What music does to you

[brain enclosed in flesh]

I went to watch my favorite musician, A.A. Bondy, last night. It was a transcendent experience. Granted I hadn't eaten and I was downing copious amounts of alcohol, but still, the music sent me into divine rapture. I felt ridiculously connected to him, to his music, to the earth, to my skin, whatever.

All I'm trying to say here is that music wields a tremendous power over me. It brings true joy and feeling to my life. Music is one of the few things that makes me feel somewhat spiritual. Sure, it can be just fun or just happy, but that's not the sort of music I typically listen to.

So I'm just wondering. What does music do to you? What's its appeal?

 

[Toad]

LoL you're a hippie...

I know how you feel though. I don't think I could live without music (does that make me an F type?). Music is like a knob that controls my emotions. It can make me feel happy, sad, angry, excited...But when the music compliments my mood, that is the best...

My mom was a night club singer, so I get a lot of my musical talent from her. I also get my love of oldies music from her. I love to sing. I have always wanted to be a rock star (maybe a member of a boy band ), but I have extremely bad stage fright. I will only sing in public if I am drunk.

Well I guess what I am saying, is I love music. It is a way of life.

 

[zxc]

Well said. Music affects me in deep ways, mostly not physical. I don't know what I'd be without music.

What is perhaps most fascinating is that we each have such different preferences in music. For instance, I listened to some A. A. Bondy on youtube just before, and while I didn't mind it, the music (certainly the style of music rather than A. A. Bondy himself) didn't affect me the way other music does, and I'm sure you would probably say the same thing in response to my music.

Enjoyment of music is not a consistent thing for me; sometimes music affects me so intensely that I'm hoarse with emotion, and other times I'm just 'worn out' from music and blissful silence is fitting.

Two of my friends (both INTPs) are both unable to appreciate music in the way that I do, and we've spoken in length about this. They can only appreciate music when it's in the background, and at times I feel a tremendous amount of pity for them.

I have a certain need to share music (that is close to me and has a deep impact on me) with others, but this rarely works as intended, as the impact is very much related to the mood of the song and my own mood. Rarely have my friends felt the same intensity of joy, optimism, melancholy, loneliness, sorrow, and despair, from the same songs, if at all.

edit: Oh dear I spent almost an hour typing this, and it's not even what I intended. Words really do fail to express musical appreciation.

 

[Beat Mango]

Joan as Policewoman said in an interview that music enables her to feel. I can relate to that. I can also relate to what Nietzsche said, "without music, life would be a serious mistake". The way I see it, music gets me in touch with my soul, it is the language of my soul. I've noticed recently that most people don't feel music in the way that I do, and some don't even care much for it at all. I just can't understand that.

Then again, there's nothing worse than shite music. And like zxc, sometimes music does nothing for me, I hate those times.

I play guitar as well, and I'm inconsistent with that too - I am typically really into it when I'm playing, feeling every note, but after a while of playing I feel like I've run out of juice and don't have anything to express anymore. It's almost like food (ok weird example lol) - once I've fed my appetite, I don't want anymore. That's why I don't carry an ipod aroudm like most people - I just don't need music 24/7, and if I did, it would lose a bit of its value for me. I want to come home after a long turbulent day and crank the music up full loud. That's when I really feel music, when it's a reaction to life.

 

[Toad]

Yea...music is like food.

Sometimes when there are no songs I like on the radio, I turn it off and just sing to myself.

 

[Enne]

One day when I was younger my mom was singing to me and I just started crying. She thought it was because I was hungry/tired or something, but I just wanted her to STOP!

= / I don't really know why, but for some reason, people singing/humming/whistling unaccompanied just ... annoys me.

When I listen to music, I like something really loud with a lot of electronic tracks. It helps me hyperfocus and get work done, or even just helps to better centralize my thoughts. Ignoring the music, or casting it to the background helps focus on the foreground, which is usually my work.

 

[Vegard Pompey]

I can always find solace in music regardless of circumstances. If all else fails, put on Terria. It's not really any harder than that.

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

I play guitar as well, and I'm inconsistent with that too - I am typically really into it when I'm playing, feeling every note, but after a while of playing I feel like I've run out of juice and don't have anything to express anymore. It's almost like food (ok weird example lol) - once I've fed my appetite, I don't want anymore. That's why I don't carry an ipod aroudm like most people - I just don't need music 24/7, and if I did, it would lose a bit of its value for me. I want to come home after a long turbulent day and crank the music up full loud. That's when I really feel music, when it's a reaction to life.

I'm the same way, very much so. (Even with playing guitar!) My husband listens to music all of the time and I can't. Sometimes I'll go for a whole day without it. What's the point of listening to it if it doesn't mean something? I think it can get to be too much feeling, which throws me off balance... which leads to a new thread I'm going to start.

But please, continue talking about music over here.

 

[JoeJoe]

"Singing is the breathing of the soul."

 

[Citizen X]

I really like music, a lot, not only does it get me in tune with my emotions, but some of it actually stimulates my thinking processes.

When I was younger the only music I liked was classical, because I didn't like most of the stuff I heard on the radio. Then I discovered progressive rock and industrial, and that led to a huge spectrum of underground and experimental music

I can listen to something calm and soothing like this and then, a few days latter, listen to something like this and everything in between, and it all has a positive effect on me.

