Blogging Music, Or Why I Listen to Songs About Ducks

Is it just me, or does adding music to any task make it instantly more fun? Seriously! When my dentist started talking about removing some wisdom teeth, I was none too pleased, to say the least. However, when he told me that I could listen to my iPod during the procedure, it made things a little better.

Just a little.

Did I gross you out about the wisdom teeth? Sorry.

Anyway, my point is that I like listening to music while I’m working, be it on a blog post, an assignment for school, or cleaning my room, music just makes it better.

Not that I don’t enjoy writing blog posts. It’s just that darn first sentence that never fails to baffle me.

When it comes to tasks that require my mostly-undivided attention, I like to stick with something a little bit mellow and something I can disengage from, which usually leaves me with classical music, mainly because it doesn’t have any lyrics to distract me.

My favorite way to listen to classical comes from a little online radio station that I get on iTunes, Classic FM. They play a good variety and have commercials in German, which I am convinced will one day pay off in spades. Somehow, I’ll start taking German classes and all these years of subliminal learning will make me a prodigy.

At least that’s what I like to think.

Update: I realized, seeing as I do not speak German, that I’m really just assuming that Classic FM is in German. I’m beginning to suspect that it’s not.

However, even though Classic FM is wonderful, sometimes they go a little overboard with the harpsichord and flute, which instantly compels me to change channels. It’s those flutes! They remind me of my old summer job, shut away in a windowless office with that easy listening elevator music playing over the intercom. Did you know that there is a flute version of “My Heart Will Go On”? There is.

Beyond iTunes, there’s always the custom radio station websites, Pandora and Last.fm, both of which are excellent, although I was concerned when Last.fm informed me that Sergei Rachmaninoff was currently on tour. He died in 1943.

If I’m looking for something a little more peppy, I click on over to the website for one of my favorite Houston area radio stations, Tu Música 104.9, mainly because it plays less commercials than Mega 101. Although, unless you live in Houston, you probably don’t know what I’m talking about. Just take my word for it, 104.9’s the way to go.

If you’re looking for something more eclectic, check out the jukebox at Fred Flare, which also happens to be one of my favorite stores. (Update: I believe Fred Flare is now permanently closed). You know a place is good when they sell items such as Mr. T in your Pocket, Nancy Drew’s Guide to Life, and Peanut Butter and Jelly wallets.

Even though there are oodles of excellent music-related options out there, in the end, my favorite thing to listen to while working on a project is my own dear HomeworkMix on iTunes. This playlist has been evolving for about four years now and saw me through many a boring study hall back in high school. Comprised of songs that have just enough groovability to boost morale but that are also low-key enough to not completely break my train of thought, HomeworkMix is my favorite study buddy.

Here are a few gems from the collection for you as you continue to surf the net…

“El Pato” by Natalia y la Forquetina

Probably my favorite song at the moment…it’s about a duck.

“Castles in the Air” by Keith Harkin

This song is so relaxing and so lovely. Although it’s slightly counterproductive because watching Keith Harkin turns my brain to mush.

“Amor de mis Amores” by Cabas

Chilled-out and just plain beautiful.

“Haule Haule” by Salim-Sulaiman and Sukhwinder Singh

When you add a geeked-up Shah Rukh Khan to just about any song, you’ve got a winner.

“Don’t Wait too Long” by Madeleine Peyroux

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to my love of jazz.

There you have it! A little glimpse into the music that fuels the musings of my brilliant mind in all its eccentricities. I’ll understand if you need a little time to process this.

Take your time.

I’ll be here.

Listening to songs about ducks.