“Let me write the songs of a nation. I don’t care who writes its laws.”
Andrew Fletcher’s (the Scottish writer, not of Depeche Mode) bold statement is evidence that song is a powerful force of communication.
Looking at our culture, music is an accurate indicator of where people’s heads are at, even moreso than the stories selling at news stands. Sure, political beef, agendas, and the daily unfolding of life appease some and carry plenty historical value, but listen to a nation’s music and you’ll have a much more vivid picture of their traditions, values, and ideas, stripped of political correctness and assumptions.
Why is it that song has such big muscles when it comes to nailing down a culture? Because it’s one of culture’s few outlets for conveying how it really feels, thinks, and lives. People don’t filter music like they do the news; it’s pretty nonthreatening. And since there’s no filter, music really sinks into people.
If you look at the twentieth century, you’ll see that music themes the nation and carries it through changes. Take the ’60s and ’70s: throw a nation into a brutal war they don’t agree with and you birth “flower children,” nursed on the musical peace, love, and frustrations of Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead,The Supremes, and the Rolling Stones. Early in the ’90s, some of culture decided to escape the 80s snappy pop, cracking the deliberately dirty sound of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Soundgard in the damp streets of Seattle.
Think about the genres (categories) we have for music: hip hop, folk, electronica, country, top 40, indie, rock, alternative, grunge, punk…the list is forever long. Now, match them with listeners. Chances are you’ll get a spot-on idea of their mentalities, tastes, and what stirs their emotions.
Personally, my mood greatly dictates what I listen to. I often listen to something that sounds like how I want to feel, or something that accentuates my current mood. Most people wouldn’t initially take me for a punk girl, but my rebellious side likes to ride, man. And I let it out. Mostly in the car, driving much-too-fast. ;) Just kidding, officers.
Why did you choose the music you listen to? Does it match or contradict your personality?
