Music for the anesthetised?

May 8, 2011 10:33 AM

My 50 year old best friend is having hip replacement surgery. Her pre-admission testing nurse told her they'll give her an iPod loaded with some random selection of songs from one of five very broad genres to listen to while she's under anesthesia. This is partly to keep her from subconsciously hearing the conversations in the OR, and partly to help her be in a good frame of mind when she wakes up. I think we can do a lot better than somebody else's random choices. She can take her own iPod in with her. Help me make the best surgery playlist ever!

Here are a few songs I've pulled off her iTunes to give you an idea. Songs about life getting better, walking, running, or dancing are especially welcome. Puns too! We need at least 3 hours of music, and we want your ideas.

The 59th St Bridge Song - Simon & Garfunkel
Extraordinary Machine - Fiona Apple
Better Days - Goo Goo Dolls
Oh What a Beautiful Morning - Ray Charles
Zip A Dee Doo Dah - Louis Armstrong
Centerfield - John Fogerty
Hip to Be Square, I Want a New Drug - Huey Lewis & The News
Walking on Sunshine - Katrina & The Waves
Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen
Something in the Way She Moves - James Taylor
Brand New Day - Van Morrison
I Feel Lucky - Mary Chapin Carpenter
It Keeps You Runnin' - The Doobie Brothers
Better Things - The Kinks
Bad to the Bone - George Thorogood & The Destroyers

Thanks!

posted by acorncup to Media & Arts (14 answers total)

I think you'd want to go for soothing instead of energetic. When you're unconscious and have zero concept of time passing, a song that rocks a little too hard is going to seem ETERNAL.

But if part of the fun is finding something clever, I'd go for something like Justin Bieber's "U Smile" slowed down 800x.
posted by hermitosis at 10:39 AM on May 8, 2011

Best answer: Jumpin' Jive by Joe Jackson.
posted by HandfulOfDust at 10:43 AM on May 8, 2011

It's completely cheesy, but Eye of the Tiger always makes me want to get up and go. I have fantasies of running around and punching big blocks of tofu (err, I don't eat beef).
posted by lesli212 at 10:45 AM on May 8, 2011

Best answer: Hypnotized by Fleetwood Mac...
posted by HandfulOfDust at 10:47 AM on May 8, 2011

From the catalog of Thomas Earl Petty and his friends the Heartbreakers, I bring you a list of sweet slow* songs that always soothe me. Some of these, or at least one or two, might soothe your aunt, too.

Wildflowers - Wildflowers
A Higher Place - Wildflowers
Angel Dream - She's the One
Walls - She's the One
Down South - Highway Companion
Blue Sunday - The Last DJ
Have Love Will Travel - The Last DJ
Southern Accents - Southern Accents
Alright for Now - Full Moon Fever
Dark of the Sun - Into the Great Wide Open
You and I Will Meet Again - Into the Great Wide Open
Straight Into Darkness - Long After Dark
Letting You Go - Hard Promises
Insider (with Stevie Nicks) - Hard Promises
Listen to Her Heart - You're Gonna Get It
Magnolia - You're Gonna Get It


Other than Magnolia, Straight Into Darkness and Insider, these are all fairly happy pleasant songs. If you only choose one or two, and certainly no one expects you to make your aunt a Tom Petty surgery playlist, you should probably go for Wildflowers and Alright For Now. They're both good old-fashioned lullabies. As is Angel Dream. Or if you want something upbeat, pick A Higher Place.


*mostly
posted by brina at 11:05 AM on May 8, 2011

I think Sigur Ros would be perfect for under-anaesthesia mood-setting, but maybe have her listen to it beforehand to make sure she likes it?
posted by hazyjane at 11:08 AM on May 8, 2011

Best answer: Hips Don't Lie - Shakira feat. Wyclef Jean (skippable YT ad)

There's also Hippy Hippy Shake by The Beatles, although I prefer the version by The Swinging Bluejeans.
posted by Room 641-A at 11:40 AM on May 8, 2011

Why not podcasts or an audio book? Having had LOTS of surgeries, I think I'd prefer something I can get engrossed in.
posted by desjardins at 11:51 AM on May 8, 2011

Joni Mitchell's Free Man in Paris from the Court and Spark album.
posted by marsha56 at 12:49 PM on May 8, 2011

Best answer: I'd think that Bobby McFerrin's Don't Worry, Be Happy is fairly fitting for this scenario.
posted by DeltaZ113 at 1:27 PM on May 8, 2011

Best answer: This thread has lots of upbeat, positive songs, you might find some good suggestions there.
posted by penguin pie at 2:17 PM on May 8, 2011

What about classical music, for example, Bach's Goldberg Variations, which may have been composed to cure insomnia?
posted by Napoleonic Terrier at 9:01 PM on May 8, 2011

Best answer: One of the nicest moments in my surgical life was awakening from anesthesia to "Hey Jude".
posted by a humble nudibranch at 11:40 PM on May 8, 2011

Response by poster: Thank you! I'm working my way through your fine suggestions.
posted by acorncup at 4:25 PM on June 2, 2011