25 Facts about the Science of Music - mental_floss List Show Ep. 340

[@modernlacuna]

Am I the only one who finds John's voice super soothing? Especially in podcasts, but even here it makes me feel less stressed...

[@BiancaBlade]

I used to work in a nursing home, and one of the most fascinating things I witness was the end stage dementia patients, who couldn't speak anymore, but if you put on a song from their past they could hum along with it. It was beautiful, and heartbreaking.

[@ninamarie177]

Another way to start a tear inducing song: *hits G note on a piano*

[@quartjarz]

I was thinking the same thing!!!!!

[@zeldabelle]

Don't even go there! 😭😜

[@niallish]

explain...

[@Kalleosini]

+Niall Sheehan yeah I don't play piano either.

[@RevivedAndRewritten]

I don't know music shtuffs either, but something is telling me... When I was, a young boy, my father, took me into the city...

[@Twosocks42]

I've heard about the classical/metal connection before. I can see it, since I like both genres and especially like metal genres that incorporate classical instruments.

[@dakotablue52]

+ Twosocks42 i was given piano lessons starting at age 5, by a classical pianist, so everything i learned, all the way up to my college years was classical ( now, there is the use of classical music in a gated, or entrained format, that helps the mind with focus, healing, reducing anxiety- most often the music of Mozart). When i started to listen to Rock, it was during the time of the Symphonic Bands, like the Moody Blues, Chicago, ELO, Led Zepplin (In thru the Out Door), Yes, Jethro Tull - so now i listen to Soundtrack Composers a lot ; Max Richter, wrote the theme song for the Leftovers, but he also re-arranged the Vivaldi Suites. I believe that the structure and effects of music are the foundations for all other artistic endeavors.

[@alaskabrewer8186]

I got chills when you talked about people who get chills...

[@Grock620]

When he mentioned having a brother I briefly thought "huh, I wonder who his brother is?" Sometimes my brain doesn't work so good. :) #whoishank

[@VioletPurpleChloe]

Omg same! I was like "whose his brother" and totally forgot it was Hank haha

[@YaBoiKeith]

+Andrew Cummins Hank is a mass of incandescent gas A gigantic nuclear furnace Where hydrogen is built into helium At a temperature of millions of degrees

[@camerongray3985]

Do they have enemies at Geico?

[@Thatguy-of5re]

+Cameron Gray I listen to a podcast called Upgrade and a common running joke is that they are searching for a sponsor who will be their enemy. It's a tech podcast hosted by Jason Snell and Myke Hurley, who knows CGP Grey, who knows John Green.

[@sergiogarza2519]

Being a metal to rock fan, I didn't find that fact surprising. Almost every person I know who loves rock, punk, screamo, or metal music are super friendly and accepting people, many of which are very creative people from artists to scientists.

[@CraftAero]

The opening riff from Dire Straits' Money for Nothing still gives me goosebumps.

[@kandipiatkowski8589]

It definitely does! It also causes spontaneous air guitar riffs....lol

[@Michele8340]

To build a home by the cinematic orchestra has been my favourite song since i heard it over three years ago, and i believe it will always be my favourite

[@joelandon8376]

Wish you were here. It always makes me remember awesome!

[@deathdude035]

Music is pretty important in my life, I found this episode to be most interesting, great work!

[@OlafoWaffle]

I'll take ABBA over Beiber any day of the week

[@GKOALA7]

My all-time favorite song, John, is... George Michael - Careless Whisper

[@SSBAce]

very good song

[@Lordofthepants]

+SAN VAL (GKOALA7) The Seether cover of Careless Whisper is pretty good too.

[@toxicholocaust5553]

Sexy saxman

[@AlexPope1668]

+SAN VAL (GKOALA7) Let's face it.. guilty feet do in fact lack rhythm.

[@dakotablue52]

+RapidFire Gaming all of Journey where Steve Perry sings...i saw them live half a dozen times - hearing their harmonies at ear-splitting volume was incredible- so playing it wasn't a surprise that laying it loud at a baseball game made in their team anthem...

