ok, I've found listening to music helps me to draw/write/do work, but i don't really know many "gets me creative" songs. Does anyone have any music that they like to listen to while they draw? If so, please post it here. Remember this is for everyone, so whatever you like at all.

Oh, by the way, the songs that do get me creative are: Dead heart; by midnight oil, If i lay here, [I don't know what band plays it], and how to save a life [I also don't know who plays it].

Oh, i forgot, i also anything by Coldplay

OK Spud, I am thinking that you are Aussie - Midnight Oil.

I can listen to most things when I am working but a few of my favourites are 'Sympathy for the Devil' - Rolling Stones, 'Need You Tonight' - INXS, almost any thing from Dr, Hook's Bankrupt album, any Van Morrison, Cold Chisel, Creedance, Bob Seeger, Jethro Tull, or Led Zeppelin. But I can also be found working to Beethoven, Berlioz, or Mozart. I am a bit eclectic in my tastes.

I love listening to music while drawing. Anything by Al Green, Barry White, Percy Sledge, Harold Melvin, Eagles, ELO, Rod Stewart, Temptations, Michael Bolton, Elton John, Bob Segar, Enrique Eglesias, Bob Dylan, and many, many more. .

Today I have been listening to Crossing to Scotland (Scottish cello music) by Abby Newton, which is one of my favorite CDs. I also listen to classical music, folk, fiddle, some jazz, and anything with cello. I also like flute choir music. My preferences, are, of course, related to the fact that I play cello and flute (both at an amateur level).

Marilyn

I don't like to listen to anything while I'm drawing as it would distract me.

When I'm really concentrating, most things get tuned out anyway.

Secret Garden, is pretty cool music, kind of celtic...very relaxing and pretty....

i am pretty sure if i lay here (if we are talkin about the same song) is written by snow patrol (which is one of my favorites)

and how to save a life is by the frey

I am a rock person so i listen to my favorite band which is flyleaf
I also love underOATH they are loud and screamin through the whole song...so it keeps me focused.
I also love to listen to jewel...
so i like anything but relaxing why i am drawing

Today I took my daughter to see an all-Beethoven program by the National Symphony Orchestra. Among other things, they played the Emperor (#5) piano concerto, and the soloist was the famous Leon Fleischer. It was incredible. I am now inspired to draw a portrait of him, so I think this counts as inspirational music! I don't know if I'll play Beethoven music while drawing the portrait, or not. Usually I prefer silence.

Yes, I usually tune things out when I'm really into it too, but I put on music because it still inspires me. It also gives me something to do when I'm watching my paint dry.

If you like classical, here are some recommendations, if not, take them anyway because you never know, tastes might change.
Bach Cello Suites
Beethoven Concertos
the Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky)

Something I'd recommend is a CD called "100 Best classics". It has the 100 best and most famous pieces, and I love it. Great for people who are just trying out classical music. *hint hint*


Inspirational musicals:
Les Miserables (my favorite!)
Wicked
Joseph and his amazing technicolor dreamcoat
Fiddler on the Roof
Little Women

First of all how is everybody doing? I haven't been here in like months.

I listen to music while I am working not because it inspires me since I am usually set on what I am drawing so I can't exactly be creative. Its part that I don't like the silence and because I like being surrounded by other art forms. It gets me in the mood.

When I need to be totally focussed I listen to music I can put into the back of my mind: instrumental, progressive rock, ambient, orchestral, acoustic, vocal, or music that is more fluid like Tommy by The Who, or the soft intensity slowcore of any of Mark Kozelek's creation's,The Mountain Goats, or the creative voices of Tom Waits, Jeff Buckley, or Eddie Vedder's soundtrack for Into the Wild.
but I also love harder stuff like: Porcupine Tree, Mudhoney, Pearl Jam, TV on the radio, Mr. Bungle, or Radiohead.

