Sunshine is more than you want right now.
Keeps the same feel of the original, but its dynamic range stays a gentler 4 where the original climbs to 7. Intensity 26/100, down from 60. Nearly the same tempo, too.
Its dynamic range stays a gentler 5 where the original climbs to 7, so it lands at 29/100 — the pull without the edge. Nearly the same tempo, too.
If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while its dynamic range stays a gentler 5 where the original climbs to 7. Reads 28/100. Nearly the same tempo, too.
Holds the same feel while its dynamic range stays a gentler 5 where the original climbs to 7. 28/100, versus the original's 60. Nearly the same tempo, too.
Keeps the same feel of the original, but it stays in our safe band start to finish. Intensity 37/100, down from 60. Nearly the same tempo, too.
Its dynamic range stays a gentler 5 where the original climbs to 7, so it lands at 19/100 — the pull without the edge. Nearly the same tempo, too.
If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while it measures markedly calmer overall. Reads 41/100.
Holds the same feel while it measures markedly calmer overall. 51/100, versus the original's 60.
Frequently asked
What songs sound like “Ain't No Sunshine” by Bill Withers?
The closest feel-matches we measure are “I Drink Wine” by Adele, “Chimes of Freedom” by Bob Dylan, “Casimir Pulaski Day” by Sufjan Stevens — the top match scores 95% alike. Matching is by how the songs actually move (intensity, dynamic range, texture, tempo, predictability, vocal force), not by genre tag or popularity.
What songs are like “Ain't No Sunshine” but calmer?
“Sex Kills” by Joni Mitchell, “End of the Road” by Eddie Vedder, “Better as a Memory” by Kenny Chesney keep a similar feel while measuring gentler — lower dynamic swing, fewer sudden shifts, or a calmer overall level.
How intense is “Ain't No Sunshine”?
It measures 60/100 on our intensity scale, computed from a dynamic range of 7/10, complex texture, mild sudden shifts, and soft vocals. Tempo is 74 BPM.
How do you decide which songs are similar?
Every song in our catalog is measured on 8 dimensions — intensity, dynamic range, tempo, sudden changes, texture, predictability, vocal force and fine sound detail. Similarity is the distance between two songs across those measurements, so matches cross genres and eras. Shared mood tags break ties.
By the numbers: how this song compares
Computed from this song’s place among the 19,209 songs we’ve measured.
Where it sits in 19,000 songs
On our 19k-song scale this lands in the middle band — more energetic than 77% of songs, calmer than the other 23%. Its intensity reading of 60/100 comes from a dynamic range of 7/10, complex texture, mild shifts, and soft vocals. Relatively few songs occupy this exact corner of the spectrum.
What makes it unusual
What stands out most about this song is a slow, unhurried pace: more extreme on that axis than 88% of everything we've measured. At the far opposite end of the library sit the songs built on full chaos — sudden changes, huge quiet-to-loud swings, and relentless energy — the kind of track this one is the counterpoint to.
Feels almost identical to
Closest matches by feel across all 19,209 measured songs — not by genre or artist, by how they actually move.
Dial the feeling up or down
What it’s good for
Scored from this song’s tempo, intensity, dynamics and texture — not crowd votes.
1971 in context
The 257 songs we’ve measured from 1971 average a dynamic range of 6.2/10. At 7/10, this track is louder and more dynamic than its year.
Mixes smoothly with
Within a few BPM and close in feel — they flow without a jarring transition.
The fingerprint
The 8-dimension measurement behind every rating on this page.
Want the single closest match, with every dimension compared?
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