The Gift of Music = The Gift of Power
74
Farinelli
Music has been made since humans could strike two rocks or sticks together. Drums were probably one of the earliest instruments. Music has been used to teach, learn and inspire emotion since time began. It isn't something we have to think about. In fact, "Music stimulates more parts of the brain than any other human function." (Mannes).
Music has deep roots in religion. I am sure that chants and songs served as constant reminders for the ways people should behave according to the church. Interesting, St. Paul did not allow women to be heard singing in the church. Especially so during the 18th century. The only problem was they needed some soprano's for the choir. What else could they do?
I am sure the idea came in a dream but one of those Catholics figured out if they castrated young boys - they would retain their high voices. These men were called "Castrati's" they also dressed as women for performances. They were said to be paid very well and to have been living large for their coveted voices. Farinelli (1705 - 1782) was one such famous artist.
When folk music began to appear in the fabric of sound around 1100 C.E., suddenly religious communities deemed it pagan in nature and blasphemous.
Early in the Morning
Music - A survival tool
Alan Lomax began collecting folk music for the Library of Congress when he was 18. Lomax believed that we should have records to preserve music in all its forms. He would later follow prison chain gangs - recording the songs that helped them through their days. Their songs empowered them to work hard and not focus on the chain. Music was a coping mechanism - a language they used to survive their working conditions.
If you listen to the video you can hear them working in tandem, voices ragged and it's just the beginning of the long, hot day.
Anthrax - Madhouse (listen at your own risk!)
Heavy Metal takes a bad rap...
In 1997, David Merrill did an experiment with mice to see if listening to music helped them find their way through a maze faster. He put them into three groups, one group heard nothing but Heavy Metal (Anthrax) for 24 hours, the other group was exposed to Mozart and the last group heard no music.
Merrill had to cut the first trial short - all of the mice that were exposed to Anthrax for the previous 24 hours killed each other.
He repeated the experiment - reducing the amount of hours of music exposure to 10 hours for each group. The Mozart mice did find their way through faster. The Anthrax mice actually made their way through the maze slower than they did on the intial trial.
Here's the problem - smarty pants Merrill didn't think to ask the mice which type of music they would have preferred! Turns out people that listen to heavy metal or metallica tend to be shy and quiet. The power was in giving the choice. It's about what each individual likes so what you hear may not be what I hear. What makes you feel powerful, sad, happy or lonely may not have that same effect on me. Chalk it up to experience and being allowed to choose what you love.
That's the way I've Always Heard it Should Be
Women in Music History
It wasn't until 1920's that females began to regularly record music. Bessie Smith, Ma Raines and Ethel Waters were a few trail blazers. The first recording I could find was in 1923 by Bessie Smith, "Down Hearted Blues" which she recorded with Clarence Williams though Ma Raines is dubbed the 'Mother of the Blues'.
In 1972 for the first year, women would clean house at the 1971 Grammy Awards. Carol King won best record, album and song. Carly Simon won an award for the best new artist.
- Songs that take me back
- "Sometimes When We Touch" It Gives Me Goose Bumps
Ever have a song that gives you goose bumps? Sometimes When We Touch is the one that does for me. Written and recorded by Dan Hill. - Nardo the Band - How to build an image for an emerging high energy rock band
There are some great surprises on this new CD which has now been released. We have the scoop! Our favorite song (out of 13) is WonkaTonka, with Magic Place and Sunny Day also in the running. - Country Music Songs About Rain
Music Heals
Music is used in all kinds of therapy to help people heal. In brain damaged people it has even helped them learn to speak again.
Music is popular therapy for children with autism. It seems to help them calm down and espcially those children who have more difficulty relating to other people. Notably many people that suffer from Autism tend be have amazing musical talent!
In one experiment plants were found to grow toward the source of the sound of music.
Grocery stores use music to entice you to stay longer, shop slower. One study found that by playing loud music - there were more purchases by the minute! Restaurants found that if they play slower music, patrons tend to stay, eating and drinking for longer periods of time.
