What is the difference between obsession and addiction in psychology?

I am well aware of the dictionary definitions of these two words. My question is, what is the difference, in psychology, between a psychological addiction and an obsession? It seems to me that the two are extremely similar. I do not refer to physical addiction, but to psychological addiction.

Also, how does one determine whether a person suffers from an obsession or a psychological addiction? Is it simply the preference of the one making the diagnosis, or is there a set of criteria that explicitly defines each?

Thank you.

addiction :(?

i have an issue i get easily addicted :( all my friends think i'm a freak because i'm like obsessed with michelle pfeiffer
is it normal
why do they think i'm a freak just because i've seen almost all of her movies read her biographies and watched all of her talk show apperences

do you think i'm a freak whats wrong with me

The devil is said to appear in countless forms, and many people were convinced he appeared in the form of rock bands when they began backmasking their lyrics in the 60s.  Backmasking, or backward masking, is a technique of recording song lyrics backward onto a track that is played forward.  What started as an innocent accident by John Lennon swirled into a frenzy of controversy, record-burning protests, proposed government legislation, and a witch hunt for bands whose lyrics were deemed satanic.

Backmasking of song lyrics was one of the Beatles’ many musical innovations.  While high on pot, John Lennon accidentally played the tapes for the song “Rain” backwards, and liked the sound of the reversed lyrics.  The rest of the band agreed, and incorporated the effect into the tune, making it the first to contain backmasked lyrics:  “Sunshine....rain.…when the rain comes, they run and hide their heads.”

At the time, music was recorded on vinyl, which could be manually played backwards on a turntable.  A disc jockey, intrigued by rumors that Paul McCartney was dead, played the tune “Revolution 9” backwards, and heard the lyrics “Turn me on, dead man,” as well as the lyrics “Paul is a dead man, miss him, miss him,” when playing “I’m So Tired” backwards.  These lyrics appeared to confirm the “Paul is dead” rumor, which popularized the backmasking of rock music lyrics.

This led to a fierce backlash from Christian fundamentalists in the 70s.  They accused Led Zeppelin of planting satanic lyrics in “Stairway to Heaven.” They also alleged that bands, including the Beatles, Pink Floyd, the Electric Light Orchestra, Queen, and Styx were cooperating with the Church of Satan by backmasking messages from the devil into their song lyrics.  The religious right pushed for legislation to place stickers on these bands’ albums warning about lyrics inspired by Lucifer, but the bill was defeated.

In retaliation, several of the accused bands recorded albums containing intentional, ridiculous backmasked lyrics.  ELO fired back with an album called Secret Messages, containing the backmasked lyrics, “Thank you for listening,” “Look out, there’s danger ahead,“ and “You’re playing me backwards.”  Styx took jabs their critics with the album Kilroy Was Here, whose lyrics parodied an imaginary group called “The Majority for Musical Morality,” which outlaws rock music.

Heavy metal song lyrics reeled from some of the hardest hits.  In his 1988 trial, serial killer Richard Ramirez testified that the lyrics of “Night Prowler,” from AC/DC’s Highway to Hell album, drove him to commit murder.  Judas Priest was sued in 1990 because two Nevada boys had made a suicide pact that was allegedly inspired by the subliminal lyrics, “Do it,” in the band’s song “Better By You, Better Than Me.”  The case was dismissed for insufficient evidence that the lyrics played a role in the boys’ deaths.

Like inkblots and clouds, lyrics played backwards can be interpreted as anything if you concentrate long enough.  Or, as comedian “Weird Al” Yankovic joked in the backmasked lyrics of “I Remember Larry,” “You must have an awful lot of free time on your hands!”  Elcitra siht deyojne uoy epoh.

Merryl Lentz

Backwards lyrics: Hear why it's sung here, Oppositioner... ... Oh, I will never be saved, Because I live with Satan... One wish today; That you'll all pray for thee, Who will make it here late. Pray now and you'll see.. The Lord turned me on, But, oh, I was the shaggy fool.. Clothed in agony, Lost at a height. Oh... There is no escaping it... Nor his woe- So here's to my sweet Satan, The other's little path would make me sad, Whos power is faith, You'll give those with him 666 And all the evil fools share, they know he made us suffer, Sad Satan. The family won't get loose, They're offered me; Always soothes the worker, Always will be as we know now... "I see ruins", said he, the world they offered me? Who wished the Lord fall? If we lose Feather [Robert Plant], Say you'll save me! And no wimps can bend the rule... And no wimps can do... Hunt next to the shore, 'Cause they see all from there, See here's the news, Who walks with mute grief, Perhaps no-one found thee. Heavy, lift me out, Spake the Reve, Someday, failed- we'll lose one line-up, They've gotta leave for Satan. And no wimps can do... And no wimps can do. He, who say the Lords, Thoth have our laws, Ma'at must be superb. Mass is ended.. Over there... He who should learn thee: Any moot that serves by my sworn musick, I wish it with snow be Shub, All for my masses sake. Hear why its sung here, Oppositioner... Oh... He who should show May make his show worthy, To look for us, odd.. sickly, Theres one chance - take <b>...</b>

A band releases a song with such catchy lyrics and music that they seem destined for greatness.  It’s as though the tune was set on “replay” in your mind, and you can’t get its memorable music and lyrics out of your head.  You anxiously await the band’s next song and then....the group fades away, never to be heard from again.

