Music:The Power of Music

Hi bloggers. It a good day is it? This is a new year and I know you all have long term goals and plans for this new year. 2025 here we come right? And what a better way to start the new year with music. We all are fans of different genres of music such as rock, pop, hip-pop, jazz, gospel, techno and other genres of music. Plus we all like different artist when it come  to their music. This year will be no different maybe for some people. We would support our favorite artist of different genres via social media and some of us are super fans of them. We follow them on social media, try to get the latest scope about them etc.But have you ever wonder how powerful music is? Have you ever stop to think just for a moment how the music that you listen to can affect you? Don't get me wrong, music is cool and all but it can affect you in either a positive or negative way. Today we'll be looking at the power of music, it's positive and negative effects, or in short pros and cons and how music can inspire others. Can you do something for me? Leave a comment how music helps you in your daily life and your favorite genre, song and artist. I love to hear from you people who are readers. Now let's dive into the power of music.

What is Music?

In our world today, society and culture changes as time progress. We go from the 80s, 90s to the 2000s and as time goes on, music changes as well. Do you agree? Different genres came on the scene gathering a greater audience and artist getting recognition and influence from the music that they produce. People download different genres from Apple Music, Spotify, Audiomack and other different apps. But what is Music? Is music just sound that people listen to? Nah. Music is something totally different. It's art expressed in melodious sound made from instruments produced in a studio. That's my opinion about it. Share your thoughts about music in the comments. Now according to Wikipedia, it defines music as, "Music is the arrangement of sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm, or otherwise expressive content." So therefore, music is putting sounds together to make it expressive. 

Genres of Music and it's Artists

In music, there are different arrangement of sounds which is called genres of music. If I were to do a survey and ask as much people I possibly can what is the most popular genre in the world right now, most would agree pop music. Even different countries have their own pop bands such as South Korea who break the scene to the world with k-pop. In April 11, 1992 to be exact, korean pop was originated in South Korea. Now K-pop has been popular with bands and artist such as BTS, PSY,  Blackpink and others. You can share other k-pop bands in the comments. Canada has their artists in pop such as  Justin Bieber, Drake, Shawn Mendes,  Celine Dion, Micheal Buble, The Weeknd and others. Other countries have their pop artists that are well recognized in the mainstream media. However, pop not the only genre, before Pop, there was Jazz, Funk, R&B, Country, Rock, Gospel, Reggae and others. These genres also cross each other paths like country-pop as an example. R&B was dominant in the States in the 90s with artists such as Patti Labelle, Whitney Houston, Ray Charles, Smokey Robinson, Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder and still dominant now such as Usher, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown and others. And we can't leave out the old fashion and strong gospel which inspire most genres of music with its artists such as Shirely Ceasaer,  Cece Winans, Donnie McClurklin, The Clark Sisters, Kirk Franklin and Yolanda Adams and other artists that are well known and recognized in Gospel music today.That's music for you with its many genres.

Positive Effects /Pros of Music

Through this blog, we have went through the definition of music, what music is in layman terms and a discussion about the genres of Music. Now we are at the positive affects of music. Are you ready for this? Let's go. Music plays a part of our daily lives. Whenever we are doing chores, study, relaxing, traveling or literally doing anything,  music has to be apart of it, for most people. However, music can affect you in ways you don't know. Here are three ways in which music can affect you in a positive way. By the way ,there are many ways on the internet too. This is just a three step summary, enjoy. 

1. Music can help your body physically and most of all mentally in a positive way. Music can help you physically by improving your health. According to hopkinsmedicine.org, it states, "Research has shown that listening to music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, and memory." With music, it can lower stress, improve your memory and mood. I use music when I'm doing my chores and sometimes study, although it works for some people when studying.
2. Music can unite us together as a people.  Have you ever go a concert and you see so many people singing along with the artist? Or you go at a sports game and before the game starts, the anthem of your country was song? That's the power of music. It unites us as a people and inspire us to represent yourself and your country wherever you go.
3. Music affects your emotions  in a positive way.  Do you believe that music draws out the best in people? I believe so. Music can affect our emotions. Whenever we listen to a sad song,we feel the sadness radiating from the song. It's the same when we listen to upbeat songs, it makes us happy. According to tmh.org, it states that, " Music and emotions are personal, cultural and associated with prior experiences. A song will not give everybody the same feeling. That is the beauty of the diversity in music and preference across diverse cultures and time periods." Music reminds us of personal experiences that we have and been through. 

Negative effects/Cons of Music

So far we have talk about three ways that music affect us positively. It helps us physically, mentally and emotionally and unite us as a people. We now music has a bright side but what about it's dark side. Just like batman versus superman,(no offense to comic and DC fans out there) music must have a dark side to it,right? Here are three cons of music. Let's roll out.

1. Music can promote harmful behaviors. We all love music but it has downside to it.  Music can promote aggression in people especially among young people. With aggressive themes such as explicit language and violence, people will listen and act on what they listen to and can wreck their future. We have to be careful to what we listen to.
2. Music can influence others to do harmful things. In our culture today,music is very popular especially in the entertainment industry.  Some music today will promote prostitution, violence especially to young women, drugs, suicide and other dark themes. In addition, the lyrics that they listen to from their favorite artist can make them act on what the lyrics of the song is saying. You have to have control on what we consume whether it is from music or the movies.
3. Music can actually change someone's identity.  Do you know  that what you feed your mind on its what you become? It's true. Many people have low self esteem and feel like who they are, which is called stereotypes. They listen to music with lyrics and music videos that contains stereotypes. It can change the person in how they see themselves. 

Since we have looked at the positive and negative effects of music, it all comes down to one thing, although music can improve us, it can also destroy us. Lyrics are words that are creatively structured but words are very powerful. It can uplift and destroy a person. We have to be careful in what we consume when it comes on to music.  It is both a tool when used for good and a weapon when used for wrong. We can enjoy music that uplifts our mood and help us positively so music lovers can have a great time. 

That's for today's blog on the power of music. You can comment your opinions on music and what you think about the blog. Anyways bye bloggers and enjoy. 😉 

References 

• https://www.tmh.org/healthy-living/blogs/healthy-living/how-music-affects-your-mind-mood-and-body#:~:text=Music%20can%20affect%20behavior%20by,positive%20association%20with%20various%20products.

• https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-music

• https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/keep-your-brain-young-with-music#:~:text=Research%20has%20shown%20that%20listening,%2C%20mental%20alertness%2C%20and%20memory.

• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music