Almost everyone knows the feeling: a song comes on, and suddenly you get goosebumps, a shiver down your spine, or even tears. Scientists call this frisson, but most of us just feel that the music hits differently. This reaction isn’t random. It has to do with how our brains release chemicals, the culture we grow up in, and even the personal memories we connect to songs. One reason music feels so powerful is that it taps into the brain’s reward system. When a song builds up to a major chorus, your brain starts releasing dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in pleasure and memory. This dopamine comes in two waves: (1) when you’re anticipating the big moment in a song, (2) when the music finally resolves and gives you the payoff. That back-and-forth between tension and release is part of why we physically feel chills or shivers in certain songs. 

Moreover, music doesn’t affect everyone the same way because we bring our own background and memories together. In Western music, minor keys usually sound sad, while major keys sound happy and brighter. But in other cultures, different scales or instruments carry their own emotional codes. Basically, what we learn to hear as sad or joyful depends a lot on the music, culture, and society we grew up in. From a personal perspective, songs are like time machines. A track can remind you of your childhood, a friendship, or a breakup. That’s why one person can hear a song and shrug, while another person is stuck with nostalgia. 

Isn’t it also strange that people play sad songs, especially when they’re already in a gloomy mood? Here are the real psychological reasons: (1) Safe sadness— music lets us practice heavy emotions without real-life consequences. You can cry over a ballad and walk away feeling lighter. (2) Connection— sad songs remind us we are not alone. Hearing someone else put pain into words or melody often makes people feel comforted. (3) Biology— some studies even show that sad music can calm stress hormones and release prolactin, a chemical linked to comfort after crying. Thus, in a way, sad songs act like an emotional outlet instead of making things worse. 

In conclusion, the chills we get from music aren’t just a random alert. In reality, they are a mix of brain chemistry, culture, and personal memory. A song can make us cry, pump us up, or remind us of who we were years ago. In the end, music is not just sound; it can deeply connect to who we are as humans more than anything. 

by  Minji Park