[@npcKee]

re: fact 21 - my gran had dementia, and one of the few ways we could get her to engage toward the end was music. last christmas, she was able to at least hum along with most of the carols we played for her, if not remember the words. music made her smile as long as she still had some comprehension. idk, it's a tangent sort of but this is our first christmas without her and she's been on my mind. last christmas was the last real happy memory my family and i had with her.

[@chriggle1]

When I was pregnant, I listened to a lot of Queen and Beatles music. My daughter has loved these songs since she was born, she's now 14. We tend to have music on all day rather than the tv, and I sing all day long, it lifts the spirit. If you took the tv away, I could cope, but not if you took away music.

[@ssppeellll]

You know, I do enjoy these "facts about ..." videos, and I think John is awesome. That being said: 1. How does 'easily recognizable' equal 'catchy'? Similar, maybe. The same? I don't think so. 2. People will pay more for a song they enjoy? Really? For true? What a stunner. Who'd a thunk it?

[@TheJaredtheJaredlong]

As a classical music fan, I'm always baffled that people think is has some kind of magical psychological affect. Music, in terms of chords and rhythms, has not changed as drastically as it might seem on the surface. Give a modern rock song to an orchestra and it will sound classical; give a classical song to a rock band and it will sound contemporary. If classical music has magic properties, it is the sound of piano, violins, and cellos and not the music itself.

[@cjua2803]

the piano guys are evidence to your statement. At least thats how I see your comparison

[@piwithatsme]

Bach will still sound classical to me, even when played on a modern instrument. Same with Debussy or Beethoven etc

[@RahulPoddar1]

+WiWiPiWiWi Play Bach on an electric guitar and crank up the distortion ahaha it's epic

[@angelamariehessenius411]

My favorite songs (it's too hard to pick one so I try to pick by decade): Motion Sickness by Phoebe Bridgers, I Will Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie, Closer to Fine by the Indigo Girls, and Fast Car by Tracy Chapman

[@stephaniehight2771]

Regarding your "Catchy Tune" factoid: I noticed that "Wannabe" and "Mambo #5" are relatively more modern songs, and it was an internet based survey. As a musical "dinosaur" I don't know a wide variety of songs more recent than about 1990, and wouldn't recognize "Wannabe" in any number of seconds. A more statistically valid test would not use the internet.

[@powercatsp]

"We just need the research to back up the term!" LOVED IT

[@bethanypontsler1822]

Lateralus by Tool. And, in keeping with one of John's facts, one of my other favorite pieces is The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams (performed by Nigel Kennedy).

[@DrumBeat231]

Hank is a drummer. I like him more and more every time I watch Mental floss or scishow.

[@britneyhicks1211]

Getting goosebumps while listening to music is the best feeling in the world.

[@argella1300]

The real question: Can you still play that game mentioned in fact #1?

[@kennethfinke9337]

+argella1300 Yes: www.hookedonmusic.org.uk/

[@argella1300]

+Kenneth Finke yay!

[@AlexPope1668]

+argella1300 Okay, played the game for a while. The point is not to recognize the song as quickly as possible (at least it's not now, it may have hanged), it's to recognize a song well enough that you can know that when it cuts out for a few seconds that it restarts in the correct place or not. I had to listen to several songs I knew well, for longer than I needed to recognize them, so that I could know that when they came back they were in the right place.

[@CAMacKenzie]

+Alex Pope I played it. I was a little disappointed because I was expecting a wider variety. There were a couple of things from the '60s (most notably Yellow Submarine) but the earliest thing--and the only one from the '50s--was Rock Around the Clock from 1954, which is virtually a stereotype of the time. Everything else was '80s or newer.

[@ДанаСергеева-р6щ]

█▬█ █ ▀█▀ 18+ ➨ tinyurl.com/y936waro

[@johnhougen1348]

you said leave a favorite song, Drown In My Own Tears, the Ray Charles version. Perfect song, perfect interpretation.

[@Alexandra-oj4ik]

Sorry, but the catchiest song of all time has to be the DuckTales opening theme.

[@goaway-v3j]

>nicki >music pick one

[@none4530]

Music

[@nathanflannery3031]

Amen!

