So, today I got into a conversation on how music effects society. So, I'd like to know, how do you think music effects society and everyday living, and what does music mean to you?

Depends on what kind of music.

I personally listen to rap, so this list below could be a little biased.

Heavy Metal music- strong feelings, mostly anger
Rock- strong feelings, mostly making you want to sing along
Rap- strong feelings, can be happy or angry
Country- strong feelings, usually happy
Country rap- the two dont mix


Also, as I said, this list may be biased, I hate country and rock

"country rap"
Does that even exist?

For me,I love Japanese song..although some of my friend prefe K-pop..

It depends on the group of people you run with.I run with the folk/punk crowd.our music is generally always happy and we're out buskin on the streets people react well to it.Better then if you were playing metal,or rapping on the streets.most folk wouldn't take kindly to it.People around here who don't even know folk/punk love us when we play and convert into the genre.it really depends where you live and who you are with.

>>5 I agree with this. Maybe the question is 'Societies effect on Music' instead.

I think that music in some cases design the culture of society while in other cases, it reflects it back.

Nowadays, youths cling on to music as an outlet of frustrations or for it's calming effect. Lyrical music can sometimes affect the fads of society by defining what the artists like and thus listeners are wanting the same thing.

Classical music or traditional songs can have a uniting effect, such as yule tides or national anthems. Or a popular song like BEP's I Gotta Feeling that makes everyone feel the same energy. Without music popular hang out spots such as clubs wouldn't exist. The music whether it's booming through speakers or somewhere in the distant background sets the mood for others to interact.

I'm still alive because of my "emo" music. That tell you something?

It tells me that you probably like MCR or some shit like that and are oblivious to the wonderful world of other emo music.

Also Nicki Minaj is completely irrelevant cause I don't think I've ever heard anyone genuinely compliment her.
This must be one of those "omg guys my music is so edgy and deep that I feel the need to compare it with a shitty pop icon" moments.

Juuuuuuustsayinbro

nawp man, but I am into MCR. HOWEVER, I listen to so much more than just that. IF you want I could post a screenshot of my playlist called,"good shit". Which includes motley crue, aerosmith, all time low, boys like girls, 30 seconds to mars, the used, asking alexandria, falling in reverse, etc. Anyways, I found this shit on fb so I didn't actually make it. So whatever.

Ugh.

>>11 I can feel you cringing in pain all the way from here.

I also feel like you should make attempts to only ever respond to music threads using song lyrics, because that would just be gold.

>>11 I bet you think I wear all black all the time. You are sadly mistaken. I'm not "emo" I just like dark songs. But don't mind me, just continue to judge. IT seems like that's all you're into. However, I may listen to that so-called "emo' music but i also listen to classic rock. Seeing as I was basically raised on it. so..fuck you.
(and no I'm not gonna bring out the "oh they saved my life bs". I don't roll like that.

>>13 What's wrong with wearing black? That is one of my favorites by Johnny Cash.

I listened to ICP as a kid, mainly the songs about killing yourself and the people around you, and it didn't seem to affect me.

I don't think it is the music that would effect society, it is the reverse. Some people decide to try and be the stereotype realizing they might fit in with a group based on their interests, and music would be an indicator. Lets say a person who listens to emo music isn't depressed, but starts to complain and whine trying to be depressed. I can honestly say that they are not depressed, but they try to fill the stereotype of being emo. They do so thinking they might fit in with other emos, and that is what society tells them how emos act.

Truth is music helps people with their shit, even Marilyn Manson said something similar.

Also I listen to everything except pop, though I wish I had more country and classical.

>>14 nothing I was just trying to prove a point.

>>13
Chill. I never said anything about what I thought you look like, frankly I don't care what you look like. :P
I'm just saying that if you like stuff that you described in >>11, there's a lot of artists out there who do that stuff except....a lot better. That's all.

But seriously the comparisons to mainstream rock groups and obnoxious pop groups irk me. Anyone with half a brain knows it only makes the fanbase of the "more desired" group look less educated.

well fuck. I found this picture. Thought it was funny. Related to the topic. Though you guys would find it funny...Whatever. I'm sleepy.
anyways, it's like I aid I found this on facebook and thought it was funny as hell. I don't have time to make shit like this.

