Another thing I have used music for is for working out. I have a couple playlists of various artists, that I use when I’m on a what I call a fitness ride, essentially pedal-to-the-metal, balls out for 45 minutes to an hour, as fast as I can pedal on my bicycle on our paths here. I have a slower paced playlist that I use just for moderate paced rides. They always wear me out and the adrenaline rush from the hard ride is almost like an extended orgasm.
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Sounds great, glad it works out for you.
I never did listen in gyms but when the covid pandemic shutdown arrived, I bought some home pieces and I’ve worked out at home since then and I listen to music working out at home even though I never did before.
I ride a bicycle a lot but not paths, on roads, so I never wear my earbuds as I want and need to be able to hear and listen to traffic etc.
Ingenious of you to have different paced songs for different paced workouts!
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We are blessed with a couple of off road paths that have long stretches without road crossings. We never ride on roads. I do not like the prospect of going fast and having to dodge drivers who are unaware of cyclists. The paths are where I do my hard rides are fairly low traffic areas, a few cyclists and maybe a dog walker once in a while. The biggest hazard these days are the kids on E-bikes who are riding way too fast.
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That’s wonderful for you! I’m jealous but very happy for you.
Agree about the e-bikes but where I’m at most of the folks on them aren’t kids, but adults.
Now, long ago, instead of an e-bike, I rode around on a Puch moped. I bought one at 14 years old and several of my friends had one too. This was back in the early 1980’s, like 1981 or so.
We weren’t exactly the Hell’s Angles motorcycle gang but we had fun! Our mopeds would go right about 25 mph, which was pretty good.
Once I turned 16, I sold it as I could then drive my parent’s cars…
I have been a musician since I was a child so I have always had a very important place for music in my life. I have a degree in music production. However due to being disabled I was never able to chase after the career I wanted. I still play instruments, compose music and listen to music all the time. I like going through new music to find new artists that I love, as well as fall back on old favorites. I just made my first complete piece of music+ video clip in 6 years as a collaboration with a friend and I was so happy about it.
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I always wanted to play a musical instrument, but never found one that I could stay with. They say it is an excellent way of keeping your brain healthy. Congratulations on your accomplishment, I am sure you can be proud of it.
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Congrats on the music + video clip with your friend! That sounds wonderful.
I’ve always admired folks with musical ability.
I have none. It’s illegal for me to sing alone in the shower in my home:)
I was teased so much in choir class in the 7th grade by friends and others in that class.
The extend of my musical ability is turning music on and off, like online, or on a car radio etc.
I’m sorry you weren’t able to go after the career you wanted.
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I wake up and say “Alexa play music everywhere”. I hate silence, which many people either find funny or strange. The less time my thoughts are alone, the better, which is why I went over the top and installed an echo dot in every room in the house for multi-room playing.
And to answer your question, I’ve mentioned little bits on here, but in reality, I’m not sure I could ever explain it, but I’ll try.
The highs always create unforgettable memories. Music has gotten me through so many low points in life aswell. For this reason I have multiple playlists, each with different songs on my phone.
I listen while shopping, in the car, in the shower, where ever I can.
At home, I always have dream threater, Marillion and Flying Colors playing in the background, because it’s soothing when cleaning or even just relaxing. My little boy has just recently memorised Kayleigh by Marillion 
Growing up in an Irish family, music was always played. Lots of new year parties, even around the table for Sunday dinner. My influence definitely came from parents.
My grandad had a little speaker, which he held. He would listen to the radio or music and much like you, absolutely loved Chicago, hard to say I’m sorry was especially his favourite.
But over the years, my taste in music has slightly changed. When I younger I preferred faster songs or “bangers” as they say but now I really appreciate more relaxed songs, where you can hear the singer or instruments. 15 years I wouldn’t have listened to instrumentals, but now I really appreciate them the most.
You could say music controls my life but with the amount of skipping, hitting repeat I do, I’d be lying 
Apologies for waffling on 
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Somehow I’m not surprised by this Miss Stacy:)
Same with me about different kinds of music. I think many are that way, their tastes change or they just incorporate different kinds of music into their lives.
I was born and raised in the cold north here in America and a good while ago. I did not listen to or like country music. Not much was played up there in the 70’s and 80’s.
And then I moved south and I still didn’t like country music… until I did!
Miss Shania Twain, Miss Sara Evans, Miss Dolly Parton & Rascal Flatts are my favorites in the country music genre.
I’ve seen all of them except for Sara Evans sing live.
Now, I would listen to music while falling asleep in junior high school and high school and I wanted to in college, but my future 1st wife didn’t want to do that so you already know I was no longer able to fall asleep with music playing.
After moving out when I caught my 1st wife cheating, I still didn’t think to listen to music while falling asleep as I’d not done it for so long and then it hit me! I could do it again so I began doing and I’ve continued to this day as Miss Heather enjoys it too (though she likes 90’s rock by far and I’m a huge 80’s music fan. But to be fair, I do like a lot of 90’s music too so it’s not difficult for us to find music we both like and enjoy).
I find it neat that you continued really liking music from a young age on, it never waned and in fact it grew for you.
