Playlists to write by
I’m not much for listening to music when I work, but sometimes when I’m shoved against a deadline and my energy’s fading, I turn to a dozen songs in my iPod for a boost. When I was authorizing my new Mac through iTunes tonight, I noticed not only do these songs rock to the max, but most of them have titles relating to how I feel about writing. My “Get Pumped/Get Writing” playlist:
- Rebel Yell, Billy Idol (don’t laugh; I’m a total 80s chick and Billy Idol
iswas HOT!) - Zoo Station, U2
- Once in a Lifetime, Talking Heads
- How I Could Just Kill a Man, Cypress Hill (you know, when editors bug me)
- Rock the Casbah, The Clash
- Right Here, Right Now, Fatboy Slim
- Steam, Peter Gabriel
- What Did I Do to Deserve This?, The Pet Shop Boys
- If I Should Fall From Grace With God, The Pogues
- Get This Party Started, Pink
- What Difference Does it Make?, The Smiths
- Hella Good, No Doubt
- Purple Haze, The Cure
- Ramble On, Led Zeppelin
Do you listen to music when you work? How does it affect your writing? And what’s on your writing playlist? [db]
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Oct 18, 2006 Observations, Personal yammerings
A few weeks ago, I lost a very large project because of something I have called “morals.” I was so upset and bummed that I put on the soundtrack to Bedknobs & Broomsticks and screamed “Step in the Right Direction,” a song that was cut from the original film. Made me feel so much better.
Yeah, you can go ahead and tatoo “GEEK” across my forehead. It’s okay.
I love this list (being and 80′s chick myself!) It looks a lot like my workout playlist. (Not that I work out all that much… sigh). Allow me to suggest “Pump Up the Volume” by M.A.R.R.S. Ohhhhh Yeah!
Jen, that’s too funny about B&B (and sorry to hear about the lost project: definitely their loss, those turkeys!)
Darlene, cool song — off to download.
I almost always listen to music when I write. I find it helps me block out the world and focus on what I am doing (a necessity when you work at home and have kids). What I listen to varies depending on my mood and what stage of writing I am in. For example, when cranking out the first draft, I play classical, usually the Mozart Effect. This part is always the hardest for me, and research shows classical music improves brain performance. Plus, it’s just nice background stuff that doesn’t interrupt my thinking. When I need motivation, I play classic or pop rock (think Elton John, Cheap Trick, Edwin McCain)to get me going. If I am freaking out because the writing isn’t coming together, I play Christin rock-I figure a little help from above can never hurt! When editing, which I, unlike most, actually like to do (at this stage the meat of the work is done so I can quick panicking and enjoy pulling it all together) I play whatever suits the mood. This is anything from rock to country to easy listening. I must say I am a big John Mayer fan-his lyrics are good and the music isn’t too distracting. So, you can sing (unless you’re at Panera or the library) and think and write all at the same time! Does it get any better than that?
It’s such a cliche, but I’m inspired by Natasha Bedingfield’s pop hit, ‘Unwritten.’