Nina Simone

Nina Simone lives in the middle ground — 22 moderate songs that balance intensity with control. 6 quiet anchors and 4 songs where they let go completely.

The character of Nina Simone

Across the 32 Nina Simone songs we've measured, intensity averages 43/100 — right around the catalog average (46/100).

They run from I Loves You, Porgy (the calmest here, 15) to Sinnerman (the most charged, 84), with smooth textures most common and a mix of the expected and the surprising. It spans 1958–1982.

The widest dynamic swing belongs to Sinnerman.

6.6

Avg Intensity

Songs Decoded

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The songs that hit hardest

Pirate Jenny intense

layered texture · moderate changes · DR 9 · 1964

I Put a Spell on You intense

complex texture · moderate changes · DR 9 · 1965

Sinnerman intense

layered texture · frequent changes · DR 10 · 1965

Strange Fruit intense

smooth texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1965

The controlled burn

Rich Girl moderate

smooth texture · mild changes · DR 6

Plain Gold Ring moderate

smooth texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1958

Love Me or Leave Me moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1960

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood moderate

smooth texture · none changes · DR 8 · 1964

House of the Rising Sun moderate

complex texture · mild changes · DR 8 · 1964

Mississippi Goddam moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1964

See-Line Woman moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1964

Be My Husband moderate

smooth texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1965

Feeling Good moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 8 · 1965

Ne Me Quitte Pas moderate

smooth texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1965

Four Women moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1966

Wild Is the Wind moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1966

Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair moderate

smooth texture · none changes · DR 7 · 1967

I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl moderate

smooth texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1967

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free moderate

smooth texture · none changes · DR 7 · 1967

The Other Woman moderate

smooth texture · none changes · DR 7 · 1967

Ain't Got No, I Got Life moderate

smooth texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1968

Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1969

To Be Young, Gifted and Black moderate

smooth texture · none changes · DR 7 · 1970

Everything Must Change moderate

smooth texture · moderate changes · DR 7 · 1977

Baltimore moderate

layered texture · moderate changes · DR 7 · 1978

Fodder on My Wings moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1982

The quiet ones

My Baby Just Cares for Me safe

smooth texture · none changes · DR 6 · 1958

African Mailman safe

smooth texture · none changes · DR 4 · 1959

I Loves You, Porgy safe

smooth texture · none changes · DR 4 · 1959

Lilac Wine safe

smooth texture · none changes · DR 4 · 1966

Here Comes the Sun safe

smooth texture · mild changes · DR 5 · 1971

That's All I Want from You safe

smooth texture · none changes · DR 4 · 1978

Frequently asked about Nina Simone

Answered from our measurements of every song above.

What is the most intense Nina Simone song?

Of the 32 Nina Simone songs we've measured, “Sinnerman” scores highest at 84/100 for intensity — computed from its dynamic range, texture, sudden changes and tempo.

What is the calmest Nina Simone song?

“I Loves You, Porgy” measures gentlest at 15/100. It runs 65 BPM. The songs here span 15–84 on our 0–100 intensity scale.

How intense is Nina Simone overall?

Nina Simone averages 43/100 intensity across 32 measured songs — right at our 46/100 catalog average.

What is the average tempo of Nina Simone?

The Nina Simone songs we've measured average about 92 BPM — midtempo.

Which Nina Simone songs are calm enough for background listening?

These measure in our gentlest band (steady level, no sudden shifts): “I Loves You, Porgy”, “Lilac Wine”, “That's All I Want from You”, “African Mailman”.

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