I'm with you on this one Jennette, I like to tune out and some say I actually talk to myself as I draw.
But for the music question, there is always the pre-draw or post-draw music. The music that gets me into the mood is Jazz. I don't actually like it so much it just gets me in the mood. The music that gets me to move is 70s rock. Especially Led Zepplin and more precisely "Whole Lotta Love". Ha, that song actually gives me goose bumps.

I listen to music everytime I draw or paint. But the stuff I listen to might give you a headache

I agree, I usually tune things out too and then suddenly pop out of a trance-like state to realise how much time has passed while I was "gone"... I do play music most times though, but that's because usually my wife will have the TV playing in the livingroom and then again in her office (which is right next to mine). And then sometimes she plays music in her office while leaving the TV on in the living room and they plays a computergame in the middle of it all... I think she's one of those people who just can't stand silence.
And to top it all off the people who live in the house behind us have a dog that barks his head off non-stop whenever they put him out (and they really don't have the descency to call the dog inside or train him to shut up ) and then there's random sounds like city snowplows and the occasional car alarm going off or my all-time-favorite: the honking contests when a bunch of campers park at the nearby colliseum.

I grew up on a fairly quiet street between woods and farmland back home in Belgium and am someone who can really appreciate some good old peace and quiet... The mix of random sounds can totally drive me INSANE sometimes so I will often play my own music to drown out the jumble of sounds, then all I have to tune out while drawing is my own music.


As for what I listen to... Lately it's been a lot of dutch stuff which I won't bother to list, no classical music, though I do LOVE the soundtracks of animes named Haibane Renmei and Noir which can be quite orchestral, just not in the typical way
Marisolcello: you may like a song called "Sorrow" by Yuki Kajiura... it's a very sad little cello tune. My personal favorite is "Breath of a Germ" by Ootani Kou, I think it's flute, violin and cello and it makes me just want to flutter around the room. I don't listen to classical much and can't really tell instruments appart much though, so forgive me if I'm listing the wrong instruments...
Other than that I often listen to lots of random artists: Live, Moby, Within Temptation, Dream Theater, Evanescence, Tatu, Ayumi Hamasaki, Metro Area, Coldplay, ... The list just keeps on going...

the only music I can listen to when I am drawing is Enya its very pleasing to the ears and not much singing at all ..other wise I listen to nothing but my thoughts in my head and they seem to speak pretty loud when I draw .

Yeah, i've tried enya and it's all right, but not really a favourite of mine.

Jim, seems like half the respondants listen to the Oils , Zeppelin and fairly head banging stuff - not sure yours would be much worse ( I mean have you listened to Black Dog lately ? )

For those that like string have you had a listen to The Soweto String Quartet?? Thay do some toe tapping little numbers - Zebra Crossing is one of their albums.

And I forgot to mention BB King, Howlin' Wolf, and John Lee Hooker - I love good Blues too. Yup Leadbelly as well.

Shocking when there are so many good genres of music and 2 ears to listen

Anything with Enigma gets my creative juices flowing, and I have no idea why.
Just the way it is



Christa

I have kids...if it's too quiet something's wrong! LOL

I need that background noise to help me focus...otherwise every little noise would startle me and throw off my "groove." I HATE being interrupted while in focus...

My music tastes are very eclectic as well, but I've found that music that's too hard and angry makes me sketch/scribble more. I guess I subconciously try to keep up with it! ROFL

I'd have to say that my favorite band to draw to is A Perfect Circle. The mood is just always "right."

Hmmm, I don't think I have actually ever listened to music when I am working on my art. I have listened to it before or after, but not during. I, too, have kids and its distracting enough trying to tone them all out to get into the mood, (and a very demanding hubby that likes his attention as well, who seems to want my attentions when I am in the mood for my art and not him..LOL). My favorite music to listen to is Country or Anything from the 80's and 90's. My favorite groups are Air Supply and REO Speedwagon, but nothing that I listen to gets me in the mood for drawing, however, it does get me in the mood for a Karaoke night at the bar...hehehehe.

Wow, this is a very popular thread . Cool!
This thread just goes to show that no bunch of people have the same music likings .
Thanks for all of your posts , they've been interesting