Posted on 02/13/2012 10:11:22 AM PST by nuconvert
Why does Adele's 'Someone Like You' make everyone cry? Science has found the formula.
-Excerpt-
Twenty years ago, the British psychologist John Sloboda conducted a simple experiment. He asked music lovers to identify passages of songs that reliably set off a physical reaction, such as tears or goose bumps. Participants identified 20 tear-triggering passages, and when Dr. Sloboda analyzed their properties, a trend emerged: 18 contained a musical device called an "appoggiatura."
An appoggiatura is a type of ornamental note that clashes with the melody just enough to create a dissonant sound. "This generates tension in the listener," said Martin Guhn, a psychologist at the University of British Columbia who co-wrote a 2007 study on the subject. "When the notes return to the anticipated melody, the tension resolves, and it feels good."
Chills often descend on listeners at these moments of resolution. When several appoggiaturas occur next to each other in a melody, it generates a cycle of tension and release. This provokes an even stronger reaction, and that is when the tears start to flow.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Yeah, I’m a guy, and you just feel for the poor girl when she’s singing that song because it is so raw. It’s going to be tough for her to duplicate that kind of success, though, simply because the circumstances were so unique. But still, great, great voice.
She died.
“... it is the scene in Les Miserables where Fantine welcomes Jean Valjean to come with her to heaven. “
I clicked on your link...damn it! Yep, that one gets me every time. What hits me even harder, also from Les Miserables, is when Fantine sings “I Dreamed a Dream.” In contrast, “Someone Like You” has no emotional effect on me whatsoever.
I’ve been reading about Adele through my kids’ friends at FB for some time now (one friend never misses her concerts in the DC Metro area). But never had heard a single song, nor seen her. From the album cover pic, she sure has a pretty face. And so long as she and her songs stay clean, and she’s popular for her singing ability rather than sleazy promotional gimmicks or lifestyle, it’s something we should all celebrate.
One might be tempted to jump to conclusions as to why a “producer of live jazz concerts” would have a bitter, nasty reaction to a lovely woman with a golden voice and an armful of grammies to go with it. But I’ll reserve judgement.
That is a good song. Someone Like You.
However, I prefer Don’t You Remember for a tear-jerker.
>
And Adele deserved every Grammy.
Celebrity musicians bore me as much as professional wrestlers...if hype were sugar, the country would be in a terminal diabetic coma.
I’m not so skinny, my talents are in a different arena than songwriting, so your comparisons are invalid. I look for innovation and merit in music, not record sales and awards. If what you hear when you listen to music is a Grammy, I pity you.
Thanks for the link. I had not heard of her until reading about the Grammy results, and had not heard the song at all.
Good voice, good song, but no tears, and I can tear up over the darndest things, laughs - just ask my kids ;)
Give us strength Lord.
Tatt
That, and this one : |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOYIKw1NGSw
Never forget.
Keep us strong in this fight, Lord.
Tatt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px0j1EHF8Y0
Those sentiments, and threads like this, laughs a little, are a few of the reasons I have a heck of a time letting go of the kids stuff. Sigh.
Blessings without number.
Tatt
Dangit, I knew I shouldn’t have clicked on that link, hopefully nobody at work sees me for the next few minutes....I know, I’ll just claim allergies.
One word.
“Honey”
Flame away!
If I could get another chance
Another walk
Another dance with him
I’d play a song that would never ever end
How I’d love, love, love
To dance with my father again
Luther Vandross - Dance With My Father
Ping for music that makes you cry. :-)
LoL
And see the tree how big it’s grown
But friend it hasn’t been too long
It wasn’t big
And I laughed at her and she got mad
The first day that she planted it, was just a twig
She makes any music you can conjure up look silly and you know it. Send us a link to your song....(crickets chirping)
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