Musical Variety Might Save Your Life
October 25, 2009 by jesy
Filed under Latest Articles, Music
In my attempts to stay connected to New York, I am still a regular reader of NYMag online. Recently, they ran an article explaining the science behind the music that has been used to torture detainees during our infamous War on Terror. The line up included AC/DC’s “Hells Bells,” Britney Spears’s “…Baby One More Time,” and Queen’s “We Are the Champions.”
Personal feelings about these songs aside, it can be hard for a music lover to understand that these standard pop hits, even ones you might not be terribly fond of, can be instruments of torture. According to scientist, the actual psychological damage is due to the unfamiliarity of the music. Our brains will try to figure out next steps in these tunes and to the gentlemen of Middle Eastern descent, who are mostly likely to be in these musical torture chambers, Queen isn’t exactly required listening.
Essentially, being forced to endure music your brain isn’t used to could drive you crazy.
It all started so innocently…
I found this fascinating. Think of all the times a country or hardcore rap song has come on the radio and you immediately flip the station with a shudder. Or when you tried to make your high school friends listen to the classical station on the way home from Pom squad practice (was that just me?). Or when the native music of an aboriginal tribe came on a Discovery channel special about New Zealand and you just thought the neighbors were fighting again. All of these moments (ok, maybe not the Pom practice) were apparently out of our control. It’s your brain, not a pure hatred of Mozart or Britney Spears. Or at least, it’s not just a hatred of Britney.
That’s what she said
I’ve always believed that one should expand their musical horizons whenever possible. Obviously, there are some limitations; the sounds of Ethiopia aren’t as easily accessible on say, KROQ. But it is simply not that difficult to reach out of your musical comfort zone to experience and appreciate new sounds and artists. Who knows? One day, it just may save you from musical torture.
*By Jesy, who, it should go without saying, is 100% against the use of torture in any form, but is a super geek for anything brain related.
