NFs and the effect of music

[milti girl]

Are NFs more likely to listen to the same music/song again and again and again? Most NFs I know (including me) have a favourite playlist they don't mind listening to over and over again. Hence they make pretty bad DJs at parties.

And does anyone else experience this feeling that some music is sooo haunting...that it takes you to someplace far away in your head or reminds you of some memory or dream or just makes you feel really really happy or sad?

[Rachelinpa]

That's funny. I'm definitely that way. I listen until I kill it.

Also, I have my iPod set on random cause I'd rather have someone pick my songs for me than have to choose them myself. It's stressful!

[Antisocial one]

From what I have seen that is actually an N thing.

[phoenix13]

Are NFs more likely to listen to the same music/song again and again and again? Most NFs I know (including me) have a favourite playlist they don't mind listening to over and over again. Hence they make pretty bad DJs at parties.

And does anyone else experience this feeling that some music is sooo haunting...that it takes you to someplace far away in your head or reminds you of some memory or dream or just makes you feel really really happy or sad?

No. No no. I am going to pretend that you are not attempting to correlate listening to songs on repeat with the combined traits of Intuition and Feeling.

And to the second part, yes.

[Jack Flak]

I do that all the time. But I have what some people call "Strong Fi."

[Chris_in_Orbit]

I do that all the time. But I have what some people call "Strong Fi."

some people call it strong Fi...other people call it?

[Jack Flak]

some people call it strong Fi...other people call it?
I don't fully believe functions represent our psyches in a meaningful way. ymmv.

[AwesomeCakes]

Are NFs more likely to listen to the same music/song again and again and again? Most NFs I know (including me) have a favourite playlist they don't mind listening to over and over again. Hence they make pretty bad DJs at parties.

And does anyone else experience this feeling that some music is sooo haunting...that it takes you to someplace far away in your head or reminds you of some memory or dream or just makes you feel really really happy or sad?

I might listen to the same song 2 to 3 times, but that's the extent of it. I'd get annoyed if I had to listen to the same music over, and over again. I have a rare appreciation for all types of music I like to think. Some people say they like "all" music. Nein. Definitely not the case.

Funny you should mention DJ, because there is a DJ position I am currently pursuing.

Yes, there are songs that remind me of a certain place and time in my life. Very vividly I might add. I have a photographic memory.

[milti girl]

Well, I wouldn't say my own memory is very photographic. It's okay - and some images I see are very vivid. But what bothers me is that some music I listen to reminds me of places I've dreamt about - either daydreams or night dreams, or both, I usually can't place which. And then I close my eyes tightly and long to just escape this world and enter the song and then I feel sad and empty...it's disturbing!
:boohoo:

[IEE623]

I do that all the time. But I have what some people call "Strong Fi."

I don't think it's because of Fi. My ENFJ (Fe) friend listens to the same sad song over and over again for years and never knows how to get tired of it.
I, on the other hand, do get tired of old songs. But for a lot of times I do not really care, just need some background noise for my "head-in-the-clouds" mind.

[persse]

If there is a song I really like, I'll listen to it again and again until I don't feel like listening to it anymore. Usually, I'm into some songs at one time, but after some time I get into other songs and stop listening to the first ones.
But I do get bored eventually and I change the playlist.

[Lalaru]

Yeah I usually do that too. Lately I have been listening to the Yoshida Brothers and Perfume. Their albums have been on repeat in my iPod for months.

[6sticks]

No. No no. You are not asking this question. I am going to pretend that you are not attempting to correlate listening to songs on repeat with the combined traits of Intuition and Feeling.
Yeah...

[milti girl]

Yeah I usually do that too. Lately I have been listening to the Yoshida Brothers and Perfume. Their albums have been on repeat in my iPod for months.

After I got the Fray album I couldn't stop listening, even after I learnt all the songs. I just couldn't. I associated them with a holiday my parents and friends and I had gone on, and now I can't ever listen to their music without wanting to look at the photographs and relive that holiday again.

