For many of us, music is our best friend. We listen to our favorite genre whenever we are in a great mood, when we need to calm down from an intense experience, or even when we need to rejuvenate our spirit. I know it is a cliché to say this, but music is also a universal language that creates unity and brings joy. When a popular song is played, it is as if animosity among people temporarily disappears and they groove along to the melody. There are people who view music as a vital part of their being. I am one of those people. I don’t speak much. Music becomes the medium for my self-expression.
To give a little personal background about myself, I had a speech delay earlier in my childhood and struggled with forming my ideas into complete, grammatically correct sentences. Even today, I am sometimes so insecure about expressing my thoughts that I tend not to speak as much during discussions. It is still a setback that I am fighting to overcome. I would also describe myself as hypersensitive; my heart can ache when I witness or read stories of sad situations, and I can sense when people talk about me behind my back. I can also have a short temper. However, I reveal it in my face rather than acting impulsively. I don’t care how pseudoscientific astrology may be, but it may have to do something about my Virgo rising, Scorpio sun, Aries moon, and Mercury in Scorpio retrograde. Those aspects influence the types of music I listen to whenever I am in my feelings.
Whenever I would feel really calm or melancholic due to past or present experiences, I would listen to songs with neo-soul, R&B, and gospel-like melody. I would listen to Erykah Badu’s “Orange Moon” and imagine a night sky with purplish aura transitioning to an orange-dark pinkish dawn. I would listen to Prince’s “Purple Rain” and imagine being in the middle of a heavy, purple haze, seeing purple raindrops falling down from the purple sky before turning sunny eventually. I can feel every chord and every sequence of notes. I can relate to the dissonance of chords because that’s how overwhelmed I can feel, sometimes. I would appreciate melodic passing notes because I long for a peaceful state of mind. When I pretend I have a man to be sensual with I would listen to D’Angelo’s “How Does it Feel,” and Beyoncé’s “Rocket.” When I feel angry at situations I wish I could put on any trap or rap song that has a hard beat. From Rihanna’s “Woo” to ASAP Ferg’s “Plain Jane,” I would then move to every beat with as much force and body control as possible. And when I would feel nostalgic toward an era I never existed in, I would play anything from Earth Wind and Fire to TLC.
Music plays such a significant role in my life and upbringing. It is a commonality between my older brother and me. He has relative pitch, plays 6 instruments, and is a musical director in his church, while I have perfect pitch and synesthesia. We understand how spiritual music can be. Despite how it is important to stay in the present and have a realistic perspective on the world you live in, it doesn’t hurt to drift off to your fantasy place now and then. Music definitely helps me get there when I just need a break from the world.
