Nevertheless, doctors say that no matter what songs you choose, listening to music is likely to help you recover faster from surgery.

A review of more than 7000 patients has found listening to music before, during and after surgery reduces pain, anxiety and even the need for pain medication.

Even patients who had music played to them while they were under general anaesthetic benefited - prompting the researchers to call for all hospitals to offer personalised music selections to people having surgery.

Experts say music is just one of many often-ignored non-drug treatments that can make a huge difference to a wide range of conditions.

Writing in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet, the researchers said the experience of listening to music could actually lower the activity of our nervous system, reducing our pulse rate, breathing and blood pressure.

In the case of people under general anaesthetic, it may be that the part of the brain involved in hearing is actually not switched off - leaving it open to the benefits, despite the person appearing unconscious.

"Modern theories of pain suggest that pain experience is affected by physical and psychological factors," they wrote in their paper, published Thursday morning Australian time.

"Cognitive activities such as listening to music can affect perceived intensity and unpleasantness of pain, enabling patients' sensation of pain to be reduced."

So what's the best music to help you recover from your caesarean section or hip replacement? Fairfax Media's National Music Editor Peter Vincent says that probably depends on what makes you feel good - and there's nothing more subjective in the known or unknown universe than music taste.

"A hard rock band like McClusky or Dillinger Escape Plan might make some people's ears bleed, but not mine - Celine Dion or Richard Marx does that," he says. "If you don't know where to start, try whatever you find uplifting and gentle and go from there."

A good starting point could be You've Got the Love by Florence + The Machine, says Vincent. And don't forget that message - whether it's from family, friends or just in Florence Welch's intoxicating voice.

The London-based researchers said the effect of music was so strong - and persistent across a range of procedures and music styles - that it should be offered to anyone undergoing surgery, as long as it didn't interfere with medical communication.

Australian evidence-based medicine expert Paul Glasziou, from Bond University in Queensland, said there were many impediments that may stop hospitals from instituting music for all surgery patients - but people should feel free to request it, based on the results of the study.

The research was just part of a range of often-ignored non drug treatments, such as giving children something sweet when they were vaccinated to reduce pain, or encouraging children with "glue ear" to blow up a balloon, rather than using invasive grommets to clear their ear.

"A spoonful of sugar really does help the needle to be tolerated," he said. "Yet these treatments tend to get less promotion and are less likely to be implemented than drug treatments."

Other studies had also found music helped the body relax, but the effect could be prevented by giving a person naloxone, a drug that blocks some pleasure and reward receptors in the brain, Professor Glasziou wrote in an accompanying editorial in The Lancet. 

More songs to recover to, suggested by Peter Vincent:

• Good To Be on the Road Back Home Again, Cornershop. Vincent says: Irresistible song, at once a paean to Johnny and June Carter Cash's relationship and also an invocation to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

• Amazing Grace, Judy Collins. Vincent says:  A cliche to thousands but a remarkable transformative piece of music to millions and this spine-tingling version is arguably the best ever recorded. Mahalia Jackson also did a great version.

• Twist and Shout, The Beatles. Vincent says: Ok, maybe not with that catheter in. Just stay still and enjoy the distracting and joyful groove.

• The Healing Has Begun, Van Morrison. Vincent says: Not just for the title either, Van the Man's work is infused with a sublime, hopeful quality, none more so than this.

• To Hell With Good Intentions, McClusky. Vincent says: If rock tinged with humour is your medicine, like me, you'll feel no pain listening to Andy Falkous's driving rhythms and dryly funny lyrics.