Who Holds The Record For The Shortest Song Ever Recorded?

Since the 1950’s, music has come a long way in terms of its duration. From classic rock albums that could last up to a half-hour to rap songs that may come and go in under two minutes, it seems like the time for popular music is shrinking.

But one record that is unlikely to be beaten anytime soon is for the shortest song ever recorded. That record is held by a band out of the United Kingdom called The Yugos. The track, which is simply titled "N.O.", clocks in at a brief 12 seconds.

Yes, you read that right—12 seconds.

The punk-rock quartet has turned shortness into a virtue, as they have numerous other songs that are all under 20 seconds in length. But the brevity of their music is not the only thing that sets The Yugos apart—they also make use of morse code and other sound art to explore various themes.

Considering that traditional rock songs average around three and a half minutes, it’s quite impressive that the band was able to record such a short track. While it may not have the same replay value as a classic rock song, it still manages to pack a punch in its small package.

Despite being around for almost two decades, The Yugos are still small-scale and without a major label, which makes their accomplishments all the more impressive. Holding on to their record at the world’s shortest song, these indie-rockers have more than earned their place in music history.