This quote by Greek philosopher Plato is one of my favorite expressions of musical appreciation. For every mood you are in, you probably have a song or type of song that you like to hear. Some times you feel down and do not want to listen to music at all. You might not have given it a second thought, but why and how do we associate feelings with music? I am seeking to find out.
Relax your mind and think of your favorite party tune, the one that you just have to move to. It lifts your spirits so high that you feel the need to dance, but your reaction to a sad love song is probably less festive. Music certainly has an inexplicable power to boost our emotions. Movies and television shows use this principle to increase the viewers' interactive interest by creating sound effects. Have you ever seen a movie that did not have fast, shrill music playing when there is tension, or upbeat scores when there is a victory? The background music helps you to identify with the characters; it is a connector.
Whether you like country rock or neo-soul, your musical preference is connected with your soul and character. A wildly animated person is likely to often listen to hip hop or pop, and a reserved person is probably inclined towards jazz and R&B. When a songwriter is writing lyrics, he or she focuses on how to express the right emotions so that the listener may understand and empathize. An interesting fact here is that although people may not like certain music genres, no one hates music as a whole. I am still searching for the answer to the "why" but I see that the reason for music points to divinity. Only God can do and say things that the human mind cannot understand. In my next post, I will address the biblical aspect of music.
