The happiest classic rock song ever, according to science Kelly Scanlon Fri 16 May 2025 17:31, UK The quality of music is one of the most subjective things in the world, not just because everybody consumes art in their own way, but because the human brain is one of the most complex things in existence. While some may struggle to appreciate the appeal of a formulaic pop song, for instance, others might feel the same about classical music. However, the ‘feel good’ factor that occurs when listening to music we like is ascribed to a well-known chemical our brains release called dopamine. When experiencing a surge in the chemical, dopamine enhances the sense of pleasure and reward in the brain, which, in more understandable terms, means that we feel happy or satisfied when listening to joyful or emotional songs, and it usually reaches its peak during climactic moments like catchy choruses or segments with intensified anticipation. In 2015, according to scientific criteria, Dr Jacob Jolij sought to identify the happiest, most dopamine-inducing songs of all time. Despite noting the importance of subjectivity and personal experience, his findings revealed some of the ‘happiest’ or most joyful songs of all time based on a subseries of formulaic characteristics, some more obvious than others... https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/happiest-classic-rock-song-science/ Spoiler
