Why do we get tired of some music?

[GaryProtein]

. . . .Once you remove spoken words from music, it becomes even more abstract. Your imagination has even more work to do, and the meaning of the piece can only be discerned if you are actively involved in interpreting the music. The music loses its literalism and becomes whatever you make of it. This is why I can often hear different things from the same piece of music - the only thing that has changed is my emotional state and what I bring to the music. . . . To me, this is why some music can be listened to over and over. Not because the tune is merely catchy, but because of what it says. . . .

That removing the words from the music makes it more abstract is an interesting thought I had not considered. When I am listening to popular music or opera, I NEVER listen to the lyrics because I am interested in, and enjoy the instrumental aspects. I don't speak Italian or German so I don't know what is being said in an opera, but I enjoy the music and staging. When I am listening to music, I want to relax. I really don't care what the lyricists have to say. If I want to pay attention to words, I turn on the news or read a journal. I can listen to some pieces of music repeatedly during the course of a day.

 

[NorthStar]

The discussion is getting more and more interesting.

A great classical piece of music, without words, I love.
A great classical opera adding great vocals (male & female), I love (even without understanding the singing words). ...It's all about emotion first anyway.

When you listen to the spoken words of a singer (folk, etc.) like Van Morrison for example; your concentration level on the music itself accompanying it is in another dimension, background plateau sort of, or like a melody with brush strokes (tones and harmonics).
Keith brought some' new; music only and music with words.

Can you imagine conveying your emotion on audio forums without pictures, videos and written words!/? ...Musically speaking.

 

[NorthStar]

<<< Caution! >>>

Before you listen to these five tunes below (by Eurythmics), be aware that when I was young they stuck into my head, more or less, and for quite a while.
* The band Eurythmics, with Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, was a very popular band with catchy songs.
They were quite talented in that art of "catch". ...Annie with her impeccable vocals, and Steve with his "hypnotic" guitar playing.

___________________

 

[NorthStar]

Five more

______________

*** Eurythmics was definitely a "catchy" Pop/Rock (Dance-Rock - New Wave) band. ...And it seems that it was also their intended intention,
their original/unique mark of commerce. ...Their stamp, their brand, their specialty, their trademark. ...The catchy band.

 

[Groucho]

The one sticking around in my head at the moment is Theme One by Van Der Graaf Generator. I challenge you to listen to this and not be similarly afflicted!

(Written by one George Martin!)

 

[valkyrie]

You want some stunningly beautiful music that will bounce around in your head for days? You want to see the sexiest woman alive? You want to learn why we even bother with a stereo rig? Well go here and listen to Elina sing the "Habanera". But, if you can, please pay attention to Ms. Garanca's acting - that face, that body language - and what a dark wonderful mezzo-soprano voice - the Callas of our time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGFUKsv1epk

BTW: This song was the first time that African cross-rhythms were incorporated into formal Western music - via Spain through Cuba. The cross rhythm, is to me at least what keeps the thing bouncing around your mind.

Nothing against Annie - have all her albums and been to see her in concert. A wonderful, talented and gracious lady. But give Elina a chance.

 

[GaryProtein]

The one sticking around in my head at the moment is Theme One by Van Der Graaf Generator. I challenge you to listen to this and not be similarly afflicted!

(Written by one George Martin!)

There won't be any problem with this NOT sticking in my head. I couldn't wait for it to be over.

 

[Groucho]

There won't be any problem with this NOT sticking in my head. I couldn't wait for it to be over.

You're just a little ray of sunshine aren't you?

 

[GaryProtein]

You want some stunningly beautiful music that will bounce around in your head for days? You want to see the sexiest woman alive? You want to learn why we even bother with a stereo rig? Well go here and listen to Elina sing the "Habanera". But, if you can, please pay attention to Ms. Garanca's acting - that face, that body language - and what a dark wonderful mezzo-soprano voice - the Callas of our time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGFUKsv1epk

BTW: This song was the first time that African cross-rhythms were incorporated into formal Western music - via Spain through Cuba. The cross rhythm, is to me at least what keeps the thing bouncing around your mind.

Nothing against Annie - have all her albums and been to see her in concert. A wonderful, talented and gracious lady. But give Elina a chance.

That aria is one of the all time greats, probably tied with the "Triumphal Scene" in Aida and the "cavatina di Figaro" in Barber of Seville.

