How Music Affects You

tl;dr
How much do you think music reinforces or influences your state of mind? If you're depressed and have a generally negative outlook on life, the universe and everything, is metal and 'new rock'/alternative (let's not even get into emo) going to help keep you there, even if you feel like you're having fun while you listen to it? What about pop music: will it keep you in a lustful or infatuation prone state? Will hip-hop keep you arrogant and quick to anger?
/tl;dr

I would say yes, the music you listen to reflects and reinforces your overall state of mind to a significant degree, particularly if you're like me and listen to music several hours each day.

I was reflecting today on how my musical tastes have changed in the ten years since my teens and early twenties. Most of the music I loved and that really meant something to me back then, if it even gets a spot on my iPod now, gets skipped more often than not when it comes up on shuffle. Some of the stuff I liked back then would be Pearl Jam, NIN, Afghan Whigs, Counting Crows, Catherine Wheel...mostly dark, angsty, depressive and/or angry stuff, which pretty well covers my mindset at the time. Once in a while that stuff will still click with me or I'll give it a nostalgia spin, but my usual response is: nope, too negative--*skip*

These days I tend to get into more complex, more abstract, and more upbeat/celebratory music: jam bands, jazz, 'sparkly' electronic. The outlier would be blues, bluesy folk and strongly blues-influenced rock, which keeps growing on me despite being pretty much the definition of a downer :lol:

Now, I also know that when I am down or surly, the really upbeat stuff in my collection will make me want to to throw up or hit someone :D I'm not saying you can force yourself to be in the mood for something if you're not, but maybe just mixing it up a bit, bringing in a few more upbeat songs or just something abstract and inoffensive can be therapeutic. I'd liken it to the Tone Scale (yes it's from Scientology, but I think it still breaks down mood/energy level pretty well):

Spoiler for Tone Scale:

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m.../tonescale.jpg[/url]

You're not going to jump ten steps up the scale by listening to a pretty song, but maybe you can ease your way up.

What do you think?

I definitely think music effects people, and its pretty obvious most of the time. Some music just gets you moving, some can be a little sad. I think its even possible to improve your entire day if you hear the right song. Especially if its the first time you ever heard it.

I want to say yes, but at the same time no. Music may effect people, but I believe it effects people very differently.

Mainly because of my own experience as a listener to symphonic and folk metal. Most around me describe me as a generally warm, outgoing and happy person, and they would be right. Im not hiding some deep depression or whatever beneath it. This isnt something you usually ascribe to someone who listens to any kind of metal. People are always surprised when they learn what my favorite genre is.

Metal, at least the kind I listen to, is like the modern classic music to me. It shows the highest level of musicianship with key changes, tempo changes, creativity and the dexterity needed to play some of the amazing solos.(I am of course not talking about the kind of metal where they literally just smash on their guitars) Metal does not make me feel depressed in the least, in fact it makes me feel inspired, even uplifted.

I don't really think it necessarilly keeps you in that state, but everytime I listen to music it's different. Sometimes I'll feel depressed, like the world(or at least America) is really fucked up and I'll listen to a song that seems to have the same message and it will comfort me and kind of neutralize the emotion, brings peace in a sense.

However, if you only ever listen to one style of music, I think that it can definitely have a big influence on your personality/state of mind. Emo music would be a particularly good example of this. It seems negative emotions like sadness and anger are easy to get stuck in. Music certainly can reinforce this but I wouldn't say that it always does.

Personally I prefer music that doesn't really focus on emotions. Music of an experimental nature, like Led Zeppelin. This kind of music to me puts me on a level where I can forget about my emotions and often myself altogether. Powerful stuff.

it can help me to move to certain states of mind, and sometimes it helps me to snap out of others, but i never let it be the deciding factor, like a rock song hasn't put me in the position of a fight, nor has a rap song solely made me wanna get drunk and party, and a love/light song wont cause me to want companionship. The songs help me to reflect but don't influence me to the edge of performing thoughts or emotional reactions

Though i've met a lot of people who act on what song is playing.... talk about mind control...

i would agree with a lot of what you say, except hip-hop, decent hip-hop wont make you arrogant and quick to anger, but will make you inquisitive and thirsty for knowledge.

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Originally Posted by imran_p

i would agree with a lot of what you say, except hip-hop, decent hip-hop wont make you arrogant and quick to anger, but will make you inquisitive and thirsty for knowledge.

