With another national lockdown in full swing, many have been feeling more anxious and stressed than usual. Studies have shown a direct correlation between stress and hair loss in men, so hair transplant specialists at Veraclinic.net wanted to find out how effective music was at reducing anxiety, and which genre helped the most.
It’s A Sin 1980s Playlist Reduces Anxiety
The 80s pop playlist featured in Channel 4 drama It’s a Sin including songs from The Pet Shop Boys, Wham! and Belinda Carlisle reduced anxiety the most, with respondents’ heart rates decreasing by 36% on average when listening.
96% of respondents also reported a decrease in blood pressure when listening to the It’s a Sin playlist.
Techno music is the least effective genre at reducing anxiety, with 78% of respondents reporting an increase in blood pressure when listening to it
Classical music is often thought to be relaxing, however the Bridgerton classical music soundtrack was neither the least nor the most anxiety reducing, with respondents’ heart rates decreasing by 15% on average.
Heavy metal was found to be the second most effective at reducing anxiety, with 89% of respondents reporting a decrease in their blood pressure and respondents heart rates decreasing by an average of 18% with the likes of Metallica playing in the background.
Upbeat 80s Pop Hits Have Positive Nostalgia
High blood pressure and heart rate are associated with higher levels of stress and anxiety. Veraclinic.net tasked 1,540 volunteers (aged 18-65) with completing non-verbal reasoning tests which were specifically designed to produce low levels of stress. Participants were given a soundtrack to listen to at the same time, made up of varying Spotify playlists. Participants were fitted with heart rate and blood pressure monitors and asked to record their stats throughout the experiment.
Doctor Ömer Avlanmış says “The results may seem surprising on first inspection – but medically they make a lot of sense. 80s Pop Hits could have positive nostalgia attached to them for many people, and their upbeat, party-like sounds can induce the release of endorphins and serotonin in the brain, both increasing feelings of happiness and calm. In terms of Heavy Metal, I’d observe that angry music can help listeners process their feelings and as a result lead to greater well-being’.
Five It’s A Sin Tracks To Beat The Lockdown Blues
So, where to start with all the hits of the 1980s that you could add to your playlists?
Here are five top 80s tracks featured on Spotify – check them out and feel free to add your favourites to the comments box below!
It’s a Sin was released in 1987 and from Pet Shop Boys from their second studio album, Actually. Written by Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant, the song became their second UK number-one single, topping the chart for three weeks.
American singer and choreographer Toni Basil had an international hit with Hey Mickey in 1981. Written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn as Kitty, the song was originally recorded in 1979 by Racey.
Freedom became the second UK number one for Wham! in 1984. The track, written and produced by George Michael, featured on their second album Make It Big and reached number three in the American charts.
Former Go-Go, Belinda Carlisle gained her first solo UK chart success with Heaven Is a Place on Earth in 1987. Reaching number one in the UK charts, Belinda Carlisle went on to great success in the UK with further hits including Leave A Light On and Circle In The Sand.
British synth-pop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) recorded Enola Gay as an anti-war pop song in 1980. Written by vocalist/bass guitarist Andy McCluskey, the track addressed the WW2 atomic bombing of Hiroshima by the aircraft Enola Gay in 1945.
- Survey results provided courtesy of Veraclinc.net