Information that is presented with musical accompaniment tends to be retained better in memory. For example, lyrics to songs often remain with people long after exposure, especially if the exposure occurred repeatedly within a short time period. For our current generation of undergraduate students, who are accustomed to having musical accompaniment for everything they do, an incredible opportunity exists to utilize this medium to help teach accounting. Following this logic, I have developed alternative accounting-based lyrics for a variety of popular songs chosen by the students. Most of the song lyrics address topics typically discussed in the first intermediate accounting course, using tunes from current artists such as Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Kings of Leon, and Billy Currington. Others relate to classic song artists, including the Beatles and Journey. Students routinely indicate that singing the alternative lyrics is not only making their accounting studies more enjoyable but also helping them to remember important concepts and methods.