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True, but rap is to hip hop what screamo is to rock'n'roll. A complete and total bastardization of something profound and beautiful in my opinion.

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Originally Posted by stonedape

True, but rap is to hip hop what screamo is to rock'n'roll. A complete and total bastardization of something profound and beautiful in my opinion.

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there's a lot of rap that's good

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Originally Posted by stonedape

However, if you only ever listen to one style of music, I think that it can definitely have a big influence on your personality/state of mind. Emo music would be a particularly good example of this. It seems negative emotions like sadness and anger are easy to get stuck in. Music certainly can reinforce this but I wouldn't say that it always does.

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This is more what I was getting at--it's easy, especially when you're young and haven't discovered a lot of music, to get stuck in a bubble where you're just reinforcing your negative view of things and digging yourself deeper into your own personal hell. Of course, music wouldn't be the only thing feeding into it, but music is powerful stuff.

I learned this the hard way when I used to listen to extremely depressing music all the time and used to be extremely depressed. Now I am very careful what sort of music I listen to. When I am studying I always listen to piano music. I read somewhere that there is something about piano music that helps in learning, and I don't know how accurate this is, but it has been working for me. Straight A's. :) I've also read that music is the quickest and easiest way to raise your vibrational frequency.

I definitely think that listening to certain types of music constantly will perpetuate an unhealthy state of mind (like emo). Basically I've come to realize that the type of people and music I surround myself with has a great impact on my life...so I manage each accordingly.

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Originally Posted by Taosaur

This is more what I was getting at--it's easy, especially when you're young and haven't discovered a lot of music, to get stuck in a bubble where you're just reinforcing your negative view of things and digging yourself deeper into your own personal hell. Of course, music wouldn't be the only thing feeding into it, but music is powerful stuff.

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This is very true, music resides at the building blocks of the universe i think, it's a way of connecting in a way so very natural and profoundly basic yet amazing...

There probably is bad music that if you listen to a lot might make you depressed. Though I think you have to seperate that from good music, that might be moving or sad. Its likely good for you at times to listen to stuff like that.

You know what I think makes an even bigger impact though? Music that goes with films or movies, and stuff like that. When you are watching something, and listening to music that really fits, it makes the entire thing more powerful.

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Originally Posted by Alric

There probably is bad music that if you listen to a lot might make you depressed. Though I think you have to seperate that from good music, that might be moving or sad. Its likely good for you at times to listen to stuff like that.

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I find that I have music that is interpreted on the basis of my mood-- usually, it's a part of my mood that's so subconscious and hidden that I can only realize it when triggering it with powerful music. Beautiful music, when in a good mood, will numb me in a positive way, and I'll feel as if the beauty of the music is flowing through me. In a depressive mood, I can usually tell right away that a song is going to affect me in a depressing way. This would correspond with the same song, and like I said, the difference is chosen on the basis of my mood.

Generally, for me, I'm very emotional when it comes to music no matter what. I can be extremely happy (so I think) but perhaps have maybe the slightest thing bothering me subconsciously, and listening to a beautiful song will trigger a mood swing almost instantly. Generally I can change the song quickly to rid of the change, but sometimes it allows the negativity to progressively grow.

Generally I listen to relaxing music, IDM/electronic or ambient music, though I have a wide selection of songs that I just find particularly tasty. I can tell a good song immediately by how it engulfs me. A cool sounding song but meaningless one with no emotion will intrigue one part of me, but with my short attention span for that part of the brain (I really have a very short attention span with it) I'll find myself ignoring the music, and unlike other music, when not listening it isn't flowing through me. With relaxing ambient or IDM, I can be focusing on something that requires all of my effort of thinking and still I will be consumed by the music. It flows through me like morphine, essentially, and it really does affect my mentality. Emotionally powerful, but visually as well. I see things from the music in my peripheral every second a song I like is playing. It's as if the point of focus is the only thing I can consciously see, as is the case now when typing. I can see only the letters eject as the vertical line passes each, the rest is a blur of imagery that is consistently undergoing change in sync with my mood and emotional flow.

I elaborated a bit on my most powerful ways that music affects me here, if anyone's interested. Music really is my mind's magnet, it's an amazing thing of how sensitive some people can be with it.

I think a lot of times a depressing song can be uplifting for a depressed person. If the cause of someone's distress is a closed feedback loop of emotion, then a song that has a depressing tone but has resolution in its structure can elicit a cleansing feeling. If the person's despair stems from a lonely feeling of "am I the only one?" then just hearing someone elses emotions put to music can show them that there are others out there that feel the same way and it can be supportive.