[@nathanflannery3031]

If I've first met a girl while Nicky Manaj was playing, either we both disliked it or I want nothing to do with that girl.

[@freesk8]

+Nathan Flannery Manaj a trois effect?

[@TwoMangoSmoothies]

What a loser.

[@EzzyR561]

Nikki manaj is horrible. She sounds like she gunna fall off a balance ball LMAO

[@records1990]

+Ezzy Rodriguez lmao!!! thats awesome.

[@bingahgread]

Do facts about how little sleep John got leading up to this video!

[@bingahgread]

+bingahgread Number 1- Not much

[@katieberg3238]

I agree, my mom's music ( from the 60's and 70's) was much better than now. But then again, I also grew up listening to it.

[@lawrencecalablaster568]

I love music! :) My mom is a 7th grade music teacher, & so I've had a rather diverse background of music brought before my experience.

[@wrlrdqueek]

There's music I like, but I've never gotten chills from any of it.

[@andrewsugrue2170]

Favorite song: '39, by Queen

[@LeoElso]

+Andrew Sugrue OH DON'T YOU HEAR MY CALL

[@andrewsugrue2170]

+LeoElso Though you're many years away...

[@sneakybeaver2625]

+Andrew Sugrue DON'T YOU HEAR ME CALLING YOU?

[@andrewsugrue2170]

+Mark Kulesa Write your letters in the sand for the day I take your hand in the land that our grandchildren KNEWWWWW!

[@bilboicus982]

+Andrew Sugrue All your letters in the sand cannot heal me like your hand...

[@steam2300]

I'd like to hear what the 'pseudo-music' from #16 sounds like.

[@hg3990]

More Than A Feeling is a classic, but it's hard to pick a fave. That song is one of my top faves, I will say that.

[@ambrownsinc]

John's my favorite mental floss presenter

[@Prizzlesticks]

I *love* that you have a Puppycat plushie in the back there, John.

[@lissfirefly9517]

I have two favorite songs that I love equally. "My Sharona" by the Knack and "Carry On My Wayward Son" by Kansas

[@CoryKlumper]

I got the Elton John reference immediately. I also enjoy both Metal and Classical music. Thanks John (and crew).

[@lexiradjmj]

Favorite song: Real Love by John Lennon. Sidenote: I appreciate your honesty about Justin Bieber! I also enjoy his new album. People often take themselves too seriously when it comes to music taste!

[@666Tomato666]

Well thank you John, I listen to both metal and classical music!

[@StormyLauraH]

I believe that music has more power than we have yet to realize, and that science has only scratched the surface of the things music can do. My kids are required to take band in school, and play an instrument, because I believe it can only help a growing brain. Also, we take them to rock concerts cause it's just AWESOME. :D

[@exceptionalish614]

Sad songs are happy songs for when you're sad. Without talking to anyone, you know you're not alone.

[@AndySteinMusic]

As a musician, one of these facts concerns me, which is how music can change our perception of a person's expression (sad music makes neutral faces appear sad, happy music does the opposite) -- does that mean the music someone listens to completely changes a person's outlook on the world around them, or is it limited to the emotional state we're projecting onto the people we see/meet/interact with? Is it a musician's responsibility to make happy music in order to help people see the world and the people inhabiting it in a more positive way? Or is it the listener's responsibility to not dwell in negative/angry music, so they won't negatively impact their own perceptions of their environment? Does this phenomena happen with all art, or just music? ...or is it ALL media consumption? ...or is more research needed? Am I overthinking this? I HAVE QUESTIONS AHHH MENTAL FLOSS WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME

[@HardCyderThePony]

+MandoPony Have you read "This Is Your Brain on Music" by Daniel Levitin? I believe he discusses this more in depth in chapter 6. It's about how music works in our brain to release dopamine. The best part is that he actually lists his sources in the bibliography if you're interest in following up on them. Now if only Mary Roach or Bill Bryson would get around to writing a book on music, all your questions could be answered.

