# Which song is most improved by being played REALLY REALLY LOUD? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 14, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291 "2008-05-14T15:25:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/1 "2008-05-14T15:25:41Z")
The neighbours (and the police) are knocking on my door because I am playing **Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros** _Coma Girl_ with the stereo turned up to 15. Any other suggestions? Of course being a Doper I am really listening to this REALLY LOUD using headphones. What else is only good really LOUD? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/2 "2008-05-14T15:31:57Z")
While pretty much any great, rockin’ song can sound that much better whilst completely cranked, I think sheer volume adds most to a truly relentless riff. When the riff is just bone-crushing and repetitive the loud volume hits me with wave after wave of saturation… With that I mind, I humbly nominate: - \*\*Just One Fix \*\* - Ministry - the most relentless riff I can think of - \*\*Only Shallow \*\* - My Bloody Valentine - they’re all about the saturation and volume… ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/3 "2008-05-14T15:41:15Z")
_Refugee_- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It gives me an uncontrollable urge to reach for the loud knob. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/4 "2008-05-14T15:41:30Z")
Most of **AC/DC** ’s catalog **Whiskey in a Jar** , as covered by Metallica **Bawitdaba** , Kid Rock ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/5 "2008-05-14T15:42:05Z")
Unlikely nominee, but I have no music cred: “Uninvited”, by Alanis Morisette. It’s got a nice range of dynamics, starting quiet and plaintive, but then the end just builds to this huge, almost (but not quite) wall of sound like explosion that really works best when it’s turned up to 11. Sure, it’s not a rocking rock song with shredding guitar solos, but I think it’s only an okay song at quiet levels, and an awesome song at high levels (literally awesome: it makes me close my eyes and bask in it with awe as the waves of sound pour over me) - hence, “most improved”. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/6 "2008-05-14T15:43:18Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] - \*\*Just One Fix \*\* - Ministry - the most relentless riff I can think of [/QUOTE] This is the first song I thought of as well, think I’ll go play it right now - woo hoo! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/7 "2008-05-14T15:47:39Z")
**East-West** by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band (the first group to put “This record is made to be played loud” on their LPs). I also love to crank up **Rosalita** by Bruce Springsteen. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/8 "2008-05-14T15:53:20Z")
**Rock You Like a Hurricane** ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/9 "2008-05-14T16:10:37Z")
_Feel like making love_ by Bad Company ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/10 "2008-05-14T16:12:59Z")
_Iron Man_ by Black Sabbath. Nothing beats that for Sheer Fun as you crank it up ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/11 "2008-05-14T16:13:24Z")
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” — Nirvana “Bulls on Parade” — Rage Against the Machine ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/12 "2008-05-14T16:19:42Z")
Iron Maiden-- any will do, but I’ll go with Stranger in a Strange Land ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/13 "2008-05-14T16:28:39Z")
“The Stroke” by Billy Squier. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/14 "2008-05-14T16:28:56Z")
“Walk” - Pantera I win. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/15 "2008-05-14T16:38:35Z")
Much of Gov’t Mule’s catalogue. I think #1 would be their cover of How Many More Years. Rhymin’ and Stealin’ by the Beastie Boys. Musically it’s Sweet Leaf + the drum intro from When the Levee Breaks (a good choice on its own), so it has to be played loud. No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn and Sabotage merit cranking as well, come to think of it. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/16 "2008-05-14T16:42:38Z")
[QUOTE=corkboard] **Whiskey in a Jar** , as covered by Metallica [/QUOTE] Nice choice. See also, **I Disappear** by Metallica. **Icky Thump** by the White Stripes is a good one too. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/17 "2008-05-14T16:42:56Z")
Toadliquor’s arrangement of the opening of Also Sprach Zarathustra. It sounds good played by a trumpet, and even better played on a wildly downtuned guitar. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/18 "2008-05-14T16:44:12Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] Sabotage merit cranking as well, come to think of it. [/QUOTE] That’s the other one on the tip of my tongue. (or more accurately, my fingertips, I guess) Best when driving really fast, too.. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/19 "2008-05-14T16:44:53Z")
_Mars_ by Gustav Holst. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291/20 "2008-05-14T16:47:53Z")
[QUOTE=gonzoron] That’s the other one on the tip of my tongue. (or more accurately, my fingertips, I guess) Best when driving really fast, too.. [/QUOTE] Yeah, that song is a serious safety hazard when you’re on the road. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-song-is-most-improved-by-being-played-really-really-loud/449291.md?page=2)