Music carries all kinds of therapeutic properties, but if there’s one that stands out above the rest, it’s its ability to generate a greater motivation at the start of the day. Musical preferences are extremely personal, and any attempt to “analyze” them under scientific parameters usually doesn’t yield good results, but science keeps trying anyway. A project from the University of Cambridge and Spotify presents us with a list of the twenty most effective tracks for getting out of bed and facing the world.
I’ll admit it: I’ve always had trouble getting up early. No matter the weather, the environment, or the reasons that require me to leave bed, at certain hours I simply “don’t function”. I admire those who face the day from the first hour, revitalized and with a full battle plan ready to deploy. What I want is to roll over, think “five more minutes,” and actually end up taking four hours. More than one person has told me I need a little music in the mornings. The effects of certain sounds to improve our sleep are well known, but similar things are said about many songs with the power to transmit energy and lift the spirits.
The Science Behind the Perfect Morning Playlist
According to psychologist David M. Greenberg from the University of Cambridge and the folks at Spotify, there is a group of twenty songs considered “the best” to start the day. Greenberg explains that the list demanded considerable effort, since it’s not just about putting music in our ears. When we wake up, the mind is in a state that doesn’t allow it to process music, so it’s a matter of our mind moving through different phases, leaving tiredness behind to gain more attention.
I’m not at all surprised to see “Viva la Vida” by Coldplay at the top of the list. “Downtown” by Macklemore, “Wake Me Up” by Avicii, “Love Myself” by Hailee Steinfeld, and “On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons are other solid examples. If you decide to listen to the entire list in one go, you’ll quickly discover several patterns. All the songs display a tempo located between 100 and 130 beats per minute, with soft beginnings that gradually gain intensity.
Do you think the list is good? What’s your recipe for beating Monday mornings? Tell us!
