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Thug Life.
Bleeding on the Floor
Thug Life.
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 1315
June 2nd, 2008 at 05:40am
I wanted to start a thread on this before it spills all over the "mcr march" thread and gets that thread locked.

anyway the question is, How much does music really impact a person ?

this is coming from a lot of people saying " My chemical Romance saved my life"
is this really the case ? or is it just something people say.
this thread isn't just about my chem.

you can talk about music as a whole.
IceHog69
Bulletproof Heart
IceHog69
Age: 32
Gender: -
Posts: 25232
June 2nd, 2008 at 05:58am
okay. Music can help, because it makes you feel like you aren't alone, and that there are other people out there that feel just as screwed up as you do. It helps if you can't talk to anyone, because you are scared about what they will say, because it feels like there is some sort of hope, or it gets better. I'm talking about My Chemical Romance, because I know what I'm talking about then, through experience.

They haven't directly saved my life, but they have kept me going, and cheered me up many a time, when not even my best friend could. They have made me feel like I'm not alone. My best friend recently stopped talking to me, in favor of her boyfriend, and My Chem stopped my going away for ever. Ellie was the person who saved my life, but when she left, I had to hold onto something else, and in that case it was the music. The feeling that other people had been abandoned, but they carried on.

Music does help, and you can't understand that until it has affected you personally. It seems like a stupid idea, but to someone who is ashamed of what they do, it seems like a pretty good idea. Think about it, you aren't going to go get therapy if you are scared they're gonna tell you that you are ill, or you are ashamed, or if you think you would be wasting someones time. A lot of the time, you can't talk to your friends, cause they just take the mik, or avoid talking about it. You can't talk to your parents, because they rarely listen, and when they do, they lecture you, and make you feel even worse. Music makes you feel connected with something.

I don't know what it's like for other people, but that is what I have experienced myself.
Lovesick Melody.
Bulletproof Heart
Lovesick Melody.
Age: 84
Gender: Female
Posts: 25760
June 2nd, 2008 at 06:51am

Oh no, my rant-senses are tingling. lmfao

Okay...
In regards to the 'My Chemical Romance saved my life' thing, I think people lie.
Well, not straight out lie, but say it without meaning. It seems to me that you have to say it to be a true or real fan.
This isn't just in regards to My Chem, but to any band.
It's just been overused ever since LOTMS came out, and to be frank, its not real.
I mean, people seem to follow My Chems word as if its some kind of rule.
I do not find this is the case.
I disagree when people say My Chem saved their life.
They did not physically make you stop cutting. YOU did.
They may have helped a hell of a lot, but they did not stop it all on their own.

Another thing I... well I wouldn't say hate, but dislike strongly, is when people say music is their life and dont actually know the meaning of it.
It seems to me that whenever someone loves a band to death, they say music is their life.
It is not. Just because you are the top fan, does not mean music is your life.

But I do believe that music influences someones life greatly.
It impacts every age group and every race in some shape or form.
Of course, it does not mean that it drives you to suicide. (I know, kind of going on emo topic, but yeah...)
If someone commits suicide just because of a band/song/album, then it is not the artists fault.
It shows that the person had deep problems, and maybe the music triggered all this to a breakdown or something.

Do not quote me on that, I am just expressing an opinion. As I am doing in this entire post.
Mindfuck
Always Born a Crime
Mindfuck
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Posts: 5614
June 2nd, 2008 at 07:33am
Lovesick Melody.:

Oh no, my rant-senses are tingling. lmfao

Okay...
In regards to the 'My Chemical Romance saved my life' thing, I think people lie.
Well, not straight out lie, but say it without meaning. It seems to me that you have to say it to be a true or real fan.
This isn't just in regards to My Chem, but to any band.
It's just been overused ever since LOTMS came out, and to be frank, its not real.
I mean, people seem to follow My Chems word as if its some kind of rule.
I do not find this is the case.
I disagree when people say My Chem saved their life.
They did not physically make you stop cutting. YOU did.
They may have helped a hell of a lot, but they did not stop it all on their own.

Another thing I... well I wouldn't say hate, but dislike strongly, is when people say music is their life and dont actually know the meaning of it.
It seems to me that whenever someone loves a band to death, they say music is their life.
It is not. Just because you are the top fan, does not mean music is your life.





I completely agree with all of this, especially the part about My Chemical Romance.
I know this thread isn't solely about them, but I do feel the same - I've heard "MCR saved my life!!" so many times now, I think it's lost all meaning.

