When you turn on the radio, there’s an expectation that the music you’ll hear is polished, mastered, and catchy.
You expect something thought-provoking or relatable with a hook that makes you want to listen or sing along.
Although the music that fits into popular genres is often profitable, it can also be formulaic. That’s why you’ll see many artists strike out on their own to produce something incredibly unique.
When you think of the songs you’ve heard over the years, what are the strangest songs you’ve ever heard?
What’s the Strangest Music You’ve Ever Heard?
Music is subjective. You will find people loving and hating the same thing in every genre. One of the strangest developments happened in the 1950s and early 1960s when musicians tried to change different jazz techniques. By altering tempos, chords, and tones mid-melody, the often feels convoluted.
One of the best examples of free jazz from the 1960s is an album by Ornette Coleman. It’s appropriately titled “Free Jazz.”
- Coleman plays the alto saxophone for the album.
- Charlie Haden and Scott LaFaro are on the bass.
- Eric Dolphy plays the bass clarinet.
- Billy Higgens and Ed Blackwell are on percussion.
- You can catch Freddie Hubbard on the trumpet.
- Donald Cherry is there with the pocket trumpet.
The album starts with the free jazz style right away. It’s almost like everyone is playing something different while trying to make everything sound like it should stay together.
Imagine if you were in a room listening to 12 different people. Each person speaks a foreign language.
Those people are very passionate about their conversations. Since no one can understand each other, everyone starts getting louder and louder as they try to get their point across.
Pretty soon, you’ve got an entire room of people all saying the same thing without any understanding.
That’s one way to describe free jazz.
Another is a quote by Henry Rollins. “The talking shows are like free jazz,” he said. “I’m just gonna go out there and blow with the idea of keeping it streamlined and not wasting time. It’s wild – and it’s a great thing when you see a performer really able to do it.”
That’s why music is in the eye of the beholder. Many people equate the word “strange” with “terrible.”
When you think of strange, what comes to mind? Is it a song that was surprising to you? Was it so unusual or unique that it made you pay attention?
What Are the Strangest Songs Out There Today?
After spending over three decades in music, starting with my high school band (I was a gold medalist baritonist), I’ve run into some unusual stuff. A lot of it is enjoyable, some are not, and a few songs remind me of my third-grade teacher running her nails across the chalkboard to get our attention.
Yes, I really am that old.
That means I’ve also had a lot of time to contemplate strange music. Here is my list of favorites from over the years and why I like the composition.
1. “Tendon” by Igorr
I love the instrumentals on this track. The musicians go in 100 different directions. At one point, you think you’re listening to a band at a medieval fair. A few seconds later, you’ll get a heavy metal crash with some autotune and modern effects. Almost everyone I know has raised an eyebrow at least once when listening to the track for the first time.
2. “Tattooed Man” by Coil
I’ll go on the record to say that the music in this song isn’t that strange. It feels like you’ve jumped back into the 1970s and decided to spend the evening in a velvet chair, a polyester jacket, and your favorite pipe.
The song’s lyrics are what get to me when listening to this composition.
“This is me here now pining like a dog.
Whining like a dog in a thick harbor fog.
Waiting for a ship that will make him sick.
And when the ship comes, big trouble,
His trouble will begin.”
3. “Why Must I Cry” by Reh Dogg
It’s the shower scene in the music video. The artist is dancing in his bathroom, suds all over his body, and then you see him sneaking through the woods.
There’s also the guy dressed as what seems like a security officer’s outfit, singing while he’s driving. That can’t be safe.
The lyrics and beat are relatively straightforward. As for the artist’s voice… well, you can decide how you feel about the performance after watching the video.
4. “Mrs. Robinson” by Church of Rhythm
Our youth group went to a religious concert series back in the 1990s. It was right as the festival culture was coming back in popularity, so a bunch of bands got together to put on something “wholesome” for the whole family to enjoy. It was marketed as being the “moral alternative” to Lollapalooza, which started in 1991.
For the record, that first Lollapalooza was incredible. Seeing the farewell tour for Jane’s Addiction was life-changing.
Having a religious band sing this song after many parents and teachers talked about not getting involved in the world was shocking. We jammed out to the music. All the adults in the group were taken aback by the entire experience.
We had penance afterward. Still worth it.
This song leaves me speechless for all the wrong reasons. It’s not about flying off to somewhere in love. You’re not taking a trip on an airplane.
It’s about a housefly. The kind you try to squish with a swatter.
What makes the recording unusual is that most of the “song” sounds like the combination of guitar feedback and someone laughing with a goose.
Honestly, I felt like I wasted two minutes of my life listening to it. I know others find it innovative and wonderful. It’s another one of those things you’ll need to hear yourself to judge it accurately.
6. “The Coconut Song” by San Miguel Master Chorale
When Ryan Cayabyab wrote this song, he might not have ever realized how viral (and annoying) it would become.
You can certainly sing along with the song. “The coconut nut is a giant nut. If you eat too much, you get VERY fat.”
When you listen to the chorale version, it feels like you’re listening to a performance put together by the local church choir.
“Coconut, oh, co co co coconut.”
Is anyone hungry after listening to this song? Or have an urge to build something with coconut wood?
7. “The 7th Element” by Vitas
If you close your eyes and listen to this song, it doesn’t seem that bad. It’s a bit dated because of the disco elements, but there’s a great hook in the piece.
It’s the video that gets you. It’s like Steven Martin’s house from The Jerk after he gets rich selling those nose pieces for glasses. Some of the dancers are holding sparklers – for mood lighting?
Then you have the artist vocally performing the song’s hook. Let’s just say normal people don’t use their tongue that way.
8. “Vox Populi” by Gole Maryam
I love the structures of this composition. You get plenty of airy pads and synths at the beginning to set the mood.
From there, the occasional vocal comes into the picture. If you’ve ever listened to brainwave entrainment or migraine music in the past, you’ll get an idea of the isochronic tones heard in this piece.
Some people might listen to this and say, “I can make music like that.” I have it on my regular playlist because it helps me focus on whatever task I’m working on at that moment.
Once the panning starts, it feels like I can get out of my head for a little bit.
How to Play Your Favorite Strangest Music Selections
Listening to music on a high-performance audio system ensures that an accurate representation of the recorded notes reaches your ears. That means you get clear treble without extra chatter, distinctive bass without muddiness, and a mid-range with sharpness and precision.
Only one set of speakers achieves that outcome for my favorite songs, whether I feel they are strange or generic. The Klipsch R-41SA speaker set delivers a powerful Dolby Atmos experience with a 90 by 90-degree Tractrix Horn for one of the best listening experiences I’ve ever had.
It even beats brands like Bose that bank their reputations on the sound quality their speakers produce.
The Klipsch design uses a one-inch aluminum tweeter with a four-inch spun copper woofer to create beautifully accurate sounds. It has 100w power handling to work well with your computer system, home recording studio, or TV.
You will not believe the clarity of the Klipsch R-41SA speakers!
There is an entire world of music out there to explore. It can be lots of fun to step outside of your comfort zone to try something new. You might not always like what you hear, but that’s why everything from free jazz to Reh Dogg is out there.
Music offers something for everyone.