# What's your favorite sound? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090 "2006-09-17T18:09:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/21 "2006-09-18T02:52:44Z")
A lot of mine would be music-related. I love the sound of: A Steinway concert grand piano A Gibson Les Paul Custom through a Marshall amplifier Any electric guitar through a Leslie rotating organ speaker The chord progressions that occur to Donald Fagen My own announcing voice through a Neumann U47 microphone and Manley Vox Box. I couldn’t possibly sound like that in person. Otherwise… The purring our new kitty does when she crawls up on my chest and cuddles with me like a baby, while I rub her all over. My wife’s voice, and her laugh The intense thunderstorms we get here in Florida. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/22 "2006-09-18T02:57:15Z")
My grandmother’s voice. ---
**Author:** ![MissMossie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@MissMossie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissMossie)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/23 "2006-09-18T03:17:18Z")
[QUOTE=JCorre] the female orgasm [/QUOTE] Is it too late to change my answer? ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/24 "2006-09-18T12:00:50Z")
The nicker of a horse, that huh-huh-huh-huh sound of greeting A cat purring A sound my Gordon Setter Nicky makes, sort of aaa-RRRRRRooo, he rolls his r’s like a proper Scotsman. Thunder in the distance Frogs & Crickets singing in harmony. The sound of honest laughter. The ocean. The sound of a 35 mm camera. The bass rumble of a muscle car. The greeting sound a tiger makes, called chuffing. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/25 "2006-09-18T12:05:17Z")
Rain beating against the window…and me inside all dry and warm and snuggly 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/26 "2006-09-18T13:03:52Z")
the breeze whispering through the pine trees (we get a lot of that in Nevada) sea lions barking people laughing at my jokes ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/27 "2006-09-18T13:18:59Z")
My kids laughing Big power chords That sound that Kraft Mac & Cheese makes when you’re stirring in the milk/cheese/butter ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/28 "2006-09-18T13:22:24Z")
I’ll join the kitty purr consensus, and add: The “hello” meow. (_Wreowwr?_) A train at night four blocks away. Coffee brewing. The voice of Bob Trout, broadcasting legend. My flute instructor Lisa playing. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/29 "2006-09-18T13:36:37Z")
Though technically not a sound, silence is nice. And, the sound of bacon. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/30 "2006-09-18T15:14:12Z")
When I was stationed at Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico, there weas a stretch of beach at Camp Moscrip that was somewhat steep and covered with thousands of baseball and softball sized rocks. The waves would crash in, and as they ebbed back to sea the rocks would roll and wobble against each other and make the most amazing clatter of ticks and knocks. I would just stand there at night, looking at the moonlight on the ocean with a big dumb grin on my face, listening to that sound. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/31 "2006-09-18T15:23:23Z")
Old Faithful (or any continuous geyser) erupting Waves on a beach My children breathing Cicadas ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/32 "2006-09-18T18:34:12Z")
[QUOTE=August West] The waves would crash in, and as they ebbed back to sea the rocks would roll and wobble against each other and make the most amazing clatter of ticks and knocks. [/QUOTE] That’s a good sound too. There are some beaches in Cornwall in England that do the same. But the rocks are a bit smaller. I used to love listening to them. ---
**Author:** ![THespos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@THespos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/THespos)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/33 "2006-09-18T18:39:57Z")
Wind through the trees in my backyard Dirt bike motors, as heard off in the distance, coming from the direction of the woods near my house Fully cranked Marshall stacks Incidentally “What’s your favorite sound?” is a standard interview question here. Everyone who works here was asked that question in their first formal interview. You’d be surprised how many prospects answer “waves” or “running water.” Nice, but unoriginal. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/34 "2006-09-18T18:43:39Z")
A light-Saber waving around. ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/35 "2006-09-18T18:46:33Z")