I don't think bands necessarily "save" lives, regardless of what they may say. Ultimately, if you are in a bad place and you feel you need to be "saved" somewhat, in the end the person who is going to do that is you, not a band. I believe that music can help people overcome things, but I don't think it is the sole savior of someone. It takes a lot of strength to overcome something like depression, and when I hear people crediting bands such as MCR with "pulling them out of depression", I can't help but feel skeptical.

Heart Attack.
Salute You in Your Grave
Heart Attack.
Age: 32
Gender: Female
Posts: 2274
June 2nd, 2008 at 09:51am
I know people say "MCR saved my life" a lot, and some people probably lie or exaggerate just because it makes them sound cool or whatever, but I really think music helps a lot. MCR is what opened my eyes when I was depressed and made me realize that yeah, I do have a problem and I need to get better instead of feeling sorry for myself. I give them credit with helping me out of it, and it was only about a week ago when this happened to me. That's when I joined this website. Maybe they didn't singlehandedly pull all of those people out of depression or suicidal thoughts, but I feel like their music alone is what completely changed my mindset recently. Yeah, it was me that made the choice to try to get out of my depression, but MCR's song Famous Last Words is what made me see that I have to make the choice, so without their music, I wouldn't have been able to do it, so I really believe that music can save people and that their not always lying about, because I'm definitely not.
IceHog69
Bulletproof Heart
IceHog69
Age: 32
Gender: -
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June 2nd, 2008 at 10:39am
^here here.

music does help

(but the phrase 'MCR saved my life' is overused by people who want to seem cool.
Usually the same people that insist that they regualrly cut their wrists, and are vegan, but actually have arms as smooth as a baby's bottom, and had an omellette for breakfast.
)
Thug Life.
Bleeding on the Floor
Thug Life.
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 1315
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:25pm

I dont think gerard literally meant to save lives as in to stop you from killing yourself when he said that this band was meant to save lives. i think he meant it in the sense where he wanted to put a bit more color to peoples lives.

alot of people take things literally.

thank fsm.
In The Murder Scene
thank fsm.
Age: 36
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June 2nd, 2008 at 12:41pm
I have never heard that theory.

But it makes sense to me.
Faye Merci
Salute You in Your Grave
Faye Merci
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June 2nd, 2008 at 09:39pm
I think music helps to a certain degree, and certainly influences our emotions and moods. I mean, there's a reason that weepy violin is played during a sad scene rather than thrash metal. It changes a moment. However, I don't think music plays an active role in changing lives by influencing ACTION. I think it influences feelings, but ultimately, it is up to a person what a person does.

As to the "MCR saved my life" thing. I honestly find this an over-used and arbitrary sort of hollow saying. It's just available to everyone but I don't think it applies to everyone. I mean, sure. You were depressed. You listened to MCR. Gerard was depressed. But that's not saving a life. That's searching for connections between yourself and what you've come to love. But it's not a rescue mission.
I think MCR fans are saved by other MCR fans and in some cases, saved by growing up. Most people are more dramatic and prone to dramatic feelings when they're younger. It's how humans are. With hormones raging all the time, it's not hard to go off and believe you're suicidal. I don't think it's hard to cut yourself just because you're mad. What's hard is facing life and making yourself live, not wallow in despair. I just think that if MCR saves lives, it's passively.

If I'm in a band, I know it's not to save anyone's life, it's to make music. The second you make a band's purpose anything other than making music, you've defeated their purpose. A band exists to play. I think music fans like to attach grandiose purposes to their favorite artists. But in the end, the artist is just human. I don't think music exists to change lives and save people from suicide. I think it's made to enjoy in the moment, frighten, inspire and create. But not to put out fires or stop depression.
Ignore Alien Orders
Salute You in Your Grave
Ignore Alien Orders
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Posts: 2026
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:06pm
If we're defining saving a life as just postponing death, then I don't know if it does. But I do know that music is the single most important thing in my life. It's the only thing I've ever really wanted to do with my life, to be honest. I don't know that it saved me from suicide or something, seeing as I was never really suicidal, but it's always given me something to have hope in when I need it and helped me find perspective and have faith in myself, and because of that it's saved me from my own stupidity, and what I might have done with my life if I'd never heard the songs that I love or written the songs that I've written.

