So I was thinking…

Is there a universal language?

In+this+op-ed+column%2C+Staff+Writer+Nick+Hardin+shares+his+thoughts+and+general+perspective+on+various+topics.+Feel+free+to+comment+at+the+end.

Shelby Foster

In this op-ed column, Staff Writer Nick Hardin shares his thoughts and general perspective on various topics. Feel free to comment at the end.

Nick Hardin, Staff Writer

So I was thinking…

What if there was a language everyone could understand?

What if there is a dialect everyone knew regardless of race, sexual preference, political beliefs, or religion? What if we hear that language every day, we just don’t understand the deeper meaning behind it?

That language is the vast world of music.

Two people can be completely different from each other in every aspect of their lives, but still have similar taste in music.

Music is so diverse, it brings people of all backgrounds together regardless of genre.

Music is the expression of an artist’s mind, along with thoughts and emotions, transformed into a sequence of sounds and lyrics.

There is a message within every song, instrumental or not, that the artist is trying to convey to the listener.

Songs that send a powerful message, that are relatable to the lives of ordinary people, tend to gain more publicity.

I believe that partially explains why bands like Led Zeppelin, Queen, and The Doors became so popular. Led Zeppelin’s music spoke to the children and young adults of the 70s, defining a decade in rock and largely influencing hippie culture during their time.

Music is the expression of an artist’s mind, along with thoughts and emotions, transformed into a sequence of sounds and lyrics.

— Staff Writer Nick Hardin

Morrison and The Doors were seen as extremely profane or controversial for their time. However, their songs are filled with mystery and imagery leaving the reader to perceive his or her own meaning.

In São Paulo, Brazil, 120,000 people attended a Queen concert on March 20, 1981, which would go down as one of the highest attended concerts in history. 120,000 people came to see a band that didn’t sing in their native language.

Almost 40 years later, artist like Post Malone, Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar are dominating the music industry.

Post Malone represents diversity in the world of music, more specifically, his ability to incite emotion in listeners worldwide. He possesses a unique sound unlike any other artist. Malone excels at creating Mainstream hits like “rockstar” and “Psycho,” while also producing slower more meaningful tunes like “Congratulations” or “I Fall Apart.”

Billie Eilish recently exploded onto the music scene with her debut album “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?” moving more than 300,000 copies within a week of it’s release. The 17-year-old redefined the usual path to fame by producing a number 1 album without a single radio hit, inspiring many children and teens worldwide.

Kendrick Lamar has one of the loudest voices in the industry at this point in time. With a huge fan base, Lamar is able to speak to his followers through music on a personal level. From his mainstream hits to his deepest cuts, Lamar provides meaningful songs that illustrate the struggles of living in this day and age.

Music has united countries, broke down walls, and brought friends together since the dawn of time. The more relevant the message of an artist, the louder the voice of the artist. Music is a language for everyone and anyone.

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