Music is one of the strongest memory triggers. I have a love hate relationship with music nostalgia. Music nostalgia derives from the Greek words “homecoming” and “pain”. Part of me thinks it’s one of the most magical things how music can bring you back to a time in your life. This also happens to be why I hate it. While music nostalgia can bring you back to a sad point of your life, sometimes recalling the happy ones makes me sadder. Making even the happy memories seem painful to recall. For me, I think it is the longing to go back to that time. Recently I listened to a song that brought me back to summer of 2021. This was by far one of my most eventful, life changing summers. It was the transitioning summer between high school and college, I took a meaningful trip to Iceland, and in all it was the last summer before friends went separate ways and I truly felt no obligations. It’s funny that now, years later, when I listen to the same songs that were on repeat then, is when the nostalgia kicks in. It’s crazy how it paints a picture as if you are reliving the experience but yet it is a little blurry and hard to grasp. I think that might be the sad part, the not being able to fully remember every little detail or maybe it is the wanting to go back to that time. According to Vice, some songs prompt nostalgia over more specific and meaningful scenarios. This could be events ranging from your first kiss or just an unforgettable time out with friends. Most of this nostalgia dates from one’s teenage years making the music we listen to in this time being incredibly influential on our future selves. When I listen to a song, I often listen to it on repeat. Suddenly I get sick of it and vow to never listen to it again. Years later, I get the urge or sign to listen to the song again, and a feeling of dopamine comes over me. I think it’s beautiful how our brains work. How it signals a core memory and awakens associated emotions all through listening to a song. I think it is safe to say that we all love music and how relatable it is. This relatability can be how the lyrics speak to us or how the tone of the song speaks to us. But at what point does it become a part of our lives, have a deeper meaning, then through a few more listens, it’s gone again? The best part is, the song you are listening to right now, might be someone else’s nostalgic story. We are all connected through music and our brain is a powerful source.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UNH chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.