ozahs

I have a question that has been bothering me for some time. Can anyone explain why some people are passionate about music, and others are not?

My wife and I talked about this recently; I am very passionate about music while she is not. She says she likes happy songs that make her smile; she loves Barry Manilow. But she thinks going to concerts is a waste of time. I, on the other hand, love seeing almost any live music. Certain songs can render me emotionally devestated (any bootleg version of Springsteen's "Racing in the Street" comes to mind - its not about racing in the street, btw). Singing Handel's Messiah with a like minded, well trained chior is exhilarating, to say the least.

Why does the saxophone solo in Dire Straits' "Your Lastest Trick" rip my heart out every time, while the person next to me might just think it is "pleasant"?

I experience similar levels of emotion when listening to Supertramp's "Child of Vision" or "School", or Cat Stevens' "Foriegner Suite". It does not even have to have any lyrics, like the Allman Brothers' "Jessica", or Handel's "Water Music".

I know my music selection dates me, but that is not the point. Everyone who is passionate about music has favorites that they connect to on an emotional level. I am just trying to understand how some people can be immune to the spell that music has cast upon me.

Does anybody have any insight?

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"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive"

Charlatan

Perhaps it's the same reason that some people are passionate about stamp collecting and others are not.

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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

ozahs

But that does not explain it. Why are some people passionate about stamp collecting and some are not. Besides, music seems to have a broader appeal than stamp collecting, so the comparison does not seem valid.

But I could be wrong.

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"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive"

kaerlyon

For you, which kind of people like really music? Because everybody listens music but after, the appreciation is different.
Me, I love music and I’m all right with you, it’s better to concerts but around me, people tell to like music, but listen only on the radio, take music on the net and change with the fashion. This people like the music but not feel it. I listen much music. Recently I went to a classical concert (Brahms, Wagner, Strauss) and the next month I will go to a metal concert (Slayer and Megadeth). Kinds are very different but I feel same sensations, vibrations to the center of my body.
I thought after you question : why people feel music and another just listen ? Maybe the sensibility. Sensibility with music but with people or world too.

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"And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend. If you pardon, we will mend. And, as I am an honest Puck, If we have unearned luck Now to scape the serpent's tongue, We will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call". A Midsummer Night's dream