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10 songs that feel like Streets of Philadelphia

Matched to Streets of Philadelphia by Bruce Springsteen on how the music actually moves — intensity, dynamic swing, texture, tempo — not by genre tag. Here's what makes each one a match.

Streets of Philadelphia
The song you love
Streets of Philadelphia
Bruce Springsteen
moderate 22/100 intensity 100 BPM
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So Far Away — Dire Straits safe 104 BPM

A 99% feel-match — carries the same intimate pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (22/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (104 BPM).

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(Forever) Live and Die — Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark safe 105 BPM

99% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (22/100). Same smooth texture.

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A Face in the Crowd — Tom Petty safe 106 BPM

Keeps the same intimate pull — lands at almost exactly the same energy (22/100). Measured 99% alike. Nearly the same tempo, too (106 BPM).

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Yesterday — The Beatles safe 93 BPM

Measures 99% the same. It lands at almost exactly the same energy (21/100). Same smooth texture.

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1 step forward, 3 steps back — Olivia Rodrigo moderate 90 BPM

A 98% feel-match — carries the same intimate pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (21/100).

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Dos Gardenias — Buena Vista Social Club safe 90 BPM

98% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (21/100). Same smooth texture.

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Essence — Wizkid safe 100 BPM

Keeps the same intimate pull — lands at almost exactly the same energy (22/100). Measured 99% alike. Nearly the same tempo, too (100 BPM).

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Easy — The Commodores safe 100 BPM

Measures 99% the same. It lands at almost exactly the same energy (22/100). Same smooth texture.

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Open Up Your Heart — Buck Owens safe 100 BPM

A 99% feel-match — carries the same intimate pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (22/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (100 BPM).

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Time After Time — Cyndi Lauper safe 98 BPM

99% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (21/100). Same smooth texture.

…and if you want it calmer

Same feeling, measured gentler — for when Streets of Philadelphia is more than you want right now.

Chega de Saudade by Joao Gilberto
Chega de Saudade — Joao Gilberto safe 100 BPM

Keeps the same feel of the original, but its dynamic range stays a gentler 3 where the original climbs to 5. Intensity 14/100, down from 22. Nearly the same tempo, too.

The Boy with the Arab Strap by Belle and Sebastian
The Boy with the Arab Strap — Belle and Sebastian safe 90 BPM

It stays in our safe band start to finish, so it lands at 17/100 — the pull without the edge. Nearly the same tempo, too.

You're Beautiful by James Blunt
You're Beautiful — James Blunt safe 90 BPM

If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while it stays in our safe band start to finish. Reads 30/100. Nearly the same tempo, too.

Lately by Stevie Wonder
Lately — Stevie Wonder safe 85 BPM

Holds the same feel while it stays in our safe band start to finish. 28/100, versus the original's 22.

Tennessee Homesick Blues by Dolly Parton
Tennessee Homesick Blues — Dolly Parton safe 90 BPM

Keeps the same feel of the original, but it stays in our safe band start to finish. Intensity 34/100, down from 22. Nearly the same tempo, too.

Photograph by Ed Sheeran
Photograph — Ed Sheeran safe 80 BPM

It stays in our safe band start to finish, so it lands at 16/100 — the pull without the edge.

Let Her Go by Passenger
Let Her Go — Passenger safe 75 BPM

If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while it stays in our safe band start to finish. Reads 19/100.

Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken by Camera Obscura
Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken — Camera Obscura safe 120 BPM

Holds the same feel while it stays in our safe band start to finish. 23/100, versus the original's 22.

Frequently asked

What songs sound like “Streets of Philadelphia” by Bruce Springsteen?

The closest feel-matches we measure are “So Far Away” by Dire Straits, “(Forever) Live and Die” by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, “A Face in the Crowd” by Tom Petty — 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 “Streets of Philadelphia” but calmer?

“Chega de Saudade” by Joao Gilberto, “The Boy with the Arab Strap” by Belle and Sebastian, “You're Beautiful” by James Blunt keep a similar feel while measuring gentler — lower dynamic swing, fewer sudden shifts, or a calmer overall level.

How intense is “Streets of Philadelphia”?

It measures 22/100 on our intensity scale, computed from a dynamic range of 5/10, smooth texture, no sudden shifts, and soft vocals. Tempo is 100 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 86% of the 19,209 songs in the library. Its intensity reading of 22/100 comes from a dynamic range of 5/10, 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 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.

What it’s good for

Sleep9/10
Focus10/10
Workout1/10
Dinner7/10
Party / hype1/10

Scored from this song’s tempo, intensity, dynamics and texture — not crowd votes.

1993 in context

The 260 songs we’ve measured from 1993 average a dynamic range of 6.6/10. At 5/10, 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

Intensity22
Dynamics44
Tempo33
Surprise0
Density0
Predictability0
Vocal force25
Trigger load0

The 8-dimension measurement behind every rating on this page.

Want the single closest match, with every dimension compared?

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