Probably one of the most confusing and intriguing aspects of music is how it has adverse affects on your mood. I’ve always been so fascinated with what makes me want to listen to certain songs or why certain songs make me feel certain ways.
I’ve developed many playlists overs the years that hold similar music in them. My purpose of the playlists is to have a set of music I can listen to in certain moods that’ll always match how I feel. Certain moods Ive found hold a deeper sense of emotion in me and those happen to be the playlists I can listen to the most often without getting bored.
I find at times when I’m in a good mood I listen to my contemporary hip-hop/r&b playlist or my indie rock playlist. When i’m feeling chill, sad, or tired I tend to listen to my sad alternative playlist or my chill rap playlist. I think I listen to them because they amplify and express the emotions i’m already feeling so I can deeper express my current moods. I usually don’t get sad or happy from certain music but rather listen to the music that mirrors my happy or sad emotions.
My theory for this is because when we hear a song while we are experiencing an emotion or beforehand. Instead of music, having an effect on our mood, I think it’s our mood that has an effect on our music. If we hear a song when we’re sad, we might draw sad connotations to that song. After that whenever we hear that song it’ll remind us of when we were sad. Using that information of how the song got a meaning imprinted onto it, we then use that song to listen to when we want to replicate that emotion or when we already feel that emotion. It’s almost like everyone chooses subconsciously what music is going to make them feel which way in the long run.
Music and Mass Media 