When shawdy is like a melody stuck on replay eh, you know some loves bi outdo some.
Eeiii Love and Music! For as long as I can remember where I see Love, Music is featuring high on that roller coaster too. Maybe the romance between these two is as old as time itself.
Remember how Lucifer used to minister to Love itself. Uh huh 😊
Yes! I’m telling you; this love-music relationship runs deep.
The only man in history to be called a “man after God’s own heart” was always giving a musical tune of hymn, praise, worship to declare his love and goodness for God.
How about we come to one of my favourite movie genres aka cartoons? (Lol got so used to saying it this way. Referring to it as animation sounds weird. I’m sure I’m not the only one)
So yes, cartoons, Barbie, Lion King, Aladdin, Strange Magic, Tangled. These are just a few and I must admit the musical interludes in them were always impressive. (Somehow deep in my thoughts, I feel like, the music in these animations are a significant part of why we all yearn for a fairytale love story)
Lol tell me, how many of us won’t fancy a magic carpet ride, romantic melodies playing with the love of our lives by our side.(*winks*)
Mehn, that’s some enthralling experience right there.
Love and music are both deeply rooted in some cultures. You cannot see one without the other.
Let me tell you slightly about a particular culture. Here’s a clue; Anjaanaaaaa!!!!!
If you are guessing what I’m guessing and I’m hoping your guessing is right and good as mine, I’m talking about “them”. Yes! Absolutely! Most definitely! THE HINDUSTANIS!
I’m sure you and I have lost count of the number of Bollywood movies with their love stories.Honestly, I don’t know of any movie production that can dedicate half an hour or more to a scene of music and dance with so much expression of love. I mean every time, I watch the music scene, I’m impressed. You would think it would make the movie less appealing but surprisingly, it does not.
It’s so amazing; the dual relationship between love and music is undeniable.
Before I get a little sciency( yeah I just coined it up. I’m allowed right? Of course I am), let’s take a look of some few of my past favorites songs that has left lasting impressions on me and hopefully you too.
My Love -West Life
I still remember the lyrics like I learnt it yesterday and not my ten year old self.
“Where the clouds are blue, see you once again, my love “
The hope and love this song ignited in me eh. Gyai! This was a massive hit in the early 2000s. Each line in their song was simple yet captivating. You could fall in love right that minute listening to this. It’s no wonder, they produced many of the best love songs of the century.
Still The One- Shania Twain
Shania taught me to keep fighting for the love I chose and believed in. That come what may, that person would still be the one. That we’d weather the storms together. And if there was any one I would want to kiss goodbye, it would be him.
Those times I knew love could fight and win even if it came out bleeding. But now….(A story for another day)
All of Me – John LegendPianos! Keyboards! Guitars! And….. we cannot forget the cowboy’s hats. Eeeii I almost forgot! The baritone voices of the Southern singers drives me crazy any day 😁😁😃. Lol I really can’t help it.
But John Legend is just something else!! That cool wind that blows your hair in your face yet calms you down. Yes! that’s exactly how I’d describe him. Any day, any time.
And when he dropped, “All of Me”, it felt like he had taken the words right from every lover’s heart and displayed it beautifully to the world with one of music’s favorite box- the piano! Darn! the lyrics, the voice, the melodies were all so on point. And for a long time, the words were stuck in my head and heart. One of the few songs that I caught and understood the lyrics at the very first hearing.
Yes! You don’t have to tell me. I know how bad a hopeless romantic I am. But think about it , who isn’t? We all are.
Just maybe we differ in levels. The next time love finds you, I hope you remember my favorite lines of the song and maybe give your heart a chance.. after a considerable amount of thought (This is very necessary) ;
Cards on the tables
We’re both showing hearts
Risking it although it’s hard.
Wonderland-Efe Oraka
The first time I heard this, I thought it was a Western pop song. Before you jump into conclusion, no! I’m not saying African artistes cannot sing like the Western artistes. I’m only saying this because, the concept that was portrayed by the song was so foreign and felt like musings of a Western girl in love. When I discovered she was Nigerian, I was so much impressed. I love pop music and to have a great pop singer right here from home, that was a blessing. She executed her version of “Alice In Wonderland” so beautifully. It’s a twisted fairytale how we follow our hearts even though it might lead us right down the rabbit hole!
Now let’s get a little scientific, shall we?
Love And Music On The Brain’s Activity
Does love and music stimulates the brain in similar ways?
Can you recall the last time you got so high by listening to your favourite music?
Do you remember the recent love episode in your life that made you feel superhuman?