Oh, and this happens with movies too. I tend to watch the same movie againa nd again till it's burned in my head for life.

[Kyrielle]

Well, I wouldn't say my own memory is very photographic. It's okay - and some images I see are very vivid. But what bothers me is that some music I listen to reminds me of places I've dreamt about - either daydreams or night dreams, or both, I usually can't place which. And then I close my eyes tightly and long to just escape this world and enter the song and then I feel sad and empty...it's disturbing!
:boohoo:

I experience the same thing with certain songs. And then I listen to them...over and over and over...and over...until eventually I've sucked all of that feeling out of a song. And yes, the feeling is one of limitless sadness and longing, but it is also so vague I can't tell what it refers to. It's a bit like a random case of homesickness. However, the imagery is quite nice, usually of places I've never been to, heard of, or researched in my waking hours.

I don't think it's something disturbing. I seem to identify it as something incredibly human.

[Dwigie]

Same here man, same here. I overdose on songs until I temporarily get sick of them. Then we're back again usually, not always.

[MrRandom]

Yes. Definitely. In the extreme sense.

I can listen to one song on repeat the whole day, like even 10 hours straight. And I like doing so. I always have music playing when I'm at home. Usually I have a little more variety in my playlists, but that's the extreme case. If someone is ever going to live with me, I'm sure I'm gonna drive him crazy with my endless repeats.

That also applies on a larger scale. I have like three or four artists that I like above all else and I just never get tired of them. For example, I've been listening to one particular artist like six years now, and I've heard all the songs a few billion million times... I just never get bored.

It's funny when some friends occasionally brag that "this song is so good that I listened to it three times!". Ha. From my perspective that's just nothing. Make it 300 and that's something!

I know I'm weird when it comes to music, but I just breath it. I play instruments and I compose music myself, so I'm quite of a musical being.

I listen to a very wide variety of (styles of) music, but the few favorites I have are something that just keep on going year after year. I have to say my favorite artist list has been expanding in the last few years more rapidly, and that's essentially a good thing.

[runvardh]

Ah, I like listening to this one CD I have of pipe organ music originally writen by Johan Sebastian Bach. It's one of my faves.

[IamDisplaced]

I don't know if it's an NF thing, but I can definitely say that I listen to songs over and over again. Each and every song represents something- a feeling inside, a thought/memory.. something. A certain riff, word, and/or phrase in a song will cause me to listen until I just can't listen anymore. Today, I've been listening to John Mayer's "Gravity" for HOURS, all because of the phrase: "Just keep me where the light is." I have quite a few songs/albums that I will never get tired of listening to.

[Thursday]

i cannot listen to a song back to back
it has to be on a different day
but i usually pair songs together, for transition and contrast purposes

[Evan]

I'd attribute my obsessions with certain songs more to Se than to Ni or Fe. Well, maybe Fe... Couldn't see why it would be much of an N thing, though.

Good music turns off my N.

[katerp]

DEFINITELY. I listen to the same playlists over and over again. And I lsiten to music all day. Pretty much if I'm not in class, I'm listening to music. Hell, I'm listening to music right now. The first thing I do when I turn on my computer is open up iTunes and get my music situated. My strong Fi is definitely involved in my music because I internalize the feeling of every song I listen to. Whatever emotion the song is conveying, I take on. My music absolutely has to fit my mood and my environment. Sometimes there's one particular part of a song -- could be a line I really relate to or a note I think sounds amazing -- that I'll play over and over again. And I would say my N is involved too because I often have images, alomst like internal storylines that come to me when I'm listening to certain songs. I sometimes take music to weird places by intepreting the sound (both the actual music or the feeling I think the instruments portray) to symbolize something...like deciding that a song sounds like an ocean or a forest or something equally peculiar.

:headphne:

[IEE623]

Good music turns off my N.

