Words of Music

“Oh, so you like music?” “Yeah, I mean, who doesn’t like music?”, my friend said. I stopped and answered, ”You’re right. Everyone likes it…” Music seems to be something very important for humans. I also see myself as a person who loves music. For me, it is an essential piece that is definitely indispensable in life. It is special. But, how? In what unique way do I appreciate music? Since I had that short conversation with the friend, I have been thinking about it for a while. So, I decided to try to put it into words.

I went to Yellowstone during the spring break. Leaving home early in the morning, we arrived at the hotel after 12 hours of driving. We were supposed to head out at 6:30 am the next morning to observe wild animals. I had to go to bed early and prepare for the exciting week that was about to start. Finally getting ready to sleep, I slid my body into white sheets of the king-sized bed. Yes, I was so looking forward to this moment to put on my earphones.

What I felt then was the strongest kind of emotion that I have for music. Close my eyes and concentrate all my sensitivity to what I hear. The sound I hear leads me to a different world - faint blue light quietly flickers in the dark in the distance, just like an aurora. It pulls me to its world with a strong grip. I feel my chest get tight. It takes my breath away. Special energy runs through my body and I want to release it in some way. Even though my eyes are closed, my mind is wide awake. I usually get to sleep as soon as I go to bed but I was listening to music for an hour without realizing it, even though it was a long day. These feelings resonate with the dream-like fact that I am in Yellowstone and they overwhelm me even more.

When music shakes me the most strongly, I have a sensation like this. Or it could wrap me up with a different sentiment.

One beautiful winter day, we were driving on a straight road that leads to Grand Canyon in a vast desert. My favorite song was playing in the car [on the radio]. And we were talking about music. My friend said, while driving, “You know, music sometimes connects with some special time. For example, if I hear this song that’s playing right now someday, I think I will remember this trip.” It was a kind of song that zones me out every time I listen. I feel as if I were in the middle of an endless grass field and I forget all the small things. The day after the trip, I woke up early in the morning alone in the house. I was listening to the same song again, thinking about the scenery that I saw on the trip, things we talked about and the time I had with them. The image that song brings about echos the magnificent view of Grand Canyon. And I reflect. I had a wonderful time. Was it the same for them too? Will the time tied with this song keep being something meaningful in our lives and connect us again in some way?

It is not easy to express with one phrase what music is to me. Even though music is essential to me, I am not trying to pursue it professionally. But it soaks into various parts of my life and exerts some special power. It could take a different form from what I have written above. The feeling that I have when dancing is one example. Incorporate the rhythm of the music into my body and directly translate the image that the sound creates into motion. I think dancing is one of the best ways to express your sensation toward music. I genuinely enjoy expressing music with the “words” of dance and appreciate that I can use those words.

It is an interesting process to put into words such extremely visceral things like music. And it can be embodied in many more ways. What are your “words” for music?

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