Music has the power to heal - to change how we feel. It can change how we think, reduce us to tears. How many times have you turned the radio on and a song that you love happens to be playing - you turn up the sound and sing along. Instant mood elevator.
Summertime
Al Green - Let's Stay Together
Suite Judy Blue Eyes
My experiment
I asked the following question: What is your favorite music genre, does music make you feel emotion when you hear it and which one? The answers I got were telling.
One friend loves Classical music and admits listening to it more when she is happy. When she is sad it does lift her mood. Her favorite genre is Classic Rock (or southern rock) from the '60's and '70's. Interesting she points out that she listens to music based on how she is feeling.
Another friend listens to music to help control her mood. If she is angry then Motown, Al Green, or The Temptations help cool her off. Show tunes take her to another world and when she is happy, she loves dance music.
Two friends reported Country music as their genre of choice and both admit it touches their soul and could bring them to tears.
One friend says anything Latin makes her want to sway her hips! Just one song can turn this girls frown upside down.
Another friend says that HipHop makes her hyped up and she feels like she wants to kick some arse! Good thing for us that a little slow jazz can regulate her heart beat and bring her down.
Summertime sets her soul free.
As you can see, even in a small sampling of people we have a wide variety of music and individual taste and feeling based on what our own ears hear. Music has the power to make us feel, motivate us, teach us and allows us to learn about ourselves. I tune into what my kids are listening to, it helps me know better how they are feeling and who they are.
Music is a talent and a gift. Don't underestimate the power of giving the gift music to someone you love. Music is a language of its own. Learning to read it, play it, and hear it can be a life saver and motivator.
"Music doesn't lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music." ~ Jimi Hendrix
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Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight
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Susan! Thank you so much! I totally agree and even people that are deaf feel the vibrations of music and it gives them feeling as well. You make lots of sense to me:) So do your musical choices! lol
I took the quiz and it said the exact same thing for me! I do like Nickelback!
Sorry I came back and decided to delete the 2nd comment that I made. I didn't want to give away the quiz results to someone that had not done it yet...
Hey RealHousewife, when you asked this question on Facebook, I figured you had enough friends to make the hub you wanted to write. And, just as I figured, all the replies you received were women. Not a big surprise though. LOL!
However, every morning I get up, get my coffee and then sit down in front of my computer to begin my work online and I open up a piece of software which plays movies and music. I have a play list which I listen to everyday and it helps move through the first few hours of my work. Sometimes, I even let the play list start over(repeat), just because I enjoy the songs. And, no I'm not sharing what's on my play list, but I'll say that it ranges from love songs to pop and new wave, and has some heavy metal songs mixed together. :) Very nice hub! :) Voted up! :)
Lately, I have been listening to a lot of Nardo (of course) and on the radio my current favs are Cold Play and the Black Keys. Haven't heard much from Broken Bells, but I haven't had to listen to Al Green lately either. I do have Al Green's Greatest Hits in my car at all times in case of road rage :-)
Ah Cagsil! I really wondered why you were mum! Im going to get that play list out of you! Come now, tell us what brightens your soul? I would really love to know!
And thank you so much! I so appreciate your thoughts and feedback!
Without music life would be blah...your amazingly detailed hub continues to prove what I've been saying for years! Music speaks to each and every one of us in a unique way. You put a lot of time and energy into this article and it's appreciated! Were you listening to music as you wrote? I took the quiz...I'm alternative which is very accurate since Matchbox Twenty is my favorite band followed by Train and Nickelback!
Retail music is so important to me! Target makes me crazy because supposedly the french believe that music distracts customers and they refuse to play it! I bring my iPod and play and sing as I shop to prove a point, it makes my daughter crazy but Faith enjoys it! I'm always singing while grocery shopping and dancing, they are use to me...one day I might make it to YouTube! haha!
Again thank you for writing this hub and for the shout-out to how crucial music is to everyone. Pimp it to Target maybe they will listen finally! Voted across the board!!
