music to work to

[Ed]

ok, we've had music to train to, how about some music to work to?

from today's experiences so far:

good:

Kraftwerk (Tour de France Soundtracks)
David Bowie (Low/"Heroes")

bad:

Johnny Cash (a random best of)

any more ideas, preferably ones in the "good" category?

[rocky]

girly angst works for me, so

pj harvey stories from the city..., rid of me
tori amos

also g 'n' r

[brooner]

my problem with working to music means i end up concentrating more on the music than the work i'm meant to be doing. chilled out stuff without words usually works best for me, stuff like boards of canada, to rococo rot, larmousse, múm (okay words but not very deciferable and I certainly can't sing along to it),

[pasta and cheese]

There was a paper done on this topic. It found that (surprise, surprise) certain music had different effects on your mood and work style. Used to have the link to it somewhere but can't seem to find it.

Anyways conclusion was..

Essays....Classical works best for results.

Exam revison....Fraid silence came out on top guys. Significantly as well. Probably due to the cue dependant association with music that builds up over time.

The way they did they essay one was a bit sus. I mean everyone likes different styles of music etc and as i remember i think the result for teh essay music was not significant anyway.

But heed the study....

Silence is golden...or A....or.....PHD....or.....Finals....or....Royal College Member.

[Becks]

Think pasta and cheese is right again - revision has to be silent in the library or I've got no chance whatsoever as it's soooooo dull! For essay writing though I can listen to pretty much anything, though if it's a toughie something like Bjork's more chilled albums (Vespertine's a classic) or Sigur Ros is always good - few words and pretty relaxing music.

[Ed]

Think pasta and cheese is right again

I'd have to disagree - I could never revise without, in the immortal words of the CJB, "emission of a succession of repetitive beats". That's not to say necessarily house or techno - but without something with a decent fairly uptempo beat then I just can't concentrate. Seems to be the same with writing as well, although for coding I can (and do) listen to pretty much anything. Silence is definitely always the last resort, though.

[samsonite]

see my topic "mummy" for my top 10 wasting my life in front of a computer tunes.

and i think it depends on the person. i couldnt do any work without music, but then i cant really function without it any time of day. im a music freak. but your average "i like whatevers on the radio" dido buying, anastacia listening person probably does better with no music.

also im like brooner, generally i cant listen to anything that means anything to me or i just end up concentrating on it. generally stuff with few words or stuff i know every single word to without even thinking work best for me. for example first guns and roses record, holy bible by manic street preachers, nevermind by nirvana, stuff i have loved since i was a kid and dont even hear really anymore. at the moment its instrumental stuff from warp records like prefuse 73 and savath and savalas.

cant listen to snow patrol unless im only pretending to study, it makes me feel funny.

[Jene]

..... but your average "i like whatevers on the radio" dido buying, anastacia listening person probably does better with no music.

lol, that seems to describe me!! but i need to be listenin to music constantly or else silence really gets me, like claustrophobia, but with silence!! lol hmmmm......... i no what i mean......cant listen to nethin that could be sung to, or i lose concentration and start singin!!! lol

[SJ]

same here - need some music like the beatles or something but always end up singing...even "la" along to instrumental stuff when my work is particularly boring

[cj]

As someone who likes classical music it helps me with essays but there's a fine balance between stuff that sends you to sleep and stuff that has you conducting the stereo, oh and the schindlers list theme still makes me cry Can't imagine it being any good for those that don't like it tho, would just be annoying

[samsonite]

philip glass is incredible for studying/working. forgot about that earlier

[Michael]

At first I tend to stick something instrumental on, but usually I end up tuning the music out, and i dont hea it. kind of a waste really. this happen to anyone else?

[Ed]

when I'm really working well then yup, the music just turns into background, whatever it is. On the other hand, I can't focus that well without it being on - silence just doesn't blend into the background quite as well I guess

[bendover]

twitney spears, samantha's mumbas, s-club, aqua, doctor allbran, beyonce, two unlimited, technotronic, haddaway, the pasadenas, boyz 2 men, the backstreet boys, the spice girls, bob the builder, the teletubbies, black box, ace of base, whigfield, westlife, wacko jacko, scatman john, louise, paul gascoigne, david hasselhoff, glen medeiros, rick astley, wham, showaddywaddy, aswad, the coors, sinitta, and PJ + Duncan

have all played a part in my miseducation.

[brooner]

the backstreet boys, the spice girls, bob the builder, the teletubbies, wacko jacko, scatman john, paul gascoigne and two many coors,

a combination surely to ruin anyone and
therein lies the answer to rocky's question:

last thursday night i was the honoured receiver or the Laurant Garnier (or something) Award for best first year sporting performance at edinburgh uni.... i think, me memory's a bit hazy! anyways, there are a couple of orienteers names on there already 1- mr Jon 'JD' Duncan and 2- mr Ben 'Dover' Roberts.

one of these has a handful of wc top10s and a woc medal. the other celebrated his 25th birthday sumo wrestling in some mud..... anyone got any advice as to where the paths of these athletes split and which one i should follow?!?!