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Do You Listen to Music?

I Listen to Music

  • In my Car

    Votes: 7 6.6%

  • As Background Sound

    Votes: 1 0.9%

  • As Entertainment

    Votes: 2 1.9%

  • In Order to Learn to Play it

    Votes: 4 3.8%

  • Leaned Back with my Eyes Closed

    Votes: 7 6.6%

  • None of the Above

    Votes: 3 2.8%

  • All of the Above

    Votes: 78 73.6%

  • While Happily Munching Carrots

    Votes: 4 3.8%
  • Total voters
    106
mellowinman

mellowinman

Free Man
Oct 19, 2011
11,818
18,518
63
Minneapolis
#1
Do you ever just listen to music? I'm not talking about putting on some tunes while you hang out with your friends, and talk and play games.

I'm not talking about in the background, while you work on your computer, or do chores, or even work out.

I'm talking about sitting, lying down, or some other type of relaxed position, and closing your eyes, and playing music through a good system, and really soaking it in; allowing yourself to visualize.

I was lying back, listening to Linda Ronstadt sing "Blue Bayou," and for no reason, I started picturing something like a whale tail, cutting through the water, and causing an echo of its shape, in a sort of fountain, that was synched up with the harmony vocals.

I really liked that, and for the record, I am not using any chemicals at all.

So what about you? Do you ever just watch the show in your mind that comes from experiencing great sounds?
 
#2
Absolutely. I work in NYC. 40-60 minute train ride to get into the city every day, then another 30-45 subway/walk to get to the office. Then reverse that to get home. It's a lot of down time.

The train ride is where I really get to listen. The subway/walk is more like a movie soundtrack.
 
#5
It's more or less the only way I listen, but I chose all of the above, cause sometimes I'm in a different situation. Once it's just become background noise I turn it off, cause there isn't too much point.

There's nothing I love more than picking out a nice record (right now it's the Gateway Trio - Dave Holland, John Abercrombie and Jack DeJohnette), sitting back, free of distraction, and paying close attention to what's happening in the music. How everyone is interacting, what they're saying, picturing the performance or maybe a different scene altogether. Once a distraction comes along, I prefer to turn the music off than ignore it.
 
#6
Pretty much all of the above.

Seems like with age, I hardly have the time to just sit down or lay down and REALLY LISTEN to music. But, I do it about 10 times a year and for 1 to 3 hours, I am in music bliss! I need to make myself really listen to music more often. Seems like I have to have a certain kind of mood or frame of mind.

Sometimes while driving in the car, I can acheive music nirvana but traffic lights and idiots usually mess it up.

Being nearly age 62, many of the songs that I like have a very strong emotional effect on me and I get very sentimental, even tearing up.

Really listening to music can be like a trip on a time machine, causing tremendous memory recall of years gone by.

Really listening to music can give a fantastic spiritual feeling!

I wish I'd take the time to do it more often.

Although I love bass and it is my favorite instrument, it's a killer guitar solos that gives me a "high", especially blues/rock oriented riffs. Some vocals and lyrics give me a "high" too.

(I'm sorry for using the pronoun "I".)
 
#8
Fantastic subject for a thread, and a good question. I do listen to music in the way you are describing, but not as often as I should. When I do, it tends to be music which you can dive down into and discover slowly - Charles Mingus is a favourite for this, as is Oscar Peterson. It is an extremely enjoyable thing to do, and such an important experience for musicians too.

Cool thread, Mellowinman - I look forward to following it! :)
 
#11
Interesting question! I find listening to music substantial, not only for musicians... for everybody.

From my experience... when I find that I don´t have the muse to listen to music for a longer period, I know there is something going wrong in my life.
Mostly it means I am too stressed out. Normally music helps me relax, but when even music stresses my mind I really have to slow down.
 
#13
I mostly listen to music to learn things about it that I want to put in my own music. For example, I will listen to a song that has a cool chorus effect on the guitar for the purpose of trying to figure out how to make my chorus sound better.
It has been a long time since Ive listened to music for pleasure. :(
 
#14
Not as often as I'd like to.

These days it's listening to songs I gotta learn.(which are not songs that Id prefer to sit and chill to)

And personally, if im workin in the garage..and music is on..Im hearing it..but not really listening..which to me is totally different. When Im focusing on something, if the music is on, It has to be low volume. I prefer it not distract from my other senses while Im workin on suttin important.


Nothing I hate more than music soo loud that I cant hear someone talking, or talk to someone..or think strait. Example: my girl loves background music..but likes it loud.If you want to listen to music, fine,but lets not try to have a conversation whereas we have to yell.
either turn it down, or stop talking. ;)
 
#16
well, I don't really visualize anything, to be honest, but I listen to music a lot, I actually postponed taking a shower yesterday by 3 hours because I was really enjoying the music I was listening to.
 
#17
When I am "tuned in" and listening intently, I listen to whatever I am into at that point. When I am working on something, I usually find an online smooth jazz station. But something is almost always on.
 
#18
mellowinman said:
Do you ever just listen to music? ...
I'm talking about sitting, lying down, or some other type of relaxed position, and closing your eyes, and playing music through a good system, and really soaking it in; allowing yourself to visualize.
Click to expand...
Yes, but not as often as I'd like to.

I spend a lot of time "studying" music, i.e. listening to analyze it or try to learn to play it. It's good to do that, but it's work.

Last week I sat down and listened to a Herbie Hancock album, just to enjoy it, and man, what a wonderful experience.

I really want to make a point to do that, like once a week or something. Just sit and listen.
 
#19
Mellowinman:

Great thread!

Ya know, I miss doing that. I used to listen to music like that when I was in my 20's. But then, life seemed to get too busy with career development in civil engineering, marriage, raising kids, yardwork (ew!), and so forth. Now that I'm 57, I miss those times when I would just sit back and really get into the music.

I have five and a half years to go until retirement. Once I hit that, I'm just gonna sit on a beach and listen to music and not use my worn out brain for anything else. My rule then will be: no thinking allowed! :)
 

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