Why do you listen to music?

Angus-Higgins said:
I believe it is because I cannot think of a reason for listening to music. It is the same with films really. I like certain films, but generally I dislike watching films. I used to listen to music quite a bit, but I just have no compulsion to listen to it anymore (and I am referring to a time several years ago when I listened to music a fair bit).

Angus Higgins
Click to expand...

I'm not sure whether you answered my question or avoided it. Anyway, my point is that hearing is one of our basic senses.

We enjoy looking at things which are visually pleasing.
We enjoy the taste of indulging food.
We enjoy pleasant scents and aromas.
Is it therefore odd to enjoy audition/music?

Music, according to one's preference, can provide us with another form of sensual satisfaction.
 
Angus-Higgins said:
I have typed over 1000 words on the matter of signing off my posts, so you can search for it (I am not typing it again :p).

I just want answers to my question please. I really do not want another thread where I make one post and people start getting annoyed at me.

Angus Higgins
Click to expand...

Lol sorry I didn't realise. I've only been back posting here for a few days and noticed it I've been posting here since 2001 but took a short break recently. Can't you shorten it down and give me a line or two? :p
 
I listen to music for inspiration and understanding. As i mix, i listen to where mixes can go in and such, and i listen to DJ mixes aswell for new ideas and styles.

It also just relaxes, or pushes me so much. When skating i NEED to listen to music to get me in the perfect mood.
 
I listen to music, almost constantly, because its better than silence (most of the time)

It can stir emotions in me and, depending on the lyrics, give me a new perspective on things or ways to better understand how I feel.

It also gives my imagination a run, as i think of what the artist is trying to convey, or create my own scenarios based on the music.
 
This just made me think about an article in the New Scientist I read regarding noise, it's more harmful that originally thought apparently. Causing early deaths, anxiety and ringing in the ears. It's premium content so I can't link it but I read it this week I think.
 
I mostly listen to music when driving, to break up the monotony of the journey. I guess it does work on an emotional level too - fast/hard house gets my pulse racing and makes me a drive like a **** whereas classic FM relaxes me for a gentle motorway cruise.

I can understand how you don't understand though. Mr. Spock would say that listening to music is illogical and serves no purpose - it's a distraction. However, sometimes we need a distraction and a way to unwind. That's what music is for.
 
Because it sounds good and is less boring than sitting/standing/working/traveling/whatever in silence.

As for how it makes me feel, well that depends on what mood and state of mind I'm in and what particular music I'm listening too.

Even if you don't enjoy music, I don't really get why you can't understand why people listen to it. Surly it's fairly obvious?
 
Last edited:
I listen to music for a variety of reasons. The simplest one being is that I just like the way it makes me feel. I always feel very comforted by listening to music. I make music because it's a way of expressing myself via a medium I have a great deal of passion for.

I suppose I could call it a distraction, but it's such a part of my life that its not so much a distraction, but more a lifestyle.

I think of life as a long car journey. Music is there to make the ride smoother. It is so many things to me depending on mood, setting, company, expression etc, that I don't feel as though I could live without it. Playing it is cathartic, listening to it is inspiring. I guess I also use to define myself and who I am. It's just such a passion for me, and it does so many things, gives me so many reasons, that I don't feel as though I could properly convey why I listen to it. I just do, and I love it. I love the way it makes me feel.
 
Last edited:
I prefer listening to music that is technically brilliant.

Nothing beats listening to a piece of music that blows your socks off because of the complexity of the notes and passages.

That said, that's because I'm a musician and probably relate to it more.

I suppose the actual reason WHY I listen to music is because I aspire to be as good as those who perform the songs I like, and it calms me down when there's nothing on TV.

I am willing to give any artist a try though.. I'm not completely narrow minded in that sense.
 
Angus-Higgins said:
Do people listen to a lot of different music? (I believe they do).

When I listen to music (rare occasions [depending on the time of year {i.e. what I am doing}]) I listen to the same tracks (a group of them). This group changes, but slowly. I remember when I listened to music a lot (by my standards), I listened to the same track on repeat in every car journey on a tour of the Outer Hebrides (using a car to travel).

