Music is a big part of my life. I've talked about it before but to reiterate it- I am always listening to something.
I haven't been to any weddings (except one when I was 5), and (thankfully) I haven't attended a funeral yet, so I don't have any musical experiences along that avenue. I do however have a few times in my life where I was able to use music to overcome or process a situation or feeling. I would consider these feelings/situations/emotions that come up time and time again to be "traditions" that the same songs or music seem to fit.
I find that music, at least the way I use it, has a purpose most of the time. The first situation I can really relate a certain song or type of music to would definitely be my experience around January/February of this year. I remember being super stressed out and feeling unable to sleep. I would go to bed and just lay there. I was trying to figure out things athletically, academically and personally and was just so overwhelmed. I felt like I was tired physically, mentally, and emotionally but I couldn't sleep because I was so in my head. That's when I heard "Hard to Sleep" by Gracie Abrams. It's a beautiful song that really portrays her raw emotion and I love the piano. This song has gotten me through some difficult nights and even if I am in a good mood, I like to listen to it.
The second situation I can really relate music to was around this time last year. Much like how I felt in January/February, I was stressed. I felt like I really needed to get away but I didn't know where to. I felt "misguided" (see what I did there) and kind of felt like I was walking aimlessly. I didn't know what my future would hold, and I was pretty unhappy with how things were going. I have always loved Paramore, and I remember being on a run on my own. Sometimes, I love to run on my own because I'll listen to music and really just enjoy the moment. I was listening to the album "Brand New Eyes". I had heard most of the songs off that album before but for some reason I never heard "Misguided Ghosts" until that moment. I was instantly hooked, and I fell in love with it. I still listen to it often.
Hunter! Hey :) I noticed you commented on my blog, teamie, so I returned the favor this time around. I’d never heard these songs before, but they were so beautiful. I really liked how you spoke about Hard to Sleep by Gracie Abrams and how you listen to it. The lyric “I’m so scared of losing control”—whew! And Paramore’s Misguided Ghosts—that lyric “I’m going away for a while, but I’ll be back, don’t try to follow me, cause I’ll return as soon as possible”—just hits differently. Out of all the comments I’ve written for this blog, these songs alone are the most emotion-provoking. I’ve added them to my playlist, and Misguided Ghosts will definitely be on repeat.
ReplyDeleteI, too, sometimes struggle with expressing myself or knowing the next step, but songs guide me. They bring thought to the chaos in my brain and invite a sense of peace. Connecting it to my experience, as mentioned in the prompt, I reflected on how my grandmother listened to gospel music and how it powered her as she cared for me, my siblings, and cousins. I think the biggest similarity between our blogs is the focus on emotion and meaning—and maybe also change and reflection. You spoke about feeling misguided at times, and in my blog, I explored how much pressure my grandmother might’ve felt with everything she had to maintain, yet she found guidance through music (and God).
So, as I’ve held this prayer over her, if you’re comfortable, I’d like to extend the same hope to you—keep going. There’s light at the end of this dark tunnel :)
Hi Hunter ! I really appreciated reading your blog. The fact that music helped you controlling your feelings/emotions made me think of myself. I really appreciated the melody of the song "Hard to Sleep" but also the other music you uploaded !
ReplyDeleteHey Hunter, I loved the blog! I especially liked how you talked about "Hard to Sleep" by Gracie Abrams. I know in the past you have shown me some of her songs and I would have to agree on how she uses her emotion. I can definitely relate to having those nights of just laying in bed, not being able to fall asleep and just trying to listen to music to help.
ReplyDeleteHi Hunter! I too love Gracie Abrams and her song "Hard To Sleep"! I saw her back in 2023 when she opened for Taylor Swift at the Eras Tour and fell in love with her music. I love the connection of you not being able to sleep and listening to her song. I completely understand being stressed and not being able to sleep and I think this song captures that feeling perfectly!
ReplyDeleteI thought it was cool how you talked about using music as a way to process emotions and get through tough times. I can relate to that because I also turn to music when I’m stressed or just need to clear my head. The main similarity is that a lot of my music rituals are personal and reflective. Still, I totally get how certain songs can become part of your routine and help you feel grounded.
ReplyDelete