:cheese: Genius! :D I totally agree. Good music pulls you down, off the clouds ;)

[Trinity]

I'd attribute my obsessions with certain songs more to Se than to Ni or Fe. Well, maybe Fe... Couldn't see why it would be much of an N thing, though.

Good music turns off my N.

Good music turns off my T as well :wub:

[niki]

you know,
i'm actually glad that there're people like you guys..
because if you see the tendency nowadays in our modern society, music seems to be so vastly abundant and available for FREE (ie: internet, downloads), that i've heard that it's just become a 'disposable' thing quickly. ie: people listen to like 100 songs in a day w/ their ipod player, and then they 'dispose' it, find another 100 new artists to download, listen, and then they dispose 'em again, find another 100 new artists again, listen, dispose, and so on..you got the idea.

and i'm a musician (although still a part-time) ,
and sometimes this thing just kinda make me confused, as if the music in a whole become easily-disposable like that, then where's the VALUE of it? where's the VALUE of each song?..
sometimes i even lost hope to this "instant" generation of music listeners.. (and especially after seeing how music becoming more of a "commercial tools" used by marketing & product & brand people nowadays!..it's not supposed to be like that!)

BUT, i'm so thankful for this thread, because it brings back my FAITH again , that indeed, music is not that "easily disposible", especially - i've just found out - not for NFs :)
it's people like you guys that make me feel that there's still a 'purpose' for me to continue my path/journey to become a real full-time musician, and stay ahold of it, and not getting swayed by often-occuring questions like "does this have a purpose? or not?"

thank you!

[Thursday]

to niki

there will always be the mainstream and the underground railroad

one leads to freedom-cultivated and fought for-flowering above ground, proudly and staunch

and the other is smooth sailing, requires no work, and eventually leads to a 100ft drop ;
watered down and washed away

[milti girl]

DEFINITELY. I listen to the same playlists over and over again. And I lsiten to music all day. Pretty much if I'm not in class, I'm listening to music. Hell, I'm listening to music right now. The first thing I do when I turn on my computer is open up iTunes and get my music situated. My strong Fi is definitely involved in my music because I internalize the feeling of every song I listen to. Whatever emotion the song is conveying, I take on. My music absolutely has to fit my mood and my environment. Sometimes there's one particular part of a song -- could be a line I really relate to or a note I think sounds amazing -- that I'll play over and over again. And I would say my N is involved too because I often have images, alomst like internal storylines that come to me when I'm listening to certain songs. I sometimes take music to weird places by intepreting the sound (both the actual music or the feeling I think the instruments portray) to symbolize something...like deciding that a song sounds like an ocean or a forest or something equally peculiar.

:headphne:

Yes, this is exactly what I experience; I couldn't have said it better. I have an overwhelming Fi, and I suppose that dictates much of my music-listening. Often people don't understand why I choose to listen to the music I do. My friends find it very boring when they realise that I'm playing the same songs they've already heard me play before. Even when I dance, I love the more trance-type stuff that's played - I enjoy the heavy beat-based dance music, too, but only if I'm in a mood to socalise. If I want to be by myself I prefer different music.

And often, I find myself having to think a lot when making a playlist that the whole room is going to hear (even if it's just me and my room mate.) I find myself feeling conscious and agonizing over every decision, and picking out songs not based on my taste but what I hope they will like.

[Orangey]

I listen to the same song over and over again as well. Usually from the same artist that I happened to be obsessed with at the moment. Then after about a month (or sometimes longer) I'll get sick of it and stop listening. Then after a few month's break, I'll pick it up again and become re-obsessed.

Why are people saying that this has anything to do with F? Just curious.

[Trinity]

^ Me too. Listen till I get sick of it than come back later and hope I haven't destroyed it for good by listening repetitively. Definitely not a F thing.

