Music is Amazing

What is there about music?

At the end of this essay there are youtube links to

Music serves many purposes and is used in various ways to impact our lives. It evokes a wide range of emotions and affects our mental states. Research in the field of neuroscience has shown that listening to music triggers complex neural processes in the brain, leading to the release of neurotransmitters associated with pleasure and reward. Music modulates mood, affects emotional well-being, and has been used as a therapeutic tool in psychological interventions, effectively reducing anxiety, alleviating depression, and improving overall mental well-being. 

What is more entertaining than music? There are concerts, music festivals, and live performances. Music is also used in movies, television shows, and video games. And people enjoy listening to music for leisure and relaxation, using it as a source of entertainment in their daily lives.

It creates a sense of connection to others and provides a form of escapism. The melodies, rhythms, and lyrics in music have the power to stir up various feelings and moods, allowing listeners to relate to the music on a personal level. 

It also enhances cognitive functions, improving memory, attention, and creativity. Furthermore, it's a powerful mnemonic device, aiding in memory recall and retention. It triggers memories, evokes strong emotions associated with specific events or experiences from the past, and stirs memories.

When we hear music, various regions of the brain are activated, including the auditory cortex, which processes sound, and the limbic system, which is involved in emotions and memory. This activation causes the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, which is associated with pleasure and reward, as well as oxytocin, which is linked to social bonding and trust.

These are the reasons music is used as a therapeutic tool in various psychological interventions. It's called music therapy, and it addresses emotional, cognitive, and social needs. It has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety, alleviating depression, and improving overall mental well-being. 

Many years ago, when I worked in a psychiatric day Hospital with patients who had paranoid schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe depression. There was a music group that provided patients with that kind of therapy that helped them feel much better. The music provided patients with a sense of community. That was very significant because these were the type of people who self-isolated.

While music can have therapeutic effects on many individuals, certain types of music can be potentially harmful or counterproductive in certain situations. For example, music that is excessively loud or aggressive, such as heavy metal or certain types of rap music with violent or explicit lyrics, can increase feelings of anxiety, agitation, or anger in some listeners. Additionally, music with a fast tempo and chaotic rhythm may overstimulate the nervous system and lead to feelings of restlessness or discomfort.

It is essential to recognize that the effects of music are highly individual and can vary depending on personal preferences, mood, and context. What may be harmful or unhelpful for one person could be therapeutic or beneficial for another. It is important for individuals to be mindful of how different types of music affect them personally and to choose music that supports their well-being and mental health. 

Music therapy has beneficial effects for people with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Even for patients with the most severe loss of cognitive functions, music evokes memories, emotions, and cognitive responses in individuals. Here are some ways in which music can be helpful for individuals with dementia and Alzheimer's disease:

1. Memory recall: Music has the power to trigger memories from the past, even in individuals with memory loss. Listening to familiar songs or music from their youth can stimulate memories and emotions, improving mood and quality of life.

2. Emotional well-being: Music can have a calming and soothing effect on individuals with dementia, reducing feelings of anxiety, agitation, and stress. It can also help alleviate symptoms of depression and improve overall emotional well-being.

3. Cognitive stimulation: Engaging with music can provide cognitive stimulation for individuals with dementia, helping to maintain cognitive function and mental acuity. Activities such as singing, playing instruments, or rhythmic movement to music can enhance cognitive skills and promote social interaction.

4. Social interaction: Music therapy often involves group sessions where individuals can engage in musical activities together. The result fosters social interaction, communication, and a sense of connection among participants, reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness.

5. Improved communication: For individuals with communication difficulties, music can serve as a nonverbal form of expression. Singing, humming, or moving to music can help individuals communicate their emotions and needs, improving their ability to connect with others.

6. Pain management: Music therapy has been shown to help reduce pain perception in individuals with dementia. Listening to music can distract from physical discomfort, promote relaxation, and enhance overall comfort levels.

I love music, and my interests and tastes range from classical to jazz, blues, and popular. I will never forget the time when my wife and I went to a concert and, among other things, heard Beethoven's 9th Symphony. The last movement of the Symphony has an incredible chorus that is stirring, exciting, and inspiring. When we left the concert hall and drove home both of us had feelings of awe and chills. It was incredibly exciting.

