Up to a quarter of adults are nervous travellers and reading, watching a movie and listening to music are all great ways to relax and unwind when flying. And when it comes to calming music, Spotify have just revealed their top picks to calm the nerves of anxious travellers. And top of the pile is British singer Adele, with ‘Someone Like You’.
Adele’s tracks are perfect thanks to the slow tempo and chilled sound. In fact slow tempo tracks (around 60 beats per minute) are ideal as they can lower travellers’ heart rates and blood pressure. The study shows that music that is both stimulating and emotional is beneficial to those of a nervous flying disposition. Time for me to ditch the heavy metal beats of Metallica then?
The 15 tracks on Spotify’s ‘Calming Music To Fly To’ playlist is an eclectic mix, ranging from Enya’s Orinoco Flow (you have to be of a certain age to remember that one), classic Buffalo Soldier from Bob Marley (I get the whole chilled-reggae vibe) and , personal favourite Scar Tissue from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. There are also songs from Beyoncé, Coldplay and curiously, The Christmas Song from Nat King Cole, which may seem out of place if you’re flying to the Caribbean for a sun-soaked getaway!
Last up on the list is the classic Space Oddity track from David Bowie, which has just been reworked by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield. He sings and plays guitar along to the track whilst floating weightlessly. You can spot the earth outside the spaceship window – which makes for a rather surreal (and slightly eerie) sight! Check it out below if you haven’t seen it yet – although it’s currently had more than 12 million pageviews!
So what are you favourite songs to listen to when flying? Leave your comments below…
