Emotion and Meaning in Music: the power of music

Music is a form of expression for the artist, however often it is a way for the listener to experience deeper emotion, self-understanding and self-discovery. I have been privileged to have a deep adoration for music, so in times of trouble, that is where I find myself and rid my mind of confusion. I had one such experience earlier this summer. In my graduating class of 250, I had known almost all of them since 6^th grade. There were two boys, twins, in my class, and it was well known that they were amazingly musically gifted. I was in band with them for seven years, and they were always crazy and fun when they were together. Immediately after my graduation, I left to work at the summer camp that is my summer job. About 2 weeks are our graduation ceremony, on June 14^th, I was texted by my mother, asking if I knew one of them, whom I had grown up with and was friends with, had passed away. That night was one of the worst in my life. I was in shock, and didn’t know how to handle it. All I really wanted was to go back to my home, and mourn with my town and class. However, I couldn’t just leave camp, as it was the middle of the week, and I was working the next morning. Every night for the next week I couldn’t sleep well, because I had no choice but to be strong. Music, as it has many times in my life, saved me again. This was about the time that Demi Lovato’s new album had come out, and she did an interview for it. In the interview, she mentioned one of her songs that she wrote for a friend who passed away when she was younger, and I knew I needed to hear it.

The song, Nightingale, had an extreme effect on me. At first, the song allowed me to cry, which was an amazing relief. Listening to it made me able to talk about him, and that also some relief. The lines “You could be my sanity/ Bring me peace/ Sing me to sleep” made me feel as though he was giving me peace, not the song, making that feeling the interpretant and him the object. Almost as the song were a symbol for him bringing me peace within myself. The overwhelm that Demi described was a symbol of how I myself was feeling, and I needed comfort in a place where I didn’t want to tell people. I felt stronger at the times when I felt like he was there, just as is described, “As long as you’re with me here tonight/ I’m good.”

This song made mourning for my lost friend easier, and remembering him a joy. Many songs have helped me through many trials in my life, but this is fresh, and it truly was a healing balm for me.