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Does music change your mood?

Posted by thoughtsofg • 6/11/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic

Or do you listen to music based on your mood? It's the latter for me.

User Comments

6/11/08

DrowseyMonkey

A little of both. But yes, it definitely can change my mood. Which is why I'm grooving to the 70s as I type

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1. 6/11/08
  
  thoughtsofg
  
  I recently got this strange attraction to Disco music o.0
2. 6/11/08
  
  DrowseyMonkey
  
  Trust me, it's not strange ... it's groovy. Or maybe funky.
3. 6/11/08
  
  thoughtsofg
  
  I like the beats XD
6/11/08

saraho

Music changes my mood only if the music moves me. Otherwise, it is background noise. I once was walking in a store and they began playing "The Last Song" by Elton. I started to cry.

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1. 6/11/08
  
  thoughtsofg
  
  Yeah when I find a song that really connects with me I just get this feeling... a shiver goes down my spine.
6/11/08

rodwin

I always use music to improve my mood.
I think music is a wonder of this world, but we are so used to it that we are not even aware. Somehow the music can bring my strongest feelings alive again!

[reply]
1. 6/11/08
  
  thoughtsofg
  
  It really is. I would even consider music a great medicine.
2. 6/11/08
  
  newward
  
  music is great to lift my spirits or settle me down.... I can def. get into a groove with the right tunes
6/11/08

positivb

I listen to the beach boys when I'm really angry, makes me madder.

[reply]
1. 6/11/08
  
  thoughtsofg
  
  XD beach boys. Why you would want to make yourself madder I'll never know.
6/11/08

focusorganic

It can change my mood, but I usually listen to music based on my mood.

There are a few songs that make me really sad whether or not I am in a good mood.

[reply]
1. 6/11/08
  
  thoughtsofg
  
  Yeah I like to use music to get me motivated...cause that's one hard task. And yeah there are some songs that would make me feel sad regardless of mood.
2. 6/11/08
  
  focusorganic
  
  One that makes me really sad, no fail, every time is "So Far Away" by Nickelback. It suits my situation with being far from my family, and when it plays when I'm visiting and hanging out with my brother, it gets us both crying like babies.
6/11/08

spomib

Probably a little of both depending on the motivation for listening to music. I have playlists which reflect different moods and genres of music, so I can listen to music appropriate to my mood. For this reason, I listen to very little regular radio, except Soma-FM Internet radio (which is not really "regular" radio

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1. 6/11/08
  
  thoughtsofg
  
  I wanted to make multiple playlists like that but I'm always too lazy :o
6/11/08

slurmsMcKenzie

Yes it can change my mood defiantley. Especially something that rocks.

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6/11/08

mnighty

At some times, yes..!

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6/11/08

mnighty

But music can be harmful to health too! see this story ->
blog.wired.com/music/2008/06/when-music-atta.html#more

[reply]
1. 6/11/08
  
  thoughtsofg
  
  Wow that's pretty crazy o.o But at least she's ok now xD.
6/11/08

MVT5150

Makes me happy. It's some of the best medicine.

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6/11/08

7masterheathen

Music is very carthartic for me, whether I'm listening to rock, alternative, psychedelic or metal. Currently, I'm into Queens Of The Stone Age. Very edgey, unique and addictive. To really mellow out, Tom Petty is cool, too.

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6/11/08

clioandme

Both.

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6/11/08

pamelabaker

Both no matter what age you are. I recently did a post on this concerning children, but the music I used to discover this was written for adults.
www.hiddenstreamsproductions.com/thevillagestream/musicvitamins-and-autism-...

[reply]
1. 6/12/08
  
  thoughtsofg
  
  I think the human mind is fine-tuned to react to music; it helps so many people. That was a great article btw.
2. 6/16/08
  
  pamelabaker
  
  Thank you I like your blog too
6/12/08

nardeeisms

Yes.

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6/12/08

machinehuman

If not you probably have a brain damage.

www.nature.com/ncpneuro/journal/v3/n5/full/ncpneuro0469.html

www.berklee.edu/news/2002/02/brain.html

www.musicandthebrain.org/frames.html

www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=0007D716-71A1-1179-AF8683414B7F0000

www.wired.com/medtech/health/multimedia/2006/08/71631

www.cerebromente.org.br/n15/mente/musica.html

www.hno.harvard.edu/gazette/1997/11.13/HowYourBrainLis.html

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6/12/08

sdk1988

It most certainly does, no matter what mood I am in, if I put on Stevie Ray.. it will change for the better!

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6/13/08

RTBjr73

I pretty much listen to nothing but metal now for the past few years, but every now and then, I have to bust out the SRV, Albert King, of B.B. King.

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6/13/08

sdk1988

@RTBjr73 - rock on! One of the best is In Sessions - Albert King & SRV! If you don't have it, check it out!

[reply]
1. 6/13/08
  
  RTBjr73
  
  I got it buddy...don't you sweat me!!!!
  
  :-)
6/13/08

Kalinae

Music definitely enhances or changes my mood. I think music will really only enhance or change your mood if you haven't heard it a million times as well, or it really loses a lot of its' affect, which is why I devoted a blog to new music so viewers will always have something new to listen to. I know personally when I hear new music that I love, my mood becomes very happy, and depending on if the beat is up tempo or not, gets me pumped and energized. Though I do love rock music, generally the harder type, when I'm a little sad I like to listen to softer music and it never fails to cheer me up no matter what has happened. It's pretty weird how much of an affect music can have on one's life.

[reply]
1. 6/13/08
  
  sdk1988
  
  It also amazes me the emotions and visualizations that it can evoke of times past!
6/13/08

flamingspinach

That's a good question. A lot of times I'd say music affects my mood, but I've noticed that if I'm in a public place, like a bar, I'll key in on songs in the background that reflect the mood I'm already in. Anyone else feel this way?

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6/13/08

musicreviewzone

definitely based on mood for me.

It ranges from Jack Johnson through Radiohead through Andrea Bocelli through DMX and all the way to slipnot. :-)

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6/16/08

jackpayne

I'm with Nards. Yes.

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6/17/08

OutsideMyBrain

Great question! I posted an article aout this exact topic here:

What Does Your Internal Music Sound Like?
outsidemybrainagain.blogspot.com/2008/05/what-does-your-internal-music-soun...

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6/17/08

Chas2002

Yes - it does. Each morning I get up about 4:30AM and I'm jammin to some high energy stuff - it just gets me going. Of course it helps that my site is about music

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6/17/08

artylon

Yes, music is a very good mood changer. I allways listen to music when I update my website.
-----------------------------------------
en-pc-och-natverksteknikers-tankar.blogspot.com/

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6/17/08

captainobvious22

I tend to pick music that reflects my mood -- but will also use it to change my mood if feeling lousy. On the flipside - will switch off depressing music quickly if in a good mood. Don't Bring Me Down, down, down... woo-ooh-hoo. (Little bit of ELO for you there).

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6/17/08

ThriftShopRomantic

I think it does. I have certain CDs I keep in the car that I typically find really cheering. (With all our road construction, it's best for everyone if I drive happy. )

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6/17/08

jeremylong

happy mood - it's disco..

evenings - mozart ..

sundays - hymns and contemporary christian songs..

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