10 Relaxing Songs to Listen to When You Have a Headache

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Do you ever seem to have one of those days when everyone’s on your case, from your teacher all the way down to your best girlfriend? Wait a second—I think I have heard that somewhere before. Well, you know what I’m talking about. It’s one of those days when your head is pounding because you’re aggravated by everything the day has brought you. Everywhere you went all day, people were just being annoying—from the dude who works in the pizzeria to the clerk at 7-Eleven, to the people you work with, and especially that person driving 30 miles an hour in front of you on the highway. We can’t give you a prescription, but we can recommend some music: songs that are mellow, spacious, and relaxing enough to help you settle down when you need a quieter soundtrack.

Important: Music can be relaxing, but it does not cure headaches and this article is not medical advice. Sudden, severe, persistent, or unusual headaches should be evaluated by a medical professional.

# 10 – “Wishing You Were Here” – Chicago

We open up this list with a song from one of our favorite bands of all time. “Wishing You Were Here” begins with the sound of the ocean, which immediately gives the recording a calm, spacious feel. Peter Cetera wrote the song for Chicago VII, and Terry Kath handled the lead vocal while Cetera sang the bridge. Al Jardine, Carl Wilson, and Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys added backing vocals, giving the chorus an unmistakable glow. Recorded at Caribou Ranch and released as the third single from Chicago VII, the song reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart.

# 9 – “The Look of Love” – Diana Krall

If there ever was someone who could take the edge off a rough day, it’s Diana Krall. She recorded “The Look of Love,” the Burt Bacharach and Hal David classic, for her 2001 album of the same name. Produced by Tommy LiPuma with lush arrangements by Claus Ogerman, Krall’s version slows the song down and gives it a warm blend of jazz, bossa nova, piano, guitar, bass, and orchestral textures. Her restrained vocal and the relaxed pulse of the arrangement make this one of those recordings that seems to lower the temperature in the room the moment it begins.

Read More: Top 10 Diana Krall Songs

# 8 – “A Case of You” – Joni Mitchell

There’s something very inviting about the way Joni Mitchell performs “A Case of You.” Recorded for her 1971 album Blue, the track places Mitchell’s voice and Appalachian dulcimer alongside James Taylor’s acoustic guitar, leaving plenty of open space around the melody. That spare arrangement is a big part of what makes the song so effective when you want something quiet and reflective. The emotional weight is there, but the recording never feels crowded or aggressive.

Read More: Top 10 Joni Mitchell Songs

# 7 – “Dog and Butterfly” – Heart

While Ann Wilson’s roaring rock and roll voice may not always be the first thing you think of when looking for something gentle, on “Dog and Butterfly” she is as tender as she’s ever been. Written by Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson, and Sue Ennis, the song appeared on Heart’s 1978 album Dog & Butterfly. Its acoustic foundation, measured rhythm, and warm vocal performance give the track an easy, unhurried quality. There is simply something cozy about this one, and that makes it a natural fit for a list built around music to play when you want the world to quiet down for a few minutes.

# 6 – “Heroes” – Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel’s version of David Bowie’s “Heroes” sounds almost nothing like the original, which is exactly why it works so well here. Gabriel recorded it for his 2010 album Scratch My Back, a collection built around orchestral reinterpretations of songs by other artists. His version was produced by Gabriel with Bob Ezrin and arranged by John Metcalfe, replacing the driving rock instrumentation of Bowie’s recording with strings, piano, and a very slow build. The result is solemn, spacious, and almost motionless at times, giving Gabriel’s voice room to carry the emotional weight of the song without overwhelming the listener.

Read More: Top 10 Peter Gabriel Songs

# 5 – “Onward” – Yes

Yes recorded “Onward” for their 1978 album Tormato, and the Chris Squire composition stands apart from much of the band’s more complicated progressive-rock material. Jon Anderson’s soft vocal, Steve Howe’s understated guitar work, Squire’s melodic writing, and the song’s string accompaniment create a gentle, floating atmosphere. Yes could be spectacularly intricate and explosive, but “Onward” shows how effective the band could be when it slowed everything down and allowed a melody to breathe.

# 4 – “Jamie’s Song” – Brian Kachejian

I’m going to include one of my own compositions here. “Jamie’s Song” appeared on my 2013 album Beneath an Autumn Moon, and I originally wrote the piece for one of my piano students. It is an instrumental built around piano and a slow, uncluttered melody, which is exactly the kind of music I tend to reach for when I want to shut out some of the noise of the day. The album moves between classical, new-age, jazz, and pop influences, and “Jamie’s Song” is one of its quieter pieces, so it fits naturally alongside the other recordings on this list.

# 3 – “Emily’s Song” – The Moody Blues

“Emily’s Song” appeared on The Moody Blues’ 1971 album Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. Written and sung by bassist John Lodge for his daughter Emily, the song has a gentle, lullaby-like quality that separates it from the larger and more dramatic arrangements heard elsewhere in the band’s catalog. Its soft acoustic textures and warm harmonies create the sort of intimate atmosphere that lets you settle into the music rather than brace yourself for it.

Read More: Top 10 Moody Blues Songs

# 2 – “Breathe (In the Air)” – Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd’s “Breathe (In the Air)” seems almost designed for a moment when you want everything around you to slow down. Featured on The Dark Side of the Moon, the track was recorded at Abbey Road Studios during the 1972 and 1973 sessions for the album. Pink Floyd produced the record, with Alan Parsons serving as engineer. David Gilmour’s guitar and vocal, Richard Wright’s keyboards, Roger Waters’ bass, and Nick Mason’s restrained drumming create a weightless atmosphere that flows naturally out of “Speak to Me.” Few rock recordings make so much use of space, and that unhurried quality is exactly why it belongs near the top of this list.

# 1 – “September Fifteenth” – Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays

“September Fifteenth” by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays takes the number one spot because of the extraordinary sense of space, reflection, and quiet emotion in the recording. The instrumental appeared on the 1981 album As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls and was recorded at Talent Studio in Oslo during September 1980. The piece is dedicated to pianist Bill Evans, who died on September 15, 1980. Mays’ delicate piano work and Metheny’s unmistakable guitar tone move through the composition without ever feeling rushed, creating a recording that rewards simply sitting still and listening.

Read More: 10 Essential Pat Metheny Albums