I saw Nine Inch Nails live last year, one of the best concerts I've seen in my life, it was quite an impressive electronic show, it was just fantastic. I also saw Roger Waters live, two or so years ago, hearing "Comfortably Numb" live was an almost mystical experience (Although the guitarist didn't play with as much emotion as David Gilmour does, though)

 

[zxc]

I really like music, a lot, not only does it get me in tune with my emotions, but some of it actually stimulates my thinking processes.

When I was younger the only music I liked was classical, because I didn't like most of the stuff I heard on the radio. Then I discovered progressive rock and industrial, and that led to a huge spectrum of underground and experimental music

I can listen to something calm and soothing like this and then, a few days latter, listen to something like this and everything in between, and it all has a positive effect on me.

I saw Nine Inch Nails live last year, one of the best concerts I've seen in my life, it was quite an impressive electronic show, it was just fantastic. I also saw Roger Waters live, two or so years ago, hearing "Comfortably Numb" live was an almost mystical experience (Although the guitarist didn't play with as much emotion as David Gilmour does, though)

I can relate. Before I was 15, I just listened to some classical and video game music. Then one of my new friends introduced me to metal, which I became obsessed with. Then, when I was about 17, I discovered Dream Theater, and a world of progressive music and since then, things have only gotten better. I've since delved deeper into progressive metal and rock, doom metal, post-rock, instrumental music and progressive death metal. Things are looking great.

Listening to music sometimes makes you realise just how much you love life.

 

[motrhead]

I'm listening to Matthew Good-Avalanche tonight. This music cuts right through me. It directly controls my emotions. I feel every word like it came from my own mouth, and every note from my soul: I soar or sink with the music.
I've stumbled into this melancholy place, on the edge of depression, but still a few steps back from the edge the pit of despair. It's a comfortable, familiar, almost desirable place that pulls me in. The place where I have hidden all my angst and torment over the years; that I have carried around with me for far longer than I care to remember.
I fell powerful here. I keep everyone away and soak it up, wallow in it: it's almost ecstasy, and I could *almost* cry, but I don't do that. This isn't healthy or happy ecstasy, but it feels good in it's own way. I can't stay long or I will be sorry, but I don't want to leave this secret place. These are all *my* hidden emotions I am feeling, and I am allowing myself to remember.
Pressures of life and empathy for my wife having *just* lost a friend to cancer, and her resulting distance, have opened the door to here. This wonderful, dark, tortured and *real* music entices me in. A touch from my lover would snap me out of this, but she isn't happy, and doesn't sense where I am. Usually this music is safe and cerebral, but tonight I am weak.
I think I am going to hang out here for a while, until the music ends. It's not a neighbourhood you want to linger too long in, but there is something sexy about it.
Damn you Matt! You're spying on my soul and writing about it! But it's really the music, not the words. The words only add a little bit to the impact. I thrive on music. My emotions aren't usually this strong, but music magnifies everything.

Oh, the kids want me to take them for a walk, so I guess I will have to snap out of it. That's probably a good thing.

What music does to me is amplify my emotions. I feel *good* music in my soul and empathize with it. I don't need drugs when stuff like Pink Floyd, MGB, Concrete Blonde or even Green Day can transport me to places of emotional ecstasy, excitement and even happiness. I can listen 24 hours a day.

 

[echoplex]

So I'm just wondering. What does music do to you? What's its appeal?

It seems that whatever is happening or whatever I'm feeling in my life immediately has a song, or even an album, almost immediately associated with it in my mind. A new feeling arrives, and there's a soundtrack ready to go, as if the music could anticipate the emotional wave ahead of time. Or if it's an old feeling, I'm transported to the sound world of the time I felt that way. As I've matured, I've noticed that I've come to appreciate a greater variety of music. I'm in the process of trying to appreciate much more.

In MBTI terms, it's definitely a safe haven for F for me. Alot of times I'll be listening to something and just think "Yes! This is exactly how I feel in music form." It really helps all those yucky feelings make more sense.

Two of my friends (both INTPs) are both unable to appreciate music in the way that I do, and we've spoken in length about this. They can only appreciate music when it's in the background, and at times I feel a tremendous amount of pity for them.

Yeah, while I can see the appeal of background music, it's nothing compared to really getting into the music. I just don't want to miss all the nuances.

 

[motrhead]

I'm listening to Matthew Good-Avalanche tonight. This music cuts right through me. It directly controls my emotions. I feel every word like it came from my own mouth, and every note from my soul: I soar or sink with the music... What music does to me is amplify my emotions. I feel *good* music in my soul and empathize with it. I don't need drugs when stuff like Pink Floyd, MGB, Concrete Blonde or even Green Day can transport me to places of emotional ecstasy, excitement and even happiness. I can listen 24 hours a day.

Okay, I'm feeling much better now
I shouldn't have posted in that frame of mind. Especially while I am working on a novel...That was TMI. I was too sappy
When I got home from the playground ,my wife was playing the same album, and it seemed much more cerebral and angry. I ended up in a good mood, and feeling very creative.
Now I am going to listen to one of the most meaningful songs I know of: Green Manalishi by Fleetwood Mac- the original version. Peter Green ended up pretty screwed up, but I think that song was him at his most honest. That song really moves me.

 

[Agent Intellect]

should check out the book Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks. i haven't read it yet, but i watched the Nova special on PBS based on the book and plan on picking it up.

 

[Beat Mango]

Okay, I'm feeling much better now
I shouldn't have posted in that frame of mind. Especially while I am working on a novel...That was TMI. I was too sappy

I liked what you wrote.