10 More Songs That Sound Surprisingly Good Slowed

Sometimes bops just sound better when the speed is taken down a notch. Last year, I introduced you to 10 Songs That Sound Surprisingly Good Slowed thanks to skilled YouTube editors. My little list surprisingly picked up more traction than I thought it would (thanks guys!) so I'm back on Vocal with more slowed songs to recommend. All of these come from my personal playlist, and they're equally fantastic for late-night grooving, relaxing, or crying.

For this part 2, I'll be introducing slow jams I've found over the past year that have given me goosebumps due to sweet reverb and sonic elegance. Some of these picks are on the mainstream side, others are for more niche music tastes. Without further ado, here are 10 more slowed down songs you need to add to your next playlist.

1. "Rules" - Doja Cat

After listening to this slowed-down rendition, you'll never want to go back to Doja's original version. Can we start a petition to have her do a re-recording of "Rules," but with this music production instead?

In this slowed version of the Hot Pink song, you can hear everything: from the intricacies of the opening guitar solo, to those spaced-out echoey reverb sounds and Doja's big energy on "millions, thousands, billions!" Having the track take its time really pays off for your earholes. It's also sexy as hell, and perfect to play when you need to summon some bad b*tch energy.

2. "Pony" - Ginuwine

Even hotter than "Rules," we've got a slow and spicier rendition of Ginuwine's hit 1996 bop, "Pony." Not only will you want to get freaky to this nasty edit by hayden beranek (I mean "nasty" in a good way), the reduced speed allows the listener to hear all the quirky electronic sounds the production team sprinkled into this rodeo. The chorus is trippy and magical.

Even more, Ginuwine's voice in this edit sounds way better. Not that his voice isn't perfection already, but with a longer runtime, his singing just has a lot more soul backing it up. This is an edit perfect for the end of a party.

3. "Graceland Too" - Phoebe Bridgers

Phoebe Bridgers' cinematic, emotional songs are notorious for making us cry. Add some reduced speed and reverb to the folksy Punisher standout "Graceland Too, " press play, and I promise you your tissue box will be calling you in seconds.

Most of Bridgers' songs are made with bittersweet slowness, so it's surprising to find that slowing down one of her gentlest tracks even more is like candy for the ears. As the picture for this edit's video suggests, this would be a great ballad to listen to while watching the sun go down.

4. "positions" - Ariana Grande

An edit made popular by TikTok! The original version of Ariana Grande's "positions" is cheeky, ambitious, and sweet. This rendition gives the playful track a lot more intensity. Original "positions" sounds very homemaker-y and safe. The slowed and reverbed "positions" sounds like a wonderfully dangerous woman going great lengths to prove her love to her boyfriend.

In other words: the slowed and reverbed version of this song gives it a lot more depth. It feels like there's a bigger story underneath the surface. Plus, actually getting to savor those violin strings and the Mac Miller-inspired cricket chirps makes this track 10x better, in my opinion.

5. "Stayin' Alive" - The Bee Gees

Perhaps Barry Gibb's toned-down vocals on this thing can be a bit corny for some, but what makes this slowed and reverbed interpretation worth the listen is the hefty production. Anyone else feel like a cowboy riding a horse through a desert town in the old west when taking in this thing?

The slowed version of "Stayin' Alive" emphasizes everything that's great about the original: the funky bass, bangin' beat, and rising harmonies. And that deeper cut of "Life goin' nowhere, somebody help me?" Hardcore.

6. "Roslyn" - Bon Iver and St. Vincent

Bon Iver and St. Vincent's "Roslyn" is a mix of moody and soothing. Titled after a town from the show Northern Exposure, it's got the sound of foggy skies, crashing waves, deep puddles and quiet forests. No wonder it was included on the soundtrack for The Twilight Saga: New Moon. It's romantic, monstrous, and dramatic all at once.

The slowed and reverbed version of "Roslyn" only enhances the sultry, smooth, and sorrowful noises that make this melancholic track so addictive. "Aren't we just terrified?" Perhaps. But this winding, wonderful edit may help us get through it all.

