Whether you listen to music all day every day, every once in a while, or rarely, we can all agree that music has a big impact on our society. There are several arguments stating that music is harmful to humans. “Certain songs, certain lyrics, certain genres of music are more likely to intensify depression or anxiety, sometimes as much or more as outside stressors and environmental factors,” according to Embark Behavioral Health.
Although this can be true, people choose what music they listen to which means that if they don’t want to intensify their struggles or suffer from rumination, they can simply listen to happier and different music.
Although some music can be detrimental to human mental health, that same music can be beneficial. Music can be an emotional escape for people and can help get them mentally out of stressful situations. “When I listen to my favorite artist, I feel like I am a part of the song as if I am right there,” sophomore Jacob Footer said.
Not only does music help people escape the reality around them, but it also helps people express their emotions in ways they struggle to do with other forms of expression. People are worried about expressing their emotions because they think it can make them look attention-seeking and make them feel vulnerable, but music solves this problem. “I can express my emotions and actions in the songs I listen to,” Footer said.
As much as music benefits individuals, it also benefits communities and cultures. Music is often the root of a culture and is necessary to create distinctions between communities. “Music makes up culture and is very important to making differences between heritages,” Footer said.
Everyone has a favorite artist or song, whether they listen to music frequently or rarely. There are different reasons that someone’s favorite artist or song is their favorite. “My favorite artist is Drake because of his versatility and nostalgia,” Footer said.
There are all types of music, ranging from sad to happy, calm to intense, and anything you can think of. Variety is what makes music so special, everyone can find something they like. “There’s a lot of diversity and genres that allow anyone to find music they enjoy,” sophomore Zorawar Sodhi said.
A world without music is hard to imagine. Music has such an impact on our day-to-day lives, nothing else has taken over our world like music has. “I feel like a world without music would be more boring, more like down, because I feel like music has taken over our world in a good way,” Sodhi said.
As much as music can help people mentally, it can help people socially just as much if not more. Music can take day-to-day conversation from good to great, and help people find mutual interests. “It helps create a conversation around me, it helps me with my peers as we listen to the same people, the same artist,” Sodhi said.
Certain types of music have different impacts on those who listen to it. There is music that makes you feel energized, music that makes you feel sleepy, and music that can make you feel any type of way. “When I listen to my favorite artists or songs, I feel hype, I start singing along, it’s a great time,” Sodhi said.
Now that you know the impact music has on these two people, can you identify the impact it has on you?