It might be cliche to cite a song to describe what I mean, but "Gone" by the Bouncing Souls does it. If you're in a dark place in your life, a song really can give you something to hold on to until you're out of that place. It doesn't take action for you, sure, but can it inspire you to take action for yourself?

Yeah, it can.
Rexperience
Bleeding on the Floor
Rexperience
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 1052
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:37pm
Wow Migatron, great topic! I was thinking about starting a similar one, but I got sick which is why I've been gone for so long. But now I'm back so here we go;
Music is honestly my salvation, I don't know were I'd be without music and I don't really want to picture it. I honestly have my ear buds in any waking second I'm not obligated not to.(Yes that includes sneaking it in school cause I can't help myself.) Self expression is extremely important to me, and I get more than I can express out through music.

For years I knew that I really worshiped music and then I read something about the God amongst men: Jimi Hendrix. He had always viewed music as a spiritual experience, and coined the phrase "the Electric Church." Which was his way of respecting the philosophy theology and expression that music gives us.

Not a day goes by were I don't head bang to MCR, Jam to Hendrix, Rock to Cream and flow with the Beatles. It really is a part of me and without it I wouldn't be myself. Of all the religions in the world, and all philosophy's to understand, the only one I can truly say I'm apart of is the Electric Church.

Continued~ As far as MCR goes, they changed my life for the better, but they didn't SAVE me I don't believe. Music in general saved me...
Thug Life.
Bleeding on the Floor
Thug Life.
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 1315
June 3rd, 2008 at 01:48am

Remembering that Hendrix, Clapton and all the beatles were high on pcp when they al thought of these love in concepts.
so the question i pose to you rex is in any other situation would you trust what a person doped on drugs says ?

i mean i respect hendrix immensly me being a guitarist and all but i dont think ide go any further to say its my life.

Rexperience
Bleeding on the Floor
Rexperience
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 1052
June 3rd, 2008 at 04:08pm
^ Well just about anyone in the music business (especially in the 60's) has been involved, if not seriously with mind altering substances at some time. Its just something you have to accept. I honestly think its what helps make psychedelic blues so amazing. I mean would Voodoo Child or Purple Haze be the same if Hendrix wasn't constantly tripped out on acid? While I really enjoy the message of such an artist, first and for most its actual the music for me.

To be honest I could really careless if John, Paul, George and Ringo all were smoking weed when they coined the phrase "All You Need Is Love" I mean does it really take away anything from the meaning and truth of what there saying?

When I said I was saved by music, its because it helps me express myself in ways I wouldn't be able to otherwise. There's just something about doin massive air guitar to Sunshine Of Your Love that just puts me on another level. And when I'm down nothing can be compared to listening to some song that explains my emotions for me and lets me get out what I need to say for myself. It doesn't matter whether or not the artist was high when they said it, all that matters is that it makes sense when I look inside of myself. Hope that answers your question ~ Rex

I'm glad you can respect Hendrix as the amazing artist that he was, you'd be surprised how many aren't able to do so...
Ignore Alien Orders
Salute You in Your Grave
Ignore Alien Orders
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Gender: Female
Posts: 2026
June 3rd, 2008 at 04:45pm
I know the question wasn't directed at me, but if someone who was on drugs of any kind said something to me that made sense, I would trust it. Rather, I would look at what they said the same way I would look at it if a sober person had said it.

Thug Life.
Bleeding on the Floor
Thug Life.
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 1315
June 3rd, 2008 at 05:30pm
KingRex:
^ Well just about anyone in the music business (especially in the 60's) has been involved, if not seriously with mind altering substances at some time. Its just something you have to accept. I honestly think its what helps make psychedelic blues so amazing. I mean would Voodoo Child or Purple Haze be the same if Hendrix wasn't constantly tripped out on acid? While I really enjoy the message of such an artist, first and for most its actual the music for me.

To be honest I could really careless if John, Paul, George and Ringo all were smoking weed when they coined the phrase "All You Need Is Love" I mean does it really take away anything from the meaning and truth of what there saying?

When I said I was saved by music, its because it helps me express myself in ways I wouldn't be able to otherwise. There's just something about doin massive air guitar to Sunshine Of Your Love that just puts me on another level. And when I'm down nothing can be compared to listening to some song that explains my emotions for me and lets me get out what I need to say for myself. It doesn't matter whether or not the artist was high when they said it, all that matters is that it makes sense when I look inside of myself. Hope that answers your question ~ Rex

I'm glad you can respect Hendrix as the amazing artist that he was, you'd be surprised how many aren't able to do so...



but really yeah they probably would have been, theyre nothing that freakishly special. hendrix just plays 12 bar blues .... theyve been doing that since african americans could play guitar, and im sure they werent on acid.

