As most of the world went into lockdown for coronavirus, there were countless examples of people turning to song. Italians belted arias from their balconies, famous musicians performed in their living rooms, virtual choirs went viral. Beyond the community and entertainment, there are scientific reasons we turn to song in troubled times. Singing is an aerobic exercise which sees the release of endorphins, the brain's feel-good chemical, says Baishali Mukherjee of the World Federation of Music Therapy. When our moods go up, our immune systems do, too, as does our ability to respond to stress. Singing also "enhances our sense of empathy and social connection," says University of Melbourne researcher Sarah Wilson. Anthropologist Jerome Lewis adds, "Song or music is able to capture something that goes beyond what we would normally be able to articulate in our rational, logical minds."

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