But what fascinates me about music is its power: its ability to have profound effects upon me in various moments of my life. There are times when nothing can articulate a feeling like the perfect song, or when you’re so unhappy, familiar lyrics and melodies provide an uplifting comfort or a somber commiseration. It is odd to me that often the uneasy feeling in your gut can be completely placated by a song, but that a song can also easily instill the same feeling. What is the most interesting, to me, is how much a song can be attached to something: the present and the past.
We often turn to music and latch onto the meaning of the lyrics or its general feelings, applying them to our lives in the present. When you’re sad, you gravitate to slow songs that move you, that somehow seem to understand and grip with the pain you’re feeling. When you’re happy, you want the upbeat stuff, the songs that really get your blood pumping and body racing. And when you’re in love, you find those songs that put into words what you’re feeling in the very depth of your being. We use music as an expression of ourselves.
But then, after attaching a song to a particular moment or person, time moves on and circumstances often change. The songs don’t always stick, though. The songs you listened to in a certain low point may not instantly remind you of the moment. The love songs you once claimed expressed the feelings of one love might be thought of again for a new love. Yet, somehow, there are some songs that have attachments. For me, there are many songs that remind me of the past.
These associations are constantly being made in my life, and whether they’ll stick remains to be seen. But right now, I know that the soundtrack that’s being built for my sophomore year here at BU consists of Bon Iver, Ben Howard, The Lumineers and much more.
Music is comforting, even when it gets under your skin, helps you vent anger or helps you cry. It’s one of those universals about human beings. We can all be moved by beautiful words immersed in a background of beautiful notes.
Krissen Kawachi is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences and a weekly columnist for The Daily Free Press. She can be reached at k.kawachi@gmail.com.
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