Melodies That Move Us: Why Music Feels So Personal

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      Image: Pixabay

You can hardly come across a person who isn’t passionate about music, at least to some extent. You don’t need to be a professional musician to feel the strength and power that it brings.

Music, to most people, is deeply personal. Just think how many times you’ve heard a particular song that reminded you of a specific moment or person. At times, a song can lift you up, making you feel as if you’re on top of the world.

And then, there’ll be moments during which you’ll be bursting into tears because of it. This impact isn’t anything new. On the contrary, people have used music for storytelling, to express how they feel, to bond with others, and for many other purposes.

That’s how omnipotent music can be, and since this topic is generally very interesting, this guide today will further delve into it!

The “Relationship” Between The Brain And Music

One of the main reasons why a vast majority of people turn into extremely emotional beings when they listen to music is because of the brain’s response to it. Namely, this activity triggers various areas of the brain at the same time.

This refers to parts that are responsible for feelings, memories, etc. When you’re listening to your favorite melodies, the brain immediately starts releasing dopamine, which is a chemical that’s linked with motivation and pleasure.

This response is similar to the one that’s activated by things that people generally love doing: eating delicious meals, hanging out with people they love, and so on.

Since brain responses are associated with pleasure and emotions, it’s no wonder people perceive music as something that’s very personal to them.

Every Person Has A Certain Musical Taste

The truth is that even those who don’t perceive themselves as massive music lovers will tell you that they are fonder of a specific musical genre in comparison to others.

Even if they don’t mention a genre that’s considered their favorite, they’d still tell you that there are genres they don’t like at all.

One of the surefire ways to figure out what someone likes is to go through their playlist.

It’s a great way to get familiar with their musical taste and their personality, too! This is because music playlists can be defined as some sort of a virtual, musical diary that shows your thoughts, emotions, and many other things that can be associated with someone’s personality.

Speaking of musical taste, avid music lovers tend to appreciate things that are personalized, like custom records, for instance. Fortunately, you can make a custom record online and add tracks that not only remind you of that special someone but will also show them just how much they mean to you. Anyone can buy a generic gift, but this is something that actually requires a lot more effort and dedication.

You Can Express Your Feelings Through It

Another major reason why music feels so deeply personal is that it allows you to express your emotions; the ones that cannot be easily shown through words. Sometimes words aren’t expressive enough to convey what you’re feeling.

With music, there are no limits. You can communicate happiness, joy, melancholia, anger, nostalgia, and countless other emotions. Because of this, people frequently create their playlists based on how they feel in the moment.

Strangely enough, 2 people can feel 2 entirely different emotions when listening to the same song. This just goes to show how everybody reacts to melodies differently.

To many people, music is something that understands them perfectly without saying a word, and, simultaneously, helps them manage their emotions.

It’s An Amazing Motivator

Everyone has been in a situation where they weren’t particularly in the mood to do something, whether it be exercise, cleaning the house, etc., but suddenly everything changed when they turned on their favorite radio, album, or anything else related to music.

It comes as no surprise that practically everyone has headphones or earbuds when they’re at the gym. This is because music is one of the biggest motivators in helping to both stimulate your brain and push you to your limit.

By now, you’re probably wondering why music is such a massive motivator. In short, it increases blood flow to brain areas that produce and control emotions. The limbic system, which processes emotions and controls memory, lights up the moment it “hears” music.

In a nutshell, music behaves as a cognitive and emotional tool that activates almost every part of the brain at the same time, impacting our neural networks and physiology. It makes us feel good, motivated, and goal-oriented.

The Link Between Music And Memories

Music is renowned for being able to trigger various types of memories. When you hear a song that you haven’t heard for many years, you’ll immediately think of a certain place or person it reminds you of.

Now, why is this occurring in the first place? It happens because the brain keeps musical memories alongside contextual and emotional information. When a specific track is continuously played during a certain period of time, like a relationship, friendship, etc., then you’ll forever associate it with that experience.

The amazing part about this is the fact that many studies have shown that music can activate memories more vividly than any other sensory cue. For instance, a song that you listened to during graduation will forever remind you of that special event.

You Grow, And So Does Your Musical Taste

It’s a rare occurrence to stumble upon a person who has been listening to the same genre their entire life.

