The Longest Song Ever Written: Reviewed

Written by: Mitchell Daneker

Edited by: Maddie McVey

November 1, 2016 marked the day Michael and Kelly Bostwick broke the world record for the longest song ever written. Clocking in at an incredible 13 hours, 23 minutes, and 32 seconds, The Rise and Fall of Bossanova (A 13:23:32 Song) is a feat in and of itself to listen to, let alone develop. The song is split into five, hardly bite sized parts - longer than most movies. Each section takes the listener on a trip through synthesizers, guitar, and limited voice-work.

The song begins with calming atmospheric sounds, which were appreciated as I was studying at the time of listening. When vocals were thrown in, they resonated; creating a cave-like echo which provided an ominous mood that built ever so slowly. While the first hour of the first section passed by quickly, the remaining hour-plus droned on. It was definitely something people could meditate to, but I myself am a busy and working person, so the sounds were not what I was looking for at the time.

Two and a half hours in, the second section of the song began. This was by far the worst part of the song. Quite frankly, listening to this part made me want to quit and return to some rock and roll to get my blood moving. I stuck it out however, doing what I could to remain awake through the repeated and monotonous ambiance.

Five or so hours into the song came an unexpected break, some kind of classic pop fusion with the rolling noises from earlier. I do not know if it was the fact that I was ready to rip my ears off for the prior few hours or if the song was actually improving, but the first 30 minutes of Part III were quite good. This section is where one really starts to notice the lyrics, as well. They are sad, reaching into the past and meditating on what has been.

Part IV keeps with the feeling of Part III, but a little more drawn out. The lyrics repeat

themselves a significant amount, but the music is much more melodic. This whole part is the longest song on Spotify, at an amazing four hours and twenty minutes. It reminds me of the ocean, moving slowly but with power and a meaning lost to time.

The final section, Part V, has the most physical meaning as far as lyrics are concerned. The writer of the song talks about their relationship with family, and having been selfish in the past. The epic song closed off with an extremely quiet two minutes that let me reflect on what I had just heard.

My final conclusion on this piece is that it is worthwhile to listen to once. Truly, it is an

experience everyone should have – taking an entire day just to reflect on the past. A major takeaway from the song – from my own conclusions and its lyrics – is that the past is the past. You cannot forget it, but it does not necessarily define who you are. You should live in the now and do your best to make a strong impact for the benefit of others, be it those close to you or complete strangers.