21 Songs That’ll Make Studying Less Painful

Got exams? You'll need these killer jams.

1. "Skinny Love" - Bon Iver

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This iconic song is perfect for kicking off your study session. It’s calming and it's a classic.

2. "Friends" - Raury ft. Tom Morello

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The beat on this track is so strong. It'll psyched you up for even the hardest of study seshs!

3. "Four Seasons" - Vivaldi

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Not only is this a great track, but studies have shown classical music improves cognitive function.

4. "I Met Up With The King" - First Aid Kit

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Since the vocals on this song are powerful, there's no way you'll fall asleep studying to this semi-chilled out track.

5. "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" - Fleet Foxes

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If you like modern folk music, this is your jam. Fleet Foxes truly nail that genre. A bit like how you're going to nail your next assessment!

6. "The Plains / Bitter Dancer" - Fleet Foxes

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This song has a rather ominous feel to it. And the omen is a good one for studying.

7. "Blank Space" - Rhodes

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If you find the original song a little too boppy for exam period, why not try this cover. Rhodes gives the Taylor Swift hit a new, more soothing feel.

8. "If I Ain't Got You" - James Bay

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The Alicia Keys original is a thing of beauty. But if you're a fan of covers, you'll love how James Bay takes the original and makes it his own. Just like you should with the theories you reference in your next essay.

9. "Cirrus" - Bonobo

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This song is completely instrumental, which is great for when you're reading something dense and you don't want the lyrics to distract you.

10. "Like Knives" - City and Colour

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This breathy, acoustic track is the kind that'll keep your head clear when tackling a really hard maths problem.

11. "Beach Bummer" - A.C. Newman

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This unique track mixes acoustic guitar with synth, which is a pretty daring combo. But that's what gives it the perfect tempo for a study jam.

12. "Small Hands" - Keaton Henson

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This is yet another very chill track for a calming stress-free study sesh.

13. "Birds of a Feather" - The Civil Wars

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This song couples an uplifting chord structure with a bluesy acoustic vibe. Perfect for some mid-essay motivation.

14. "Weak" - Wet

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For a mellow song, “Weak” has a surprisingly punchy chorus. That's something you'll find rather refreshing whilst doing your readings.

15. "Deadwater" - Wet

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You'd expect to see this song on a party playlist, not a study one. But thanks to the softness in lead singer Kelly Zutrau's voice, this up-tempo track is just mellow enough for a study sesh.

16. "Orinoco Flow" - Enya

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Anything Enya is perfect for stressful exam prep. Her voice is like a nice warm bath for the soul.

17. "Travelling Song" - Ryn Weaver

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The lyrics in this sweet folksy number will speak to any student's soul. ♫ Nobody knows where we are going. Oh how we try to wrap our minds over the edge of all our knowing. ♫

18. "Float On" - Modest Mouse

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This is yet another song with a positive uplifting message - when times get tough we just float on. And when you're studying, you need all the encouragement you can get.

19. "The Next Messiah" - Jenny Lewis

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This song is a nearly nine minutes long. But unlike studying, it's not a drag. The tune and tempo changes up every few minutes. So it's almost like listening to a mini-playlist.

20. Lionsong - Björk

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Björk is another great artist who was made for study playlists. If the title of this track wasn't enough to rev you up, its punchy beat will be.

21. "Hypnotize" - Notorious B.I.G.

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Studying isn't really anyone's favourite thing to do. But when listening to a song like this, it's hard not to be in a good mood.

Listen to the whole playlist here!