All Music is Mood Music
Most people realize the powerful effect that music has on the way we feel. We understand that adverts, music and tv use it to communicate with us, and we even use it to enhance or complement how we are feeling at any given time - but we often use this powerful tool in the wrong way and fail to utilize music as a means to 'control' our moods.
Music Reflects Our Emotions
"Sad Songs Say so Much"
- Elton John Sad Songs (Say so Much) Lyrics:
"Guess there are times when we all
need to share a little pain
And ironing out the rough spots
Is the hardest part when memories remain
And it's times like these when we
all need to hear the radio
`Cause from the lips of some old singer
We can share the troubles we already know
Turn them on, turn them on
Turn on those sad songs
When all hope is gone
Why don't you tune in and turn them on
They reach into your room
Just feel their gentle touch
When all hope is gone
Sad songs say so much"
Chances are that when you are getting ready to go out for the evening, you will often put on some music to help you 'get in the mood'.
The type of music you choose to listen to while you get ready to go out usually reflects the mood that you want to feel when you actually get to your destination. It will probably refect the setting too. If you are going out for a romantic dinner for two, for example, you will probably put on love songs or relaxing, easy-listening; if you're heading out for night on the town or going to a disco, then your choice will probably be upbeat dance music, something that makes you feel like singing and dancing along with it as you put on your glad-rags.
When we feel low we will often feel more comfortable choosing music that reflects those emotions. How often have you noticed that you, or someone you know, will have suffered a break-up, for instance, and they spend hours listening to songs of loss, or pain, or longing. Every tune reminds them of their loss and their pain and the person that they are missing.
If you look at these examples and think about what choices of music you make at any given time, then you will probably notice that we choose music that reflects our current mood and therefore the music enhances those feelings - whether positive or negative.
Thought about in this way, it seems to me completely understandable why we would choose music that enhances and promotes our good feelings; but strangely bizzare that we choose music that exaggerates our negative feelings. I guess we enjoy our sorrows just as much as our joys. What do you think?
Anyway, the point of all this is that we seem aware enough of the power of music to influence how we feel that we will select to listen to music that reflects what we are feeling at the time; we are aware of the effects of the musical vibrations to match our own and multiply them. If we are aware of this, why then do we not use music to actually change our feelings and moods when we want to rather than simply reflect them.
Perhaps we recognize the sympathy between our emotions and music but are not actually aware of our ability to match the emotional wavelength of the music we listen to when it is not in sympathy.
Mood Music videos
This video is great because it illustrates how each of the types of music affect not only the way you feel about what is going on, but changes your perception of it as well.
Watch how it goes from exciting, to comic, to fearful - watch it asd see for yourself.
Watch how it goes from exciting, to comic, to fearful - watch it asd see for yourself.
How Music Affects Your Mood by iloveriku1
This will prove music affects your mood and it is so ture so yeah. Got some music on it. Yep. So, yeah. WHAT ARE YOU DOING STILL READING THIS? WATCH!!! -iloveriku1
curated content from YouTube
This one is fun
Check out this video, it shows the effect of music on your mood in a short-film style
powered by Youtube
Using Music to Affect Your Mood
But programme and filmmakers, advertisers and psychologists are aware of the syncophy between our emotions and music and they use it, not to reflect our current emotions, but to influence them.When a scene in a movie is leading towards something that they want us to find terrifying, they will choose to place music under the scene that make us feel apprehesive and fearful; when a couple are falling in love, the music will make us feel warm and cosy; when a character dies, the soundtrack will play music that suggests loss and makes us want to cry.
Often we will think that it is the story and/or the performances involved in the scene that make us feel that way, and of course, this is certainly a part of it, but as a filmmaker myself I can tell you that the same scene played back without the underlying music does not affect the viewer anywhere near as much as when the music is added to the soundtrack.
If it wasn't such an important part of the success of the scene, on whatever emotional level is expected, then why would these producers spend so much money of having the music added to these scenes (and music can be very expensive)?
If it wasn't important, why do so many successful advertisers use it in their commercials?
