What’s one thing that everyone has in common? One thing that can take your mind off of your struggles and problems? One thing that can take your mind to places you’ve never been before? What is the one thing that can make you feel any emotion at any given time? The answer is music. Music has the power to pull a string in your heart that you didn’t even realize was there. Music is universal. There’s a genre and a style for everyone, and everyone listens to it. You don’t even have to speak the same language as someone else to enjoy the same music that they do. From the core genres like rap, rock, country and pop, down to the sub-genres like soul, contemporary country, metalcore and pop-punk, there is literally something for everyone.
Look around you at the way people are dressed, the way they style their hair and the manner in which they speak. Have you ever thought about the fact that music has a hand in all of that? Check out mainstream media, for example. How many trends has music set that affected fashion and popular culture throughout the years? Think about Beatlemania, disco costumes, and even those itsy bitsy teenie weenie polka dot bikinis. It can even bring together artists from opposite ends of the genre spectrum to raise money and awareness for various things. Think about all of the famous artists and groups that work together and play benefit shows when disaster strikes. Music is inspiration across the board, it affects everything we do; from the way we express ourselves, to the way we carry ourselves and dress — and even the way we help out and give aid to our fellow humans.
Music also has therapeutic and healing aspects. Everyone has a “go-to” song that they turn on and blare when they're feeling down, that helps them make it through the hard times. We have songs to cry to, songs to clean to, songs to blast on road trips, songs to get ready to, to dance to, and even songs to make love to. Everyone has a music arsenal that accompanies them through life. These playlists change and evolve, but everyone has one. Some people even have music that saves them from anxiety attacks and bouts of depression. I know from personal experience that some songs have lyrics with the power to help you breathe even when you think that you can’t because of whatever triggered your panic attack. Music has a way of enhancing the quality of life, when you hear the first few cords of your favorite song and the emotion the singer conveys in their voice — you can practically feel the weight of your worries and problems lifting off of your body.
Beyond that, live music is a world of its own. The chills you feel when listening to the radio in your car or hearing a new song through a set of headphones is nothing compared to the adrenaline rush of seeing your favorite band play live. Some shows are more intimate than others, small venues and crowds where it feels like the band is playing your favorite song just for you. Other times the show can be less personal, but still just as powerful. Music festivals are great at bringing people together, even festivals that dare to bridge genre gaps. My best friend and I have made lifetime friends at local shows and out of state festivals alike; and I can guarantee that not all of those friends have the same music preferences that we do. From rowdy shows with wicked moshing, to mellow shows where people just vibe, to high energy EDM dance fests and everything else in between — live music impacts people while bringing them together and creating shared experiences.
All in all, music is something special. Music is everywhere, you just need to listen. It’s in nature, in your home, in the laughter of your loved ones, in our heads and hearts, and also — more literally — in our headphones, cell phones, and radios. It’s on when you’re grocery shopping or running errands; it’s in the background of movies and shows. Music surrounds us and gives us a universal language. It’s something we’re able to share; even deaf people enjoy music through the rhythmic vibrations it provides. I believe music has, in some way — possibly more so for some — shaped all of us into who we are. From its impact on pop culture and mainstream trends, to its healing factors, to bringing together people from all over the world, music is a truly powerful force.
