For a good night’s rest, just hit PLAY

Good news: That elusive eight hours of sleep is only a click away!

Getting to bed early is difficult for college students due to club meetings, studying and late night-cravings, all of which can cut down on the quality time you get to spend with your mattress. And even after we have hit the sheets, our minds continue to race.

To get a jumpstart on sleeping, just plug in your earphones and put on some music. But the question is: What is the best music to listen to when you are trying to get some shut-eye?

Everyone’s musical tastes are different. Heavy metal or hip-hop may be someone’s way to get to sleep, but I would not suggest that route.

Instead, some features you might look for include soft harmonies and melodies, which can have a calming and soothing effect. Rhythmic drumming can be almost hypnotic, helping one get to sleep quicker. Classical music can really do the trick, as can the R&B slow jams of the sixties and seventies.

That brings us to our next question: Which contemporary artists are putting out the best songs for sleeping?

NME Magazine recently created a poll asking which music is most likely to help one fall asleep. The English alternative rock band, Coldplay, topped the poll. Of their music, I would suggest “The Scientist” and the live version of “The Hardest Part/Postcards from Far Away” as the best lullaby songs. Michael Bublé and Snow Patrol came in second and third, respectively. Other artists who showed up on the poll were Alicia Keys, Jack Johnson and Radiohead.

Musicians who generally have the most soothing melodies and lyrics are Norah Jones, Boyz II Men, Death Cab for Cutie and Bon Iver. For some older choices, drift off to Simon and Garfunkel, The Beatles, or Roberta Flack.

Music has become a daily stress reliever and has allowed generations to take mini-vacations from the fast pace of society during the day. Why not let some tunes take you into the peace of the nighttime?

Plug in your earphones, and sweet dreams.

Source: www.nme.com/news/coldplay/53565 and http://www.nme.com/news/coldplay/35718