by Sue DeGregorio-Rosen, RN, CLNC, Contributing Editor

 

Music, it lets our bodies have an affair with the human soul. Music as art is a collage of the world around us.

Music affects us spiritually, emotionally, and even physically. It’s lifting, dreamy, and makes me want to move…….shake that booty, “play that funky music….”

We all have that one song that brings tears to your eyes……. “Everybody Hurts” especially like the Pink & Kelly Clarkson version. And then there is that sexy version of ” Love on The Brain” by Rihianna. It’s sexy, the song that makes me hot.  “Proud Mary”, a song that Tina Turner turned into her mantra, originally written by Creedence Clearwater Revival will always start out easy…….and Tina made it rough. 

Music allowed us to channel positivity during the covid pandemic lockdown.  Every morning upon arising Alexa got a request from me to start my day and keep me positive.  Music is played during my entire yoga class.

But wait!  I grew up in the 70’s…..and we boomers are just one generation that claims music!  The artists, bands, and rock stars from that era were and remain amazing and noteworthy.  Even as they approach and/or are already in their silver years, these songs are popular.  How awesome is Steven Tyler’s ” Walk this Way”?  “Just give me a kiss……..

Research supports the fact that those tunes we listen to have such a big effect on emotions, and it can make or break a film…Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper floored us in their ” A Star is Born.” We felt happy, excited, sad, and some of us cried.

We choose the genre that evokes certain feelings we want to experience……at the precise time we are looking for. The Beatles gave us happy and fun tunes during a very tumultuous time in history i.e.: Vietnam, racial protest, a general association of the ‘subculture’ of sex a sexual techniques, drugs, and rock n’ roll. Emotions overlapped. Not all people were tuning in, rather any number were tuning out, and music was both a mechanistic and natural rhythm of escape and participation.

You’ve probably chosen music yourself to evoke a particular reaction in your brain, just like when the gym rats listen to a playlist full of energy to get them through a workout. I do it myself. and music keeps me motivated.  

Happy, upbeat music causes our brains to produce chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, which creates feelings of joy, calming music relaxes the mind and the body, it allows us to chill. Research also proves that even though music can influence our mood, our mood can also influence the music that we choose to listen to, which explains Adele’s success with writing fantastically powerful break-up songs.

That’s my take on music, and I could go on and on……..but like I will leave you with this …….” You can’t always get what you want, but if you try some time, you might find, you get what you need” (Rolling Stones)