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Can Music Affect Mood?


Naamah D.

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I find my mood affecting the kind of music I want to listen to more than the other way around. As far as life decisions, it depends. I love heavy metal music. Metal has been blamed for numerous tragedies in history, from suicide, to murder to mass-homicide. Is it really the music that's causing this, or are these people already predisposed to this behaviour and just happen to listen to metal? based on my experience, I would say the latter. Just because people listen to a certain genre or band, it doesn't directly affect what they do. If we took every song literal and did what it told us too, I'm not sure where we'd be. I think a lot of the time, especially when it comes to bad life choices, people look for someone to blame so they don't have to look at themselves and see their own faults and acknowledge they made a mistake.

 

I find, for me, music affects my positive life choices. I cannot pick a poor life choice I've made that can be linked to music. It's only affected me in a positive way. I was in a bad place in my life a few years ago and I can honestly say that without music (specifically Type O Negative's album "Life is Killing Me), I may not be here today. Music saved my life.

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I surely think it does for me; I use music as a way to reflect on my way to and from places. Let's say, for example, I have a boy break my heart. Listening to a sad song, especially if it talks about having a broken heart, definately makes it worse. But that's just me, an emotional 13-year-old :laughingsmiley:

Every day in the bus or the car, I contemplate everything. Everything. I listen to music to get me into it. I also write stories of dreams I have, and music helps me out of writer's block.

 

A certain person I'm know to went through a hard time a few years back; and at the time she was listening to death metal and all that stuff. When I hear that kind of music it makes me want to cover my ear and throw her ipod across the room; hearing screaming and finding enjoyment from it is not a positive thing.

 

But that's just me and how I feel about it; there are plenty of people who are decent and not suicidal who like that kind of music and it's perfectly fine.

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As long as your not screaming it's just fine. Music doesn't affect my mood at all.

That's good; I see you like Hollywood Undead, I believe? Or am I incorrect? My sister likes them :)

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That's good; I see you like Hollywood Undead, I believe? Or am I incorrect? My sister likes them :)

 

Pfft. Used too. Ever since they kicked muh 'lil Deuce-y Darlin' out I can't stand them. The new guy is terrible, so I only listen to them when Deuce was in it. He makes me happy(Deuce not the new guy).

 

Oh and p.s. he is such a sweetheart to his fans!

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I definitely think music affects your mood. It's why I have a "housecleaning" playlist, to get me going a bit, hype me up, the same for my workouts. If I'm ready to chill out, I have a playlist for that too. I grew up around music and I'm a musician at heart so I like just about everything out there, and my playlists reflect it. There's nothing like a good song on the radio to make a bad day a bit better.

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With me, for the most part, I think it's the other way around- my mood affects the music I listen to. For example, when I'm in a happy mood, I'll turn on an upbeat pop song. If I feel like I want to kick a hole in my wall and die, I'll turn on something apathetic and screamy. I'm pretty sure y'all get the point by now.

However, I'm not saying that music doesn't affect my mood at all. Like, if I hear something sad, I will most likely get sad on the inside at the very least.

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I think it works both ways. I, like a lot of people, like to listen to angry smashy music when I'm angry. However, I also like to listen to upbeat pop songs when I'm upset and it seems to help. It's all subjective.

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I don't agree at all.

 

For example, I listen to sad music because I like the slow tune. It doesn't make me sad. Angry music is just beat-y and fast, I don't get angry, I just like the (usually) fast tempo.

 

However, my mood does affect the music I listen to!

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Let me tell you, my life can be obnoxious at times. I've had times when I worked 80 hour weeks without getting paid (student teaching ftw!) with my spinal disabilities acting up severely, where I have to do a lot of walking with my cane, and I am in abject pain. I also have metabolism problems, so there are times when I am tired, starving, stressed, and in a ton of pain. And broke. Did I mention broke?

 

And then I turned on the radio.

 

I don't know what it was--my favorite radio stations were always good about playing the one certain song that can ALWAYS make me feel good on the days when I needed it the most. It didn't even matter how much pain I was in, it would ALWAYS raise my spirits.

 

That song is "Black Water" by the Doobie Brothers. It just makes me so darn happy.