I am sorry if I am going to sound arrogant, but I find it a bit superficial to think that music affects society solely through the mood it can generate and it's use as an outlet for frustration.

For one, not all societies actually find "mood" to be a relevant possible characteristic of music.

Also, music has existed waaaaaay back (back to the primitive human tribes, when they were still nomads). If those people, who had incredible difficulties to survive, could actually afford resources and time to make instruments and play music, then music must have been some sort of tool essential to their survival (to a certain extent).

"Frustration outlet" is therefore not very significant as use.

Music has many functions: entertainment, economical, medical, religious, and even military (and there are maybe more).

It is safe to assume that it affects society through aforementioned domains (e.g. music can be used to create a sense of unity among believers. United believers will feel like they are part of a community and act accordingly.)

Music also helps preserve and pass on the knowledge and culture. This helps shape the members of society. For culture, think of the First Nations: some of the elders are still able to recite a peace treaty that their ancestors have made with another tribe, word for word. It was passed down as a song.

For knowledge, think of the alphabet song or all those lullabies you might have heard in your childhood.

I could type more, but 'nuff said. I think I made my point.

Each type of music is different.

Mainstream Rap- This is the shit that says, "I'm a rich manwhore. Beat that shit." Though using more words that make them sound "better". This kind of shit makes people who listen to it and like it, ignorant people in my book, turn into druggy manwhores.

Underground Rap- Not all of the artist that I put into this category belong here, but I'll describe what a majority of these people are like. These guys are the people who rap about what's real. This is what people, generally from the same area, can relate to. This causes, in my opinion more of a sense of honor and loyalty. It also shows a person what's important.

Christian Bands- I do not mean the stuff you hear at church praising God and stuff. I mean the people like, Thousand Foot Krutch. It's a Christian band, that sings about it, without just yelling, "Worship God! Worship him!"If you listen to them, you may not even know it's a Christian band until you look it up. Even if you aren't Christian, you make still listen to it and like it when you find out. These guys generally cause many things depending on what the band thinks important. Some have a sense of pride in their religion. Some have a sense of duty. Some have a need to help people. This all depends on their religious prospective, but it's either helping people or pride in their religion usually.

Rock- This is really hard to do without breaking it up into sub-categories. I will have to be really broad. I will only include those that include music. Most of these include pride, anger, and action. You are proud of something, usually who you are. You are angry about something, usually society. You want to take action, usually against society. Sometimes there is even a combination thereof. Keep in mind that this is mostly mainstream, and this bands where their main genre is rock. certain sub-genres, such and Christian Rock, makes a huge difference.

Metal and Screamo- This is the anger and depression. You hate something, and you react differently. Most of the "emo" music is in here. This is filled with feels.

Country- Most, of what I hear, is filled with fun, enjoyment, relaxing, and love of life. Like any other genre, there are always exceptions. This causes people to love life that much more.

I know there are more genres, but that's all I can think of. Remember that there are always exceptions, and don't hate me for my perceptions. Most of this is about mainstream, since I've never taken the time to look into underground stuff, though I bet I'd love it.

>>18 I also said that music creates unity, didn't I? That puts military and religous music under that category. Like praising God as one through song. Or marching at a strict and disciplined pace.

Also, when music first came into existence, mankind was much simpler minded. Of this modern day and age there are a lot more stress placed on a person, and for some, listening or dancing or singing to music releases those stresses.

Now I will give you the effects music has on the economy and education. I was purely thinking with the emotional side of my brain and not the more rational side. Music has been known to pass down knowledge for millenias, and makes things more memorable, like adding music to an Ad so that the commercial will become more known and recognized in hopes of more customers.

I'm not sure what the field of medicine has to do with anything...

Just realized today though that music effects society by giving power to the musician. Using lyrics with political content they sometimes can sway their listeners to seeing an issue from their point of view. The recent commercial on YouTube against gun violence in America is an example even though they use music artists and actors.

