How often have you heard a song that motivated you to action or emotion? Whether it's the lyrics or the composition of the instruments, that melody holds you and influences you to any number of thoughts or experiences. It's almost spiritual, isn't it, the way a song could speak to your soul in ways mere words couldn't hope to express?
That's been my outlook on musick for a long time now. I've always loved musick, in its many forms. I truly believe that the Melody is a medium in which God speaks to us. Before I found my way back to my faith in the Lord (which, admittedly, isn't as strong as it once was), I believed musick was a source of spiritual power. I still do, to a point.
Sometimes, if I need to pull myself out of a depression, I'll put on something with strong riffs and powerful lyrics, like maybe Metallica or Creed. If I feel the need to mellow out a bit, I'll put on Nickel Creek or Andrea Bocelli. If I want motivation, the musick I play could range from anything from Placebo to Drowning Pool.
I realize that musick can be used for negative motivation, as well. There are those who would point to such musicians as Marilyn Manson and 50 Cent, blaming them for the current spread in teen violence. True, the lyrics of these singers can be quite violent in nature, and on the surface, they seem to glorify everything that's wrong with us. I see it differently. My feelings on these two artists (these two bards, in my opinion), as well as many others, is that they use the message of violence and battle to represent to today's listeners what is really going on, with no punches pulled. They tell stories, in ways that our children and teens can understand. They give me, and those who truly listen, an outlet to release that anger and pain. It is often misinterpreted and misused, fueling the fire in one's anger instead of letting it go.
Back in my pagan days, I used musick in my spiritual rituals quite often (and to lay to rest any misconceptions, when I say rituals, it doesn't involve sacrifices of any dark kind; rituals to pagans would be best described as "prayer with props"). The melody of the songs I used helped me in my meditation. And when the mood struck me, which it often did, I would sing along with it. I always felt closer to the spiritual when I used this method. It's also why I spell musick with a "k" at the end, as pagans and Wiccans often spell magick with a "k", because that's still a part of my spiritual make-up.
My point is, musick is more than a tool, it is a gift. It doesn't matter what you listen to, every song has a potential meaning to someone. Whether it motivates you to contemplation or action, to sing or to dance, musick is one of the greatest blessings ever bestowed upon us as a people. God (by whatever name you choose to call Him, Her, or Them), gave us this gift, and it is up to us to use it as intended, to lift us up, and to reach others. To be judgemental as to how it is used mars the spirit of the gift.
I am a bard. I am the Song.
*Mwah*