When i hear music, it moves me and touchest my heart. It is my closest shadow and my furthest goodbye. I listen to music and it reminds me of my earliest childhood. It remind me of growing up. And leaving loved ones behind. It is everything to me. Without it, i would struggle.

Sad music can certainly bring you down, but I don't think this is always the case. It can actually be comforting for someone in a depressed mood to hear depressing music, because it reminds them that they're not the only ones that feel so down. Others have been where they are. It can give them a paradoxical sort of sense of belonging.

It's extremely interesting to me that we will so often willfully subject ourselves to music that is almost certainly bound to induce a negative emotional state in us. On the face of it, it seems almost masochistic. So why do we do it? I've noticed that there seems to be something strangely satisfying about lingering in a negative emotional state for at least a while. If I find myself in a blue mood, I don't always want to be immediately cheered up. I can't fully explain why, but sometimes I want to bask in the negative feelings for a little while first. It seems to make me feel... I don't know, more human. What do you all think?

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Originally Posted by DuB

It's extremely interesting to me that we will so often willfully subject ourselves to music that is almost certainly bound to induce a negative emotional state in us. On the face of it, it seems almost masochistic. So why do we do it? I've noticed that there seems to be something strangely satisfying about lingering in a negative emotional state for at least a while. If I find myself in a blue mood, I don't always want to be immediately cheered up. I can't fully explain why, but sometimes I want to bask in the negative feelings for a little while first. It seems to make me feel... I don't know, more human. What do you all think?

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I notice this especially with anger. I'll get in a mood(actually am sort of in one now) where I'll be pissed off and I'll want to hang on to my anger because I feel like I need it to help me get revenge or destroy the cause of my problem. I think it's because emotions are like a kind of energy that can influence us and when in their grip we often feel like we need to store that energy and wait until the perfect moment(the wu wei) to unleash it. Needless to say we often unleash it at quite the wrong moment.

Music has an especially strong influence when you're in those teen/early 20s years and struggling to find your own identity. People tend to show who they are at that period through the music they identify with and the clothes they wear/ their attitudes. You know... you have the skaters, the emos, the metalheads etc.

Luckily for me, at that time in my life classic rock was my salvation. I got through just before all that depressive 90's music came in (and so glad I did!). I mean, we had Black Sabbath and such, but none of the really wicked metal to mess us all up, or grunge to suck us into depression. Though I did love a lot of the 90's music, but I was past those formative years by then, so it didn't affect me as much as it would have if I was in high school or my early 20's.

Elton perfectly stated what some of you have been saying: Listening to someone else's blues/ helps to ease your own/ I guess that's why they call it the blues (sorry if I screwed the lyrics all up... not one of my favorite Elton John songs).

... Good lord... how did I get that so mixed up? I swear I remember a line like that in the song, but apparently I was getting it mixed up with Rosewood Bitters by Michael Stanley:

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Too long on the road, my friend

Too long between rides

Too long between homes again

Too long without someone by my side



And Lord, there's something 'bout a sad song

that helps to ease the pain...

Here I am, Lord, just singing up a storm

and I'm all alone again...



Too much going down today

just can't take it in

Too much running 'round today

can't tell you where I've been



Seems that just like singing in the only thing to do

only thing to help me pass the time

Songs are just like ladies--can't forget them when you're through

and they're always on your mind...



(CHORUS:)

And the rosewood bitters

Help me meet the sunshine in the morning

And the rosewood bitters

Help me through the night

When I feel blue



Too few stop to pass the time

Guess that's how it goes

So sure that there's much more than this

when really no one knows



And easing into midnight

as the bitters pass around

crying in my beer

Singing someone else's troubles

helps to ease your own

Goodnight, Irene, my dear...

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(Emphasis added by Moi)

I think, in a nutshell, the mood decides the music that one chooses more than the music decides the mood, though they both influence one another. I will for instance choose to listen to a happy (maybe actiony) piece of music if I am happy, and the music will then continue to keep me in the "happy place". Likewise I would willingly choose an angry piece of music if I was angry. It also helps with containment of the emotion. I am experiencing the negative feeling through what I'm hearing, and not by expressing it on my environment.

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Originally Posted by DuB

If I find myself in a blue mood, I don't always want to be immediately cheered up. I can't fully explain why, but sometimes I want to bask in the negative feelings for a little while first.

