The Power of Music

As I sat watching GAC's More Country Music Videos this afternoon I was inspired to write a blog about the power of music. I saw a video today that I will never watch with the same mind as I did before this summer. The songs we attach to certain times in our lives will always affect us.

As I started typing this post I turned on I-Tunes©. The songs are playing in alphabetical order by artist. That means that I'm listening to Addison Road's self titled CD. As I listen to these songs many things come to mind. I remember the first time I heard AR and everything that went on that night. I think about seeing them this summer in Colorado. But the biggest tie to these songs is Kayla. Whenever I hear AR I think of her. The song I heard today, When It Rains by Eli Young Band, also reminded me of things. It reminded me of pictures I've seen on FaceBook and of the two girls in the picture. There was a fallout in our friendship but I won't be able to forget it because music always brings up memories of long ago for me.

They did a study recently that proved that smells could stir up your memory and remind you of things from your childhood. But in my opinion that is nothing compared to the way music affects a person. I listen to the radio all the time and occasionally I hear old songs I haven't heard in 8 or 9 years and I'm amazed how I can still sing it back to you word perfect, even if I've always hated that song!

What is more shocking about music is the way it affects people emotionally. On Easter you know at least 20 women will be crying in the church pews while someone sings Via Dolorosa because they are thinking about how Jesus suffered for them. The song Alyssa Lies by Jason Micheal Carroll moves people tears when they know someone who has been physically abused. The song Everything by Lifehouse also makes some people cry because it convicts you and makes you think twice. Other songs like Dance Floor Anthem by Good Charlotte are people singing they "don't want to be in love" because they got hurt. Taylor Swift wrote the song Picture To Burn about a boy who broke up with her and he is so worthless she wants to burn his picture. Yet in the song Happy by Ayiesha Woods she is singing about how God makes her happy. There are also songs out there that put bad things in our heads. Songs like Paper Planes by MIA or Stronger by Kayne West or Get Stoned by Hinder or I Kissed A Girl by Katy Perry aren't songs that today's Christian teens need to be listening to.

I do listen to secular music because I can't stand commercials, but that is no excuse. Songs have so great an affect on teenagers that they are killing others and even taking their own lives. They are starting to think sex is ok and stealing is cool. All of which is wrong but according to the music industry it is perfectly fine.

My only point is this, if music is so powerful why doesn't anyone care what they are listening to? Is it wrong to say that rap is bad but we still listen to country which is just as bad in God's eyes?