The Importance Of Music On Society

Music has become one of the foundations of society. People, especially teenagers, are constantly seen referencing music, whether in casual conversation, a work of art, or in the title of an essay. Music is all around humanity, and it’s constantly changing with societal trends. It is often cited that music is not important because it is distracting, pointless, and incites rebellion. This is an inherently flawed statement as music is a societal cornerstone. Music is one of the most important aspects of society because of it’s diversity, lyrical complexity, and health benefits. The diversity of music with genres, lyrics, and ethnicities is important to society and culture. Music and culture are closely tied. Professor Victor Fung of USF explains,

Songs of heartbreak are popular for a reason. Everyone needs a song to blast and wail to after a bad breakup. Rapper Eminem had a very publicized and tumultuous relationship with his ex-wife Kim. In his song “Bad Husband”, he raps, “When we tied the knot, when we broke the knot. Every line we crossed we were supposed to not. Every time we fought, the insults, they got… thrown too far” (Grant, Harris, Mathers, and Resto, “Bad Husband”). These lyrics aren’t relatable to everyone, and for some people, they are relatable when they shouldn’t be. Still, people can connect to and understand the regrets that Eminem feels when thinking of his past relationship, just like they can understand ever present teen angst. Teen angst, while stereotypical, is experienced by most people. This explains the massive success of one of the most iconic songs of the 90s, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain dissonantly sings, “It's fun to lose and to pretend, she’s over bored and self assured” and yells out, "With the lights out, it's less dangerous, here we are now, entertain us. I feel stupid and contagious” (Cobain, Grohl, Novoselic). Even when reading the lyrics, many can hear Cobain’s distinct voice. These words left such an impact on people because they summed up rebellion and angst perfectly. Amusing, sometimes confusing lyrics can also have benefits. Take the song

One of music’s most well-known benefits is with stress relief. In a study comparing patients who listened to music and those who didn’t during the operation, Harvard found, “The [music] listeners also reported that they felt calmer and better during the operation.[…] surgeons showed fewer signs of stress and demonstrated improved performance while listening to self-selected music” (Harvard). Stress relief is an important benefits. Even for people who don’t perform surgery or undergo it, music can calm heart rates and simply make people feel at peace. Music can also naturally and legally enhance your sports performance. Gretchen Reynolds of the New York Times reported, “Music may be one of the best ways to affect the pace of your running or walking […] Want to start jogging faster than you have in the past? Load your iPod with uptempo music, Dr. Donelan suggests” (Reynolds). Athletics and exercise are important but often lacking things in a person’s life. Music makes it easier to reap the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle. The various health benefits music leads to are important for