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I feel you, to some degree. If it's because it expresses our humanity, I don't know. I think that bad feelings, on rare occasions, are satisfying. I've noticed it more with anger (again) than the other negative emotions, but I should also point out that I am seldom ever, ever ever angry at all (don't want to give the wrong impression). There is something exhaling about its simplicity and drive to destroy. Something primitive.

I've been thinking about music more than usual lately. What we find in it that we identify with.. Or what we pick in a song that we claim says something about who we are. I could for instance share with you a song that "says something about me," because of what I'd feel in that piece of music that I connect with. How can this connection be made at all? What triggers this? What is music that it should get inside of us so?

I agree-- there's a certain sadism with embracing those negative emotions to be more negative. I find pleasure in it sometimes, feeling depressed and listening to music that is particularly depressing. I know that if I ever get so overwhelmed in the feelings, it's usually like some sort of balloon inside of me pops and I start to progressively feel better. On one occasion I've dropped a single tear-- and in that tear it felt as though every ounce of negative energy was contained inside. It was like being juiced, and left with all good things. Sometimes it doesn't come to that, usually an immense buildup of the feeling of depression, but a non-specific depression that seems to just overlay from the music, so it really doesn't get too personal of a feeling, just a feeling that seems out of the body, in a way.

Music's reaction with the body is a fascinating thing... there should be more study in this.

Yes, absolutely.

I completely wiped my iTunes and replaced it with all new music for this reason.

cool topic, tao
(although i think the tone scale is ... retarded :cheeky:)

so how would you make a division between instrumental music and music with vocals?

i've listened pretty much exclusively to instrumental music for a while - it's the best (for me).

no concepts, just a motion of sounds :)

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Originally Posted by cygnus

cool topic, tao
(although i think the tone scale is ... retarded :cheeky:)

so how would you make a division between instrumental music and music with vocals?

i've listened pretty much exclusively to instrumental music for a while - it's the best (for me).

no concepts, just a motion of sounds :)

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That's exactly how I've been for the past while, I feel the essence of the music so much more when I'm not having to allow my mind to break free of the "trance" and make interpretations of the words in a song. It's just automatic feeling based on the motion of the music when it's non-lyrical, to me, and it's more powerful to me in that way. Sometimes there's a brilliant singer with words spoken alongside music that just makes things perfect, but it's rare for me to appreciate it as much.

But, sad music i think shouldn't bring you into a sad mood. Its a mood thats hard to explain. Its like at an end of a sad film, where you want to cry and clap for joy at the same time.

Music has a very strong effect on me. Some music can make me profoundly sad. Some music can make me very happy. Other music can make me feel calm and collected, other songs can make me feel like I have adrenaline in every part of my being.

I have no idea what I'd do without it.

Music definitely has an effect of me as well.

When I did my most writing, in my teens, I listened mostly to Yanni.
"How's it Gonna Be" ALWAYS makes me angry (it's more of a psychological connection though).
The music from the musical "Jekyll and Hyde" makes me feel disassociated, more creative, more spiritually in tune.
Celtic or Native music (anything with a flute or other similar instruments) makes me feel at one with the universe.

I listen mostly to Alternative Rock/Pop on a local radio station. I sing along and the music helps reduce stress.
Country music tends to make me depressed or depressedly nostalgic.
Rap makes me angry because I can't understand most of what's being said lol and I tend to avoid out right vulgarity (words or deeds). But there are exceptions.
Metal (for the most part) makes me want to blow things up :lol:

Yeah music definetly relieves stress. Especially when you can play it your self. You can take it out on your guitar.

Personally I feel that it has affected me quite little - then again, I'd probably be the poorest judge to asses that. Minute changes in something you experience quite frequently are quite often unnoticed, and that might be whats happening.

Still, to be honest, I don't think it plays too much of a part. I mean, my brother listens to alot of classical (modern and old), as he is a composer, but doesn't seem arrogant or as if he is above anyone.

And me, I listen to alot of classified 'emo' or 'screamo' music, but not once have I felt the urge to cause any degree self-harm. Hell, I barely get depressed. And metal, my favourite genre, as broad as it is, doesn't make me want to go get wasted, thrash anything or worship the devil. And one of my mates is indian, and listens to black rap, but has do be one of the peaceful, modest and nicest blokes I know.

Still, these theories are given my belief through examples or cases, which might not always be the case. It probably affects different people for different reasons. I often enjoy music for its lyrical value, while someone may listen to it for the tone or mood it places upon them. That being sad, some calm relaxing music DOES help me to relax, so I can't be sure.

