Stories Through Songs

In a world of peace and love music would be the universal language.

-Henry David Thoreau

Music is a soul captivating medium that everyone no matter where they are from can understand equally. Generally music gives people feelings that they share at any given moment. Music brings peace and love to everyone in the world. Music is a universal language because the harmony, lyrics, and rhythm it brings to individuals. Regardless the genre of the music, everyone has their favorite type of genre or style. Artist speak through their songs of how they feel, what is going on in their lives or others around them, or even to tell a simple story. No matter where you go music is playing in the background. Like a simple event like a conference or convention, or even in the elevator or a hotel lobby, music is being played in the background to ease the setting. Lyrics may not be included, but some form of music is playing because it brings peace and warm, comfort feeling. Music brings meaning where any language you speak you can understand.

Through songs we find out things about ourselves. We say, “Oh yeah. I’ve felt that way.”

-Lois Walder

Music can say the things we really want to but don’t have the words. Songs convey emotions we don’t always have the words for. Sometimes how we feel we can not express with our lips but understand with our ears. Dr. Dre, the famous rapper, producer and entrepreneur, really assisted my generation in finding how we felt with music with his invention of the Beats. Although, he sold Beats to Apple, Beats are well-known headphones that are used by everyone of a wide age range. The headphones are helpful in finding out about ourselves privately, without having everyone know what you are listening to without being judged. You may listen to something different from everyone around you. You may even sometimes say aloud, “Oh yeah. I’ve felt that way.” when you hear a lyric that the artist said. Instead of having others around you say, “Oh, you’re in your feelings. Change the song.” especially when you play your music aloud. So to avoid that you may put on your Beats or AirPods. Even in some of Dr. Dre’s songs he told stories where many could relate. Songs aren’t always meant to be pleasing but to also be relate able to the listeners.

Jazz came to America 300 years ago in chains.

-Paul Whiteman

Jazz is the emotions and feelings of those who were enslaved as a means of hope or just emotional display. Slaves would sing songs while working to by pass the time, for “entertainment”, motivation and for inspiration. Songs were used as tools to remember and communicate since majority could not read. Many slaves were brought to the New Orleans area. Coincidentally, New Orleans is said to be the birth place of Jazz. Jazz is broken into two types: spiritual and work songs. Jazz came a long way to where, African Americans were able to own their record label called Black Swan Records. Black Swan Records specialized in jazz and blues recordings. Not only that but, became the first company to record black classical musicians. Jazz went from songs like “Wade in the water” to “Take the ‘A’ Train”.

Rajani, Snehal. “Happy World Music Day! Top 10 Music Quotes by World’s Celebrated Personalities.” India.com, India.com, 21 June 2014, http://www.india.com/buzz/happy-world-music-day-top-10-music-quotes-by-worlds-celebrated-personalities-80562/.

“Did Dr. Dre Sell ‘Beats’ to Apple?” Danithedreamgirl, 12 May 2014, danithedreamgirl.com/2014/05/12/did-dr-dre-sell-beats-to-apple/.

“Black Swan Records.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 July 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Swan_Records.

Janaro, Richard Paul., and Thelma C. Altshuler. The Art of Being Human: Humanities for the 21st Century. Longman, 2000.