Music and non-music days: anyone else have this?

Was thinking a bit about music in the last day or two, for one reason and another, and it reminded me to ask: am I unique in the following, or does anyone else have it? I think it might be its own subltle form of oscillating burnout - or maybe a way that my nervous system steps in to minimise the chances of that. 

Basically, what I'm talking about is a swing between two states (maybe 'extremes' is too strong a word), where on one day music features heavily - there's an appetite for it, you might revisit old stuff or try out new stuff and your day is filled with intermittent listening to songs or instrumentals - and the next, there's almost a music hangover, where you just need to not hear any (or at least very little) for the next 24 hours at least.

In scenario one, I sometimes reach a moment - a feeling - that's something like 'if I could just be hearing this sequence of notes, or voice, or specific chord change forever, I'd never again doubt in the divine'. In scenario two, I don't disown the previous state, but I just can't face the sensory intake required to get there that was perfectly appealing the previous day. I need to decompress from music's beguiling but complex effect. On those days, I instead focus mainly on the classic plainness of the spoken word - the news, a podcast, an audiobook, a YouTube video of a crime interrogation or something. 

And yet... some part of me recognises that it would be a sad thing to take one's leave of this world on a non-music day. A heart attack or car accident or something, and one of the many synchronous final thoughts passing through the last dying neurons  might be a regret that there wasn't one more melody on the day one shuffled off.  

It's a lottery for me which way that will go. Anyone here have that? Or for the majority, would a single day without (intentionally encountered) music be an unthinkable prospect? 

Thinking about this also makes me realise that for each of us, there will be a last song, tune, film, television episode, book (maybe partially read) - whether those things be final new things, or a final re-visit to old friends, so to speak. Also, the unpreparedness each of us might have for what a truly last thought will be: something profound? Heart and mind united in gratitude and peace? Or just the random un-requested flicker of an old advertisement jingle or something and a feeling of 'yeah, that figures...' before the lights go out. 

Anyway, happy Friday :-)

  • In my opinion she is the best recorder player I have ever heard. She's grown up now in her 20s I think

  • That's a lovely clip - never has the recorder sounded so versatile!

  • Thanks. And thanks again, life is a bit better for me now not nearly as dark as it was. I appreciate your kind words, thank you.

  • Music entered my life late, only few years ago. I gradually introduce it more.

    At home I play some nice calming classical all the time.

    I don't like wearing earbuds or headphones, when i have to move, e.g. at work, it impedes my sense of balance, so I put in one ear bud only if I need something that will silence cacophony

    and yes. we do not know the day or the hour, unless we choose it of course

    so do not worry be happy

    one of my favourite pieces, played by a little girl: www.youtube.com/watch

  • I'm glad you made it though that. Sorry to hear you OD'd, hope life is being kinder to you since. That's a hugely over-simplified statement I know, sometimes I can only find the clumsy way to say something.

  • I sympathise. I've had days like that and still get them frequently. Some days I just don't feel it and want to get away from music and sound, just give me ears a break and rest which is a shame as I love music usually but some days I can't tolerate it for some reason maybe because burnout is imminent? Not sure.

    Yeah I often think about the last song I'll hear and the last thing I'll see and smell. I OD'd a few years ago and before I fell unconscious I heard birds singing outside, so had I not been saved I guess that's the last sound I'd have heard.