We hear music every day. Some of it we choose, like when we play or stream our favorite songs. Some of it chooses us: commercial ditties or background music in stores, TV shows or movies. You may dislike a lot of the music that’s chosen for you. Increasingly stores and TV shows play current music that seniors might find irritating.
A small percentage of people don’t like any music. Researchers say some people may be hypersensitive to music beats. Others may have brain damage that doesn’t produce a pleasurable response to music (The Atlantic). Finally, some people just haven’t ‘learned’ to enjoy music.
I love music – almost every genre. It’s always brought such pleasure to my life. I feel sorry for people who can’t enjoy music. I first experienced such a person in the mid-70s when a distant relative stayed with me for a week. I was playing a record and she asked me to take it off. I asked her what kind of music she liked and she responded, “I hate music!” I was terribly sad. Not because I couldn’t play my record, but because I thought how awful it would be to not get enjoyment from some form of music.
Music can conjure powerful emotions: joy, loving feelings, sorrow, or anger. It can transport us back to our youth and more carefree, happy times. It’s common for couples to have ‘our song,’ a song that is important in their relationship. The current Alexa commercial shows a young couple, clearly in love, dancing at prom in the 60s to “I Only Have Eyes for You.” Then the commercial jumps to the present with the aging couple still looking lovingly into each other’s eyes and asking Alexa to play the song again.
We also remember a song when it is linked to a significant emotion. Good or bad, a song can transport you back to a powerful memory. Elvis Presley’s “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You” was playing during my first slow dance when I was a sophomore. Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” played shortly after my cat died. I couldn’t listen to that song for a long time without crying. I played The Sound of Music song “I Have Confidence” before I had an important interview.
You might have an ‘adverse’ reaction to music from an era or genre you aren’t familiar with. Last year a young couple was in our car when the 1961 tune “Quarter Til Three” by Gary U.S. Bonds started playing. “What is that awful noise? Is it a warning signal?” they asked. They didn’t believe us when we said it was a popular song when we were teenagers. They thought it sounded so bad they asked us to skip that song. I’m sure people of my generation have the same reaction to “Lose Yourself,” a wildly popular 2002 hit by rapper Eminem. Yet Amy Schneider, who had a 40-game winning streak in Jeopardy earlier this year, said that song pumped her up before playing Jeopardy.
We tend to prefer music from our teenage years. Neuroscience News says songs from our youth may be entangled with positive memories of experiences from that time. Other studies have shown that music can help you connect with a dementia patient, as long as it’s music the patient is familiar with and likes. Our friend’s husband had reached the non-communicative stage of Alzheimer’s when we invited them to a string ensemble event at our house. During the intermission she excitedly said that her husband was swaying with the music, smiling and even said a few words – the most reaction she’d had from him in months.
According to the CoffeeHouse Project, a charitable organization dedicated to providing arts education with a focus on music,
“Listening to music is a wonderful outlet
that can lift one’s spirits at any age."
“As we grow older, the benefits of music become increasingly significant to our quality of life. In addition to reducing stress, music has the ability to decrease heart rate and lower blood pressure.” They maintain that making music goes a step further to lessen anxiety and depression and keep our minds sharp.
So, remember to include the music you enjoy in your day. It can brighten up a dreary day. It can bring you out of funk. If chosen wisely, it can help you connect with someone who is suffering from dementia.
What songs make you happy? Relax you? Bring back great memories? Brighten your day? Calm you?
Here's my list of Happy Songs (from several decades). To me, they have a peppy tune and/or an uplifting message. Some of these are more recent and you may not enjoy them.
I Can See Clearly - Johnnie Nash
I Lived – One Republic
Good Day Sunshine – The Beatles
Looking Out My Back Door – CCR
Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
When – The Kaylin Twins
Pink Panther Theme Song – Henry Mancini (I associate it with the humorous Pink Panter’s antics)
Best Day of My Life – American Authors
I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
Good to Be Alive – Andy Grammer
Note: I took Quarter Til Three, which was my favorite 1960 dance song, off the list, because my friend’s reactions. If you are my age, you might put it back on.
Create your own Happy List and seek out those songs that lift your spirts or reduce stress and anxiety and keep your mind sharp.
Comments