NACM Intermountain

Get in the Groove: A Playlist for Credit Professionals

The power of music is undeniable. Music can energize or lift you up, or alternately, calm and relax you. Music can be motivating, provide a distraction, help you work through emotions and even improve your mood when you’re upset or stressed.

In the workplace, music can help you tune out the loud guy in the cubicle next to you or a noisy printer and help you focus. It can make repetitive tasks a little more bearable.  Music can get you moving when you’re in an afternoon slump.  And some even argue that listening to music at work can improve productivity.

While not everyone enjoys listening to music at work, and not all workplaces allow it, for those who do, the right music can make all the difference.  And of course, different situations call for different tunes. The songs listed below might be just what’s needed for a few common credit scenarios.

Songs to get you amped up for tough collection calls:

“Eye of the Tiger” – Survivor

It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight
Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he’s watchin’ us all with the eye of the tiger

“Hungry Like the Wolf” – Duran Duran

            And I’m hungry like the wolf

Songs for making collection calls:

“Money (That’s What I Want)” – Barrett Strong           

I need money (that’s what I want)

That’s what I want (that’s what I want)

“Money Honey” – Elvis Presley           

            She said I’d like to know what you want with me

            I said,

            Money, honey, uh uh

            Money, honey

            Money, honey,

            If you want to get along with me

Songs for when collections aren’t going so well:

“Build Me Up Buttercup” – The Foundations

            Why do you build me up (build me up) buttercup, baby

            Just to let me down (let me down) and mess me around

            And the worst of all (worst of all) you never call, baby

            When you say you will (say you will) but I love you still

“You Never Give Me Your Money” – The Beatles

            You never give me your money

            You only give me your funny paper

            And in the middle of negotiations

            You break down

Speaking of negotiations: 

“Let’s Work Together” – Canned Heat

            People, when things go wrong

            As they sometimes will

            And the road you travel

            It stays all uphill

            Let’s work together

            Come on, come on

            Let’s work together

            You know together we will stand

            Every boy, girl, woman and man

“I Want It All” – Queen

            But just give me, huh, what I know is mine

            People do you hear me, just gimme the sign

            It ain’t much I’m asking, if you want the truth

            Here’s to the future for the dreams of youth

            I want it all, I want it all

            I want it all and I want it now

“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” – The Rolling Stones

            You can’t always get what you want

            But if you try sometimes well you just might find

            You get what you need

Songs for when you’re waiting on payment:

“Hold On” – Alabama Shakes

            You got to hold on

            Yeah you got to hold on

            Yeah you got to wait

            Yeah you got to wait

            But I don’t wanna wait

            I don’t wanna wait

“I Will Wait” – Mumford and Sons

            And I will wait, I will wait for you           

And when that payment finally comes: 

“Celebration” – Kool & the Gang

            Celebration

            Let’s all celebrate and have a good time

            Celebration

            We gonna celebrate and have a good time

“On Top of the World” – Imagine Dragons

            ’Cause I’m on top of the world, ‘ay

            I’m on top of the world, ‘ay

            Waiting on this for a while now

            Paying my dues to the dirt

            I’ve been waiting to smile, ‘ay

            Been holding it in for a while, ‘ay

            Take you with me if I can

            Been dreaming of this since a child

            I’m on top of the world       

“We Are the Champions” – Queen

            We are the champions my friends

            And we’ll keep on fightin’ till the end

            We are the champions

            We are the champions

            No time for losers

            ‘Cause we are the champions

            Of the world

“Here Comes the Sun” – The Beatles

            Little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter

            Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here

            Here comes the sun

            Here comes the sun, and I say

            It’s all right

There’s nothing quite like a good beat and fun lyrics to help move the day along. And when you can apply those lyrics to the world of credit, it’s even better. Happy listening!

Republished with permission from 2017 CreditWise