Romir Swar Week 9: Da-da-da-dat-Dat-da-da-da-da-ya-da
If given the dilemma of losing one of your five senses—taste, touch, sight, smell, or hear—which one would you choose?
While I don’t necessarily have an answer of what I would be content losing, I know I would not be able to give up my sense of hearing. Ever since a young age, I've loved music. I've loved hearing instruments come together, and one of my biggest regrets is my lack of ability to play one. I love spending extra time in the car—after we have already reached home—listening to the radio or aux with my eyes closed, in an attempt to guess the song by its first three beats.
As I’ve grown older, and experienced more and more music, I’ve further understood its significance and impact on not just my life, but lowkey the world around me.
I feel like we, as humans, take its impact for granted. Just imagine a life in which music didn’t exist. Sounds pretty dull, doesn’t it? It adds life to life, and gives personality to otherwise colorless experiences.
There are a myriad of dimensions to music: it can wake you up, motivate you during the early mornings at the gym, igniting a quiet flame, carrying you through the times you feel empty inside; it can evoke memories, eliciting salty tears of regret, seasoned by wistful recollections of irremediable situations, or nostalgic drops of an iridescent youth characterized by fleeting Elysian moments; it can invite you to subconsciously tap your feet, your pulse and body cadenced by the beat of the song; it can foster community, weaving connections in a language only music can speak; it can transport you to any village or corner of the world, echoing the beauty in rich choruses of cultures: it keeps you company at times you feel alone, providing endless comfort for the heavy tolls of solitude; it can lullaby you, nestling you in soft undertones, whispering to not just your ears but your soul, till you lay immersed in its warmth, and sleep, only to wake up again—like a song on loop.
On a side note, if anyone wants to recommend their favorite songs, or just songs in general, I would love to listen to them.
Hi Romir! Quick side note: I don’t know if you read the article attached to the image link, but if not, you should. My answer to your question would probably be smell, because if you’ve ever been to a NY subway station it is really not a pleasant experience. I too don’t think I could handle losing my sense of hearing. Not just because of music, but think about all the voices we hear. I wouldn’t be able to hear my mother’s reassuring words or the boisterous laugh my friends let out. I wouldn’t get to hear the footsteps of my sister running down the stairs to say hello to me when I come back from school. This one may sound odd, but I wouldn’t be able to listen to the comforting sound of vehicles zooming on the highway at night (880 is too close to my house). You’re making me emotional over a hypothetical question, goodness.
ReplyDeleteStaying in the car well after you’ve arrived home is an experience that I share. Why do all the good songs come on as soon as I’m home? Also, you should pick up an instrument. I too love music and desperately wanted to play an instrument so I haphazardly picked up the clarinet—although I regret it sometimes because it is definitely not easy.
Your blog was a great read and definitely made me pay more attention to the lovely songs coming from my Spotify tab. I don’t know if you’d like this but I recommend “DON’T” by Ed Sheeran and Rick Ross.
Romir, you started your blog out so well that as I sat down to write this, you managed to make me have an identity crisis trying to think about how to answer. I’d have to go with the sense of smell too. My ability to taste my favorite foods would forever be hindered, but I can’t imagine giving up anything else. I obviously can’t give up hearing, I’m listening to music as I’m writing at this very moment! There’s lots of things that the sense of hearing can do for us, helping us form relationships with others or do the act of learning, but there’s so much I personally wouldn’t be able to do without music. The only way I’ve ever been able to produce anything creative is while listening to music. It’s another way to add artistic stimuli for my brain to chew on while creating, which sort of enhances the vibe. If you’d like some song recs, I’d highly suggest anything by Hozier, Lady Lamb, or Sofia Isella! Some specific songs I’d highlight are “Arsonist’s Lullably” by Hozier, “Spat Out Spit” by Lady Lamb, and “Muse” by Sofia Isella (they sound so yummy I swear).
ReplyDeleteRomir, I definitely agree on not giving up my sense of hearing. I value it for your same reason: listening to music. I feel that it is profound for humans to have created such melodies that make me treasure my ears for more than what they evolved to serve as. I deeply relate to the special place music has in your heart, for mine is just the same.
ReplyDeleteIt’s cool that you’re also out about in the world, doing the same thing I am when I’m in the car as well. It’s fun to test my knowledge on the first few seconds of a song for the music fanatic that I am. This practice has shown me that I’ve listened to a lot in my life, and while I don’t intend to stop anytime soon, I should put a bit more value on the presence of music in my life. You’re totally right that most people take it all for granted, especially with music being everywhere: on-demand streaming, TV ads, and basically all digital entertainment—otherwise things would be just too boring without. Movies would definitely sound completely different if not for the expertise behind the compositions that make dramatic scenes dramatic. It goes to show that music can really influence your mood—like the number of times I’ve heard some sad music, and instantly became sullen.
I can’t tell you how beautiful your writing is in this paragraph seemingly capturing all that music is. I physically took a double take reading it, because it’s full of depth I could never conjure up on my own. I’ve sure dedicated a lot of my time to loving songs, but the way you describe it is pretty much otherworldly. And I’m very glad you’re in my cohort again! I loved reading your blogs from first semester and am delighted that you continue to write in this distinctly casual yet soulful style of yours.
Hi Romir! Firstly, I loved reading your blog. I love the way you describe music; your amazingly immersive one-sentence paragraph managed to encapsulate so well its depth and power. It had me following every word eager to see what musical miracle you would describe next. I will say, I’ve had an experience that contrasts quite a bit with yours. When I was much younger, I barely listened to any music. Even when I did eventually start, my music taste was quite limited. However, just like you, my experience has since then expanded, as has my appreciation for the art. I especially like how you’ve pointed out that music can form connections and unite people, as it truly does transcend language. For example, I never thought that I’d be listening to Portuguese indie rock from 2008, but I suppose I’m now a fan.
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