What Really Motivates Middle School Students?

I recently read an archived article from Educational Leadership, Sept.1995 by Richard Strong, Harvey F. Silver and Amy Robinson called What do students want (and what really motivates them)?

http://www.middleweb.com/StdntMotv.html

In this article, the authors make many recommendations for encouraging originality and motivating students including connecting creative projects to students' personal ideas and concerns and expanding the definition of audience. However, the recommendation that has perhaps the most merit when it comes to the integration of technology into the K-12 classroom is their suggestion to increase the choices that students have in constructing and expressing their learning.

By providing choice in the medium of expression alone, the teacher could enhance student motivation to learn, express themselves, and "produce work that is of value to others." Has anyone used software, video, music, or other applications to enhance student motivation through the integration of technology? I would love to hear your story...