Music taste gets especially personal when it comes to what is playing in the background as you’re studying. While some choose ambient sounds with no lyrics to accompany their readings, others might prefer Taylor Swift’s Reputation album to guide them through their math problems. I fall into the first group. For me, I cannot always listen to music with lyrics when studying, and I’m going to assume that a lot of you fall into this group as well.
I grew up playing games like Animal Crossing and Pokémon, but I did not start appreciating the games’ soundtracks until I became an overwhelmed university student. With exam season coming up, I want to introduce you to some new soundtracks. It may seem counterintuitive to listen to a video game soundtrack while you’re studying, but the ambience and easy listening that goes along with these soundtracks work very well for me and may work for you, too. So, without further ado, here are my top Nintendo soundtrack recommendations, depending on what type of work you are doing. You don’t have to be a hard-core gamer to listen to these soundtracks; I believe anyone can appreciate Nintendo’s artistry in this music.
1. Keeping up with readings and casual note-taking
Whether you just downloaded Pocket Camp on your phone or you have been playing Animal Crossing since an early age, many people might be familiar with this franchise. When I’m simply trying to keep up with my readings, I like to listen to the Animal Crossing soundtrack. This is a slow-paced game for a laid-back gamer, where you essentially do whatever you want. It doesn’t seem like it makes sense, but trust me, catching virtual bugs and planting virtual flowers in a leisurely way is more fun than it seems. The video game’s soundtrack has a slow, comfortable pace that makes me feel like I’m taking a calming stroll by the lake. It’s the perfect soundtrack to accompany my course readings, or my note reviewing. Most importantly, this soundtrack reminds me to take it easy, despite being a busy university student.
2. Writing a paper
For me, writing a paper demands using different parts of my brain than I would be using when I’m simply reviewing my notes. Of course, this means that it demands a different type of soundtrack as well. To boost my creativity and alleviate my writer’s block, I like to listen to the Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack. These ambient, celestial tracks connect me with ideas that I would have never thought of before. There’s something about the cosmic feel of this soundtrack that gets my creativity flowing. I would describe it as taking a voyage through space with Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach. You have to experience it to believe it.
3. Studying for midterms or for finals
Ah, exam season. Sometimes, all it takes is the right playlist to get you through this demanding time. That’s why I think that the music you listen to when you study is especially personal. However, I find that listening to the Pokémon soundtrack, from any of the games, puts you in the right mindset to write your exams with ease. If I had to choose one word to describe this soundtrack, it would be inspiring. The music that gets you pumped as you make your way to battle the Elite Four can easily be the music that hypes you before an exam. After all, if you can beat the Pokémon Champion, you will totally ace your exam.