The thing I do not understand is simply why people like music so much. I can sit down and use the Internet without music and I will be perfectly fine. :p

Angus Higgins
Click to expand...

I listen to loads of diffrent things. It's weird though, because even though I listen to lots of diffrent music, and take inspriation from various diffrent aspects of it in terms of why I make it, I focus my own, and my band song writing on creating a particular, and specific style of music. I like loads of types of music, but I'm only really interested in creating one type.

I tend to listen to albums from start to finish, its very rare to have a compilation or group of tracks for an extended period of time (expect of course, when I have particular craving to listen to a specific song.)

You'll never get a definitve answer as to why people like music so much, they just do.
 
Maccy said:
Music will always be on when I'm on the computer - can't stand silence, I have it when I'm working as I find it helps to concentrate (quietly and nothing too heavy)
Click to expand...

RandomTom said:
I can't stand silence or even the noise of the 3 fans in my pc, I love rhythm, beat, lyrics, everything about the music that I like it adds a certain distraction that I like.
Click to expand...

Same kind of thing for me. I cannot stand silence! I have to be listening to some music otherwise I go mad. It could perhaps be something to do with the fact that I am deaf.
 
Angus-Higgins said:
(Please do not answer with "because I like it" [or similar] as this is not helpful to me, and does not tell anyone why you listen to music to any useful degree).
Click to expand...

I can see why you've asked people not to give this reason, but the more I've mulled it over, the more I've come to the conclusion that it's a little silly not to want this response - it's as good a reason as any, and when it comes down to it, it's the underlying reason behind why anyone listens to music at all.

I listen to music for many, many reasons, but the main one, the reason behind the reasons, the thing that makes me want to put the tunes on is... because I like it. It makes me feel good.

It cheers me up when I'm sad, it calms me down when I'm stressed, it makes me remember happier times when I'm feeling alone, it reminds me that life can be beautiful.

But all those reasons, when you pare them down, fall into the exact reason you asked not to hear - 'because I like it'.

So basically, I think it really is useful to you to hear that, because you're not really going to 'understand' why anyone likes music. You don't really need to understand, and if you just don't get it, you never will get it.

I'll never get why people like football, they'll never be able to make me like it, and I'll always think it's a ridiculous game. The best answer someone could give me if I asked them why they play/watch/talk about football is 'because I like it'.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is, if you don't understand why people like it, you may just have to settle for understanding that they like it.

I'm going to read the thread now, and presumably find plenty of people saying what I've tried to say here, but much better. I only got a few posts in before I decided to post.
 
Hmmm, this might be a long post:)

Music has just been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, my dad was a big fan of old Rock 'n' Roll and often had music playing around the house as I grew up, I never conciously decided to start listening to music it has always been something I enjoy for various reasons. I'm always looking for new bands that strike a chord with me, that have some sort of conection to how I feel or have felt or even music that can stir a sensation or emotion that I have never felt before, music is like a drug for all occasions, it also forms a bizarre kind of catalogue for your life, certain albums or songs will always remind me of a certain time of my life in the same way that smells and tastes can remind you of past times and places. Good music (which is totally subjective) can cause both physical and emotional reactions even when you listen to them for the first time. There is little point in analysing the reasons for liking a piece of music and it's best to remain open minded about the kind of music that you like just so you don't miss anything. I do find it odd that many people will only listen to a few styles of music and discount anything in a different genre or by an artist that they think they shouldn't like, music should not shape your personality or limit it, you should listen to tracks you like simply because they sound good to you.

It sounds to me like you haven't really found any music which means anything to you or even sounds good. You say you used to listen to music but no longer do, mind if I ask why? You play the piano and yet seem to have no real emotional connection with music, how the hell does that work?:confused: What do you play, how does playing make you feel?

Putting on music is comparable to lighting a cigarette if you are a smoker, having a coffee in the morning, a chocolate bar when you need one, It can inspire you, comfort you, relax you, help you take a step back from life and give you a slightly different perspective for a while, sometimes it just makes you want to grin or dance for no real reason other than that's how it makes you feel at the time.

It's awesome;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom