Music is a Drug!
Musicologists and musicophiles have long wondered why music provokes such intense emotions in people. In 2001, a McGill University study by Anne Blood and Robert Zatorre provided some interesting clues. The two neurobiologists discovered that when people listen to pleasurable music, the neurotransmitter dopamine is released in the brain. Dopamine plays a major role in reward-motivated behavior and can provide a euphoric effect such as when one has sex, good food, or an addictive drug. What causes music to stimulate dopamine release is still not fully known, but experts who study music cognition suggest that it is a complex interplay of expectations and desires. Although the leading theory is complex, it goes something as follows. People have certain expectations or make predictions related to sonic events, like a song. The expectations and predictions could come from the melodies, notes, chord progressions, lyrics, etc. When their predicted outcomes are met, their desires are satisfied and dopamine is released. Therefore, music is a drug!
Students: Find a song and/or video and provide a link to it. Then pick one of the tasks below: 1. Describe how this song and/or video make you feel? What is it about the song/video that makes you feel this way? 2. What do you imagine when you listen to this song? 3. Why do you like or dislike this song? This kind of music? 4. How do you like to listen to this song, and why this way in particular (e.g. in a club, through headphones, a stereo etc)? How does this way of listening allow you to experience the song differently than other ways? If you would like to post more than one song, fell free to do so.
English Language Pages 
Although this song is a few years old, it is still great. It’s called Levels by Avicii and it is preferable to listen to it on a big sound system with the volume turned up.
Right from the beginning, the listener can experience Avicii’s production magic. This F# minor song has such a rich combination of synth, bass, and pad sounds with an interesting filter effect at the end of each loop. Shorty into the song, the big, warm kick drum starts driving the beat, and the listener knows he/she is in for an interesting journey. On top of every second kick is a clap, which is a major element of the beat and helps create an almost physical connection to the song. As the song continues, peppy and upbeat, the listener feels a comfort in its repetitiveness. At around 1:40, Avicii provides an atmospheric breakdown with Etta James’s beautiful vocal sample. This is time to relax, reflect, and anticipate because the uplifting buildup comes soon after and the songs starts pumping again. Listening to this song and watching the video, one realizes it is a euphoric journey of emotions. Clearly, my dopamine levels have been reduced.
I saw Avicii when I was in UMF Korean 2013. I remember that I was very surprised because he looked very younger than I expected. I think he know well how to make people crazy and excited by mixing musics even though he is just in twenties. It’s amazing. “Levels” is definitely nice music, but I think “Wake me up” is also attractive.
* Jason Mraz -I’m Yours *
Actually this song is very popular, so many people know about . Why i pick this song is because I like this song. The sound of guitar and the voice of singer are mixed well. They make me feel a comfort. I guess that other people feel as me. So, Even though this song came out in 2008, it is still placed on top ranking in Billboard. When you feel bad, listen the melody and feel better .
I like this song, too because as you said, the sound of guitars is amazing. Do you also know that Jason Mraz is a famous singer song-writer and he is really good at guitars? Also, his voice is very attractive and makes me listen to his song again and again.
I agree your thinking. In addition, this song is like a popping popcorn because it is so rhythmical. Then do you like another songs by Jason Mraz? Actually I don’t know his songs very well. I wanna take some songs you recommend.
What about listening to the best collection? There is his live album collection containing lots of his hit songs. So if you listen to this album, you definitely fall into Mraz. And I recommend you one song named “You and I Both”.
I also really like this song. The melody is so sweet and also the most I like is the lyrics of this song, he has an abundant power of expression. The most lyric I like among the lyrics of this song is ” Our name is our virtue”. Because it bring me out of myself
http://blog.naver.com/geniharry/130179112107
U2-With or without you
I am going to choose task number 3. Before I start my task, I am going to briefly talk about the reason why I chose this song. I have enjoyed this famous song whenever I feel depressed since I was young. The first place where I heard this song was in the market. At that time, I could not speak or listen to English very well. However I really enjoyed the melody although I could not understand what they were saying. The only thing that I heard was ‘with or without you’. After I came back from market, I searched for this song by lyrics that I had heard in the market which was the title of the song. Since then, I have listen to this song a lot because I like this song’s melody, lyrics and so on. Whenever I listen to this song, I imagine positive and happy things that I was going to do. For example, I often imagine myself playing soccer with my friends and about the trip that I was going to go with my family or friends.
I listen this music for the first time. I think I know why you choose this music. The lyrics is great and melody is also comfortable to listen. Especially, I like the lyrics like a cheer song.
This music is background music of the movie ‘8mile’
This music sang by Eminem and genre is Hip-hop.
Hip-hop is freedom and extemporaneousness culture which is occurred from black people in the New york.
So Hip-hop is rough, resistance and honest.
There is story about a neglected class of people in detroit at ‘8mile’
To a neglected class of black people, Hip-hop is energy of life.
Eminem who is the main character in this movie is made fun of by black people.
But Eminem overcomes that.
This story is written at lyrics honestly.
Lyrics – ‘He knows that but he’s broke, he so stagnant he knows
When he goes back to his mobile home, that’s when it’s
Back to the lab again, yo’.
‘You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo’
IU – The Meaning Of You (너의 의미)
Describe how this song and/or video make you feel? What is it about the song/video that makes you feel this way?
This song called “The Meaning Of You” makes me more sensitive than normal days and what I feel like that is a melody of the song. One of example is the moment which I was depressed without reason. Whenever that, I always listened it repeatedly. The song’s melody is soft and the lyrics is also soft and lyrical. So it makes me feel many times to relax my emotion. After listening this song, I can feel that my emotion is better than before.
I like this song, too. IU’s relaxed voice and mild melody make me confortable. Also, this song makes me smile by myself.
Oh I love this song, It so famous when this elbum issued. I just herad this song was one of the famous band’s song. And IU remaked. I think it was perfect remaked. It just perfectly IU’s song. Not the other band’s song. This entic and amused sound make my feeling comfortable. I also like “my old story” in this elbum. If you have a chance to listen, You could try.
I like this song, too. Since this song released, I always was listened this song. I like singer’s voice and melody. Featuring is also wonderful.
I love this song! Her voice is really sweet. For this reason, when I heard her song I felt that I’m in another world. It makes me to imagine beautiful situation.
‘Radio Head – Creep’
1. Describe how this song and/or video make you feel? What is it about the song/video that makes you feel this way?
Thom Yorke’s sweet voice stimulate your soul. this song is a story about a loser who love a woman. But she is much better than him. He regards her and even feel jealous of her. And he becomes diffident endless. He keeps on withering. This song makes me feel sad because It reminds me of my love one-sidedly at the time when I go to the elementary school. But I enjoy feeling sad because sadness is sweet. If you enjoy the sadness which is sweet, listen this song.
Does this song remind you of your first love in elementary school? It’s fun.:) Wow, it is really amazing to enjoy sadness like you. I really want to know how to enjoy sorrow. Because sorrow always make me fall into trouble.
http://blog.naver.com/isay83?Redirect=Log&logNo=220119717910
J Rabbit – 요즘 너 말야
Describe how this song and/or video make you feel? What is it about the song/video that makes you feel this way?
This song is one of the best music for me. My friend recommended this song to me when I was tired. At first, I listened this music over and over because its melody made me comfortable. But as time passed, lyrics attracted my attention. Lyrics were about the cheering people who were frustrated. So I took comfort from this song and I usually listened it even now when I was tired at something. Then, I recommend this song to you.
I like this song too because of their voice. J rabbit’s songs are never got tired of listening to. And another song – 바람이 불어오는 곳 has also a good melody and addictve. I think you’ll like this song soon.
This song is also very famous and well known in public. I like to listen this song since I was high school student. Because it really helps me cheer up when I feel tired to study and miss my parents. Also, I like the lyric of the song which is ” Everybody knows It hurts to grow up And everybody does”. The reason is that it teach me lessons about life. I think it gives the messages that we should live our life to the full, at least, live a life without regrets. At last, I like to listen this song at a still night through the headphones, because I can be more concentrate on the music at that time. For these reasons, I want to share this song to everybody here. Thank you!
I hear this one for the first time. It is really touching. I can imagine a father is sitting in front of his sleeping son and telling him like “Don’t be frustrated, Be brave.” The song makes me much better because now I’m a little bit tired. Thanks
http://tvpot.daum.net/v/FkYfWa_mYGs%24
As everyone konws, This music is Arirang. Arirang is listed as World Heritage by the UNESCO. Like this, Arirang is appreciated not only in Korea, but also in the world. The reason why it was listed as World Heritage and why I like is Arirang has sweet melody and embodies the sentiment of our people. And what I show to you is fusion Arirang mixed with western instruments. I like this version better than original Because it is more addictive and unlike the original arirang it is rhythmical and cheerful. It breaks prejudice that arirang must have a sorrowful melody. Then enjoy the beauty of Eastern and Western harmony and its addictive melody.
Coldplay – Fix You
3. Why do you like or dislike this song? This kind of music?
I would like to write about what I imagine when I listen to this song.
If somebody lets me choose the best song for me, then I definitely choose “Fix you” because it is the most touching and meaningful song on the earth. When I was younger than now I am, I used to fall into a slump – getting anxious, low self-confidence, losing my mind. I always tried to get better by doing some positive activities, but I always stuck in reverse. Every nights I wished somebody else came to me and fixed me, but the more I tried to do away with the slump, the more I fell off the track. At the moment, I heard a song with very sorrowful lyrics from somewhere. I felt like the lyrics totally describes me.Also I felt I was in a church or in front of God even though I was not a Catholic. I was given from the song a sincere consolation that nobody has given to me. Eventually, I could have the courage to try to fix me. Until now, whenever I feel like I get stuck in trouble, I listen to this song with the hope that is “I can fix myself, definitely” Hence, if you want someone to fix you, then listen to the amazing song and give yourself to it. 🙂
This song “You and I” is one of Lady gaga’s fancy song. Maybe most of you will know Lady gaga. Lady gaga always give us kind of shocking music videos. Not even this music video. You can turn on the volume of this music video and watch a shocking music video.
This song makes my feeling higher than before. Because It’s unique beat makes my heart beat louder. Also Lady gaga’s softly but strong voice makes the mood of music better. When I first meet this music on 2012, I was high school student. I feel totally exhausted with my everything. If I heard this song while break time, I could refreshed my exhausted feelings. Therefore this song soon became my companion in my highschool life. I recommend you that if you want to listen this song, it could be nice when you want to take some relax. I like to listen this song when I want to take some rest. Because it is good to listen little bit fast song makes my feeling more comfortable. If the music is so loud, it could be damage my bio rhythm but this song is not too fast and not too slow. Furthermore, To say little bit about this music video, This video is motivated in Lady gaga’s real story. When she broke with her boyfriend Luc Carl, She missed him a lot. So she make the music video just like what you see. The scene of lady gaga’s foot mean “very miss her ex-boyfriend”. And the scene which Women lady gaga and Men lady gaga kissed mean “If you want to love someone, you should love yourself”.
This is “Sunflower” which was sung by Lee Hae-Ree who is famous singer in Korea. She sang this song in tv program of Korea which is called “A Classic of Immortality”. To introduce Lee Hae-Ree, she is a great vocalist who can express any emotion which is required in a song appropriately, so I like her music a lot. But original singer of this song is Park Sang Min who sings a song in Korea like Lee Hae-Ree. In other words, Lee Hae-Ree arranged “Sunflower” to make it suitable for her own voice. Anyway, this song was written by Park Sang Min, missing his ex-girlfriend who died because of cancer of stomach. Lee Hae-Ree expressed his longing very well as usual in this music, therefore I was moved by her rich emotion. In sum, I have no choice but to like her music, for her ability of expression is excellent.
3. Why do you like or dislike this song? This kind of music?
young and beautiful by lana del rey.
this song is a famous soundtrack of the great gatsby. I like this music so much that i listened to this song many times. First, this song makes me imagine the movie scene that describing dicaprio’s love with daisy. this scene was so beatiful. In this scene dicaprio invited daisy to his inormous house that everyone could imaine to live there. Daisy was so beautiful and dicaprio’s eyes which is staring daisy was so sweet. Especially when dicaprio shoot his so many shirts to daisy i fell in love ith him. This song reminds me to imagine this beautiful scene. Second, lyrics of this song is wonderful and impressive to me. In summary this lyrics are about woman’s love that is telling man for loving her forever even if she is old and not beautiful. The yrics are matching a melody of this song and movie’s scene so well. These two reasons makes me like this song.
When I first heard this song, I was freshman in this college. So I couldn’t understand why these characters are missing the college years. However, now this is one of my favorite songs. There are some reasons why I like this song. When I am listening to this song, it makes me feel grateful to my present time, and also give chance to look back myself in my school life. 1 year before from now
, I was actually in the exactly same situation with every single words in the lyrics of this song. But the subject was different. I missed my highschool years. As I missed my highschool years, I also hated my college life. I was too young to understand everything happened to me. However, as time goes by I realized that I ‘m gonna miss this college years after few years. While I’m always complaining about the school life, such as too much homework or lecture in 9:00 am, but on the other hand somebody might sincerely miss the life like this.
