Overexposed

Music allows us to express our deepest emotions, desires, troubles, and triumphs. It can serve as a getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life or as inspiration. The versatility of music is unbelievable. Music can be used to put a crying baby to sleep or amp a team up before a championship game. It can make us feel good or sad or for the romantics out there all warm inside. Now, it is not just the sound of music that is so captivating but the words linked to the sound. They go hand in hand. Each note is perfectly linked to a corresponding lyric. Together, a simply melody can be transformed into a powerful and inspirational message. There are absolutely no limits to what music can do.

People always seem to gravitate towards certain songs depending on their mood. For example, when going on a trip to the beach, feel good tunes are obnoxiously blasted while people sing at the top of their lungs to the lyrics. On the other hand, after ending a relationship for whatever reason, the classic breakup songs are usually accompanied by tears and a tub of a persons favorite ice cream. With that being said, the connected between people and music is driven by human emotion and the tone of the song.

According to scholars, when people listen to music perceived and felt emotions must to separated to explain the impact a song has on someone (Tabei). Felt emotion is whatever emotional response is caused by the song (Tabei). Perceived emotion, however, is what the listener pegs the song as that they are listening to (Tabei). For example, in Maroon 5's album "Overexposed", when a listener sees the song Sad is up next on the playlist they can rightly interpret that the song will be well sad. These two concepts act as the foundation for understanding the link between people and music.

Now I am sure you are wondering what all of this has to do with Maroon 5? Well, Maroon 5's album "Overexposed" is jam packed with songs that invoke strong emotional reactions. Pop Matters calls "Overexposed" "not a great album, but that doesn't mean it's not interesting" (Sawdey). I would have to agree with this. Overall, the album is nothing special compared to previous, but it does show that Maroon 5 is trying new things with their music or "the band actually learning to have fun again" (Sawdey). Each song has its own story and mood, which can be heard through its unique sound fitted to express the correct emotions for the audience. Exploring the album will allow for more insight on this phenomena.

"Payphone" is one of the more popular songs on the album. Maroon 5 brings in the help of Wiz Khalifa to spice the song up a bit. The dynamic between him and Levine make for a new sound not heard from the band yet. In a track-by-track review of the album, Billboard calls "Payphone" a "heartstring-puller" (Maroon 5, 'Overexposed': Track-by-Track review). The mix between the soft melody and hard rap should be weird but it works out in the songs favor. Combined with the lyrics I can see why "heartstring-puller" applies. "Where are the plans we made for two?" You feel bad for Adam because he was ready to fully commit himself to this relationship and he got blindsided.

"One More Night" is the realization that not everything is cut and dry. Billboard sums up this song perfectly as an"upbeat, faintly reggae-tinged track about a bad influence Adam Levine can't seem to shake" (Maroon 5, 'Overexposed': Track-by-Track review). The funky beat and steady drums make the song somewhat infectious. Adam is stuck in limbo, he wants to leave this girl but he cannot quite get himself to. The uncertainty about breakups come from one partner being vague about their stance (Dailey). "So I cross my heart and I hope to die, that I'll only stay with you one more night." The funky sound reflects his inner turmoil.

"Daylight" is one of those songs that just makes you want to spend time with the people you love the most. It's bittersweet; everyone gets to a point in their life where they have to move away. The epic chorus captures the meaning of the lyrics to a tee. This song is pure soft rock packed with emotion. At concerts, the crowd usually waves their phone lights in the air as they fawn over Adam's performance. Something about the music behind the lyrics resonates with all who listen. It is the sadness that loves ones are left behind, but also the hope that new opportunities will bring prosperity and happiness that can be shared with the ones you love. Everything comes full circle.

"Overexposed" is all about exploring the bands creative license and different music styles.The band put everything on the line for this album. Ballads to pop funk and anything in between are showcased on this album. There is no real one sound or one message for the album, which is why a lot of critics were not so fond.  When interviewed by LA Times, Adam Levine says "It's how you respond to failure that make you successful".  Maroon 5 I like to think of it as a conglomeration of chaos. At the same time, the fact that there is no unity within the album, it makes sense. Experimentation is about stepping outside one's comfort zone. Sure it may fail at first, but what is taken away from the failure only helps in future aspirations. If you fail, try, try, and try again. Maroon 5 may have had a hiccup with this album, but since then they have released some fantastic albums.

The ability for an album or song to change the mood of someone is absolutely uncanny. In my own experience, when I am having a bad day I wallow in my playlist of depressing songs just because I want to feel sorry for myself. But once I put on an inspirational song I immediately want to be productive or go to the gym and make my bad day into a productive day. My change of mind was dependent on a song...A SONG! When scholars make hypothesis that music triggers an emotional reaction in the brain I believe it because it happens to me. And reading the research to back up their claims is eye opening.

Without going into super scientific terms and concepts a study was conducted where people got MRI's while listening to music to prove that there is a connection between music and emotional responses in the brain (Tabei). The results were as follows: The precuneus region (behind the frontal lobe of the brain) is responsible for these emotional responses (Tabei). This makes sense because according to researcher Tabei this part of the brain "is known to be the area responsible for 'self-representation'" (Tabei). He goes onto explain that this region is activated when judgmental tasks are needed to be performed, like someones feelings while listening to music (Tabei). These feelings could come from the instrumental, beat, rhythm, or the lyrics. It all depends on what is the key factor of the song that hits home with the person listening to it. For me, I think the sound of the singer's voice is what I connect to. I pay attention to the emotional strain in his or her voice because I feel as if the singer is not invested into the lyrics then they are just words.

Take the song "Can't Help" by Parachute, for example. The catchy upbeat intro hook the listener and then the singers delivery of the lyrics hit home. Everyone is telling him this girl is toxic but he can't stop falling in love with her. The message is that some things are just out of your control, you cannot choose who you fall in love with. Some people may take this literally, but others could just connect this to letting go and living life without trying to control every aspect of it. Music is always open to so much interpretation because everyone has different life experiences and ways of thinking.

I understand it is different for everyone, but regardless there is a connection and the phenomena that music had the ability to alter people's emotions is valid. Music is one of the most influential things in the world because it is so relatable. What one person sings about can apply to thousands. That is the beauty of being an artist. No matter what they produce someone out there will love the song. There is always someone their work connects with. Critics were not a fan of the "Overexposed" album, but fans seemed to enjoy it. I know I did. I will admit some songs were better then others, but it was not a bad album. It was just different. And "different" can still appeal to listeners. Like I said before, what works for one may not for the other. This album is such an ideal example to showcase this idea.

Works Cited

Dailey, Rene M., et al. "On-Again/Off-Again Dating Relationships: What Keeps Partners Coming Back?." Journal Of Social Psychology 151.4 (2011): 417-440. Academic Search

Complete. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

Interview with Maroon 5. LA Times. Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2010. Web. 18 Nov. 2015. 

Maroon 5. Overexposed. A&M/Octane Records, 2012. MP3.

Maroon 5, ‘Over-exposed’: Track-by-Track Review. Billboard. Billboard Inc., 26 June 2012.Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

Parachute. “Can’t Help”. Metro Lyrics. Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2015. 

Sawdey, Evan. Maroon 5 Overexposed. Pop Matters. Popmatters.com, 9 July 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

Tabei, Ken-ichi. "Inferior Frontal Gyrus Activation Underlies The Perception Of Emotions,While Precuneus Activation Underlies The Feeling Of Emotions During Music Listening." Behavioural Neurology 2015.(2015): 1-6. Academic SearchComplete. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.