What to add to your finals study playlist: "Coconut Mall"

“Coconut Mall” - Mario Kart Wii

The perfect addition to any student’s study playlist is, of course, “Coconut Mall” from Mario Kart Wii, composed by Ryo Nagamatsu and Asuka Oda.

Study playlists are difficult to make because songs that contain lyrics can end up being

distracting. “Coconut Mall” sidesteps this issue entirely. There are no words, only chaos.

The jumpy beat and quick, wild melody perfectly encapsulate the frantic mental state that finals week induces. It complements the focused brain perfectly, as it’s not too overbearing to be distracting. That final exam will be no match for this track’s funky saxophone.

In addition to having great nostalgic value, there’s no song better equipped to help students lock in. It’s a hit amongst studious college kids for good reason. Dozens of people on YouTube have uploaded videos of the song playing on a several-hour loop for studying convenience.

With the highly anticipated Mario Kart World coming out just around the corner on June 5, 2025, the timing has never been better to add this iconic track to that study playlist and become an academic weapon. - Megan Schmotzer

Megan Schmotzer is a third-year majoring in media studies. To contact her, email mls7350@psu.edu