Frisson: Why music gives you chills - BBC REEL

Filmmaker Greg Dukes explores the phenomenon of frisson. It is best described as a sudden rush or wave of emotions that some people experience when listening to an emotive piece of music.
Frisson is the French word meaning to 'shiver' or to have 'chills'. But in this case, we're not shivering because we're cold, we're shivering because we're stimulated by music.
Filmed, scripted & presented by Greg Dukes
Commissioning Editor: Griesham Taan
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[@WalterBurton]

Hilariously, the audio for this video is terrible.

[@tee2936]

Finally! I wondered why it happens. Haha sometimes it's embarassing. When it's really good I also cry involuntarily. So wild.

[@josephgomes6829]

I do the same thing. Sometimes I wondered if it was some other deep personal thing being brought to the surface but it is definitely just the music which makes it happen. I love the feeling

[@SparkyOne549]

Same here

[@OnyxPanther22]

Same. :-)

[@JuanLopez-zo8os]

Anime music of the 90s is the most powerful source of frisson.

[@behavioraldesign]

I'm a musician and years back, I set the rules that when composing a song, I needed to revise until it triggered consistent shivers. My songs weren't necessarily good, but for me, my songs became so enjoyable to play, that I pathologically played the songs. I felt like I need to stop playing music because it was so distracting. But I do believe it helps you write better songs. I think it's a super power that can make a good musician into a great musician. Not everyone has this, so for any musicians out there, I suspect if you learn to let this emotion guide your compositions, the general public will feel the effects.

[@SparkyOne549]

Frisson happens to me a lot. I even experience it for half an hour or more after the music. If I listen to multiple songs that I know give me the rush, my hair moves like static is causing it, and for an hour after, every time I move I get the goosebumps for over an hour.

[@trollingisasport]

This used too ohappen to me a lot more when I was younger and really emotionally connected with the music I was listening too.

[@danielhall67]

Same here. I don’t get it as much anymore. I really miss having it happen. I’m not sure if it’s associated with aging or if I’ve developed a tolerance, or if I just need to spend some time away from the stimulus to let my dopamine recharge?

[@TGreen89]

You better sang! 👏👏👏

[@jesustyronechrist2330]

Yeah, gospel music definitely gives me goosebumbs the most consistently. I'd I don't even go to church! Not that they even sing gospel in the churches in my country...

[@just_bickers]

I’ve always got goosebumps but I recently updated TIDAL to the new MAX HiRes FLAC and every song (mainly D&B) listened to today has given me frisson, and it got to the point where I was audibly gasping and getting chills and then some every single song. I had head rushes consistently over and over, to the point where I was feeling so so high, like a pill. (Not had one in very very long time.) I had to stop playing the music because I got so overstimulated by the dopamine. Thoughts?

[@ryansaper]

I get it all the time, but rarely I'll get a small seizure, not painful, but pleasurable. My teeth and muscles clench, eyes roll to the back of my head and intense goosebumps with a wave of auditory pleasure like crashing waves.

[@ToyWolfTM]

Guys, Anyone experience heavy frisson like me? I can get chills yes BUT, most of the time i hear something very beautiful Liek Oogway ascends, I get full on tears because its so beautiful.

[@blaszizzz]

Yup, I love getting into almost a trance state when music just 'tastes' so damn good 😅. Honestly, it's one thing I could not live without. I often wonder how some people can not enjoy it, though we're all different 😊

[@SeginusKaitos]

I've cultivated this. Started with music or good scenes of things, now I can do it without external stimuli.

[@DeusShaggy]

I feel it most above my left ear toward the top of my head. then it cascades down my neck through my body to my toes.

[@Butyistherumgon]

A good Haka chant gives me this sensation every time, without fail.

[@rdy602509]

Nice! Happy travels & trails!

[@IanMcKinney83]

WOW, After years of not knowing...🙏🥰

[@ReignBow.]

Yes!!! I get those a lot!!! Always called it my nirvana, good to know there’s an actual name for it.

[@ChangeforJonathan]

Amazing Informative 👍🏿

[@Genny-Zee]

Huh, I thought I was the only person that constantly cries to music!

[@yeoldeknight3285]

Sad music?