[@DJMStu-bomb]

As a fellow musician - and double Communication Major - I found that the musician's job is to create music for how s/he feels, thinks, believes. The receiver of the message then chooses what to do with it. We (musicians) cannot avoid emotional contagion. If music is an emotion, then other people will feel it. How they choose to feel about it is not up to us. Yet, some people seek music to support the emotional state. On the other hand, (overly critical comment alert) much of the contemporary pop 'music' highlights negative actions and emotive responses. Music moves and empowers us - therefore, the trash masquerading as current music will, by this formula, move and empower us to lessen ourselves from who we are and what we can be and transform us into mindless automatons following only what the peddlers of demise concoct for our consumption. In the end, true musicians cannot be held accountable for the actions, beliefs, or thoughts of one who listens to the music. The only ones held accountable are those who create the music to get a specific reaction or to follow a destructive trend.

[@flywheelshyster]

+MandoPony as a mediocre musician but great philosopher-poet, this question is interesting as a bastard kangaroo jumping into a microcosmic black hole, which is to say very interesting. You just brought ethics into art, a rare place for ethics thought to be centered around. A follow up question could be is there a moral imperative for an artist in the midst of creation or the sharing of said creation [if no moral imperative is there at creation, does it develop when the artist realizes that creation upon the consciousness of others] In short: fun thoughts are fun

[@angelamariehessenius411]

As one of the people in this world who loves listening to sad music, I would definitely recommend listening the "Sad Music" episode of the podcast Deeply Human (hosted by Dessa). It explores this very question of why (at least some) people are drawn to sad music, and I find it deeply fascinating. I'm not sure which of the reasons to listen to sad music is most true for me, but like all art, I think that there's a certain amount of emotional depth, complexity, and beauty that comes from feelings that are deeply tragic. Also, I think I listen to a lot of songs about heartache because it makes me feel less alone. It's easy to share happy feelings with other people, but it's harder to talk about when we feel terrible, and so when I listen to songs about feeling heartbroken/lonely etc., it's almost more intimate in a way, and when a musician writes a lyric (just like a quote in a novel) that I so deeply relate to I feel like they could be describing my own emotions, it helps me know that I'm not the only person who has ever felt that way

[@aldeneliseo7500]

Sorry to be so off topic but does any of you know a method to get back into an instagram account..? I was stupid lost my login password. I would love any tricks you can give me

[@johndavidgray4234]

My favorite song changes over time... and is usually not limited to just one song. Right now, Silent Planet - Depths II and Wolves at the Gate - The Bird and the Snake

[@xtayxad2180]

I'm definitely chill-inducing! or at least chill

[@doreen4744]

this video helped me find my topic question for my 2,000 word research essay AND lead me to a bunch of evidence. thanks.

[@VulcanTrekkie45]

It's not a single song, but I love the Movement of Dawn off of Christopher Tin's album Calling All Dawns.

[@halfwhiteNnerdy]

I knew there was a reason I love oldies. Take that, generation X and up! Also favorite song: Fireflies by Owl City or any number of Weird Al songs.

[@trevorgrover5619]

Why is it surprising that drummers are smart? Drumming is mathematical as shit. -A drumming electrical engineer

[@piwithatsme]

In music school we had the saying: dumb, dumber, drummer

[@getsomebud]

In my experience, drummers have slightly differently functioning minds. Not smarter, not dumber, just different.

[@randallarana7429]

Drummer carries the beat. One of the most important and first thing every music players learn

[@kevinhrankowski734]

As a professional opera singer with two university music degrees I think the resin why drummers are thought to be dumb is because the word "drummer" invokes the image of an untrained rock band member who is likely not sober for the performance. Every year within the percussion majors one of these would pop into first year and be shocked that that had to learn music theory, history, aural musicianship, as well as play instruments other than the drum kit in their performance lessons. Most would drop out after the first semester usually after wining "why can't I just play my music man". In short the stereotype, like all negative stereotypes dose have its roots in reality but by no means applies to every percussionist.

[@fmlAllthetime]

Untrained and not sober doesn't mean unskilled or stupid. Just gonna throw that out there. Also just gonna throw out Buddy Rich and Dave Lombardo.

