Researchers polled the nation’s commuters – and discovered the top tracks that accompany our journeys into work, with classic 1982 rock anthem Eye of the Tiger by Survivor (36 percent) having stood the test of time, coming top of the list.
Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 (28 percent), Happy by Pharrell Williams (24 percent), Black-Eyed Peas’ I Gotta Feeling (24 percent) and Manic Monday by The Bangles (24 percent) also feature in the top 30, along with I’m Still Standing by Elton John (23 percent), Sabrina Carpenter’s smash hit Espresso (21 percent), and Rihanna ft. Drake’s Work (22 percent).
The aptly named I Want to Break Free by Queen (23 percent) also made an appearance in the top 30 list, alongside the iconic 1978 Gloria Gaynor hit I Will Survive (22 percent).
In fact, the research, commissioned by Rail Delivery Group, found that the average commuter listens to a staggering 360 hours of music over a year, with train commuters the most avid music listeners, clocking up 492 hours a year immersing themselves in their favourite tracks – the equivalent of travelling from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverly almost 114 times.
Pop (65 percent), rock (40 percent) and hip hop (30 percent) are the most popular genres to accompany us on our way to work, according to the study, while on the way back, we’re more likely to listen to more mellow genres like country (16 percent), indie (14 percent) and classical music (11 percent).
When it comes to which professions listen to what, people who work in HR (43 percent) like to vibe to R&B tunes, IT experts are more likely to listen to electronic and instrumental music (67 percent), while those who work in PR and marketing (22 percent) prefer indie tracks to boost their creativity.
Builders like to bust a move to disco (23 percent), while one in ten bankers listen to metal to kick start their day.
One in three (31 percent) rely on music to wake them up, with a further 30 percent turning to tunes to get them ready for the day ahead and improve their mental health (26 percent).
Pop (45 percent) and rock (31 percent) are the top choices for psyching yourself up for a presentation, while hip hop (18 percent) and R&B (16 percent) are go-tos when building yourself up for a difficult conversation.
Dr Michael Bonshor, Programme Director, MA Music Psychology in Education, Performance and Wellbeing at the University of Sheffield, explains how music can enhance your train commute and the health and wellbeing benefits of exploring new genres:
“Listening to familiar music on the train is often enjoyable because it can create pleasurable feelings of relaxation and nostalgia. We associate past experiences with particular songs, so we choose tracks that we know will be uplifting, relaxing or help us prepare for our working day. Through our regular listening habits, we learn which music will help us to create our desired mood, so we choose that music more often.
“But if we are too familiar with the music, it might become boring and less immersive. At this point, we could explore other music to stimulate our interest, and to develop some new ‘favourites’ to help us continue being able to benefit from ‘getting in the zone’ on our train commute.”
Despite being a nation of music-lovers, three quarters (75 percent) admit they listen to the same music on repeat, with one in four (25 percent) confessing they NEVER listen to new artists on their commute.
Jacqueline Starr, CEO of Rail Delivery Group, commented: “Our research shows that music is a favourite way for many of our customers to pass the time on their train commute, whether it’s to energise them on the way to work or help them relax on the way home. But more than half of people we surveyed say they stick with what they know, which means they could be missing out on the myriad benefits that listening to different types of music brings.
To learn about the benefits of listening to different types of music on your train commute and to discover new musical talent for your commuter playlist – including an exclusive 30% discount to Sofar Sounds Shows – visit nationalrail.co.uk/topofthetracks.
THE SONGS MOST LIKELY TO GET YOU GEARED UP FOR A DAY IN THE OFFICE… (ACCORDING TO COMMUTERS)
- Eye of the Tiger by Survivor – 36%
- 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton – 28%
- Happy by Pharrell Williams – 24%
- I Gotta Feeling by the Black-Eyed Peas – 24%
- Manic Monday by The Bangles – 24%
- I’m Still Standing by Elton John – 23%
- I Want to Break Free by Queen – 23%
- Lose Yourself by Eminem – 23%
- Work by Rihanna ft. Drake – 22%
- I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor – 22%
- Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter – 21%
- Shake It Off by Taylor Swift – 20%
- Back to Black by Amy Winehouse – 21%
- Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie – 20%
- I Wanna Dance with Somebody by Whitney Houston – 20%
- Money For Nothing by Dire Straits – 18%
- We Are the Champions by Queen – 18%
- Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey – 18%
- Firestarter by The Prodigy – 18%
- Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves – 17%
- Blinding Lights by The Weeknd – 17%
- Dreams by Fleetwood Mac – 17%
- Tiny Dancer by Elton John – 16%
- Hard Day’s Night by The Beatles – 15%
- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell – 15%
- As it Was by Harry Styles – 15%
- Survivor by Destiny’s Child – 15%
- Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley – 14%
- Stronger by Kayne West – 14%
- Born Slippy by Underworld – 14%