 

Other songs, though, I don't think they affect my mood much. In fact, I would say my mood affects the songs--for instance, there are days when I just need to listen to some good ol' cheesy love songs, and those make me feel warm and fuzzy. Other days, those songs tick me off.

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  • 4 weeks later...

I definitely think music affects your mood. It's why I have a "housecleaning" playlist, to get me going a bit, hype me up, the same for my workouts. If I'm ready to chill out, I have a playlist for that too. I grew up around music and I'm a musician at heart so I like just about everything out there, and my playlists reflect it. There's nothing like a good song on the radio to make a bad day a bit better.

Absolutely. And google music therapy to see just how much music can have an effect on one's emotions. It can be calming, energizing, uplifting or even help you study (Mozart). Music affects me on a deep level.

 

Btw, snowwhite, love your name and avatar!

 

 

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My mood affects the music I listen to .

But music can affect my mood.

 

Usually if I find myself listening to a song that reminds me of someone I lost, I generally get all sad.

 

I can't listen to Michael Buble anymore because someone I lost listened to him all the time. Which is sad because I adore Buble.

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My mood affects the music I listen to .

But music can affect my mood.

 

Usually if I find myself listening to a song that reminds me of someone I lost, I generally get all sad.

 

I can't listen to Michael Buble anymore because someone I lost listened to him all the time. Which is sad because I adore Buble.

April,

Why not let Michael Buble be a way to honor the memory of this person? There are certain songwriters I love that remind me of beloved family members I no longer have, because we all loved this music together. The memory of them makes that music even more special to me, and it's a wonderful way to feel thankful for the memories of my loved ones. Instead of feeling sad that they're gone, I feel so thankful that I had them in my life at all, and I celebrate that. You can do this with other things as well. For example, my beloved grandfather had a favorite soda, and so on his birthday, I sometimes drink that soda in honor of his memory and of the good times we had together. Of course, tears can sometimes surface with these memories, but if they're tears of joy over special times/how much you loved that person, those are good tears to have... at least I think so. These rituals help keep those memories alive. I don't ever want to forget the people I loved. :)

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April,

Why not let Michael Buble be a way to honor the memory of this person? There are certain songwriters I love that remind me of beloved family members I no longer have, because we all loved this music together. The memory of them makes that music even more special to me, and it's a wonderful way to feel thankful for the memories of my loved ones. Instead of feeling sad that they're gone, I feel so thankful that I had them in my life at all, and I celebrate that. You can do this with other things as well. For example, my beloved grandfather had a favorite soda, and so on his birthday, I sometimes drink that soda in honor of his memory and of the good times we had together. Of course, tears can sometimes surface with these memories, but if they're tears of joy over special times/how much you loved that person, those are good tears to have... at least I think so. These rituals help keep those memories alive. I don't ever want to forget the people I loved. :)

 

Trust me I've tried that.

It doesn't work for me.

 

All it ends up with me in tears and wanting to run away and never come back. I get really bad thoughts, and have to be on Anti Depressants so I'm really not wanting to push it anymore.

 

All it does is hurt.

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April,

I am so sorry. :( Grief therapists say the best way to heal is to relive the good times through old pictures, memories, etc. They say you'll laugh and cry but that it's very healing. We are all different though and with different circumstances. Maybe time is what you need. I am really sorry for your loss.

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April,

I am so sorry. :( Grief therapists say the best way to heal is to relive the good times through old pictures, memories, etc. They say you'll laugh and cry but that it's very healing. We are all different though and with different circumstances. Maybe time is what you need. I am really sorry for your loss.

 

Time is the only thing that works. I've tried all that other stuff.

Been to see one of those therapists. I just can't see good times. When I do. All I feel is loss at them.

 

But thanks.

 

But on the topic, music affects my mood for sure. :yes:

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April,

Focusing on what you currently have to be thankful about, which I'm sure you're doing, can help as well. Sometimes, in rough times, we have to remind ourselves of this. I hope things get better for you. But yes, back to the topic, music can greatly affect some people... it certainly does me. Certain music can make me feel so alive on different levels and gets me in touch with very intense, meaningful emotions. And of course, not all music has a positive effect. I focus on music that's uplifting, fun, lively, relaxing, meaningful, etc. I'm also a huge movie soundtrack fan... they can be so intense in a good way. :)

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