Sara Trudge (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer
While I love dancing, painting, reading and movies, I believe music is the best art form. It is one of the most versatile and easily accessible forms of art. It is also my favourite and the one that I feel the most connected to. I do not go one day without listening to music, singing or humming my favourite songs. Song lyrics are in my mind every hour of the day.
Music can convey emotions. It can make people cry, feel understood, sad, comforted or happy. The best musicians of all time are praised for their ability to craft beautiful sentences, tell a great story and make people feel deeply. Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder and The Beatles are all great musicians who can also tell a story and captivate an audience with meaningful lyrics.
When I think of the impact that music has around the world, I always think about the opening and closing ceremonies at the Olympics. More than 25 million people watched the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony, making it the most viewed in over a decade.
Celine Dion’s rendition of Édith Piaf’s “Hymne à l’amour” from the Eiffel Tower was a powerful, memorable performance that I still think about a year later. I can not speak or understand French, and it still gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes. The Olympics are watched globally, and less than five percent of the world speaks French. No matter what language a song is sung in or the listener’s level of understanding, music can convey emotions. The biggest, most successful musicians are loved globally despite the language barriers. It would be hard to fully enjoy a movie in a language you do not understand without subtitles.
Music has been important to me ever since I was a child. I remember watching the Much Top 30 Countdown every day after school, excited to hear my favourite songs and find out what was going to be number one that day. There are songs that I listen to that make me think of a specific time, memory or person. Music has the power to encapsulate meaningful experiences.
Music has helped me through the darkest times in my life. In seasons of deep anxiety and grief, I turned to music to get me through the day and put a smile on my face. While it did not directly fix any of my problems, it did minimize the pain for short periods and give me something to look forward to. Singing my favourite song of the week at the top of my lungs allowed me to forget about my reality in three or four-minute intervals.
Music also allows a level of unity and shows listeners they are not alone in their struggles. There are songs about everything. Whether someone is going through a breakup, struggling with insecurities, grief, or feeling lost, there’s a song about it. Sometimes we isolate ourselves in our hardships, and it can feel like we are the only people in the world going through it. When lyrics are vulnerable and honest, it grants listeners the ability to feel understood and seen.
The versatility of music sets it apart from other art mediums. While there are thousands of genres (pop, country, hip hop, folk and R&B to name a few), there are also musical cultural ties to every country. Each culture has a diverse range of sounds and styles unique to its region. This enhances the sense of community within cultures.
Finally, music does not require you to pay money to enjoy it, and it is not a prestigious endeavour for the average listener. They play music in nearly every store, and everybody can sing, whether or not they are talented. You can listen to music for free online. While you can look at a picture of the Mona Lisa or The Starry Night online, it is not the same as seeing it in person. Music allows everyone to have a unique firsthand experience. I could continue, but this is why I believe music is the best art.
Do you agree with me? If not, what do you think is the best art and why?
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