[mlittrell]

Everybody is completely different when it comes to music. Making generalities about it is well...piontless. Now that I said that, I'm going to make generalities lol. When it comes to music each type is different, but their are some patterns. Types with Fe (in XNFJs) seem to like emotional hooks in music (and I've found they like to listen to a song on repeat if it has a "hook" they really enjoy). Ni (im still figuring that out, probably has to do with structure). Fi (in XNFPs) seem to like music that is "authentic" (ive found that they can almost immediately pick out music that an artist wrote when going through and emotional episode) and music is very personal to them. Ne (i almost dont want to write this but again, this seems to do with song structure. for me, I like build and like a good balance of instruments).

But remember, you can have XNFPs that like rap, or country, or metal, or indie or whatever. Same with XNFJs. It's not what you listen to, its why. SO, all that to say, I dont think that NFs alone listen to music over and over again. I personally cant.

PS- my ENFJ friend listens to songs on repeat. As does my ENTP friend. (Fe maybe...)

[EvanTheClown]

I was in band for 5~6 years playing Tuba, from 6th grade to halfway through my junior year and actually aspired well (ex: placing first chair region band in tuba at a middle school level in the 4th largest city in the US in 8th grade). I appreciate music, understand harmonics and melodics, know most the little italian and latin terms on the sheet music, etc.
Why do I mention this? Simple: I'm proving that I have knowledge and passion with complex music because I'm about to throw all that out the window in my next paragraph.

Throughout the years, I've gone through phases, obsessing over genres of music that seem to break all the rules about structure and music in general. Throughout the latter part of my childhood, I was a Nirvanaholic, bathing my mind in grunge music and enjoying the occasional dissonance involved inbetween the shredding guitar chords, even studying other grunge bands. I would find the odd songs that nobody remembers from bands everyone's heard of in that category.
In just the past 3 years, I did a 180 in terms of music obsession. I got into rap. At first it was gangsta rap and Chopped & Screwed Texas rap (youtube it), and then I discovered horrorcore. Now, I'm constantly listening to ICP, Twiztid, Tech N9ne, Dark Lotus, and all of the wicked clown music that is more talking than singing with grinding voices, rhyming words with sound effects, and about half of the music is themed around killing or getting high.

[milti girl]

I want generalisations! Generalisations rule the world and rule MBTI!
:cheese:

I've grown up with different kinds of music. My father plays Hindustani classical music, listens to Western classical, my brother plays the guitar, and we've always had LPs and tapes playing at home in the background. Whatever the music is, if I like it, I get lost in it and need to listen to it again and again. And whatever association I form with that song/tune satys with me for a very very very VERY long time. In fact I don't think it ever goes away. I cry at songs. The movie playing in my head for them is sometimes so sad and there's so much loneliness that I cry for perfectly normal-sounding songs.

[speculative]

I definitely listen to the same music over and over. I generally find that I can either listen to a song repeatedly, or I don't want to listen to it even once in the first place. Just last night, I put on "Part of Me" from Liz Phair's Somebody's Miracles Sessons, and about an hour passed before I realized I should possibly switch to something else.

[Trinity]

Just spent the last few hours at work with Phantom of the Opera and Toreador playing over and over cause they move me... I'm not and eff! It just sends my Fi crazy :cheese:

I'd say this fits;
DEFINITELY. I listen to the same playlists over and over again. And I lsiten to music all day. Pretty much if I'm not in class, I'm listening to music. Hell, I'm listening to music right now. The first thing I do when I turn on my computer is open up iTunes and get my music situated. My strong Fi is definitely involved in my music because I internalize the feeling of every song I listen to. Whatever emotion the song is conveying, I take on. My music absolutely has to fit my mood and my environment. Sometimes there's one particular part of a song -- could be a line I really relate to or a note I think sounds amazing -- that I'll play over and over again. And I would say my N is involved too because I often have images, alomst like internal storylines that come to me when I'm listening to certain songs. I sometimes take music to weird places by intepreting the sound (both the actual music or the feeling I think the instruments portray) to symbolize something...like deciding that a song sounds like an ocean or a forest or something equally peculiar.

