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If you want to get any work done this holiday season, stay away from Ariana Grande. The popular singer appears twice on a list of the 10 most distracting Christmas songs, including the number one spot.
The online gambling site CSGOLuck commissioned a study of the 200 most popular Christmas songs on Spotify, looking to identify those whose rhythm was between 50 and 80 beats per minute (BPM). Research suggests that this range helps promote alpha waves in the brain of the listener. This is in turn associated with increased relaxation, focus and receptiveness — just what you need for productivity.
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Higher BPM and your brain starts trying too hare to process the sound of the music, causing distraction.
Grande’s 2013 cover of Wham’s Last Christmas topped the list of distracting Christmas music with its 206 BPM rating. She was also in fourth place with her 2014 hit Santa Tell Me, which clocked in at 191 BPM.
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The top 10 distracting Christmas songs
Last Christmas – Ariana Grande (206 BPM)
The Happiest Christmas Tree – Nat King Cole (205 BPM)
Mele Kalikimaka – Bing Crosby (202 BPM)
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Andy Williams (201 BPM)
Santa Tell Me – Ariana Grande (191 BPM)
Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 – Trans-Siberian Orchestra (186 BPM)
Caroling, Caroling – Nat King Cole (185 BPM)
Christmas Dream – Perry Como (184 BPM)
This Christmas – Christina Aguilera (183 BPM)
Please Come Home for Christmas – Eagles (183 BPM)
“Christmas music brings holiday cheer and a morale boost to the workplace,” said a spokesperson for the company. “But our study shows you should be careful about what you play in the office, as it could distract and harm productivity. Gentler tracks that can be played as background music are best if you’re trying to get work done.”
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The top 10 Christmas songs for productivity
Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee (67 BPM)
Silver Bells – Bing Crosby (70 BPM)
A Holly Jolly Christmas – Brett Eldredge (72 BPM)
O Christmas Tree – Tony Bennett (74 BPM)
Happy Holiday/The Holiday Season – Andy Williams (74 BPM)
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Sam Smith (75 BPM)
Frosty The Snowman – Ella Fitzgerald (77 BPM)
Fairytale of New York – The Pogues (78 BPM)
The Christmas Song – Nat King Cole (79 BPM)
Here Comes Santa Claus – Elvis Presley (79 BPM)
The study found that jazzy mid-century Christmas classics dominated the list of productive songs, although it should also be noted that Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby made both lists.
The study also listed the 10 most danceable Christmas hits, presumable also a hindrance to getting work done. Grande makes this list as well with her cover of Santa Baby, as does Wham! with the original Last Christmas from 1984.
The top 10 danceable Christmas songs
At Christmas – Kylie Minogue
Cozy Little Christmas – Katy Perry
Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney
Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms
Santa Baby – Ariana Grande
Last Christmas – Wham!
Like It’s Christmas – Jonas Brothers
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas – Perry Como
Snowman – Sia
Merry Christmas Baby – Otis Redding
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