According to a research conducted since 2006, two professors from University of Central Florida(UCF), Kiminobu Sugaya and Ayako Yonetani has proven that music affects the brain in a much similar way as cocaine. It tends to increase the production of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is an element in the brain that makes an individual feels way too hyper and exciting not to forget fearless too.
So yeah, music acts like an addictive drug would on the brain.
In 2014, Tanya Lewis also conducted a research on the various brain parts stimulated when we are in love. Her results?
Her results were strikingly similar to the findings of music on the brain by the UCF professors.
Moving forward, how about we take a look at the significant brain areas affected similarly by music and love. Alright music, lovers, here we go!!
1. Nucleus Accumbens
Also known as the brain’s pleasure centre, this part of the brain seeks pleasure and reward. It is a major factor in addiction development. How? The nucleus accumbens has a long standing relationship with dopamine. 🤭🤭
It releases dopamine, resulting in the feeling of hyperactiveness.
So here, music leads to the production of a lot of dopamine making you so “high” like you are on cocaine or ganja
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan has also revealed increased blood flow in this part of brain when we are in loooovveee😍😍😍.
It is believed that this brain region lights up like literally when people are in love. It causes them to be fixated on each other.
Eeerrm, so the next time you receive a cute text from that special someone like say “I can’t get you out of my mind ” or even a drastic one like “I can’t live without you.“
Just remember the pleasure centre is at it again with dopamine. 😘😘😁
2. Amygdala
Do you recall the flight or fight rule of survival? This is the part of the brain responsible for it. It helps us decide to flee a situation or battle our way out.
Music can control our fears, make us ready to fight and increase pleasure.
You know that sensation you feel down your spine when you are really sitting or lying down with that special someone and there’s the slightest physical touch.
Yes that sensation! It’s the amygdala testing the mikes. One two, One two 😅😅😅
And remember those times you didn’t want to let go of a certain love of yours because you didn’t want to deal with the pain that came with letting go so you fought despite having already lost the person.
That again was the amygdala helping you fight to maintain pleasure and avoid pain.
3. Hippocampus
This region of the brain is responsible for memory processing and retrieval. It also regulates our emotional responses.
You know all those memories that come back to you after listening to a particular song?
You know that sense of relatedness you feel towards a song, let’s say that feeling of being in love or having your heart broken?
Remember how you felt when you listened to Adele’s “Someone Like You”?
Remember when your mind could not stop playing that kiss or that awesome public proposal he made? 😉😉😉
All those memories and feelings were because your hippocampus had been activated.
Wheew finally done with the science class!! Now how about a break with something nice to munch on.
What happens when love leaves music with a promise to come back but like any forlorn love story we know, a thousand years saf, it’s just like running with the wind?
19 replies on “STRINGS OF MY HEART”
Oh love, you’re a hopeless romantic indeed😂🥰
But honestly every movie scene with music hit on another level. I don’t like cartoons but I still have Frozen part 1 because of the songs and now I want to watch the greatest showman because of ‘Never Enough’. And oh why did you have to remind me of west life 😩❤️
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Dear, you got to watch the Greatest Showman. Movies with music does hit another level.
Glad you passed by😅😅
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There…you made me love all over again😩and music…I don’t know which one ignites me most…Music on any day – regardless of genre, the words speak treasures to the heart and the soul is refreshed.❤😍❤💖
And yeah, I’m with Sandy…why did you have to remind us of Westlife? Now I have to listen to all the Westlife collections I have😩
You wrote beautifully Dear…Loved every bit of it😘
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Thanks Sage.
Go ahead and listen all over to Westlife.
Sankofa is not bad kraa
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That was great dear; and indeed, since music does this dopamine stimulation well, I don’t know why folks still prefer cocaine to “get high.” 😂😂
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Thanks love.
Lol perhaps we should preach great music to them.
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Hello Helpless Romantic
What a beautiful piece
Your piece was and is doing a lot of things to my head
I need you to come and explain it further will you
💑💏💞😭😭😘😘
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Let’s have a date and I would explain everything to you. 😘😘.
Glad you loved it
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This is totally awesome, I can’t believe I read to the end. You nailed it Abi 👌😍
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Thanks Sugar.
I’m glad you liked it.
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Thanks for taking us down through memory lane on those songs with its emotional & “sciency” aspects.
The poem, that is wonderful👏🏾😍
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Thanks dear! Glad you liked it.
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To music! Nice post, Abis! 🙂
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To music! Thanks dear
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Ei Abishag the hopeless romantic…you do all ✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾🤭🤭😍😍
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Thanks Liz😍
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Such are the memories music brings!
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Very true indeed
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