This song is so cute and gives good messages. Voice of singers and melody is cute. The direction which uses dolls is creative and pure. Lyrics are good. We should cherish our college life but we are exhausted on our daily life. We should change the mind. It’s our last chance to enjoy college life.
When I was 19, most hard period, this song consoled me. This song’s message is cheer up so many students hear this when they undergo hard period. When I was 19, I feel bored everyday because of competition and teacher’s nitpicking so I usually heard this song to relieve my emotion and this song gives impetus to study hard again. In addition girl’s generation is very pretty and thier voices are cheerful. First, I didn’t like girls generation but the songs are great and became a fan of girls generation.
I also like this song a lot, because it was one of the songs that I listened when I was 19-hard time. I even listened to this song on the test day! Anyway, this song is quite cheerful, so I often listen to this song until now.
If someone asked me “What is your favorite song in your life?” I will probably answer, “Whatever song by oasis”. This song singing about theme, ” Do whatever you want!”, with rhythmical orchestra. And also It really makes me cheerful when I had hard time. Actually one of this song’s writer Noel Gallagher had harsh childhood when he was young. His alcoholic father always beat him. and he have to work as construction worker because he was really poor. Although he had hard time, he always thought about his bright future. Finally his band “oasis” become one of the most famous band in the world. So when I listen this song, It makes me positive.
I didn’t know about Noel Gallagher was the victim of domestic violence. Yet I don’t know about their songs well, I feel hope in their songs. Anyway, I wish the Gallagher brothers to get back together and make marvelous songs like “Wonderwall” again.
When I was having a hard time in the summer because of some problem in relationship. One of my friend made me listen to this song. Although I don’t really like the music video because of its dark tone, the sound makes me so relieved and I feel like floating. I like to listen to this song with my ipad which has bigger speakers than my iphone. I lay down on my bed and put the song above my head and just listen to it. I feel like I am flying over a big part of a land over a golden open field.
I like songs with good melody. I recommend a one kind of piano piece entitled summer “summer” produced by joe hisaishi. This song gives me a feeling like i am part of a fairy tale story.
I often recall memories from the past with this song and it would put a smile on my face. I usually listen to this song when im stressed at work. This song makes me feel relaxed and comfortable and it takes my mind off the this that causes me stress.
Some people might think that this is just a simple song because it only has a piano melody but it is not simple.
Piano’s melody move actively. I like this kind of music rather than lyrical songs because it helps me to concentrate and I need music to be at one with myself.
Though I didn’t watch the animation, I like this song! While listening this, a feeling that the song is telling the story keeps coming up. Moreover its melody is crystal clear so it also has some kind of soothing effect I think.
♪David Guetta – Titanium ft. Sia
3. Why do you like or dislike this song? This kind of music?
First, I like its lyrics. Nowadays many songs’ purposes are expressing about love. But this song’s purpose is cheering people who listen it. It gives messages like ‘you’re strong, you can do it’. So when I lose my confidence l listen it and feel much better. And I like beat and melody of this song. Balance of guitar and electronic sound is also amazing. It is very energetic and exciting. I heard this song is popular in club because of this energetic sound. Anyway after I listen this song, ‘Titanium’, I feel stronger. That is the reason why i like this song.
This Bruno Mars’ song, “When I was your man,” brings me some complicated thoughts. To shortly explain about the song, it’s about a man who lost his loved one. He’s so regretful about his actions for not doing what she wanted. Every time I listen this, I almost feel like to cry, and I guess, other people would be the same. It’s because of the chorus that starts with “I should have bought you flowers.” In there, listeners can feel the pure regrets of him, or maybe they can also feel his earnest desire of going back to the past when he and his lover was together. This part also brings an idea of “Do your best, when he/she is with you.” In addition, a thought that all she wanted was just simple things, not something which is hard to do, or expensive, is coming up. Over all, the song, “When I was your man,” make people to reflect on themselves about their behaviors to their loved ones, or to the others around them. For that reason, I recommend this song to others having some time to look back his/her actions.
2. What do you imagine when you listen to this song?
Hyorin – 안녕
My favorite song is 안녕 song by 효린, and when I listen to this song, I imagine one love story.
