Why do we like music?

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tuesday Mar 01, 2005

The other day I was driving along listening to some CD and thought, "what makes us like music?".

When I say "us", I don't mean musicians, soundguys, rockpagers, etc. I mean human beings in general. You know how there is some hardwired thing in a guys brain that makes us like boobies?

Is there something embedded in us that drives us to listen to music?

Something to think about.

(no I am not drinking)

tonefight · Post by **tonefight** » Tuesday Mar 01, 2005

Good question, I guess its kinda like why do we like sex ?? Can you imagine what would go through someones head if they had no concept of sex and saw 2 people going at it.

Its definatly something from within, but if ya think about it birds are a pretty melodic creature too.

Post by **Jim Price** » Wednesday Mar 02, 2005

Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman offered an interesting slant on the connection between mankind and music. This is what he wrote on the liner notes of his 2003 album with the New English Rock Ensemble, Out There:

"Since the dawn of time, man has tried in vain to discover from where the unseen, unknown source of music has its origins. It will always be a fascinating but fruitless task for man, as he will still be searching in vain for an answer at the very moment that the earth finally dies.

This however does not stop us continuing to surmise upon the unanswerable, and I have long held the belief that whilst we readily accept the five senses (and to some extent the psychic 6th sense), the true missing sense is that of music. I firmly believe that the origins of all music do not begin in this world as we understand it, but are subconsciously taken from what can be best described as unseen dimensional astral plains in a living void somewhere 'Out There' amidst universes known and unknown.

Being a confirmed Christian I also believe that music is very much a gift from God and therefore is not to be questioned, but to be enjoyed, developed and shared among all races, religions and creeds.

In 1976 I wrote and recorded an album entitled No Earthly Connection, which heralded my first exploration into this subject; and my interest in this subject was again heightened during the 1990's upon discovering that the very music that I believed had had its source somewhere 'Out There' in space, had in fact been sent back into space by N.A.S.A. and had been documented accordingly."

Rick seems to think that music comes from a supernatural source out in the cosmos, and was communicated to us as a sense. It does make you wonder how we determined, at some point in our development, that a sequence/progression/texture of sounds or tones was desirable to us, and that we came to enjoy this thing called music.

Mo Lester · Post by **Mo Lester** » Wednesday Mar 02, 2005

that was touching,

I concur.............................

DMFJ03 · Post by **DMFJ03** » Wednesday Mar 02, 2005

Music soothes even the savage beast.

ZappasXWife · Post by **ZappasXWife** » Wednesday Mar 02, 2005

Interesting topic...while all of that mystical Rick Wakeman stuff sounds nice, I think it has much more to do with environment. How else do you explain the fact that some people truly could care less about music. Really! I know several people who do not own a stereo, or play music even on their computer. I know one female friend who actually told me she doesn't even like music! She would much rather read books or watch TV. I asked her once if her parents ever played music when she was young (she's ~43) and she said no. On the other hand, my son was bopping around in front of the stereo speakers when he couldn't even walk, he held on to the speaker. His first word was speaker, not mom or dad. He's 18 now and lives and breathes music. I always thought there was some truth to the advice given to pregnant moms to listen to plenty of music so the unborn child could hear it then. Maybe it gets hard-wired into the brain then...

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wednesday Mar 02, 2005

ZappasWife wrote:I think it has much more to do with environment. How else do you explain the fact that some people truly could care less about music.

Good point. Actually my wife is kind of like that. She listens to talk radio most of the time. She said music was never a big deal to her parents and is glad that I expose our kids to a wide variety of music styles.

I had a father that listened to Pink Floyd, Doobie Brother and Frank Zappa.

I think that there are few people in the world that don't enjoy music on some level. Some just express it more than others.

What is interesting is that cultures all over the world have music. And to the best of my limited knowledge on the subject, music has been a part of mankind for ages.

I still think that there is something deep inside that connects us with music on a primative level.

Like the boobies example, there are surely some guys that don't "like" them, but the overwhelming majority of men do. Taking away the obvious sexual connection that is made, there is some primative/subconsious connection.

