The Boombox Theory

The Wimbledon FC boombox effect

Widely acknowledged as football's lunatic fringe, Wimbledon famously took what was then known as a ghetto blaster into their changing rooms, and played loud, fast, noisy music...loudly. Probably designed as much to upset their opponents as motivate themselves. I don't imagine the Wimbledon team talk amounted to anything that would suffer for being shouted above the music:

“Er. Right. Liverpool today lads. Cup final. So...er...the usual, I suppose.”

Looking around for inspiration...

“Denis, who're you looking at?”

“Why boss? You got a problem?”

“No Denis, not who'd'ya fink ya lookin' aht? Just: who, exactly, are you looking at?”

“Huh?”

“Don't matter. Denis, Vinny, run around a lot, and kick 'em. A lot...Dave...where's Dave?”

“Jesus H Christ Boss, there...you can hardly miss the six foot six streak of...”

“Thanks, Vinny. Dave, if they get a pen and Aldridge takes it dive to the left. Lets get the ball up to big John and his elbows early, and try to nick something from a set piece. Now. Let's go. Oh. One last thing. Turn that bloody thing off on your way out.”

It must work though. There's probably a scientific study somewhere, by scientists from a minor university, that, pages and pages of numbers and descriptions of methodology and analysis later, that arrives at the conclusion that if two equal people work out side by side, the one with Eye of the Tiger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27F46WPVJBs

but maybe not this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZUWQdSTQ7Q

which backfired...

...the one with the loud, bangin' music will outperform the one with, say, Leonard Cohen's greatest hits, no matter what isotonic drinks or shouty personal trainers are involved.

I think Leonard Cohen's great, by the way. But that's the point.

Trying to read or compose something technical or demanding, there's no point sticking hip hop on the headphones, too many words in there confusing things. Instrumental stuff to shut out distractions, though...similarly, mornings need bouyant, uplifting sounds. Those Greatest Driving Hits Ever are probably the last thing drivers should be listening to in their cars, when those relaxing pan pipes or whale song cd's should come into their own. Cars are not the places for testosterone, they need scented candles and soothing sounds.

However, wherever and whenever, and whatever the circumstances, everything's better with music than without.