When Music Encompasses Emotion

    Perhaps I am among the last few who feel this way, but I (at least, for the most part) listen to music to feel or learn something. Sure, music can  be viewed as a relaxing and passive action, but I find it unfortunate that so many individuals opt to overlook how deep music can be, and simply view it as entertainment. For example, lately I have been listening to Jon Foreman's Season EP's as well as some music by Relient K. While several of the songs performed by these groups are fun and upbeat, the occasional tune carries a much deeper meaning.  When I'm actuality able to connect with the lyrics and rhythm of the music, it becomes something much more surreal and significant. This is when music truly encompasses something more, something meaningful.

    An example of this kind of meaningful music is brilliantly displayed in Jon Foreman’s song The Cure for Pain found in his Fall EP. This song never fails to move me, resonate with me, give me chills all over. The hauntingly honest chorus unfailingly pulls me in to make me analyze how I can relate. The brutally honest depiction of how much we waste our lives along with the realization of how much it can hurt when we do so truly resonates with me. Although several people never even attempt to learn from, meditate on, or analyze something from their music, it truly adds a sense of perspective and appreciation. The Cure for Pain has reminded me of the times that I just want to scream out “Enough!” and lay on the floor feeling sorry for myself.

    Foreman’s song never fails to reset my focus and show me how much of our time is wasted with meaningless activities which demand so much of ourselves, yet hardly repay us with any sort of knowledge or enlightenment. We waste so much of our time and put so much effort and energy into things that ultimately leave us worse off than we started. Things like meaningless relationships, social networking websites, video games, and so much more. I’m not saying that I never get sucked into Facebook or video games, but they absorb so much of our time while giving back very little. Yes, Facebook has its uses, video games are fun for a time, and anything else that is seen as "time consuming" can have its uses. However, addiction can easily follow, especially when accompanied by stress, fatigue, or anger. I often find myself saying “Well, I’ve been working all day and my parents are really bugging me. I’ll just play a quick game for a minute or two.” As humans, we often seek distractions or addicting activities to move us away from our worries, but the effects of these actions can be painful and cumbersome. “The Cure for Pain” serves as a good reminder of just how pointless and temporary several of our everyday activities are, and it makes you think about who or what is really causing the bulk of the pain in your life.

    The song Deathbed by Relient K provides another excellent example of an artist telling a meaningful or emotionally significant story through their music. Deathbed recounts the saddening story of a dying man. It repeatedly tells of the man’s faults and failures, telling the sad story of his life. However, just before the end, the man remembers the night that he was reconciled. He recalls the words that he spoke to God, begging him for forgiveness of his many crimes. This moving song displays my views on what meaningful music is. It inspires you. It resonates with you on the deepest level. It makes you think long and hard, challenging your world view. No matter what you do, you can’t get it out of your head, and its message repeats throughout your day. It invades your thoughts and plays over and over again until you finally understand what the artist is saying, and you learn from their message. A meaningful song involves an artist honestly confessing his failures, emotions, experiences, or observations. And it can change your life.

    My final example of music containing a deep and meaningful message is Rite of Spring by Angels and Airwaves. In this particular tune, artist Tom DeLonge reminisces about his less-than-inspirational past, retelling stories of his failures, doubts and painful memories. He then states that if he had another chance at his life, that he wouldn’t dare change a thing. He states that despite his failures, flaws and experiences, good and bad alike, all played a part to make him who he is today. DeLonge may not have it all together, and “Rite of Spring” may not be the most appropriate song that he has written, but he deals with some incredibly deep topics with this song. His views on life, consequences, and more are all reflected in this simple four-minute song. His deep and honest story about his life is a perfect example of how music can be used to tell stories, teach people, and express emotion.

    Music seems to have this ability to communicate with people on the deepest level. It can bring back painful or joyous memories. It can remind you of an experience that taught you something pivotal. It can remind you of ideals that you once held dear, but lost while moving through life. It can change the way you view life by teaching you something new. People seem to have this unexplainable connection to each other through music. Somehow, music is able to explain complex, painful and inspirational topics in ways that almost anyone can understand. When music truly encompasses emotion, people are changed. Music is almost like a revolutionary new way to communicate, a method that shatters all barriers of race, language, habit, sex, and philosophy. Emotionally significant music is something that anyone can understand. It’s powerful, yet simple. It’s seemingly common, yet carries more value than great riches. It’s addicting, yet heartbreaking. It can change your entire outlook on life and force you to analyze yourself in a new light.

