By Raegan Densmore
Picture this, you are on a drive late at night, or another scenario; you are going for a run. The scenery and maybe your current experience overall is enjoyable. However, there is one thing that can make that moment better; and that is music.
Personally, I love music, and all different types of genres. I listen to music all the time, when I’m driving, doing schoolwork, anything that feels right to have background music, I will put music on. It is one of my favourite ways to pass the time.
There are many different vibes of music and situations where they can be listened to. When someone is sad and doesn’t care for happy music at the moment, they may listen to something slow and sad. If one is off on a run, typically, they wouldn’t listen to something slow, they would listen to something more up-beat to keep them pumped. When it comes to the time of year, there are genres of music that suit certain seasons better than others. Indie pop is more spring and summer type of music, while jazz may have more of a winter vibe.
Personally, I have a tendency to associate songs with particular moments or memories I’ve had. There are a couple songs that remind me of being in Europe, none of them are European related at all, however since I listened to them there, my mind has associated them with being in Europe.
Imagining different environments while listening to music is something I do as well. For example, the genre darkwave reminds me of dark lit subways and green and purple neon lights. A specific song example would be “Heaven or Las Vegas” by Cocteau Twins; when listening to this song, I think of a bright summer day, driving through the city, it is very colourful as well.
Not only can music be background noise while doing something, it can also be used as a tool in order to get started on a project. Imagining different scenarios or environments can help as a cure to writers or art block. This gives material for something to write about or to create. I decided on writing about this topic because I was listening to music. Music, an art form, can influence the creation of other art forms as well.
Some people enjoy certain genres of music more than others and it's amazing to think about. If everyone had the same taste in music, we wouldn’t have all the genres and subgenres we have today. Music also changes as the years go by. Rock music made today doesn’t sound like what it did 30 years ago, and pop music changes with the popular culture as well. Music influences society heavily. It creates differences in humans. Take punk individuals for example. “Punk” is a music and politically based subculture. Someone who is punk has certain beliefs they follow, a certain style in which they dress, and they listen to punk music. Punk artists would create songs as a way of protest.
Music is powerful in many ways. It can affect people’s emotions, can grow people’s imaginations, can help people focus on their work, or even get them started on something, it also affects people’s lifestyles. There are numerous ways in which music can influence societies and individuals themselves, and how people interpret and use the art of music. Listening to music is one of my favourite things to do. It has been truly such an amazing art form and continues to be as time moves forward.
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