I was just reading this big article on rap music and it's effect on kids joining gangs. They said the lryics glorified things like gangs, drugs and sex.

There was a story about a guy in Texas in 1992 who killed a police officer and his defense team argued that he did it partly because he was listening to gangsta rap.

I don't listen to rap music but I can remember how heavy metal was supposed to turn me into a devil worshipper.

So I was wondering how people feel that music really does influence their lives. Is it day to day or moment to moment? Do you think it could change your lifestyle or does your music change with your life?

Any positive things come from a certain kind of music? Or do you believe that some music could really be bad for you?

And what do you think your music says about you?

Tell me what you all think.

I'm easily affected by music; it gets my imagination running wild. Just the ryhthm and sounds really of the music gets me somewhat 'motivated' in different ways. I only get this when listening to the Final Fantasy Soundtracks though or other similar type of music.
I guess I could describe it as my "Emotion Manager" sometimes.

I'm a rapper and music lets me tell my story and just have fun. Rap or any other type of music don't influence me to do anything, people who say it does are morons, straight up, everyone has the capabilities to make their own decisions in life. If you wanna check out my music go to these pages:

www.myspace.com/hamiltonrapper
www.soundclick.com/jbling

Heavy metal turns you into a devil worshiper? Well maybe the new stuff, with no real catchy tune and all that sensless screaming, but REAL metal, I mean all the good stuff (mostly from the 80's) is some of the best and most inspirational music of all time.

I eat little children and kick puppies because of heavy metal. I... Just... Can't... Control... Myself... Music... Forcing... Me... To...




I really don't think music greatly influences my life, maybe some ideas and thoughts that are aided in thinking sessions of my world but if a song is talking about slaughtering a innocent person (thank you Cannibal Corpse) I'm not going to jump up and go kill the first person I find. Influences my emotions sure at the time. When I listen to Kitaro, I feel calm and at peace to a point. While listening to Arch Enemy will get my adrenaline going.

I like a varity of music ... from all the classic stuff, to the new stuff, in most genres. But music doesn't have any real influence on my life, I just listen to what ever I'm in the mood for.

No matter what anyone sais ... music does influence a person ... but killing because of rap .... come on!!!! Everyone should know the difference between right and wrong!!! Thats just an excuse!

Music to me ... well my kinda music .... Industrial : NIN, Rammstein, Tool, My Ruin, Rob Zombie, Korn and Marilyn Manson (has industrial sound in it) ...... and many more bands in this field even metal influences me, It brings out my creativity, concentation and makes me all fluffy and happy and bouncy, etc. ..... every morning I wake up with some random song stuck in my head .... and this has happened recently like about 3-5 months ago ... not neccessarily industrial or metal ... can even be alternative, gothic, punk, rock etc. and sadly once was stupid boy band group!!! That was terrible!!!
Music is the same as colours .... it does effect a person!!! Tis sound and light! .........

~*~

Music don't shape personalities, but the other way around if you ask me. Simple as that.

I dunno, when I listen to a band like Disturbed I want to punch someone

but if it's something like Manson then I just want to slap someone.

Kidding, but I do think that music can inspire you, like Staari said. It can bring out your creativity and like colors do, music can affect.

What I like is how music can paint the background for you. Just the right song can come on the radio at just the right time. A wonderful woman that I've recently met told me a story about just that. Now that memory will be painted for her.

It's pretty cool.

Indeed paint backgrounds .....

~*~

I absolutely need music on the background to zoom out all other environmental noise whenever I am working. And I find music can greatly enhance my moods, if I am down; doom (metal) can bring me down even further; if I am aggressive, thrash can get me more aggressive etc.
But of course it cannot "suggest" me to do things that I normally wouldn't do. Blaming music for an act of your own is a desparate defence act, to find a reason for behaviour where there is none.
That is just as valid a defence statement as in the old days: "I don't like mondays"

...music keeps me sane.

I have long since given up trying to be sane

I have a pretty wide musical range that I listen to that depends on my mood. When I was younger music used to play a big part in my life; I listened to a lot of different kinds of music, went to a lot of concerts...know all the band names and lyrics, it was important to me. Now it is just something enjoyable that plays in the background; I could live without it for a long time.

As for music influencing action; I believe that in a small degree it does have a supportive role to feelings that are already there and may influence the young mind to a supposed "lifestyle" of the given music. Of course an adult mind is not going to listen to snoop dog and want to start calling women derogatory terms and begin to think that drive bys are tough and manly. However younger minds are still learning and are influenced by the input that they get, parents, family members, neighbors, friends, and music.

We are all a sum of our life experiences, and if a portion of those experiences are glorification of violence, then we will have an affinity to that violence.

I've heard enough rap to say that a good chunk of it is garbage. Not only are the lyrics bad, but the music in it sucks, and it's overrated.

I don't see music as being a real influence in my life other than as a creative influence.Being a drummer,it sometimes makes me strive to learn more about my abilities as a drummer.

