Published: September 30, 2008 11:41 pm         

A musical interlude

“Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons and you will find that it is to the soul what the water bath is to the body.”

– Oliver Wendell Holmes



I don’t know about a music bath, but I love music, all kinds of music.

I love everything from pop to rock, from classical to country.

A study conducted by a professor at a university in Scotland found musical tastes and personality types are closely related.

Professor Adrian North of Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh conducted what is said to be the largest study of music and personality ever undertaken. More than 36,000 people from all parts of the world were asked to rate 104 types of music and asked questions about their own personalities.

North found people with certain personality types like to listen to certain types of music.

Fans of classical music, for instance, tend to be shy, while those who prefer heavy metal tunes are gentle and at ease with themselves.

So what kind of people are seeking the highest office in the land, at least in terms of musical tastes? Both presidential candidates were asked to list their 10 favorite songs. The lists offer a fascinating insight into their personalities.

John McCain’s No. 1-favorite? “Dancing Queen,” by ABBA. I’m not sure where this would fit in Professor North’s study, perhaps in the dance or chart pop genre.

Aficionados of dance music, according to North’s research, are creative and outgoing, but not gentle. Those who favor chart pop music have high self-esteem, are not creative, are hard-working, outgoing and gentle, but are not at ease.

ABBA made McCain’s list twice. No. 3 is “Take A Chance on Me.” McCain’s list is an amalgam of different genres of music. It includes songs by Roy Orbison (“Blue Bayou”), Merle Haggard (“If We Make it Through December”), Dooley Wilson (“As Time Goes By”), the Beach Boys (“Good Vibrations”), Louis Armstrong (“What a Wonderful World”), Neil Diamond (“Sweet Caroline”) and The Platters (“Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.”)

The No. 1 tune on Barack Obama’s hit parade is “Ready Or Not” by the Fugees. The New Jersey group’s style is described as hip hop infused with elements of soul and reggae.

Hip-hop lovers, the North research found, have high self-esteem and are outgoing, while soul fans likewise have high self-esteem, are creative, outgoing, gentle and at ease.

Obama’s tastes in music are equally eclectic, including Marvin Gaye (“What’s Going On”), Bruce Springsteen (“I’m On Fire”), the Rolling Stones (“Gimme Shelter”), Nina Simone (“Sinnerman”), Kanye West (“Touch the Sky”), Aretha Franklin (“Think”), U2 (“City of Blinding Lights”) and will.I.am (“Yes We Can.”)

Only one artist has a spot on both candidates’ top 10 lists — Frank Sinatra. McCain favors Old Blue Eyes singing “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” while Obama lists Sinatra’s “You’d Be So Easy To Love,” as one of his favorites.

So what can we learn from the two candidates from these lists? Actually nothing substantial. If you believe North’s research, Obama either has high self-esteem, because of his preference for blues and soul, or low self-esteem, because he is a rock fan. Likewise he is either hard-working, because he has a taste for reggae, or he is not hard working, again because of loving rock music.

Likewise McCain, since he has a penchant for country tunes, is hard-working and outgoing but also has high self-esteem, is not creative, is gentle and not at ease, because he likes pop tunes.

There is one tune the two definitely agree on — “Hail To the Chief.”



Mullin is senior writer of the News & Eagle.