moved to tears by music - paradoxical?

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Why is it that when I hear someone's sad story about being abused or someone dying, I'm unmoved. I certainly feel bad for them on the inside but my outward affect is incongruent with what I'm feeling on the inside. Also, sometimes someone's story or the death of someone like a family member doesn't even move me on the inside though I do feel sympathy for the person whose relative has died or is dying. Does that make any sense?

Anyway, what I find weird is when I hear a sad piece of music like "Hello" by Evanescence or "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan or even a training video at a store where an employee helps an elderly customer who's in a wheelchair reach for something, it just makes me want to cry - I well up for some reason.

What the hell?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j42ApkIIdNc[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUqYk30rJ1g[/youtube]

Dont have an explanation but the first movement of Beethoven's 8th Symphony has that effect on me...

It's not paradoxal at all. I get internally overwhelmed at times too, though less and less. I've never cried over a song before though, but have cried over other things.

What's interesting is that sometimes songs seem to "speak" to you on an almost personal level, don't they?

Edit: Though not everything applies, of course. There are connections.

Last edited by SilverProteus on 17 Feb 2008, 4:21 pm, edited 2 times in total.

totally.

Wanna hear another piece I find extremely sad and moving?

http://www.4shared.com/dir/5744162/9054 ... aring.html

It's the only file I have there right now

Yeah, I felt a void while listening to it. It was an interesting void; empty and hopeless.

same here but towards like 3/4 the way into it, it's like the lonliness and despair turns around like the sun come out from behind a dark looming cloud but then it goes back to the realization that all is not well with the world.

I can experience mood swings, listening to a classical piece. Teary-eyed one minute and laughing the next.

"Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd makes me feel kinda calm, not sad really. The title track, not the whole album btw. Although it is an awesome album.

actually, some songs make me feel better...

Same here. I would usually follow it with Comfortably Numb which is sadder for me.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkJNyQfAprY[/youtube]

Grey Havens is my tear jerker. I didn't actually cry though it seems everyone else did

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FWg6iO9-2k[/youtube]

It often takes music, Romantic period classical music to get me to express my emotions. Beethoven is a particular favorite (his 3rd and 9th symphonies and the Moonlight Sonata especially).

Pretty much anything by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra gets me all unnerved and weepy.

I'm the same. I also express my emotions better through music than through words or body language.

My son loves to sing and many times he'll get teary eyed when he sings...

I can relate. Music makes me feel alot too... I can cry to music.. I've had to choke back tears in public when hearing something really moving.. At least, when people notice my emotions to music they know I'm "human" afterall ; )

Wow, I feel exactly the same way, with the exception of letting people seeing me get choked up; after all, I don't wanna be seen as a wimp.

You're not unusual at all...in fact, a study from 10 years ago said that more *men* then women are susceptible to crying over beautiful, sad music. I guess it's because since women are more comfortable with crying, they don't hold as much emotional baggage which gets unlocked when you hear a very moving piece of music.

'Course, I could be talking out of my butt, but hey