The Art of Music

    Everytime I put my airpods in, open spotify, and play my favorite song at fully volume, the world around me disappears. The melodic symphony of notes, combined to emphasize different emotions and stories, immerses me into a world where all my worries seem to fade. When I listen to music, I'm reminded that music isn't just about individualistic pleasure -- it's a common ground for people to share grievances and experiences.


    As in Sherman Alexie's "Because My Father Always Said...", music not only serves for personal enjoyment, but it also shows how songs like 'The Star Spangled Banner' carries cultural and personal memory. Within the story, Alexie describes his father's obsession for a specific cover of the Star Spangled Banner -- by Jimi Hendrix -- and the impacts that
 the song had on their relationship. Even though it is not explicitly stated, we can assume that Alexie's father's fondness to the song is due to a sense of connection in the history, pain, and resilience shown within Hendrix's rendition. To him, the anthem wasn't just words of patriotism, but a protest about the injustices of America and a reminder of his own struggles as a Native American. On top of that, he claims he is the only Indian to see Hendrix play the song, making this experience seem to be special or unique He repeats this claim so often that it becomes less and less about facts, and more so about personal identity -- a story to give himself pride and a place in history. This shows that music, whether played live at a concert or streamed online today, is not always just sound, but a cultural and personal bridge that shares the memories and history of different individuals, even if they are divided by race.

    Everytime I put my airpods in, listening to my favorite song, or playing The Star Spangled Banner because I suddenly decided to be patriotic, music has the power to carry struggles and experiences through sound. It carries the weight of who we are, what we have been through, and what we want to be, all through an assortment of sounds that seem pleasant to our ears. That is the true art of music. 

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