Music is not just an art form in which artists display their vocals and piece together random words and rhythms made to attract your attention. That is not at all what music is about – excluding the generic music which is produced for the purpose of fame, money and awards only. Genuine music is a form of storytelling; a way to explain what’s going on in your life in about three minutes. Songwriters say what they have to say in those verses, like spokespeople do on podiums. Music isn’t just about love but it can actually venture into more complex relationships (friendships, family relationships), mental illnesses, fictional stories, coming off age and the most random things – like Taylor Swift’s “seven” which is about how she misses being young enough to not be coerced into following the concept of civility. For music doesn’t only encourage you to dance, but it can also be your safe place.
Hopefully now that you understand the legitimate meaning of music, allow me to explain how it can be an essential part of your life. Many people do not have close friends or family members or even classmates who understand and relate to their daily struggles. They don’t have anyone to talk to. Sometimes you just wanna be understood and books and movies are fiction after all so who can genuinely feel your struggle? Music. Now imagine having a bad day at school and returning home to your AirPods. You find your favorite coming of age song or the one song about losing a friend – personally my favorites are “Ribs” by Lorde and “I Lost A Friend” by FINNEAS – and listen to them on repeat. You rewind the one lyrics explaining how growing up is frightening and the other one that accurately describes the feelings endured after losing the closest person to you. That tiny bit of comfort that someone has undergone similar experiences, that you are not alone in life, that can mean the whole world to someone (and it does to me). For after all songs are written by people narrating their own actual life experiences. For example Lorde, renowned singer-songwriter-record producer from New Zealand, herself has spoken of how in hard times music has been her comfort. In her song “Liability” she explains how people believe she is “a little too much”, and in a live show she told fans how “higher” by Rihanna has helped her in those difficult times before she wrote that song. Everyone feels excluded by others in their life at times, but music won’t leave you out.
Lots of people suffer from mental illnesses or are frequently sad and lonely, especially in this ongoing pandemic. Sometimes seeing a professional doesn’t help, or isn’t an option. Maybe your loved ones can’t or won’t talk to you. What would you do when you need company and a relief system? Where would you place that energy building up inside you? Yes the answer is in fact music. Listen to relatable songs about feeling anxious and left out like “The Archer” by Taylor Swift or “This Is Me Trying” when you just want someone to understand your struggles (can you tell who my favorite artist is?). In the first song Swift wonders ‘who could stay’ after describing how she has been the prey and the predator (like we all have been). However in the second song Swift talks about day to day issues people encounter, how survival seems impossible for some and the fact that those people try is important and enough. Ok, maybe go for “You Don’t Even Know Me” by Faouzia when you feel excluded, oh and by the way dance to that song in the ugliest way instead of smashing something. Now back to the escapism…
Do you know this awful disease called COVID-19 that has changed our lives in many ways and forced us into isolation? Don’t you sometimes hope you can forget all about it? Escape into another reality or a fantasy and pretend you lived there? Try putting on those AirPods again and listening to artists who like to paint images like the Neighbourhood, or listen to Swift’s “folklore” which is a collection of tales written as wonderful songs. Close your eyes and live the stories that the protagonists of those tales have undergone. Pretend you’re happy with your friend while listening to Lorde’s “Team” and “A World Alone”. See, escapism is even more wonderful than going to a pretty park or whatever. It’s just that pretending you have the lives of those peculiar people whose stories are told to the rhythm of a new beat, is more effective. Trust me.
I hope you now understand that when someone first picked up a piece of wood – or whatever they made the first instrument with – they meant to write their thoughts down, all of the unnecessary assumptions and doubts causing negative emotions. It made them feel more comfortable and content. It helped them deal with their issues, which is one reason why we have online streaming services today; so we can listen to music that helps us cope. I hope one day you can exploit that music to benefit you so you’d find your own comfort.
