The funny thing is my choice in music has changed drastically over the years. I read a study not too long ago that concluded that the music you love when you are in your early teens - 12 to 15 - determines what kind of music you will like throughout the rest of your life.
Well, I laugh at that study. My brain has other ideas.
When I was really young, I listened to what my parents listened to: The Beatles; ABBA; The Mamas and Papas; Peter, Paul, and Mary; Neil Diamond, Barbara Streisand; John Denver; etc. By the time I was in my early teens - the time the study says determines what you like throughout your life - I was listening to Yanni, Mannheim Steamroller, Cusco, and other new-age music. By the time I was in my late teens I still liked the new-age music, but I also liked Bon Jovi, REO Speedwagon, Brain Adams, and other rock music.
My next phase was folk music. My mind ditched the rock and new-age and I started enjoying Enya, Clannad, Loreena McKennit, and singer-songwriter folk music. I loved anything with a Celtic feel to it. I even helped a friend write lyrics for a few songs. I would listen to it, meditate to it, and just generally always had it playing.
My next phase was music that my college buddies (I started college late) and my then-fiance listened to. Led Zeppelin was a biggie, as was Pink Floyd. I also ventured into Metallica and AC/DC. I would still listen to Enya when I was meditating, but otherwise I was moving into classic rock.
When I moved to Utah in 2001, I lost my music. I couldn't listen to Led Zeppelin any more because it reminded my of my ex-fiance. And my brain was too stressed and loud for the folk music to do me any good. I ended up instead using the TV in place of music. I would have it on something I had watched multiple times, like Friends, and would use that as my background noise. I couldn't meditate with music and I couldn't get my brain to rest.
Fortunately I would listen to the radio when I was driving. Most of the music the local stations played was useless drivel, but some songs stuck. I finally started looking up the songs I liked and started listening to these new bands (at least they were new to me). By about 2010 I was working at a magazine and the graphic artist would listen to music while she worked. I could here it in my office and I really liked what she liked. I finally started to listen to music again, but it was drastically different from anything I liked earlier in my life.
When I had my major psychotic break in late 2012, music once again became a lifeline. I found quickly that I couldn't meditate to typical meditation music - my brain was too loud. Instead, I started meditating to metal. It was loud enough to drown out any voices and anxiety. And now I listen to it exclusively
My current music tastes can be summed up with my 5 favorite bands: Linkin Park, Godsmack, Disturbed, Korn, and Evanescence. The louder the better. Have revisited some classic rock such as AC/DC, but it doesn't really resonate with my soul any more. If I try to listen to anything I liked earlier in my life it is almost painful. My brain knows what it likes and that is what I am sticking with. BTW: as I write this I am listening to Pandora and the current song is by Limp Bizkit.
I guess my conclusion is that my brain definitely doesn't fall into the category of "normal." It never has.
Rock on!
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