I think I’ve mentioned before that I don’t listen to music when I write or make a playlist for my books because I have distraction syndrome. Now before you all start running and Googling that, it’s not a real thing. It’s just what happens to me when I hear music. I stop what I’m doing and get totally into the beat, the lyrics, and I channel my inner rock diva and forget what I’m supposed to be concentrating on. I don’t listen to the radio when I drive anymore because that Carpool Karaoke thing? Yeah. It’s a real thing. James Cordon can do it because he’s not really driving, he’s being hauled by a starter car. If I drive and carpool karaoke myself into a stupor, hands waving, eyes closed in music ecstasy, accidents will abound, fenders will bend, and dashboards will be destroyed.
But… ( you knew that was coming, didn’t you!!)
The one time of the year I allow my self to be distracted is at Christmas. I love me a holiday song be it an old standard, a Holy Christmas carol or a modern pop favorite. I’ve weeded my top songs for Holiday listening down to five and thought I’d share them with you today.
In no particular order, here they are: (click on the titles to view and hear them)
The Little Drummer Boy – David Bowie and Bing Crosby
Have a Cool Yule – Bette Midler
All I want for Christmas — Mariah Carey
Do They Know It’s Christmas – Band Aid
O Come, Emmanuel – Pentatonix
So….listen and relax this holiday season. Music soothes the soul, warms the heart, and can inspire us all with its beauty and truth. Take a little time for yourself to unwind, kick back, and….listen.
Peggy Jaeger, Author 
I totally cannot listen to vocal music while I write. Instrumental music is fine, as long as it isn’t too pushy about demanding I pay attention to it — which also rules out rock and roll, at least for me. With its drums and riffs, it’s pretty demanding.
I love classical music and many composers wrote stuff that is upbeat, and rhythmically regular — makes excellent background sound that completely defies carpool karaoke,. Some of my favorites for writing are Haydn or Mozart symphonies, Prokofiev or Tchaikovsky ballets. Remember The Mozart Effect? (“The music may induce a short-term improvement on the performance of certain kinds of mental tasks.”) I find that it works for writing, too — though it has nothing to do with Mozart in specific.
New Age can also make great ‘tonal baths’, though some of it is too slow to urge me to write.
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I love this post! I’m completely the opposite; I use music to help me write and it sets the mood for my posts. Piano Guys is my go-to playlists. But oh for Christmas!!!! I loved that you chose Pentatonix. Their version of Mary Did you Know is epic! One of the best ones out there
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Johanna – I love Piano Guys, too!!! saw them just last week on The Today show. So gooooood.
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Wind. Rain. Cafe. The three things I play while writing.
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