Playlists are personal. I'm hesitant to even write about mine. People get judgy about song choices. Sigh. I could attempt to explain mine: um, maybe eclectic? Catchy? Genre-bending? Silly? Vapid? Rebellious? Deep? Sad? Yes, all of those. Imagine everything from Joni Mitchell to the Muppets, from Dance to Dolly Parton. Insert shrug emoji here.
My main criteria? An emotional reaction (typically mirth or melancholy). Bonus criteria? Goosebumps.
We all know goosebumps: the body releases adrenalin, muscles involuntarily contract and force body hair to stand upright, indentations patterned across the skin. Science says this occurs due to cold, or a reaction to stimuli (fear, attraction, sadness, joy...). Whatever the reason, think about it: our bodies are trying to help us survive. And that's what a playlist can do: enliven us when we're struggling. It's a mental health buoy.
Science (Daniel J. Levitin) says we humans enjoy a special relationship with music. Unlike other stimuli, it triggers multiple effects in both hemispheres all across our brains including language, emotion, memory, even physiological responses like that overwhelming desire to move “to the beat.” It releases the feel good hormones and affects blood pressure, body temperature, even metabolism. But for what purpose?
Despite my amateur scientist status, I know the answer; obviously, it's preparing us for that inevitable crucial music-related battle we must all face at some point in our lives: the dance off. Amirite?
I jest, kinda. Music is similar to humour. Music changes channels. Introduce a song to whiny toddlers and suddenly they get their happy on. It's more than humour though. Think about how that song at the funeral pushed open the rusty gate in your heart.
Alerted by adrenalin, music jolts us from simply existing, shocks us more fully into life, both the joys and the pains. Music speaks truth better than we can: it invokes our deeper feelings, the ones we may not even realize. One amazing song can help us problem-solve, feel less alone; it can provide some new or renewed perspective, it can open a vulnerable conversation, it can heal. Music pushes our buttons and, goosebumped, even our skin can’t hide the transformation.
What song does the job for you?
16 comments:
I don’t listen to music much, but I often have tunes in my head, which tend to get vocalized or whistled to in the kitchen. I had numerous playlists in iTunes that I lost track of. I tried to find them for Christmas, but couldn’t. I am not happy about that. I still hope that I stumble across some secret storage device someday and can retrieve them.
I seldom listen to music.
Gosh, hard to say what's on my playlist. I tend to hum along to all sorts of music, but I especially like jazzy sort of rhythm and blues. I definitely draw the line at hiphop and rap. That's cos I'm old.
I don't have a play list, but I do like variety. Mostly I listen to CBC, I like the sound of voices in the background, with the added bonus of learning a lot of stuff (White Coat, Black Art and The Dose), or having a good laugh (The Debaters and Because News).
A beautifully written post, DB! Animals can have a special relationship with music too. Here's a great little video on that subject --
https://youtu.be/6Iu85jI08W4?si=Yp4nrImO5KY6gSjF
Codex: *clap* Yet another reason I like you my friend. *You complete me*. Wonderful post. The endorphin release, motivation. Music does all of that.We have a strong connection, because we can hear before any other senses are connected. Yes. As eclectic as yours and taste is so individual. A friend took me to a Taiko drummer show when I was in a bad mood. By the end of it I was vibrating and ready for spear and sword.
Nessus Dorma gets me every time. Keeps autocorrecting. I give up.
*clap*
I think this is why I sing in a choir. Lovely post.
👏excellent! Music just make me happy, even the songs that move me to tears.
...music is an important part of my life, but I really don't have a playlist.
I couldn't live without music. Playlists when I walk and more when I go to bed. When walking it creates a little bounce to my steps. :) When in bed It relaxes me and most of the time I fall asleep and in the cases that I don't I end up listening for a few hours. I listen to all kinds of music except Jazz and country western. I'm not a fan and will never be of those genres. :)
For decades I've enjoyed a fantastic, eclectic commercial-free community radio station that seems to be falling apart. The latest is that they've declared bankruptcy and will be purchased by a Christian network. If that happens I will be searching for another option.
Codex:
Even penguins ;)
https://bsky.app/profile/slendersherbet.bsky.social/post/3lipvn5kyi22t
Music plays a huge role in my life, and I have at least a dozen go-to Spotify playlists. Don' every apologize for the music you like! Own it. Even if it's Justin Bieber.
(OK, maybe not if it's Justin Bieber...)
Way too many songs do that job for me!
*clap* lol
I must admit Justin Bieber's song, "Lonely" is quite moving.
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