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Why We Like the Music We Do
What is music? All
sounds are comprised of sound waves. What distinguishes
music from other sound waves is the manner in which
the sound waves vibrate and decrease from loud to soft.
Dropping a metal pan on the floor presents
jarring, erratic vibrations. Striking a note on a piano
chord presents a softer more uniform and smooth transition
from loud to soft. Obviously, a musical note is going
to be much more pleasant to the ear.
There’s an old adage about how
“music sooths the savage beast.” Not only
is this true, it is actually an understatement. Music
plays such a profound part of our lives, that we will
barely scratch the surface here, but let’s give
it an overview.
All of us grew up with certain songs
or instrumentals that strike a chord that reverberates
through our entire being. For example, when I hear “A
Summer Place,” it immediately carries me back to
summer months in the fifties. The experience is so profound
that I can remember the feel of the sun on my face,
the smell of hot dogs cooked over an open fire and the
laughter of friends and family.
There is a theory that certain notes
or chords resonate with a vibration that is particularly
harmonious to specific people. Have you ever heard a
song that gave you “goose bumps?” If so, then
you give validation to this theory. When this occurs,
the music has a profound affect on the subconscious.
Add intense emotion to the equation and you have one
powerful, indelible, blueprint on your subconscious
that will follow you the rest of your life.
For example, let’s say that you
receive news of the death of a loved one while a specific
piece of music is playing on the radio. That particular
music may have a lasting impression. Years later, for
no apparent reason, you may find yourself immediately
thrown into a state of depression upon hearing that
same tune. The same can be true of “positive”
feelings as described in the story above.
The subliminal effect of music is a
proven fact. How often do you find yourself humming
a fragment of a tune that you can’t identify only
to discover that it’s a new “commercial”
message you heard on your television. The advertising
industry pays huge amounts of money to conduct research
into why and how music works on the subconscious mind.
This is also the reason why you see the recent trend
by large companies to reconstitute classics originally
performed by some of the greats of stage and screen.
Just for fun, the next time you find
yourself humming a tune, try and remember when, where
and under what circumstances you heard it for the very
first time. The exercise will probably help you to better
understand how past events have shaped your musical
preferences. And, I’ll wager that the next time
you hear “A Summer Place,” you will remember
reading this article.
Happy Listening!
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