The Power of Music

Lindsay Johnson | Feb. 24, 2024 | features

When Alec Kenney was 12 years old, he was set to perform an AC/DC song with his younger brother Andrew in a recital at the Jacksonville School of Music. This was their first time performing together and they rehearsed continuously to perfect it. Onstage, Alec and Andrew were racked with nerves, but once they started playing, they became more comfortable. According to Alec, they put on a terrific show and felt accomplished as they heard the roar of the crowd.

Currently a junior at Stanton College Preparatory School, Kenney grew up surrounded by music, so learning an instrument felt natural to him. Eventually, he continued down the path of playing music and now creates his own songs, mostly in the folk and metal genres. For Kenney, music is therapeutic and allows him to express his emotions without words.

“My parents are both into music, they play music all the time. They played music for me even before I was born,” said Kenney. “I think it is just something that has always stuck with me, so I decided to learn how to play instruments.”

Kenney’s love for music is not uncommon as music is a factor in everyone’s life, whether it be a specifically curated playlist or the song coming from the speakers at the shopping mall. Far more than just a catchy tune, music can convey messages that reflect different cultures and unite people. This storytelling effect is seen on a small and large scale, affecting individuals and large groups of people . To many students at Stanton, the significance of music can be felt whenever they listen to songs in their daily lives.

Whether it is used for studying, relaxing, or exercising, music is integral in the daily routines of Stanton’s students. The type of music listened to differs from person to person, but various songs can provide motivation during myriad activities. Music is a form of entertainment for many, so listening to playlists while doing everyday tasks can lift their spirits and fuel their productivity. Senior Nandini Yalavarthi chooses her study music based on what she currently enjoys.

“I do not have special music for studying or coming to school, just whatever song or album I am in love with at the moment,” said Yalavarthi. “Usually, I listen to the same song on repeat because it helps me focus more.”

These songs are picked based on a variety of factors, because different people look for different qualities in the music they listen to.One of these factors is their culture, including the religious and social norms of different countries. This cultural influence can affect an individual’s opinions on specific songs and genres, shaping what they listen to. Born in Pakistan, senior Umaiza Toor attributes her taste in music to her Pakistani culture.

“[In] Pakistan, they really put emphasis on wedding songs, love songs and sometimes religious songs,” said Toor. “They do not like rapping, hip-hop or R&B, so they sort of force me to only listen to those type[s] of songs.”

As religion represents one facet of a person’s culture, it can also have a major influence on the type of music they listen to. In many religions, songs that celebrate its ideals and promote core beliefs play a central role. As a Christian, freshman Samuel Joseph listens to Christian-themed music to further connect with his faith.

“Most of the stuff I listen to is worship music, because the most important thing to me is interacting with God and experiencing His presence,” said Joseph. “If I am doing my homework for example, and feeling super discouraged, just turning it on and knowing He is there for me even in the roughest moment of my life is super encouraging.”

Culture, including religion, is one of many elements influencing people’s music choices, thereby establishing connections.  As songwriters often write about common experiences and feelings, the result is that their songs become more relatable. Eventually, listeners feel represented by these songs and form a close connection with them. When making a playlist, they use relatable songs to help build a personal narrative and choose songs that highlight their feelings. Sophomore Xavier Brunner’s main playlist includes a variety of songs reflecting his choice of friends.

“My playlist is 20 hours of different genres,” said Brunner. “I hang out with a bunch of different cliques and different people, so [the playlist] represents who I hang out with.”

The diversity of Brunner’s playlist is similar to the diversity of music genres and the variety of themes and feelings which may also resonate with listeners. However, the association of specific emotions with genres can create stereotypes. When people think of a specific genre, there are usually preconceived notions they associate with its listeners. There may be an image that comes to mind when one thinks of a fan of pop, rock, R&B or rap music. This is because over time, people have seen a pattern of similar individuals listening to certain genres.

While these stereotypes may fit for some, not all people are defined by their music taste. People can listen to a variety of music, and do not necessarily fit society’s stereotypes, according to junior David Nyampong.

“You can listen to [something] but be the complete opposite of that [stereotype],” said Nyampong. “[For example,] you can be shy and timid [but] like heavy metal, or you can like soft music [and] be really burly and strong.”

