What songs do plants seem to respond to? Is that simply a silly question or is there a science-based answer to it? Let’s face it; most people you know would probably think you were a bit crazy if you told them that plants actually respond to certain songs. But, the truth is that it’s not just a looney tunes theory. Nope, it’s actually an area of nature that’s been studied extensively by scientists who have come up with some interesting musical facts.
Let’s Go Back to 1973
According to Bloomscape, the original notion that music does indeed have an effect on plant growth came about way back in 1973 when The Secret Life of Plants was published. The authors cited several scientific studies suggesting that music not only helps plants grow but that some plants actually possess a level of consciousness that allows them to respond to people and music.
Classical & Jazz
If we were to choose the kind of songs that plants might respond to, we’d pick tunes like “Here Comes the Sun”, “Sunshine on My Shoulders”, “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning”, and other weather-related songs like “Here Comes the Rain Again”, “Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head”, “Rainy Night in Georgia”, and the all-time classic, “Singin’ in the Rain”, just to name a few. However, apparently, science has concluded that the two best types of music for plants are a little jazz but mainly classical.
Responding to the Beat
On the other hand, our extensive research also uncovered the fact that, although our chosen songs would seem to be the perfect inspiration for our houseplants to grow (in our minds anyway), we were barking up the wrong tree in this area. Apparently, they respond more to the beat of the music than to the actual song itself. And, according to Sonic Bloom, a specific technique is reported to help by improving your plants’ growth and vigor. It consists of a cassette and some Sonic Bloom liquid concentrate. The cassette is said to provide classical music and chirping sounds that plants allegedly like, thereby allowing for an increase in growth. And, since we have no way of knowing whcih songs are actually the favorites of plants, we just listed them in alphabeticl order:
1. Air from Water Music by George Frideric Handel (1717)
This is made up of three entire suites of short classical pieces that were written by George Frideric Handel (an English composer who was born in Germany) for a special performance before King George. It was written for a small orchestra and is best known in dance form for its signature highly-spirited movements. In German, it’s called Wasermusik, and best of all, your plants should love it.
2. Autumn Leaves by Frank Sinatra (1957)
“Autumn Leaves” by Frank Sinatra was originally a classical French song called “Les Feuilles Mortes” written by Joseph Kosma and Jacques Prévert in 1945. Johnny Mercer wrote the English lyrics and gave it the current title, “Autumn Leaves”.
3. Blue Danube by Johann Strauss (1866)
The Blue Danube was barely even a moderate success initially, however, the 1867 Paris World’s Fair increased its popularity, successfully getting it into full swing. When it was originally written, it was a choral work that Strauss was commissioned to write for the Vienna Men’s Choral Society. It was intended to uplift the flagging spirits of the people of Vienna after losing the Austro-Prussian War.
4. Clair De Lune by Claude Debussy (1905)
Clair de Lune ( “moonlight” in French) is based on the poem of the same name by the Symbolist-Poet named Paul Verlaine. Both the well-known classical music piece and the lesser-known poem take listeners on a journey to introspection i.e. a lifetime adventure of understanding all of the phases of the soul.
5. Fur Elise by Ludwig van Beethoven (1810)
“Für Elise” is known as a bagatelle in A minor for a solo piano that was written by Ludwig Van Beethoven (aka just plain Ludwig Van if you’ve ever seen the classic film “A Clockwork Orange”). It was actually not published during his lifetime, only being discovered some 40 years after his death. The identity of the elusive “Elise” is still unknown and this piece has been played and recorded by numerous different musicians.
6. Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven (1801)
“Moonlight Sonata” was officially entitled “Piano Sonata No. 14 (in C-sharp minor)” originally. It’s a well-known piano sonata composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. Although it was completed in 1801, it wasn’t until 1802 that it was dedicated to one of his pupils named Countess Julie “Giulietta” Guicciardi. The now popular name “Moonlight Sonata” is credited to a remark that was made by a well-known critic after Beethoven’s death.
7. Pathetique Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven (1798)
This sonata is made up of three movements: 1st movement is Adagio sostenuto, which is characterized by its slow, lyrical melody and the use of arpeggiated chords. 2nd movement is Scherzo/Allegretto vivace, which offers a faster tempo with a more playful, mischievous character. 3rd movement is Presto agitato with its very fast tempo and dramatic, passionate character.
8. Prelude by Johann Sebastian Bach (1707)
The Prelude in C Major, BWV 846 is a keyboard composition with an elegant melody that was written by Johann Sebastian Bach. It’s a beautiful and serene piece of music that’s often used as a teaching piece for beginner piano students as well as for recitals. Known for its simple melody, clear harmonies, and graceful rhythm, Prelude has been used in numerous films and TV shows, including The Shawshank Redemption and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. In addition, it’s often used as a wedding march.
9. Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin (1924)
Rhapsody in Blue is a famous musical composition written by George Gershwin for solo piano and jazz band. It’s one of Gershwin’s most popular and well-known works and was commissioned by bandleader Paul Whiteman, who wanted to create a new type of music that would combine elements of classical music and jazz. This composition has been recorded by a number of artists from Ella Fitzgerald to Billie Holiday, and has also been used in numerous films and TV shows, including “The Aviator” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”. This popular song is considered a landmark in American music history and was one of the first pieces of music to successfully combine elements of classical music and jazz, thereby helping to pave the way for the development of other American music genres, like swing and bebop.
10. Spring by Antonio Vivaldi (1720)
Spring (La Primavera) is one of four violin concertos in Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. It’s widely considered one of the most famous pieces of classical music ever written and it’s comprised of three movements: Allegro, which depicts the arrival of spring and the awakening of nature. It’s characterized by a fast tempo, lively melodies, and the interesting use of bird calls.
Largo, which depicts a gentle breeze and a beautiful landscape. It’s also characterized by a slow tempo, lyrical melody, and the use of pizzicato. Allegro assai, which depicts a thunderstorm and a subsequent rainbow, is characterized by a fast tempo, dramatic melodies, and the use of tremolo.
Final Words
In closing, it’s important to remember that plants will thrive when they’re “listening” to music that’s sitting just between 115Hz and 250Hz. Why? Well, because the vibrations emitted at those levels emulate similar nature sounds. Also, plants really don’t like to be exposed to any music for more than one to three hours daily, so don’t overdo it. It’s also important to remember that, no matter what your current taste in music may be, harsher music (like heavy metal) can induce stress because the vibrations are far too intense for your delicate plants and can end up stimulating their sensitive cells a little bit too much.
You can also read:
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- The 10 Best Sean Kingston Songs of All-Time
- 10 Awesome Songs about Werewolves
- The 10 Best Jimmy Dean Songs of All-Time
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