I am curious to see what people have to say regarding non-jewish music. I am considering giving it up albeit difficult, however before I even try I would like to hear if people feel that not listening has helped them with their struggle or not. I heard from my rosh yeshiva that it can make you feel a different way if the music makes you move or feel in a certain way when you listen to it. The idea seems like potentially it could make a lot of sense I would just like to know if anyone has actually experienced a change themselves. Thanks!

Well,  looking back after too many or my thousands of falls the only thing i could discover that amounted to even a remote trigger was non-Jewish music.  i am not even talking about women singers, because of course i was so frum  : that i would change the station or even turn it off until the song ended.  Just the music itself ,with the messages that are overtly and subliminally poisonous to me, led me down the road i wanted/wanted to avoid going down.  Occasionally i still use it in an emergency when i am behind the wheel and feel myself dozing off, i will find the loudest most obnoxious metal station to wake me up, then off it goes again.  If i planned my trips more carefully though(from now on, bli neder) i would bring some loud simchadik music to wake myself with.
Hope this helps you decide what is best for you.
Hatzlacha in all things GOOD.
chaimyakov

I think there is "clean" nonJewish  music and there is "unclean" nonJewish music.

Examples of the former might include a good deal of classical music, most "folk" music, a lot of modern music (unless you find it triggers you), intrumental music, etc.  Every Genre, of course, has its problems, but when I go into the grocery store, they have bacon, I don't buy it...they have kosher chicken, I buy it...they have other kosher products that are available and of interest to all consumers, if I like them I buy them.  I get the kosher ice cream , but not the nonkosher ice cream...

They are both ice cream, but not both kosher.

If you are not familiar with clasical music, learn about it.  Some of it you may find unuinteresting, but there is a LOT of it, so keep looking.  I am partial to Mozart, but I am also partial to Paul Simon...

I think that if it's a struggle for you to give it up and it's not assur, why dedicate yourself to that?
There's a lot of people who are under the impression that if they focus on one segula or another, they will be ok.
I used to think that whether I grew my beard or not would make a big difference in my ability to be holy.
Maybe growing a beard can help me, but compared to the actual, proactive work of becoming holy, it's negligible.
We need to stop being superstitious and speculative. Let's be real and honest.

When you reach a madreiga where non jewish music is really not good for you and you're sensitive to it, you'll know to stop on your own and you'll have the strength.

I really like what you have to say thanks

I think that different people react different to all types of music. Meaning there is no klall in that.

i thought more about this and i think the answer needs to be "know yourself" which is how i understand the phrase "to thine self be true".
If secular music affects you like it does me, than it is clearly assur.  If it has no effect than it is probably mutar.  And if it elevates you and helps you reach your potential it might even be a mitzvah to listen to it.  Be honest with your self and you should be fine.
Hatzlacha in all things GOOD.
chaimyakov

check out this link.
now, as per my perspective on non-jewish music. i tend to think that it doesn't effect me, especially since i don't listen to the L & R c^@p. but i have noticed that it leaves me feeling empty no matter how much meaning there is in the lyrics (I'm in denial though).

The difference between jewish and non-jewish music, is not in the religion of the artist, or the size of his peyos, I consider non-jewish music anything that is designed to make you forget where you are, not to move you, but to cover you up with layers of echos and vibes "drown in the now" ^-matisyahu
While "jewish" music actually moves you up "lift me up lift me up lift me up" ^-matisyahu

ROCK ON (you're jewish right?)

I know personally that if I learn Torah for a while and then shortly later listen to non - Jewish music I can feel the ruchnius evaporating. Though I would say personally that if it's between surfing the web in a bad way and sitting back with some goyish music , definitely go With the music.  One thing for sure is that it won't influence you to grow in avodat Hashem.

I find that it doesn't affect me when I'm at my lows (acting out etc.) but it does screw things up when I'm celibate for a while and generally more sensitive. Bottom line, it is garbage (kinda similar to porn). Can't live with it and can't live without it  :-\.

All those people who say they are sensitive to it/ it leaves them empty/ their kedusha evaporates, what exactly are you listening to? Love songs? Music with curse words? When I listen to goyish music, it has no words or else the content is positive and good. I get really uplifted sometimes...

Classic Rock, Country, Oldies have a negative impact on me.
Classical jazz and classical music generally leave me upbeat
Hatzlacha in all things GOOD.
chaimyakov

To kiddush hashem. I dont know what music you are listening to but I cant say for myself that i have ever non-jewish music that has uplifted me. But hey if it works for you than kol hakovod. I guess like what everyone else is saying in the thread it really depends on the person. Maybe thats why you may be elevated while I dont get that feeling. I wish I was uplifted by any music jewish or not. Probably not gunnu happen any time soon. Very interesting theories posted on here!

TehillimZugger wrote on 31 Jan 2012 16:47:


kidushashem wrote on 01 Feb 2012 00:23:


do you get "uplifted" or "moved"? it makes a big difference, really.

This question really is a powerful question and it is so challenging to admit how I feel about it. I used to feel like I was on one side of the mechitza and couldn't cross to the other side, cuz that would be asking for too much. I would listen to different types of music, which I liked. I really did. But, I sensed that they made me have a certain attitude in life. Rap made me angry and aggressive. I lost my cool, tempered response skills. Even better was techno. I always loved listening to that, especially after acting out. Always felt like that gave me my emotions back afterwards, after losing them all. I felt like a dead fish and that music gave me life. The strongest feeling I've learned to strive to achieve would actually be to be myself and happy being myself, without stimulation, since the stimulated me never really lasted long anyway or stood up to challenges. But most and most of all, arabic music. I mean the darbuka type of dance music. As soon as I listened to a few beats, INSTANT stimulation. It's almost like I COULDN'T stop myself from looking and acting out afterward. It was SO strong, it was undeniable. That's how some types of music have affected me. I try to do without them nowadays, especially since I'm kinda trying to rehabilitate myself to be who I really am again. I need to do what I can. Goyishe music undoubtedly stokes the coals and gets the fire going. Fires don't go away as fast as they start.