Down Boy by Yeah Yeah Yeahs is 120 BPM — Allegro (fast).
Half-time 60 BPM · Double-time 240 BPM · released 2003
Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
An indie rock track exploring themes of authenticity and being unseen beneath surface facades, driven by the band's signature blend of raw energy and musical precision.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: energetic, introspective, rebellious
Traditions: indie rock, post-punk revival
"Down Boy" climbs hard.
Dynamic range 7/10 places this in our upper band. The opening volume that feels comfortable will not be comfortable at the climax. If you are setting this up for a focused listen, anchor your volume to the quietest section, not the loudest. The arc is the point of the song; if you blunt it by riding the volume knob, you lose what makes it work. Yeah Yeah Yeahs built the dynamic shape on purpose. Plan around it.
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 7/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.
Sudden changes: present. This song uses surprise as a feature. For focus or background listening, it's likely to pull your attention away; for active listening, that's often the point.
Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.
Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.
Vocal style: dynamic vocals.
Where this sits in Yeah Yeah Yeahs's catalog
We have 20 songs from Yeah Yeah Yeahs in the library. Of those, 1 are rated Safe, 10 Moderate, and 9 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 7/10 sits above the artist average of 6.9, making it the #10 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
2003 context
Released in 2003. We have 365 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.5/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 2000s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Guides that may help
How fast is "Down Boy"?
120 BPM — Upbeat (dance-pop / running warm-up)
Slow jog or recovery run pace. Matches a 120-140 stride-per-minute cadence.
Steady cardio, power walking, light weights.
Driving, getting ready in the morning, light party.
Browse more songs at 120 BPM.
When "Down Boy" works, and when it doesn't
Use-case verdicts computed from the song's tempo, dynamics, and sensory profile.
No — too dynamic or too many surprises. Save for active listening.
Yes — 120 BPM sits squarely in the running / cardio band. Matches natural stride cadence.
No — contains elements that will keep an awake nervous system engaged.
Yes — predictable enough for safe driving attention, interesting enough to stay engaged.
Yes — sits in the background without demanding attention.
Not really — it's pleasant but doesn't hit hard enough for cathartic listening.
Related reading
Editorial guides that cover this song's use cases, moods, or artist.
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Why this rating
We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.
See how “Down Boy” sits against your own sensitivities, or use it as a waypoint in a calmer set.
Listen on
Spotify and YouTube links go direct to the track when we have the ID; otherwise they search for it. Embed this sensory profile on your site →
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-15. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Contact the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
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, layered texture, moderate shifts, and dynamic vocals. Relatively few songs occupy this exact corner of the spectrum.
What makes it unusual
What stands out most about this song is blazing intensity: more extreme on that axis than 77% of everything we've measured. At the far opposite end of the library sit the songs built on near-total stillness — steady volume, no surprises, a slow and unhurried pulse — 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.
2003 in context
The 365 songs we’ve measured from 2003 average a dynamic range of 6.5/10. At 7/10, this track is right in line with 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.
Frequently asked about "Down Boy"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the BPM of "Down Boy" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs?
"Down Boy" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs has a tempo of 120 BPM (Allegro (fast)). At half-time that is 60 BPM, and at double-time 240 BPM.
What is the sensory intensity of "Down Boy" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs?
"Down Boy" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 7/10, moderate sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.
How loud is "Down Boy" — what is its dynamic range?
"Down Boy" has a dynamic range of 7/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.
Does "Down Boy" have sudden or surprising changes?
Yes. "Down Boy" uses surprise as a compositional feature. Expect unsignaled transitions.
What is "Down Boy" best for?
In our library "Down Boy" is recommended for: deep listening, energy, movement. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Down Boy" released?
"Down Boy" is from 2003, on the album "Is Is". It appears in our 2000s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Down Boy"?
We tag "Down Boy" as energetic, introspective, rebellious. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Down Boy"?
The vocal style is dynamic vocals.
Is "Down Boy" good for running?
Yes — at 120 BPM it sits in the running-cadence band (120-180 BPM). Match your stride to the beat and it keeps pace with most recreational runners.
Is "Down Boy" good for studying?
Only partially. The song's dynamic range (7/10) means there will be loud moments that break focus during deep work.
Can I use "Down Boy" for sleep?
Not recommended for sleep. Contains transitions that will wake you up.
Should I listen to "Down Boy"?
"Down Boy" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.
Songs with the same DNA
layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
Safer alternatives with a similar feel
These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.
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