How can music be depressing?

TheBig3 · 08-23-2012, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrapevineFires

Deserves it's own thread.

I don't udnerstand how a song can be depressing. The only instance surely, is if that particular song kicks off a memory associated with it.

A song in it's own right depressing? Why would music make you feel depressed?

Music is beautiful. Music can be good, bad, indifferent, depending on ones tatse. But why would it invoke a sad or depressed feeling after listening?

Any opinions?

Theres nothing that says music is depressing, nor is there anything that says music is out of key. Everything is a Western Construct, but to remove music from culture is to make music just noise.

Stephen · 08-23-2012, 06:51 AM

LOL I take it you've never listened to The Smiths.

Seriously though a lot of my favourite music I would describe as melancholy. As much as I enjoy it I also find that if I listen to too much of it I can get lost in it. Admittedly I am prone to depression but to say that there is no inherent sadness in the music would kind of miss the point. I think artists frequently exploit the inherent power in the darker moments of life.

GrapevineFires · 08-23-2012, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stp

LOL I take it you've never listened to The Smiths.

One of my favourites. Never ocne have I felt depressed listening to them.

Quote:

Seriously though a lot of my favourite music I would describe as melancholy. As much as I enjoy it I also find that if I listen to too much of it I can get lost in it. Admittedly I am prone to depression but to say that there is no inherent sadness in the music would kind of miss the point. I think artists frequently exploit the inherent power in the darker moments of life.

sadness. yep. I see lots of it in music. But to actively get depressed by it? Feel down after listening to it?

To me that's madness.

Rjinn · 08-23-2012, 06:56 AM

I don't see how you can answer this question without it being personal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrapevineFires

I udnerstand the expression. Of course. But if a songwriter writes a song about being depressed, surely the object is not to make the listener depressed? The object is to write a terrific song.

Music is an expression of the soul. I don't think a musician would try to program how the audience feel. Again personal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3

but to remove music from culture is to make music just noise.

That's surprisingly a genre of music...

TheBig3 · 08-23-2012, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rjinnx

That's surprisingly a genre of music...

What is?

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrapevineFires

sadness. yep. I see lots of it in music. But to actively get depressed by it? Feel down after listening to it?

To me that's madness.

This is a different question than you had originally asked. A song being depressing is not the same as a song making you depressed.

TheBig3 · 08-23-2012, 07:10 AM

No, your opinion is that music doesn't cause depression.

GrapevineFires · 08-23-2012, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3

No, your opinion is that music doesn't cause depression.

Well thanks for telling me my opinion, but I'd extend that to say music doesn't cause depression, doesn't sound depressing.

Depressing is a lazy, inaccurate word to use when music or any art is concerned.

Rjinn · 08-23-2012, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3

What is?

Noise.

TheBig3 · 08-23-2012, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrapevineFires

Well thanks for telling me my opinion, but I'd extend that to say music doesn't cause depression, doesn't sound depressing.

Depressing is a lazy, inaccurate word to use when music or any art is concerned.

Come to a pick a fight, have ya? Well I'm your man.

You're showing me that you don't really grasp linguistic nuance while you're also saying you know a thing or two about word-choice; Why is depressing a lazy word? What word would you use instead? What do you think music does to people that the rest of us plebs are calling "depressing."

I look forward to the free enlightenment I'm going to get, and on behalf of all MB - thank you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rjinnx

Noise.

Yeah but they're still bouncing that off the wall of culture. The noise, being intentional, is still working around the parameters of culture, even if its flouting them. Noise in culture has direction.

Noise outside of culture is functional at best. At worse, the result of things moving and the chaos of the universe. A wildfire makes noise, but thats not the same noise as an album called noise, thats intentionally making sounds to sound like it has no order.

Stephen · 08-23-2012, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoundgardenRocks

A downtempo song can easily be depressing without invoking memories. How can anyone not be depressed when they hear this?

Funny that you chose that song. I'm just watching Father Ted where he inadvertently cheered up a depressed priest by playing Shaft but the priest's mood reverted to depression when he heard that song on the bus on his way home.

08-23-2012, 07:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,246	No, your opinion is that music doesn't cause depression. __________________ I've moved to a new address

08-23-2012, 06:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
Stephen I sleep in your hat Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Melbourne, Vic. Aus. Posts: 1,850	LOL I take it you've never listened to The Smiths. Seriously though a lot of my favourite music I would describe as melancholy. As much as I enjoy it I also find that if I listen to too much of it I can get lost in it. Admittedly I am prone to depression but to say that there is no inherent sadness in the music would kind of miss the point. I think artists frequently exploit the inherent power in the darker moments of life.