MOVING WIH THE MUSICAL TIMES
Sharp, 9 pm. The rap singer comes alive on the stage amidst the loud hooting of the fans. I agreed to escort my daughter to a concert but was a little apprehensive about enjoying a new genre of music. I find myself surrounded by the thundering beats, loud bling lights, rhythmic music and the electric vibration of the youth at a place where I was an odd entity. The vibrancy of the crowd in the backdrop of high-voltage music was surreal as I stood there watching them sing along and groove with the music. An hour long musical extravaganza, where I tried to understand the music and watch these youngsters losing themselves to the beats of the music, was worth the visit, an immersive experience that we will cherish forever. Concert music pleases the ear and nurtures the soul. On the way home, I was pinning for similar music which surprised my daughter. I often listen to the current songs, melodies of the 80s take my breath away, the pulse of my carefree youth.
My earliest memory is listening to Punjabi folk music as a kid that has passed on to my daughter who tuned in to it as a toddler, thus bridging the gap of not two but three generations through melody. My brother and I jived to the beats of Boney M and Michael Jackson and developed a keen ear for Mozart and Beethoven as well, thanks to our dad.
The cultural scenario impacts the kind of music prevalent in those times. Every generation gravitates towards music that reflects their values as it is not only a form of entertainment but a form of expression too. It can be a common ground between two generations where the grandson rocks with the grandfather through their love for a common song, thus breaking down the stereotypical barriers.
Mental health issues in the digitised world can be resolved through forging a connection with children through music. The jet-setting life of youth today, where any piece is available at the press of a button, has changed the way today’s youth listen to it. The audio notes are an escape from the digitised world of screens for them. A vast choice of personalised playlists with access to unending songs of today is different from our times when we had to get it recorded from the local musical store. But you cannot continue reminiscing about it and not move with the time and enjoy the easy access in the current times and appreciate its diversity. To understand your children better, it is good to listen to music of their choice. If you are not aware of the current scenario in music and wish to discard it for having no meaning, you will be a misfit at a party or wedding where usually current one plays. You have a choice to be part of the celebration and vibe with the youth or walk out and get glued to social media till the music stops, or find a link with it. It is good to keep yourself updated with the current musical scene and be relevant in these times.
But when we are distressed, we gravitate towards the tracks of our times, our favourite ones that bring calm into our lives. Imagine listening to your favourite songs in a room and dancing like no one is watching, an exhilarating experience.
The need to belong and connect is inherently human nature, so why not connect with your children through the powerful medium of music to enrich your lives? When it is time to bond, music is the natural source regardless of age. So why not do it and create a harmonious society?