We just take our enjoyment of music for granted, but I still think that there is something deeper. I am not talking about the spiritual angle and music being a gift. That sounds great, but what is it that really connects us with music?

oobie · Post by **oobie** » Wednesday Mar 02, 2005

but you can't forget everything IS music. no matter what noise it may be, it appeals to someone or somethings sense of hearing. take for example: the noise from a bird chirping in the mountains next to a river is like a heavens sent song to someone or something, but to the heavymetal, headbanging, punk rocker its not fast or heavy enough as their guitar shredding, double bass kicking,, etc. etc. riffs.

do you know what i mean? this is a good subject.

definition of music is = any agreeable (pleasing and harmonious) sounds

its all in how it is taken. Music is a word that kinda relates itself to the whole "EVOLUTION" thing cuz you know that its been around for ever just in different forms and formats, like i can make a song out of the rattling noises my van makes while driving down the road or i could go home a play my guitar for music. i think alot of it is reference because of instruments and thats not always the case. everyday sounds are music to some peoples ears. Great subject

byndrsn · Post by **byndrsn** » Wednesday Mar 02, 2005

DMFJ03 wrote:Music soothes even the savage beast.

Dude, that stuff you listen to wouldn't "sooth" anything!!!

Seriously though, my son is a little over 3 months old. About a month or so ago, just around the time he started to show emotions (like smiling and stuff) I was sitting on the couch (he was laying on the couch - obviously) and practicing some songs that I needed to go over. Well, anyway, I was really surprised that he was actually laughing and smiling through the entire song (Crazy Little Thing Called Love). He was really into it. So, I started playing some other tunes and it seems that he wasn't into all of them. Some he didn't have any response to, but others - he seemed to have a consistent response. I thought it was fasinating.

I've also played different recorded songs for him and he doesn't have much of a reaction unless you sing along with the song (I guess the visuals are better than the music all alone), but he seems to really get a kick out of songs that have "noises" in them. So, I started searching and yep, he really likes songs like: Baby Talk by Jan & Dean, The Witch Doctor by Ray Stevens and Mr. Bass Man.

The thing is, he relates to and enjoys certain kinds of music.

DMFJ was at our place a couple weeks ago. My boy started fussing, so Jae grabbed the acoustic and started singing - put him right to sleep!!! Now personally, I think that was more out of self-preservation than anything else, but it is pretty interesting.

I would bet that environment does have a lot to do with it, but it may have something to do with genetics as well. At 2 months - he consistently reacted to different types of music.

Urbs

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wednesday Mar 02, 2005

oobie wrote:but you can't forget everything IS music......

do you know what i mean?

definition of music is = any agreeable (pleasing and harmonious) sounds

I agree 100% with that. You could be on to something. I guess I could re-phrase the question as "Why does music (or certain sounds) make us feel good or bad"

I will certainly not argue that anything can be considered music.

Mo Lester · Post by **Mo Lester** » Wednesday Mar 02, 2005

You got it Urbs, my daughter is 2, and when she was a Baby, she was cool with Bob Marley and some other pleasant sounding stuff with melody, (all on the same CD the wife listened to when she was pregnant) even some bass heavy stuff, but as soon as something had a cranking guitar in it, she would start to trip out. I guess studies have shown that heavy, especially dark stuff is depressing for kids to listen to. I play some rock for them ( her brother is 5) when we are in the car w/o their beutch mother and they are fine with AC/DC, Kiss, and some " brighter" straight "up the gut" stuff. I don't think it would be too healthy to go throwing in Facelift or anything, but it is wierd how they react to the different sounds of different keys, because they (the kids) are still pure and unpolluted by the world. I myself really can't stand too much of the chunking, pounding, and grinding mindlessly on one chord without a little harmonious scale to it.
Anyhoo, yeah, music is the greatest gift.......

......FACT.......

Dangerous Denny · Post by **Dangerous Denny** » Wednesday Mar 02, 2005

Rick Wakeman makes some interesting points as to the origin..but ,then again, consider the scene in the movie CAVEMAN with Ringo Starr,where they're all sitting around the campfire and they suddenly discover music..I especially liked the notes the old blind man added to the mix! If you haven't seen it , rent it!

ERiC_AiXeLsyD · Post by **ERiC_AiXeLsyD** » Wednesday Mar 02, 2005

Excellent topic.

It's funny how you want to hear different things based on mood, or how music can change your mood...

Misfits stuff always makes me happy... Appetite for Destruction jsut amplifies whatever mood I'm in. Ann Beretta makes me wanna get up and do something. Snuff is good thinking music, & I used to fall asleep to Type O Negative.

Heh.

Some cats love the acoutsic guitar too... wether it's the sound, or vibrations, or changes in the air. My cat will watch me play quite intently.

rug · Post by **rug** » Wednesday Mar 02, 2005

can you imagine watch a tv program or movie that had absolutely no musical content, no intro or outro during credits, no creepy stuff while the scenes are building up??? that would suck!!

rug
...not to mention commercials "Bud Light salutes you..."