Austin - I have been listening to Nardo too lately:) I find it very calming but it's powerful music with lots of sounds. The High Road - I still LOVE that song! Keep Al in the glove compartment - you've been driving less lately I bet! ha! Thanks so much for your help!! And your hilarious as always commentary! Now don't listen to Anthrax - I don't think it would be good for you especially when driving! lol
Sunshine! I do that too - I mean take my iPod to listen to while I am grocery shopping. I swear it's the only way I can get through the whole store without running out screaming into the parking lot!
Music will makes the sales go up - experiments prove that music can change our perception of how long we have shopped also!! Very good gimmick for stores that employ those head games. I bet this will make you think about it next time you hear music in the store - then you will know they are manipulating you! ha!
Thanks so much for your help in this too! And for just being sunshine625:)
Susan - I don't think it gives anything away - I think it is great you added your results!!! Like I said mine were the same as yours!
Just to let you know- it's nothing to do with soul, but that's another topic altogether- However, since you're interested. Here is my list of music videos.
(1) TaTu did a live song on the MTV Movie Awards show, it's a mixture of two of their own songs.
(2) TaTu- All about us
(3) TaTu- all the things she said
(4) Saliva - Always
(5) Jennifer Love Hewitt - Barenaked
(6) Pussycat Dolls - Beep
(7) TaTu - White Robe(russian version)
(8) Britney Spears - Break the Ice
(9) Pussycat Dolls - Buttons
(10) Jennifer Love Hewitt - Can I go now
(11) Saliva - Click Click Boom
(12) Korn - Coming Undone
(13) Pussycat Dolls - Don't Cha
(14) Rihanna - Don't Stop The Music
(15) Metallica - Enter Sandman
(16) TaTu - Friend or Foe
(17) Shakira - Gypsy
(18) Dido - Here With Me
(19) Shakira - Hips Don't Lie
(20) Jennifer Love Hewitt - How Do I Deal
(21) Pussycat Dolls - Hush Hush Hush Hush
(22) Three Days Grace - I Hate Everything About You
(23) Pussycat Dolls - I Hate This Part
(24) Samantha Fox - Let Me Be Free
(25) Shakira - Loca
(26) Britney Spears - Me Against The Music
(27) Rihann - Pon de replay - Hey Mr DJ Turn The Music
(28) Christina Aguilera - Not Myself Tonight
(29) Metallica - One
(30) Three Days Grace - Pain
(31) Expose - Point of No Return
(32) Limp Bizkit - Rollin
(33) Dido - Sand in My Shoes
(34) Expose - Season Change
(35) Pussycat Dolls - Sway
(36) Dido - Thank You
(37) Stacey Q - Two of Hearts
(38) Pussycat Dolls - When I Grow Up
(39) Shakira - Whenever, wherever
(40) Dido - White Flag
(41) TaTu - White Robe(English version)
(42) Britney Spears - Baby One More Time
(43) Buckcherry - Crazy Bitch(uncensored version)
(44) Britney Spears - I'm a Slave For You
(45) Rihanna - Disturbia
Now, this is not including the other 40-50 songs that I have on file....this is just my play list.
I was at a store recently and they were ignorant and playing holiday music too loudly and customers were complaining and it was annoying. I went to the management and told them they were playing the game all wrong and left without making a purchase. The next time I went there things had calmed down. It was a Goodwill which I frequent for books and music. My grocery store knows how to play the game and I always give them extra money. Target is clueless and I refer to it as a cemetary which is why I need my iPod. I just love this hub!!!
Cagsil! Thank you! I love a lot of those tunes and can see why you'd be smiling - great choices! And no Anthrax stuff:) haha! You're awesome!
Right Linda! You know by the sound of what comes on the speakers when you've got a manager gone rouge! Lol. I bet they have policies about music levels and stations....probably even Goodwill!
