Carefully selected Western songs to listen to while studying—only tracks that really deepen your focus

PompeiiBastille

Bastille – Pompeii (Official Music Video)

Bastille’s masterpiece with its grand chorus and powerful beat instantly boosts your motivation while studying.

The lyrics, inspired by the ancient city of Pompeii, are profound, but the melody itself is incredibly catchy and fills you with positive energy just by listening.

Released as a single in January 2013 and included on the album Bad Blood, this track has been featured widely across media, including the trailer for the film Mr.

Peabody & Sherman and the game Need for Speed: Rivals.

Its distinctive choral phrase will help you find a rhythm even during monotonous memorization.

It blows away pre-exam anxiety and gives you the drive to push toward your goals—perfect for those moments when you need to focus.

Adventure of a LifetimeColdplay

Coldplay – Adventure Of A Lifetime (Official Video)

Coldplay, a world-renowned rock band representing the UK.

The single they released in November 2015 is Adventure of a Lifetime.

Issued as a lead track from the album A Head Full of Dreams, it features a celebratory sound infused with disco and funk.

The rhythmic guitar phrases that make you want to move your body provide a great spark during otherwise monotonous study time.

There’s also a famous story: after Chris Martin met an actor while traveling, the idea led to a music video featuring dancing CG apes, a highly elaborate production that took about six months to complete.

With its theme of an “adventure of a lifetime,” this upbeat song is perfect for moments when you want to buckle down and focus—like cramming before an exam.

LevitatingDua Lipa

Dua Lipa – Levitating Featuring DaBaby (Official Music Video)

This work by Dua Lipa, a pop icon representing the UK, features a pleasant groove that helps set the rhythm for studying.

The lyrics compare the thrill of love to a spacewalk, perfectly matched with a retro disco sound that instantly brightens your mood.

Included on the acclaimed 2020 album Future Nostalgia, it became a historic long-running hit, topping the US year-end singles chart in 2021.

It’s also known for being featured in the popular game Just Dance 2022.

The snappy bassline keeps your concentration from breaking, making it ideal as background music for long study sessions or repetitive tasks.

Give this track a listen and enjoy a comfortable study time.

As It WasHarry Styles

Harry Styles – As It Was (Official Video)

Harry Styles, a member of the group One Direction that sparked a worldwide social phenomenon and now a firmly established solo artist, released the song “As It Was” in April 2022—a track I strongly recommend as background music for studying or working.

Featured on the album “Harry’s House,” it captivates with a synth-pop sound reminiscent of 1980s new wave.

It achieved the remarkable feat of spending a total of 15 weeks at No.

1 on the U.S.

Billboard chart.

Its driving beat and slightly wistful melody can turn otherwise monotonous study time into something more rhythmic and pleasant.

Give it a listen especially when you’re having trouble staying focused.

BelieverImagine Dragons

Imagine Dragons – Believer (Official Music Video)

When you want to awaken the motivation sleeping inside you, a heavy beat can be a powerful ally for studying.

For those who want to boost their concentration and sit down at the desk, I recommend this track by Imagine Dragons.

It carries a strong message about turning even pain and hardship into fuel to move forward, and its thundering drums stoke your fighting spirit.

It’s the lead single from their 2017 album Evolve, and in the U.S.

it achieved the remarkable feat of spending 29 consecutive weeks at No.

1 on Billboard’s rock chart.

It also drew attention as a song used in a Nintendo Switch commercial, so many of you may find it familiar.

It’ll give you the energy to tackle the task in front of you, so give it a listen when you need peak focus.