Music and mood?

[Tyria]

Do you think there is a link between listening to music and mood? Why do you think that music can change how we feel at any given time?

 

[flow]

I always play music that reflects my mood. It's a nice way to reinforce my feelings, whatever they are.

 

[echoplex]

I always play music that reflects my mood. It's a nice way to reinforce my feelings, whatever they are.

^ This.

I definitely think music can affect mood, but I don't like it when the music causes my mood to swing too far from my current mood. I'd much prefer to reinforce my mood with music than alter it, although I don't mind altering it a little, just not alot. I've also found that music can help feelings make sense (if such a thing is possible, heh). I've gotten into the habit of making playlists for my current mood, and it always simplifies the weirdness of feelings. Like bringing order to chaos, soothing the savage beast, etc.

 

[RubberDucky451]

Music is really the best art form, i believe. A good song can change my mood easily.

 

[Ermine]

Do you think there is a link between listening to music and mood? Why do you think that music can change how we feel at any given time?

Absolutely. However, I usually find myself reinforcing my current mood with music rather than trying to change my mood. It brings some organization to the chaos I call "emotions". And I don't think that music changes how you feel. It just adds another emotion on top.

 

[Venture]

Do you think there is a link between listening to music and mood? Why do you think that music can change how we feel at any given time?

I agree with everything Ermine has wrote.

I can be listening to a song and a couple minutes later I will no longer be in the mood to listen to it mostly because of what I was thinking, it seems thoughts change my mood most almost never music.

 

[LucasM]

Music and mood is a mystery that continues to baffle me... I used to never listen to music much because I did not understand how it can seem to affect emotion and because I was disgusted by its attempt to conform me to it, when I was younger. Now... I enjoy it for what it is and listen depending on how I feel. Now that if this makes no sense I don't know I don't care. :P

 

[severus]

Apparently, people with a more developed F can change their mood with music. For me music that doesn't suit my mood just feels wrong.

I too have playlists based on mood. Works out nice.

I'm currently trying to use music to calm my nerves, but it isn't working very well.

 

[Citizen X]

I also have playslists depending on my mood.

It would be interesting to know what people around here listen to, though.

For the last couple of days I've had this song inside my head almost all day long. Pretty much how i've been feeling for the last few day, relaxed and somewhat moody.

 

[flow]

*Shameless self-promotion*

Check my last.fm page for my listenings!

 

[Beat Mango]

For the last couple of days I've had this song inside my head almost all day long.

Yesss an Aussie! It's interesting how many people I've met from overseas like Nick Cave.

Anyway music definitely changes my mood, but is also very mood-dependent. Eg if I am feeling despair, I can put on music which matches my mood like NIN and that will be therapeutic, or I can put on something happy like U2 and that will be therapeutic too, but in a different way, because I'll forget my despair and get lost in the feelings of the song. So yeah I can generally go through my itunes and pick what mood I want to be in. My F would be considerably weaker without music.

 

[Xel]

I usually listen to music that reinforces my mood. Usually I have a song in mind that I want and then I listen to it. However if a catchy song comes on randomly sometimes I will forget the former song. My mood won't really be affected but the fact that I want a certain song will.

 

[Liontiger]

I also listen to music that fits my mood. Sometimes people will introduce me to some new music that I don't really like, and a few weeks later it will be my favorite. It all depends on the timing. I'm also in love with the "On the go" option on my iPod that lets me make a playlist whenever I want to. I always have to match my mood otherwise I feel...uncomfortable.

I also find that Andrew Bird's "Don't Be Scared" usually makes me feel better when I'm depressed. Sometimes it makes me cry O_O