I am so glad you are enjoying this as much as me - figures! Lol
You're welcome. And no Anthrax stuff. Never liked the band. :P And, I expected that you would like some of them considering most of them are #1 Hits of some great albums. :)
This was brilliant! I love love love music!!!! Before I became a history major I originally wanted to be a music major! Music makes me happy, sad, feel all emotional, or whatever... the only emotion it doesn't inspire in me most of the time is anger! Which is strange because I've always been kind of an angry person. Some songs the moment they turn on in the radio I start to tear up... The Chain of Love is one of those main songs, but I just love it! It is by clay walker and I can't find the original on youtube, but I found it with google. I just can't help it! Also I love the messages that some songs send. I enjoy country a lot but I really do like almost everything except Rap and screaming type of music... sometimes a good song will come a long, but that just isn't for me. I love classical, pop, jazz, country, oldies, rock and also musicals and disney and soundtracks as well! They bring back memories and make me think. I love music and this hub just brought all of that back!!!
Ray, I am impressed if you took the time to type your playlist above. If you copy and posted it I'm still kind of impressed at most of the songs (videos)!
Yes, Kelly grocery stores play music according to the demographics in their area.
Yep - when I hear it I think "I know what you're up to!" lol
Ray is very cool, huh?
Hey Sunshine, I had to type them in. There wasn't a way to copy and paste my play list, considering it's part of different kind of software. And, copy and paste isn't an option available. :) But, thank you. :)
Myth! Thank you so much! I knew you would like this - it's maybe both of our two favorite things - history and music. I think both are so important! And I have a passion for both....Syd is taking her first year of band - flute:) I'm so vicariously enjoying it! She won't let me play with it that often though! Haha I'm so glad she will learn to read notes and play.
I love music and always will - and I can have a wide range of feelings when listening to each kind. I find the prison song to be haunting! I love jazz and rock. Thanks SO much - I AM so glad you have lots of music in your life!
Lovely Hub--I make most of my money teaching voice and performing and so I am biased toward music--it is a unique language and is able to unite across all sorts of barriers--Thank you for writing this hub!
Hi Audrey! Thank you so much for such a great addition in your comment! Yes - I totally agree it is a language that has a magic all it's own. Thanks for being an educator!
Hi, Kelly. Someone once said that music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. And Nietsche said: "Without music life would be a mistake." They were both absolutely correct. Thank you for reminding us with this beautiful hub and videos. Voted up, m'dear.
Hi Drbj! Thank you - I really had fun doing the research for this one. I love your additional quotes and agree completely. I can't imagine what life would be like with no music. It would be an uglier place for sure. Thanks for the comments and votes:)
What a great hub! Music is a big part of my life... particularly because I sang in the choir and played in the band. One of the things that it taught us was how to relay the feeling of emotion through our music. Therefore, while each music may make different people feel different, music really does have an emotion.
This hub is very Rocking Keep Sharing this types of hub because this type of hub give us energy and today we need a positive thinking and energy.
I agree with so many people in here. Actually 45% of our hubs are related to tunes or music that we chose for our own poetry. Been listening to great artists. On august 20th 2010 I was cheering Tears for Fears Live! At the 'House of blues' down Atlantic City N.J.
That was the most wonderful experienced we ever had lately. Thanks for this hub..that takes back...in time!
LORD
Real...When we really stop and think about the power of "MUSIC," it's amazing. Music can touch every human emotion. A soft love song soothes the soul while an upbeat melody gets our toes to tappin. For every mood and each celebration, music speaks in the Universal language. You have done a wonderful job, bringing all these interesting "music" facts to us. Thank You!!
Hi BBG - I knew you were in band too:) interesting way to put it too - in feeling emotion through the music...I am learning here too that people use it in different ways - internalizing - to control mood, enhance mood, or escape. I think you're right too - music does have it's own tone and emotion. Thanks for the great thoughts!!
Hi Unique - thank you so much! Your comment is also full of energy and made me smile:). Rock on!
Good point Lord - and I also think lots of writers are in general interested in another art form - my observations note Artist and Musicians:). I'd would have loved to be cheering at the House of Blues! That sounds awesome! I'm still big into going to concerts:) lol. Don't miss one if I can help it. I'm SO glad it reminded you of something fun:).
Hi Fpherj48 - I agree! Iyou said that so well - music can bring out a multitude of feelings but it does seem to be universal! Great comment - thank you so much! I'm glad to see that you're a music lover too! I think it makes life so much better.
