Theme from Doctor Detroit
Theme from Doctor Detroit by DEVO is 132 BPM — Allegro (fast).
Half-time 66 BPM · Double-time 264 BPM · released 1983
Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
Synth-pop new wave theme song from the 1983 film Doctor Detroit, featuring Devo's signature quirky electronics and driving rhythm.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: energetic, playful, rebellious
Traditions: new wave, synth-pop
"Theme from Doctor Detroit" 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. DEVO 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: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
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 DEVO's catalog
We have 2 songs from DEVO in the library. Of those, 0 are rated Safe, 2 Moderate, and 0 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 7/10 sits above the artist average of 6.5, making it the #1 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
1983 context
Released in 1983. We have 242 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 1980s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Guides that may help
How fast is "Theme from Doctor Detroit"?
132 BPM — Fast (workout / running pace)
Slow jog or recovery run pace. Matches a 120-140 stride-per-minute cadence.
Running, cycling, aerobic workouts, dance cardio.
Driving, getting ready in the morning, light party.
Browse more songs at 132 BPM.
When "Theme from Doctor Detroit" 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 — 132 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.
low-intensity Workout Music: Energy Without Overwhelm
low-intensity Workout Music: Energy Without Overwhelm — A guide for sensory-sensitive listeners on musiciwant.com
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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 “Theme from Doctor Detroit” 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 74% of songs, calmer than the other 26%. Its intensity reading of 54/100 comes from a dynamic range of 7/10, layered texture, mild shifts, and dynamic vocals. It shares this stretch of the spectrum with thousands of other tracks, so the finer fingerprint below is what really separates it.
What makes it unusual
What stands out most about this song is a fast, driving tempo: 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 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.
1983 in context
The 242 songs we’ve measured from 1983 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 "Theme from Doctor Detroit"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the BPM of "Theme from Doctor Detroit" by DEVO?
"Theme from Doctor Detroit" by DEVO has a tempo of 132 BPM (Allegro (fast)). At half-time that is 66 BPM, and at double-time 264 BPM.
What is the sensory intensity of "Theme from Doctor Detroit" by DEVO?
"Theme from Doctor Detroit" by DEVO rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 7/10, mild sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.
How loud is "Theme from Doctor Detroit" — what is its dynamic range?
"Theme from Doctor Detroit" 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 "Theme from Doctor Detroit" have sudden or surprising changes?
"Theme from Doctor Detroit" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
What is "Theme from Doctor Detroit" best for?
In our library "Theme from Doctor Detroit" is recommended for: energy, movement, workout. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Theme from Doctor Detroit" released?
"Theme from Doctor Detroit" is from 1983, on the album "50 Years of De-Evolution 1973–2023". It appears in our 1980s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Theme from Doctor Detroit"?
We tag "Theme from Doctor Detroit" as energetic, playful, rebellious. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Theme from Doctor Detroit"?
The vocal style is dynamic vocals.
Is "Theme from Doctor Detroit" good for running?
Yes — at 132 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 "Theme from Doctor Detroit" 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 "Theme from Doctor Detroit" for sleep?
Not recommended for sleep. Contains transitions that will wake you up.
Should I listen to "Theme from Doctor Detroit"?
"Theme from Doctor Detroit" 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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