Soothing Metal???
By alaskanray
@alaskanray (4636)
United States
July 7, 2011 6:04pm CST
Okay, so I asked this question in a forum I participate in:
What kind of music soothes you?
Please note, I did not ask "What is your favorite music?" Nor did I ask, "What kind of music do you enjoy?" I asked for soothing music. Needless to say I was surprised at some of the answers I got but none near as much as "Heavy Metal"!
Here is the total list:
· pop = micheal Jackson
· classic rock or old school rap
· i prefer RnB
· The Beatles put me to sleep
· When I'm mad or upset or can't sleep anything works for me except jazz and old music, opera, classical. Don't work for me O_o
· Songs of Adele and Brandi Carlisle normally soothes me. But if I want to sleep or relax, I listen to white noise (not really a kind of music)
· I would have to say the Beatles is probably the most soothing music I enjoy
· Pop and R&B
· POP and traditional music
· Indian and Pakistani songs
· RnB
· i love indian melodious
· Belle & Sebastian
· i cant stop listening to old crow medicine lately. i love this band
· Most types of metal for me
· Pop
· i like britney spears.
I cannot help but think that most of these people failed to understand my question. While I may enjoy listening to a lot of these music types, they are not what I put on when I want to calm down and soothe out, relax and maybe go to sleep...least of all the metal! 
Isn't it funny what people think of as soothing these days?
Here is the total list:
· pop = micheal Jackson
· classic rock or old school rap
· i prefer RnB
· The Beatles put me to sleep
· When I'm mad or upset or can't sleep anything works for me except jazz and old music, opera, classical. Don't work for me O_o
· Songs of Adele and Brandi Carlisle normally soothes me. But if I want to sleep or relax, I listen to white noise (not really a kind of music)
· I would have to say the Beatles is probably the most soothing music I enjoy
· Pop and R&B
· POP and traditional music
· Indian and Pakistani songs
· RnB
· i love indian melodious
· Belle & Sebastian
· i cant stop listening to old crow medicine lately. i love this band
· Most types of metal for me
· Pop
· i like britney spears.
I cannot help but think that most of these people failed to understand my question. While I may enjoy listening to a lot of these music types, they are not what I put on when I want to calm down and soothe out, relax and maybe go to sleep...least of all the metal! Isn't it funny what people think of as soothing these days?9 responses
@ElicBxn (63652)
• United States
8 Jul 11
That's strange, but if I'm angry, then singing along with heavy metal does actually calm me down by getting the anger out - if that makes sense?
now Maggie used to know someone who listened to a well known "depressed" singer to get up, but I can't remember the guy, he writes his own stuff and has a voice that sounds like he is singing through rocks...
1 person likes this
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
8 Jul 11
Oh, wow...he sounds like Don Williams! 
1 person likes this
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
8 Jul 11
lol..."a voice that sounds like he is singing through rocks" sounds like Michael Bolton!
I found when I was going through rape trauma that I had to avoid angry people/music/situations/etc because they just fed the rage I was desperately trying to get rid of. They just made me angrier.
I never could stand what I call "jackhammer"music. If it's too hard hitting, I feel like I'm getting beat up on by it and I go into defense mode. There are even some classical music (Borodin comes to mind) styles that have that effect on me. Rap is like that for me, too...as well as the heavy rock and metal genres. I just don't deal well with anger and like to avoid it as much as possible...especially in my music.
I found when I was going through rape trauma that I had to avoid angry people/music/situations/etc because they just fed the rage I was desperately trying to get rid of. They just made me angrier.
I never could stand what I call "jackhammer"music. If it's too hard hitting, I feel like I'm getting beat up on by it and I go into defense mode. There are even some classical music (Borodin comes to mind) styles that have that effect on me. Rap is like that for me, too...as well as the heavy rock and metal genres. I just don't deal well with anger and like to avoid it as much as possible...especially in my music.1 person likes this
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
9 Jul 11
I have always been a metal head but I would never listen to most of the metal bands to soothe me lol. Metal is high energy and of you have ever been to a gig you will know what I mean.
