Post by Jessica Schoenenberger

When you’re up late at night, wide awake and unable to drift off, the perfect remedy is the dulcet tones of a British comedian. Right? The popular mindfulness app Calm sure seems to think so. They just released a meditative, supposedly sleep inducing bedtime story recorded by none other than Stephen Fry, the ubiquitous entertainer. Touted as an adult bedtime story, the internet says this recording is supposed to put you to sleep in minutes. And because everything you read on the internet is always true, I decided to try it for myself. Here I bring you my review of “Blue Gold,” the 24 minute bedtime story written by Phoebe Smith and narrated by Stephen Fry.

The description of “Blue Gold” on the Calm app says “Let master storyteller Stephen Fry take you on a calming journey through the lavender fields and sleepy villages of Provence.” I am now finding out Stephen Fry narrated all seven Harry Potter audio-books and is known for his exceptional use of the English language, so I am realizing I might have been hasty to judge. (And I am horribly out of the loop. He must be one of the most versatile actors in the world)

Fry’s surprisingly beautiful soporific voice eases in, and I am instantly relaxed. He begins by encouraging deep breaths from you, as if you are breathing in the titillating scent of the famous lavender fields in Provence. He then begins to take you on a deep journey through those fields, describing everything tantalizingly slow in perfect detail. And that is where I fell fast asleep. After 5 minutes.

One disclaimer-I had had a long day and was totally exhausted, so my results may be off. For me though, it really did the trick, and peacefully at that. Fry’s mesmerizing voice gets softer and slower as he goes on, lulling you into a french lavender trance. By the end, he is almost inaudible, gently letting you drift off. The story itself could almost just be a textbook entry if not for Fry’s perfect performance. In fact, I have listened to the story twice since that night. Once at work, writing this post, so I could write about it in fuller detail. It was so immersive I had to turn my fan on and get a glass of water to avoid nodding off at my desk. I used it traveling this weekend, as I couldn’t fall asleep in an unfamiliar bed. It did it’s job of calming me down yet again.

All in all, it was a quality piece of work and a neat experience. A very cool collaboration on Calm’s part. I expect to be lulled to sleep by Stephen Fry many times in the future, as odd as that does sound.

To try it for yourself download the Calm app to your phone and go to the sleep section.