What Does Music Mean To You?
Music means so much to so many, and so it’s rather a large question we’ve taken on asking today.
“What does music mean to you?”.
I personally believe that music is one of the deepest forms of connection there is. When you can’t find the words, there’s music. When you can find the words, there’s music, and when you want to sing the words, there’s music. We watch babies clap, babble and dance to music before they learn much else, and I believe everyone has an experience, if not multiple, where music was the only thing they needed in a certain moment.
Music connects us, music makes us similar, and music and our musical tastes also make us different. It’s so hugely personal yet universal so how do you answer “What does music mean to you?”.
Here’s a few people who took on that task!
First up is Spotify Star and music enthusiast: @Soundofus
“As far back as I can remember, Music has always been a major part of my life. It plays so many important roles for me such as bringing back emotional memories, and highlighting mixed feelings such as joy, sadness and pleasure. Music really magnifies 'visceral sensations' in me, taking control of my body and making me feel like part of something primal, reacting to sound.
spotify:track:67ncFJWaIbJdqZl1bpEppz:small
Being… not that young, I have a long musical background made from so many different kinds of music. From singing as a choir boy when I was a little kid, participating in the explosion of a new generation (led by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones) as a teenager, to now dedicating my time to discovering new artists.
spotify:track:4oZJxqPmengwSG7gJmX7sm:small
All these steps in my life still deeply live within me, through the emotions and memories that come back here and there when I’m listening to different songs. They can be happy or sad memories, maybe the souvenir of a particular person I met and loved at one time, linked to a specific song -- Music is the best way to not forget anything from our past. For me there is no nostalgia, no regret, and surely no rejection of what could happen at any particular moment. The pleasure of listening to old songs is always present, and I could name several hundreds of songs and the events related to them.
spotify:track:42cxPm9jgbaxIVN77XA1m6:small
Music keeps me open minded, being a bridge between different generations. Nothing evokes more emotions than seeing my sons listening, appreciating and discussing tracks from my youth or them making me discover and like Music of ‘their time’.
spotify:track:48JrHJdke53Te8dQ9aWzvV:small
I should also talk about the 'visceral sensations' I mentioned, that I feel so strongly during live concerts too. These sensations are magnified when we are part of a crowd, reacting to a show by dancing, yelling or singing in unison -- Best goosebumps I ever got.
spotify:track:6P8EQDBxrHmBWJgnN9lL8g:small
I could talk for hours about people around the world that Music has helped me to meet, connected me to virtually or in person. That's why I will conclude with these simple words : "For me, Music is also Sharing."
Next up we have our very own @OurPodfather from the Community Team!
“Music is everything to me. As a 38-year-old Scottish guy, I've had the chance to experience music in all kinds of ways. From promoting and DJing at nightclubs, to jamming out at concerts, and just chillin' at home listening to my favorite tunes, music has always been a huge source of inspiration, happiness, and emotional release for me.
spotify:track:40dMjzTKuy7W45XHwkiPgT:small
Growing up in Glasgow, Scotland exposed me to a ton of different types of music. I've always had a love for all kinds of music, but it only grew when I started working as a nightclub promoter and DJ in Glasgow. I had the opportunity to work with some amazing talent in the industry and learned a lot about how to create a killer atmosphere through music. I still have some pretty sweet memories from those nights working in the clubs, and the energy created by the music was always next level.
spotify:track:7lcwU9tLyZ42DOfUpVmNRA:small
One of my favorite things about music is how it can bring back memories. Sometimes a certain song will transport me back to a specific moment in my life, and all the feelings from that moment come flooding back. It's like a time machine that can take me back to the past and relive those memories. For example, just hearing a Deadmau5 track reminds me of all the good times I had at the Arches, a venue just a few miles from my home. I spent hours dancing and drinking cheap beer, and the memories always make me smile.
spotify:track:5YaqbhEmoxSpIbdBTPG6KQ:small
But to me, music is more than just a collection of sounds. It's a powerful thing that can bring people together, create memories, and evoke emotions. It's a universal language that can speak to the soul, regardless of where you're from or what your background is. I'm always blown away by how music can break down boundaries and bring people from different cultures and backgrounds together.
spotify:track:2ndWbjiiNBEOrlfToKlABE:small
All in all, music is everything to me. It's been a constant companion throughout my life, and I can't imagine a world without it. It's a source of joy, inspiration, and emotional release, and I'm forever grateful for the role it's played in my life.”
And finally, we have the wonderful @AlejaR from the Moderation Team!
Music is one of my earliest memories. When my mom was pregnant, she deeply believed that the music she was listening to would affect my understanding of the world I was about to experience. Either her theory was right or wrong, I think this is the perfect example of how humans find music as a whole way to communicate emotions. I do remember how my father used to listen to Hotel California on hot Sunday afternoons, and how calm he was when he was listening to it. I also remember how my grandma used to hum when she was sewing, and in her own words, it really helped her to focus and do her job better. Certainly, I can recall how my brother played the guitar to wake me up and start our Saturdays, because that way he could start his day with a lot of energy. I have hundreds of examples of how people around me connect to music.
spotify:track:40riOy7x9W7GXjyGp4pjAv:small
I chose to pursue the path of languages in my life, but I never left music aside. I fell in love with the piano in my teenage years and nothing makes me feel so peaceful as playing or hearing the piano. When I’m frustrated, sad or angry, the piano is the instrument which helps me (and reminds me) that everything passes. I did try playing the guitar, my brother attempted to teach me, and I even explored a bunch of typical instruments from my country (like the bandola), but piano was always my favorite. I did enjoy my time playing the Tambora, that was a very exciting experience. Either if you play an instrument or not, music has the capacity to let you experience your emotions at a deeper level.
spotify:track:3weNRklVDqb4Rr5MhKBR3D:small
I’m amazed at how nowadays we have all the music in the world available to explore and listen to it in a loop. I did inherit my brother’s and father’s tastes in rock music, so I’m kind of a rockhead at heart, but I also enjoy some more traditional music from my country, Colombia. In any case, I do appreciate all the layers and different genres I was exposed to, because now I can feel with salsa, and vallenato, but also with jazz and heavy metal.
spotify:track:5Uve0jm1RgxKWzdSvncBDO:small
spotify:track:5CQ30WqJwcep0pYcV4AMNc:small
Similarly to my grandma, I find music a point of focus. It helps me to work, study, write, reflect on myself and do my daily routines. And to me, with no doubt, and above all things, music is a language. It helps us to find a way to understand our feelings and to explain them to others. Sometimes words are not enough to express the set of emotions we could feel at once. You can feel “happy-cozy-calm” and even if in general terms one is happy, it’s not enough to really explain if you’re experiencing something above happiness and there’s no such a word as “happozy”. Even if some languages make an effort to create the words to describe feelings you don’t even know exist, nothing is as universal as music. So, how do I dare to explain what music means to me when it’s so universal? Maybe I can try: music is everything.
spotify:track:753KutoAy00apPsplMRetG:small
So with that, we ask the question and invite you to comment below, what does music mean to you?
