How does music effect you?

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I was just thinking about music (from the "What is your favorite song?" thread in the Entertainment section), and it came into my mind that different types of music effects me in vastly different ways, physically, mentally, and emotioally. I'm interested in hearing how music effects others on this forum, as well.

I am generally a fan of alternative rock. I tend to like more laid back music, but I also enjoy it when the music "fills the room." I don't mean that it's loud, but that it feels like I am surrounded by the music on all sides, and completely absorbed in it. This allows me to "lose myself," but within my own control, as I can "come back" at any time that I wish. It seems to give my mind a feeling of clarity, and it uplifts my emotions. For me, Coldplay is a good example of this type of music. Classical also seems to have this effect, but I don't know composers, so I really couldn't go too deep into this topic.

I find that "Hard" music- especially metal, or the bands in which people scream a lot, really makes me feel like I am being driven into the ground, as though there is a jackhammer pounding on my head, and forcing me in. It can also make me dizzy and throw off my sense of balance (I think this has something to do with my inner ear going crazy). Needless to say, I don't especially like this stuff. Techno can sometimes have this effect, as well. I think it must be the bass, since low rumbling sounds tend to bother me quite a bit.

Trance, or even just weird, fluid music (like that of Radiohead) often does just what the name implies, it puts me in a bit of a trance- I feel like I'm being drawn along down a winding, wavy path, away from my body. It makes me extremely sleepy, as though I'm being drugged, and also makes me feel as though I don't want to do anything. Sometimes, it's an interesting feeling, but others, I really can't stand it.

I like music that soothes my soul. I definitely don't like heavy metal or hard rock. I enjoy the soft rock and ballads the most because it helps relax me physically, mentally and spiritually. I enjoy the Beatles and some of their ballads, Simon & Garfunkel I really like too.

I like music that has synthesizers or brass instruments in it. But especially synths. For some reason I really like the sound of square wave waveforms. It gives the music a more atmospheric feel to it. Sure two guitars, bass, and drums can sound good, but for me, it gets boring after awhile.

I gotta look out though for lyrics, I tend to get real emotional when they play sad songs on the radio and I have to turn it off or I'll have trouble keeping my composure.

I like when music "fills the room", as you described it. But I do not like when it is too loud.
I like classical, gregorian and some poprock, but I cannot stand hard rock, heavy metal and sometimes, rap. My brother listens to hard rock, punk rock and sometimes metal, so I leave the room when he listens to that kind of music. And when he listens to calmer rock or poprock, I sometimes listen to it too.
I like a song when I like the melody, the sounds AND the lyrics (when they are lyrics).
I like the sounds of piano and harps.

Loy

I'm not a very big music fan. I listen to the music only when driving my car. I am not very fastidious, and just listen to whatever is playing on the radio. I joke that I like music with a lot of half-tones, but this is not necessarily true. I never pay attention to lyrics, name of song or artist, and all I remember is melody (which sometimes gets stuck in my head). So, while I have favorite songs, I really can't tell you which ones.

In my parents' home there was virtually no music played aloud. My mother couldn't stand it. She complained that all she could hear was a cacophony of disjointed noises. Sensory integration problem, maybe?

I listen to music sometimes (mostly on Radio Disney and Vh1 Classic). My favorite shows on Vh1 Classic are Pop Show (pop music [mostly from the '80's]) and the All Request Hour (the name says it all), although all the shows on there are good. There really isn't much of a variety of shows on Radio Disney. (Most of the shows on there are the same, only a different DJ, a different time, and a different location.)

I don't like most of the rap they play on the radio these days, especially the songs they play on Kiss FM or whatever it's called. You know, the newer rap music a lot of NT girls I know like with lots of swearing/pauses where swear words are supposed to be. (the song "Tipsy" is a good example [In case you've never heard "Tipsy," it's a rap song they play a lot on Kiss FM.])

Anyway, the type of music I like to listen to the most is either the calm, relaxing type or the upbeat, dancey type.

I also have a comment: what's the point of swearing in a song? I mean, you have to edit it out, anyway.

Mich

Well, music is an art, and like any form of art, it's a way of expressing oneself. Some musicians feel the need to swear in order to express what they're feeling or thinking inside. They only edit it out on the radio, on the artist's album they keep the swears. There are also "edited" versions of CDs available for younger audiences that are like the radio edited versions, without swearing.