    It truly saddens me to see so many people completely missing this point. People who sway back and forth based off of what is popular today, but will be despised tomorrow. Do they even know how deeply so many musicians are invested in their work? Do they understand that music is more than a means of entertainment? Do they simply enjoy a good rhythm and chorus, but never look at anything more? If so, they are truly missing out on some amazing musical work. I still remember the first time I heard the song How He Loves by David Crowder. I hated it. For some reason, I just couldn’t enjoy or connect with the song in any way. Despite the amazing message contained within the song, I simply ignored it and moved on, viewing it as a waste of time. Then, one evening, after spending the entire day serving the community and spending time with good friends, the song broke through and changed me. Well, more like it broke me and then rearranged the pieces. All of a sudden I could see what Crowder was saying and how it applied to me. I was in tears before I knew it at the sheer appreciation for what God had done for me, and that his love is truly overpowering and indescribable. One line in particular has significantly affected me. “If grace is an ocean we’re all sinking” has changed my outlook on life and how much I owe to God’s grace. The fact that I don’t deserve a shred of grace and that I am, in fact, a broken being, yet that he gives me far more than enough just baffles me. This is music in its purest form. Music that changes you from the inside out (another inspirational song) and can transform an entire community.

    Music is so much more than a pastime. It provides a view of the world through the eyes of the artist. It teaches and informs you about mistakes, regret, love, joy, pain, ideas, intimacy, and so much more. It’s a revolutionary way to communicate with the masses, share ideas and beliefs, and discuss life and its many mysteries. Music isn’t simply a bunch of beats and rhythms blending together to sound good. When music encompasses emotion, it becomes something else entirely. It becomes something that can change the world.

Unfulfilled Expectations, at First...

     Sometimes you may find yourself in the midst of something that you didn’t expect or want. You enter into something while clinging to certain criteria and objectives. However, along the road, you discover that your goals have not been met, and all hope seems lost. You seem to think “well, that was a waste…” and you begin to move on, hoping to get it behind you as soon as possible. You think that there is no possibility of resurrecting the hope you joyfully began with. You say that it’s over, and that you just need to move on. But right when you think the end has arrived, God shows up and puts his plan into action. 

     It’s not something that you expected, or perhaps even wanted. You compare it to your goals, and it doesn’t seem to match up. So you simply disregard it as something unwanted. But this isn’t your plan, its God’s. No matter what you do, he’s going to get his way; it’s just the way life is. You twist and turn saying “No! This isn’t what I wanted, go back and start over. We both know that my idea was more reasonable and convenient. Either stop what you’re doing and give me what I want or leave me alone!” 

 

     Although he listens to your protests, God can hardly agree. As you continue to resist, you begin to see the outline of something much better. Something much more beautiful than you could have ever imagined when your journey began. You just start to realize that there is still something better up ahead, despite your earlier beliefs. You begin to see that, in fact, all along God had a plan to move you and those around you in a more incredible way than you had ever thought possible. 

     You continue to resist, insisting that you don’t want any part of it. Yet a new curiosity has crept in among the arrogance that has clouded your mind for so long. At that moment, your eyes are opened. The floodgates have burst, and all that you hoped for has been forgotten, replaced with a new, brighter knowledge of what is actually taking place all around you. You scream at the top of your lungs saying “What is wrong with me? Why didn’t I see this before?” Your heart breaks as you enter into a newfound awe and appreciation for what God had been doing. He had combined the doubt, the fatigue, the frustration, the stress, the worry, everything, and used it to enable you to peer into his plan for your life. His plan for you. 

     You realize that the same rules don’t apply as before, and you find yourself humbled and overwhelmed by your foolishness and stubborn attitude. God’s plan overshadows your broken dreams, and replaces them with his own. You bow your head in prayer. Apologizing for your insolence and for disregarding God, his power, and his sacrifice. You think that it’s over, and that your life will be forever changed. You view life in a new light, stating that you will never move back to your previous position. However, all along you are fully aware that you will fail. Not just once or twice, but for the remainder of your life on this world. You will continue to fall until the day that you are called up, made complete, and your sinful nature is forever destroyed, never to return. 

You remember the times in your past that you have walked away and forgotten God’s power. You are painfully reminded that, despite your strongest efforts, you will fail again. Sin has branded your mind, and holds a firm grasp on your very existence. Acknowledging this, your head drops and you stare at the ground, defeated. Losing all of the hope that you had just gained. You say “I’ll never fix it, I’ve been corrupted from birth, and I can never change.” 

      Defeated by your shame, you attempt to look up. But you have been overcome by self-pity and depression at the realization of your depravity. You attempt to move on, knowing full well that it’s all a lost cause. But as you stagger forward, a hauntingly familiar voice calls your name. You turn around; confused and afraid, believing this man will only further remind you of your failures. You look up; squinting as an indescribable and magnificent light radiates from the mysterious figure. At the will of the stranger, the blinding light retreats and you see him. Clear as day. Your savior. Standing there, holes in his hands and a scar on his side. You stand there in awe, not knowing whether to fall on your knees in reverence or look away ashamed. Then his eyes meet with yours and he whispers “You have been forgiven, come now and walk in my light.”

Good stuff coming... hopefully

I'm working on some new blog stuff over then next few weeks. Yeah, I know, no one ever uses these things, but at least it helps to get me thinking. Be happy, you've just been updated.