Written by Kristen Davis. Media by Stephen Hillrich.
[divide]
The music world is constantly growing and expanding. We’ve come a long way from Johnny Cash and June Carter. Now we have artists such as Noah Gundersen, who performed for Greenville College this past February [Read about Noah Gundersen’s latest album here]. Music has gone from just being a source of entertainment to being a form of storytelling. The lyrics of some of our most popular songs have stories behind them that the artist’s have experienced. Taylor Swift, for example, has a story behind every one of her songs. Although some may find her songs to be a desperate cry for a solid relationship with a man, others view her music as a relatable mechanism for times when they experience similar emotions.
Music can play into our emotions in a way that everyday conversations may not be able to. There always seems to be a song for every feeling and moment in life. Have you ever been driving down the road and a song comes on the radio and it almost feels as though that should be the theme song to the moment you’re living in right that second? It seems as though music is a form of comfort and encouragement. It allows us the ability to recognize that even in times in our lives when we may feel completely alone, somebody else has already felt a similar pain and wrote their emotions into a song that they have now shared with us. Music allows for vulnerability and genuineness, something that isn’t necessarily common in our society today.
One thing I respected about Noah Gundersen’s performance for Greenville College was his ability to be completely, 100% vulnerable and genuine in front of an audience of people who may not necessarily practice what he believes. Music allows not only an opportunity to express emotions, but encourages compatibility between relationships. Music can stir discussions, encourage vulnerability, and inspire conversations.
