We all love music.
I have read so many things that say that the music that kids/teenagers listen to affect the perspective and view of the world.
Now, if this is true, for example that means (as many articles/people have said) that the degredation of women in rap music would be quite the cause for concern, since it would cause the people who listen to rap music, men and women, to assume that the role of women in society is to be some sex slave or atleast lower than the men.
I can see that, totally, and to be honest I can see that those who listen to emo music tend to be sadder or more depressed, but is that because the music affects them in that way, or because they listen to music that they can relate to.
So then, can you say, is it the music, or is it the person?
I will say that I noticed when I stopped listening to sad whiney and depressing music, I got happier, but I was happier in general, not just when listening to music, and I changed a lot, beyond just not being depressed anymore.
What do you think?
God Bless,
Nora
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People listen to music they can relate to. This can explain more depressed people listening to emo. On another point, just because you listen to a certain type of music or song doesn't mean that you will go out and do what that song says to do. For instance, I listen to music that some might say is degrading to women but that doesn't mean I think less of myself or will become some man's sex object. I have more respect for myself than to do that. I just like the music, which I don't think is a problem. Music only influences people if they let it.
music that screams in anger makes you think of what makes you angry. music that plays softly like celtic or native american makes you feel almost spiritual. these sounds set the pace of mood and though you may listen to a song one day and feel calm still the next morning, you may have been frustrated in between. think of it this way...you are a pond, with occaisional temperature changes based on what comes arround you. when you listen to music you pour in water...if the music is angry its like boiling water...the hole pond gets hotter and a slight breeze(a compliment from a friend) may cool a spot for awhile but not the whole pond....if the music is soothing the water is cool...the whole pond cools to a neutral temperature and an ox wading through it(being bumped into in a hallway) may warm and unsettle the water for awhile but not the whole pond. even sad music can make your pond very cold.-you get the metaphor by now right?
just be careful what you put in your pond. it affects you more than you'd think.
but there's something to be said for the type of music that we CHOOSE to listen to. For example, if I'm in a sad mood, some days all I want to do is listen to sad songs and cry. Other days, I want to listen to songs that boost my mood and make me happy again, and other days, I might get angry about being sad and listen to heavy metal. So yes, music does effect mood, like how sometimes if you are sad, listening to certain music might make you happy, but other times, your mood dictates what type of music you will choose to listen to. So, I think it is really both: that music effects mood and vice versa.
*Laura Lea*
I love rap, can't say crap without it! :)
I have noticed that women are treated as objects in the media and music. I don't know if its what the youth of today thinks, but I definately know that music needs to change. It has been the same for ten years and is boring.
Maggie
I think it's both the person and the music.
The best way to a man's heart is really through his stomach, that way you don't have to deal with that pesky rib cage!
~Anomous
music does affect mood. when im angry, i'll put on angry music; when im sad i'll put on sad music.
It isn't always true that emo kids get more depressed bc of the music they listen to. I went through a serious depressive period in junior high, but when i was upset, listening to emotional songs would relieve my tension and my stress and make me feel good. Plus, I think listening to your favorite music, whether its rap or sad or upbeat or emo, will put you in a good mood bc its just fun!
Hug a musician, they never get to dance.
I think its the music because when I hear a sad song, sometimes I makes me want to cry, even though I might not have a reason to cry.
That is the same for me. Its like, I listen to certain music according to my mood. Like Ill listen to screaming music when Im angry and need to vent, then when I want to calm down, I listen to easy listening music, like Coldplay or John Mayer. In general I listen to a lot of different types of music. But when I hear a sad song, it makes me want to cry.
I believe in the combination of we listen to music we relate to and that music affects our mood. For instance, I'm listening to Sound Tribe Sector 9 which is some programming music that was just randomly played on Pandora.com (a site that takes music you like and finds music similar to it for you). I didn't choose to play that song, but it affects my mood because I think it's pretty awesome and it gets me pumped. However, I did choose to plug in an artist that sounded similar to Sound Tribe Sector 9 so I was presented with music that I sort of chose because I could relate to something similar.
Elliott
www.youtube.com/MechanisticMoth
www.myspace.com/PseudoPsychicAccumulation
I have noticed that I crave certain types of music based on the mood I'm in. For example, if I am angry, I will listen to an angry song that I can sing loud to release some of that anger. Or if I am sad, I'll listen to a sad song and cry with the lyrics. The one thing I DO notice is that as I am listening to the music that fits my mood, I am expressing that mood in a healthy way and then moving on with my day.
Music is my baby you take it a shape it into what you want it to be. I can listen to a sad song and it can make me happy. There is a song out there, i dont know who sings it, but it's about a woman who loves a man but he is married. He comes to her bed and sleeps with her and tells her he loves her and she asks him to stay and leave his wife. Eventually she realizes that he really doesnt love her and that he wont ever leave his wife. She Kicks him in the balls (figuratively) and tells him that he should just stay away from her that she is stronger now and doesnt want to waste her time on him. You see the song is sad it's about loving and losin, but its also about being strong and standing up for yourself. It's inspirational. It makes you feel stronger or weaker depending on how you choose to look at it. It's your choice.