Music classification

Music is such a powerful art form. One can take music written by others to tell the story of one’s life. In my case I have many different playlist on my personal media player, used for carious occasions and reasons. But music that can be described as journaling my life can be separated very simply. The songs central message, what is it that the artist is singing about. The second determination is based solely on the uniqueness of the song type.

My media player contains essentially an intimate look at who I really am; this specific body of music can be categorized into three groups: Conscious Music, Love Songs and Show tunes. When listened to in a particular order one can see how such music is a direct link to my true being. It is extremely important to me at this stage of my life to surround myself with positive influences. I make an effort to incorporate such music that sends messages that help my identity: Girl Power, Black Consciousness and Self Awareness. For me these music choices usually can be categorized into such genres as Reggae, Neo Soul and Soul Music.

For example reggae songs like Concrete Jungle by Bob Marley discuss awareness to the socio-economic plight of Blacks in Jamaica and can be related to the condition many Blacks face internationally. Marley compares life in the Concrete Jungle as life in captivity. He sings about finding a “ sweet life” somewhere else. Such songs while a cry for change also brings hope to listeners that life in poverty and injustice can change. For me it provides motivation for social action in my life to change the conditions of Blacks in America. Growing up love songs were simply listened for a catchy beat or melody.

Experiencing romantic love firsthand as an adult makes listening to music today so much more personal and meaningful. I often find myself saying “ Wow! He/she is singing my life. ” In Lauryn Hill’s EX-Factor she sings of a relationship with very complicated dynamic, both parties in the relationship never seem to be on the same page. While Hill is pinning for her lover he seems distant and when she is fed up he seems to want her. Essentially heartbroken the realization is evident. Being in love doesn’t mean necessarily mean that two people should be in a relationship.

Such lessons can be so profound, the sincerity of the artist can be felt and this category of music appeals to a more intimate side of me. Such music often times can catalog a journey of maturity as in. Through With Love, by group Destiny’s Child, provides an example a growth of romantic maturity. This particular song displays true love after experiencing a love like Hill describes. Such songs on my media player tell a part of my life story. My love for the arts is something that enables me to connect subjects such as history, science and math together and see a larger picture.

Music and drama have been a part of my life from my formative years. I was in acting classes and voice lessons each week and frequently visited museums along the east coast. My mother always brought me to Broadway/ Off Broadway Shows. We bonded over college drama productions and children’s theater. For me show tunes like writing combine all the things I have grown to love the most: history, science, and drama. Show tunes allow me to explore all these subjects to some music whether a grandiose up tempo tune or a melancholy melody.

Each story to music, help me work out my own self-identification through the situations and characters in each play. Real life occurrences set to music allow me to ride the train while listening to What About Love from “ The Color Purple” and No Day But Today from “ Rent’ and have me contemplating sexual identity, spirituality, the effects of race on health and economic status. This category of music allows more than any other allows me to most ponder issues that might not directly affect my life, as it evokes thoughts of the entire story line of the play.

While containing various genres the three categories mentioned on my media player are a creative and accurate describe who I am. It tells a little bit about who I am and where I’ve come from. For me Love Songs, Show tunes and Conscious music define the cores of my identity and often can explain my motives for the things that I do. Largely the assumption can be made that the type of music one listens to directly correlates to the type of person one is. Music is truly expression of one’s self, thus the music that can be found on my media player are an extension of me.