Ever wondered why some music pieces hit us in the feels? Find out how different music genres affect your feelings and behaviour!
Story and Illustrations by Beatrice Bautista
1) Classical Music
Feeling overwhelmed? Then relax with Classical music. It decreases cortisol, the stress hormone, helping you to calm down and run away from the burdens of life. If it’s already two in the morning and you still can’t sleep, then putting on some classical music might help. Studies have shown that the slow tempo of classical music helps your brain and body get ready to hit the hay.
Try floating away with this peaceful masterpiece.
2) Pop Music
If you need to feel energised, just listen to Pop music! Research shows that our heartbeats sync with the beats of the music we are listening to. Most Pop songs are above the average resting heart rate of 90 beats per minute. It tends to trigger the release of dopamine, which makes listeners feel happy, motivated and more attentive.
Here’s a classic Pop song to get those good vibes!
3) Heavy Metal Music
The intense nature of Heavy Metal gets your adrenaline pumping, making you feel less angry! Surprisingly, just like Classical music, Heavy Metal has proven to decrease cortisol, enabling angry listeners to feel calmer. The aggression in the music helps listeners to release their anger in a healthy way, headbanging their frustrations away.
This song may seem intimidating at first, but blasting it at full volume and jamming out made me feel much better after a frustrating day.
4) Jazz Music
Can’t write a paper due in two days and need your creative juices flowing? Or do you simply want to feel better? Look no further than Jazz music! Jazz music sparks imagination which also triggers the brain to release endorphins. This hormone helps with alleviating both physical and mental pain.
Have a listen to my comfort Jazz song and retreat into your imagination.
The impacts of music vary based on the preference of every individual, so why not try listening to these genres to see how it influences you?