Song’s one words – 사랑이 왔는데 그댄 떠난대 기다렸는데 더 볼 수가 없대- make me imagine the love story. The story that I imagine is about just one girl who fallen in love. But the boy doesn’t love her. This love is the first love of her, she really affects to him. Former times, she never loves someone like this. Even if she loves him a lot, she knows that he doesn’t’ like her. For this reason, she makes to let him go from her heart. On this wise, when I heard this song, I visualize the sorrowful love story and it touches my heart.
Whenever I listen to Sum41’s , their song comforts me and makes me feel free. This song has both calm and explosive part, so it can provide me comfort and feeling of being free at the same time. The opening part of Sum41’s is calm, so at first it makes me feel comfortable. When this song goes up at 57 seconds, it makes me feel excited and free. Because of these features, I feel quite great when I listen to this song.
Also, Sum41’s is full of words that make me feel comfortable. This is the part I like most. “But I mean these words. I want you to know, with everything, I won’t let this go. These words are my heart and so, I hold on to this moment you know. Cause I’d bleed my heart out to show, that I won’t let go.” Whenever I listen to this song, I really concentrate on this part because I want to feel each word.
In fact, these features made me listen to this song a lot last year. Last year, I was a student studying to go to the college, so it was so hard time for me. To relieve my stress, I usually listened to the music while riding a bike and Sum41’s was the best song that made me feel free. Whenever my stress reached a peak, I used to listen to this song repeatedly riding a bike. Especially, at the moment of this song’s ’57 seconds’, I rode a bike much faster. It was so excited that my stress was absolutely gone.
Clearly, Sum41’s has been my best healing song and it will continue to.
Originally, I fully wrote ” Sum41’s ‘With me’ “, but the phrase ‘With me’ is all gone. Please consider this when you read my essay.
Adam Levine – Lost stars
1. Describe how this song and/or video make you feel? What is it about the song/video that makes you feel this way?
I listend this song at theather at first. This song is OST of Begin Again and this version of song shows end of the movie. So I was fascinated in movie and songs in movie. When I listend that song at the end of movie, I was just moved at song and scene. At that time, I recalled every scene of movie, line, and figure of heroine main. I cannot take off my eyes from screen. And I also cannot help but being touched that songs. I feel both sadness and pleasure when I listened this song. At the almost last scene, this song means everything is over in between woman and man. So I feel sadness and the song are so massive song as just songs. I also feel pleasure.
I really love this song, too! The lyrics of the song is so touching,and then again, sad. The other version of this song, which is sung by Keira Knightley, is also wonderful. I think the whole song from Begin Again is really high-quality, isn’t it?
3. Why do you like or dislike this song? This kind of music?
This song, “Easier tonight” by Matt Wertz is one of my favorite songs. There are some reason s that I love this song. First of all, I really like the lyrics of the song. It’s about proposal and makes my heart leap up. Especially, the first part of lyrics “So the stage is set, the stars and moon above. I’ve come so far to get here, baby look at us.” always moves my heart. Also, I love the calm guitar sound of the song. Its melody attracts and makes me comfortable. Furthermore, the singer’s voice is so sweet and gentle that I’m relieved and can easily fall in sleep when I listen to this song.
3. Why do you like this song?
I listened this song few years ago, when I watched the movie “Raise your voice” In the movie the main character was following her dream, which was to become a musician. But for to achieve her dream.She worked hard. And Jericho song made her to overcome all the hardships she encountered in her life even when she was about to give up. Like her, When I don’t have energy for doing something I listen this song that remains me to walk one more mile and don’t give up.
This song is virtual insanity by Jamiroquai which is jazz band. Now, I will write about the reasons why I like this song. First, every time I hear that music, I was excited. When I high school student, I listened that song because it was appeared on television. After that, I searched this song’s lyrics and I was surprised that the lyrics of this song were included that world criticism unlike cheerful melody. But whenever I listened it, I enjoyed this song regardless of the lyrics. Second, it changed prejudice that I had. Before I listened this song, I had a prejudice that jazz music was boring. However I had known this song, I have liked jazz music and searched jazz music similar to this song. Therefore I want to enjoy this song to you.
The great escape – Boys like Girls
2. What do you imagine when you listen to this song?
When I first listen this song, I imagine a jumping boy. He jumps from high place like sky diving and dives into spectators. So like these imagination, I always listen this song whenever I ride bike coming down from hill. Then, cool wind touch my face and I like this feeling. In this song, my favorite part is “Throw it away, Forget yesterday, We’ll make the great escape …” . This part make me fresh. So I listen this part , when I feel stuffy and want to forget everything. Because it also remind me fresh green field.