Recovering our Humanity:

What’s Love (and Music) Got to Do With It?

Dr. Dave Camlin, Royal College of Music

A singing lecture exploring the relationship between music and love through the lens of cheesy 80s love songs.

The lecture is liberally interspersed with some singalong hits about love which you can join in with. If you want to have a look at them beforehand, you can download scores and lyrics for the songs here. Bring your voice and / or an instrument for a musical journey through the interpersonal neurobiology of music and attachment.

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Music has always been a vehicle for the expression of love. Shakespeare called music ‘the food of love’, and countless song writers and composers throughout history have made much of this special relationship. If we want to express love, we turn to music. When our hearts are broken, we also turn to music for solace. However, there may be an even deeper level to this special relationship between music and the human biological need for attachment, and it is perhaps best exemplified in instances of group music-making. In this singing lecture, we’ll explore the relationship between music and love through the lens of cheesy 80s love songs. What are the neurobiological correlates of attachment, and how does musical entrainment become entangled with interpersonal neurobiology to produce feelings of trust and attachment?