There's no trouble having those replay in my head over and over.

 

[amirm]

We didn't answer the other part of the question: why we get bored with some music even though we like them at first? My googling is failing to show any authoritative research. Ran into this theory though: http://www.2knowmyself.com/why_do_we_get_bored_of_songs

"Novelty, perception and Music
When a experience is new we feel excited because we can't predict what's going to happen next. People get bored of predictable stuff and that's why we like new things. (see also Why being mysterious works)

When a happy experience is novel the critical parts of our brains don't function correctly. In my previous article Is love really blind i explained how we don't see the flaws of the people we love in the beginning of the relationship because the areas responsible for judging others in the brain doesn't function during that period.

But after some time when the thrill and excitement of novelty go away you start thinking rationally once again and you become more focused on the negative aspects of that thing you liked. (see also Why do people become irrational)

This is the reason why you might start experiencing negative feelings few days after listening to your favorite song repeatably."

 

[amirm]

If the above is true, then music we don't get bored with lacks anything negative that we can zoom in on! And leaves the journey of discovery when we listen over and over....

 

[jazdoc]

We didn't answer the other part of the question: why we get bored with some music even though we like them at first? My googling is failing to show any authoritative research. Ran into this theory though: http://www.2knowmyself.com/why_do_we_get_bored_of_songs

"Novelty, perception and Music
When a experience is new we feel excited because we can't predict what's going to happen next. People get bored of predictable stuff and that's why we like new things. (see also Why being mysterious works)

When a happy experience is novel the critical parts of our brains don't function correctly. In my previous article Is love really blind i explained how we don't see the flaws of the people we love in the beginning of the relationship because the areas responsible for judging others in the brain doesn't function during that period.

But after some time when the thrill and excitement of novelty go away you start thinking rationally once again and you become more focused on the negative aspects of that thing you liked. (see also Why do people become irrational)

This is the reason why you might start experiencing negative feelings few days after listening to your favorite song repeatably."

The author has obviously never attended RMAF!

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

I don't think it's quite this simple, as it doesn't explain all the very simple, repetitive pop songs that have endured for decades. Maybe the stuff we like at first, then lose our taste for just isn't that good in the first place. Maybe somethng about it reminds us of something familiar, that we already like, but it has neither the melodic hooks to get into or subconscious nor the depth to satisfy our intellectual mind. I don't really know. There are thousands of songwriters who would love answers to these questions.

Tim

 

[MrAcoustat]

The only music i get tired of is the kind that is NOT stress free.

 

[caesar]

And why do some songs get stuck in our brain? Anyone know?

I get that we have a defense mechanism to not keep eating the same thing pushing us to eat a variety of food. But why is our brain trained to dislike hearing a song we love, after a few repeated plays? And why it doesn't happen with some other music?

Anyone has ever studied this?

Sorry, I have been really busy and unable to put my thoughts together on this fascinating subject until now...

When people are presented with something abstract, they imagine something concrete that the abstract thing is like, to them. Once represented as concrete, our brain has a much easier time dealing with it. For example, studies using universal audiences show that individuals represent the time abstraction in spatial terms, such as looking back to our childhood, approaching retirement, etc.

When we hear a song, have a great meal, or have any other mind-blowing experience, the second time is just not the same. We acclimate to the experience. It sucks!!! But it’s just life. The economic term for this is declining marginal utility. One way to overcome this, is to use time to our advantage. I’m a big fan of foie gras and duck fat fries. If I have them for lunch and dinner every day, I’ll be sick of them in a week or two. However, I choose to have them 3 -5 times a year, and it makes my brain swoon with pleasure as if it were the first time. Coming back to music, personally, I am so sick of classic rock/ prog rock, I want to throw up if I hear something like hotel California or bohemian rhapsody. (Thank God for Sirius XM Deep Tracks!)

The above concretes our brains create based on the abstractions in the music are different for each of us.

