when you listen to music....

[SWScorch]

Does it evoke images in your mind? Whenever I'm listening to what I consider really good music, the notes, the riffs, the tone of the instruments form a sort of mental image that directly corresponds to the music. I'm not saying it brings back memories or anything like that: I can actually see the music as its being played. Right now the best example I can think of that many poeple will know is the song "Higher" by Creed. Right after he sings "Can you take me higher" the guitar does a funny litle squeal. I see that as a corkscrew-like shape. In many Metallica or other metal songs the guitars have a three-step "chugging" pattern which sort of reminds me of a waterfall effect; the music slowly builds up and then "tumbles" back down. Also, the tonal quality has a big effect on this; distorted guitars have a "fuzzier" sound to them and a clean note is like a long drawn out slash.

So does this happen to you or am I just weird? I remember reading in a Discover magazine that some people can have other senses stimulated; eg- certain letters would have particular smells or sounds. I was wondering if this is a form of that or if most people associate music with visual parallels.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Colors and shapes mixed in with kick-ass images of flying or the artists rocking the scene. 🙂 I've been a music freak as far back as I can remember.

Nik

 

[rh71]

Hell yeah. Metallica old style kicks ass.

Master of Puppets... they should play that in place of Enter Sandman at sports arenas... no joke.

Like you said, they do a lot of steps... Sanitarium's main riff is the most evident of it. Even in Puppets they play a sweet step riff 3x over just after the interlude. I've been listening to this stuff almost everyday for the past... too many years.

 

[Keego]

I'm jealous, I see nothing 🙁

 

[Electrode]

Yes. It's called an acid trip. 🙂 j/k

Not really.

 

[schdaddy]

I get no mental imagery while listening to music unless its something that?s stirs up old memories like LedZep. Which makes me think of when me & my old girlfriend used to sing along to d?yer mak?er & other Zep songs - I can see her face & smile the moment the music hits my ears

other than that I don't see anything

 

[Kadarin]

My g/f listens to music because she gets into the lyrics. On the other hand, I probably couldn't quote you any lyrics from anything that I've ever listened to. I listen to the sound of the music, and let that take me where it will.

-j

 

[LethalWolfe]

I usually visualize when I listen to music (maybe that's why I want to cut music videos 😉 ). And SWScorch... I had so much respect your musical tastes until you mentioned Creed. Now... now I'll just have to give you an atomic wedgie if I ever see you RL 😀.


Lethal

 

[VirusDub]

I get mental images all the time with good music. Classical music evokes the most, though. It's not usually shapes or things like that, but I see images reflecting certain emotions. Some images are memories, others are fabricated but still realistic. Tchaikowsky's Fifth Symphony, for instance, brings pictures of sadness, elation, anger, emptiness, and rage.

 

[dionx]

for older songs that i listened to back in high school, i usually have some sort of association with the song because it was being played at the time. like whenever i hear the song "bullet with butterfly wings" by smashing pumpkins, i remember the road trip to an away football game that we had before getting our arses kicked badly.

 

[yobarman]

"You listen to music and you have a vision. But if you turn on MTV, and the music video is the same as your vision, KILL YOURSELF!" - louis black.

 

[SWScorch]

<< And SWScorch... I had so much respect your musical tastes until you mentioned Creed. Now... now I'll just have to give you an atomic wedgie if I ever see you RL 😀. >>



lol, dont worry. I'm not a Creed fan. I like about 3 of their songs (their earlier stuff is better). I just chose that song cause I really dont mind it, and many people know it. I would have rather picked a song by Nile or Strapping Young Lad, but alas, maybe 4 people here would have heard of it. 🙂