Over 90% of the American population listens to music daily, for almost an average of four hours a day. And for anyone who knows someone in their teens, they know that listening time can easily exceed that. People, and teens especially, listen to music for a variety of reasons: filling in background noise, setting a certain mindset, keeping homework from being tedious, or simply because they “just can’t live without it.” However, music isn’t just noise or a string of catchy words with a nice beat in the background. It actually evokes emotions and feelings and can change a mood from sour to pleasant in the span of three minutes.

There are 13 umbrella feelings from listening to music: amusement, joy, romance, beauty, relaxation, sadness, dreaminess, triumph, anxiety, scariness, annoyance, defiance, and “feeling pumped up”. However, most songs can’t be sorted into just one category, so the 13 feelings exist on something less like separate bubbles and more like a long line. Every song ever created can be placed somewhere on this line, whether it be squarely under a certain feeling or somewhere in between two. No matter where the specific song falls, one thing in common – they will definitely leave an impression on the mind. 

Happy music creates chemicals, such as dopamine and serotonin, in the neurological system. These chemicals are the reason behind the feeling of joy and excitement that is produced when listening to upbeat songs. Happy songs are classified based on tempo, the key of the music, and the lyrics. According to research done in the Netherlands, at the university of Groninjen, happy songs have tempos that are, “substantially higher than a typical pop song.” These songs have an average beat of 140 to 150 beats per minute. Also, major keys are more peppier than minor keys, which also inform the brian about the nature of the song. Lyrics, too, have an effect on dopamine levels, with feel-good lyrics having a more positive impact on the brain. 

On the other hand, calming music (which is not necessarily the same thing as sad music) can soothe the mind and body, lulling the listener into a steady state of peace.  Calming music can be identified through the balanced volume, tempo, and instrumentals. Sad music on the other hand involves soulful passion, and often a tempo that dips between moderate slow. However, the human body is not limited to feeling these two emotions when taking in music. Feelings such as pride, joy, horror, and defiance, as stated before, are also popular effects of music.

For example, the national anthem brings a sense of pride, joy, and triumph to people’s minds. On the other hand, a theme from a horror flick can bring fear and cause goosebumps. Songs with instrumentals can either be dreamy and relaxing or mind-numbingly boring. 

In fact, it is because music brings emotion that stereotypes emerge. The movie industry depends on these stereotypes. Horror films play spine-chilling themes that swell at the climax. Christmas movies have jingles and bells ringing in the background anytime anything remotely “Christmassy” happens. Romance movies play soulful songs for rainy scenes. All of these songs evoke emotions in the audience, and therefore adds value to the movie without the movie actually displaying anything special. 

Commercials depend on this strategy too. Family commercials, to promote products that improve home life, often have happy music in the background, as well as the sound of laughter and a lot of smiling people. This music is usually softer than the actual voices, which adds to the peace and calm feeling the commercial brings. Peppy commercials have an upbeat tune in the background. 

Music is not just lyrics in the foreground of a steady beat. There are neurological effects to listening to music, ones that can have both a positive and negative impact on the human body. Dopamine and serotonin are two chemicals produced in the brain when listening to upbeat, happy songs, and these chemicals can improve a person’s mood and overall state of being. On the other hand, sad music also releases dopamine, which, coupled with lyrics of everything turning out okay in the end, can also allow a person to process their emotions in a healthy way, and therefore (hopefully) come out of the other side in a better shape. Rock music can get your heart beat racing, and calming music slows your heart rate down. When keeping these facts in mind, it’s no wonder why so many people enjoy music as much as they do and choose to listen to it, if they can, for each second of their lives. 

 

written by Srinidhi Raghavan

edited by Sarasi Rout and Tryphena Pilli

 

References

Starling, L. (2022, April 14). How does music affect your mood and reduce stress. PPL PRS. Retrieved May 31, 2022, from https://pplprs.co.uk/health-wellbeing/music-reduce-stress/#:~:text=All%20of%20this%20is%2C%20of,the%20mind%20and%20the%20body. About the Author Yasmin Anwar Yasmin Anwar is a Media Relations Representative at UC Berkeley., & Yasmin Anwar Yasmin Anwar is a Media Relations Representative at UC Berkeley. (n.d.). How many emotions can music make you feel? Greater Good. Retrieved May 31, 2022, from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_many_emotions_can_music_make_you_feel#:~:text=The%20subjective%20experience%20of%20music,defiance%2C%20and%20feeling%20pumped%20up. 

Live for live music. L4LM. (2021, October 15). Retrieved May 31, 2022, from https://liveforlivemusic.com/ 

Chu, M. (2020, May 21). 5 types of music that will increase your happiness, according to Science. Ladders. Retrieved June 1, 2022, from https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/5-types-of-music-that-will-increase-your-happiness-according-to-science#:~:text=Their%20research%20has%20found%20that,music%20that%20elicits%20%E2%80%9Cchills%E2%80%9D.