Love this hub, Real! For all of my life, I've been surrounded by music. I have singers, songwriters, and instrumental musicians all over my family tree. I always find it interesting to see what kind of effect music has on others' moods. You did a GREAT job with this hub. Might be one of my favorites of yours! :D
Hi Mo:). Of course I knew this would be right up your music alley:) lol. Thank you so muc - I swear by the power of music! I think it is genetic too...but anything can be learned. I hooe you get some new music soon too:) lol
You found a real gem with that 'Early in the mornin' Kelly. I've heard snatches of those chain-gang type songs in movies but never like whats on here. Hey, almost got to dance with Carley one time. 16 years old with a back-stage pass and she started dancing with everyone while waiting for James to come off. She was about to me when he did. Musics a great gift if its the right kind for someone. Oh, one more: know some retail folk and the home office makes them listen to the same songs over and over, drives some of them to distraction!
Alastar - thats kinda funny - I mean about the people who have to listen to the same songs over and over - now thats an example of how you can use music to torture someone! lol
Alan Lomax has several videos on YouTube that are riviting to listen to! Check them out - some even have video footage but this particular song made my point:)
Thanks so much!!
great hub. Music is my first love and it's sometimes good to be reminded of that. Great song selection as well. My mp3's range form classical to death metal to rap to dance to country to blues to jazz to pop to experimental to show tunes.
Hi PDX - I know you love music! You sound just like me - I love a huge variety of music - even vaudeville! I used to work on a show boat - soooo fun! I only served cocktails so I got to see most of the show too:).
Good to see you and thanks so much!
Very true, couldn't have said it better myself :) Great Hub keep up the great work, voted Up, and Everything Else :)
Hi Carl - thanks so much! I really love music - my daughter was just playing her flute for me - practicing for the upcoming concert...awesome!
yes. I don't understand people who only like one kind of music. sounds boring to me
Hi PDX - I totally agree - my mood really has a lot to do with what I feel like listening to also. I think the only style of music I really do not care for is rap...just not my generation and I guess I feel old when I listen to it because I can't hear what they are singing half of the time - well or talking? lol
Kelly, there is something really entertaining about loud rap/dance music. I can't explain it but something like 2pac, eminem, snoopd oog, b.o.b., outkast, dr. dre... good times. But, I do listen to everything... from black metal to gospel. Fave band at the moment is probably Queen
Really PDX? Queen? I do love Queen too - and I will except Eminem - I do love his music - I probably like a few that I guess I do not even catagorize rightly as rap:)
My kids always ask what my fav movie, song, band is - and I don't think I could pin down just one:) Thanks so much!
Also, I've recently discovered Akon and David Guetta. My favorite band/songs change constantly. Until recently my fave band was Circa Survive, but, growing up, it was Sonic YOuth and Nirvana
Oh I'll have to check them out now - I haven't heard of Akon or Guetta. My favs change constantly too - depending on my mood I guess:)
check them all out... lemme know what you think :-)
Hi PDX! Thanks ok, I will! Right now -- I am gonna go over and check out what you been up to!
Please do. i look forward to your visit and comments!
Done and Done! lol thanks PDX - I like your visits and comments a lot too:)
I love this hub and music.:)
Hi caramellatte - thank you very much! I sincerely appreciate that:)
...the last time I had this many comments on one of my hubs was Epi's funeral (and I'm sure there's a few people who would love that) lol lol - but I am so proud of you my world class musicologist for putting this most essential music hub together the way you did with flying colors and with so much passion and knowledge too - I found your hub as posted in my music group on FB - a fitting place to be - and now I have framed it - lake erie time 10:39pm and sending you warm wishes and good energy
Hi Epi!! Oh so good to see you! I was just thinking about you yesterday - was talking about beautiful poets and you popped into my mind:) lol. I'm long over due for some good poetry!
I love music - I pop into the group and listen to the links often! I didn't know you were a music lover as well until so recently. How cool!
Just Ask Susan Level 8 Commenter 5 months ago
Music is a gift to the soul, senses, emotions, and heart. If that makes any sense. Music plays such a big part in our everyday lives. I think I would wither away without music. Awesome Awesome Hub!!!