These bands are called “one-hit wonders.”  They release a song whose music and lyrics are so incredible that it vaults to the top of the charts and gets heavy airplay.  The song’s music and lyrics make it an enduring classic, but the band never follows up with another song that can match it, and disappears from the musical map.

Here are some of the songs whose music and lyrics made their mark on us, and left us hungry for more:

“Sausalito Summer Night” by Diesel, 1981

This bright, bouncy tune and its lighthearted, humorous lyrics about a couple’s drive from LA to San Francisco in a worn-out car captured the essence of summertime.  Its music and lyrics were by the band Diesel, which formed in the Netherlands in the 80s.  It got heavy radio airplay, and reached #68 on the American Billboard charts.  Who could forget this song and its amusing lyrics, “The engine’s stompin’ like a disco/We ought to dump her in the Bay.”

“She Blinded Me with Science” by Thomas Dolby, 1983

Contagious synthpop plus satirical technological lyrics equaled a strong chemical reaction in listeners when Dolby released this song in 1983.  Although it was Dolby’s least favorite tune, its unusual lyrics and electronic music rocketed it to #5 on the US Hot 100 chart.  Those numerous creative lyrics included, “She blinded me with science/And failed me in biology.”  Dolby’s subsequent songs and lyrics never quite made the same mark as this hit, but he remained active behind the scenes, playing keyboards on Def Leppard’s Pyromania, and the albums of many other bands.

“Keep Your Hands to Yourself” by the Georgia Satellites, 1986

With Southern-fried rock music and twangy lyrics, the Georgia Satellites served up a juicy song that satisfied listeners’ appetites.  A winning combination of music and lyrics, the tune conquered the #2 spot on Billboard’s chart in 1986.  The memory of its lyrics, “That’s when she told me a story ‘bout free milk and a cow/And said no hugg-ee, no kiss-ee until I get a weddin’ vow,” still bring smiles to countless faces.

“Afternoon Delight” by the Starland Vocal Band, 1976

This song’s innocent pop melody belied its suggestive lyrics about doing the nasty in broad daylight.  But those lyrics helped make the song a #1 hit.  And those song lyrics earned the band five Grammy nominations, and two Grammy awards.  A sample of those lyrics:  “My motto’s always been, when it’s right, it’s right/Why wait until the middle of a cold, dark night?”  Why wait, indeed!

These and other bands were shooting stars that blazed briefly, and then fell back to earth.  The bands may not have achieved immortality, but one recording of their music and lyrics definitely did.

Merryl Lentz

www.balconytv.co.uk 07 PRESENTED BY LAYLA ANNA-LEE "One of England's best kept musical secrets". - Rolling Stone These words from Rolling Stone seem to sum up Devon based Peter Bruntnell's career so far. A handful of albums for Almo and Ryko in the 90s coincided with the emergence of Britpop (RIP) and despite the best efforts of a very supportive music press the records mellifluous and introspective nature didn't fully satisfy a "mad for it" general public. But for those that did take the time to check out this softly spoken songwriter the rewards have been plentiful. His subsequent albums for Loose (Ends Of The Earth, Played Out and 2005's Ghost In A Spitfire) featured the kind of startling tales of small town romance and big city isolation, the erosion of community and the wonders of family life that ticked all the right sonic boxes for a fiecely loyal fanbase that has ensured that over the course of six acclaimed albums Bruntnell has managed to sustain a very healthy career in this most fickle of industries. He has also retained the respect of his peers. To return to Rolling Stone, he may be one of this country's best kept secrets but if you ask the likes of Kurt Wagner, Peter Buck, Mark Eitzel (Bruntnell supports American Music Club on a UK tour in September), Jay Farrar or Kathleen Edwards they'll all agree that he's a writer of many qualities. All of which are more than in evidence on Peter And The Murder Of Crows - his seventh studio album. Recorded mainly in his <b>...</b>

There’s an old saying that behind every great man is a woman.  That may or may not be true, but it’s a fact that behind the lyrics and songs of many great bands and singers, there definitely is a woman—and her name is Diane Warren.

Warren has been an amazingly prolific and versatile writer and co-writer of chart-topping song lyrics and music for more than two decades.  Specializing in writing lyrics and music for ballads, Warren has a unique gift for communicating compelling and universal messages that translate to any musical genre or style.  Composing songs an incredible 365 days a year, Warren seems to write effortlessly, as though lyrics and music are channeled through her by divine guidance.

This expertise with music and lyrics made Warren the first songwriter to ever have seven hits, by seven different artists, on Billboard’s singles chart simultaneously.  Her music and lyrics are so appealing that numerous musicians have recorded their own versions of the same song—a record-breaking eight artists covered her song, “Don’t Turn Around.”  She’s written music and song lyrics for countless superstars, for TV shows, and for nearly 100 movies.  And those tunes and lyrics have won more awards than any trophy case can comfortably hold.

