Music and goosebumps

[Ian Price]

Can someone explain to me why it is that music can give goosebumps to people? I have never been able to find a reason for this phenomena.

Would also be good to hear what songs give people on this forum goosebumps!

[waves]

For me it's any time Casey Sabol (from Periphery) sings. It actually happens every time I listen. I love the feeling. I usually find myself grinning aswell :D

And sometimes it happens when i don't want it too (my sister's christina aguilera etc) but it does. It's got to be something to do with the song writing. I reckon it has to be built up to.

And tieing in with that other thread, it is most often than not in the middle eight. Or just after with the big recapitulation.

[Ratrod]

I don't know what causes it. Musical magic, emotion or a scientific explanation?

Some songs do it to me. Sometimes it's the story, sometimes the tone or the riff.

I have to say most of AC/DC's introes are good for goosebumps. It's amazing how certain tones made by Gretsch guitars give me goosebumps the most.

For lyrics? Ever heard 'Worn Down Piano' by the Mark & Clark Band? It gets me every time.

[plastercaster]

first three notes of the comfortably numb solo
 :headphones1:  :headphones1:  :headphones1:
bliss

[Woogie]

first three notes of the comfortably numb solo
 :headphones1:  :headphones1:  :headphones1:
bliss

I have a bootleg where he rips it up on the outro solo, it's spectacular!!

For me, Killer of Giants (especially the solo), Ramble On or The Battle of Evermore.

[hamfist]

I'm sure all sorts of things can cause a piece of music to affect us emotionally. Sometimes the lyrics can have the effect.  Sometimes a song will remind us of a situation or person from the past, that triggers emotions. Sometimes the music or singing is itself so utterly beautiful to our ears that we are moved by it. I sure a mixture of any or all of these frequently happen too.
  Oh, I find that alcohol makes a big difference too !

Almost the whole of Philadelphia by Bruce Springsteen has an effect on me. Quite strange, as I don't like anything else he's ever done really.
  Also, I find the guitar solo in "the Grapes of Wrath" by Spear of Destiny to be utterly moving, just by it's shear beauty. It's such a dark, desperate, and tragic song, and the solo fits it so perfectly.

[HTH AMPS]

Redemption Song - Bob Marley
just about anything Bjork does
classic Aretha Franklin records (Lady Soul etc...)
Clapton's playing on the Bluesbreakers record
Angus' solo on The Jack from If You Want Blood (tone, feel, it's all there)

[Johnny Mac]

Is it harmony that does it?

[noodleplugerine]

Listening to ANY Mnemic, Sikth, or Dillinger Escape Plan song through either good quality speakers or some nice headphones - Just puts such a grin on my face its not even funny.

Music that makes you smile and nod your head energetically is what makes good music good.

[maverickf1jockey]

Listening to ANY Mnemic, Sikth, or Dillinger Escape Plan song through either good quality speakers or some nice headphones - Just puts such a grin on my face its not even funny.

Music that makes you smile and nod your head energetically is what makes good music good.

I disagree. I think it's what makes great music.

My theory is that perfect music is good (meaning that the flaws inherent within certain songs or albums are what makes them great.).

For instance Ayreon albums are full of really contrived lyrics and sections that, were you to listen in a car or in public, would cause you to try and hide as they are so overdone. Yet I still find myself grinning whenever these sections start (along with some bits which I would describe as 'perfect' but the balance between perfect and flawed is just right in these albums IMO).

So in short. Flawed is great whereas perfect can be total shite (think corporate pop idols to hear 'perfect music and think your favourite band for 'Flawed' music.)

This theory only applies to popular music as opposed to classical or baroque music (The Romantic era relies upon its inherent flaws just as much as popular music I would say). I would describe Bach as 'perfect' but would also call him 'great'.

[PoshCollins]

Listening to ANY Mnemic, Sikth, or Dillinger Escape Plan song through either good quality speakers or some nice headphones - Just puts such a grin on my face its not even funny.

Music that makes you smile and nod your head energetically is what makes good music good.

I disagree. I think it's what makes great music.

My theory is that perfect music is good (meaning that the flaws inherent within certain songs or albums are what makes them great.).

For instance Ayreon albums are full of really contrived lyrics and sections that, were you to listen in a car or in public, would cause you to try and hide as they are so overdone. Yet I still find myself grinning whenever these sections start (along with some bits which I would describe as 'perfect' but the balance between perfect and flawed is just right in these albums IMO).

So in short. Flawed is great whereas perfect can be total shitee (think corporate pop idols to hear 'perfect music and think your favourite band for 'Flawed' music.)

This theory only applies to popular music as opposed to classical or baroque music (The Romantic era relies upon its inherent flaws just as much as popular music I would say). I would describe Bach as 'perfect' but would also call him 'great'.

+1.

I remember one guy ( I think it was Jeff Beck..) who said that you can remember music for being perfect in its own way because of the little flaws.

[il˙ti]

It's really quite interesting how air molecules pushing our ear drums in different frequencies can affect us emotionally. We can't yet understand it, all we can do is bear witness to it.

[gingataff]

Two pieces of music give me shivers. The first is in the second part of solo in Joe Satriani's Ice 9 the tone is nasty but those harmonics do funny things to me, makes my neck hairs stand up and it feels like some kind of heightened sensitivity.
The second is Bartok's Bluebeards Castle, the intro is so atmospheric but when the 5th door is opened is amazing. I saw Pierre Boulez conducting the CSO at the Proms a few years back and (to quote the guy doing yoga in the Woodstock film) "..this thing go rrrRRRRR! up my spine and flashes in my brain".

[Philly Q]

Totally agree with maverickf1jockey that it's the flaws - or maybe the "human elements" - that make music special.  And in rock/pop music I think a lot of that comes down to having a real live drummer as the time-keeper.  So much dance/chart music is completely soulless because it's "manufactured" to perfection.

A few things that give me chills whenever I hear them:

The vocals on Alice in Chains' Down in a Hole.
Ritchie Blackmore's solo on the "Made in Japan" version of Smoke on the Water.
Robin Trower on the "Live!" version of Daydream.

[prozacbear]

I've always thought that goosebumps date back to when we had fur and (like my cats do) at times of high emotion we would make the fur stand up to make ourselves look bigger. This would make us look harder when threatened, and also communicates our emotional state prior to evolving facial expressions and language.

The reason we get goosebumps when we are cold is when we would stick up our fur it would trap air molecules close to our skin as an insulator.

Somehow the emotion stimulated by music is triggering this physiological reaction.