Music has proven to be a powerful source of inspiration, happiness, and — in many ways, redemption.
Music, like poetry or any other art form, is a medium of expression. It imitates life and songs and melodies reflect humanity’s various experiences, whether personal or collective. Each song displays a theme or an emotion. It can be happy, sad, angry, frustrated, funny, longing, celebrating, or any message the musician wants to convey.
We identify with certain songs, musicians, or genres as both listeners and ordinary people because of what they represent. But, amongst all these emotions and themes, music is widely identified with joy and happiness. Most of us create songs and music when we are happy and celebrating something. On a not-so-familiar premise, music can also be a source of redemption.
In the book Sex, Womanizing and …, we discover a man’s journey as a child who loves music and later, in his adult life, went back to music and found redemption along with his faith in God. Fred William Sight’s biography details how he was interested and excelled in music as a young boy. But Fred’s adult life was not without trials and dark times. He went through a period of anxiety, self-doubt and got involved with things that alienated him from his family, friends, and God. When Fred hit rock bottom, it was only then that he returns to seek God and his family. Music served as an outlet for him and one of the few things he was able to retain while seeking redemption for him.
Although not a rockstar musician, Fred’s story is common among music celebrities. Sometimes, they are overwhelmed by the fame and money that goes their way, and they venture into drugs and other activities that fuel their anxiety and depression. Many spiral down, and when they lose everything, that’s when they return to music and rediscover themselves. While some are not so lucky to be able to get back on the right track, there are others who have battled and were able to make a successful come back. Some musical icons that have battles addiction, alcohol, or dark pasts include Red Hot Chilli Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis, legendary musicman Sir Elton John, and Pop Princess Britney Spears.
For ordinary people or non-professional musicians like us, also music plays a huge role in seeking solace, inspiration, and even redemption, whether you are a simple listener or play an instrument. Music and song have been proven to calm our souls and help us put things into perspective. In some instances, songs have been used in therapy sessions as background music or facilitate a mood.
On a more personal note, music and songs help us seek joy and redemption simply because we can identify with their lyrics or message. Whether it contains a narrative similar to what we are going through and has a positive ending or message or an inspirational song about God’s grace and never-ending love that will stir our soul into a path of a spiritual journey, music affects our disposition and outlook. Praise and worship songs are very effective in providing a serene mood that helps listeners reflect and meditate. The lyrics in these types of music are also enlightening and take us to a whole new perspective and positivity.
Throughout history, music has been humanity’s companion in its struggles, triumphs, mournings, losses, pride, battles but more so in times of joy, happiness, victories, celebrations, gatherings, and marking time, seasons, era, milestones, and other events. Without music and songs, the world would be a dull place to live in. It is through music and poetry that we are able to communicate and discover many things.
As individuals, music speaks to us, our deepest fears, hopes, joys, and even the longings we have. And that includes redemption. We seek affirmation and even counsel in music, hoping that its words and symphonies will guide us and inspire us to pursue what is good and right for us. Music is a potent reminder that you will have salvation and fulfillment if you listen hard enough or embrace the song.
So, if you are feeling down today or you think you need to rethink your life, pick a track and listen heartily to what the music is telling you. Have a good one!
Oliver’s Twist 