Warren’s passion for words to songs and writing music emerged when she was a teenage Californian listening to Top 40 radio.  But she discovered she was more interested in the songwriters—including Carole King, Lieber and Stoller, and Burt Bacharach—than the songs, themselves.  She realized without a doubt that she wanted to write lyrics!  She wanted to write music!

But her mother had other ideas, and noting the competitiveness of the music industry, tried to steer Warren toward what she perceived as the stability of secretarial work.  Her father, disagreed, and supported his daughter’s dream of writing song lyrics and music.  Luckily, Dad won that particular battle, pa
Hollywood, Smith & Grant, How to Say Goodbye Concert at the Greek w/ Sam Botta LiveFearless.com

ving the way for a songwriter whose tunes and lyrics would make history.

Warren scored her first hit in 1983, writing the lyrics and music for “Solitaire,” which was performed by Laura Branigan and rocketed to the charts’ Top 10.  Three years later, her talent for writing lyrics and music hit the chart bullseye at #1 when Warren penned “Rhythm of the Night” for DeBarge.  Songs by Warren have charted more than 100 times.  The vast list of top entertainers who have benefited from Warren’s prowess for writing and co-writing songs and their lyrics includes:

         •     Mariah Carey

         •     Alice Cooper

         •     Trisha Yearwood

         •     Aerosmith

         •     Barbra Streisand

         •     LeAnne Rimes

         •     Kid Rock

         •     Heart

         •     KISS

         •     Tom Jones

         •     Cheap Trick

         •     Cher

Warren’s winning parings of music and lyrics have also graced scores of soundtracks for movies such as:

         •     “Armageddon”

         •     “Coyote Ugly”

         •     “Gone in Sixty Seconds”

         •     “Moulin Rouge”

         •     “Pearl Harbor”

         •     “Up Close and Personal”

         •     “Legally Blonde II:  Red, White and Blonde”

         •     “American Gangster”

So, the next time you go to a movie....or see your favorite band....or watch a TV show....or listen to the radio....there’s a good chance that the woman behind the music and lyrics is none other than Diane Warren!

Merryl Lentz

You’ve just broken up with someone.  Or someone’s broken up with you.  You’ve got a jumble of pent-up emotions that need to be released in a way that won’t get you a life sentence or the death penalty.  There are scores of breakup songs whose music and lyrics will help you deal with those feelings in a healthy way.  Belting out the lyrics to a breakup song, or just listening to those lyrics—even if you need to play them over and over and over again—can help you break up with emotions associated with your ex.

The title of Neil Sedaka’s “Breaking Up is Hard to Do,” cuts right to the chase.  The song has the odd combination of a peppy tune—presumably, to lift your spirits—and the agonized lyrics, “Don't take your love away from me/Don't you leave my heart in misery/If you go then I'll be blue/'Cause breaking up is hard to do.”  Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time,” with its lyrics, “If I could turn back time/If I could find a way/I’d take back those words that have hurt you/And you’d stay” is also great for the newly wounded heart.  There are also perfect pining-away lyrics in Chicago’s “If You Leave Me Now”:  “If you leave me now/You’ll take away the biggest part of me,” and LeAnne Rimes’ “How Do I Live Without You”:  “If I had to live without you/What kind of life would that be?”

Feeling bitter?  Determined never to fall in love again?  Then try the lyrics to Nazareth’s power-ballad classic, “Love Hurts,” which are sung with wrenching agony:  “Some fools think of happiness, blissfulness, togetherness/Some fools fool themselves, I guess/They’re not foolin’ me.”  Or how about the outrage in the lyrics of Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know”:  “It was a slap in the face/How quickly I was replaced.”  There’s bitterness in the seething lyrics of Mary J. Blige’s “Not Gon’ Cry”:  “Eleven years out of my life/Wasted my years—a fool of a wife.”  The J. Geils Band gets right to the point in the title and lyrics of “Love Stinks”:  “This thing they call love/It’s gonna make you cry/...Love stinks!”
Roger Moore "I Married A Beautiful Woman" James Bond tells Sam Botta Live Fearless

If you’re sick of crying and are ready to be empowered, you’re ready for Gloria Gaynor’s ultimate ode to strength, “I Will Survive,” and its immortal lyrics, “Weren't you the one who tried to break me with goodbye/Did you think I'd crumble?/Did you think I'd lay down and die?/Oh no, not I/I will survive!”  Or how about the tough-as-leather lyrics to Pat Benatar’s “Heartbreaker”:  You’re a heartbreaker, dreammaker, love-taker/Don’t you mess around with me!”  Or listen to the Eagles singing the lyrics to “Already Gone” with unbridled glee:  “I’m already gone/And I’m feelin’ strong/I will sing this vict’ry song/Woo hoo hoo!”

Whatever emotion you’re experiencing after your breakup—sorrow, regret, anger, disbelief—there’s a song out there whose lyrics will seem as though they were written specifically for you.  So find that song with the perfect lyrics, turn it up to 11, and belt your heart out—broken or not!

Merryl Lentz