“I see you standin’
Standin’ on your own
It’s such a lonely place for you
For you to be.”
— Guns N’ Roses, Don’t Cry
I’ve lost count of the times was ridiculed for listening to Taylor Swift. For a while, I even wondered why her music stirred such mixed reactions. Back in class 7, started exploring her songs and kept a page in my diary filled with clippings from Kishor Alo. My infatuation wasn’t solely because of her soft melodies or emotional lyrics. At that age, I assumed it was because she was good-looking. While that may have been part of it, as grew older, I realized couldn’t shake off my fascination with her music-or the other artists adored during that time.
Well, as far as science is concerned, my infatuation goes like this: Nostalgia and Music. Research published in Memory & Cognition (2013) shows that songs strongly associated with significant life events (like early relationships or high school memories) tend to evoke stronger emotions later in life. This is why we often cling to music from our formative years, as it triggers memories linked to key emotional experiences.
Additionally, the “Chill Effect,” which is something around 55% of people report feeling when listening to emotionally powerful music, is a phenomenon tied to the brain’s release of endorphins and dopamine. This explains why some tracks, especially emotionally resonant pop songs like those from Lana Del Rey or Taylor Swift, can leave a lasting physical impact.
And it goes without saying, we love to romanticize the idea of romance. Human psychology is very complex. We love listening to songs about the person we like or love, heartbreaks, and even undying love when we haven’t yet understood what the word ‘love’ actually means. We love the idea of ‘love,’ even though most of us have never felt it for someone else. This also explains why a person might still be listening to songs they heard years ago when they were young and curious about romantic endeavors.
But if you’re in love, man, do these songs hit differently. “Marry me, Juliet. You’ll never have to be alone. I love you and that’s all I really know.” I mean, how can you not sing along to them at the top of your voice when that’s all you want to say to your girl? For these people, Abrams’ or Del Rey’s songs are the ones that buzz in their heads all day long. If you were childhood friends, you might end up listening to Ed Sheeran’s Perfect for a whole lifetime since you heard it when you were little. Or maybe, whenever you two are together, you listen to Apocalypse by Cigarettes After Sex because that’s just “your song.”
And for those who are heartbroken, my condolences, and I hope the songs you have been listening to for years may someday heal you.
So, is listening to 14-year-old music childish? I would conclude in the negative. Some songs just stay with you over the years, and no matter how mature you are or how old you get, the mysteries of love baffle every human being. So, it’s okay to be genuine and listen to what your heart craves the most—love—rather than being a wannabe.
