For the Love of Music

Throughout life there are lots of inconsistencies. Thankfully, music is not one of them. And music is what I'd like to talk about today, and most everyday, if I'm being perfectly honest.

Not only are there endless possibilities in music, a seemingly endless history within it, and millions of artists to explore, music is always there for you. When you're happy, you listen to music. When you're sad, you cry to music. When you're lost, or alone, you can find yourself in music. There is a song and a melody for every occasion and emotion. And unlike most things in life, these songs don't change or warp with time. Sure, trends change, and artists come and go, but those songs that you love, that you know by heart, will always be there. And that's an incredibly beautiful thing. Whenever you need music, it's there. Even if you have no way of playing it, you can hum or sing it yourself. It's the rhythm of our lives, and it can be found everywhere on this earth. Personally, it's a very important part of my life. Sometimes these songs, and the meaning they have to me, have been all I had to hold onto. I will always love music, and be thankful to it, and the artists behind it, for all that they've done for me.

I love music's ability to bring back memories. You hear a song from your childhood, or even just an old favorite from a few years ago, and you're brought right back. All the memories and associations it has to that time in your life flood your mind. You're standing again in your old best friend's house, you're back in high school, you're sitting in your car once more commuting to work. Whatever time of your life this song is from, you can feel it all again for a moment. It's an amazing experience. Music connects us to our pasts. It helps life become one continual flowing story, instead of many little chunks and phases. It helps us tap into all sides of ourselves. It can even help us to grow, or discover new aspects of who we are. Through it we can grow, heal, play, think, cry, search. I could keep going, but I'll stop myself from waxing on too much.

As much as I love putting on an old favorite, I also love finding a new one. That magical feeling when you hear a song for the first time and know instantly that it's going to be a new favorite. It pulls you outside of life for a moment and speaks to your soul. Whether it's a somber, dramatic, moving, song, or it's a song that makes you want to sing along and dance, it's a wonderful experience. It's one of my favorite parts of life, actually. And in music's consistency, it doesn't get stale. Music still grows, changes, and expands. There are always new songs, new sounds, new beats, and new artists, just waiting to be found. Why music is so great is because unlike so many other things, it doesn't tear down the old to make room for the new. It just expands. You just get more. And if you don't want more, that's fine. Just keep what you have and what you like, and live your life listening to all your favorite standbys. But for the rest of us, it's an unending source of excitement and curiosity. Discovering a new band that you love is so exciting! That connection that you feel to the songs, and artist. How understood you can feel. New sounds that you love, lyrics that move you, or make you happy. You can study up on the artist, get a feel for who they are. You can follow their career, wait in anticipation for their next album, hope they come on tour near enough to see live, so many things! And I love hearing the new trends and experiments that artists are coming up with. I love being surprised and intrigued by a new sound or method. Sometimes I hate it, but other times it's great. And that's why it's beautiful. I truly could talk about this for what feels like forever.


Music unites people.

I don't know how many wonderful conversations I've had with complete strangers because of music. And how many people are united by going to a concert? Having an entire room, concert hall, arena, of people who all gathered out of love and appreciation for the same music. Everyone cheering together, singing along, dancing. Celebrating music together. It's inspiring, and I love it. I think now, in these times, people need more things like music. More things to make us unite. More things to love, be excited about, and to be thankful for. More things to make us feel a connection to each other, and realize that we're all in this together. Think of those songs that you relate to so much they seem to be written about you. Now think of all the other people who heard that same song and felt the same way. The pain and confusion that you feel, has been felt by others. We all cry to the same songs. We all dance to the same songs. We're the same. And we're in this together. The world is quite the frightening place right now. The uncertainty and concern that you feel isn't yours alone. It's being felt by millions.

We aren't each other's enemies. We're all each other have.

~Carrie