Music with Meaning

Last month I went to see Jill Scott in concert at the Brixton Academy. This is the second time I have seen her and once again she did not disappoint. Jill Scott is a fabulous performer, one that is able to command your attention and leave you transfixed, not due to sparkly clothes or dance routines but purely though her presence, voice and music that penetrates through the stuff that surrounds your heart, your core your soul.

The power of music is underestimated and with it the effects music can play on our general well being and psyche. There have been numerous studies to prove this. The following links are just two examples http://www.reversespins.com/effectsofmusic.html  http://www.emedexpert.com/tips/music.shtml .

Classical music is known to have a calming affect and is used in some prisons, organisations and train stations. As you surface from the underground at Tottenham station for example you are greeted by Mozart and Bach, which partly takes away the stressful train ride experience. However on an internal level the invisible sound waves can speak directly to our DNA and therefore it has the power to unlock or block information, feeling and expression. I found this link http://www.life-enthusiast.com/twilight/research_emoto.htm particularly interesting as it not only shows the power of words but also visually shows what I believe happens on an internal level.

Music is energy and therefore made up of vibrations of high or low energy. I tend to stay away from the latter as it actually disturbs my spirit. I know this sounds weird but I literally cannot listen to Jay Z’s “We run this town” or Giggs “ Talking the hardest" for example. I am either highly sensitive or just internally aware. I guess both are possibilities. The sound in both tracks are dense, heavy and dark and … well I don’t like the feeling so I switch off.

Scott’s music makes me want to move my feet, put my hands in the air and smile from the inside out, whilst singing out of tune and not caring. Music that comes from a place of honesty, truth, love and integrity has the power to positively affect many and I believe Scott’s music has the ability to do this. Her music tells a story, provides insight and an alternative commentary to the duplicated many. Service to others comes to mind as her music has foundations in personal and spiritual growth, through reflection, awareness and the acknowledgement of individual power and empowerment. Listen and you will hear her invitation for you to embrace and own who you are. The teachings are within and so are affirmations.

Rolling Hills 

There's power in them rolling hills, come on

You're a prize possession, not everybody's worthy

Only reason I know is cause I headed down that road

And it'd be a shame for you not to have your own glow

Maybe you don't recognize what you got between your eyes

So I'm gonna set you correct so you can get what you should get

Intuition's something deep

Let you know what you know, let you find before you seek

Spirit of determine, pray for it everyday

Let you know who should go and who you should let stay

Golden 

Living my life like it's golden

Living my life like it's golden

Living my life like it's golden

Living my life like it's golden

Living my life like it's golden, golden

I'm holding on to my freedom

Can't take it from me

I was born into it and it comes naturally

I'm strumming my own freedom

Playing the God in me

Representing His glory

Hope He's proud of me, yeah

Unlike other tracks, repetition of words do not appear to be pointless time fillers, they are there and repeated for a reason. Words are powerful and like music, underestimated because there is life in both.

source: http://virtualmusic.tv/2010/01/dancing-graffiti/

 If music with meaning played a more central role within the music industry we would all benefit greatly on many levels. Perhaps this is the very reason as to why it isn't given the same air time as the profanity filled and lack lusted tunes.  The music industry is service to self. Controlled by the top, it has become more about strategic marketing, collaborations and money than anything else and clearly those who benefit would like it to remain that way. This is a very big world, big enough for all artists to have a voice in this field, though due to the cycle of the same faces you couldn't blame anyone for thinking there were only three as Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Nicki Manji are everywhere. Great team, clearly!

There is power in music and if utilised correctly who knows what could occur on an individual and collective level.

It’s time for people to truly wake up and think beyond the status quo. There is currently talk of all explicit music being labelled  as such.  Yes this is a good idea but it is more likely that it will make children want to listen to the restricted music even more. It all just seems backwards. Why not just put boundaries on what can be said within music? I too believe in creative licence but can someone please tell me what is so special about F**k, N**ga, C**t and any other word that is deemed explicit under the explicit label? What power do these words serve other than being derogatory insults that promote negativity?

Right now creative freedom or license holds no weight amongst commercial music as so many abuse their power and their voice. Many may disagree with me and I am happy to stand alone if this is the case. I believe artists do have some responsibility to the public because it is us who lines their pockets. We expect Royalty and the BBC to behave in a certain way, so why do artists and record labels get away with so much? Starting out, artists need the public to get them to a recognised position, once this happens it appears they too become service to self as I guess the love of money takes precedence coupled with the pressure of staying current.

You like what you like, but the options that we see and hear are limited as all the radio stations and music channels play the same thing. Empowering music may not filter thorough our digital gadgets in the way it deserves, but it doesn’t stop any of us from seeking it out. Floetry, Dwele, Maxwell, Raheem DeVaughan, Musiq Soulchild, Vivian Greene, Lyfe Jennings, Angie Stone, India Irie, Damien Marley, Dead Prez, Meshell Ndegecelo, Kem and so much more. There are alternatives out there. How many young teenagers have heard of these artists? If I am greeted right now with a virtual blank stare it's okay, they/you are not at fault, as I cannot remember the last time I saw any of the above being interviewed on a UK channel. I am more likely to hear these soulful tunes on a pirate radio station or through my own iPod.

Words are powerful as they are a transfer of energy and emotion. You become what you are told, if you are told it enough times, this is known. So why is music with meaning underrated?  "It does not sell" is not the truth!

© Lisa Bent 2011