A few years ago, as I finished the last page of my summer reading assignment on the bus, a dark, older man started playing music out of his speakers. The music was jazz--with trumpets and raspy voices and everything. He grinned and bobbed his head in sync with the melody and hummed loudly. Suddenly, one by one, the other elderly passengers started to hum along, absorbing the music into their souls and feeling the song's beat pulse through their bodies. I had never seen anything like it.
Many people would say that this generation has produced some of the "worst music" ever. In fact, a recent poll shows that forty-two percent of Americans believe that this decade's music doesn't even compare to that of the last four decades. And with the advent of lip-syncing and Autotuning, many of today's teens often care more about the drama and persona of music artists than the melody of the music itself. Some older folks criticize teens for listening to music that is repetitive, obnoxious, and shallow. Parents complain that their teens only listen to music that promotes sex, drugs, and crimes. And even many of my own peers admit that they choose to listen to artists simply because they are attractive. So, is it true that music no longer creates passion and a sense of community in teens as it used to?
In the three years I've spent at Gateway, getting to know the student body that is diverse in both culture and thought, I've realized that despite modern music's profanity and widespread criticism, it still strengthens communities and reinforces intimate relationships. I recently witnessed this firsthand during lunch when I heard what sounded like an angry man yelling to the sound of a beat and people cheering him on. When I turned around, I realized that the voice was coming from a large speaker playing DJ Snake's and Lil Jon's "Turn Down For What," a new popular song whose lyrics are,
"Fire up your loud
Another round of shots
Turn down for what!"
The song repeats these same three nonsensical lines over and over. So when I noticed one of my best friends, who is normally very reserved and mature, dancing and laughing to the vulgar song along with everyone else, I confronted him and asked why he was doing it. Sensing my bitter attitude he said, "Dude, it's just a song. Everyone here's happy, so what's the problem?" I realized that he was right. These kids were just as passionate about music as the people I had seen on the bus.
In short, while the genre and style of music has certainly changed generation after generation, the effects of music on people--such as affectionate community relationships and heartfelt euphoria--have always stayed the same. In essence, the dumb lyrics and shallowness of music artists matter little in light of these shared benefits of listening to music in general. This semester, several students even started a music club, using music to foster a stronger student community throughout the school. Thus, it is clear that music lives on, embodying the spirit and passion across generations.
Note from the editor: Justin Chen, a Gateway High School Senior, is currently interning in the Communications Department of Gateway Public Schools. As part of his training, he has been tasked with covering topics pertinent to the high school community. This is the first in the series.