M"us"ic and Us

Within each persons life there is some form of expression that is honest, true, and which reflects the individual. Today, music is going to be the expressive art form that we will focus on.

The mass distribution of music in the last ten years has changed the way music is perceived. We now have the opportunity to diversify our taste in music, as well as our ability to appreciate new musical forms of art. Musics impact on today's youth is said best by an Oakland Hip-Hop group, Zion I. In their song Birds Eye View, the line "Music is Life" captures the attention of listeners, even before the first verse has begun. This sort of mindset is commonplace for modern youth.

In my personal life, music is synonymous with experience. When I listen through my absurdly large music library (it would take nearly a month to listen to) I find myself reflecting on past experiences with jovial recollection. Almost as if the song represents the conquests and triumphs my life has to share. The music in my life, is by far the most honest and expressive way to tell my biography. Preferences in genre have differed depending on women, positive or negative mindsets, athletic results, and most importantly, friends!

How is it that music has taken over the intimate memories of my life? It is possible that I am seeking added dramatic affect while telling the story of my life. But, I think it goes much deeper than that. I am fairly confident in saying, that my sole reason for this addiction to music is not centered around story telling (although my taste would bode for quite a story). It is based around personality. Music is an expression of self, regardless of if it is your own or another persons.

When I play songs for friends, I am expressing myself in an innocent and direct way. The song says what I feel. I am very comfortable playing certain music to say how I feel at the moment, and to communicate my feelings at present. As Zion I put it best, "Music is Life," and for me there is no question about that fact.