Mo Lester · Post by **Mo Lester** » Wednesday Mar 02, 2005

Dangerous Denny wrote:Rick Wakeman makes some interesting points as to the origin..but ,then again, consider the scene in the movie CAVEMAN with Ringo Starr,where they're all sitting around the campfire and they suddenly discover music..I especially liked the notes the old blind man added to the mix! If you haven't seen it , rent it!

YES, Atuk zug zug Lana!

Denny and Erik.....good posts!

byndrsn · Post by **byndrsn** » Wednesday Mar 02, 2005

rug wrote:can you imagine watch a tv program or movie that had absolutely no musical content, no intro or outro during credits, no creepy stuff while the scenes are building up??? that would suck!!

rug
...not to mention commercials "Bud Light salutes you..."

Wasn't there a MASH episode or something like that?

becky · Post by **becky** » Wednesday Mar 02, 2005

it makes me horny from the vibrations

Mo Lester · Post by **Mo Lester** » Wednesday Mar 02, 2005

Oooh, Becky likey zugzug

becky · Post by **becky** » Thursday Mar 03, 2005

why do you think we bring singing penis's and vibrators on saturday nites? after everyone is gone and I am the last one in the place uhhuh!!! everybody has a favorite toy, I play with mine quite often

I have had my favorite toy for 38 years and sometimes if the person is nice enough, I share

DMFJ03 · Post by **DMFJ03** » Thursday Mar 03, 2005

byndrsn wrote:
DMFJ03 wrote:Music soothes even the savage beast
Dude, that stuff you listen to wouldn't "sooth" anything!!!

Muwhaha!

DMFJ was at our place a couple weeks ago. My boy started fussing, so Jae grabbed the acoustic and started singing - put him right to sleep!!! Now personally, I think that was more out of self-preservation than anything else, but it is pretty interesting.

I never claimed that I could sing! Besides, I think he enjoyed seeing Aunt Lisa getting beat with a stack of papers! That is what wore the little bugger out. Hehe!

byndrsn · Post by **byndrsn** » Thursday Mar 03, 2005

DMFJ03 wrote:
byndrsn wrote:
DMFJ03 wrote:Music soothes even the savage beast
Dude, that stuff you listen to wouldn't "sooth" anything!!!
Muwhaha!

DMFJ was at our place a couple weeks ago. My boy started fussing, so Jae grabbed the acoustic and started singing - put him right to sleep!!! Now personally, I think that was more out of self-preservation than anything else, but it is pretty interesting.
I never claimed that I could sing! Besides, I think he enjoyed seeing Aunt Lisa getting beat with a stack of papers! That is what wore the little bugger out. Hehe!

Good point!! THat is probably what did it!!
Maybe we can experiment with this a bit, let's think of other things we can beat Lisa with and see if he thinks all things beating Lisa are funny, or just certain things. It could be fun!!

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Friday Mar 04, 2005

I think music is in a direct connection with the soul. That's why it makes us happy. I mean, how many other things tap into your soul? And this is also proof that animals have no souls...how many cats and dogs do you see gettin down to a tune? And if you know anyone that doesn't like music, are they lifeless? Maybe I have a theory here in the works....

ERiC_AiXeLsyD · Post by **ERiC_AiXeLsyD** » Friday Mar 04, 2005

ERiC_AiXeLsyD wrote:Some cats love the acoutsic guitar too... wether it's the sound, or vibrations, or changes in the air. My cat will watch me play quite intently.

ToonaRockGuy · Post by **ToonaRockGuy** » Friday Mar 04, 2005

I've long held the belief that music is quite simply the most powerful force in the universe, bar none. I always caught flak from my dad (a now-retired minister) when I said something to the effect that music was my religion. He got really pissed about that for some reason, LOL...

But music, I mean, there is no other entity that has complete and utter control over anyone's emotions. Music can make you jam out, it can make you laugh, cry, feel pissed off, forgiving, it can uplift or tear down and then rebuild. Nothing else can do that.

And that's one thing that I try to instill in my daughters, love of music for what it is, what it can be, and what it can be to you.

Just my .02.

oobie · Post by **oobie** » Friday Mar 04, 2005

And this is also proof that animals have no souls...how many cats and dogs do you see gettin down to a tune? And if you know anyone that doesn't like music, are they lifeless?

Rob not everybody or everything thinks of music in the same way, it might be a kick ass drum beat that hits you right where you like it, but it might be that running fridgerator that somebody's dog or cat might lie up against for comfort while your not there. See what i mean. Music is alot more than just a drum beat or a guitar riff or any instrument oriented device to some