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Same here, when young I loved the uptempo stuff and skipped many ballads, but as an adult I really do appreciate them more and the space between the notes. Always loved a good instrumental though after hearing Cozy Powell’s Dance With The Devil, The Shadows Apache and Focus’s Sylvia as a kid. As an adult I appreciate a lot of classical music, and that might be because it shares a lot in common with heavy rock music.
Always been into a good lyric too, and the wordplay and poetry involved.
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Music is certainly a thing that can make you feel better when you are having a sad day.
When I was going through my bad breakup I kept on listening and watching one particular music video:
R.E.M: Everybody Hurts
Certainly got me through every hour of the day, the video just explains it all basically I’m not alone there is something awful happening with other people, but no one knows how I’m feeling. As we all keep things hidden away.
Certainly brought me to tears but it was needed, downside was the ex would say after we broke up I obviously didn’t care about it ending because I’m not sad or crying, the truth was I did my crying and being upset before it officially ended, I had nothing more to let out.
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Music is a must in my life and always has been from as far back as I can remember.
As a child there were always records playing or we had the radio on. When I got a bit older I had my own record player and began saving my precious pocket money or any money that I got for Christmas or Birthdays to buy records. I had a radio too and listened to Radio Luxembourg although the signal was a bit hit and miss or crackly! Then came the cassette recorder and taping my favourites from the Top 40 on a Sunday evening. That was a trial, trying not to get the DJ’s voice in at the start or the end and 9 times out of 10 the whole thing could be ruined by my Mum suddenly coming in and asking if I wanted a cup of tea! 
As soon as I left school and started working I spent more money on vinyl and as @WillC has said, it was loads cheaper to see bands live back then. I remember in about 1982 seeing UFO and I think the ticket was around £5.00
My kids were raised on rock…literally! They listened to the likes of Iron Maiden , Whitesnake and Van Halen whilst still in the womb!
I listen to music every single day, whether it’s Spotify, Youtube, Planet Rock or a music channel on tv. I love my earbuds because they allow me to cut myself off from other distractions and focus purely on my enjoyment of the music. Sometimes certain songs have the power to take me a trip down memory lane and that’s lovely even though some of those trips can actually make my eyes fill with tears because maybe a part of me misses those days gone past when I didn’t have a care in the world. But mostly they are really happy memories.
So, basically I love music 
And thank you @HermanHuge for starting this lovely thread!
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Thank you.
Yes, I remember “crackly” radios from back in the day too as I’m old, was in high school in the early 80’s.
It’s easy to tell you love music and that’s a good thing of course.
What a neat story about you recording the top 40 songs and then getting your mom’s voice on the cassette tape!
My mom was only 20 years older than me so when I was young, think 7, 8, 9 years old she was only 27, 28 years old. She listened to rock back then, so I grew up on the 70’s rock and it’s OK, I do like lots of it, but I grew up in the 80’s and that’s my favorite music time.
Again, I had the thought to make this thread due to you and WillC and Stacy as it’s readily apparent how much you all like music and I knew it was important to all of you. It was primarily the 3 of you that caused me to make this thread.
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First Donington Monsters of Rock festival 1980, cost me and my brother £7.50 each, plus £2.50 for the coach! Rainbow, Judas Priest, Scorpions and Saxon (plus Touch and April Wine)…bargain!
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My therapist says I use music writing like a journal. I guess that’s probably true and so yes, its always been important to me.
Now I’m old, I listen to stuff to help me work or sleep. To sleep I need simple but interesting dark ambient / experimental sound design. Gives my ADHD brain something to focus on.
For work it has to be mostly lyric free so I trawl Youtube for radio or compilations of Future Bass, the lighter end of Dubstep, remixes of film scores etc.. I love a good Reese or Neuro bass.
Band wise, over the years its been Cocteau Twins ( plus other 4AD artists ), FSOL , Japan and all the off shoots, Elbow, Radiohead, the Cure, Steven Wilson/Porcupine Tree, saw Prince twice in London and have most of his albums, and many, many, many more. Then there’s been lots of solo artists found via Bandcamp over the last few years. That’s been a breath of fresh air.
They all mark different periods of my life and nostalgia often takes me back to them.
EDIT: it got a bit lost but music writing is me writing and producing ‘music’. Its my escape from perfectionism so I don’t let anyone else listen which would force me to overwork and ruin my enjoyment. Been at it on and off since the early 90’s. Started off DIing synths to tape loops. Had a break, moved to Acid and Cubase. Another break and a now I’m loving Ableton.
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Nothing wrong with that!
Sounds great to me actually.
I’m glad that music gives your brain something to focus on.
You do have wide and varied taste in music and that’s great. There is so much good music out there. I wish I was better at listening to new things. I tell myself I should but I find myself listening to the same songs over and over. I’ve always been that way.
Due to me being that way, the thread on this forum for what music are you listening to right now has been great for me. I don’t have to find all these different songs on my own. Folks put them in the thread and I may hit play and listen in to part of them, or the entire song.
They are being served up to me on a platter, so to speak and that’s great for me. I really wouldn’t go looking for other songs without something like this. I never have to this point in my life.
I’m grateful to all who use and populate that thread.
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