Every music genre has the potential to be used as a form of self-expression, and some Stanton students create music to do this. Kenney uses various instruments, a music software called Reaper and a sound pad to create songs. He uses this equipment to build the track, starting with a guitar melody and adding on from there. This technology is a vehicle for him to express his feelings through music.

“I usually start [a song] by just playing around on the guitar, [until I] find something that I think is cool,” said Kenney. “Then I can expand on it from there, think about how [it] might logically progress in the song, and I will record that. [Then] I will see how I can fit any other instruments [in.]”

Technology is not only involved in making music, but also in listening to it. Over the years, the platforms used for listening to songs have changed. Currently, music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and YouTube Music are the most popular way to listen. However, there has recently been a resurgence in older forms of listening to music, such as vinyl records and CDs. Sophomore Lanie Galer listens to vinyl records to support her favorite musical artists.

“I get to give money to these people that I love,” said Galer. “They are getting [more] money from me listening to their music [on vinyl] than they are from me listening to Spotify.”

No matter what platform is used to listen to music, songs can have the same effects on listeners and bring back certain memories for people thus connecting the person with the music. If one listens to a song at a difficult time or during an amazing moment, the song may become attached to the memory. Also, music can induce sentimental feelings, because memories are closely tied to nostalgia. If someone hears a song they listened to when they were younger, it may remind them of that time. When junior Emily Vo hears specific songs, she recalls memories of her spending time with her family.

“When I was younger, my parents would always play [certain] types of music in the car, so [when I hear those songs,] it brings me back to family road trips,” said Vo.

This nostalgic feeling often relates to family, because of the amount of time a person spends with their family when they are young. Therefore, the music they listen to can be heavily influenced by their relatives. Because of this, they may grow up listening to their family’s music choices and continue to listen to similar songs as they get older.  This can create a connection in the family through music they have enjoyed over the years together. Joseph has become newly interested in his father’s favorite songs after initially disliking his dad’s music taste.

“My dad is a jazz [fan], and I [never] thought in a million years I [would] want to get into jazz [music], but recently I have started listening to it,” said Joseph.

People’s choices of songs are not only influenced by family, but by other people they spend time with, including friends . Friendships can affect people’s music taste, as they may listen to music together or exchange songs. Sophomore Aujenae Batts’ music choices are influenced by her friends, and their choices are similarly influenced by hers.

“I might steal a song or two from [my friends], they might steal mine, or we might share music we [all] like,” said Batts.

Because some friends share music, they can have a similar taste overall. Music can even be the driving factor in some friendships, and the main topic of discussion between friends. In general, when looking for companions, people often search for others who are similar to them. Because music is such a significant factor in human lives, similarities in taste can be a strong foundation for these relationships.

While music has effects on individuals, in a broader sense, songs can be used to bring awareness to political issues because of their ability to convey messages. Marvin Gaye’s song “What’s Going On” calls for peace during the Vietnam War.

Released in 1971, the moving song became popular and was number two on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for 15 consecutive weeks from February to May of that year. Its popularity allowed its message to be dispersed, bringing awareness to the suffering of soldiers fighting in Vietnam. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine put the track on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, a sign that its impact extended beyond the conflicts of the 70s and resonated with listeners decades later because of its emotional songwriting.

More recently, Donald Glover, also known by the stage name Childish Gambino, released “This is America” in 2018 which addressed current political topics. The song, along with its corresponding music video, highlighted gun violence and the experience of Black people in America.

Glover left the meaning up to the audience’s interpretation, leading to mixed reactions from the public. Some saw the song and video as anti-American, while others found them to be powerful because of the relevant topic at the time. Despite the reactions, Glover’s song managed to bring these issues into the conversations of people all over America.

As more people become aware of an issue, they become more likely to act on their opposition to it. There continue to be protests on the same issues addressed in “What’s Going On” and “This is America,” showcasing how music can serve as motivation to speak out about political matters.

Music is a daily presence in everyone’s lives, so most people have a bond with music and can use it as a form of self-expression. Each person has a unique music taste because one’s culture can affect them. At the same time, music may also have a broader impact, bringing attention to political matters and potentially causing change on a wider scale. The influence of music on society shows a song’s capacity to have a deeper meaning, highlighting the various parts of us as humans.