Rexperience
Bleeding on the Floor
Rexperience
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 1052
June 3rd, 2008 at 06:42pm
^ Thats your opinion dude. I can't explain it, I just simply love the Beatles ,Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, the Who, Todd Rundgren, Richie Havens, Utopia and MCR. They are my messiahs...

Ah! Do I detect a fellow bluesmen? The blues in all its forms is pretty much the main genre I listen to,(though stuff from the 60's is my favorite.) I just can't get enough of B.B.King, Howlin Wolf, Robert Johnson, Eric Clapon, Jimi Hendrix, and Muddy Waters. Its not hard to say that I'm addicted to blues guitar. Its just so simple and yet so emotional and expressive. Love. It

Hendrix was unbelievable because he took the blues out of the Mississippi delta and went to Venus. The things he did and the ways he did them were other-worldly. His message was way cool, and he himself was the definition of an individual. A life long goal of mine is to recreate his old wardrobe lol. I could go on and on so I'd better stop now ~ Rex
Thug Life.
Bleeding on the Floor
Thug Life.
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 1315
June 4th, 2008 at 05:36am

i enjoy the blues. i like playing the blues.
but again, once you start to understand its mechanics its really not that freakishly special.

in a way i think he kind of mutilated it, but yeah he was totally formuleic. i mean frank zappa at the time was making more freakish music than hendrix could ever make. hendrix's music in comparision to stuff like zappa is pretty tame.

i was once 60s crazy then i got bored of it. if your a musician you get bored of things very quickly. i find that in the end musics music regardless of genre. its all expression of self whether it bee a poor expression or an excellent one.
its all laying your soul out on the table.

IceHog69
Bulletproof Heart
IceHog69
Age: 32
Gender: -
Posts: 25232
June 4th, 2008 at 06:27am
Faye Merci:
I don't think music plays an active role in changing lives by influencing ACTION. I think it influences feelings, but ultimately, it is up to a person what a person does.


but feelings and emotions have a big influence in what a person does. The music doesn't directly force someone to do something, like jump off a cliff, or go save some cats, but it changes the way you feel, making you more likely to do those things. It's as I said before, but possibly not in this topic, a person who is genuinely happy, doesn't want to kill themself. And I don't mean mask-happiness, I mean, actual 'proper' happiness.
Rexperience
Bleeding on the Floor
Rexperience
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Gender: Male
Posts: 1052
June 4th, 2008 at 01:57pm
Migracer:
i enjoy the blues. i like playing the blues.
but again, once you start to understand its mechanics its really not that freakishly special.


Again, this is your opinon dude. I respect it, and I hope you can respect me when I say I will forever dig the murky music called the blues. Theres just so much out there and so many different types, I could never get tired of it.

Cool, I got a Zappa CD and liked it but didn't go crazy. "My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama" and "Trouble Every Day" are both cool tracks. Any thing you'd recomend?

Thats exactly what musics is, and in a broder term, its exactly what art is; self expression.

What about Cream? They're so dang heavy I could never stop listening to them.
I hear you when you say you got bored, but that must mean that your life was taking you down a different path then the music, and you no longer needed to identify with it. I used to be really into the Who; It was all I listend to in middle school, now not so much. But I still really respect them and listen to them everyonce in a while. Its like I've gone through the Who portal and came out ready to move on to new things. The way I see it its all a progression. And when I do get a little bluesd out, thats when I turn to MCR and vise versa, between those two genres I should be pretty set. ~ Rex
theghostofyou123
Killjoy
theghostofyou123
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June 4th, 2008 at 04:25pm
i think that music can have a huge impact on someones life. Like, for me, whenever I'm angry or upset or depressed, I listen to My Chemical Romance, and I feel SO much better. Music is like my medicine. Certain songs make me feel like someone else out there understand what I'm going through, and that it's gonna be ok. Music is relaxing, soothing, helpful, everything. Since it calms me down, i guess music helps me make better decisions. Like, when i'm mad, i'll say or do something stupid, but when I'm calm after I've listened to some music, I guess I think more rationally about the decisions I make. So, all in all, music can play a major role in a lot of peoples lives.