Music and Emotional Rollercoasters

I am not a music connoisseur, but that does not prevent me from recognizing the potency of music in changing emotional states. Today’s post is an interactive post, to hear from readers what kind of music is best for what emotional state. What music do you listen to when you are lonely? What music do you listen to when in love? What songs do it for you when you have a broken heart?

According to the Psychology Press, music is a complex acoustic and temporal structure that induces a large variety of emotional responses in listeners. Music can make you high. Music can make you sad. Listening to and playing music alters how the mind and body functions.

Movie makers are masters of using music to enhance the emotional experience of viewers. The kind of music played at horror movies is different from that played in happy flicks. The kind of music played in different scenes in movies creates suspense.

Great soundtracks like that of the Titanic movie, works wonders to connect with viewers on an emotional level. One of my favorite movies of all time is Armageddon, featuring Bruce Willis. The soundtrack for that movie (Aerosmith – I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing) just did it for me. I love it.

Depending on your emotional state, you may be able to find solace in music. Having a music collection for various occasions is a good way of controlling your emotions and getting more out of life. Unfortunately, I cannot prescribe what kind of music you should listen to for what emotional state. Music is a very individual thing. Various countries have different tastes in music. We have readers from more than 80 countries on this blog so I cannot presume to have the fix for everyone.

Doctors use music in hospitals to soothe patients and help speedup the recovery process. Churches use uplifting music during worship. Cheering squads use music to feel an emotional high and to support their teams. Beer drinkers have an array of beer songs that help them have more fun and feel good. Mourners use music to connect with each other and help in the grieving process. Music has been used for generations in various cultures to enhance and communicate emotional states.

Happy Music

People in love or having a good time listen to a particular type of music. Many religious and cultural songs are happy songs that bring out good cheer in people. An example of an uplifting song is R Kelly’s song, I believe I can fly. The lyrics says it all.

“I Believe I Can Fly”

I used to think that I could not go on
And life was nothing but an awful song
But now I know the meaning of true love
I’m leaning on the everlasting arms

If I can see it, then I can do it
If I just believe it, there’s nothing to it

[1]
I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar
I see me running through that open door
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly

See I was on the verge of breaking down
Sometimes silence can seem so loud
There are miracles in life I must achieve
But first I know it starts inside of me, oh

If I can see it, then I can do it
If I just believe it, there’s nothing to it

[Repeat 1]

Hey, cuz I believe in me, oh

If I can see it, then I can be it
If I just believe it, there’s nothing to it

[Repeat 1]

Hey, if I just spread my wings
I can fly
I can fly
I can fly, hey
If I just spread my wings
I can fly
Fly-eye-eye

Angry Music

Sometimes one may just want to vent and express their emotional state. There are various songs for that. There are songs for saying mean things to an ex, there are freedom songs for fighting inequality in society. One of the angriest songs I have ever heard is by Eminem, and again here are the lyrics.
Intro:
Where’s my snare?
I have no snare on my headphones
There you go
Yeah
Yo yo

Verse 1
Have you ever been hated, or discriminated against?
I have, I’ve been protested and demostrated against

Picket signs for my wicked rhymes, look at the times
Sick is the mind, of the m****f****n’ kid that’s behind

All this commotion, emotions run deep as oceans explodin’
Tempers flarin’ from parents just blow ‘em off and keep goin’

Not takin’ nothin’ from no one, give em hell long as I’m breathin’
Keep kickin’ ass in the mornin’, and takin’ names in the evenin’
Leave them with a taste as sour as vinegar in they mouth

See they can trigger me, but they’ll never figure me out
Look at me now, I bet ya probably sick of me now
Ain’t you mama, I’ma make you look so ridiculous now

Chorus (2x)
I’m sorry mama
I never meant to hurt you
I never meant make you cry
But tonight, I’m cleanin’ out my closet

One More Time

I said,
I’m sorry mama
I never meant to hurt you
I never meant make you cry
But tonight, I’m cleanin’ out my closet
Ha!

Summary

Songs can be used at various points in the emotional rollercoaster that we call life. What kind of songs do you listen to? What kind of emotions does music bring out in you? I would love to hear your comments. Please share with other readers, any YouTube Clips or links that you love, and describe what emotions it helps you cope with or communicate.

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