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10 songs that feel like John Wayne Gacy, Jr.
Matched to John Wayne Gacy, Jr. by Sufjan Stevens on how the music actually moves — intensity, dynamic swing, texture, tempo — not by genre tag. Here's what makes each one a match.
A 99% feel-match — carries the same heavy pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (11/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (70 BPM).
99% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (11/100). Same smooth texture.
Keeps the same emotional pull — lands at almost exactly the same energy (11/100). Measured 99% alike. Nearly the same tempo, too (72 BPM).
Measures 96% the same. It lands at almost exactly the same energy (15/100). Same smooth texture.
A 99% feel-match — carries the same emotional pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (11/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (72 BPM).
94% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (16/100). Same smooth texture.
Keeps the same emotional pull — lands at almost exactly the same energy (15/100). Measured 96% alike. Nearly the same tempo, too (72 BPM).
Measures 99% the same. It lands at almost exactly the same energy (11/100). Same smooth texture.
A 99% feel-match — carries the same emotional pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (11/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (65 BPM).
95% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (14/100). Same smooth texture.
…and if you want it calmer
Same feeling, measured gentler — for when John Wayne Gacy, Jr. is more than you want right now.
Keeps the same feel of the original, but it stays in our safe band start to finish. Intensity 14/100, down from 11. Nearly the same tempo, too.
It stays in our safe band start to finish, so it lands at 16/100 — the pull without the edge.
If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while it stays in our safe band start to finish. Reads 21/100. Nearly the same tempo, too.
Holds the same feel while it stays in our safe band start to finish. 15/100, versus the original's 11. Nearly the same tempo, too.
Keeps the same feel of the original, but it stays in our safe band start to finish. Intensity 21/100, down from 11. Nearly the same tempo, too.
It stays in our safe band start to finish, so it lands at 11/100 — the pull without the edge. Nearly the same tempo, too.
If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while it stays in our safe band start to finish. Reads 16/100.
Holds the same feel while it stays in our safe band start to finish. 8/100, versus the original's 11. Nearly the same tempo, too.
Frequently asked
What songs sound like “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.” by Sufjan Stevens?
The closest feel-matches we measure are “Killing for Love” by José González, “Clementine” by Elliott Smith, “Which Will” by Nick Drake — the top match scores 99% 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 “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.” but calmer?
“Passing Afternoon” by Iron & Wine, “Killer” by Phoebe Bridgers, “That's the Way” by Led Zeppelin keep a similar feel while measuring gentler — lower dynamic swing, fewer sudden shifts, or a calmer overall level.
How intense is “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.”?
It measures 11/100 on our intensity scale, computed from a dynamic range of 3/10, smooth texture, no sudden shifts, and soft vocals. Tempo is 70 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
This sits near the calm end of everything we've measured — gentler than 99% of the 19,209 songs in the library. Its intensity reading of 11/100 comes from a dynamic range of 3/10, smooth texture, no sudden 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 an unusually steady, even volume: more extreme on that axis than 100% 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.
What it’s good for
Scored from this song’s tempo, intensity, dynamics and texture — not crowd votes.
2005 in context
The 363 songs we’ve measured from 2005 average a dynamic range of 6.2/10. At 3/10, this track is gentler and steadier 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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