The two of us often attended jazz concerts, popular music concerts, and musicals either in the movies or on Broadway. 

My latest music interest has focused on the Blues. Next are the lyrics of some great Blues songs. I encourage my readers to listen to this music on YouTube or CD.

Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay"

Otis Redding

"Sittin' in the morning sun

I'll be sittin' when the evening comes

Watching the ships roll in

Then I watch them roll away again, yeah

I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay

Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh

I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay

Wastin' time

I left my home in Georgia

Headed for the Frisco Bay

'Cause I've had nothing to live for

And look like nothing's gonna come my way

So, I'm just gon' sit on the dock of the bay

Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh

I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay

Wastin' time

Looks like nothing's gonna change

Everything still remains the same

I can't do what ten people tell me to do

So I guess I'll remain the same, listen

Sittin' here resting my bones

And this loneliness won't leave me alone, listen

Two thousand miles I roam

Just to make this dock my home, now

I'm just gon' sit at the dock of a bay

Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh

Sittin' on the dock of the bay

Wastin' time."

 The message of the song “Dock of the Bay” is so universal, about trying to find the beauty in life despite the hopelessness and despair we all have dealt with. The lyric speaks to the human condition, the emotional turmoil so common to all of us, with lines like watching the ships are only oh my God here we go Kimberly grandsonI’ve had nothing to live for/Look like nothing’s gonna come my way…Looks like nothing’s going to change/Everything still remains the same, and Sittin’ here resting my bones/And this loneliness won’t leave me alone. Redding and Cropper may not have been depressed when they wrote it, but they came up with a song that we can all identify with and that has stood the test of time. Everything has, indeed, pretty much remained the same. Tragically, Otis Redding was killed in a plane crash soon after recording this song. A terrible loss.

Eric Clapton

My Fathers Eyes

Sailing down behind the sun

Waiting for my prince to come

Praying for the healing rain

To restore my soul again

Just a toe rag on the run

How did I get here?

What have I done?

When will all my hopes arise?

How will I know him?

When I look in my father's eyes

My father's eyes

When I look in my father's eyes (look into my father's eyes)

My father's eyes

Then the light begins to shine

And I hear those ancient lullabies

And as I watch this seedling grow

Feel my heart start to overflow

Where do I find the words to say?

How do I teach him?

What do we play?

Bit by bit, I've realized

That's when I need them

That's when I need my father's eyes

My father's eyes

That's when I need my father's eyes (look into my father's eyes)

My father's eyes (yeah)

Then the jagged edge appears

Through the distant clouds of tears

I'm like a bridge that was washed away

My foundations were made of clay

As my soul slides down to die

How could I lose him?

What did I try?

Bit by bit, I've realized

That he was here with me

And I looked into my father's eyes

My father's eyes

I looked into my father's eyes (look into my father's eyes)

My father's eyes

My father's eyes (look into my father's eyes)

My father's eyes

I looked into my father's eyes (looked into my father's eyes)

My father's eyes

(Look into my father's eyes)

(Look into my father's eyes, yeah, yeah)

• Clapton is saying that we live on through our children, generation after generation. He "knew" his father (finally) when he looked in the eyes of his son, Conor, and realized they were his father's eyes.

• Clapton was raised by his grandparents, who he thought were his parents until he was in his teens. Growing up, he never knew his father, who only contacted him after Eric was famous. The sadness at not having a relationship is evident in this song. >>

• Conor Clapton died in 1991 at age 4 when he fell out of the window of a 53-story building in New York City in a freak accident (Eric wasn't there, but was planning to see him that day). Over the next few years, Clapton found solace on the island of Antigua, which is where he wrote the song, which appeared seven years after Conor's death on the Pilgrim album.

• "I wrote a song linking the loss of Conor with the mystery surrounding the life of my father, called 'My Father's Eyes,'" he wrote in Clapton: The Autobiography. "In it, I tried to describe the parallel between looking into the eyes of my son and seeing the eyes of the father I had never met, through the chain of our blood."

"By the Time I get to Phoenix," and "Galveston"

Glen Campbell

Finally, for me, as an individual, there is something about the songs by Glen Cambell, "By the Time I get to Phoenix," and its follow-up song, "Galveston," that arouse powerful emotions: