Music plays a huge role in society as a whole, whether you’re jamming in the car with your friends or you’re in your grandma’s house cleaning with the radio on. The way we interpret music can vary. You may not see a song the same way as your neighbor, but every song tells a different story. Music can be a fuel to teenagers and an art to many. Music gives young artists a voice they may not have had; it gives confidence. No matter how many years pass, what station is playing or what speaker is on, music will always have an impact–it’s just a matter of why and how.
“The music I listen to is pretty dependent on my mood or how I’m feeling,” said junior Spencer Serra. “It’s a pretty good reflection on who I am.”
Music shows emotion, the lyrics, the tone, every beat of the drum that’s being hit. It can be so much more than just lyrics. Typically when we listen to our favorite songs, we don’t look in depth into what’s playing in our ears. The song almost just melts into you, the lyrics the same as you remembered the last time you put your headphones in. This is because we are emotionally attached to the songs we play. It’s like a routine to our day to day life.
“I love how everyone can just hang out and listen to an artist and just vibe,” said senior Ethan Click. “Like Drake- everyone loves Drake.”
It’s a way to bring people together and a way to share common interests. Having a connective playlist, SharePlay in the car, there are so many ways to connect through music. Certain artists are just a vibe for all.
“It unites people, it’s a bunch of different cultures and people,” said sophomore Kenzie Clemmons. “The different songs can bring people together as one.”
The Beatles have been around for over 65 years and have been loved through generations- often a way families connect. The same songs you may have on your playlist are the same ones your grandparents probably listened to on their radio back in the day. Everything always comes back; even if it dies out for a bit first, it eventually will circle back around.
“Metal and punk rock is what I listened to when I was young, and it carried over into my adulthood,” said English teacher Mr. Gorritz. “I think these songs have made me skeptical and curious, and that’s how it’s shaped me in some ways.”
Whether it’s been something you’ve listened to since you were a young child, or you just were introduced to it, we all can agree music shapes us and influences many. You may believe music is just a beat with lyrics added to it, but the next time you go to switch on your favorite playlist, listen to the lyrics extra hard, feel the beat and take a moment to understand the story it’s trying to tell you. The main connection you have with a person could be a shared interest in an artist.
“Music helps me realize that there are other people going through similar things, music is their expression,” said Clemmons. “A persons music taste can symbolize someone’s whole personality.”