 

[Bill Hart]

This reminds me of a book I read a number of years ago about guys and women that worked on the automobile assembly lines in Detroit (just goes to show you how dated the book is). The opening paragraphs described how they would all work, every day, to the same hard rock tracks- Zep, whatever, and it was part of their daily, hourly, minute by minute rhythm, to the point where it was almost part of their DNA. Although I may not be in the mood for, say Zep II- if a track from it is playing when I'm in the gym, I can groove to it, even though I (you and everybody else) can tick off in advance, every note that is coming.
Some stuff is timeless, although i will get burnt out on it for a while- thus, no "Look of Love" for a long time- got back into the Dusty thing through the Shelby Lynne cover album- and then back to Dusty in Memphis, with the occasional play of the old Casino Royale soundtrack cut. Ditto on Famous Blue Raincoat, or other 'audiophile' records from the 80's-90's. Just got tired of them through overplay. Ironically, a lot of the stuff I am seeking out now is original pressings of stuff that was driven to death on the radio iin the 60's-70's. There is something pretty cool about hearing mainstream pop in its best form. (I tracked down a copy of the Spiral Starecase, just for their one hit).
Different than a song that gets stuck in your head. Worst for me isn't that- it is hearing a lick or piece of a song in my mind and being unable to place it. Sometimes it drives me crazy.

 

[caesar]

This reminds me of a book I read a number of years ago about guys and women that worked on the automobile assembly lines in Detroit (just goes to show you how dated the book is). The opening paragraphs described how they would all work, every day, to the same hard rock tracks- Zep, whatever, and it was part of their daily, hourly, minute by minute rhythm, to the point where it was almost part of their DNA. Although I may not be in the mood for, say Zep II- if a track from it is playing when I'm in the gym, I can groove to it, even though I (you and everybody else) can tick off in advance, every note that is coming.
Some stuff is timeless, although i will get burnt out on it for a while- thus, no "Look of Love" for a long time- got back into the Dusty thing through the Shelby Lynne cover album- and then back to Dusty in Memphis, with the occasional play of the old Casino Royale soundtrack cut. Ditto on Famous Blue Raincoat, or other 'audiophile' records from the 80's-90's. Just got tired of them through overplay. Ironically, a lot of the stuff I am seeking out now is original pressings of stuff that was driven to death on the radio iin the 60's-70's. There is something pretty cool about hearing mainstream pop in its best form. (I tracked down a copy of the Spiral Starecase, just for their one hit).
Different than a song that gets stuck in your head. Worst for me isn't that- it is hearing a lick or piece of a song in my mind and being unable to place it. Sometimes it drives me crazy.

Amen. And this also explains why people (with the means) swap gear so frequently. Look at the actions of some audio gurus in the last year or so:.
- Fremer moves from Maxx 3 to Alexandria XLF - similar sound, but more there there
- HP oscillating between Scaenas and Nolas - similar natural sound, but Scaenas have huge subwoofers. Would like to hear more from HP...
- Valin dumps Magico for Raidho - complete polar opposite sound. Kind of a hard core communist buying a seat on a wall street exchange
- Harley moving from Rockport and Focal to Magico - different ; maybe better in some, worse in other ways
- Jeff Tonepub - from $30K Martin Logan CLX to $150K Gamut to $30K Kef Blade - big difference between the 3, but looks like a yo-yo move, sonically, with no rational basis (or not rationally explained in his writings)...

That damn human nature always gets in the way of the perfect musical artist, the perfect food, or the perfect speaker.....

 

[Bill Hart]

Amen. And this also explains why people (with the means) swap gear so frequently. Look at the actions of some audio gurus in the last year or so:.
- Fremer moves from Maxx 3 to Alexandria XLF - similar sound, but more there there
- HP oscillating between Scaenas and Nolas - similar natural sound, but Scaenas have huge subwoofers. Would like to hear more from HP...
- Valin dumps Magico for Raidho - complete polar opposite sound. Kind of a hard core communist buying a seat on a wall street exchange
- Harley moving from Rockport and Focal to Magico - different ; maybe better in some, worse in other ways
- Jeff Tonepub - from $30K Martin Logan CLX to $150K Gamut to $30K Kef Blade - big difference between the 3, but looks like a yo-yo move, sonically, with no rational basis (or not rationally explained in his writings)...

That damn human nature always gets in the way of the perfect musical artist, the perfect food, or the perfect speaker.....

With age, I have come to expect less than 'perfect' from most things in life, me included.....

 

[caesar]

With age, I have come to expect less than 'perfect' from most things in life, me included.....

I'm with you. There's no judgment. Just human nature in action. And it is very interesting to observe.

But it is what it is.