Intense reactions to music

CanwllCorfe · 07-07-2011, 09:31 AM

Who has them? For me, they can get pretty severe. Which is why I'm contemplating the removal of any intensely sad/angry music from my iPhone. If it's electronic, it's always positive. If it's club oriented I'll just feel excited and feel the need to move around and such. If it's lowkey and chill, it will calm me down immensely. That's always good, except sometimes it's too effective. In other words, it's not good for me to listen it when I'm driving. It almost feels as if I won't react as quickly as I should.

On the negative side of things, listening to songs that are sad/angry (especially sad) can lead to pretty intense feelings. When I listen to an angry song, I usually just feel intense amounts of energy and don't really know what to do with it. I'll make all kinds of weird faces and whatnot, but I don't literally feel angry or anything. Sad songs on the other hand can pretty much screw me over. I'll go from content to miserable and stay that way long after the music is over. I will definitely cry, but not in the usual way. It's not so much sobbing as much as an immediate reaction. It will usually only last for a minute, and won't continue after the song is over. Only the feeling of sadness will.

To some songs I'll shake and tremble and won't be able to stay still. It gets especially weird when I'm listening to stuff on my iPhone and other people are in the car, because I have an exceptionally hard time not showing anything. I usually just have to tap my hands or feet or something. I'll also have these weird noises that I make which, I don't even know what they are (I think it's from suppressing the reactions I get from the music). Sometimes I'll hold my breath (which I'll do when listening to some songs), and then slowly expel it. Other times I'll just make nonsense sounds that seem to be a reaction to the music itself. I'll usually have to cough or clear my throat afterwards to try and cover it up.

Mrd00d · 07-07-2011, 11:25 AM

Very interesting. I don't know what else to say, but I hope others do.

I could say I have some intense reactions to music, but after reading your post, we're talking about a different ballpark.

Highly interesting.

What if you listen to avant-garde crazy music? Would you explode?

ThePhanastasio · 07-07-2011, 12:17 PM

I get them, too. Sometimes, musical passages sans lyrics which are horribly emotive are enough to push me over to tears in my eyes, but usually it's stuff with lyrics and incredibly sad motifs that does the trick.

Strangely, I'll get a lot of times where one line in a song that isn't necessarily intensely sad will just set me off because it's almost exactly what I feel, or because one line will just make me ache for the person singing it. One such example was when I was at a pub which plays mainly 80s and 90s alternative and indie, and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" came on. I'm not a huge Nirvana fan by any means, but for some reason the line, "I'm worst at what I do best and for this gift I feel blessed," just really hit me in some weird way, and I started crying right there in the pub. I hadn't even started my drink yet.

A lot of times, if I'm particularly affected, I just have to sit there quietly and can't talk or anything because I know that my voice would be shaking. My best friend went through a messy breakup a month or so ago, and kept playing his really depressing indie/folk breakup CD in his car. I knew that was his coping mechanism, because he was upset, but his CD was just completely making me violently depressed.

Driztdor · 07-07-2011, 12:33 PM

I have noticed some strange feelings too (not EARGASMMMM!!!!!11!). So i hav made some playlist, which contains different types of music. Like when i'm depressed there's playlist which contains lots of fast and maybe bit aggressive metal music. And it helps, twenty minutes listening of that playlist and i forgot that i've ever been depressed. As you (CanwllCorte) said ''angry'' music creates some kind of energy. Then i have playlist where is all my ''lullaby'' songs, most of them are relaxing electronic music for example Mt Eden dubstep or psytrance.

Mrd00d · 07-07-2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePhanastasio

I get them, too. Sometimes, musical passages sans lyrics which are horribly emotive are enough to push me over to tears in my eyes, but usually it's stuff with lyrics and incredibly sad motifs that does the trick.

I can relate to this, definitely. Sometimes certain lyrics or an instrumental passage can move me to tears, similarly to being moved by a moment in film, or a book, or painting.

The Batlord · 07-07-2011, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Driztdor

I have noticed some strange feelings too (not EARGASMMMM!!!!!11!). So i hav made some playlist, which contains different types of music. Like when i'm depressed there's playlist which contains lots of fast and maybe bit aggressive metal music. And it helps, twenty minutes listening of that playlist and i forgot that i've ever been depressed. As you (CanwllCorte) said ''angry'' music creates some kind of energy. Then i have playlist where is all my ''lullaby'' songs, most of them are relaxing electronic music for example Mt Eden dubstep or psytrance.

I know what you mean. When I'm in the right mood, metal can give me almost this frantic energy that just needs to come out. Whether it's head banging, bouncing my leg, or taking a walk. My thoughts also tend to be frantic and fast paced as well at those times.

djchameleon · 07-07-2011, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Driztdor

I have noticed some strange feelings too (not EARGASMMMM!!!!!11!). So i hav made some playlist, which contains different types of music. Like when i'm depressed there's playlist which contains lots of fast and maybe bit aggressive metal music. And it helps, twenty minutes listening of that playlist and i forgot that i've ever been depressed. As you (CanwllCorte) said ''angry'' music creates some kind of energy. Then i have playlist where is all my ''lullaby'' songs, most of them are relaxing electronic music for example Mt Eden dubstep or psytrance.

yeah I do this as well. I have certain playlist of songs to combat certain moods or feelings that I'm going through. Angry aggressive music helps calm me down if I hear enough of it.

To get out of my depressive states, the playlist associated with that contains songs that relate to life in general and after awhile of listening to it, I'm able to focus on what I need to get done and stop with the depressive pity party.

CanwllCorfe · 07-07-2011, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrd00d

What if you listen to avant-garde crazy music? Would you explode?

Nooo! Haha!

If the music is TOO crazy, like some Grindcore and whatnot, it will flow right over my ears. It needs to be at least a little bit accessible. Anything more than this and it doesn't affect me:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePhanastasio

I knew that was his coping mechanism, because he was upset, but his CD was just completely making me violently depressed.

I think that's a part of it for me. But I can't help but wonder if it really helps, or just makes it worse. I think if I just get intensely sad, it will go away faster. Kind of like what djchameleon said, and then after I listen to it it might help me get it out of my system.

The Batlord · 07-07-2011, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanwllCorfe

I think that's a part of it for me. But I can't help but wonder if it really helps, or just makes it worse. I think if I just get intensely sad, it will go away faster. Kind of like what djchameleon said, and then after I listen to it it might help me get it out of my system.

Actually, sometimes when I'm depressed or angry, I actually like listening to music that suits that mood. Perhaps it's masochistic, but I kinda like wallowing in my misery sometimes.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 07-07-2011, 02:00 PM

Whenever I hear anything I don't like it becomes the worst thing I've ever heard in my life for at least the next 48 hours.

07-07-2011, 09:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
CanwllCorfe Quiet Man in the Corner Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Pocono Mountains Posts: 2,480	Intense reactions to music Who has them? For me, they can get pretty severe. Which is why I'm contemplating the removal of any intensely sad/angry music from my iPhone. If it's electronic, it's always positive. If it's club oriented I'll just feel excited and feel the need to move around and such. If it's lowkey and chill, it will calm me down immensely. That's always good, except sometimes it's too effective. In other words, it's not good for me to listen it when I'm driving. It almost feels as if I won't react as quickly as I should. On the negative side of things, listening to songs that are sad/angry (especially sad) can lead to pretty intense feelings. When I listen to an angry song, I usually just feel intense amounts of energy and don't really know what to do with it. I'll make all kinds of weird faces and whatnot, but I don't literally feel angry or anything. Sad songs on the other hand can pretty much screw me over. I'll go from content to miserable and stay that way long after the music is over. I will definitely cry, but not in the usual way. It's not so much sobbing as much as an immediate reaction. It will usually only last for a minute, and won't continue after the song is over. Only the feeling of sadness will. To some songs I'll shake and tremble and won't be able to stay still. It gets especially weird when I'm listening to stuff on my iPhone and other people are in the car, because I have an exceptionally hard time not showing anything. I usually just have to tap my hands or feet or something. I'll also have these weird noises that I make which, I don't even know what they are (I think it's from suppressing the reactions I get from the music). Sometimes I'll hold my breath (which I'll do when listening to some songs), and then slowly expel it. Other times I'll just make nonsense sounds that seem to be a reaction to the music itself. I'll usually have to cough or clear my throat afterwards to try and cover it up. __________________ Your eyes were never yet let in to see the majesty and riches of the mind, but dwell in darkness; for your God is blind.

07-07-2011, 11:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mrd00d Stoned and Jammin' Out Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Northern California; Eugene, OR; mobile Posts: 1,602	Very interesting. I don't know what else to say, but I hope others do. I could say I have some intense reactions to music, but after reading your post, we're talking about a different ballpark. Highly interesting. What if you listen to avant-garde crazy music? Would you explode? __________________ Mrd00d's Last.fm

07-07-2011, 12:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
ThePhanastasio Killed Laura Palmer Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ashland, KY Posts: 1,679	I get them, too. Sometimes, musical passages sans lyrics which are horribly emotive are enough to push me over to tears in my eyes, but usually it's stuff with lyrics and incredibly sad motifs that does the trick. Strangely, I'll get a lot of times where one line in a song that isn't necessarily intensely sad will just set me off because it's almost exactly what I feel, or because one line will just make me ache for the person singing it. One such example was when I was at a pub which plays mainly 80s and 90s alternative and indie, and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" came on. I'm not a huge Nirvana fan by any means, but for some reason the line, "I'm worst at what I do best and for this gift I feel blessed," just really hit me in some weird way, and I started crying right there in the pub. I hadn't even started my drink yet. A lot of times, if I'm particularly affected, I just have to sit there quietly and can't talk or anything because I know that my voice would be shaking. My best friend went through a messy breakup a month or so ago, and kept playing his really depressing indie/folk breakup CD in his car. I knew that was his coping mechanism, because he was upset, but his CD was just completely making me violently depressed. __________________ Phish: Studio Discography Reviewed 100 Albums I Heartily Recommend My last.fm It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken Perhaps they're better left unsung

07-07-2011, 12:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
Driztdor Groupie Join Date: May 2011 Location: Finland Posts: 22	I have noticed some strange feelings too (not EARGASMMMM!!!!!11!). So i hav made some playlist, which contains different types of music. Like when i'm depressed there's playlist which contains lots of fast and maybe bit aggressive metal music. And it helps, twenty minutes listening of that playlist and i forgot that i've ever been depressed. As you (CanwllCorte) said ''angry'' music creates some kind of energy. Then i have playlist where is all my ''lullaby'' songs, most of them are relaxing electronic music for example Mt Eden dubstep or psytrance. __________________ My Last.fm

07-07-2011, 02:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	Whenever I hear anything I don't like it becomes the worst thing I've ever heard in my life for at least the next 48 hours. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.