[@seatbelttruck]

And my favorite song is probably "Awesome God" by Rich Mullins. I used to dance to that song in my car-seat when it came on the radio, and it still gives me a major endorphin rush. Other favorite songs vary depending on mood.

[@SomaliSmuli]

It's really hard to pick favorites but my "reboot" song is Bassnectar - Butterfly. Really helps to get my feet back on the ground.

[@brumagemm]

My three fav songs: Me and Bobby McGee (Janis Joplin) American Pie (Don MacLean) Defying Gravity (Stephen Schwartz)

[@jasbradbur]

I got and loved your Elton John pun! love john and John!

[@mattsnyder4754]

The best feeling is when a list show video starts "hi I'm John ... "

[@OneVoiceAmongMany]

Currently, I consider Hemispheres by Rush my favourite song.

[@ChrisThomasBone]

Favorite song ever, I don't have one. But the song I'm currently super-obsessed with is "Hitch a Ride" by Boston

[@Nejifangal1]

I wouldn't say I have a single favorite song, and I like both classical and rock music. So, here's two of my favorite songs with one from the world of classical music and one from the world of rock. :) "Ballade in G Minor" by Chopin "She's My Ride Home" by Blue October

[@micaandrews5568]

My favorite song is One Normal Night from the Addams Family musical. You guys should totally do facts about famous musicals.

[@Nitsugalego]

"People will pay more for a song they enjoy" Whaaaaat??? ?/s

[@MaybeMari97]

Thanks now I have eye of the tiger in my head

[@MaybeMari97]

Also, has wollie from castaway always been back there?

[@BioniclesaurKing4t2]

+Cassandra Hart Wilson's been there for a good long while, at least.

[@MaybeMari97]

+BioniclesaurKing4t2 cool thanks

[@MaybeMari97]

Also I just saw that mixed reference oops

[@charge1721]

Queens of the Stone Age 'No One knows'. Pink Floyd 'Big Gig in the Sky'. Donny Hathaway 'Love You More Than You'll Ever Know'. Picking one song is perplexing.

[@none4530]

The Beatles, Cream, The Smiths, Greenday, Elvis, Led Zeppelin. Those are my favorites.

[@3pinkfluffystars]

I enjoyed every single aside in this video.

[@Bartholomule01]

I was curious about that. I was told before the music is extremely uncommon while dreaming but now it makes sense. Because I've played in orchestra, in bands with friends and produce music every now and then.

[@highfivehangten]

I got your Elton John reference! Turn it on, turn on those sad songs!

[@ThisIsReMarkable]

Most songs by CAKE are my favorite tunes. Especially "Comfort Eagle" and "The Distance". Yes, I know it made it to #35 on the Billboard charts in 1997. Still good. :)

[@kcallamajaji]

I hear music in my dreams on occasions. Most of the time when that happens, whatever song was playing is stuck in my head for the whole day.

[@bossfan49]

"Eye of the Tiger" replaced "Mambo No. 5" in your head. Whew! You really dodged a bullet there.

[@chelsiiiwhoo4030]

All time favorite song: Last Theater - Noiseycell

[@jbradleysao]

1. I Never get tired of drummer jokes. 2. As the great British composer, guitarist, icon, Nigel Tuffnel taught us, Dm is the saddest of all keys...😂😂

[@naturenfire]

I did a project on the "effect of music on memory" and I just got to do a speech on it at the college of James Madison university. That was so cool :-)

[@seatbelttruck]

I knew number six. According to my mother, while she was pregnant with me she went to a concert that one of my dad's friends was singing in. He had a deep, bass voice, and I started moving around when he started to sing. Eight is not surprising at all. Singing to yourself is one of the best ways I know of to reduce anxiety in a pinch. Hmm... I've never noticed music in my dreams before. I'll have to keep an eye (ear?) out for it.

[@tommgundal3213]

I like this dork. he's kinda funny and informative

[@Ginnys220]

I have music in my dreams sometimes, but it's really just when I go to sleep when I have music playing. So the music is real and just gets in sometimes.