[Lisa73]

And often, I find myself having to think a lot when making a playlist that the whole room is going to hear (even if it's just me and my room mate.) I find myself feeling conscious and agonizing over every decision, and picking out songs not based on my taste but what I hope they will like.

I totally identify with this. I HATE playing DJ or being responsible for the music other people will listen to. I'd rather have someone else decide--it's like I get confused between what I like and what I imagine other people will like, or which music will create which mood, and suddenly I'm wracked with indecision and self-consciousness.

When I'm alone, however, I definitely listen to songs/albums over and over and over, until I cannot possibly stand to hear them again. This drove my college roommate (an ESTP) absolutely insane, even though I tried to hide this tendency from her.

[Desperado44]

Fascinating question.

I'm an ENFJ....and music is one of the most important things in my life. I don't just 'hear it'.....I 'feel it'....and I will listen to the same song over and over and over again for years.

I haven't read everyone's response...what is the theory behind why we do this??

[Orangey]

^^ I'm not seeing that it's type related, at any rate :).

[milti girl]

^ Really? I'm seeing NF - or at least N - involved.

[Trinity]

:steam: I'm not an eff and I relate damnit! Please throw NF theory out the window :D

[Trinity]

Hmm and as for ya know working out theories n all, it's a question posed in the NF section of a forum heavily occupied by N types... jess saying.

[Orangey]

^ Really? I'm seeing NF - or at least N - involved.

Well, you posted this in the NF section...but there have been at least three T's that responded saying that they also related. And like Trinity said, this is an overwhelmingly N forum, so we aren't really able to see if and how the S folks diverge from this pattern.

[Lizzy1813]

For me, it depends on my mood. When I'm one way, I want 'this' type of music, another way, 'that' type.

But when it comes down to it, if I find something I really like, I can listen to it endlessly...much to the chagrin of some friends and family. :headphne:

[milti girl]

Well, I guess the fact that people from all parts of the MBTI spectrum are able to identify with the question shows that appeal to music either really is universal or is totally dependent on the individual involved. I'm just surprised because a lot of people I know in real life want variety in their music playlists and the movies they see, but a large number of people here seem to be perfectly happy sticking to music they know they like.

[anii]

Are NFs more likely to listen to the same music/song again and again and again? Most NFs I know (including me) have a favourite playlist they don't mind listening to over and over again. Hence they make pretty bad DJs at parties.

And does anyone else experience this feeling that some music is sooo haunting...that it takes you to someplace far away in your head or reminds you of some memory or dream or just makes you feel really really happy or sad?

Yup, both of the above.

I've forced people I care about to "listen to this great song - it means so much to me" time and time again, only to have them stare blankly at me, not getting it. I stopped doing that a while ago.

I am the one who will stop in their tracks and stare off into space if I hear an evocative song. I could be an a noisy restaurant or a retail store, but I will still stop what I'm doing and walk to the speaker so I can hear the song. People close to me have learned to grant me this indulgence.

Reminds me of this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGF93X39kRg

[Lotr246]

I love those songs that give you chills. I'll listen to those all day long.

[Brutus01]

I love those songs that give you chills. I'll listen to those all day long.

ya im the same way, ill listen to it a thousand times. but as for not being good djs, im a dj:newwink: and im usually good at putting others listening preferences above my own.

[candylandjoe]

When I listen to music, I don't think it'd be far fetched to say that I see flashing colors and pictures, piecing them together as I listen; when I watch a film or read a book, I have a difficult time focusing because my mind is trying to form visual pictures while my eyes are trying to focus on a picture. It's an experience not unlike looking at a rapidly flashing .gif with, say, words and/or several thousands of other flashing pictures. Unless I am able to completely separate my use of the two senses, the pictures flash too rapidly for me to get a grip on anything.

Suffice to say, listening is a strength.