>>20 I didn't read that post carefully enough. Sorry about that.
When I wrote function, it was not meant as genre.
Military music and music used for military purposes has a subtle difference. Yes, there is the music used to rally the troops, but there is also the use of music to break enemy will before interrogating them.

As I wrote before, stress relief is but a minor use of music. Industrialized countries have the "luxury" of it, but they are a small percentage of the whole world. What you say is totally right, but I like thinking broader.

As for medicine, there is music therapy. Not the one where you make people listen to joyful music to cure them of depression (that would be too simple). I am referring here to using music to aid people recovering from a brain trauma and etc.

Yes. I must agree with ads being good examples of music used to manipulated people's opinion.

I respect musicians, but I wouldn't say they have any power at all.
I mean, nowadays, most of them are contracted to companies to dictates their lives and the songs they sing. Their public image is also controlled by their companies. Therefore, it is not really the MUSICIANS who are affecting society through THEIR music (if it even belongs to them).

Sorry if I sounded offensive with the way I formulated my arguments.

"Mood" and "beauty" are significant possible characteristics of music for western civilizations, but not for all civilizations in the world. Not all music has lyrics nor imply a significant message/meaning. There must be more ways for music to affect societies that aren't restricted to those properties.

It really does depend on your definition of music, I guess.

>>21 This.

1) I totally forgot about an interview I heard with Metallica about U.S. military personnel using their music on blast as a torture method. I honestly didn't believe it at first, or I thought that someone was over dramatizing it, but if you heard about this too then it's true isn't it? But does that really affect society? I always thought of a society to be quite a general noun, but mainly because it defines the general lifestyle of a mass of people. So I'm not sure if music used as a torture method is an example of how it affects a society.

2) Music Therapy that reduces brain trauma? That sounds bloody brilliant; I'll read up on that as soon as possible.

3) You're right about the majority of music artists being controlled. Their protest art are probably maufactured. I was thinking more like Eminem's Mosh, but then again, he's one of a kind.

4) I'm not sure how someone composes non-lyrical music if not from emotion.

>>22
1) Actually, is the consequence derived from using music as a torture method that affects society. Compare it to fireworks, for example: the launching of fireworks may be an art, but it can also cause lots of damages. Laws have since been made to control it and human have been taught to handle them carefully. The same could be done with music. Subtle judicial changes could still affect society, I suppose?

4)Once again, it depends on your definition of music.
Do you consider sounds of nature, like bird songs, to be music?
If yes, then their songs are not made to convey any emotions at all. Their main purpose is that of mating, basically telling the others that they are healthy and strong(this function can also apply for humans, as the musical gifted sometimes write love songs to woe their love ones)

How much rhythm and organization is necessary for something to be music, in your opinion?

I could give you examples of pieces that have neither rhythm, nor organization (or too much of both), if you are unsure about that criteria. But even if they do satisfy your opinion, they might not necessarily express any emotion.

I could also give you the examples of John Cage's
"4.'33" or Yoko Ono's "Clockwork Piece".
Those are "conceptual" music. No emotions are expressed there and for the latter (Yoko Ono), no emotion/meaning was intended either.

Bump

Music is the energy & emotions of people. It affects society by letting that energy & emotion be felt by everyone listening.

tl;dr Music can have a great, positive influence or it can be complete bullshit.
Oh man, this is something that REALLY gets to me.
I don't know about in other countries, but here we get songs with very obvious euphemisms for sex and drug abuse played on the radio all day. That and generally shitty music that's grammatically incorrect and just plain horrible.
I think that music can be a great thing though - it causes emotional reactions and helps convey opinions in a creative way. I just don't like the idea of little kids hearing songs with euphemisms for blowjobs and repeating it to me when we're out shopping. It's happened before.
And I can't fucking stand music with incorrect grammar or tense use. I hear it far too often and, as a grammar-Nazi and English student, it annoys me to no end. Particularly in modern rap music, I've noticed.
Don't get me wrong - I like rap music. But I don't like the recent stuff. Because most of the time, it's not about real issues. It's about sex and drugs and money and that's fucking stupid and about two thousand people have done it already. If you want to be creative with music, do something that will influence people - something new and interesting.
(I swear to god if someone flips out over what I just said I will punch a wall.)