> I absolutely cannot listen to music with words when I code

Same here. Med to high pitch does the same effect as words for me. But undecipherable words or ambients does not have the same paralyzing effect as words, things like metal growl, mumble rap, or ambient acapella. My goto music would be extreme polymetric metal music with dark tone (bright guitar tone doesn't work for me. Check out my fav band Meshuggah), noir jazz (jazz which accompany noir detective/mystery film), or muted song whose mid-to-high pitched instruments arent quite prominent.

And then there is a friend of mine who can program while listening to podcast. A mad lad he is I say.