Music surrounds us. It is in our cars, our homes, ipods..How does it affect us on an individual level?

Question

Everyone has their own individual taste in music and with that taste we tend to identify ourselves within a category. If we assume that an individual listens to music to gain a sense of identity, which piece of music do you identify with?

For example, in my case, it's Nine Inch Nails music - it gives me a sense power, authority, independence, integrity, and ultimately makes me adopt a winning attitude in the "Stick It To The Man" game (the Man is defined as anything/anyone that holds me down).

Answer 1

Music is the breath of the soul. It moves us, it calms us, it wakes us up, it stirs us, it makes us laugh out loud and it makes us weep like a child. What else can do that? Only God and Love and Music. These three have always worked hand-in-hand and it's no wonder life can be so empty without any one of them.

We each have our own taste in music but it affects us the same. Your Nine Inch Nails is my Stevie Ray Vaughan. I can put one of his CDs on and nothing, nothing can deter me from success. Other times it's Andrea Bocelli singing to me in Italian through my headphones with my eyes closed and tears streaming down my face (I don't understand a word of Itailian). Eric Clapton sings a song that is absolutely embedded in my soul. Keb Moe makes me smile with his lyrics while Bob James' Serenisimma makes me forget about time completely and takes me to one certain place I need to be every now and then.
If God has the recipe of life then Love is the cake and Music is the icing.
Some of my most memorable times spent with God have been sitting in my room playing my guitar for Him. Nothing special, just playing what I want Him to hear. He always settles in beside me to listen. He is always there. Many of the songs I've written are the result of these "command performances". So many times as I've played for Him He's given me the words that complete the song. I always have a notebook and pen handy just in case. Often when it happens I can't see to write for the tears flooding my eyes.
Music is the other gift from God. The extra bonus for loving Him. Crank it up!

I'm going to get a NIN CD this week so I can "Stick It To The Man" too :-)

Answer 2

Music = Life
Ever since I was little, I have always had a connection to music, it made me feel complete.
I love all music, growing up as a teen I liked Metallica, Guns N roses, Nirvana, etc, all of those bands. Plus many many more.
This music helped me with how I felt when I was so confused and going through so much as a teenager, and when I was feeling all alone in this world.

Jewel, Sarah McLachlan, and Celine Dion were very deep singers and their music just became a big part of me. I still love all of this music to this day and everytime I hear it it transcends me back to a particular moment as a teen when life was the most troublesome, and these songs helped me through.
There are many singers I related too growing up, but these all are the ones that stand out the most to me now. Their music is amazing.

It is amazing what music can do for someone, and without it, the world would be a very sad and troubling place, especially for teens and others who need something to identify with.

Answer 3

"Music is so naturally united with us that we cannot be free from it even if we so desired" (Boethius cited by Storr).

Since the beginning of time music has had a profound effect on humans. In Hinduism, Siva is most well know for being called the destroyer. But he is also the creator, he recreates the world with a drum (representing the heart beat, the rhythm of life). Beyond that, it is easy for us to remember. How many famous quotes can you rattle off the top of your head, and how many songs do you know the lyrics of?

By implementing a natural method of relaxation rather than taking pills to soothe the mind, humans can create a holistic body.

Personally, I am Irish we historically just love music. Ireland is the only country to have a musical interment on their flag (the harp), and they invented more musical interments than any other ancient culture. I love the Irish Drinking songs (download "under the Scotsman's kilt".. remember an Irishman can't drink more than his share) they are hilarious.

But, being that I live in Michigan, I listen to Motown, Kid Rock, Eminem, Madonna and Bob Seger...lol

Answer 4

Further than the sounds we make and see created, we feel the music/ sound from the Big Bang!
Music and sounds influence us! In ancient Greece, in every hospital there were theater as well as music spaces, since music was one of the therapeutics ways, parallel to the theatrical performances, aromatherapy, herbal medicines, exercises, etc.!
Also, after tests, even plants and animals are influenced by music!

Answer 5

I think that man is not designed to be bombarded with muscial input so much. It prevents us from thinking of other things. I know that sounds silly to you, but imagine what life was like when there was no electricity. The only time you heard music was when someone was playing it.

Young people (that were well-off) had more time to educate themselves. Imagine what it would be like with all that free time reading or thinking or discussing instead of listening to music?

I like music, don't get me wrong. But we are surroundedd by it too much.

Answer 6

Good question. Music can have whatever affect we want to have on us. My iPod holds 1,000 songs and I can bring up whatever music I want at the touch of a button. Angry music, love songs, techno, oldies, or headbanger. Our mood can change from day to day. Of course, we will always have our favorites. Right now I like Dido and her melodramatic breakup songs. She's like Phil Collins, in that she has songs for every aspect of relationships from meeting to breaking up. Her songs about being a loving nurturer especially appeal to me right now.

Answer 7

music like art is an aesthetic form of knowledge. this means it exists to appeal to emotion. Musics intellectual form ( that which is observable to all) is sounds and tones set to patterns. The emotional form (that which is individually observed) is the feeling we associate with the pattern which motivates our reaction to music, and consequentially our preferences. It is possible to enjoy all forms of music, it's just a matter of keeping an open mind.

Answer 8

Pink Floyd. Sophisticated, elevated music sometimes depressive.

Answer 9

I like... pop/rock... I really like Simple Plan, cuse' they're not afraid to rebel, and in their songs, they give the lilistener the power to stand up fro themselves, and follow what they think is right, not someone else...

Answer 10

I don't.
The world is music enough for me.