# What's your Musical Safety Net? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 12, 2001, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179 "2001-09-12T22:30:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/1 "2001-09-12T22:30:16Z")
In an MPSIMS thread, I noted that my son Liam had recently gone through surgery. While we were trying to get the mask on and put him under, he began whining and singing “Old MacDonald had a Farm.” I noted him doing this at times before when he was under stress and came to the idea that this is like a musical safety net for him. I think for some reason it helps center him and gets him through his difficult times. It also hit me that I have one too. Whenever I used to get stressed, it always seemed like I’d hear the song “Take It Easy” by the Eagles. Eventually, I found myself starting to sing it under my breath on my own whenever I started having problems. Sometimes without even knowing I was doing it. So … what’s your musical safety net? ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/2 "2001-09-12T23:24:27Z")
Anything by Weird Al. A lot of classical pieces make me happy no matter what. I especially love the **Blue Danube Waltz**. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/3 "2001-09-13T01:04:39Z")
When I’m a little stressed, I usually create a rhythmic pattern to drum with my fingers. But when I want to relax and just let music wash over me, I put on some Chopin. It’s like cool water trickling down my throat on a hot day. ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/4 "2001-09-13T01:13:36Z")
Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra, Ramones. ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/5 "2001-09-13T01:33:58Z")
Pachelbel’s Canon and Gigue in D ---
**Author:** ![warmgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecccb3/32.png) [@warmgun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/warmgun)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/6 "2001-09-13T02:12:07Z")
Moonlight Sonata or Van Halen… depends on the situation. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/7 "2001-09-13T02:22:00Z")
Well, if I’m stressin’ and alone in my car I sing parts of Verdi’s _Requiem_. Particularly the _Ingemisco_. I’m not a terrific singer so I have to be alone and invulnerable to do this, but I think I hear the real thing in my head and that helps me to see the real world. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/8 "2001-09-13T10:01:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AbbySthrnAccent \* > Pachelbel’s Canon and Gigue in D Amen. Also, Bach’s Air on the G String. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/9 "2001-09-13T12:00:06Z")
Pachelbel’s Canon was the processional at my wedding. So I guess you could say it’s more stress-inducing for me. ::ducks and runs:: I love being married. Honest, I really do. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@Mr.Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Wilson)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/10 "2001-09-13T17:52:06Z")
anything by led zeppelin! ---
**Author:** ![el\_mono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ea666f/32.png) [@el\_mono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/el_mono)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/11 "2001-09-13T18:26:49Z")
Something from the Wizard of Oz soundtrack usually. ---
**Author:** ![Bubba\_Ray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bubba\_Ray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bubba_Ray)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/12 "2001-09-13T18:29:29Z")
I found that Marilyn Manson (usually a bit to hard for my tastes) can be really soothing (or numbing) at times. ---
**Author:** ![saraphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@saraphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saraphin)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/13 "2001-09-14T02:22:49Z")
Nine Inch Nails “The Downward Spiral” Any type of emotional crisis can be expressed, faced, and dealt with, an amazing piece of audio catharis for me… Classical & opera (specifically Beethoven and Wagner), can also bring me to that level of emotional nakedness, but I feel a sense of detatchment from them (tho their tonal purity brings tears to my eyes and a resurgence of love for humanity) ---
**Author:** ![Yue\_Han](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/eada6e/32.png) [@Yue\_Han](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yue_Han)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/14 "2001-09-14T02:36:13Z")
“The Games People Play” helped me out a lot the other day. “Miss American Pie” is my favorite song and helps relax me. plus I know exactly how long it is so I can use it to tell time without a watch. When I was in China and experiencing the curse of the Chinese jet pilots\*, I sang anything and everything I could remember to keep my mind off the airsickness. I even translated ‘Imagine’ into pisspoor Chinese to keep myself distracted. –John \*On all domestic Chinese flights I took, the pilots used the same method. UP at the steepest angle possible, straight ahead, DOWN at the steepest angle possible. This route is longer than the usual parabola so they make up for it by going really fast. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/15 "2001-09-14T03:20:45Z")
As un-masculin as it is, I’m gonna have to admit that my musical safety net is “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips. Always makes me feel good. ---
**Author:** ![Lionors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c37758/32.png) [@Lionors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionors)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/16 "2001-09-14T10:08:24Z")
Gregorian chants. If I’ve got a really horribly awfully terribly bad day going and I’m near the computer, I’ll hit NetRadio’s Chant channel. If not, I’ll dig up the two battered CD’s I have and dive into Tranquility Bay. It’s almost as good as a Starbuck’s venti chai latte with lots of raw sugar and a sprinkling of nutmeg (but not quite.) But then, I’m not sure _Xanax_ beats a good chai latte. 🙂 My best to you and your son, Euty. Hope all goes well. ---
**Author:** ![robinh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@robinh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinh)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/17 "2001-09-14T18:22:47Z")
During labor with my first two children, when I was having to concentrate very hard on keeping my mind and body relaxed, I found myself “listening” to music in my head. Each time it was a single song (from a cd I had been listening to a lot at the time) that repeated over and over. The first time it was _Secure Yourself_, by the Indigo Girls. The second time it was k.d.lang’s _Constant Craving_. ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/18 "2001-09-14T20:36:56Z")
I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that my choices are Enya, Sting, and the Pet Shop Boys. I get a LOT of heat for that, but I can assure you that I’m _all_ man! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/19 "2001-09-14T22:00:08Z")
It depends on my mood. When I’m bummed about a personal relationship, I’ll go with **Midnight Oil** , especially their CDs _Diesel and Dust_ and _Blue Sky Mining_. It keeps me from thinking about personal things. When I’m happy late at night, I’ll listen to just about any **Van Morrison** CD, especially _Beautiful Vision_. Music helps so much in stressful times. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179/20 "2001-09-14T23:10:59Z")
The Beatles’ Here Comes the Sun. Works every time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-musical-safety-net/81179.md?page=2)