I do see music more as an extension of my moods,as well as an energy source.If I know I'm going to need some extra energy at work,I'll make an mp3 disc with stuff that helps give me energy (mostly rock & metal) and bring it with me to work,where I listen to it through headphones.Technically,I'm not supposed to be able to do this,but my boss allows me to because he knows that I know how to do my job effectively without having to use my hearing.

Sometimes,music can affect my moods.I have a lot of memories that are connected to certain songs...so sometimes the right environment and a certain song will send me on a trip down memory lane.Hearing cultural music such as Cajun stuff can make me quite homesick,and listening to Celtic stuff relaxes me after a rough day at work.

I also have a very wide range of musical tastes,since I like good music...no matter what the genre is.I don't care for Rap though...since I haven't heard any Rap that I thought was good since the early days.

I agree with you Wolf, music can be a great source of energy as well as a great relaxation tool.

I like to listen to some heavy stuff when I work out, especially "Better than you" by Metallica or anything from "Countdown to Extinction" by Megadeth. Godsmack too!

But I can totally chill to Loreena McKennitt.

And yeah, the memories come flooding back when I listen to the Smashing Pumpkins.

So music can be good for you...

as long as you don't shoot cops

I have always liked all kinds of music. As I was growing up, my tastes always seemed to be deligated by who I spent time with. Being the youngest in a large family I was always captivated by whatever my siblings liked & how much time I spent with them. I've loved everyone from CCR & the Everly Brothers to Led Zepplin & Doors to Metallica & Queen. When I was the last one at home...I was left to find things like the Police & Madonna. Quite a range.

I'm in to metal music now. It's been my constant for the last 7 years. I've always liked it, but it became my "trademark music" when my dad died. I needed a way to basically tell 95% of my family where to go & that music spoke to me. It gave me an outlet. Why did the family fall apart? It was dysfunctional, but Dad was it's glue & he was no longer there. Hard feelings, resentments & all the rest became the rule not the exception.

I hope music doesn't do that! I listen to an aweful lot of "Sweeney Todd" and "Assassins", lol!

I wouldn't say music influences any part of my life, but it does affect my mood. When im sad I have to stay away from certain music lol.

Hmmm, this is an interesting one.

I think if you listen to rap music and gangsta rap and go out and shoot someone, you're obviously one link short of a gold chain in the first place

But music is a massive influence for me. Like Many people have already said its an emotional outlet and my escape. Its also a sort of a statement of who I am for me. I like to express myself. So to dress in clothes that suit me and my personality. I aren't a goth but since becoming a mum of two, I like to express my musical tastes by the way I look and dress.

I think no matter what your mood theres a song to suit and just to sit and listen to a song that reflects how you're feeling is such good therapy.

So. yes, Music does influence your life, but it can never be used as an excuse for nutters commiting crimes.

Hi Glassvampire, I think the music we like depends on several things. It could depend on how our body system is wired, how it changes through time, and how our brain is set up. It could also depend on what's happening in our life at that time. When I was in High school I used to listen to a lot of hard rock. Then I went through a heavy Reggae phase. Now I like some rap(I have some Eminem CD's and a computer folder of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg), but generally I now listen to Eurodance and Hip Hop(which I also like to sing at Karaoke). Now when I listen to hard rock or heavy metal, after 10 minutes I get depressed.

Recently on the Oprah show, they had a show about how Rap songs affect the African American community. There were several peole on the show criticizing rap songs for their violent lyrics and degradation to women. I never listened to rap for the lyrics per se. I listen because I love the beat and rhythm.

Well, I think the Eurodance and Hip Hop I currently listen to says that.......I'm a spunky energetic kind of lady who also loves to have fun.

music is every part of my being, playing it, making it, selling it, talking about it, listning to it, watching it, socilasing to it, its everywhere and im everywhere it is.

To me, music is the most important thing in my life. Without my music, I honestly doubt that I would be the person I am today. It's influenced me spiritually, creatively and I use it to make me feel better

To me, every note sounds beautiful, every lyric amazing. I luff it!

I think music just like any other form of art can be influential in a cultural context.

Of course music is "Influential" look at the rating system they had to create so young kids don't get their hands on the the wrong material...."A warning" in reference to lyrics ...

Sad...but people hear messages in lyrics, and kill themselves....

Everybody's taste is different, but "mellow" seems the way to go.......calm mind and spirit.......


But a little "Metallica" and "Ozzy" can't hurt anyone

I can't even understand the lyrics in the majority of the music I like to listen to, but the sound of the song can greatly affect my mood.
As for my behavior... I listened to Eminem's "Criminal," "Kim," and "No Apologies" all in a row, and afterwards, felt as if I had just listened to someone express themselves or a story through music. That's what I had listened to, not something telling me to kill people.

However, I must admit a certain gorgeous genre of Japanese music may have nudged me a bit in the direction of bisexuality. (I just never knew men could be that pretty...)