This idea has been on my mind for quite sometime now and I think I have the answer but I won't reveal it until the end. Based of some ideas from this class, there are a few factors that I can think of that would make music more powerful.
First off one of the more talked about topics on the blog, originality, seems to have a pretty big influence on the power music has to some people. For instance dubstep appeared to hit its peak when there were very few artists that were mastering the new genre. They created something different that all of the sudden took a large audience in at a rapid pace. The reason why some individuals begin to bash the genre now is because most of the music sounds very similar, and thats most likely due to the fact there is not many other different ways to recreate the sound that was made in the beginning. Originality is kind of hit or miss though as some indie artists are never really recognized and their music does not have a huge impact on those who are more into the mainstream.
Speaking of mainstream, another factor that seems to carry a great deal of weight in the music industry is the artist that lies behind the music. Knowing that you are listening to one of the most popular music artists and that maybe you have grown up listening to them most of your life would definitely give that artist a boost in musical pathos and ethos. Individuals who get emotionally attached to singers or other musicians are most likely going to have those same feelings towards their music.
So while these two factors are rather important to music power, the one that I have put at the top of my list is nostalgia. It kind of goes along with the idea that emotion is a very powerful aspect in music. Essentially what I personally believe is that music that can bring an individual back to a certain happy place or time is the most powerful. Music that can conjure up pleasant memories as well as good times in the present resonate the most with me. Maybe I'm just an old man at heart, but that is my take on the power of music. Obviously there are other influences that determine the power of music, but I for sure cannot cover them all here. What do you think is the most important factor? Is it the rhetoric associated with the artist? Our opinions probably differ since everyone has unique tastes in music.
I think one of the reasons music is so powerful to me is that it has the power to change my mood. Along with music comes memories. When I think of a song that has a good memory attached to it, it instantly puts me in a good mood. For example when I hear the song "Danza Kuduro" I think of my senior spring break trip when I was in Mexico with all of my friends. I think another factor that plays a part in making music powerful is the artist and their background. Most of the time artists are writing a song for a purpose. Taylor swift writes a song every time a guy breaks up with her. People enjoy her songs because they can relate to them. I agree how popular the artist is plays a role in this as well.
ReplyDeleteI never really thought about the whole mood aspect, but that definitely explains the effect of memories associated with music. To expand on that idea, if there are songs out there that are associated with a sad memory then they must also put one into a somber mood. For example in the movie Silver Linings Playbook, Bradley Cooper's character is thrown into a fit of rage when he hears the song that reminds him of his ex-wife. Surely the memories associated with that song elicit a response that is similar to the emotion of those memories.
DeleteI agree that there are some huge influences in music, however I think that they change depending on the song, at least for me. Some songs cause nostalgia and bring back memories. The song "Home" by Philip Philips reminds me of my grade school. While it wasn't the song my class sang at our graduation it was the song my sisters class sang three years after me and it reminds me every time I hear it of my grade school and all the happy memories I have there. Sometimes I am influenced by the words of a song. I am not a huge fan of rap but the story that is told in "Dance with the Devil' is amazing. Some songs tell a story or give some other message. Then there are songs that I listen to because I like their rhythm and beat.
ReplyDeleteMusic in the form of language that come before any form of written language and it large of many different cultures. Music is the only universal language. Music can express your emotions.The quality of music can affect people emotionally and physically.
ReplyDeleteMusic in the form of language that come before any form of written language and it large of many different cultures. Music is the only universal language. Music can express your emotions.The quality of music can affect people emotionally and physically.
ReplyDelete