What Music Helps You Write?
By Michael Stelzner
Since the new iPods are getting a lot of attention, I thought I would ask a music question.
What tunes help you write?
I am looking for the album name if possible.
I’ll get this discussion started:
I like Yo-Yo-Ma’s Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major a lot.
Also like almost any Bach!
How about you?
(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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September 11th, 2007 at 8:46 am
I’m usually fine with most types of music. I think classical probably helps me focus better, so I would go with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
September 11th, 2007 at 8:52 am
Disturbed (the band), DJ Shadow, and Underworld’s live album ‘Everything, Everything.’ It has to have a really driving beat or fast tempo and high energy, or in the case of DJ Shadow, a lot of mood and atmosphere. Some jazz can be a little distracting for me, especially if it’s improvisation all over the place.
September 11th, 2007 at 9:03 am
Smooth, no adrenalin driven beat, and no singing.
The main ingredient for me is - not distracting. I don’t like creating in a silent room.
September 11th, 2007 at 10:25 am
Best of all is music I know well but don’t love to much (then I get distracted). Classical music, even if I don’t know it, does work pretty well also.
September 11th, 2007 at 11:53 am
I also like BACH, Goldberg Variations
Also, that Yo-Yo-Ma album is actually called The Cello Suites, Inspired by Bach
Mike
September 11th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
I’m almost embarassed to admit this, but when I write scripts for a web TV show I freelance a bit for, I go to a coffee shop, set up and crank up Journey’s Greatest Hits. For some reason, writing short, choppy stuff for the masses requires poppy 80s love ballads and Steve Perry’s vibrato. When I write for fun, though, I listen to punk. Most recently, The Dollyrots.
September 12th, 2007 at 5:09 am
Bjork, Peter Gabriel, The Beatles, 36 Crazyfists. DJ Shadow is amazing, too.
I like stuff that is really mood driven. If I’m working on something creative, I feel like an album with the right mood can help me get in the right/write groove better.
September 12th, 2007 at 5:26 am
I don’t know why, but Enya does it for me. Very inspiring, flowing, and enrergetic at the same time. It helped me write one of my books that addresses the often overlooked ‘emotional’ needs of every writer.
September 12th, 2007 at 8:17 am
When I write, I need quiet. Whatever Is to be written comes automatically,
however, I cannot write with the tv on or anything else. Sorry Mike. I seldom listen to music anyway. Quiet is my accompaniment. logic and wisdom are my
inspiration. I require that all “outer influences” be kept to a minimum. Writing,
for me, is an inner dialogue. Sincerely, Doug Rosbury
September 12th, 2007 at 9:08 am
When I truly need to concentrate but want to feel the heightened emotion that comes from music, I typically play orchestrated feature film music. If I’m writing a script that is action oriented, then I tend to play that genre of music. I also use action genre music when writing technical pieces–the pace helps me to maintain mental concentration and, more importantly, emotional motivation.
I prefer orchestrated music because my thoughts are not tugged at by lyrics; although, on occation, I do play music with lyrics (but usually, only in a language I don’t speak, like Chinese or Japanese). Maybe if I do that long enough, I’ll pick up those languages–then I’d have to switch to something in a really obscure language.
I also love Strunz & Farah (http://www.strunzandfarah.com/flash/index.php). Check out their “Primal Magic” CD.
September 12th, 2007 at 11:03 am
I have the radio set to oldies (60s to 90s) rock. I have set low. I don’t like music to be too loud because it distracts me.
September 12th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Thanks everyone for your great comments!!
September 13th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Nothing if I’m writing or editing. It’s too distracting. I’m inspired by music, though, and occasionally I find this paradox frustrating. If I must listen to something, a nice piano or symphonic piece I don’t know is best. Nothing I’m familiar with, and certainly nothing with words–I sing along!
April 7th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
how about sabastian bach from Skid Row. 18 and life is the song which helps me write about anything, but of course then I write with emotion
May 6th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Actually i’m not writing but coding and prefer listening to mpegradio, trance. What for names, darude’s ‘label this’ fills me with energy to go on. Yeah, i know it’s not trance at all
July 19th, 2008 at 1:36 am
I like the music BandeRui!
Hey,do you like it?!!