সঙ্গীত is often described as a
door of expression. Our
সঙ্গীত 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
পছন্দ 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
আপনি feel the same way I do?”
While সঙ্গীত 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
অথবা person. At times, সঙ্গীত is
like time-travel because of
its ability to evoke
unsolicited emotions. One
day, you’re walking to class
and আপনি hear someone
blasting a song আপনি 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
সঙ্গীত and memory and
emotion has intrigued
scholars for a very long time
now, and seems to be getting
even আরো attention
nowadays as researchers are
applying a better
understanding of the
psychobiological
mechanisms involved.”
The pervasiveness of music
has increased to be much
আরো 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
আপনি up to be excited দ্বারা life.
It’s everywhere — in
concerts, radio, TV shows,
your iPod when you’re
walking to class.
“People nowadays can take
their সঙ্গীত 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
বই 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 অথবা social
relationship,” he said.
Because of the countless
memories of the songs you
listened to together in the
car, sharing সঙ্গীত seems to
suddenly be tainted with
feelings আপনি 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 প্রণয় 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 আপনি 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
প্রণয় 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
আপনি just felt so down that
আপনি couldn’t get out of bed?
আপনি are definitely not alone.
Just when আপনি feel like
there’s no one in the world
who could comprehend you,
আপনি 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
সঙ্গীত when I’m sad from
singer-songwriters like Ben
Howard অথবা 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 অভিনয় as
emotional catharsis, music
can be enjoyable and
reassuring. Shomik
Mukherjee, a first-year
English major, finds his
পছন্দ songs comforting to
identify with personally.
“I really enjoy the song
‘Subterranean Homesick
Alien’ দ্বারা 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 আরো and আরো emotive
with his voice. Of course, on
happier days, it’s easy to just
appreciate it as a wonderful
piece of music.”
Because সঙ্গীত serves as a
link to deeper connections —
sometimes fun, sometimes
meaningful and other times
hard to ভালুক — everyone has
a different relationship with
the সঙ্গীত that they play.
সঙ্গীত 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
সঙ্গীত 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
পছন্দ 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
আপনি feel the same way I do?”
While সঙ্গীত 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
অথবা person. At times, সঙ্গীত is
like time-travel because of
its ability to evoke
unsolicited emotions. One
day, you’re walking to class
and আপনি hear someone
blasting a song আপনি 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
সঙ্গীত and memory and
emotion has intrigued
scholars for a very long time
now, and seems to be getting
even আরো attention
nowadays as researchers are
applying a better
understanding of the
psychobiological
mechanisms involved.”
The pervasiveness of music
has increased to be much
আরো 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
আপনি up to be excited দ্বারা life.
It’s everywhere — in
concerts, radio, TV shows,
your iPod when you’re
walking to class.
“People nowadays can take
their সঙ্গীত 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
বই 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 অথবা social
relationship,” he said.
Because of the countless
memories of the songs you
listened to together in the
car, sharing সঙ্গীত seems to
suddenly be tainted with
feelings আপনি 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 প্রণয় 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 আপনি 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
প্রণয় 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
আপনি just felt so down that
আপনি couldn’t get out of bed?
আপনি are definitely not alone.
Just when আপনি feel like
there’s no one in the world
who could comprehend you,
আপনি 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
সঙ্গীত when I’m sad from
singer-songwriters like Ben
Howard অথবা 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 অভিনয় as
emotional catharsis, music
can be enjoyable and
reassuring. Shomik
Mukherjee, a first-year
English major, finds his
পছন্দ songs comforting to
identify with personally.
“I really enjoy the song
‘Subterranean Homesick
Alien’ দ্বারা 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 আরো and আরো emotive
with his voice. Of course, on
happier days, it’s easy to just
appreciate it as a wonderful
piece of music.”
Because সঙ্গীত serves as a
link to deeper connections —
sometimes fun, sometimes
meaningful and other times
hard to ভালুক — everyone has
a different relationship with
the সঙ্গীত that they play.
সঙ্গীত 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.
