Lyrical License: The Power of Music

The well-ingrained ritual of scrolling through news sites and checking social media is a draining process. Pinging updates on crises, mandates, and rulings seem to portray a sense of inevitable doom. We stand at a crossroads; in the best of times while seemingly in the worst.

James Baldwin once said, “All I know about music is that not many people ever really hear it”. And I have to agree.

We live in a revolutionary age, with never-before-seen access to music and up-and-coming artists, when just a few decades ago, the same wouldn't have been relatively true. Now the average person has the entire discography of the world at their fingertips.

Different subscriptions can gain rights to artists, but more important are the algorithms involved in the consumer experience. I refer to Spotify, a music subscription that incorporates socialization, from playlists to listening sessions and even recommendations.

With all of its gains, these platforms indicate a decline in music appreciation. For instance, when one would purchase a vinyl album, the consumer would spend the time to explore the album in its entirety for themselves, rather than depending on chart rankings. Not only that but with unlimited access comes less attention.

Tunes and mixes currently supersede lyrics en masse. But with some digging, you’re sure to find excellent artists with lyrical prowess and acute engineering. My one note is this; if anything, try to explore the albums as a whole. Learn about the artists, their concepts for works, and their place in history. And if you listen closely enough, you might even hear yourself in the lyrics.