7. "Stay" - Rihanna

With Rihanna handling her 2022 pregnancy like a boss, it felt right to include a Rihanna song into the mix! The normal version of "Stay" has a standard tempo that never gets too down in the dumps, despite the track's dark message about an abusive relationship. With this edit, the sad factor is boosted up 1000%. And honestly? It feels more appropriate.

This edit transforms "Stay" from a casual pop ballad into something that belongs in Euphoria. The slowness also gives "Stay" a more timeless sound. It makes you wonder why the original "Stay's" tempo was so fast to begin with. Maybe to fare well on the radio? Regardless, this edit gives Rihanna's vulnerability the power it deserves.

8. "Locked Out of Heaven" - Bruno Mars

Before Bruno Mars was off winning Grammys with Anderson .Paak in Silk Sonic, he was creating hit songs in the early to mid 2010s. "Locked Out of Heaven" is one of his defining tracks, and is a masterful blend of new wave, funk, and reggae with some inspiration from The Police. With no edits? It's incredible. But slowed down? Oh my goodness.

In this variation of "Locked Out of Heaven," the more synthy and surf rock guitar elements of the tune are wonderfully stretched out. While the original version of the song is blissful and dance-able, this edit creates a struggle. It's like the speaker has a choice to make. This connection he's ignited has rocked his world. Does he lean into it more? Additionally, the edited version of "Locked Out of Heaven" vaguely has some "Sweater Weather" by The Neighborhood vibes. This is a cool track to listen to on a cloudy beach day.

9. "RUNNING OUT OF TIME" - Tyler, the Creator

The original "RUNNING OUT OF TIME" is probably my least favorite track on Tyler's Grammy-winning record, Igor. Not because it's bad (it's far from that), but because it felt like it was missing something. It was a decrease in energy right after "I THINK" made us boogie, and right before "NEW MAGIC WAND" was about to pound us into musical oblivion. In other words, it just wasn't up to par with the rest of Igor, because, well...practically every track on Igor is peak Tyler, the Creator.

This edit of "RUNNING OUT OF TIME" fixes everything. Why? Because the longing emotion Tyler is trying to get across in the track is made more apparent with the slowed-down tempo. Plus, the lowered pitch gives this thing a more raw, authentic sound. In the original "RUNNING OUT OF TIME," Tyler's voice is pitched up like a chipmunk. But in this version, you can hear Tyler's normal singing voice. And it's actually really gorgeous. This edit just goes to show you that sometimes, simpler is better.

10. "deja vu" - Olivia Rodrigo

Alrighty Olivia Rodrigo fans...ready for something cool? In honor of Liv's big wins at the 2022 Grammys this year, I figured this list needed to close with a Rodrigo classic. This alluring edit of "deja vu" seemed to do the trick. Every song off SOUR - including "deja vu" - is easy to bawl your eyes out to. But in this edit, all of Olivia's fond memories are given the 3 AM treatment; and you know just how much more heartbreaking things can seem at 3AM!

Not only does this edit feel like you're lolling off to sleep with the sound of Liv's voice, you can actually hear little secrets in the track you can't normally hear in the original recording! For example: if you pay attention at the 2:35 mark, you can hear Olivia whisper "I love you" inbetween the chorus and the verse, just like she mentions in the song! It's the little things that can turn simple tunes into hits, and with Olivia Rodrigo, it's all in the details. Hopefully her future tracks will sound even better slowed and reverbed!

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It's been over 2 months since I've posted anything new on Vocal, so I hope you enjoyed this latest post! Better content coming soon. For more playlists and music-related content, check out my posts in the Beat community on Vocal or visit Live365.com to see more of my music blogging work.

Want to keep up with my writing work and whereabouts? Follow me on insta @katyisaladybug. Tips, hearts, subscriptions, etc. are all greatly appreciated. Hope to make a part III of this series in the future. Until then, happy listening! :)

-katy