Music to my Ears

     I love music. I have over 1200 songs saved to my Spotify (@nicolefong13 if you want to check it out ;)), and I can always be found with my headphones in my ears. I used to find myself singing along to songs on the radio without realizing what the lyrics are truly saying; however, I have learned to pay close attention to the message the artists are attempting to convey. I put great effort into seeking new, meaningful music and find joy in finding undiscovered artists.

     Not only is it a good way to focus on homework and pass the time, music also helps me to express my inexpressible emotions. I often find myself at a lost for words, trying and failing to find words to explain the internal feelings I do not understand myself. I long for emotional connections with others, yet end up changing the words that come out of my mouth and mask how I truly feel inside. The words in my head become like alphabet soup and when vulnerability is standing right in front of me. Where I would be emotionally trapped, music, specifically lyrics, is my escape. It is a way for me to connect with the song and especially the musician, as the artists can put my emotions into words better than I ever could. It makes me feel as if I am not alone, finding comfort in the small emotional connection with a stranger.

     Music is a strategy that movies, advertisements, and TV shows use to transform the mood of their film. A slow, calm melody as a backdrop for a family reunion. Suspenseful, exciting tunes to guide an action-packed scene along. Joyful, upbeat songs that convey the happy mood of a sixteenth birthday party. Somber music to narrate a funeral. Whatever mood the director needs to convey can be amplified with the appropriate song.

Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 14, 2018 at 7:49 PM

    Sometimes music is almost quite the opposite of a deep, emotional expression. The underlying messages that some music promotes are sometimes even unrecognizable. We hear lyrics that aren't sending the best messages and we don't even realize it. These messages and language in the songs most people listen have become so normal, we don't even realize they're bad. Everyone listens to this kind of music because it has become what's cool and popular. Eventually, our little brothers or our parents are listening to this same music, all just as oblivious. We also sing along to these lyrics, not even thinking about what they really mean.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Just Imagine It - MKTO

Image
“Somewhere off in outer space There's a world, no wars, no hate Where all the broken hearts are safe I don't know where it is I just imagine it”      These are the lyrics of MKTO’s song “Just Imagine It.” To give a synopsis, the musician describes an ideal world in which everyone utilizes their voice for good, attempting to change the world one action at a time.  This song says rather than focusing on what we cannot do, we should focus on our ability to change the world. Though the world will never be perfect, we can do what we can to strive for improvement and strive for a better tomorrow.      When you turn on the news, all you hear is horrific situations, depressing stories, and angering debates. There are very rare instances in which the news attempts to focus on the good things and the inspiring stories causing most people choose to focus on the bad rather than the good, the depressing rather than joyous, the heartbreaking rather than comforting and le
Read more

Making Cents out of Teens part 2

Image
The feedback loop (mentioned in my "#tbt to tbh and rates" article) in the media is, as the name implies, a very circular cycle. In terms of PBS's "Making Cents out of Teens," advertising companies analyze teens and show an exaggerated image of themselves back to then. These teens then match these exaggerated images and change themselves to be what they see on the screen. I used to watch a great deal of Nickelodeon and Disney Channel Shows. Victorious, iCarly, Good Luck Charlie, and Wizards of Waverly Place are among the few shows I indulged in as a preteen. In all of these shows, there is one constant: (almost) everyone is dumb and overdramatic. Though this makes for an interesting show worth watching, it creates very unrealistic scenarios that kids follow. For me, it worked both ways. I used to be very dramatic as a kid and it was partly because of the shows I used to watch. However, as I grew up and matured, I realized how unintelligent these characters wer
Read more

Miss Representation: women in power

Image
     I am not one to pity myself, yet in 2018, it is hard to be a woman. I am in no way shape or form attempting to diminish the struggles men go through; however as I grow up and mature, my eyes are opened to the drastically different trials women endure in their everyday life. There were many topics in "Miss Representation" that I was well aware of as well as many topics that I was not.       Though released in 2011, the ideas in this film are far from outdated. As stated in the movie, a woman's worth lies in their physical appearance. Completely disregarding her intelligence, the media oversexualizes women and projects the idea that their only job in life is to please a man. The expectation the media places on women is almost inescapable, as they create extremely unattainable standards women feel obligated to fulfill. Plastic surgery; including botox, breast implants, and rhinoplasties; have skyrocketed in recent years, amplifying insecurities and breeding more. I, p
Read more