Heavy rain against the windows while I’m safe inside. The crack of a baseball bat against a baseball, and the cheering of the crowd that usually follows. Oddly, I don’t like baseball as a game very much, but that particular sound… Love it (For instance, I like the sound and the use of it in the song _Center Field_) Foreign accents of all stripes, but especially the various UK ones. Someone breathing restfully and rhythmicly (sp?) as they sleep. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/36 "2006-09-18T19:07:09Z")
My kids’ laughter, while a repeat, a gimme and an obligatory trite answer is also 100% true. I miss my boy’s toddler giggle, but he’s developing a real Man laugh which is sweet too. My baby girl has the most infectious giggle I’ve ever heard, and her practice laugh (like Data: “Ha. Ha-ha-ha-haaa.”) was a blast. I love the sound of a sheet (rope) on a mast, with waves lapping on the side of the boat next to my head. A sound from childhood I haven’t heard in years. “Dink! Dink! Dink! Lufffswish…dink!” A pug snoring. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/37 "2006-09-18T19:09:18Z")
I’ve posted this before, and I really don’t know how else to describe the sound, so I’ll repost the story here: > [@](#): > > I remember a balmy summer night when I was a teenager, kicking the sheets off of my bed and just feeling uncomfortable. I got up and wandered out into the living room in my pyjama shorts and T-shirt, barefoot. The hardwood floors felt cool on my feet, and I liked it. I looked out of the patio doors. There was a full moon, and it was beautiful out. I opened the sliding doors and stepped onto the patio. The wood felt nice on my feet, too. I remember feeling happy as I gazed across the back lawn, and it smelled so sweet. Just beyond the lawn was a big “tin can” building; the blueberry plant. It had been there so long that it was just part of the scenery. Beyond that was the line of trees about 100 feet deep, and on the other side was a river. Beyond that was the main highway. The highway from the part of the woods I’m from really isn’t very busy - not compared to here in Seattle! - only two lanes in most places. I mean, you know, one lane on each side of the road. Sometimes it widens into two on each side, but that’s it. Even so, there was always a little bit of traffic out there, and I could see teeny, tiny car lights away over the hills (the house is sitting at the top of a pretty big hill, so one’s line of sight is well over the line of trees, and you can literally see for miles out over the hilltops from the vantage point of my parent’s patio). Big transports used the highways often; the pulp and paper mill was nearby. From where I stood, I could faintly hear traffic noises, dulled down to the point that they were barely recognisable as such. Sometimes, you could faintly, faintly hear a jet overhead. I found this all to be relaxing and wonderful, and it was cooler outside than on my too-warm bed, so I hopped into my father’s hammock, and fell sound asleep. > > That was the first time. It became a habit on warm, clear nights. Have you ever heard the song “Come and Play in the Milky Night” by **Stereolab**? The noise at the very beginning, before the guitar comes in, and it plays throughout the song - that noise reminds me so much of those calm, beautiful nights - the softest hum of highway traffic in the distance, lulling me to sleep on sweet summer nights. And _that_ is my favourite sound. I’m pretty fond of that \*\*Stereolab \*\* song just for that reason. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![FormerMarineGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/65b543/32.png) [@FormerMarineGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FormerMarineGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/38 "2006-09-18T19:24:12Z")
The sound of rain hitting my window as I am just laying down to go to sleep. My son saying “Good Morning” first thing in the morning. My wife’s funny little “mmmm” noises while she eats (although it bothers me while she does it). The sound of crazy, loud sex (all noises that come with it). Two football helmets hitting each other directly during a good football game. A true, hardy, deep down laugh from a joke I just made. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/39 "2006-09-18T19:28:17Z")
Sound of my kids talking. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090/40 "2006-09-18T19:32:37Z")
All of the sounds my baby boy makes when he’s nursing. It’s like he’s thinking, “This is the best stuff ever!” Plus, his laugh. And his daddy’s singing. Sometimes, I get the last two together. _sigh_ Familial bliss. And the animal sounds - my cat purring, a horse blowing hard through its nostrils, my dog barking in her sleep, and the birds at our feeder (especially cardinals and red-winged blackbirds). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-sound/373090.md?page=3)