All over the world, an estimated 50,000 minutes of music are listened to daily. Everyone listens to music at some point in their day- at the store, a restaurant, the gym, or by choice. Music is everywhere.
Gen Z, or teens in the 21st century, are known to have the greatest passion for music, regardless of who they are. Depending on where a person lives, the genres of music they listen to can differ from others’. Schools are filled with different faces, backgrounds, and preferences.
One question some students tend to ask when looking at a peer is almost always, “What song are they listening to?”
Mia Fraire, a sophomore, has a passion for music and knows exactly what she likes to hear playing on the speakers. Fraire does not listen to just one specific genre of music, and her favorite song is “Dear April (Side A-Acoustic)” by Frank Ocean. Every time Fraire listens to this song, it gives her a sense of comfort and a feeling of both hope and frustration. The song has a meaningful message, exploring whether someone will change for the better, knowing their future yet hoping for them. She has a strong connection to this song. The best songs she has recently heard are “I’d Rather Go Blind” by Etta James and “The Warmth Of The Sun” by the Beach Boys. Music is important to her and many people, Fraire says, “Music can convey the exact feelings or situations that are happening at the moment, just based on lyrics and instrumentals, and can make one feel seen or maybe even heard.” Fraire’s top two genres are Soul and R&B; she also thinks the best soundtrack is Waves, written and directed by Trey Edward Shults. She chose this movie because the music matches the scene perfectly and adds more emotion to the moment.
Music can also affect people by infusing songs with emotion, giving listeners a sense of what they are feeling. For example, if someone is sad, they can put on certain music that can make them feel even sadder or help lift their spirits. Certain genres can also have the same impact through specific beats and lyrics that evoke nostalgia or influence the state they are already in. Fraire has a passion for music, being in both orchestra and band, but not only does Mia Fraire have a certain taste for music.
Jacoby Lewis is also a sophomore and loves music. Lewis likes to explore different genres of music and not stick to just one. Although there are over 100 million songs, “Touching God” by Daniel Ceaser is one of his top songs right now; Lewis couldn’t really think of any more songs besides this one to be one of his current favorites. One genre he is currently associated with is R&B, with his top song in that genre being “X Factor” by Lauryn Hill. The reason R&B is stuck with Lewis is that he loves how all the elements of music are put together and played; he loves the voices, melodies, tempo, etc. Lewis believes music is important to many people because every song has meaning. If someone likes certain genres of music, they may have a connection to that genre, which can affect them in a way, just like Lewis. All the elements of music in that song can affect people to feel a way based on the tempo, melody, etc. His favorite song he’s heard recently is “Doses and Mimosas” by Cherub. The best soundtrack for a movie, according to Lewis, is Guardians of the Galaxy, written and directed by James Gunn. The songs chosen fit the scenes well, and they feature a diverse range of genres, adding emotion and comedy for the audience.
Overall, these two share the same taste and passion; however, they have different preferences, as do many other people. It’s always great to explore new genres of music and find what you like, even if you don’t like many other songs besides your current one.
