Have you ever felt like that? Sometimes, when you're in your room and feeling sad, you just want to listen to a sad song. Another day, when you're getting ready to go to a party, you put on a pop song that makes you want to dance. In fact, just one song can enhance the feelings we have in our hearts, or take us to a completely different state of mind. Music has an amazing connection with our hearts. Let's talk about this in a little more depth today.
The relationship between music and our emotions
The field of music
psychology gives us some insight into this. But it also suggests that these emotions cannot always be put into simple boxes like "happy" or "sad." As Professor Hauke Egermann, director of the music psychology group at the University of York, says, "Our emotional experience is very complex and varied. It changes from moment to moment. So it's not easy to say, 'This is a happy song, this is a sad song.' The reality is somewhere in between, or sometimes it can be both happy and sad at the same time." Every year, the Grammy
Awards select the best songs and give awards. So, what makes a song worthy of such an award? It could be the singer's great voice, or it could be a groundbreaking musical production. Let's take a look at how some of the songs nominated for this year's Grammy Awards affect our emotions.
Grammy-nominated songs and their psychological secrets
Below is a simple analysis of some popular songs and how they affect our minds.
| Song and artist | Psychological effect and cause |
|---|
| "Kiss Me More" - Doja Cat ft. SZA | This song starts with a guitar riff. This same riff continues throughout the song. This creates a calm, relaxed atmosphere in the listener's mind. However, the rap parts that come along are a bit harsh. This creates a certain tension between the calm and harshness, making the song even more interesting. |
| "Genesis" - Deftones (Metal) | This song starts off slow. Then it suddenly turns into a harsh, heavy, dark Rock/Metal music. It has a screaming voice. These are usually associated with negative emotions . But for someone who likes Metal music, this is not pain, but therapy. This is called Catharsis . That is, through music, a person experiences a painful experience and gets help to overcome a sadness in their life. |
| "All Eyes on Me" - Bo Burnham | This has a very simple, repetitive melody. Songs like this easily get stuck in our heads (earworm). The reason for this is that the structure of the song is neither too complex nor too simple . Since it is in the middle, we easily remember it and connect with it without even realizing it. The way the Autotune technology is used here creates a hypnotic atmosphere. |
| "Family Ties" - Baby Keem ft. Kendrick Lamar (Rap) | The beat at the beginning of this song is something that we can feel in our bodies. Especially the low sub-bass in it feels like it is vibrating from within us. Rap music has repetitive rhythms and rhyme patterns. But it creates a certain expectation in the listener's mind, and then suddenly breaks that expectation . This unpredictability makes the song very interesting. |
| "MOVEMENT 11'" - Jon Batiste (Jazz/Classical) | This is a piece inspired by Jazz. Jazz music is all about playing with our expectations. First, a main theme (motive) is presented. Then the same thing is played over and over again, but with different variations . Some of the variations are what we expect, others are what surprise us. This creation and breaking of expectations creates a range of emotions, including tension, surprise, and satisfaction. |
So is there a secret formula for a "hit" song?
Scientists have been trying to figure out the formula for a "hit" song for years. But it's not that easy. As Professor Egermann says, "A lot of pop music today doesn't fit into the same box as it did thirty years ago. Everything is now mixed together and mixed together. I think that's what makes music interesting."
Simply put, while popular music may seem to follow a formula, the best creations are created when that formula is broken. While repetition and expectation are familiar to our ears, it is the unexpected disruption of those expectations that keeps us listening.
Music is a very personal experience. A song that is therapeutic for one person may be a pain for another. So enjoy music that feels good to you and that touches your heart. The relief it provides for your mental health is invaluable. However, if you continue to feel overwhelming sadness, anger, or other distressing emotions when listening to music, it is important
to talk to a trusted adult about it and, if necessary
, seek advice from your doctor .
Take-Home Message
- Music can directly influence our emotions. But the relationship is not as simple as you might think, it's very complex.
- Things like the rhythm, melody, and repetition of a song create a basic feeling in our minds (e.g., calmness, energy).
- The best and most memorable songs are created by combining familiar patterns with the element of surprise .
- Even heavy music genres like metal can be psychologically therapeutic for some people. This process is called catharsis .
- There is no set formula for a "hit" song. Often the best creations are created by breaking the existing rules.
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