I like a huge range of music, but almost nothing the rest of the world is interested in. I love deep primal drumming. I like satire, I always hang on the words - I love twisted bent angry/humour. The style of music varies hugely, and I have categories for different moods. I need to have music that is challenging, because I need to be entertained. I can't read when I'm listening, so I'm either totally absorbed or trying to work. When I work (design) I love stuff like Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn, and Natasha Atlas, moloko, St Germain (up beat, happy stuff). If I'm hyped up, I listen to Tom Waits, Primus, Midnight Oil, Missy Elliot, PJ Harvey, Beethoven's ninth, Violent Femmes, Sonic Youth. If I'm feeling a bit low, I listen to Nick Cave, Mazzy Star, Ry Cooder, Tom Waits, Billy Brag, Carmina Burana, African Sanctus, Spoken word - like a compelation of Jack Kerouak readings, Morphine. I've noticed that as I get older, I'm less into the louder aggressive stuff except when I'm excited, and tend to be softer in my taste... I think its to do with my hearing range changing (read it somewhere).

i love all genres of music, classical, oldschool rap, turntablism, heavy metal, chillout, electronica, japanoise, folk, mambo, tribal stuff, my ears are on a constant journey and will never be happy with the discoveries they have made lol
the internet was a big portal for the exploration. before that i was into heavy metal constantly because it kind of..'fueled my teenage anger' as some would say. then i got the internet and i started downloading tons of frank sinatra, jimi hendrix and sublime and that calmed my mind down.
music is the can opener of the soul.
music can bring people together, stirs peoples emotions, aswell as give some people a creative burst of energy.
yeah..sorry i babbled on again

The Beatles make me feel happy, The Rolling Stones make me feel rebellious, and both Jimi Hendrix and Classical Music bring out me creative side.

I have diverse tastes in music too. Nowadays I don't listen to it too loud because of hearing loss but I still enjoy it.

I love 50s and 60s oldies and jazz. I especially love oldies from Europe, Asia, and Latin America. I also love to listen to songs that aren't even in English, even if I can't understand a word.

I hate nearly any form of music past 1976.

Last edited by hilarythebaker on 07 Aug 2004, 4:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I basically like most music, aside from rap and country. My favorites would probably be '80s and instrumentals, such as jazz.

I listen to a lot of music. It really helps me out. When I'm at school the music that I always listen to when I'm studying is music from the movies (soundtracks). Most of the music on there is all the instrument (it's kind of like Classical music, so it's soothing.) Then there's Josh Groban, with that pop feel of music, but that big operatic voice that he has. Then later, I will listen to a lot of like Soft Rock. For some reason, I only listen to Oldies[60s and 70s] in the summetime. When I'm in the mood for it, I will go on a Country music streak. But I will not listen to heavy metal, hard rock, r&b, and rap.

I think it's soo yesterday that swear words get edited out. I mean, they are just WORDS!! They're not hurting anybody. If you don't like it, don't listen to it. If you're offended by it, don't listen to it. But get over it! And as for kids today, they know all the swear words! I mean, come on!! They swear worse than adults!! I think songs should not be censored on the radio.

I agree that T.V. should be cencored until late at night, because it's visual, and children should be protected from it.

But there is, I believe, no such thing as swearing. Or even finger sticking. They are just words and gestures. The fact that they are "banned" is due to old fashioned conformity, which is way out of date in this day and age.

For example, "you're a F***ing idiot!" and "you're a stupid dumb girl" - I think they are just as offensive as the other. Infact, it would probably hurt me MORE if someone told me "You're a stupid dumb girl". But it wouldn't be censored on radio because they are not "swear" words.

If someone told me "you're a f***ing idiot!", it wouldn't hurt me as much because I'm more disensitised with it.

What are swear words anyway? They ARE just words after all. Hey, didn't it all start with xtians banning "blaspheme" against their religion? It's stupid anyway. I like "swearing". I don't find anything wrong with it. I know at some situations there can be more intelligent things to say. But for me, it's more effective because I have a terrible vocabulary.

i like music a lot. i like lots of types of music including: heavy metal, rap, industrial, folk, punk, international stuff, classical, jazz etc. sometimes i find music a bit too intense an experience and am distracted from doing much. and if i am in a shop and they play music i strongly dislike (even if it is very quiet/piped type music), i will find it difficult to block the sound out and will have to leave.
i quite like really noisy music like the locust and hardcore because of the level of white noise involved i find really soothing.