The Relationship Between Sound, Music, and Our Psyche

 One reoccurring theme we've talked about and analyzed throughout the course of the semester is that of nostalgia and the feelings and memories a particular piece of music can ignite within us. For example, in Anthony's blog post "Sound Ability to Enhance Entertainment," he discusses how he recently experienced going to a live sports event since the lockdowns lifted and how this experience and the sounds of a live sporting event triggered fond memories of other live sporting events he's attended. Similarly, in Anisha's blog post "Sonic Dominance" she discusses a song she listened to while at a dancehall senssion and that ever since, whenever she hears that song play it triggers good feelings and memories of that night. 

I know for myself personally there are many songs and sounds that trigger different feelings and remind me of different memories to the point where I've created different playlists on my Spotify to trigger specific moods and to remind me of specific memories, similar to what Darcy discussed in her blog post "Aesthetic Playlists." 

I find it fascinating the power that music and sound can have on our psyche and I think that this further emphasizes Henrique's and Jasen's arguments that we are in fact sonic bodies. I also think it emphasizes Douglas's and Labelle's arguments that music and different music mediums like the radio can ignite these feelings of nostalgia and bring us back to a certain moment in time. 

To further emphasize the power music and sound has on our psyche and enabling us to recall certain moments in time I've included the following Ted Talk video which discusses the use of music therapy to treat Alzheimer's and Dementia. Alzheimer's is a degenerative brain disorder to which Dementia is one of the symptoms of and can cause memory loss. Music and music therapy is used to trigger certain feelings but also to help patients recall certain memories.


I also wanted to include this video that I previously shared in class which shows a male with Dementia and his experience of being able to listen to some of his favourite songs from his childhood. I wanted to share this video again as I think it's quite effective in displaying how powerful and impactful music and sound is on our memories and cognitive functions. What I especially love about this video is that you can visibly see how listening to music transforms him and his mood as he is transported back into his memories that he is now able to relive again. 


Discussion Questions:

1. If you were to create a playlist or soundtrack for your life what would be on it and why? What sort of feelings or memories would this trigger?

2. Would you agree that the power music has on our psyche and its ability to trigger nostalgic feelings and memories further adds to Henrique's and Jasen's argument that we are sonic bodies? If so, do you think that as sonic bodies, music therapy is a reliable and effective method of treatment and patient care?

Comments

  1. Alanna MacDonaldDecember 12, 2021 at 2:34 PM

    Such a cool post Soph! I love how you connect your ideas to our other classmate's blog posts as well. Every time I watch the last video you linked, it makes me tear up. The degradation of the mind through diseases like Alzheimers is one of the most awful and scary things; it is something that has affected many of my family members and it warms my heart to know that music can be used as a tool to provide comfort to those suffering from dementia.

    Your first question would take me a lifetime to reach an answer that I'm confident with - I love it! Personally, There would have to be a mix of songs that remind me of my childhood, my high school experience, core memories from university, my lacrosse games, hanging out with my friends, heartbreak, and so much more. It would also be the most musically diverse playlist since my music taste has expanded widely throughout my life. It would range from artists like The Eagles (my favourite classic/country rock band), Bob Segar, Guns n Roses, Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Bruce Springsteen, Chris Stapleton, all the way to artists like Tory Lanez, Drake, Summer Walker, DaniLeigh, and so much more. I actually have a playlist on my Spotify that somewhat mirrors this; I started it back in 2017 and it is comprised of hundreds of songs that I have loved throughout university. Although the playlist doesn't represent my entire life story, it certainly makes me reminiscent of my undergrad. It triggers nostalgic memories attached to happiness, partying, meeting new people, homecoming, Laurier lacrosse road trips, break ups, make ups, the whole nine yards! It's the coolest experience that music can tap into the emotional rollercoaster that is being in your early 20s, haha!

    I do agree with your second question - I think the ability for music to tap into our psyche and memories contributes to the holistic experience of being a sonic body. I know that Henriques and Jasen stress the physical aspects that frequency and vibration create, but in a sense, the core memories that sound taps into creates an emotional response, and therefore exists in the physical as well. This is why I believe music therapy holds great value in therapeutic methods and patient care. As noted by Jasen and Henriques, music and sound create a transitory experience; one that is not tangible but still very real in evoking bodily and emotional changes that can often be hard to describe in words. That is why I am so passionate about music; artists have the ability to communicate the emotions I am feeling through their lyrics, frequencies, melodies, and more, in a way that I could never describe, and as a result, this brings me a sense of comfort.

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  2. Anthony SorrentinoDecember 12, 2021 at 8:31 PM

    Hi Sophie,

    This is great post and it touches on a deeper class discussion on the affects of sounds on the human psyche. A discussion which can be had in a variety of directions. I really liked how you tied your post into Labelle reading. He his ideology around sound revolves around the memories that sound can be attached to depended on the individual of course. This can be said for all forms of sounds which go beyond music. Off the top of my head, a car horn can be attached with the idea that one must stop abruptly or even to move ahead because a stop light now green (a heads up to all drivers who text and drive). In terms of playlist and the creation of a unique one.. as an athlete I actually never created one. Weird right? though I do listen to specific albums prior to a game or on a long bus trip similar to what Alanna alluded to. Ultimately it depends on the mood i'm in, during that moment which stirs in a specific genre of music.

    For instance after 7 hours of class on Thursday where I would then head to my hockey game I would need a genre of music that lifted my energy levels up, because staring at a computer screen isn't necessarily the most exciting thing to do. This reminded of Jonathons presentation earlier on in the year where he was explaining to the class that platforms such as Spotify essentially have a playlist for everything. More times than not I as one who isn't the most musically inclined would negate to those out of necessity.

    Also, similar to Alanna I would have to agree with your stance on your second question that music is able to tape into our psyche and contribute to our memories. Though I would say that all sounds do. Going back to my post earlier on which you referenced, that excitement from a crowd at a sporting event is sound I attached to a memory through my own sonic body experience. One that bings me to a happy place because of the excitement I attached to a crowd roaring.

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  3. JulianaDecember 14, 2021 at 12:20 PM

    Hi Sophie,

    This is a great post, and I feel we can talk about music and its nostalgic recall for days, as most of us can have an entirely different relationship to music genres. To talk more about my experience with your first question, I can say distance and sound are two concepts definitively intertwined. Since I got here in Canada, I've been hearing nothing but salsa, a genre very close to my heart and my family, as you may have thought already. I grew up with my mom cleaning our apartment while listening to salsa music. She went to all kinds of concerts and clubs where they could spend all night dancing to this type of music. So, in terms of what would be in my playlist, I would say without a doubt that it has to be salsa.

    I found it very interesting how music can make us feel closer to a place, to a sense of home and comfortability that somehow is impossible to attain in another way. But I'm going to say that this would be different if I wasn't here. The sense of distance has made me search for things to feel like I'm home, but I always heard a different type of music in Colombia. So I think, as I heard from an author, that identity is exalted when we feel out of place.

    Secondly, I personally agree with your second statement. As 'sonic bodies', I consider music definitively can be part of our memory and trigger exact and special moments in our minds that, in distinct situations (as you showed in the video), help us go back to those times.

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