Why Does Music Resonate?

The Guiness World Records cites Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” as the top-selling single of all time, being sold over 50 million times since 1942 when it was released. It makes you wonder…What really makes a song so appealing that 50 million people would buy it? A study from Duke University tells us that our attraction to any set of musical notes in a song can be accredited to the similar frequencies our brains have been trained to recognize and appreciate. Apparently, the words which we use on a daily basis actually all contain subtle pitches which fall in a traditional range of notes, making it easier for our brains to connect with. So, when we hear certain melodies together, our brains pick out the ones it resonates with the most, and those become your favorite songs, or the tunes that get stuck in your head. Apart from the melodic aspect of course, there is the rhythm, tempo, vocals (if any), and the overall “feel”. Slow songs usually put us in a more relaxed and delicate mood where as upbeat and energetic songs provide us with an adrenaline rush through our veins. There are so many reasons behind why each person likes or finds a certain song appealing which cannot be pinpointed, but you should think about why you like that song on the radio that you can’t get out of your head.

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