Today, I was honored in a special way among my peers for discussing a particular subject matter with in depth understanding, which certainly boosted my sense of prestige. Yet, this recognition also made me reflect. Even though I thought it was basic knowledge I was sharing, I questioned where I gained that particular perspective from because many of my peers looked like they were hearing certain things I said for the very first time.
Over time, I have consciously worked to expand my knowledge, not just from books but from everything around me:nature, poetry, movies, music and more. I have trained myself to look beyond the surface of things, to seek deeper meaning. What's beautiful about this is that even in the simplest, most trivial things, I find there are always some deeper layers to uncover and this just needs me to look deeper.
Putting music on the spotlight, I have explored various genres of songs in my time on earth, though I feel like I have discovered merely enough and hope to discover even more. One thing I enjoy doing is paying close attention to the lyrics of songs, especially songs I hear for the very first time. When I find the lyrics meaningful, I listen on.
There was one particular song I heard when I was younger (maybe too young for the themes this song portrayed) that quickly became one of my favorite songs. This is because the truth the artist sang was not widely understood nor accepted, particularly in my part of the world. I immediately took a liking to this song because the song stood out as original and authentic, unlike many others that felt and still feel copied or repetitive.
The amazing artist in view is Asa and the amazing song I'll be giving the spotlight to is “Jailer”. After my first encounter with this song many years ago, I listened to it over and over again and every time I listened, there was always something new to pick from the lyrics. Is it when the artist talks about cause and effect? Or how people believe they're better off because they have the upper hand? Or when we, as humans, oppress ourselves, forgetting we’re victims too. Each line is an absolute masterpiece as they are both poetic and literal.
The truth is that the song aligned snugly with certain values I was trying to cultivate at the time and this made playing the song on repeat quite easy. It encompasses themes like goodness, kindness, thoughtfulness, compassion, logical reasoning and the likes.
And then there's Asa's voice; so skillful and soulful and I particularly like how beautifully it blends with the instruments. Her vocals make the music a real pleasure to listen to. I've enjoyed many of Asa's songs over the years and these, amongst others, are the songs that shaped part of my upbringing. Looking back, I wouldn't trade the experience of listening to this amazing artist nor the insights gotten from her songs for anything.
How about you? Has your perspective been shaped by any artist or music in particular? Would you change this if you had the opportunity to?