Song as Emotion

There was a time in my youth where song lyrics played an important part in how I was able to communicate emotion and feeling. Back then, the lyrics were proxies for my expression. Today, thankfully, I've matured enough that I am able to communicate feelings, emotions, and thoughts without the crutch of someone else's words. But still, there are times when the mood and lyrics of a song still elicit a deep emotion. It's odd because the song is relatable, maybe not directly, but in some deep core human way. No longer do I live the days of pining for someone or working my way through a heartache, but hearing that emotion in someone else's voice - especially in song, seems to hit a visceral note. Back then the word-play of artists like Morrissey (The Smiths) and Robert Smith (The Cure) were enough send my mind reeling with thoughts of love, tragedy, and every other emotion under the sun. Of late, the songs that do this seem be to slow. ballad-style executions. Listening to The Fray's "How to Save A Life", Dashboard Confessional's "Vindicated", or even something a little off like Deathcab for Cutie's "Crooked Teeth" have the same effect. And yet, a rocking chorus from the likes of 311, Blink-182, Sum 41, or New Found Glory can also bring out core emotion. I find the influence is so strong, that listening to certain songs while driving actually affect how I drive. Yes, very scary.

There is something powerful in song. It reaches deep into the soul and connects on a level that is both cerebral (with the lyrics) and emotional (with the orchestration). Done correctly, those songs stay with you - and more importantly, shape you as you grow.