Music is used for entertainment in multiple ways.
Some may find music comforting, while others find music motivational. Some use music to enjoy car rides and dance, and some find music a way for them to get over a break up. The usage for an individual’s personal music differentiates depending on the occasion.
For many, including myself, music promotes personal growth.
The artist an audience listens to makes an impact on personal viewpoints and experiences of said audience.
After finding music that falls into my personal preference, I have developed new perspectives on life, which has broadened my knowledge on global issues and opened new ways to look at situations. In other words, music has allowed me to “step in other’s shoes.”
These artists have made an impact on my personal view and experience. They may not have impacted you, or remain unknown to you, but they still have created an imprint on myself. You may find that they relate to a similar situation in your own life.
In Love Yourz, rapper JCole wrote, “Always gon’ be a whip that’s better than the one you got, always gon’ be some clothes that’s fresher than the ones you rock, always gon’ be a ***** that’s badder out there on the tours, but you ain’t never gon’ be happy ‘till you love yours.”
Cole uses a comparison method to compare what you have and what others have. This results in overlooking the good things you have and only focus on what you don’t have, that others do. Cole puts in the message, “You ain’t never gon’ be happy ‘till you love yours.” Cole tries to leave the message that an individual will not pursue their happiness if they continually disregard and frown upon what they have.
The message I took away from “Love Yourz,” was based around self love. You cannot find happiness, when you constantly frown upon what you have right in front of you. Take time to appreciate everything and everyone around you, before you dwell on what others have that you consider to be better. This verse alone helped me develop self love and drove me to appreciate everything that surrounds my life.
In Wavy (Interlude), Alternative R&B artist, SZA states, “Just give as much as you take, forgive as much as you hate, or get the **** out.”
This single sentence has stood out to me throughout the duration of my musical exploration. SZA brings in the concept of balance. As you may receive a lot of love and care from others, you should be expected to give the same energy right back to them. This gives both sides of the relationship a role and balances the effort between two individuals.
In Pure Souls, produced by rapper, Kanye West wrote,“Personal worth is not what a person is worth. I can give a dollar to every person on Earth.”
In these single two sentences, West compares his net worth with his genuine personal worth. His personal worth is incomparable to how much money he holds, and it surpasses it immensely. By saying after, “I can give a dollar to every person on earth,” he develops the image that his personal worth is greater than the population of planet Earth, or 7.7 Billion.
These words have created a higher standard for myself. No matter how much physical things I gain, my personal worth holds greater value. It’s who you are as a person on the inside, not based on what you look like nor how much you own.
Just by these three songs, I have developed a stronger sense of self love, learned to implement balance into relationships and friendships and to know my personal worth.
Others have gained different messages from different artists.
“I look up to artists like Taylor Swift,” Senior Natalie Walsh said. “When she decided that what she was doing [such as] country music wasn’t working for her, she changed her brand. She’s unapologetically herself because she knows the fanbase will be there no matter what kind of music she makes.”
Artists like Swift influence their listeners to stand their ground and follow their gut instincts. This can motivate an individual in many different, but similar situations.
“Willow Smith has changed my perspective on how I view the world,” Sophomore Bella Bowman said. “I see it as art and that has inspired me to create more art and express myself.”
Individuals can be inspired by an artist to see a more artistic world. Music is considered a form of art. By looking into the meaning or the perspective you create around their creations, can help you develop and create more of an artistic eye.
Music can also revolve around forms of activism, delivering the message towards individuals who may be unaware of another perspective.
Senior Kinji Black discussed The Bigger Picture by Lil’ Baby, “This song tells us what’s happening [currently] with police and what [Martin Luther King Jr] did and the fight for our rights. It [tells us to] stand up for the right things.”
Not only has music influenced the way I process different situations throughout my life, but it helps me become aware of the possibilities. More than that, it has helped the world become a better place, lyric by lyric.
