I've written quite a bit about about the idea of musical resonance. The concept is a simple one: a piece of music moves you to extremes and you're powerless to explain why. A recent example came at a Low Anthem show from this past spring. Me and TheWife™ were just blown away by the event. I don't remember the exact setlist, but the point where my entire being resonated with the music — I like to describe this as "forgetting who I am" — came during "This God Damn House." First attempts at describing this sensation used words like "elation," but it's more than that. What, I'm not sure of.
There is, of course, the opposite concept. You hear some music and you're repulsed by it. Again, the reasons are not often clear, though I have a feeling that emotion is involved. I say this because most of the music that I'm repelled by seems emotionless to me. It seems broken. Yes, these reactions are purely subjective, and point toward something that's difficult to get to. I'm still not there.
Where? It's fair to ask this, but I don't have an answer. Yet.
All of this brings up the emotional reaction that occurs on the positive side of things: when you are so overtaken with positive emotions that the tears cannot be held back. I was never able to understand this when I was a kid. People cried at weddings? Why? Weren't they supposed to be happy? Then I got married, and during that ceremony...I understood.
Still, the mystery sometimes returns when musical resonance spills over. I've come to understand why this happens at, say, a Springsteen show. I've lived with that music for a long time and it brings so many complex emotions to the surface. But the Low Anthem? This was the first time I'd heard them. There's a line in the song..."And don't forget to comb your hair"...when the melody rises and the harmonies soar: and I was instantly overwhelmed. By the time that lonesome sound of whistling via cell phones closed out the song (a great contrast to the E-flat horn, clarinet, and pump organ), the tears ran down my face and I was powerless to stop them.
Article comments
1 - Donald Gibson
A few years ago I took my young cousins to a Nelly Furtado concert. She put on a great show, but it was during her opening act's set that I had one of the moments you describe here. I'd never heard of him prior to that night (and neither did a lot of others, as people were milling around while he performed), but it was a guy that went by the name Citizen Cope.
I don't remember much of his set, except when he sang a track called "If It's Love," from his latest album at the time. It was like I zoned in on that song (or the song zoned in on me) and I felt this energy (or something) that was quite overwhelming and moving... Music's definitely a powerful thing.
2 - Mary K. Williams
You all attach meaningful words to this amazing sensation. : )