The All-Consuming Obsession: Why did a Song Take Over my Life?
28/08/24 - This has *only* been grammar-checked by AI.
Did you know that if fish swam out of the ocean, they grew legs and they started walking? Or if apes climbed down from the trees? They would grow tall and start talking?
Incase you don't know me or anything, they were the opening lyrics to "Black & Gold", the one song I have obsessed over. You know that feeling when a song just clicks with your soul? When it becomes more than just a melody and lyrics, but a full-on, all-consuming obsession? Well, that’s me right now with "Black and Gold" by Sam Sparro. For the past three weeks, it’s been like a constant soundtrack running through my head. I’m talking about singing it at the top of my lungs in the shower, trying out countless covers on Audacity (my neighbours and storage must hate it by now), and diving deep into every remix, live performance, and obscure version I can find. Spotify must be annoyed with the algorithm hits for Sam Sparro. This track has totally taken over my life, and honestly? I’m loving every second of it. Thankfully, with Wikipedia by my side, I will be able to finally tell you the lot, on how and why, in actual academic format! It's like the nostalgia article all over again for you to read!
I (can) see what I feel
When a song resonates deeply, it can occupy our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in ways that might seem overwhelming but are rooted in well-established psychological processes. But what is it about a song that can capture our attention so completely? It’s not just about liking the music. It’s about something deeper — a connection that feels almost primal. Personally, as I have outlined in the past, "Black and Gold" has a certain magic, a blend of electronic beats and soulful vocals that hits all the right spots for me. There’s something in the rhythm, the bassline, the way Sparro’s voice weaves through the notes, that just hooks me in. Every time I hear it, it’s like a little jolt of electricity, making me feel spacious in a room where trippy enviroments are the new normal, time is merely a false construct and this song is a whole 'nother wormhole into darker disparities that everyone holds within themselves.
Seriously though, what is the actual neuroscience behind musical obsession? Well, at the core of any strong emotional response to music is the brain's reward system, particularly the release of dopamine — a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reinforcement. When we hear a song that we find particularly engaging or enjoyable, our brain releases dopamine, creating a sensation of pleasure. This chemical response is similar to what happens in other rewarding activities, such as eating or socialising, and can lead to repeated behavior in an attempt to re-experience that inital pleasurable feeling. So, we are constantly in a dopamine loop chasing the same feeling we got when we first listened to the track. However, what happens if the dopamine is just as good as the first time? ...well... It continues on until we get tired of it and no longer experience the same dopamine hit, almost like a dwindling relationship; the other half isn't satisfying your needs anymore.
"Set my world into (e)motion!"
This kind of obsession isn’t just about music, though. It’s about finding something that resonates with you on a deeper level, something that you can’t get enough of. It’s that feeling of being totally consumed by a passion, of wanting to explore every aspect of it, and of letting it become a part of your daily life. When I’m singing "Black and Gold," I’m not just enjoying a song — I’m living in its world, letting it shape my mood and my mindset. It’s like the song has become a part of me, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. There’s something so satisfying about being this deeply connected to a piece of music, something that feels almost therapeutic. Which, thankfully, science can back me up on so I don't sound absolutely insane. The most insane fact I never really factored in until writing this little blog/vent-piece is the clear and obvious fact of music having the ability to engage multiple areas of the brain simultaneously. The auditory cortex processes the sounds, the motor cortex prompts us to move and/or tap along, and the limbic system, which is responsible for emotion, helps us form an emotional connection to the music. This huge chain of engagement, and partly emotion, explains why a song can become so deeply embedded in our minds — it’s not just a passive listening experience but an active one that involves emotional, physical, and cognitive responses, forming a real memory and attachment! How insane is that!? Actual core memories formed due to an interaction with one song.
Repetition is a key factor in why certain songs can become fixations. Research has shown that repeated exposure to a stimulus, known as the "mere exposure effect," can increase our liking for it. This effect is particularly potent with music, where familiarity can lead to increased enjoyment. Repeated listening not only enhances our emotional connection to a song but also solidifies it in our memory, making it more likely that the song will continue to dominate our thoughts and actions. And what happens to these memories you may ask when they are fully developed and formed? I found out for you, and it even shocked me. Ever heard of "earworms"? THIS IS HOW THEY ARE MADE. WHAT. Music has ANOTHER unique ability to trigger involuntary memory — sometimes referred to as "earworms" (by normal humans) or involuntary musical imagery (by nerds). These are fragments of a song that get stuck in our heads and play on a loop, often without conscious effort. The repetitive nature of these earworms can reinforce the obsession, as the song is continuously recalled and mentally rehearsed.
Are you as shocked as me? I hope so. I can't believe I have wasted memory hard-drive space on this stupid song that WON'T leave my head. But whatever, I am happy to be like this. My husband isn't even if he tells me he isn't annoyed by it, (he is). There's no way he is not annoyed. Eitherway, the beautiful madness of being totally, unapologetically obsessed? I'm the first one at the table. And if you are the same, then I want to be next to you. Black and gold, Black and gold, Black and gold.
PHEW - This has been a draft for so long! Ever since I wrote the Black and Gold article! Thank you for reading! Again, I have to say it, Thank you to Sam Sparro for crafting such an amazing soulful track! IT IS STILL One of the greatest tracks of the century! It's (still) NUMBER 1 on my personal Top 10 tracks at the moment, which you can see by clicking here!