Music: The Fourth Basic Necessity
I know it sounds like a very millennial statement, but hey, we are who we are! And this honestly isn't an overstatement, if you think about it. Not to make this feel like an essay - the very definition of music itself is ‘vocal or instrumental sounds in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion’.
Beauty... Harmony... Expression of emotion...! What better words to describe this indescribable phenomenon?
Quick story: There was once, my phone had stopped working for about a month. One would think that that would have been a really tough month to get through, because of the loss of contact with the outside world and not knowing about the latest trending happenings. And they’re right; it was tough. Not because of the crumbling of the communication bridge (that was actually really peaceful, believe me), however, but due to the fact that I couldn't listen to my music on the way to school or basically whenever I wanted to. Up till that moment, who knew that the silence in my head would be so excruciatingly deafening? It made me realise that it is quite impossible to live without some form of music in life.
Think about it, have you ever met anyone who said they didn't like music? Neither have I. Sure, people have different tastes and preferences, but this is a platform that binds us all together. So if you ever struggle to make small talk in future situations, here’s one topic you could always rely on. And if the person is not interested, then Donald Trump or Einstein’s Theory of Relativity would probably be more effective in piquing their interests.
Talking about different individual preferences of music, there are innumerable genres out there to talk about. From Goth Rock to Jazz, everyone has their own likings. Some have that one particular style of music they’re most attracted to, while others don’t really have a type. Being a member of the second category, I find that one of the perks is the openness I have towards all kinds of music. Regardless of the song, there’s always a way people in this group can find to appreciate the melody. Of course, the other group may say that their keen love for their type of music leads them to appreciate the songs on a deeper level and create room for greater evaluation of the lyrics, ups and downs in tune, chords, instruments, and so many other elements in the song. Which is unarguably true. After all, if we didn't have these people, we would neither get a feel of Michael Jackson’s electrifying buzz nor Sia’s strong, beautiful notes.
In any way, young or old, rich or not, humans will always need music in one way or another. Without realising it, we have made it a critical part of our very essence. It is one of the precious things we are fortunate enough to feel in the depths of our souls, and with it, we are never quite lonely. I’m pretty sure there’s no need for more proof to actually say that music is, as an unspoken statement by most of humanity – if not all – our fourth basic need.
