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How much do the song and its music strongly determine our emotional state both positive and negative?
How many times have we looked for the perfect soundtrack for a birthday, a romantic evening or a moment of outburst? Music is not only a background, but a true emotional language capable of accelerating the heartbeat, dissolving tensions or letting a smile emerge. Science today confirms what we instinctively know: songs can alter our mood in a measurable way , acting as a chemical switch in the brain.
The equation of happiness: the study that decipher emotions in music
In 2015, the Dutch neuroscientist Jacob Jolij revolutionized our understanding of the link between music and happiness with a research that has become viral.
Analyzing 126 songs of the last 50 years and collecting data from an Anglo -Saxon champion, he identified three key elements for a "song of joy":
- greater shade (associated with sounds that tend to make us optimistic);
-sustained rhythm ( 140-150 beats per minute, higher than the average that at this moment the popular music uses);
- positive or nonsense texts (without references to dramas or melancholy).
Its formula, albeit complex for non -experts, summarizes these factors:
FGI = ( BPM - 150 ) L positive + ( K - [ 3 1+ ?, 3 1 , 3 1 - ? ] ) + 1
There is no need to be mathematics to understand the result: "Don't stop me now" of the Queen emerged as the most euphoric song ever.
A hymn to freedom with an overwhelming rhythm (156 bpm) and a text that celebrates the thrill of the moment.
Neurochemistry of happiness: because those notes make us dance
When we listen to a song as the "Dancing Queen" of the Abba or "Good Vibrations" of the Beach Boys , the brain reacts by releasing dopamine , the neurotransmitter of pleasure .
A study by Salimpoor et al. (2011) showed that the expectation of the "drop" in the EDM or the refrain in an energetic pop activates the Accumens core, the same area involved in rewards such as food or love.
But it's not just a matter of chemistry. Music also influences physiological parameters:
- Cardiac frequency and pressure synchronize with the BPM ;
- Cerebral waves change , favoring states of concentration or relaxation ;
- Cortisol (stress hormone) decreases, while oxytocin ( linked to sociality) increases.
From the 70s to today: the scientific ranking of hits that release joy
Here are the first 5 songs from the Jolij list, still considered a benchmark of musical happiness 42 45 :
- Queen - Don't stop me now (1978)
- Abba - Dancing Queen (1976)
- The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations (1966)
- Billy Joel - Uptown Girl (1983)
- Survivor - Eye of the Tiger (1982)
These songs share a mix of rhythmic energy and simple texts , often linked to universal themes such as love, dance or resilience. Not surprisingly, "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor (n. 9) has become an anthem Empowerment.
Choosing a song is never banal. Whether for a birthday, an evening with friends or a work marathon, those notes accompany us as a drug without side effects. As Nietzsche wrote: "Without music, life would be a mistake" . And science today gives him reason
Here is the ranking:
1. Don't stop me now (Queen)
2. Dancing Queen (Abba)
3. Good vibrations (The Beach Boys)
4. Uptown Girl (Billie Joel)
5. Eye of the Tiger (Survivor)
Read also the article: GRIOT: the custodians of the history of the Mande
