Coping with Music

[paranoid_cataclysm]

Since I write music I'm naturally curious about other people's taste in music and other such things and thus I'm curious about how you guys feel about music.  Do any of you listen to music to try to help improve your mood when you're perhaps depressed?  Is it mood appropriate and depressing when you're depressed or is it the exact opposite?  Myself, I find that listening to music that is appropriate to the mood helps the most instead of listening to the exact opposite.

[izstrange]

Almost anything by Blue October. Some of my favorites are "A quite mind," "H.R.S.A," and "Chameleon Boy."

[LexiFaye]

Oh I couldn't sleep (racing stress thoughts) and thinking of music is perfect to maybe soothe me.

-Mad World - Gary Jules and Michael Andrews: Melancholy
-The Resolution - Jack's Mannequin (which he wrote about surviving lukemia): Need a lift up
-Anything by Staind. I feel like he writes songs for me and me life. Especially It's Been A While.
-Angels on The Moon - Thriving Ivory: Just lets me sing something out.
-Whats Up - 4 Non Blondes: Strength. I survived rape the night I sang that song karaoke. Took me a year to hear it again and when I did I felt empowered.
Lastly, probably no one knows Patrick Park. I used to know him, he's bigger in California. But his song Honest Skrew is a comforting song. Dunno why.

I was just thinking about how much music affects me. I balled my eyes out when Michael Jackson died. He was a childhood friend to me because of his music. Thanks for this posting! I love music, and I love talking about it.

[paranoid_cataclysm]

I have a physical MIDI controller keyboard and it's touch sensitive so it works pretty good in combination with the East/West Quantum Leap Symphony Orchestra Silver Edition's Steinway Model B piano or my Fender Rhodes patch that although is free it still sounds just like a Rhodes piano.

I notice if I try to listen to upbeat music when I'm depressed it just annoys me and makes my mood worse so I'll listen to stuff such as the more depressing songs by Pink Floyd or songs such as Gimmie Shelter by The Rolling Stones have a note structure which makes me get depressed for some reason and I have to usually avoid them when I'm not depressed.

I also like the music my friend makes, give it a listen.  He unlike me has the self-esteem to think his work is good, which it is of course.  http://eternalinfamy.com/

[ILADVOCATE]

Perhaps you could share a bit more about your own music and what you play? I've ran into many people who composed music or were singer/songwriters on the poetry scene as both tend to perform in the same places. I have a virtual analog keyboard synth and on the first day of the Clonidine patch application can compose (at home mostly). Same with playing classical piano and my mother owns a Steinway. All this is a rarity though but its great to hear about other people's creativity and see it live as well.

[ILADVOCATE]

I enjoy all forms of jazz. That can carry across mood and take me out of both mania and depression as its just even keel. My grandfather was just passed on played in the big bands in the 40's but I like everything from Charlie Parker and Miles Davis and John Coltrane up to anything modern as long as its not smooth jazz. If it has at least somewhat of an edge to it it takes me out of my shell.

[Bluetwo]

Music sooths the soul.
I love listening to progressive jazz to settle me out.
If I want to get moving I listen what my kids like or go to my favorite 80's songs.

When I was in my depressed moods when I was younger in my 20's I would waddle in my misery with depressive songs.
Pink Floyd is a real downer!