Dormeo Spring Playlist

So, you have a Dormeo mattress and you're having the best sleep you have had in a long time. Getting out of bed may seem more of a struggle and getting your head in the game for the day is taking a lot longer than you remember - can you do anything about it?

Having such a comfortable mattress can be a double-edged sward; the best nights sleep but incredibly hard to rouse yourself.

The fancy name for this is "sleep inertia."

Sleep inertia is the "temporary disorientation and decline in performance and/or mood after awakening from sleep." This can cause slow reaction times, poor short-term memory and a slower overall speed of cognitive ability.

So, as we are the ones that make you want to stay in bed, we thought it our duty to help you get up and out with a spring in your step.

Why and how does music help?

A recent study by The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology found that participants who woke up to a melodic song had lower levels of morning grogginess than those who chose a beeping sound. It seems that some melodies have an energising effect by "increasing arousal, cognition and attention."

In another study it was found that:

• Listening to a pleasant melody can reduce the levels of the stress hormone cortisol and even speed the recovery time after a particularly stressful event.
• By listening to music, you can increase your dopamine levels. This "happy" hormone is directly connected to pleasure and can reduce certain negative feelings.
• Got a mental block? Upbeat music can boost creativity and clarity of thought when put under pressure.

Now with Spring just around the corner (although the weather would have you think otherwise), we have put together a playlist of songs that should add some pep to your mornings.

We did have to follows some rules so that could maximise the effect of the music:

• Must be a positive tune. No one wants to wake up to a song about heartbreak. No one will get out from under the warm covers for some song about the heartbreak over being left on "read."
• Must have a strong rhythm: how can you stay in bed when your body is wanting to move to the music?

Spring Playlist: Our Picks

This Will Destroy You: The Mighty Rio Grande

A bit of a slow burner but incredibly uplifting. This tune perfectly represents the Rio Grande with it's calm waters and strong currents. With no lyrics, it's a true musical journey and a great way to start the day empowered with the energy of the mighty Rio Grande.

(All your cinephiles out there might recognise this tune from the Brad Pitt film "Moneyball.")

Bill Withers: Lovely Day

An absolute classic from Bill Withers (who, unfortunately since 2020, is no longer with us) whose omission from the playlist would be obvious for all. Released in 1977 from the album "Menagerie," it has been a mainstay of television adverts and TV show trailers precisely because of its positive lyrics and upbeat theme. We defy anyone not to be uplifted in the morning when hearing this song.

Beyoncé: Run The World (Girls)

A rallying cry for all the women out there! An empowering song with a catchy melody and driving rhythm that has all the elements to help you start the day feeling like nothing can stop you!

Pharrell Williams: Happy

Another song on this list that was used in a film. This time a very popular film with endearing little yellow fellows. The 160bpm (beats per minute) with a 4/4 time signature gives this tune a great tempo that makes it incredibly easy to move to. It's also nearly impossible to listen to this song without a smile on your face, and is there anything better than waking up with a smile?

Curtis Mayfield: Move On Up

In September 1970, Curtis Mayfield re-recorded a song he had performed with his band "The Impressions" three years prior. He got down and lit it up, adding a faster tempo with a bit more funk to start the decade of disco off with a bang. There is no way you can ignore this song if it was your alarm clock - the song literally tells you to "move on up" out of bed!

Jack Johnson: Banana Pancakes

Those of a certain age will remember Jack Johnson being the best thing since memory foam, being seemingly inescapable during the middle of the 00's. His style of laid-back surf-folk music was all the rage in 2005 when his album "In Between Dreams" released, most likely because of its soothing acoustic stylings. "Banana Pancakes" is a great song to wake up to...especially if you wake up hungry!

Anderson .Paak: Heart Don't Stand A Chance

While the title of the song sounds like it's about heartbreak or something similar (and we said to avoid those kinds of songs), it's actually about seeing a new love across the room. Anderson .Paak (yes, the dot is meant to be there as he says it stands for 'detail' - the need to pay attention) is an America R&B artist that is hugely respected in the jazz/soul/funk world, with collaborations with such well-known stars as Eminem, Bruno Mars, Dr Dre and Jay-Z. "Heart don't stand a chance" may feel unstructured like jazz, but its simple 4/4 time signature at 94bpm makes this song the smoothest way to wake up in the mornings.

E.L.O: Mr Blue Sky

Well, what can we say? One of the most famous Electric Light Orchestra songs and, probably, the only song to wake up to in a new spring season.

Walter Murphy: A Fifth of Beethoven

Disco? Classical? Mashed together?! Adding a well-known piece of classical music like Beethoven's Fifth Symphony to a funky disco rhythm may not sound like it should work...but it does. The bassline bouncing its way through as it accompanies the orchestral sounds of the symphony adds a walking quality that compels you to get on your feet and start moving.

Tam Cooper: Be Bold

Those with a good memory might recognise this viral tune as the one used on a Thomas Cook advert in the mid 2010s. A boy with a shark-fin swimming aid on his back, dancing around an empty swimming pool. A song with subtle euphoria that makes the song uplifting...uplifting you out of your bed!

Glenn Miller: In The Mood

This is an oldie but a goldie. Upbeat saxophone intro can have you believing that the song was written during a time of joy and social progress. But, actually, it was written just as America joined World War 2 in 1941. A song like this was made to keep up the morale of a country at war and make those at home feel like things were going to be okay, so if hearing this song when you wake up doesn't lift your spirits then nothing will.

Yazz: The Only Way Is Up

A dance classic with what sounds like an alarm in the intro, and with lyrics like "the only way is up," what else are you supposed to do apart from get up?!