Artists control people’s lives

Alex CURRY - Senior Editor

With symphonies and operas in the 1700s and 1800s, to ragtime, jazz, swing, rock and roll, punk rock, rap, and what people listen to today, artists have always had one thing going for them – the tunes they play and the vocals they warble control how people think and act.

In other words, the type of music artists have put together throughout history has always affected the way people live and learn.   In fact, a study done by emedexpert.com concluded that listening to music is one of the few activities that involve using the whole brain. It enhances brain development and improves learning skills, but it also influences people, especially teens.

For example, when students listen to a song that talks about being promiscuous and having drugs, then the odds of the listener doing the same things increases as this becomes a contributing factor in behavior.

Chris Cubillo notes his experiences confirm this notion.  He said, “The majority of my friends who are good listen to good songs most of the time. So, I know from experience that music can definitely affect the way people react.”

The Media Awareness Network refers people to a study done by the American Academy of Pediatrics, 1999, which concludes that after doing many tests “heavy metal music may be a significant marker for alienation, substance abuse, psychiatric disorders, suicide risk, sex-role stereotyping or risk-taking behaviors’ during adolescence.”

Heavy metal is just one of the many types of genres that could produces these affects.  Another one is rap.

In Rap Music’s Psychological Effect, author Jennifer Copley says that students who listen and watch rap are “more accepting of violent actions, particularly against women.” Not just that, but people begin to act up around their parents and teachers, get bad grades, and follow the wrong crowds.

Senior Bobby Hilton said, “Just listening to rap songs about sex and drugs is nauseating and the fact that artists think it is alright to sing about it are wrong. Those kinds of songs could never bring anything good out of it.”

Luckily, for every negative, there is a positive, and where there is filthy music, there is also good music.

Appropriate music can calm people down, make people smarter, and reduce depression. It helps distract the body, gives one the feeling that he or she is in control, and helps “release endorphins to counteract pain.”

Sadly, much of the music students listen to today does nothing to help anyone’s body in anyway. In fact listening to songs like these only encourages students to do immoral activities.

If people would change the genre of music that surrounds them, their lives might improve and change for the better.  Senior Ty Melee knows this is true and said, “Sometimes when I do my homework, I listen to classical music because I usually do better on my homework. I am more focused, and understand more.”

Music does have the ability to sway people, as well as enhance brain development.  It can steer people in the wrong direction, but it can also improve learning.  It is a person’s choice what the tune of their future will be.

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