‘ Music as a means of expression ’ is a cliché that ’ s been thrown around more than a basketball . Every time that statement has cropped up , is in wildly different contexts . So , let ’ s ask the question . What are we expressing through music ? Be it our listening preferences , our music making processes , our stories or ideas behind the tune , our emotions and sentiments that are evoked through a tune , etc . all involve some level of transference between people and their thoughts . And people have many thoughts ( too many sometimes ). Getting them across is essentially what we mean by music as a means of expression . Historically , people have spoken and expressed a lot about a plethora of topics and problems ; and they used music as their vehicle .
The expression of emotions through music , is something that you ’ re likely to find a lot throughout music . The usage of chord progressions , catchy hooks and good lyrics , all work out to make the listener and the performer feel emotions . Along with music , another vehicle that is used to work with this , is storytelling . Everybody loves a good story . Everybody loves a good tune . Everybody loves a good story set to a soundtrack . So of course , everybody loves a story that ’ s told through songs . The music of Yebba is drenched in emotions with brilliant storytelling to boot . The stories she tells us through her music , really hits us with a wall of emotions ( along with her incredible vocal control ).
The spectrum on which the variety of human emotions exist , is nearly limitless . Inherently , there will be emotions that are extreme and negative . Kendrick Lamar ( I really just need an excuse to talk about his music ) is a masterful lyricist and musician . But important is how he can tell a story with a vibe . His raps are well worded . That ’ s one part . To Pimp a Butterfly is arguably the greatest hip-hop album of the last decade and it does not shy away from talking about the ideas of racism and discrimination . It boldly addresses a bunch of injustices that are faced by African-Americans and it does so unapologetically . In a way , its Kendrick Lamar ’ s persona taking the form of the album and fighting for equality .
The idea of expressing dissent is not something new . Hendrix did it in Woodstock 1969 . Playing the American Anthem , as a person from a minority , in the midst of a war , really struck a chord in people ’ s hearts . His message was heard loud and clear . Some other less obvious examples go back to the Era of the Soviet Union . Dimitri Shostakovich was often commissioned by the Soviet leaders to write music to act as propaganda for the country . While his ideals didn ’ t really match with those of the country ’ s , he didn ’ t really have a choice . When someone asks you to sign a document while holding you at gunpoint , you do it or you die . Shostakovich however , was really smart in how he wrote his music . He composed music that was blatantly mocking the Soviet Union while disguising it as propaganda . While expression of dissent through music was difficult , he found a way around the system . So clearly , music has a lot of power because of what is told by people through it all .
But is it just music ? Can we also extend our expressions to other allied fields of music ? Harry Styles certainly thinks so . His sense of choices of costumes during performances challenges what is considered ‘ traditional ’ and it is his display of who he is as a person . But he also sends out a message that gender and sexuality is fluid and not rigid . This bold display , provides people with a safe place to feel at home .
So music as a means of expression . It ’ s a cliche mostly because it ’ s true . It can express whatever you want it to . The possibilities of telling something are endless and every kind of musical interaction between any person , will always involve a transfer of ideas and expressions . Even if its 4 minutes 33 seconds of silence . Music always says something . We just need to listen to it more .
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