HOW DO YOU FEEL THE RHYTHM?

I think that the words in the lyrics of a song can be considered as a means by which the singer expresses the feelings, ideas and may have a purpose in the message, but definitely, rhythm and dance are essential parts to demonstrate a mood or an effect that music has on us.

The dancers are tangible proof that all their inspiration and feelings are displayed on a dance floor. No matter what kind of music is, from a waltz with the smooth footwork and finesse in every step, to a fast dance, modern and even a rough one. Sometimes I have heard that those new rhythms are not well seen because of the sensual movements the dancers need to perform. Salsa music is one of the types of music that I like particularly to dance. It has many instruments involved, and when you listen to a song in a concert, each instrument amplifies the emotions. It depends of the rhythm that you can dance it in a sensual way or not, is about rhythms through which you can feel and enjoy the music. Verbal communication is powerful in the sense of expressing any ideas, but the communication through the body is certainly more expressive. With a ball what you can do is to tell if you are interested in your companion and you can get uninhibited from some type of state like feeling apathetic.

Through dance a person conveys a type of bodily information that is received by the companion or the public viewer, information that can be felt physically. With other types of music, dances become even more sensual, more frantically danced and stuck. All that allows inhibitions are removed and allow people reach to function at another level.

I remember the movie Footloose, where the adults do not let the youth to dance because it was considered like a sin. Pretty much a movie that lacks of originality, I think. What I am sure is that the dances came from our ancient cultures as an instrument to demonstrate the different mood states of that time. In all of those ancient cultures the dances were considered a tribute to God, or were use to ask their Gods for benefits. Could be considered in any place the dance as a way for sinners to express? Dancing is usually used to show happiness, that is why the music is an essential component of any celebration since is a symbol as I said of happiness.

The rhythm can be felt in our veins, beating within our bodies inviting us to move and dance. Is like you touch a drum when it is played, your senses react to that stimulus. Your brain receives that sensation as an invitation for dancing, to move your body, to have fun. This is what is called the sound perception, when you only feel the music in your core of yourself. This is how I feel when I listen to music; it sends me the waves to vibrate and to dance with it.

MUSICIANS AND THEIR BACKGROUND

I think there are a lot of musicians that have been catalogued as the cause of some movements that brought consequences among several, such as drug and alcohol addiction. I remember I read when I was at high school, an article about Woodstock, the famous festival where the whole people who attended those series of concerts, revealed have had endless drugs and alcohol consume in those days. After all, the whole participants were described like people with the only intention that celebrating freedom but in a dangerous way and full with irresponsibility. Many of the people which attended those concerts, did not eat, take a shower, or even eat something. The Woodstock festival has been without any doubt one of the most important cultural and social events, since it represented a generation with its new values and new ways for understanding the world. It has taken place in 1969, lasting three days, where the most important symbols of the youth music were present. However, Woodstock was not simply a musical festival but transcended all the borders, turning it the recital more multitudinous and influential of the century.

This festival was actually to gather the most influential musician from that time, to give a protest expression against the wars of that time, thus the slogan of the festival was, three days of peace and music. The environment was for sure full of peace, happiness, fellowship and love among the attendants. Therefore, it was inevitable that such many people brought an incontrollable situation, for this reason the sexual freedom and the consumption of alcohol and drugs were one of the characteristics of this festival.

Another of the musicians who were heavily criticized for their way of life was the lead singer of The Doors, who until now is an icon and legend as a musician, but at the same time, his life was always related to alcohol, drugs, nightlife, and endless parties.

I think when the media writes something negative of a musician, often it has hard evidence, so it is not easy to think that a singer with that background is different. I can imagine that all the greatest executives of media receive daily prospects of good singers that besides their talent, they should have charisma and good background, even though the young people prefer the contrary of this profile. However, some artists after having fame and fortune, seem not to have respect to media and they act in a very irresponsible way, causing that press captures the artists in uncomfortable and embarrassing situations. Thus, how can be said that what we read is unfounded? Like these, there are others that maybe because of their youth and inexperience, make a mistake that last for ever, that would be remembered by that mistake rather than for their music. I heard some kids the other day talking about the video of Miley Cyrus that was shown in the whole world. I ask myself, will she be remembered for that sad episode or for her musical trajectory?

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

There are some steps that are done before listen to a song. The whole process when you buy a material from your favorite singer, from that very moment until the time you listen to your favorite song, it should be a grateful experience: from beginning to end. Even though the record companies are a fundamental part of the cycle, it is not the only one responsible for bringing inadequate music to the young people, but it has equal or even more responsibility for selling music that can be a threat for young people. It is true and a fact that there are civil rights that everybody has, being one of them the freedom to express, but perhaps this right gives them the freedom to sell everything without caution regardless the consumer or at any cost?

Are the record companies ready or disposed to be involved with this matter? What are the consequences that are needed to see and be more cautious? I can imagine and is pretty sure that one of the primary goals that the record companies have is to launch singers in the market which can sell their music, earning with this a very good profit, but within this purpose, does exist the care of do not offend the susceptibilities of the listeners?

