Musical Shoes Anyone?

These shoes have speakers, and apparently a built in CD player. They don't look very comfortable, but they do offer some sort of musical appeal, I suppose. After I posted yesterday, I realized that one of the reasons I am so inspired by exercise is because I usually listen to music while doing it. Since I haven't been exercising much, I haven't been listening to as much music either. There's always the times in the car, but they are usually filled with fighting children, which really isn't an inspiration at all unless, of course, you are writing a book about sibling rivalry. Music is inspiring in so may ways. First of all, it sets mood. It has a distinct way of making you feel a certain way, and if you can actually feel something, it's that much easier to write about it, isn't it? Second, it brings up images so clear that you can actually see them. A visual picture is worth so much when we are writing. The same holds true with seeing something as it does with feeling something; it makes it easier to write about. Third, it puts me in my characters' heads. When I listen to music that my characters would listen to, I always conjure up some idea of who they are and how they will react in certain instances. Lastly, lyrics are a great source for story ideas. If you listen closely, every song tells a story. Every song can spur a great idea for a scene. Oh, one more thing; I don't mind cleaning near as much if I have music playing. And a clean work space is a productive work space, right? Since I write contemporary YA, I try to listen to modern top '40 music. This is what I envision my characters listening to. Lucky for me, it's what my kids like to listen to, so there is little argument over the station choices. Now, I must go put on some music and tidy up that work space. But, please, do tell--how does music inspire you? And what kind of music brings out the best in your creativity?