# Recommend me some great slow numbers since 2000 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 1, 2016, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803 "2016-04-01T03:50:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/1 "2016-04-01T03:50:02Z")
I’m a songwriter, and one thing I need to write more of is slow numbers. I tend to write mid-tempo songs the most, up-tempo songs the most after that. So help me study up. What are some great slow numbers of the past 16 years? Which represent the best of the songwriting craft? I’ll give you one to start. I greatly enjoy “You and Me” by Lifehouse: https://www.youtube.com/embed/ac3HkriqdGQ?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=FLoNIOEu6L3pxwosUTVfMQBQ ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/2 "2016-04-01T03:51:10Z")
Actually, that might be a mid-tempo-er. Still good tho! ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/3 "2016-04-01T04:19:58Z")
What about “Love is a losing game” by Amy Winehouse? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4L9-AvjsB6g/hqdefault.jpg "Amy Winehouse - Love is a Losing Game") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L9-AvjsB6g) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/4 "2016-04-01T05:06:29Z")
“Cologne” by Ben Folds “The Chalet Lines” by Belle & Sebastian ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/5 "2016-04-01T07:52:54Z")
Banks (Jillian Rose Banks) did some really addictive down tempo stuff in 2013. Her hit was Waiting Game, a sparse haunting song (with a really killer video): [BANKS - WAITING GAME (OFFICIAL VIDEO)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaI5JCxOCdw) It is also got bought to feature in the 2013 Victoria’s Secret Holiday commercial (NSFW): [VS Holiday 2013 TV Commercial - 2 minutes (1080p)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3XRv75StUg) You might also find inspiration in: [BANKS - Drowning (Official Music Video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzGHgQBPyV0) [BANKS - WARM WATER (OFFICIAL VIDEO)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYG3iIcZOkw) (slightly faster tempo) ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/6 "2016-04-01T08:10:54Z")
Here is a really great song from Schiller’s _Future_ album that was released just a couple of weeks ago. It was produced by Schiller and the lyrics were written (and performed) by Los Angeles singer-songwriter Keta Jo McCue. Again, a haunting and eerie background with a sharp contrast to the love-song nature of the lyrics. I find it absolutely mesmerizing. [Schiller feat. Keta - The Wait is Over](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwEDuE7H_oo) The tempo does pick up in a couple a sections in the middle, but it’s not too fast and is downright slow by Schiller standards. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/7 "2016-04-01T08:22:24Z")
Sorry, I hit reply too soon. Don’t mean to be a pest. But here is another song from the same Schiller album, lyrics by Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil. Beautiful lyrics. It starts out with a rather pensive tone and then soars, returning back to earth for the outro. [Schiller , Cristina Scabbia - I breathe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dqsG34pYcA) ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/8 "2016-04-01T08:53:33Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > I’m a songwriter, and one thing I need to write more of is slow numbers. I tend to write mid-tempo songs the most, up-tempo songs the most after that. > > So help me study up. What are some great slow numbers of the past 16 years? Which represent the best of the songwriting craft? > > I’ll give you one to start. I greatly enjoy “You and Me” by Lifehouse: > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac3HkriqdGQ&list=FLoNIOEu6L3pxwosUTVfMQBQ&index=177](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac3HkriqdGQ&list=FLoNIOEu6L3pxwosUTVfMQBQ&index=177) Kind of generic, but pleasant. What’s killer is Union Station… although the beauty isn’t really captured… ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/9 "2016-04-01T09:48:09Z")
Zero 7 (SIA) “[Distractions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jj-7pYFzto)” (this is live in studio…hey, Sia is visible! GREAT version… Bush "[Out of This World"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDwTOZjT3Rc) Sufjan Stevens “[sister](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIKZAeRU44Y)” Kris Delmhorst “[Hummingbird](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wSKCcXaWPQ)” Kris Delmhorst “[Words Fail You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXPaGVFXuog)” Sufjan Stevens [“John Wayne Gacy, Jr.”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otx49Ko3fxw) A beautiful, gentle melody all about one of the world’s creepiest serial killers. And this is the music video for it, which I’d never seen before… Laura Cantrell “[bees](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AbceLSqq-g)” Song breaks my heart for some reason… Air “[You Make it Easy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US91HJawYUw)” Kind of bossa nova vibe ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/10 "2016-04-01T19:33:04Z")
[John Grant - Queen of Denmark](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_oNylzsY7I) Quite possibly the pinnacle of recent break up/ self loathing songs. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/11 "2016-04-01T19:47:25Z")
Really, almost anything by Alela Diane, but here’s a few of the best (in my opinion). [About Farewell](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc3oiG_gnrY) [Lady Divine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQyYJhzeDvU) [Colorado Blue](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7of5dJzKmaY) ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/12 "2016-04-01T21:40:31Z")
Georgia Dagaki Poso Poli. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/13 "2016-04-01T21:43:36Z")
Also by Georgia Dagaki, [Sketos Ego](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNxzr_fE_RA). ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/14 "2016-04-01T21:47:18Z")
Eleftheria Arvanitaki, [O IpnosSeTilikse](https://youtu.be/a_gRR2NomMI). ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/15 "2016-04-01T21:52:18Z")
Jackie Evancho,[Your Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nht-1eW7xdQ). ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/16 "2016-04-01T21:58:51Z")
I think 1613 is pretty slow. It just sort of plods. Now, 572 - Zowee! StG ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2016, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/17 "2016-04-02T08:36:40Z")
Well, since none of you heathens have seen fit to mention Leon Bridges, I’ll shout it out for the hometown! [Coming Home](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTrKkqE9p1o) [River](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsPeNrOzzZ8) (Live, so slow and mellow there’s no percussion) [Smooth Saliin’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYplnRjMVhM) -probably my favorite (hey, below 120 bpm is slow for me) And in a similar, but probably more well-known vein, the Alabama Shakes: [Hold On](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le-3MIBxQTw) [Sound & Color](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faG8RiaANek) Really, the Alabama Shakes are purely amazing. Brittany Howard might be my songwriting hero. And well, if you can handle some (ok, pretty unusual) country. Try Sturgill Simpson’s [Turtles All the Way Down](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWx6csgGkg4) on for size. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2016, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/18 "2016-04-02T12:16:29Z")
Vanessa Paradis: [Joe Le Taxi](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tRxDderHOM) - not the usual version! ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2016, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/19 "2016-04-02T14:15:18Z")
First one that came to my mind: [The Afghan Whigs - Algiers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91nRWbMFpFE); not sure if that isn’t veering somewhere mid-tempo-ish, though. Definitely slow: [Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Push the Sky Away](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzTCbaZj5HA) Antony and the Johnsons - can’t decide between [Cripple and the Starfish](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2IOHGlXMv4) and [Hope there’s Someone](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPpORXywK0c). Last one: [the Mountain Goats - Maybe Sprout Wings](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isYBSJXrxAc) ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2016, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803/20 "2016-04-03T06:00:18Z")
I wanted to thank everyone for their contributions! I will be listening to everything and back to reveal favorites I find. TY!!! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-great-slow-numbers-since-2000/750803.md?page=2)