Until last year, my music taste consisted of whatever was on the radio. It was never really a big part of my life and I never listened to it unless I was in the car or occasionally when I had a specific song stuck in my head.
Last year, I had a friend introduce me to a lot of new music that I had not previously been exposed to. With a whole new array of songs that I had not heard before, my opinion completely and utterly changed. I realized that I was able to emotionally attach and relate to certain songs and artists. Music wasn't just a means to pass the time while driving or to make yourself seem less awkward while you were alone in public.
Music has an incredibly unique way of changing or amplifying any particular mood. Whether you're depressed, angry, or happy, there is an entire genre full of songs waiting at your disposal. You can choose to listen to a fitting genre and have that amplify whatever mood you're in or you can choose a different one to change your mood entirely. You don't even need lyrics. Just a certain melody can be profoundly impactful. Nothing will get you out of whatever blues you're in and hyped up for a night out than a good pump up playlist.
Not only does music have unique beats and rhythms that affect your mood, it also has some incredibly profound and meaningful lyrics. Occasionally you'll get a song like "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke that just displays everything that you think is wrong in the world, but there are also songs like "Shake it Out" by Florence & the Machine. With lyrics like "it's always darkest before the dawn," and "it's hard to dance with a devil on your back, so shake it off," it's hard to argue that music isn't powerful and impactful.
Music also can be incredibly nostalgic. Hearing a certain song can take you right back to high school and conjure up certain memories that you had with certain people. To this day I cannot listen to "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (RAC mix is preferable, though) or "Doses and Mimosas" by Cherub without being immediately put into a better mood. I associate those songs with late nights with my high school best friend and so I immediately associate them with good memories, good feelings and good vibes.
Music stands the test of time. Even as a millennial, I acknowledge that some of the best songs and artists are oldies from the seventies and eighties. My parents and siblings jam out to "Hooked on a Feeling" by Blue Swede every family trip and we know every single word.
Music brings people together. Nothing can create a bond better than singing an obscure song lyric and having someone you barely know finish the lyric with you. It's an immediate bond of friendship because you already have "your song."
While I know next to nothing about music (I am tone deaf and my greatest musical accomplishment is playing "Hot Cross Buns" on the recorder) music is still a pretty big part of my life. I love music and nothing can make me happier than finding a cool obscure artist that even my most hipster friends haven't heard. Music makes me happy and you don't have to be very knowledgeable about it in order to appreciate its significance.
