“Music is my best friend,” I state proudly as I receive confused glares from those around me. Someone pipes up, “How can music be your best friend?”

This is a question I have been faced with quite a few times. It can be difficult to muster up the words to thoroughly explain how music can fulfill the role typically assumed by a human, not an arrangement of notes and lyrics. While our best friends are certainly capable of comforting us when in need and cheering us up when we are sad, they don’t always provide the level of understanding that music does. I cannot even begin to count the amount of times I’ve found myself listening to a song and immediately thought, ‘this is exactly how I’m feeling.’ Lyrics are incredibly powerful; this is why so many people get lyrics tattooed on their bodies forever or cry when they hear their favorite lyrics played live for the first time.

No matter the circumstances, music is always available for listening: on a Friday night when you didn’t get invited to that party, when all of your friends fell asleep and you’re left alone with your thoughts, or when you’re thinking about giving up. It’s there to provide us with that sense of comfort that we have trouble finding anywhere else. When all else fails, music is there. When people let us down, music is there. Music is there for us unconditionally, and that is why it’s the ultimate best friend. You can never go wrong, or feel alone.

Human interaction is a tough role to replace, but music does an exceptional job of providing relief and security when we need it the most. The human race talks too much, and sometimes we just need to take a breath and listen. Simply listen to the strum of the guitar, the beat of the drums, and honesty of the lyrics; make a connection. Of course, our friends are there to help us, but from time to time it’s pleasant to know that we can just sit and soak in the music, and not necessarily get a constant reaction from someone.

When you delve deep into the music world, and you finally discover that one band or artist that seems to truly get you, it’s like magic. Listening to music, in general, is extremely soothing, but I promise you that nothing will be able to soothe you quite like listening to your favorite band for hours. Whether you’re sad, angry, bored, or happy, your favorite band will always make you feel like you’re coming home. They’re familiar, but you’ll never get bored with their familiarity, because every time you listen to their songs, you’ll discover a new thing you love about it. Simply hearing the lead singer’s voice reminds you that everything will be okay, and you’ll get through whatever you may be experiencing at the time.

If you feel lost, music has the power to guide you down the right path. If you feel alone, music is your metaphorical shoulder to lean on. If you need advice, music offers wonderful assistance. And most importantly, if you need a friend, music is the best one to have.