Nokia states the obvious: music evokes emotion

If a piece of music reminds you of a place and time and makes you want to connect with someone, you’re not alone.  In a recent international survey conducted by Nokia, there is a distinct relationship between people and the music they hear.
The survey results, which formed the foundation for Nokia’s "Music Gets You Talking" advertising campaign, also underscores the theme of the biggest New Year party of 2006 – Nokia New Year’s Eve. Uniting people around the world with events in five cities and a vast TV and internet audience expected to be 150 million, Nokia New Year’s Eve will bring people together through music at one of the happiest times of the year.
    
"Throughout history, it has been believed that music evokes emotions, feelings and memories," said Jo Harlow, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Mobile Phones, Nokia. "This survey, conducted in seven countries around the world, proved that to be true – and people today want to share those feelings with others."
    
The survey showed that globally, people were most likely to call a friend if they heard a song that brought back memories. Forty-five percent of respondents in India were most likely to, compared with about one-quarter of the respondents in France. More than 30 percent of respondents globally indicated they would call their partner.

Source: Nokia PR

We have music we drive to, music we drink our coffee to, music we have sex to, music to work out to, I have my own theory on this whole thing.

2 is bigger than 1, and 3 is bigger than 2. The number of senses used to create a memory, and therefore stir up emotions, is directly proportional to the intensity of said memory. For someone as connected as me, I hate talking online. I love seeing people’s facial expressions, hearing the change in tone of their voice, and remembering what it felt like to shake their hand, give them a hug, high five them, arm wrestle with them. That’s why people remember their former lovers so well, as pointed out in this article. You’ve created memories based on touching this person, tasting them, looking at them, hearing them, and admiring their scent. You’ll remember them a lot more than the name of the girl who makes you your coffee everyday at Starbucks.

Same girl, same quad shot of espresso, it’s been a year now and I don’t know her name. I’m going to ask her tomorrow!