I don’t mean to alarm anyone who is still clinging to summer but it appears that fall, and the academic season, are now in full swing. No matter what year you find yourself in, the inevitable assigned readings, pop quizzes, research essays and group presentations are upon us. While it may be time to put away the flip-flops and the fedoras and buckle down a bit, I’m here to tell you that schoolwork doesn’t have to be completely unpleasant. In fact, with the right soundtrack, reading about foreign policy can be downright enjoyable!
Okay, that’s not exactly true, but sometimes the right music can help you focus, which is why I’ve put together a playlist of songs that always help make me productive. It was quite difficult to narrow it down to 11 – my iTunes study playlist has 78 different songs – but hopefully some of these options will appeal to the scholar in all of us.
1) Blindsided – Bon Iver
This ditty off of the 2007 indie-folk album For Emma, Forever Ago is perhaps one of Bon Iver’s lesser known ones (yet still garners an impressive 4 million views on YouTube) and is perfect for studying, with a combination of luscious vocals, soft percussion, and a calming guitar riff.
2) Mushaboom (K-OS remix) – Feist
Mix Feist’s angelic voice and catchy tune with an upbeat rap verse by k-os and you’ve got a killer Canadian combination. For some reason I find this remix relaxing enough to study to, it’s catchy but not distracting.
3) Flowers In Your Hair – The Lumineers
The folk band of the moment also has some great study songs, with simple and memorable guitar chords that won’t make schoolwork seem as tedious.
4) Hometown Glory – Adele
If you like slower, more melodic tunes, this Adele hit from 2007 showcases her vocal ability and features a piano melody that will give you shivers.
5) Demons – Imagine Dragons
This song has been getting a lot of radio play lately, but I still think it’s a gem for schoolwork – the slower, grittier verses and powerful chorus can make you feel unstoppable.
6) To Build a Home – The Cinematic Orchestra
This may be one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard, and it features another Canadian artist – Patrick Watson. Give it a listen and find yourself concentrating thanks to the simple piano, the stunning string accompaniment, and Watson’s haunting vocals.
7) Your Song – Ellie Goulding
Simply a pretty song – Ellie Goulding sings one of Elton John’s most famous tunes, and creates a lovely cover that will help you deal with the midterm blues.
8) Keep Your Head Up – Ben Howard
This indie folk gem by English singer/songwriter Ben Howard is relaxing without putting you to sleep. Don’t give up!
9) Change the Sheets – Kathleen Edwards
Ottawa native Kathleen Edwards sounds mysteriously hopeful on this song. It can help you get a fresh start on reading after those “study breaks” (cough Netflix cough).
10) Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley
If you’re familiar with the soundtrack of a little old show called The O.C., this song may appeal to you. It’s one of the most covered songs out there, but this one stands out as my favorite because of the overall emotion behind it.
11) Postcards from Far Away – Coldplay
Coldplay moved away from their traditional alternative rock roots with ‘Postcards’ and created this short, moving instrumental piece that is perfect to conclude your study playlist with. If you’re skeptical of Chris Martin’s vocals, this may be the song for you.
These songs are of course just a sample of the extensive study playlists available out there. Websites like 8tracks are great for more specifically crafted playlists – some students can only concentrate to the sounds of hip hop, while others need intense movie soundtracks to get them going. Either way, I hope you enjoy this small selection, and wish you the best of luck with your schoolwork. Don’t forget to take a few Netflix breaks too.
Picture source: http://www.rhl.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Have-Fun-and-Study.jpg