# The best sounds in the world. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 30, 2009, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766 "2009-07-30T12:15:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Satchmo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/satchmo/32/4223_2.png) [@Satchmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satchmo)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/41 "2009-07-30T21:39:13Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > Anchor chains, plane motors, and train whistles? “Breakfast is served, Lunch is served, Dinner is served” It truly is wonderful! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/42 "2009-07-30T21:47:57Z")
> [@nivlac](#): > > The sound of kids playing in a sun-splashed playground. I enjoy sitting on a parkbench with my eyes closed, taking in the sun, and listening to the sounds of happy kids. What a pedophile. (I’m kidding, I’m kidding) ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/43 "2009-07-30T22:11:49Z")
Cat purring (especially the ones with really loud purrs) and trilling. Rain on the roof when you’re in a nice warm bed. When I was a kid, I used to hate to wake up in the middle of the night in a quiet house (I had an overactive imagination, so every little random sound was the object of concern) so I was always very happy when the AC or heater kicked in and covered all the random sounds with a nice overlay of white noise. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/44 "2009-07-30T23:14:21Z")
A foghorn ringing through a misty bay early in the morning The sound of a harpsichord in the empty halls of a medieval church Background murmurs of a busy city, with cathedral bells and the bustle of merchants Steel ringing through the air Rain Laughter of friends Crying of enemies ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/45 "2009-07-30T23:36:43Z")
> [@Satchmo](#): > > “Breakfast is served, Lunch is served, Dinner is served” > > It truly is wonderful! > 🙂 Uncle Billy, is that you? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![scarbrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@scarbrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scarbrow)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/46 "2009-07-30T23:59:45Z")
My baby is too small to laugh yet, but I love the squeeks when she wiggles happily, playing with her ever growing control of her arms and legs. And, as a new father, there’s something wonderful about the last little “wah” when I’m the one who has calmed her down. (Having a room full of women stare in amazement helps, too.) ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Red\_Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/47 "2009-07-31T01:06:52Z")
The phlegmy rumble of my v-twin. The shrill notes of a tin whistle. The crackle of a roaring fire. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/48 "2009-07-31T01:14:36Z")
The sound of my partner, coming home after being out of town on business. The sounds my kitties make when I’m opening a can of cat food. The sound of birds outside, on a sunny morning. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/49 "2009-07-31T03:52:04Z")
the sound of a shower or water running through the pipes between the walls. It’s almost womb-like to sit in the bathroom, with the steam, listening to the water running. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/50 "2009-07-31T05:44:00Z")
[A Japanese wind chime](http://www.backyardbird.com/japmez.html) ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/51 "2009-07-31T06:09:24Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > I live in a drought-ridden area, but tonight there is the most delightful sound of rain pattering down.. It’s only delightful if you’re sleeping _inside_ the house, not on the street outside. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/52 "2009-07-31T07:08:26Z")
The sound of popcorn popping. When I was a teen my father had a boat on Lake Erie. At night in the marina, while sleeping on the boat, I could hear the “ding ding ding” sound of ropes smacking against the masts of the sailboats when the wind blew. Not sure why, but I loved that sound. ---
**Author:** ![wolf-alice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9e8a1a/32.png) [@wolf-alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf-alice)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/53 "2009-07-31T08:20:43Z")
Cricket. It’s near silence, just the occasional clonk-thwap and ripple of genteel applause. I think it was Bill Bryson who said something like “if a doctor ever instructs me to take total bed-rest and not get over-excited, I will spend the time with the radio tuned to cricket”. Many people are unaware that guinea pigs go _wheeeee!_, and also make an inquisitive _wub?_ noise when investigating under the skirting. Both of these are good noises. Aubergines. Have you ever tapped on an aubergine? Oh, but you should. Unexpected and satisfying. I like the shriek a train makes sometimes when it brakes, even more so if it goes on for ages as the wheels turn, a sort of piercing drone. A cold shower for the ears! My proto-husband can make a noise like a shipping tanker. It’s not too much of a _pretty_ sound, in itself, but as it means “Hey! _Hey!_ I’m a chap and I’m very happy and look how loud I can be! Pay attention! _Brilliant!_”, it’s pleasing. Also, blackbirds. Rain on a caravan roof. The Shipping Forecast (not a single noise, no; but it’s a lullaby for grown-ups, it needs a mention). ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/54 "2009-07-31T10:27:01Z")
A cat’s purr. The wail of a newborn after a safe delivery. The quiet breathing of an infant as it sleeps in your arms. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/55 "2009-07-31T11:24:35Z")
Frogs. I thought I’d heard some frogs chirrupping away the last few evenings, but being in ‘town’ and a couple of hundred metres from the Murray River, I suspected I was either hallucinating, or mistaking crickets for the froggies. But I found them today when I lifted a small concrete slab…two thumping great bullfrogs nestled in the mud! I am very happy tonight…I have heard the frogs, and they sound GOOD! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![JoseArcadio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc348/32.png) [@JoseArcadio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseArcadio)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/56 "2009-07-31T12:53:39Z")
- bottlecap popping off a cold beer - hearty laughter - bagpipes playing in the distance (up close… not so good) - milk being poured into a glass - the hoot of owls ---
**Author:** ![bartleby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bartleby/32/10491_2.png) [@bartleby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bartleby)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/57 "2009-07-31T17:24:06Z")
I don’t know about the best sound EVER, but one of the best sounds to wake up to is a horse and buggy clip-clopping past your window… i miss deleware… ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/58 "2009-07-31T17:50:39Z")
The little “yelps” of a dreaming dog. Bonus points if her toenails are gently scraping the plastic chair mat under my desk as she “runs.” There’s one that I hear only in the winter, and it’s best on a blustery afternoon. I’m curled up under a blanket on the couch, preferably with a good book, and the furnace kicks in. Tick-tick-tick-tick-hummmmmmmmm. It runs for a minute or two, and then the fan fires up. WHOOOSH!!! That’s the sound of security. ---
**Author:** ![Proudest\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/proudest_monkey/32/13257_2.png) [@Proudest\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proudest_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/59 "2009-07-31T21:42:48Z")
Yep, looks like rain is a favorite, and I’ll cast my vote for it as well. I have a white noise machine with a rain setting, and I fall asleep to it every night (except when there is REAL rain, in which case I turn it off). I also like the sound of cars driving on a wet road. I like the noise of fireworks, especially that really bright one that gives a single, deep, stomach-rumbling BOOM! Loons. Frigging awesome. I wish my white noise machine had a loon setting. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766/60 "2009-08-01T01:13:30Z")
- The sound of the woman I love, breathing with her head on my shoulder - The sound of thousands of birds wings in unison as they pass low overhead and change direction. - The sound of someone typing - The sound of a P51 Mustang with the Merlin engines - The sound of wind through tall grass [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-sounds-in-the-world/504766.md?page=4)