Music

Music is something that is a major part of my life. I love music. I love to sing, and I love to listen to songs. Nothing unusual there, right? Well, I do have one thing about music that's a little unusual. I like to study songs. I don't just mean listening to a song repeatedly and remembering the words. I like to actually get ahold of the lyrics, and study them in context.

Why? To know exactly what I'm putting into my mind. I know, I know, it sounds cheesy, and kinda uptight. Well, that's me, I guess. At least when it comes to my music. I pretty much reject anything that is offensive to me when I read it. I read the lyrics because they don't have the music with them. That's part of the key. Music initiates an emotional response. So if someone were to take an offensive song, but put music to it that initiates a happy response, or a mellow, soothing response, well, that limits our ability to judge it as wrong. Take, for example, the song Animals by Nickleback. That song has an awesome beat to it. I used to love to listen to the drums, with the double-kick, and the overall epicness of the music to it. But the words to the song are so far from my moral standards. The entire song is about a couple who sneak out to have sex, and how it's ok because they're just being animals. Anyone who knows me knows that that is not what I stand for. But I liked the song because of the beat. I feel sick when I just read the words.

I'll be honest, my fascination with the words of songs are a big part of why I don't listen to screamo. I like music where I can understand the lyrics. Sure, I think it sounds cool, but for all I know, they could be screaming about anything. Drug addiction, murder, rape, bunnies, anything. Bunnies I would be okay with. Admit it, you'd love a screamo bunny song!

I encourage you to do the same. You don't have to go crazy on it and tear through your entire music collection, looking at all the words to every song, but be cautious of what you listen to. What you put into your minds is what you will think about. Simple fact. Just be considerate of what you listen to.

I'm also not saying that every song has to be poignant, and make some big social point. Those songs are good, but only if it suits the artist, and comes at the right time. Songs can be just for entertainment. And that's cool, as long as they don't offend your moral code. If it's singing about something that you would cringe hearing about in conversation, then it's probably not what you should be listening to.

Crusader