Column by J1 Reporter Caitlyn Dunham 

Without music, the world would be silent. Lack of music would result in lack of creativity. Lack of voice, passion, expression. Music brings color into our lives. Without it, living would be gray and boring.

Music is poetry with a melody. It is storytelling and speaking your mind. Music is a dance, a good cry, and a moment of peace. It is a sigh of relief when you realize you are not alone. Music is relating yourself to people from continent to continent, time period to time period.  

One moment I am dancing at a party in head-to-toe leather with Freddie Mercury listening to Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy by Queen; next I am with Stevie Nicks at an outdoor festival wearing a long skirt with braids in my hair listening to Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac. 

Music can open your eyes and your mind to the lives of others. Artists share their experiences with the world through their lyrics. In “WHERE WE ARE” by The Lumineers, Wesley Schultz shares his experience of him and his wife crashing his car on the interstate and how through the fear and shock, he knew they would be okay and everything would work out the way it was intended. Showing people that others are going through similar things can help people feel less alone. People can feel validated in their experiences, such as a car crash. 

Music can bring communities together. Those who feel isolated and alone can find welcoming communities in the music world. Artists who speak out about relative issues find others with similar opinions. Billie Eilish released the song “TV” which spoke out about the media and its focus on the case between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard while the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. Music creates a safe space for people to speak out about their passions, and having a musical artist with the same passion is vital to feeling heard and seen. 

Music is a healer. It is a shoulder to cry on and a hand to hold when life turns sour and an invitation to share your voice, passion, and expression with the rest of the world. We need music in our lives to unite our communities and our world.