A recent study in PLOS One shows that nostalgic pop songs spark a stronger impulse to dance than songs that are simply familiar. The research reveals how music and memory together influence our movement, with potential implications for movement therapies and wellbeing.
According to researchers from a leading university, both nostalgia and familiarity increase enjoyment and the desire to tap or move along. Yet only nostalgia consistently predicts the powerful urge to dance. This finding could inform health interventions that use music to encourage movement, especially for people with movement disorders.
The Thai context makes these findings especially relevant. Music plays a central role in Thai life, from temple fairs and weddings to night markets and family karaoke. Understanding what motivates dancing can enrich community events, cultural festivals, and health programs that use music throughout the Kingdom.
In the online experiment, young adults listened to a curated playlist of pop hits and rated each song for nostalgia, familiarity, enjoyment, and the desire to move or dance. Nostalgia was triggered by songs popular during participants’ adolescence, such as “TiK ToK,” “Call Me Maybe,” and “Dynamite.” These tracks scored high on both familiarity and nostalgia, though not all top hits had the same effect. For instance, Katy Perry’s “Firework” was highly familiar but ranked low in nostalgia and did not strongly provoke dancing.
Professor Grahn, director of the Centre for Brain and Mind at the University of Western Ontario and the study’s lead neuroscientist, explains: “Groove is the pleasurable urge to move to music. Our brains light up spontaneously when we hear rhythmic tunes, even if we can’t control our movements. This is especially relevant for people with movement disorders.” She adds, “Wedding DJs have understood this instinct for years, and now we have scientific support.”
PhD candidate Riya Sidhu, the study’s lead author, notes how nostalgia amplifies enjoyment and the drive to dance: “The more familiar a song is, the more you enjoy it. Familiarity and nostalgia are linked, but nostalgia takes you to a special place and makes you want to move.” Importantly, only nostalgia—not simple familiarity—predicted the urge to dance, indicating that emotionally charged musical memories truly motivate physical movement.
Newer yet familiar songs—like Dua Lipa’s “Don’t Start Now,” Jonas Brothers’ “Sucker,” and Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy”—were used as low-nostalgia controls. While these tracks were well-known, they lacked the emotional impact needed to inspire dancing, reinforcing the key role of nostalgia.
For Thai readers, the implications extend beyond Western pop. In Thailand, genres such as luk thung, mor lam, and classic Thai pop often ignite group dances at village events and city concerts. Nostalgic tunes—whether timeless Thai classics or 1990s hits—tend to bring people together on the dance floor. The study suggests that sentimental musical memories, such as national anthems, school songs, or beloved TV drama aural cues, can have a measurable effect on physical movement.
Historically, researchers highlight that humans have enjoyed music and dance for tens of thousands of years. In Thailand, dance has deep roots in classical forms like khon and likay, as well as spontaneous circle dances at temple fairs and festival parades. Nostalgia-rich songs passed down through generations fuel collective movement and social bonding.
Looking ahead, the researchers see therapeutic potential, particularly for rhythm-based interventions in conditions like Parkinson’s disease. Grahn emphasizes that nostalgia plays a distinctive role beyond familiarity in motivating the urge to dance. This opens possibilities for Thai healthcare professionals and therapists working with older adults or people with neurodegenerative conditions. Rhythmic activities paired with nostalgic Thai music could lift spirits and promote movement.
For Thai society, the findings invite reflection on how nostalgia can strengthen social cohesion and well-being. During major celebrations such as Songkran and Loy Krathong, event organizers could curate nostalgic music sets to boost participation on the dance floor. Families may also discover that playing favorite old tunes creates joyful, cross-generational connections and healthier movement at home.
With streaming making it easy to revisit classic hits, Thais can build personal “throwback” playlists for gatherings or family time. Educators can also integrate period-themed songs into music, dance, or history lessons to boost engagement and learning by leveraging nostalgia’s unique power.
In summary, nostalgic songs are more than echoes of the past. They can unlock the body’s natural drive to move and dance. For Thailand, embracing nostalgia may be both a source of joy and a practical approach to promoting social health and physical wellness.
Practical takeaway: dust off your favorite Thai favorites—luk thung classics, 90s pop, or beloved lakorn themes—and let the music guide you toward dance for mind and body benefits.