[@rinthh5477]

My favorite songs are either, "Best Day of My Life" by American Authors, or "I'm on top of the World" by Imagine Dragons.

[@PressEnter42]

I don't get how people like only one or two types of music. I try to listen to everything. Alt.rock , rap, metal, classical, blues, jazz, Russian rock, Japanese heavy metal,indie, German alternative, dub step, Dutch rap. Seriously all the music! (ps to find out there music that isn't very popular but is really good check out Welcome to Night Vale. The weather of each epiosde is great)

[@Zb5141]

When I saw it was an episode on "The Science of Music" I expected music theory. It was still good and I did enjoy trhe video but, you should do an episode on music theory.

[@deankuyser947]

3:50 So *that's* why I'm a fan of both of them... And everyone thought I was just weird...

[@lawnshark025]

Favorite song: The Days Were Golden by Sunny Day Real Estate And as a drummer myself, I think I can say that drummers are more intelligent in the mathematical and scientific sense, but when it comes to real life situations and applications, we have NO idea what we're doing.

[@morganburt2565]

In the Areoplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel, or Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis

[@EuropaThePirateTwin3]

My all- time favourite song is Europa and the Pirate Twins, by Thomas Dolby! :D

[@carosene]

The jokes were on fire this episode. I was amused and I learned things.

[@jonathanplatt5027]

#25 is a great example of conflating correlation and causality. Interesting that there's a correlation, but...

[@nikkibishop8025]

No. 1 chill-inducing song for me is... How Soon Is Now? Just thinking about it has given me goosepimples... what are other people's chill-inducing songs?

[@hannahrose7776]

Currently doing my science fair project on how music affects the brain. My review of literature (essay on why I think music affects shit and examples of other experiments supporting my hypothesis) was due two days ago. Great timing.

[@ClutchFirst]

Very interesting facts.

[@pancreasnostalgia]

My parents were young adults in the 70's and I tend to prefer music from the late 60's to early 80's.I like some 90's and early 2000's but very few songs from the current decade interest me.

[@GiantPetRat]

Picking one favorite song would be impossible, but if you want to experience something amazing, listen to the genius Yoko Kanno's "Blue".

[@MrJPEzra]

I love music in general so it's hard to pick a favorite song. I have a favorite song for almost every artist I listen to.

[@toxicholocaust5553]

Favorite song. Baby killer-Devourment.

[@brentmacdonald4891]

Very cool vid! As a musician, my dreams have music...occasionally I wake up and grab my guitar to play what I was hearing, but all my songs have written while awake, unfortunately. It would be nice to work by sleeping, lol. Still do not know where my ideas come from...sometimes whole songs just pop out while I play around, other times I need to work and rework on them and then edit them even more. Great vid :-)

[@vincent-of-the-bog]

5:00 Wait, wait... Hank also plays drums? Not just the guitar? Well, you learn something new every day...

[@mrmolamola6163]

+Georgia S. Some would say you get Smarter Every Day.

[@vincent-of-the-bog]

***** I saw what you did there. :)

[@soragranda]

I'm not a musician, but I also have music in my dreams, sometimes even background music D:, quite cool.

[@TheMimiSard]

My favourite song?That's a little difficult to pin down, but my current favourites (plural) include "STrength of a Thousand Men" by Two Steps From Hell, "Daft Punk" by Pentatonix, "Same Disease" by Red, and "In My Remains" and "Burn It Down" by Linkin Park. By far Linkin Park is my favourite band.

[@bacawaka2813]

I listen to music when I do homework and I feel more productive while doing so.

[@kitsunekyubino9345]

The ridiculousness of asking us to pick one song is astounding. I have so many to choose from. I will say Emily by Joanna Newsom, L'via L'viaquez by The Mars Volta, anything by KT Tunstall, a plethora of video game OSTs and myriad different jazz tracks from the '40s and '50s.

[@lawrencecalablaster568]

My favourite song is probably George Ezra's "Budapest".

[@darkeyesforlife]

Any music from Frank Steiner Jr is my favorite, though recently I have been liking Medwy Goodall's songs (They're both new age artists).