I was at the pool with my family today, and while I was at the concession stand with my youngest son, I heard a song on the PA system that caught my attention. Thanks to the Shazam app on my phone (which never fails to amaze me, by the way), I learned that the song was “The Story” by Brandi Carlile. I had never heard this song before, and while I’m not sure I consider it to be a new addition to my list of favorites (yet), I still found myself touched by the lyrics.
As I listened, I began to ponder what it is about music that can touch us so deeply, and why some songs resonate more deeply with us than others. And I think I may have some insight–though my observations are by no means ground-breaking, and may even be dismissed as obvious by many.
I believe that one of our core needs as human beings is to be understood by our fellow human beings (to varying degrees, of course). That is why we choose the friends and significant others that we do–they offer us that understanding that we continually seek as validation. To find another with whom we can share a connection, a mutual understanding where each knows how the other feels about something validates us as members of the human community. If someone else feels or thinks similarly to us or shares a particular interest, then we feel a sense of belonging. And if we are truly fortunate, we encounter at least one person that is able to verbalize our own feelings back to us more effectively than even we can ourselves–which, to me, signifies a deeper level of understanding and a powerful and unique connection that is rare indeed and should be treasured as such. In fact, the song, “The Story” describes that connection we feel with some people where the personal stories of our lives almost seem to be meant to be shared with them–and them alone.
I believe we can find similar connections to music, as well. Whether it is through the lyrics or the melody–or both–some songs offer that same level of understanding that some people can; which makes sense, because–after all–they were written by people. With lyrics, the connection can be easier to explain, because often times the songwriter clearly has lived through similar experiences to ours and has decided to share those experiences with us through song. And if that songwriter is truly gifted at his or her craft, he/she is equally artful at choosing an appropriate melody to complement those lyrics. Why certain melodies or instrumentals appeal to us more than others is more difficult to explain, though, I think, because I believe that connection resides on a deeper, more subconscious level. For reasons that we often cannot explain, the sound of some instruments and how they are arranged can arouse a variety of emotions from within us.
In short, I believe that music can be a medium by which we are able to find that understanding we continually seek from others and allow us to connect with another human being through their artistic expression. And the more popular and beloved a song is, the more effective it is in capturing or conveying an understanding of a more universal emotion or feeling. To put it another more colorful way, in the words of Brandi Carlile:
“All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am.
So many stories of where I’ve been
And how I got to where I am.
But these stories don’t mean anything
When you’ve got no one to tell them to.
It’s true…I was made for you.”