Elton John: “Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours”

British singer, songwriter, and pianist Sir Elton Hercules John soared to international fame following his American debut in 1970. The Rocketman singer has won six Grammy Awards and two years ago achieved EGOT status, when an artist wins an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony, joining an elite club of artists to do so.

Over the past nearly six decades, his songs have been a staple on radio and in people’s music collections serving as a tonic for people’s souls when times are challenging. He noted himself that “music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours.”

What does science say about music’s healing powers

Music is the best studied form of art therapy. Research has shown that it has wide-ranging benefits like alleviating pain, lowering blood pressure, improving one’s mood, and reducing stress. The rhythm and melody of music stimulate the brain to produce feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and endorphins while at the same time reducing the stress hormone cortisol.

It also activates a whole range of regions across the brain stimulating cognition. Music therapy has been used to help rehabilitate people after they’ve had a stroke or a traumatic brain injury. Researchers have also shown that it can help reduced the risk of dementia.

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