Your musical taste may not change as much in adulthood because, in most cases, it is already formed; however, when you’re a teenager, it can vary wildly and likely will change as you reach your 20s, 30s, and so forth.

Musical tastes evolve over time, and that’s completely normal.

Various social, psychological, and cultural factors can come into play as a person grows older, hopefully causing them to become more mature while embracing different types of sounds. Many of which can be mellower and calming.

Interestingly enough, age can bring about a sense of nostalgia about the music someone listened to in their younger years. Even if they don’t listen to a specific genre or musician anymore, they may return to it from time to time precisely due to that nostalgia, remembering what it felt like to be young.

Cultural Identity And Musical Taste

Music is shaped by cultural environments, as well. What you listened to when you were small will most likely impact your preferences when you’re older.

Every culture comes with different, yet authentic musical customs, rhythms, instruments, and storytelling styles.

All of these traditions show the value that people share, along with the historical experiences and other elements. If you were surrounded by particular genres growing up, you may develop a strong sense of cultural identity.

For example, Jazz is a genre that was established within specific cultural communities and frequently carries messages that are associated with social history. Those who connect with sounds that come from their culture usually reinforce feelings of belonging.

On the flip side, people who are interested in music (and many other elements) from different countries and cultures are typically more open-minded because their perspectives are broadened.

Music Helps You Connect With Others

Even though music may feel like something deeply personal, it’s also a perfect way to connect with others. Speaking of, take a listen to my music on Spotify. You may find something that resonates!

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It’s been proven numerous times in the past that people who love talking about music and sharing the experiences related to it are concurrently strengthening their bond with others and creating a sense of community.

Festivals, concerts, and many other similar events are a fantastic opportunity to bring like-minded people together. When a performer sings along with the crowd, they are, in a way, connecting with them and making an omnipotent feeling of unity.

Moreover, for a very long time, music has been utilized in different social rituals, like religious gatherings, celebrations, etc. In these types of situations, people get the chance to express collective emotions.

If music matters to you, then you’ll likely only share it with people who are important to you, in effect taking your relationship to new heights.

The bottom line is that music is a powerful tool that’s designed not solely for individual listening but to be an omnipotent form of communication.

It Never Becomes “Outdated”

Some things are popular for a period of time only to fade away and never return. Thankfully, music is not one of those things.

Yes, there are certain songs and genres that decline in popularity, but music, in general, as an art form will never stop being appealing. Just think of the songs you like that were made several decades ago. Most likely, they still matter to you and millions of other people, too.

This is because music is capable of transcending certain eras by tapping into universal human emotions. Songs and albums considered timeless are normally the ones that didn’t try to impress anyone or cater to the one-hit wonder crowd.

Rather, they focused on quality; the deep and meaningful music and lyrics that stay in people’s minds for a very long time, in effect, creating a lasting legacy.

The Link Between Music And Nostalgia

Although this was briefly mentioned previously, it doesn’t hurt to mention it again. Namely, the nostalgia factor. Every person has that one song/album (or more) that turns back time and awakens certain memories, sensations, emotions, etc.

According to psychology, people oftentimes develop strong musical preferences in their teens. This period in their lives is also known as the reminiscence bump, which means that the memories during that time are extraordinarily lively.

As people grow older and revisit these sounds, they become very nostalgic because it reminds them of specific, beautiful things: old friendships, amazing relationships, and many other things that will never return.

This may sound a bit sad and depressing, but it’s actually very comforting because it reconnects people with the memories that are important to them.

Music Can Be A Healer, Too!

Despite having friends and people who are close to them (relatives, etc.) decide to turn to music whenever they feel sad, lonely, etc.

Perhaps it’s because they feel as though others won’t be able to understand how they feel, or because they simply want to hear certain words that come with the healing properties.

And that’s exactly what music offers. Most of the time, it doesn’t criticize, judge, or convict. It just is.

And through its melody and words, it can bring unimaginable comfort.

According to different studies, music can help with mental disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, and many others, due to various parts of the brain that react to it.

    Image: Pixabay

It’s easy to conclude that music isn’t just a form of art, but a healer, friend, escape from reality, time machine, and many other roles that help us navigate this weird, wonderful, painful, but ultimately good thing we call life.

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