Why do most humans enjoy music?

[Howard]

Serious question. Is it some sort of survival mechanism from way back when?

 

[mwmorph]

why do humans prefer the company of funny people? Nobody knows.

 

[Shawn]

Yeah, it is pretty bizarre.

 

[destrekor]

maybe stems from tribal stuff? possibly why, no offense, african americans enjoy rap the most of any race? tribal heritage?
that and its a social thing.. enjoyment of music seems to help people connect to eachother, and being socially adept is something we naturally strive for.

 

[SonnyDaze]

It soothes the beast.

 

[Ika]

I'm pretty sure it has something to do with brain waves, or at least some kind of effect on the brain.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Our brains like to look for patterns, all good music is chock full of intricate patterns (beats and notes). Can't listen to just any noise and enjoy it.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

I guess it directly stimulates/connects with the part of the brain that defines your personality?

Aggressive people tend to like Metal, mellow people tend to like adult/alternative etc.

Honestly, I have no idea.

 

[MustISO]

What I really find facinating is that so many people like so many different kinds of music. I always wondered what makes a person like they music they like.

 

[Mucho]

Music enhances our emotions weather they are sad or happy, I guess.

 

[Compton]

Why do humans enjoy anything?

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Howard
Serious question. Is it some sort of survival mechanism from way back when?

not only that but why do we like the types of music we do? some music makes me feel really emotional and others just does nothing.

i like different types of music too, from celtic to metal to industrial to classical to space.

 

[QurazyQuisp]

I've always wondered this as well. Music is a huge part of my life... while I don't make any of my own, I listen to music a lot.

I've been listening to Sufjan Stevens' Songs for Christmas for the past hour... doing nothing other then just listening & thinking.

 

[WildHorse]

If you've ever heard the sound recordings made inside the woumb of a pregnant girl, you'll hear that the heartbeart sounds E X A C T L Y like tribal drums.

If you achieve ability to dive deeply enough into yourself, far past the rushing blood and breathing sounds, you'll perceive other musical sounds, like bell, gong, harp, etc.

So, Why do most humans enjoy music?

Because it's primal.

 

[xtknight]

It stimulates your senses...
It changes your mood...
It gets your mind off things...
It helps you relax...
It makes you feel powerful...
It helps you relate...
It masks other unpredictable/disturbing noises...

More relaxed people will tend toward the more calm type of music. Hyper ones (like me, in the daytime) will go for the high beats-per-minute music. Depressed people will go for the emo music since it helps them relate.

 

[uberman]

Originally posted by: MustISO
What I really find facinating is that so many people like so many different kinds of music. I always wondered what makes a person like they music they like.

Sexual behavior, drug use and arrest records.

Dr. Dean Edell (radio show) was explaining on his show recently that the music you listen to says things about people. He went on to choose genres and then explain what that type of music says about you as a person. I imagine there has been some recent research on this.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: Compton
Why do humans enjoy anything?

To serve some reproduce/survive/thrive/etc. purpose...

 

[platinumike]

im gonna answer this personally. Man its just so amazing. I was really thinking about some songs i like today, like unforgiven by metallica, and i just realized that the notes of the solo and the whole song itself it just makes me feel emotion, and im not talking about it i feel sad or something, or i feel sad and go listen to the music. Theese songs are just so powerful and amazing that they make me feel emotions. Like when i hear the unforgiven solo or fade to black intro and ive heard it hundreds of times, every time i hear it and really listen to it, i first feel like in a state of awe and then later feel so warm to it. That is what i call real music, everything else is just..meh.

 

[mpitts]

I think a better question is "Why do humans over-analyze everything?".

 

[czech09]

Originally posted by: xtknight
It stimulates your senses...
It changes your mood...
It gets your mind off things...
It helps you relax...
It makes you feel powerful...
It helps you relate...
It masks other unpredictable/disturbing noises...

More relaxed people will tend toward the more calm type of music. Hyper ones (like me, in the daytime) will go for the high beats-per-minute music. Depressed people will go for the emo music since it helps them relate.

Exactly what I was going to say...stimulates your mind.

 

[Vegitto]

Originally posted by: savoyboy
It's like sex. It's something that you want, but you don't know why you want it.

Because it makes you feel really good?

 

[aidanjm]

it's an interesting question. it doesn't seem to provide much advantage in terms of survival and reproduction.

 

[Whisper]

It's just inherently pleasing. Why? My guess is that it just worked out that way; an evolutionary side-effect of which we're taking advantage.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: savoyboy
It's like sex. It's something that you want, but you don't know why you want it.

because its the only reason nature put you no the planet?

For any animal the only purpose in life as far as nature cares is to breed and care for progeny so the species and genetics go on to the next generation.

 

[pennylane]

Same reason humans like reading books, watching movies, admiring paintings, eating fine cuisine, etc.

It's art and it's culture. It pleases the senses and stimulates the mind at the same time. Why it does that? Iono.

I don't know the historical reasons I'm mostly just making this up.

 

[vi edit]

The combination of the sounds can both and enhance and reduce emotions.

Hard and steady beats keep you alert and active. Slow and mellow can bring anxiety down. Add in lyrics and they can fit certain moods and give you something you can connect with.

There's no single reason, it's just the combination of all of them that makes music that special to us.