Maybe, the same control should not be done for every song, because, in spite of the kind of music, there is a bunch of singers that maybe the lyric is not the perfect one to express something, because is not their priority, but the rhythm found in a particular song. If this is not the case, and the lyric shows violence, envy, hate, or just nothing good for the listener, so, why don’t prevent or advise for the content? Like the rate of parental control or the advices shown in the movies, thus, the caregivers could know exactly what they are buying for their teens or have more information and knowledge about this issue.

Probably the advisories on the music that the record companies put before the distribution, is not precisely the most indicated, and the young people can have access to music with lyrics that can distort their minds since they are people with no experience and vulnerable to be trapped. There have been many cases in which young students have committed suicides inspired in a subliminal message given in a song. Mistakenly, the ideas expressed in those songs are perceived in a wrong way and do not incite to kill themselves, but the fact of being in a place without control, or surrounded by friends with lack of values, would conspire to have those bad results. Unfortunately, their parents did not recognize any possible signal of any different behavior, and at the end, they are as much surprised as the rest of the people. Parents should have control over their children’s stuff, tastes, friends, and they should have interest in any change of mood or behavior in them, because I think those are the main signs that something is not going good.

THE INFLUENCE OF MUSIC

It is for sure and everybody will agree with me that the music brings happiness and comfort and it is like a remedy to heal any pain, or a motivation when you want to celebrate or just hang out with your friends. What has the music hidden? Definitely, there are millions of lyrics where you can choose from and find the precise one to listen to in any change of mood, but, is there any influence in your behavior? I am pretty sure there is. In the same way the music can influence in a positive manner to you when doing a homework, dreaming about your wedding, taking a nap thinking in your future as a manager (or something like that), there is sometimes, a side apart from all of these facts.

In reference a Deena Weinstein essay, there is a generalization about the misinterpretation of the heavy metal music. In fact, there are songs that were not dedicated precisely to God, good manners, or get well after a dark episode. Most of them refer to invite how to take a detour your acts from the correct way, or at least, the way it is supposed to follow by the rules of the society. I think this is the core of this issue. People that do not agree with the established things and pretend solve by changing or try to change the behavior of anyone else. Maybe those singers do not pretend to influence in a negative way to those young people; adolescents that follow the lyrics, until even commit suicide. Maybe they just want to set up the freedom that in a moment of their lives they did not have the freedom for doing things without any remorse. Unfortunately, there are many cases where young kids for the same reason that they are still adolescents, do not measure the exact weight of their acts

What so responsible are they? Are they supposed to be an example for following? Or, are the record companies the responsible?

In some songs, the interpretation of the lyric is obvious. Sometimes I think the title gives more information than even the lyric by itself.

I am not the kind of person that is only follower to the white music or that I feel affected to the music that reveals maybe more than the supposed to be listened to, but I would prefer not to listen to that kind of music because it is too much for me.

Generally, the kids with problems of conduct, or problems with their parents, usually are followers and fans of the heavy music. It is like a rebellion, a way to protest against something is bothering, or is not fashion. After this, the lack of respect is imminent and the lost of values came in some cases; the same violence that precisely those lyrics offers. However, there is no doubt that in many cases, the lyrics and the songs have a hidden side that is not always the dark one that we are used to think, but the one that heals or tells a bad episode.

ARE THE PEOPLE DEAF WHEN THEY LISTEN TO MUSIC?

One of the things I and everybody knows, is that by means of and with music, a baby can sleep, a couple of lovers is getting married, a service in the church is taking place, and a flag is honored. The whole universe moves with music, does not matter what style is. Even the animals recognize and learn what to do through music. Even though you were not a great follower of the music, we can admit that everybody breathe music; I mean we live with music and the easiness we have now to have access to it, give us the opportunity to know more about it. Why can we consider that some people are deaf and cannot hear what the great tradition has to say?

One of the concerns of some group of people is that the relationship existing among young people and music such as rock and roll can be misunderstood in several ways.  In fact, the kind of music and the amount of the time it will be listened to, will depend from the parents or caregivers. How far will they permit you to go in this matter? This expression of art named pop, rock and roll, salsa, or the style of the music you want to listen to, will be different if it is compared with the frequency or availability your parents had for this purpose. Yes, nowadays the different devices bring you the music you want to listen to, no matter where it comes from. This makes me think, what could have happened if in the last decades, our relatives should have had the same easiness to access to the music; this thinking would change at all?

But, is it good or bad? I don’t believe there is anything good or bad in this matter. It will depend on how you feel or interpret the lyrics or the rhythm. Some people can affirm that heavy metal is a devil music that connects you with the worst side of a human being; that there is a latent thread to the religion, morality, and good manners. I have seen a pair of persons talking like this. I insist. The music, the “good one or the bad one” will interfere in your ethic or manners only if you perceive it in a wrong way. Everything in this life has a good and bad side and all that you can get in excess, is wrong, even the most pleasant things you can ever imagine. We can find negative agents as well, (also in the best things, too), however we can not say that the fact of listening rock and roll, would interfere or modify your purpose in this life or your teachings received along your life.

I am pretty sure that it would be very difficult or maybe impossible to avoid finding controversies about this issue. There are still many opinions to say, and since there are people that will never agree with this form to express art, the discussions will continue.