The whole balance of life is full of intricate complexities, of which music is a subset – Yo-Yoma
The language
Music can easily be described as a universal tool used to connect kindred spirits from all walks of life. Some people have eloquently said that music is a spiritual extension of the limitations of words. Others have simply noted that music is a gift. So when it is fully appreciated by an individual as such, it can be life-changing because it can influence the decisions someone makes. There is undeniable power in a beautifully arranged song with heart-wrenching lyrics the same way there is a huge energy boost found in a party anthem; like a dashed-up punch at a fraternity party. The right song can be confidence-inducing for some people who are usually introverted. Some songs may lack lyrical content but are still very inspiring. Although songs have historically been categorized into different genres, there are many special ones that have been tagged as cross-genre songs.
It’s the bass guitar frequencies in a jazz classic meeting the drums on the highway, with the piano and vocalist also present, feeding off each other in a way only they can. The instruments alone are enough to make us fall in love, but when they are played by technically skilled and emotionally connected musicians, it’s like a chef’s kiss. Time stands still to allow one to completely be immersed in the piece of music they are listening to.
The body
It’s the way you sway your hips, the way your heart resonates, the way you tap your feet and the nodding and bumping of your head instinctively without apology. It’s how the beat makes you nostalgic; how your hand brushes your thigh. It’s that kind of one-on-one communication. Intimate. The story of a song possesses the incredible ability to transport you to a place you yearn to travel to; a place where you look forward to being seen and understood without saying much, a place where you don’t have to hide any part of who you are. There, you are unvarnished, bruised, yet accepted, loved, never rejected.
Music is the language everyone understands. Talented, brave musicians allow us to read their diaries. Reading someone’s diary can turn out to somehow feel like you are going down a rabbit hole, one where you have no idea of what you might find or how the whole experience will make you feel in the end. Will it challenge you to look closer at your own issues? Will it make you happy or regret having what you started in the first place?
“We need stories. We need stories to understand who we are.” – Salman Rushdie
Every song tells a story, whether it’s a popular story or not is neither here nor there; once the story is out there, it is almost a guarantee that there will be someone who will have a palate for it.
