It’s not hard to turn off when you’re commuting to and from work. We have all been there. You wake up in the morning and travel to work completely shut down. Or, it’s the evening, and you just want to arrive home and rest. However, an excellent commuting playlist can turn the tables around. It can enhance your journey to work and turn up your emotions in a positive way.
Although music was there from the beginning of mankind, it was only recently that researchers discovered the positive effects it has on our mood and performance. According to scientists from McGill University, your level of dopamine — a neurotransmitter that plays a major role in motivation and pleasure — increases by 9% when you listen to soundtracks you like. Moreover, sports researchers from Brunel Faculty showed that volunteers who listened to music had 15% improved endurance during exercise.
Now that we know what positive effects music has on us, let’s explore some of the best songs for producing them.
The Weeknd — Blinding Lights
According to rumors running around L.A, the “Blinding Lights” lyrics are about someone special. Selena Gomez, to be exact. She was The Weeknd’s famous ex. On the other hand, the “Blinding Lights” still feel like it belongs to Netflix’ Stranger Things — brimming with 80’ vibes and symbols. Unfortunately, the official music video doesn’t have a single Demogorgon in it.
If flexibility is queen in today’s music industry, then The Weeknd clearly showed that he’s the king and beyond great at adapting to different styles. Although “Blinding Lights” is chock-full of upbeats and heavy synths, it’s lyrics express a want for love since he’s “experiencing withdrawal.” “Blinding Lights” is perfectly made. This doesn’t come as a surprise since pop music maestro Max Martin was involved in the production process.
Survivor – Eye of the Tiger
We all know this one. “Eye of the Tiger” raises spirits high and is a perfect inspiration when you’re running on a treadmill. No wonder, since it’s the Rocky 3’s theme.
During the beginning of the 80’, the mainstream rock scene was an interesting place. We were still a couple of years away from pop-metal bands hits, and a few years after the 70’ rock scene. This is why various bands tried to appeal to both the rock and pop listeners during these years. Such bands mixed arena-style choruses with heavy guitar riffs, both loaded with a healthy bit of melody. One of the most famous bands was Survivor.
And their most well-known hit? Eye of the tiger. The song was so good that it placed them on top of the charts and made it into the hit motion picture Rocky 3. Jim Peternik, who wrote “Eye of the Tiger,” intuitively understood what the song needed. “I saw blows in my mind,” he told the press then. And from that, the classic American rock song came into being.
If you don’t have the time to search for classics like this and make your own playlist, you can always check out places like Lease Fetcher that turn the most popular commuting songs into badass playlists.
This Is How We Walk On The Moon – Geographer
“This is How We Walk on the Moon” is a down-to-earth, mood-elevating song singing about overcoming difficulties. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or afraid of what the future holds, this song will completely take you away. It will remind you that every little step forward (even some that take you backward) can bring you closer to your objective—a perfect go-to morning commute song.
There are several covers of this song from Arthur Russell. However, this one is enormously brilliant. Geographer’s “This is How We Walk on the Moon” is a part of his EP — Endless Motion Volume One. If you want to hear more great covers, be sure to check it out.
Red And Gold From Danielle Grubb
“Red And Gold” from Danielle’s EP “Venus” came out in recent years. It was an immediate hit in the alternative scene. The song is brimming with an original, eclectic combination of R&B, heavy-rock, funk, and pop. It’s a song for chilling, making it a perfect choice when you have completed your work for the day and want to bask in your success.
Danielle Grubb is a Dallas-based artist who has been performing in different projects ever since she was a teenager. The first band she was in, The Forest Fire, was enormously popular in the Texas state area.
