Listening to music can bring back vivid memories from one's past. In recent years there has been an increase in both scientific and public interest in the ability of music to evoke vivid, emotional, and rich autobiographical memories. For example, several “viral” videos have taken the internet by storm, illustrating powerful instances of music evoking memories in individuals with dementia – perhaps the most recent example is a clip of a former ballerina with Alzheimer's disease who recalls her dance movements at the sound of “Swan Lake.” Current scientific work in this area informs the mechanisms by which music induces emotions and provides critical evidence for assessing whether music is a uniquely effective memory cue. Research on music and autobiographical memory is also of practical relevance by informing the development of music-based interventions, for example, for people with memory disorders.