Classic Western songs that soothe the soul
Why not, for once, stop thinking and just let yourself sink into some good music?
In our daily lives, stress tends to build up in ways we don’t even notice.
When that happens, relax your mind by listening to music that’s a little different from your usual.
It’s great in the bath, or before bed in your bedroom—but the top recommendation is to play it while you’re lazily spending a day off.
That’s the best.
When you find a song you like, try it out in all sorts of moments.
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Classic Western songs that calm the heart (11–20)
Electra GlideDown to the Bone
Down to the Bone is a British jazz-funk band.
They’re quite popular in the UK, and they performed in Japan in 2008.
In this genre, many songs by veteran musicians are still being played, but the band, formed in 1996, represents a relatively younger generation.
It’s perfect as good music that lifts your spirits.
The rhythm of the wah guitar feels very pleasant, and the dynamic ebb and flow of the ensemble is another highlight of this track.
Song for ElizabethJonathan Butler
Jonathan Butler is a musician from Cape Town, South Africa.
With a movie-like background, he toured with his family and was already on stage by the age of seven.
He’s best known as a fusion guitarist and singer.
His track “Song for Elizabeth” is an instrumental guitar solo featuring superb technique and a flowing, beautiful melody—truly a master craftsman’s piece.
If you enjoy solo gut-string (classical) guitar, this is a song I highly recommend.
Tell Me All About ItNatalie Cole
Natalie Cole, an R&B singer who debuted in 1975, is also well known as the daughter of jazz pianist Nat King Cole.
Her charm lies in her mood-rich vocals.
The track “Tell Me All About It,” released in 2002, came in the later stage of her career.
The song features a smooth melody set to shaker-driven rhythms and a dramatic string arrangement.
Among tracks in this theme, it’s recommended for those who want something with vocals.
Street LifeThe Crusaders
The Crusaders were a fusion band active in the 1970s.
The origins of fusion are generally traced to the mid-1970s, and they were a long-running band active right around the time the “fusion” genre solidified.
Their track Street Life was released in 1979, right at the height of the fusion boom.
They’re a band known for the beautiful interplay between the instruments grooving in step with the dynamic female vocals.
Rather than a laid-back, relaxing feel, it’s an upbeat, energizing song with great drive.
California NightsWes Montgomery
Wes Montgomery, an American jazz guitarist, was a celebrated player who was active from the 1950s and passed away at the young age of 45.
A hallmark of his guitar playing is a technique known as the “octave style,” which became his signature.
The track “California Nights,” released in 1969, showcases this very octave technique.
It’s a piece that delivers a simple yet powerful melody, making it a smooth and enjoyable listen in sync with its jazz rhythm.
Fine On The OutsidePriscilla Ahn
The American singer-songwriter Priscilla Ahn’s song, created in 2005, drew attention when it was chosen as the theme song for Studio Ghibli’s film “When Marnie Was There.” The lyrics, which strikingly contrast inner loneliness with an outward show of strength, delicately portray the feelings of her girlhood, when she had few friends and carried a sense of solitude.
Released as a single in July 2014, the song resonated with many viewers as it played over the film’s ending.
The track is characterized by Ahn’s clear, transparent vocals and simple acoustic guitar accompaniment, making it a recommended listen for anyone who has experienced loneliness or wants to spend some quiet time.
Classic Western songs that calm the heart (21–30)
Best PartDaniel Caesar & H.E.R.
A duet by Canada’s Daniel Caesar and America’s H.
E.
R.
, distinguished by fingerpicked acoustic guitar and their sweetly interwoven vocals.
It warms the heart with its pure expression of love, singing that the simple, everyday moments—like sharing a morning coffee—are life’s greatest treasures.
Released in August 2017, the song appears on Daniel Caesar’s album “Freudian” and H.
E.
R.
’s compilation “H.
E.
R.” It won Best R&B Performance at the 61st Grammy Awards.
Listen to it on a summer evening while relaxing with someone special, and you may find yourselves cherishing each other even more.