Easy listen soothes me, something like The Eagles, Mike Oldfield or Clannad, if ya like Enya you will like Clannad. Anything Acoustic is good too.
1 person likes this
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
9 Jul 11
Clannad are just amazing, they would be my first choice for chill out music. If the schools would take notice over here! this would be they way to teach the Irish language to kids, not the stuff I was forced to learn lol.
The Eagles have always been another to get me in a great mood and I listen to them regularly.
You must have heard of Tubular Bells by Oldfield its very good,its one you will either love or hate and if you like it you will love his other stuff too. Have a look on youtube to get a feel for it.
I also like Jeff Wayne's War of The Worlds, I am not sure if it relaxes me but it always captivates me and after listening I am always smiling so its all good.
I never considered metal as a way too relax although I still love it and there is nothing like a love gig and seeing a band, and gigs are always high energy lol. I think metal once it hooks you, it stays i te blood no matter how old you get.
Europe, where are those guys now ? I think Bon Jovi killed them at the time .I love all kinds of metal, soft, hard and plain aggressive. Now that I think about it, it does not really matter what type of music you are into, once you enjoy it, then it would tend to relax you.
1 person likes this
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
9 Jul 11
Yes, I have some Clannad in my collection, too. I can see Eagles soothing at times, as well. Not familiar with Oldfield. Heard the name but don't recall the sound.
I am still amazed that someone would actually list metal as soothing. I always thought of it as high energy, too. I do listen to some so I am familiar. (Enjoy Europe which is kind of metal but not really?) 
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
12 Jul 11
lol...I have no idea what happened to Europe. I have heard Tubular Bells but it never really turned me on. I can take it or leave it. I mean, I won't turn it off if it comes on the radio but it's not in my collection, either, you know?
There is a vast amount of music I have never gotten into simply because it was like that...don't know who the artists are but the music is okay but not in my collection. It's not that I hate it but it just didn't turn me on. lol 
@skydancer (2101)
• United States
8 Jul 11
I really can't pick a specific genre or artist, because to me in order to be soothed, I need something that matches my mood. That means if I am angry, I love my gothic/symphonic/power metal and Meat Loaf. If I need to be re-assured about something or need some encouragement, Garth Brooks is usually the one who succeeds in doing that. If I am just depressed or down, there are countless songs and artists that could lift my spirits. It all depends.
I take a lot more comfort in feeling like I am with someone who feels the same way and can express it (as in through word and song) in the same way I feel it than I do from something soothing just for the sake of being soothing, if that makes any sense. If I am enraged, Meat Loaf's "Life is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back" is much more calming to me than anything soft and smooth.
For going to sleep, though... I am not sure I go to sleep to music (although I listen to lots of it before hand). I usually just turn on the noisemaker rain sound.
That said, I suppose I would qualify as one of those funny-thinking people. I suppose, a lot of the people who find metal soothing (like myself - but only certain subgenres of the metal category) feel that way because the aggressive sound is somewhat a cathartic release, which helps to clear the head. That is how it is with me, at least.
1 person likes this
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
8 Jul 11
Yah, I hear you on that score. But I wouldn't call that soothing. It's more venting. lol
I don't usually listen to music when I'm angry...but then, I'm not usually angry. I'm either up or down...energetic or tired...and when I'm tired or down I need something that heals, not feeds the pain that I'm feeling. Interesting how different people deal with the different things they face each day, isn't it?
I don't usually listen to music when I'm angry...but then, I'm not usually angry. I'm either up or down...energetic or tired...and when I'm tired or down I need something that heals, not feeds the pain that I'm feeling. Interesting how different people deal with the different things they face each day, isn't it?
@damned_dle (3942)
• Philippines
8 Jul 11
Back when I was a teen, metal music "soothes" me too. But that was a long time ago. But right now, classic blues music really soothes me. I am not even a fan of it, but I just find them soothing. I only listen to it when I feel like I need to calm down.
