Whether it’s the catchy rhythm that hooks you or the lyrics that make you ponder life, good music has an uncanny ability to capture our attention and evoke a reaction. It can also make us feel great – either subtly or in a full blast. And while there are many factors that contribute to a song’s success, there’s one thing that every great song has in common: a powerful emotional connection.
The word “music” dates back to the Middle English word musique, which was formed from the Latin words musique and muses (or nine muses in Ancient Greek). These were the goddesses of various arts: Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Euterpe (lute and double-pipes), Erato (love and lyric poetry), Melpomene (tragedy), Polyhymnia (sacred poems), Terpsichore (dance) and Thalia (comedy and pastoral poetry).
In addition to being entertainment for its own sake, music has been used in religious ceremonies, rituals, and social events. It is a universal language that transcends cultural differences, and it has often been used as a medium for political and social change.
Musical performance can be a complex amalgam of melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre in a particular, intended structure – or it can simply be the sound of an instrument playing a chord or the vocalist singing a phrase. The term “music” is sometimes defined more narrowly as the art of composing music and the skill in performing it – although the use of notation and the known sole authorship of a piece are often seen as necessary to this definition.
There is a growing body of research into the wider benefits of music on human development and well-being. There is evidence that it can positively influence the physical, social, educational, and psychological (cognitive and emotional) aspects of human life.
Music can be a powerful form of expression for personal and collective emotions, such as anxiety, anger, fear, sadness, joy, and love. It has been found to have a calming effect, and it can help reduce pain. It can also facilitate learning and memory, and improve coordination, concentration, and mood. Music has even been shown to lower blood pressure.
A song’s dynamic range – the highs and lows in volume or melodic phrasing – is another factor that contributes to its quality. A good example of this is Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” It starts off soft, haunting and moody before pounding drum beats drive in, and then the piano plays a simple melody as a bridge to lift you into the final chorus. This combination of emotion and production is what makes it so memorable. It is also why it has become a cultural icon.