The choice of music is rarely arbitrary, it is designed to make an emotional impression and affect what we are feeling. Even to the point that it is sometimes effective to use music that is discordant, irritating and annoying. If the music elicits emotion, there are occassions when even negative emotions are effective in getting the message across (especially in advertising).
Bonus: Mood Music on eBay
Just a selection of what you could find on eBay. You can find some great bargains and even difficult to find older albums. These are mood music selections, but you can find almost anything you could want.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Change Your Mood - Change Your Day - Change Your Life
Try Music to create the mood you really want
So it feels great as you listen to Meatloaf full-blast as you fly down the motorway; and you've wallowed in the sad songs after a break-up. You've sung along to 'Abba' while getting ready for your night out with mates at the local Karaoke; and you've realxed in the bath to 'Albatross'.You've cried your eyes out while watching 'Pursuit of Happyness' and you've hidden behind the cushions during 'Candyman'. You've joined in with the catchy ad jingle and you've packed your cases to 'The Beach Boys'.
Basically, you've been using music to amplify your feeling all your life probably. Now it's time to use the music to change your life.
Instead of listening to sad songs of hurt, loss and pain when you are feeling down, compile yourself a range of upbeat and hopeful tunes to listen to and watch how your feelings lift.
When your looking for motivation, drive and hope, listen to powerful tunes that inspire like 'Chariots of Fire', 'I Will Survive', or whatever you find makes you feel invincible.
Avoid tunes that make you feel angry, hopeless or depressed, especially if you are already feeling down.
It's OK to listen to tunes that make you reminisce, especially if you are wanting to relax, but this only works if you are already emotionally far removed from anthing that might be painful, don't do it while you are suffering the full effects of something negative, painful or while suffering from any form of depression - they will only make those feeling even stronger (unless that's what you really want, of course).
If you find housework (or anything else) boring and try to avoid it whenever possible, try putting on some uplifting and energetic music to raise your energy levels then tackle the dreaded task, you might just find that it becomes much more enjoyable.
When writing, like many, I often find it difficult to look at a blank page - put on some music that fits with what you are trying to conjure and soon you'll find ideas flowing - just watch those pictures that play in your mind while you listen to music and you'll be buzzing with ideas.
Try this Out!
Create Your Own Lyrics :)
Search Amazon for Your Favourite Music
Find Cool Music Stuff on CafePress
What Do You Feel?
What kind of Music Do You Like? Do You Agree that Music Affects Your Mood?
Why not leave a comment and let us know? And if you've enjoyed this lens, please vote by clicking on the stars at the top of the page - thank you!
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- totalhealth totalhealth May 6, 2009 @ 1:53 pm
- great lens. music affects our moods and feelings, thus it can be a tool to help us cope with whatever stressful feelings we have or even help us concentrate through meditation while listening to it.
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- rydigga rydigga Jan 15, 2009 @ 11:54 pm
- Hi Claire, Great lens. Music is pure vibration and an instant mood changer. I love classical to get the creative juices flowing. Thanks for sharing,
Ryan
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- kingkurt2001 kingkurt2001 Jan 13, 2009 @ 1:28 pm
- I agree that music does have a profound affect on us human beings. It can bring us joy and help us work through our sorrow. It provides us with hope for a better tomorrow.
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- kingkurt2001 kingkurt2001 Jan 13, 2009 @ 1:28 pm
- I agree that music does have a profound affect on us human beings. It can bring us joy and help us work through our sorrow. It provides us with hope for a better tomorrow.
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- luvmyludwig luvmyludwig Jan 9, 2009 @ 8:52 pm
- I love this lens! I agree I agree I agree. The second video is great!
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And if your not yet a member of Squidoo, you can join here:
If you enjoyed this lens, please vote using the stars at the top of this page and feel free to post your comments or suggestions.
Also visit my other Squidoo lenses:
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by claire-ferdinando
Began life as a computer analyst/programmer. Went on to become an actor, then a producer, writer, director, and acting tutor et al. A regular jack-of-... (more)
