Skeptics Stack Exchange
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Questions tagged [music]

Music is an art form whose medium is sound. Common elements of music are pitch (which governs melody and harmony), rhythm (and its associated concepts tempo, meter, and articulation), dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture. The word derives from Greek μουσική (mousike), "(art) of the Muses."

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Is chocolate bad for your voice?

I've had a variety of singing teachers, all of whom assured me that eating chocolate prior to singing was bad for my voice. This is assumed fact amongst almost all other singers I have known. I've never come across the original research though, so…
fredley
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Is there a reverse message in Stairway to Heaven?

Does the song Stairway to Heaven contain Satanic messages? Oh here's to my sweet Satan. The one whose little path would make me sad, whose power is Satan. He will give those with him 666. There was a little tool shed where he made us suffer, sad…
Mateen Ulhaq
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Has Phish "never played the same setlist twice"?

There is an enlightening article on the dollars and cents of the band Phish at Priceonomics.com. In the article, the author cites spontanaeity as a big reason for the band's success, and repeats a myth often told in Phish circles: The band has…
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Does listening to classical music "Improve Cognitive Function"?

https://www.dumblittleman.com/kickstart-your-brain-with-the-mozart/ The article says: Several studies have shown cognitive improvements in those who listened to classical music prior to performing certain tasks or taking tests. Functions that…
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Did Mozart improvise?

After I had discussed the lack of improvisation in classical music with a friend, he showed me this article from WQXR.org (the website of a classical music radio station), which claimed that Mozart often improvised his music: Improvisation is a…
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Does auto-tune make singing (without talent) easy?

Has autotune made singing as easy as people claim? Or is it just a tool that slightly aids already trained singers? For an example of the claim, see this (SFW) parody music video, by KSics and Alex. I've never tried autotune (but I will soon). Is it…
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Did Michael Jeffery (Hendrix's manager) kill Jimi Hendrix after tricking him into signing an insurance policy?

Michael Jeffery, Jimi Hendrix's manager, tricked Hendrix into signing an insurance contract that pays Jeffery $2 million upon the death of Mr James Marshall Hendrix. A short time later, Hendrix is found "drowned with wine in his lungs and undigested…
NormLDude
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Do slot machines play in the key of C?

I was listening to Episode 57 of the Talk Show (at 44:35), and one of the hosts mentioned that he'd heard that slot machines all play in the key of C. Ostensibly, this is because this frequency is especially pleasing. The show notes linked to an…
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Is classical music good for a pregnant woman and her baby

I heard that classical music is good for a pregnant woman and her baby. Actually my wife is pregnant, and this is our first baby. So my question is is it true that classical music is good for a pregnant woman and her baby? If so, what kind of…
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Are winter babies better at music?

I heard on a Fox News commercial that "winter babies are better at music". I want to know if there are any studies on this subject.
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Playing music at night for babies/toddlers causes or contributes to ADD/ADHD

I've heard that playing music at night for babies and toddlers (i.e. children under 2 years old) can cause or contribute to Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD) when they get older. Is there any truth to, or basis for, this claim?
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Does regularly playing music to cows increase their appetite?

The Kobe Beef Marketing & Distribution Promotion Association says : There may well be some farms rearing low numbers of cattle who are doing things bordering on this. But, this does not mean that these rearing methods are all standards for…
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Does illegal downloading of music significantly damage sales?

Obviously the music industry has gone to great lengths to try and ingrain the message that illegal downloads of music have significantly damaged their bottom line, but is there any irrefutable evidence that declines in sales for major labels are as…
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Is the Inner Circle hit song "Sweat" about rape?

Is the song Sweat (A La La La La Long) by Inner Circle really about rape? Does anyone have an interview or something confirming this? When I was younger it was a hit and we all listened to it without really groking the lyrics... YouTube version
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Explanation for regularly hearing music of no apparent source?

My grandfather considers himself a skeptic. His wife (my grandmother) recently passed away, and ever since, he swears that he can hear distant ethereal music late at night, every night, and only in the upper story of his household. Many people have…
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