[Little Linguist]

I say Haphazard and I should make our new little cognitive functions based on solfège. :D

[mlittrell]

When I listen to music, I don't think it'd be far fetched to say that I see flashing colors and pictures, piecing them together as I listen; when I watch a film or read a book, I have a difficult time focusing because my mind is trying to form visual pictures while my eyes are trying to focus on a picture. It's an experience not unlike looking at a rapidly flashing .gif with, say, words and/or several thousands of other flashing pictures. Unless I am able to completely separate my use of the two senses, the pictures flash too rapidly for me to get a grip on anything.

Suffice to say, listening is a strength.

Si IS your tertiary function...

i have a lot of Si dominant friends (ISTJs and ISFJs) who describe music in terms of visuals. my one friend always says images flash in his head when he hears a song.

[candylandjoe]

Si IS your tertiary function...

i have a lot of Si dominant friends (ISTJs and ISFJs) who describe music in terms of visuals. my one friend always says images flash in his head when he hears a song.
Maybe this also explains why I'm afraid of working with my hands.

[mlittrell]

Maybe this also explains why I'm afraid of working with my hands.

it wouldn't have anything to do with that lol. i know a lot of (and i hate this notation) XNXPs that dont like working with their hands. personally, i love working on cars so everyone is different.

[candylandjoe]

it wouldn't have anything to do with that lol. i know a lot of (and i hate this notation) XNXPs that dont like working with their hands. personally, i love working on cars so everyone is different.

I know several ENFPs who also love working with their hands. I'd bet that having Ne three steps above Si helps.

[LadyJaye]

it wouldn't have anything to do with that lol. i know a lot of (and i hate this notation) XNXPs that dont like working with their hands. personally, i love working on cars so everyone is different.

Me too. Working with my hands is very cathartic for me. Actually, for my twin sister Pink, too. She was a mechanic for years. Working on cars is therapeutic. Well, as long as I don't have to lay under one for weeks on end. lol

[mlittrell]

I know several ENFPs who also love working with their hands. I'd bet that having Ne three steps above Si helps.

that depends on E vs I, the orientation shifts between the two

I just like doing it as a form of escapism. also Si is an unconscious process for me (shadow function) so i doubt it is that. I'm pretty sure it's just that i like creating and rebuilding systems which can be a very ENFP thing. ENTP even more.

[candylandjoe]

that depends on E vs I, the orientation shifts between the two

I just like doing it as a form of escapism. also Si is an unconscious process for me (shadow function) so i doubt it is that. I'm pretty sure it's just that i like creating and rebuilding systems which can be a very ENFP thing. ENTP even more.

That's the possibility that I was hinting at, yes.

[mlittrell]

ahh ok, well an orientation shift makes quite a difference.

[snowflurri]

That sounds like me. Most of the time.

Though sometimes I like the a song so much that I refrain from listening to it too much in case I get tired of it. But usually I do end up listening to it over and over again.

[mlittrell]

i think the music looses its emotional kick if i listen to it over and over again. then ill usually forget about a song and hear it again after a long time. then it's like ive never heard it before

[Jaded]

I personally find that if i dont lsn to music, i cant think/ function lol :doh:
so its much more to me than just enjoying it, its part of how i work lol, many of my friends find it weird how i can read + work with music on all the time , but i duno, i jst can!!! and about the whole gettin bored of songs, it all depends on my mood, i actually have playlists labled by different moods, so all in all each song gets its turn, and that way i could lsn to a song 100 times and if im in the mood for it i wouldnt mind, i lsned to 'violet hill' - Coldplay 100 times maybe loolz...anywways thats jst me=)...:headphne:

[Leysing]

Heh, I do that all the time. Now I have fallen in love with the good old Bach's Toccata and Fugue and Rachmaninov's Prelude.

I'm generally a very musical person and obviously a musical thinker. For example, I learn almost everything using rhythms and melodies. I'm also totally into the theory of music, lol.

[tenINsFJ]

lmao yeah... i can(and have) listen(ed) to a song 50 times straight.