Not Who, but What Truly Listens to Music?

If someone were to think about their favorite artist, they’d have to ask themselves why is that their favorite artist? Is it the beat and instrumentation of the music? Is it the poetic weaving of the lyricism and wordplay? Or is it the raw emotion and vocal talent? All of these can be argued as valid reasons. But it isn’t always about who listens to that music, sometimes it’s about what. Music is an art form that a person’s heart, brain, and ears listen to. It psychologically changes brain chemistry, creates poetic lyricism that develops human connections, and alters the outlook people may have on their lives.

Of course, listening to music is often associated with the ears, but what is less commonly known is that it is more closely related to the signals being sent from the ears into the brain itself. According to “Why — and How — Music Moves Us,” music increases the blood flow to certain brain regions connected to the limbic system. From here, “(those regions) ‘light up’ when our ears perceive music.” (Fink, 2024) Within this limbic system, dopamine is triggered and released throughout the body, eventually reaching the heart. Harvard Health expands on this concept, “relaxing music may lower heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure — and also seems to ease pain, stress, and anxiety.” (Harvard Health, 2021) This reinforces the point that music affects multiple parts of a human and develops positive psychological impacts. 

Lyrics can be a key component in triggering these biological responses. Lyricism is an art form powerful enough to sway a person's emotions. Music is incredibly subjective. What can be moving to one person can mean nothing to another. Depending on the listener's mental state and circumstances, it may be more impactful and relatable than other songs. Some broken-hearted listeners may find solace in the lyrics of "Self Control” sung by Frank Ocean, “I came to visit, 'cause you see me like a UFO." and, "Cause I made you use your self-control/And you made me lose my self-control.” Moreover, if someone is having trouble coming to peace of mind, they may find the song “Fix You” by Coldplay more relatable than “Jimmy Cooks” by Drake and 21 Savage. Backtracking to the brain, “Music and the Soul - Why Do People Like Music?” further points out, “With music’s deep connection to the limbic system, people tend to find connections in music through memories. … Because of this, we feel a reminiscent connection to music to go along with the emotions it already arouses in us.” (Millersville, 2024) Certain lyrics and songs can develop a connection between humans and their emotions that other songs wouldn’t.