Music.

La Petit Mort

Today I was down and lonely. (for no apparent reason.) And i pick out my black especial (A custom guitar I inherited from my dad.) and started playing pink Floyd's "I wish you where here" and after the third go I was jolly and couldn't stop smiling. Has this ever happened to anyone of you in any sort of way?

GauntletWizard

Music is, without question, excellent at provoking emotions. I can't help but be happy when I hear Yellow Submarine, can't help but cry when I hear "Hello Goodbye", can't help but be silly when I hear "Where do they make balloons?". Humans tend to communicate emotions through tones, and as such, tones can quite easily manipulate moods in the same way that being with a happy friend can get you up when you're down or being with someone who's in mourning can make you sad too.

La Petit Mort

But why? I mean, there are hundreds of sounds that you hear daily and they don't do shit.

TheWhaleShark

That's because those random sounds are not structured so as to evoke an emotional response. A lot of music is specifically structured so as to provoke some sort of emotional response from its listeners; that's sort of the point. Granted, music is also entertaining, but I generally consider evocativeness to be a hallmark of "good" music.

I'm generally a fan of the more cathartic forms of music: metal and the like. It's a very effective release, and a good way to keep a level head for the rest of they. There's nothing quite like the feeling of being in a moshpit, screaming Slayer lyrics at the top of your lungs.

La Petit Mort

Yep I'm into heavy stuff too like soul fly and sepultura, they give such amounts of sheer energy.

Andrew

Have either of you heard of Protest the Hero? Mmmm, they are great after a horrible day at work haha.

La Petit Mort

Yeah, on the freeway metal helps you get angry enough to scream "get the fuck out!"

La Petit Mort

I like anthrax also.