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@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
8 Jul 11
That is too funny. When I was younger, folk like Gordon Lightfoot soothed me but the harder hitting music was always pumping me up...giving me more energy, not settling me down.
These days I like the sounds of Classical and Celtic (Enya) when I want to relax.
These days I like the sounds of Classical and Celtic (Enya) when I want to relax.@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
17 Jul 11
lol...String...you honestly didn't know what the word soothe meant before???
I have to say I laughed when I read that. Thanks for the giggle.
I do know that the hard hitting bands sometimes do come out with softer ballads. I think I even have one or two in my collection...just as a single...but I don't listen to them with my soothe music...I listen to them with my upbeat stuff as a break in the beat.
I have to say I laughed when I read that. Thanks for the giggle.
I do know that the hard hitting bands sometimes do come out with softer ballads. I think I even have one or two in my collection...just as a single...but I don't listen to them with my soothe music...I listen to them with my upbeat stuff as a break in the beat.
@stringer321 (5644)
• Kiryat Ata, Israel
17 Jul 11
I got to say first , that I just learned a new word now : "soothe".
ummm...I also think the old classic Blues is a nice music to calm down with or relax.
It is kind of slow , not noisy and it's nice and melodic , not too complex...so it really helps to relax. I can listen to this music and not become sleepy of boredom...
I also think a classic music like mozart and all is also soothing , in fact , some may say it helps the brain and the focus. but here I may become sleepy if it's too boring to listen to it.
I also got to say metal and rock bands can make nice and soothing songs once in a while , like metallica's "nothing else metters" , pearl jam's "black" , "ocean"...
faith no more's "i'm easy" , "evidence" . and when they do it , they do it just fine.
1 person likes this
@polaris77 (2039)
• Bacau, Romania
8 Jul 11
I love metal,but I certainly don't listen to it when I want to soothe me;on the contrary,there are moments when things are too quiet and life seems dull and I have no inspiration;that is when I find my energy and inspiration in the mighty heavy metal.It may not calm me down,but it certainly gives me an inner strength that no other type of music can!
1 person likes this
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
9 Jul 11
Well, that sounds more like what I expected. I feel that way about some of the upbeat stuff I listen to (most of it's not metal but it can be pretty hard hitting). Cher can pump me up at times, too...and LRB, some disco, some dance tunes and some classic rock. But to be soothed, I turn to the quieter stuff like Enya and classical...and not just any classical. Even among classical music some will soothe and some will pump you up.
@ReverendShaggy (415)
• Philippines
12 Jul 11
I see where you can be surprised by people's responses. I also can understand you thinking maybe they didn't understand your question. I am one of those that fall under the category of metal being soothing though. When I am upset and need to calm down, if I try listening to Enya or something similar as you mentioned, It upsets me more. If I listen to metal it tend to calm me down. I'm really not sure why that is at all. I listen to all music as well.
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
12 Jul 11
Hmmm...funny because high energy music gets me revved up and going rather than relaxed and soothed.
@mommamusic (882)
• United States
8 Jul 11
I am a metal head i love metal of all kinds but considering thats what my son bands play i love it.I love the shows i really enjoy the music,my husband ask do you understand what they are saying yes i do.I am 62 and still going strong.
@Zaphan (710)
• Philippines
8 Jul 11
When I'm mad I like metal genre music, when I'm alright I prefer pop music it relaxes me, especially when I am mad I like to put on my head phone and tune up the volume where I can't here anything in the background, after that I feel great again.
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@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
8 Jul 11
Weird. Metal drives me up a wall, it's so violent. When I want soothing, I choose soothing music...Enya or classical...not hard hitting stuff that sounds like a jackhammer.
@whispers168 (768)
• United States
8 Jul 11
Jazz makes me calm and find peace of body and soul...Its very smooth music :)
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
8 Jul 11
Some jazz can be soothing but I've also heard jazz that gets on my nerves...the kind with all the rips and such.
