On Listening to Music as Background Noise

I tend to listen to music a lot as background noise, especially when drawing or playing video games, but I'll only listen to stuff that's kind of easy listening. I tend to pay a lot more attention when I'm out and about with my iPod or just when I'm in the mood for a specific band. So I tend to just have random music on most of the time but then I'll listen to specific stuff and pay attention when the mood takes me

I can't listen to music and effectively complete other tasks. Either I zone out the music, or I lose focus of what I am doing. I can have music on in the background, and depending on the task, pay more or less attention as I please, but I can't truly listen to a piece without focusing fully on it.

I often wonder if this has something to do with the fact that I have spent and continue to spend a great deal of time studied instrumental music in a classical conservatory manner and playing in ensembles. In both cases, one trains oneself to constantly listen in an analytical manner to particular details in order to adjust and improve the performance as necessary. I tend to think that this influences the way I listen to music in general.

This is not to say that I don't listen to music in the background or enjoy it. I do. However, in these cases, I prefer to listen to music that I already know, so that I can mentally fill in gaps in attention. I would never try to learn or claim to have experienced an unfamiliar piece or performance or make value judgments without listening to a piece with my undivided attention. Even with familiar pieces, I still find value in listening with my full attention. There is always more to be discovered.

I almost never listen to music as background noise.

But only recently have I started to listen to music and fall asleep by it. I almost have to do it now or else Im just not used to it.

Funny though, I fall asleep listening to death metal. :/ VADER & Behemoth ftw \m/

You're not the only one. Aborted and Benighted ftw.

I can't listen to music when I'm studying. I just can't do that anymore. Though on any other occasion, I would probably just listen to music. During conversations, watching TV, in the shower... I wish. xD I live off music, I'd probably be half-dead without any music.

Both. I often have music as background music to fill up the silence for example when i'm on Fakku or something like that but i also often listen to music when i'm in the city or riding the bus or sometimes i just feel like listening to a specific song when i'm on the computer

I have background music runing all day to not be bothered by my permanent tinnitus I have since I was kid.

Basically, I got that shit for as long as I can remember, and therefor listening to music while doing other stuff is more than habitual already.

I normally don't listen to music without doing something else. Whether I'm playing an MMO, programming, or listening to my Zune through one ear in the middle of class. Although, I do tend to get caught up in the music and zone everything else out.

I'm in such a better mood with music on, and I don't know what I'd do without it. Music can still be appreciated when it's used as background music.

It depends on the music style really. Trance is too boring for intense listening. It's pretty much meant to be background music, for the chance of atmosphere.

But music is something special for me. And I always find myself visualizing a certain picture or story with every song. From twisted symphony to a sugarcoated love story. Music is an emotional adventure which can take you to all kinds of place in your mind, be it your favorite holiday destination, or your personal dream world, it's all possible. Of course this requires music which is totally optimized for your taste.

Also, I tend to avoid listening to music while playing games or being at school. I remember receiving an album I highly anticipated and listened to it a lot while playing WoW. After a while I realized that, wherever or whenever I might listen to this album, it will always remind me of WoW. I promised myself never to ruin good like that again, it's such a waste. The whole perspective which music lets you create shouldn't be influenced by anything but the music itself and your state of mind. Only Anime is an exception, since it often inspires me. (And no, I'm not talking about the moe/hentai/ecchi stuff.)

Yeah, music is an important factor in my life. 'Couldn't live without it.'

You need to listen to Crimson by Edge of Sanity.

Ill warn you, part 1 is 40 minutes and part 2 is also 40 minutes, but its awesome.

Well, if you like metal at least :/

I can only listen to music as background noise. But that's not to say that I don't enjoy the music. I still hear it and focus on it a bit, but it's not my main focus.

I don't understand how people can just sit and listen to music and not do anything else. I've tried it, and I always feel like I'm wasting my time. I get bored. Then again, I'm not a music person.

I'm more into the Melodic/Symphonic/Doom (Death) metal stuff but thanks for the recommendation.

Uhh... then what are you waiting for. lol that sort of sums it up. I think it was made in 1996 and Part 2 was done in 2003 all completely by Dan Swano.

Also another good one is Losing the Sunsets/Plague of Butterflies/Evael by Swallow the Sun.

All together its about 35 minutes but I cant find the link on Youtube that had it all together.

I already know Swallow the Sun. They are awesome.

But Edge of Sanity doesn't really do it for me somehow. Just not that oldskool anymore. Instead of that, I'm now more into stuff like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QzNeqXT834 or for modern touch, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGr-4w17iLc

Yeah, I'm into Christian's work. Although Sonata Arctica will always stay on top for me. (for now)

Well I was really just referring to the old Edge of Sanity (when Dan Swano was still actually in it. Dan Swano to Edge of Sanity is the same as Dave Mustaine to Megadeth. Its completely different without them >__>).

Pretty much the only songs Ive ever listened to from them more than once is Crimson 1 and 2 so I really couldnt say any more about them.

Also. Opeth.

Opeth bores the crap out of me.

XD I know. Especially the Damnation album.


They only have a handful of songs I listen to, all of which are on Watershed.

Ugh, glad I'm not the only one that finds them extremely boring. Btw, this Miseration sounds beautiful. I need to look into this band as well.

Just a minor bump to say thanks to Mr. catfish for bringing up Edge of Sanity's Crimson II which I decided to give a try for the heck of it. Brilliant stuff. Now I need to get the Moontower album!

Also, nowadays Opeth isn't that boring at all to me.

Glad to hear it. :) I applaud Swano for recording all instruments on Crimson II. All drum, guitar, and vocal tracks are done by him, except for a very few vocal and guitar interludes from Mikael Akerfeldt.

Ive been listening to Opeth more as well. Ghost Reveries, Deliverance, Still Arms, and Watershed have been my albums of choice. I still need to give Morningrise a listen to see if it's worth it.


Pyramaze is the music of Gods.

I'm the type that likes doing anything with music played. I usually listen to easy-listening pop/rock songs. Some other time when I need inspiration I played my favorite jazz and classic songs.

Btw.. one of my favs