Why do you listen to music?

[Soeru]

This is a pretty open idea I had for a thread. How do you feel when you listen to music? Why do you listen to it in the first place? Just discuss what kind of meaning music has for you.

For me it's pretty simple. It can be a kind of music I don't like, but if it has good musicmanship then I'll give it a try and attempt to appreciate it. That's why I listen to even weird stuff like folk(not metal) and even classical music(not pretending to be sophisticated, but actually enjoying the music itself).

When I listen to fast metal and such it just makes me feel energized, and surprisingly happy(if it's melodic). I never listen to it to blow some steam but because I truly appreciate the music itself. I usually prefer fast music, sometimes I can't bear a 10 minute doom-ish song. I normally don't listen to music to fit my mood, unless I'm tired, then I'll just play some chillout/techno/trance, indie rock, doom, or some acoustic instrumental stuff. Cheesy power/heavy metal makes me feel unusually happy though, so that sometimes cheers me up after a boring day.

I think of music the same way an avid reader thinks of fantasy novels, entertainment. It's just a very serious hobby for me(which I'm trying to be a part of by playing guitar).


So... why do you listen to music?

[Borman]

I listen, and play, music because its fun and entertaining. It can help you work through whatever you are doing, make you feel happy, and it can really make you and sit down and think. Every piece of music tells some sort of story, and its fun to pick out what type of story it is.

[Xaenn]

Hmm, a pretty good topic if I do say so myself.

There are many reasons why I listen to music. If I'm working out/driving/doing something somewhat active something with a good beat that's loud and fast just fits the mood. It's energizing and adds to the experience.

I listen to a lot of music for the meaning it holds however. There's something special on that level that just connects you to the artist, and other people, depending on the emotions you are feeling and those of the songs.

And finally of course I listen to my mp3 player at work cuz it much lessens the pain.

[Slim]

I am constantly compelled to listen to music in order to challenge myself and/or be moved in some form - whether it is by a sublime melody, sheer heaviness, an outpouring of sincere emotion, gratuitous oddity, or the progresison of musical thoughts and ideals. I love music because it's always there, I can listen whenever I feel like, and it always makes me feel better. I am also drawn by the sheer volume available, there is no way to know all the music, and I'm always listening out for something new. Music is the purest and truest language of the soul. When you are listening to someone else's musical output, you are for those moments sharing in an experience that originates deep within the artist. It is truly a beautiful thing...

[Psyonide]

As much as I love my music for the way it can so easily evoke a change of mood and/or ideas, I have to say that I find myself listening to it more out of habit than out of a want to listen to something specific. Example: when I get home and boot up my PC, one of the first things I do is open up winamp and hit play (never have to bother about playlists, just have all my tracks in there on random), and I will only close it if I want to play a game or watch a video. Ditto with going into/coming home from work, always have my MP3 player there to entertain me, although I tend to pick albums/tracks much more often with my player.
While I think what Slim said is 100% true (not to mention wonderfully put), more often than not I just let music play and listen to whatever comes up.

[Schutzstaffel]

Music inspires me.

[youthquake]

music is my life. it is what my future is to be filled with.

i'm fullfilling my density with music.

[Toto]

Music gets me excited and happy, as well as a bit of an outlet for my anger.
Metal is for that, and the emotion in some songs always makes me happy and moves me. Classical music is appreciation, it's so hard to play in a band of 5, imagine a band of 20 something. Rap I like to listen to sometimes to relax, or to hear about politics in some shape or form.

[unownshadow]

Well, I do not usually listen to music on will, heh. I just listen to whatever hits my ears and goes through it, lol. So, I really do not care on what I listen to becuase I am usually ignoring it.

[Chaos]

I'm listening to music, for the pleasure.

[Cyberxion]

The power of music to effect ones emotions fascinates me. If I'm feeling down, I can listen to a certain song and smile. Another song could move me to tears. It's amazing, and it's the reason I love music.

[Skinner8]

It inspires trains of thought, it's a way to pass time, and it adds some beauty to everyday life. The latter depends on what you listen to, I suppose, but at least some of the stuff I have is great like that. Like, Rasputina. Download now, fools.

[Hangman]

Can't imagine life without it. It inspires me, makes me feel stuff and things. I don't want to think too deeply about it.

[kenny8373]

I only listen to music when i've got my computer on. Lover to turn the bass all the way to the top just to annoy the neighbours

[typical]

I never do it out of habit. I usually listen to music either to try some new band out, or revisit a band I like because I appreciate the art. Sometimes I listen to study it, get ideas on how to make my music better.