[@khattarhindustani]

​​@SEEK THE TRUTH! Better going to hell than rotting with this mentality

[@khattarhindustani]

​@SEEK THE TRUTH! Welcome to Islam ft. 9/11, 26/11, etc.,

[@heidithamil7238]

​@@khattarhindustaniAllah not true God

[@_robustus_]

Throughout the duration of this video, I did not experience frisson.

[@IvoryOasis]

I can control frisson. When I was very young I got it from movies and stuff, but after training for a while trying to invoke it by thinking of those moments... as I got older I could do it by just thinking of the feeling itself. Now I can hold it for extended periods and move it to different parts of my body and stuff. I also use it if I'm feeling sick or have some minor pain (since frisson can mask those things).

[@theenemy4313]

Does your body also begin to jerk around when you make it really intense?

[@IvoryOasis]

@@theenemy4313 It used to at moments of high intensity, but now adays I'm used to it and doesn't do that anymore.

[@ctkairos]

I can do this too, but never thought of using it to fight pain. Thanks!

[@EddieTurner-rk4of]

I've always had this, but I just use it to my advantage

[@reddevil1786]

Dnb gives me frisson every single time

[@charlesgomes6266]

I can activate it with visualization of spooky. It is useful for mental spirals for me.

[@J.O.Y-Life]

What happens when you can do it at will? I don’t need music and I am no musician. I just recently started getting it.

[@skipthechip8492]

I never want to see another thing from the BBC

[@mydogsareneat]

I got hit in the head and i havent felt this since but it used to be my favorite feeling. I get a close feeling. But its very dulled down.

[@mydogsareneat]

A very subtle tension response is all i get now. Admittedly its quite saddening.

[@aborch7]

I have often wondered if this frisson feeling has any relation to ASMR? 🤔

[@TGreen89]

I don't thinks so. I personally can't stand asmr, but I do get chills when I hear certain people sing. The sound of their voice is so beautiful to me. It's amazing.

[@olorin4317]

Tiny shoulder capes?

[@joshuamontgomery3011]

2:50 She said "Dijon," not "Frisson"

[@zachariahcarter2606]

Dylan Innes!!!

[@williamhill5933]

In a nut shell it is called RUSHING 🤪 what raver keep going back for

[@MsHeartIsArt]

🎉🎉🎉

[@Darkmatt3rPlays]

If you know your triggers in music, you are doing it right. And the audio of this video is horrendous

[@Darkmatt3rPlays]

@SEEK THE TRUTH! I am already a muslim bruh, thanks for your dawah. keep it up.

[@user-pj8uj7wx3s]

FYI other kinds of music are available, not just Gospel

[@williamgreer4958]

I experience this a lot. I also am extremely sensitive to music I don’t like. It’s almost painful to hear. No offence to the gentleman singing Amazing Grace in this video but I found that was awful 😂 To each their own!!

[@dawnr8511]

That's weird. Music never gave me chills.

[@TheRockerxx69]

I m a continuous case of Frisson - ing

[@victornoagbodji]

Umm, no? 🤔This video is pushing a terrible and misleading narrative. I am an amateur composer who knows something about goosebumps. No idea how they just straight link it to creativity, uniqueness, and emotional intelligence! 😲For those who care for another explanation: it's what remains from us evolving as mammals 😊Most mammals have their hair stand up on their skin when in danger, scared, cold, or excited. It's an evolution trait. We humans have shorter hair which form goosebumps instead. There is no mystery. We should all have this trait. Who knows what we will evolve into in a hundred of thousands years? 😄Now, the link to music is more interesting to a musician like myself. Music is a language. Music that "scares", "surprises", "uplifts" you will give you goosebumps. It's that simple. It's no more than the goosebumps my literature friends get from great text or poetry. They, too, get goosebumps from reading. So we musicians study these techniques. It's the words in gospel. It's the build and the beat drop in modern pop and dance. It's the sub bass, the syncopated hi-hat, and the lyrics in modern rap. I hope someone who cares about music finds this more helpful.

[@charlesd.1102]

Yeah in the same video it's said 2 third of the population experiences this so how is that 'unique'? Anyway, it's puzzling to me how music and sugary foods gives me goosebumps but I am generally a depressed person. Why the dopamine system works for these and not everything else? That i would like to know.

[@Goodsdogs]

This is not up to the bbc standard that I am used too. I really hope this is not the new normal because it’s a path to no viewers