All in all, I vote a not-completely-confident No. :D

Music effects me so much, sometimes I actually try to avoid to listening to music.

I started to notice how much music effects me after I graduated with my BFA. At the time I thought I would make video games. I had trouble working on my artsy game project UNLESS I was listening to music. The music was so inseparable from my art it became a part of my art. At first I was designing instruments for the video game characters to play. But then slowly the game storyline started to change, there was an ancient deity involved, and her name was Music. At the same time I was listening to a lot of David Bowie. I fell in love with his voice :D and his voice alone gave birth to a video game character. . . . who in my head. . . . has the same voice.

Well the video game started to get too weird and surreal, and I thought, the video game industry isn't for me. Instead, the music inspired storyline is locked away in the back of my mind till the day I can illustrate as I graphic novel. Music constantly reminds me to create this story!

Music effects me so deeply, it doesn't matter at all how upset or depressed I am. Even the simplest beats and tunes can lift my spirits and make the bad emotions feel like a bad dream.

But I have to becareful. Some songs are explosive. These explosive songs are like drugs. They give me an awesome rush. But without fail, that same night I'll have depressing dreams and wake up feeling miserable for hours. My energy will be so low for hours. I'll have a headache, I'm dizzy, my throat starts to hurt. I'll worry or be anxious over things I'm usually not. I started to realize all these bad days had something in common - certain kinds of music I listened to the day before.

Other times music makes my head explode, in a more positive way. It's like I can see my entire future laid out before me. I can see other worlds and places, all my future stories and works of art waiting for me to make them.

In the first graphic novel I was talking about, my character is madly in love with Music. Music is his/my muse.

I used to be addicted to music, and that is easy when you are a musician. I love music and I learn from music from all over the world. I would always have to be listening to music, even when I was sleeping! When I had a friend over I would make them listen to music. I got out of control!

I quit cold turkey. I wouldn't listen to music unless I was making it or a friend or a friend's band was making it.

I am cured now. I can deal with silence.

But yeah, music affects you. You need to develop an ear to appreciate good music. It affects your mind subtly. that is why the same kind of people like the same kind of music. It goes hand in hand. Birds of a feather...

Juroara, I LOVE David Bowie. He is one of my all time favorites, and a cool down to Earth guy to boot... pretty surprising for such an alien with an alien voice and alien eyes. Shapeshifter!

I also love Led Zeppelin, it is great for a cathartic release of frustration and replacing it with good sexy joy. The great thing about Led Zeppelin is they mastered expressing what it feels like for a man to be horny.

I like to listen to North Indian Classical music before I meditate. And after I meditate. Listening to it is meditation as well. It is so good to segue from Indian music into silence and then to come out of silence into North Indian Classical Music. My favorite is Ustad Sultan Khan with Zakir Hussain. I also love Hariprasad Chaurasia, very meditative. Hmmm Ali Akbar Khan. Believe it or not I am not such a fan of Ravi Shankar.

Bossa Nova always makes me feel romantic but sometimes in a cheesy way. Reggae music makes me feel all good but it gets too redundant so I can't listen to it too much. Bob Marley though, he was the man.

I can't listen to rock music like I could. I need more subtlety. Rock music sometimes doesn't leave room for my own feelings. It kind of tries to replace my feelings instead of effect them. I can only really listen to Rock when I am alone.

Some Jazz puts me in a sublime almost stoned mood. But a lot of Jazz annoys the hell out of me.

I love North African Arabic music. It makes me feel exotic like a caravan across the Sahara. Moroccan tribal music and Sufi music!!!! Exotic and uplifting. Egyptian!!!

it does affect me, but for me there are only 2 kinds of effect:
positive, the strongest, with all music I like
negative, with music I don't like

the negative is the simplest, mostly from rap, also from very slow music, ot makes me bored, a little dizzy/fuzzy

the positive is much more complex, the effect is what I want at that time
for example in the morning when I wake up and am still a bit sleepy I put on some music to get awake, but the same music helps me get sleepy if I ca't sleep, helps against boredom, makes my head empty fronm thought when I need it, or makes me think when I want to think deeply
the music that has this positive effect on me is mostly metal(but not deathmetal/blackmetal), also some hardrock and rock, as long as it has enough speed in it
I'm now listening to the newest album of sabaton(powermetal) for example

when I was a kid I didn't listen to music much, only 2 years back or so I really discovered it