Musica is often described as a
door of expression. Our
Musica tastes and the bands
we listen to closely reflect
who we are as people. The
soundtracks of our lives are
what get us through
happiness, sadness and
anger, and sharing our
preferito songs makes us feel
as if we are entrusting
someone with a part of us. It
allows two people to better
understand each other. It
gives the message of saying,
“Hey, this song says
something about me. Maybe
te feel the same way I do?”
While Musica can serve as a
link to connect with others
better, it has the ability to
make one emotionally attach
a song to a specific memory
o person. At times, Musica is
like time-travel because of
its ability to evoke
unsolicited emotions. One
day, you’re walking to class
and te hear someone
blasting a song te once
shared with someone you
loved and suddenly your
body freezes up. Why does
this happen? Is it nostalgia?
Bitterness? Longing?
According to Dr. Charles
Mullin, professor of Media
Entertainment in UCSB’s
Communication Department,
“The relationship between
Musica and memory and
emotion has intrigued
scholars for a very long time
now, and seems to be getting
even più attention
nowadays as researchers are
applying a better
understanding of the
psychobiological
mechanisms involved.”
The pervasiveness of music
has increased to be much
più than just something
one listens to in their free
time. It has lyrics that
influence the world. It’s the
voice that understands, and
it’s the friend that pumps
te up to be excited da life.
It’s everywhere — in
concerts, radio, TV shows,
your iPod when you’re
walking to class.
“People nowadays can take
their Musica with them at all
times and can enjoy it
privately (courtesy of mp3
players and other new-ish
technologies). People are
particularly able to cultivate
a ‘soundtrack’ for their
lives,” Mullin said.
Once a friendship or
relationship is over, one can
put concrete things like
libri and pictures away,
but it’s much harder to
separate something as
intangible as music. Dr.
Mullin explains the reason
for this.
“Music-related memories are
probably a little different
than other types of
emotional memories in that
they are often social in
nature, linked to a social
context o social
relationship,” he said.
Because of the countless
memories of the songs you
listened to together in the
car, sharing Musica seems to
suddenly be tainted with
feelings te would like to
forget.
BREAKUP BLUES
Kaylyn Harris, a second-year
biology major, identifies
with Maroon 5’s music,
confessing that almost all
their songs seem to chronicle
her Amore life entirely.
“When I ended a two-year
relationship, it was around
the same time that
‘Payphone’ came out. When
you’re 14-to-16 years old, a
‘happy ever after did exist’ is
the only thing te know.
Last summer we started
talking again, and that’s
around the time ‘Maps’ came
out. It described my
situation perfectly,” Harris
recalled.
The catchy, but heart-
breaking Maroon 5 song
Harris refers to is about a
person who misses their old
Amore and the conversations
they used to have, but later
realizes that they shouldn’t
feel that way because they
weren’t there for each other
through their darkest times.
Because song lyrics
oftentimes fit into personal
experiences, many people
can allow themselves to feel
understood and less alone
through music.
SOMBER SOUNDS
Ever had a time in your life
te just felt so down that
te couldn’t get out of bed?
te are definitely not alone.
Just when te feel like
there’s no one in the world
who could comprehend you,
te listen to an artist croon
in heartbreakingly beautiful
ways that transcend
conversation.
Aimee Wong, a fourth-year
psychology and English
major, listens to certain
artists in order to feel
understood.
“I like listening to acoustic
Musica when I’m sad from
singer-songwriters like Ben
Howard o from LIGHTS’
acoustic album,” Wong said.
“I feel like the simple
acoustic tones of their guitar
and their voice helps
resonate with something
deeper than what I could put
into words.”
HAPPY TUNES
In addition to recitazione as
emotional catharsis, music
can be enjoyable and
reassuring. Shomik
Mukherjee, a first-year
English major, finds his
preferito songs comforting to
identify with personally.
“I really enjoy the song
‘Subterranean Homesick
Alien’ da Radiohead,”
Mukherjee said. “The lyrics
are just brilliant, and the
feeling of isolation the lead
singer, Thom Yorke,
describes is universal. It’s
very comforting to identify
with at times, and on more
difficult days, he can be
really soothing even as he
gets più and più emotive
with his voice. Of course, on
happier days, it’s easy to just
appreciate it as a wonderful
piece of music.”
Because Musica serves as a
link to deeper connections —
sometimes fun, sometimes
meaningful and other times
hard to orso — everyone has
a different relationship with
the Musica that they play.
