Is Music Important? Why?

[Frission]

You might as well ask why any forms of art is important.

 

[jurnag12]

Music is important because it's expression in one of it's most ridiculous and extensive forms. You can express every single emotion in a wide range of themes, from a soft song of sorrow played by a lone guy behind a piano, to a bombastic anthem of pure joy expressed through a combination of about 50 guitar tracks at once with a philharmonic archestra backing it up along with a full choir.

It's thought given a voice; emotion given a physical presence; the influence of the soul upon human society.

...the fact that I'm a musician myself might make me a little biased.

CAPTCHA: I am here

Huh, that's oddly appropriate.

 

[Wickatricka]

Music makes me feel things I like feeling.

OT: Yeah its just those feels bro. You can't describe it. People have been trying to figure out what this is for the last 20 years lol.

 

[sanquin]

Music to me, is like temporarily living in an entirely different world. When I really listen to it and not have it on for background that is. I can get chills, become emotional, feel pure joy, replenish my energy, or release energy when listening to music, depending on what song I listen to. When I have to deal with emotions alone, like anger or sadness, music helps me deal with them. I'm what you could call an audiophile. The better the music quality, the better for me. And I always try to get the best quality both from the music file and from my headphones or midi tower.

That being said, to let music define who you are is kinda stupid, imo. Music is only part of life, not the be all end all.

 

[BeeGeenie]

How does one explain color to the blind? :/

I'd recommend reading "Musicophilia" by Oliver Sacks, as it has several examples of music affecting the brain in utterly spectacular ways. Music has been used to bring the paralyzed to life (see "Awakenings", also by Oliver Sacks), music can massively lighten one's mood, music can add visceral feeling to any scene, music can create feelings that aren't caused by anything else.

...unless you don't "get it", in which case, I'm back to explaining color to the blind.

^^^ All of this up in here.

You may also enjoy "The World in Six Songs" or "This is Your Brain on Music" by Daniel Levitin, about the sociological and adaptive functions of music.

 

[Angie7F]

Music was important to me when i was partying and getting high.
Now that I spend so much time working, it has become something that I merely play in the background to keep me awake.

 

[gussy1z]

I find music difficult to relate to. Modern music I don't much like the sound and share nothing in common with. Where as older music from the 70-90s I like the sound but they were singing about the problems of there time and its a bit dated now so I cant relate to that either.

Maybe I haven't found the genre for me, so I'll be sticking with podcasts for now.

 

[gritch]

I have gone through most of my life without really "getting" music. I liked the occasional song but I never actively sought out music. Hell I even played saxophone in high school. I understood the basic mechanics of music, I got why people would enjoy listening to it, but I never really understood some people's obsession with it.

I've started getting into music lately and for me I would say it's more of a form of escapism for me. It lets me get away and isolate myself for a bit. It's not really about any particular song it's about the enveloping myself in a blanket of emotions I've associated with listening to the music.

It's relaxing but I still don't think I completely understand music the same way as some others.

 

[MisterGobbles]

I am more obsessed with music than anyone else I know. I do use the bands I like to identify what kind of person I am in a way (via wearing t-shirts mainly), but I would never say I restrict myself in my tastes or listening. I don't think you should limit yourself to just metal or indie or whatever because you think that's your "identity".

If you're not into music, chances are you've never listened to it enough. I grew up surrounded by music, spent all my nights and car trips listening to classic rock radio and my dad's collection of CDs. If you didn't have this same type of exposure, you may not "get" it enough. Not to say that you are stupid or anything, not at all, but it's something that I believe you have to be really immersed in for a long while before you begin to truly appreciate it. I think far more people grow up with reading and movies, but I think it's the same way with them. Video games as well. Think about it - if you didn't grow up playing games, you wouldn't appreciate the ones you like now NEARLY as much as you do. You wouldn't have as much to compare it to.

It also helps if you are a musician, it allows you to better appreciate music written for your specific instrument, as well as others.