Why were you so into that band in high school?
We all remember that one band or artist we had a phase with. You know, the one from when you were a teenager. You had posters, read about upcoming releases, knew ALL their names and songs.
For my mom it was New Kids On The Block (She was a 90’s teen). For my brother it was Eminem. In my middle school years, all the girls were INFATUATED with One Direction. Personally, I was (and still kinda am) so into twenty one pilots.
I did some research on the subject because I wanted to know why I’m so into some band I recently found right now (The 1975). The answer is… drum roll please… the music (obviously). Of course I love the music! Almost all of it is relatable to edgy teens like myself and so many others. In a study done by neuroscientists at McGill University, music was found to release dopamine in our brains. Dopamine is also known as the happiness chemical. It’s an endorphin in our brain that’s a part of our reward system. The highs from the music were similarly craved to those from drugs. This, along with the developing and stress-free brains of so many teens, is a perfect combo for a slight addiction to music. Hearing our favorite songs is like a drug to us.
Something else that I think is part of the answer is that it gives a sense of community. I like The 1975’s music, yeah, but so do other edgy teens. I follow fan pages, participate in Reddit discussions, would have gone to a concert too if it wasn’t for the virus. The One Direction girls from middle school had, well, the other girls from middle school. My mom probably felt that same sense of community when she and her friends would talk about how nice Jordan’s voice sounded on MTV the night before.
The subculture that many bands provide also give a sense of identity. You might see a biker in a dining restaurant with a sick beard, leather jacket, and a pull-able handlebar mustache. If you were asked what music he listens to, what would you say? Probably some metal and rock, right? Music helps people fit into some clique. The One Direction girls from middle school had their little style and could fit in if put in a group with other fans. Probably not as cool as the bikers with their rock and metal, but me listening to The 1975 may put an image of some working or middle class kid wearing all black and spending a lot of time online. You’d be so right. This idea of music and behavior blending together becomes most prevalent when looking at the rap and hip hop culture.
So there you have it! Hopefully now you can see why you were so obsessed with that one band. Obsessions don’t stop either, just maybe they’re a bit toned down now. You still have that favorite artist or band. My mom went to this Mexican singer’s concert a few years ago and owned all her albums. She moved on from New Kids On The Block to something new. Just now there are no posters or creepy love letters stuffed away in her drawer. It’s okay to have these groups or people to listen to, as long as it’s not taking over your life. Keep listening to your songs and turn that volume up.
Sources
Salimpoor, V., Benovoy, M., Larcher, K. et al. Anatomically distinct dopamine release during anticipation and experience of peak emotion to music. Nat Neurosci 14, 257–262 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2726