Musica has the ability to
speak what words can’t. It’s
a bridge for understanding,
a connection that
unknowingly binds humans
to their memories and
emotions.
door of expression. Our
Musica tastes and the bands
we listen to closely reflect
who we are as people. The
soundtracks of our lives are
what get us through
happiness, sadness and
anger, and sharing our
preferito songs makes us feel
as if we are entrusting
someone with a part of us. It
allows two people to better
understand each other. It
gives the message of saying,
“Hey, this song says
something about me. Maybe
te feel the same way I do?”
While Musica can serve as a
link to connect with others
better, it has the ability to
make one emotionally attach
a song to a specific memory
o person. At times, Musica is
like time-travel because of
its ability to evoke
unsolicited emotions. One
day, you’re walking to class
and te hear someone
blasting a song te once
shared with someone you
loved and suddenly your
body freezes up. Why does
this happen? Is it nostalgia?
Bitterness? Longing?
According to Dr. Charles
Mullin, professor of Media
Entertainment in UCSB’s
Communication Department,
“The relationship between
Musica and memory and
emotion has intrigued
scholars for a very long time
now, and seems to be getting
even più attention
nowadays as researchers are
applying a better
understanding of the
psychobiological
mechanisms involved.”
The pervasiveness of music
has increased to be much
più than just something
one listens to in their free
time. It has lyrics that
influence the world. It’s the
voice that understands, and
it’s the friend that pumps
te up to be excited da life.
It’s everywhere — in
concerts, radio, TV shows,
your iPod when you’re
walking to class.
“People nowadays can take
their Musica with them at all
times and can enjoy it
privately (courtesy of mp3
players and other new-ish
technologies). People are
particularly able to cultivate
a ‘soundtrack’ for their
lives,” Mullin said.
Once a friendship or
relationship is over, one can
put concrete things like
libri and pictures away,
but it’s much harder to
separate something as
intangible as music. Dr.
Mullin explains the reason
for this.
“Music-related memories are
probably a little different
than other types of
emotional memories in that
they are often social in
nature, linked to a social
context o social
relationship,” he said.
Because of the countless
memories of the songs you
listened to together in the
car, sharing Musica seems to
suddenly be tainted with
feelings te would like to
forget.
BREAKUP BLUES
Kaylyn Harris, a second-year
biology major, identifies
with Maroon 5’s music,
confessing that almost all
their songs seem to chronicle
her Amore life entirely.
“When I ended a two-year
relationship, it was around
the same time that
‘Payphone’ came out. When
you’re 14-to-16 years old, a
‘happy ever after did exist’ is
the only thing te know.
Last summer we started
talking again, and that’s
around the time ‘Maps’ came
out. It described my
situation perfectly,” Harris
recalled.
The catchy, but heart-
breaking Maroon 5 song
Harris refers to is about a
person who misses their old
Amore and the conversations
they used to have, but later
realizes that they shouldn’t
feel that way because they
weren’t there for each other
through their darkest times.
Because song lyrics
oftentimes fit into personal
experiences, many people
can allow themselves to feel
understood and less alone
through music.
SOMBER SOUNDS
Ever had a time in your life
te just felt so down that
te couldn’t get out of bed?
te are definitely not alone.
Just when te feel like
there’s no one in the world
who could comprehend you,
te listen to an artist croon
in heartbreakingly beautiful
ways that transcend
conversation.
Aimee Wong, a fourth-year
psychology and English
major, listens to certain
artists in order to feel
understood.
“I like listening to acoustic
Musica when I’m sad from
singer-songwriters like Ben
Howard o from LIGHTS’
acoustic album,” Wong said.
“I feel like the simple
acoustic tones of their guitar
and their voice helps
resonate with something
deeper than what I could put
into words.”
HAPPY TUNES
In addition to recitazione as
emotional catharsis, music
can be enjoyable and
reassuring. Shomik
Mukherjee, a first-year
English major, finds his
preferito songs comforting to
identify with personally.
“I really enjoy the song
‘Subterranean Homesick
Alien’ da Radiohead,”
Mukherjee said. “The lyrics
are just brilliant, and the
feeling of isolation the lead
singer, Thom Yorke,
describes is universal. It’s
very comforting to identify
with at times, and on more
difficult days, he can be
really soothing even as he
gets più and più emotive
with his voice. Of course, on
happier days, it’s easy to just
appreciate it as a wonderful
piece of music.”
Because Musica serves as a
link to deeper connections —
sometimes fun, sometimes
meaningful and other times
hard to orso — everyone has
a different relationship with
the Musica that they play.
Musica has the ability to
speak what words can’t. It’s
a bridge for understanding,
a connection that
unknowingly binds humans
to their memories and
emotions.
