My greatest conversation starter is about music taste. Music says a lot about an individual. If they are eager to share their music assume that they love to be on aux. Whereas, some people may be shy and private about their music taste. People who enjoy jazz music, most likely love the instrument aspect. Whereas people who enjoy rap, focus on the meaning of the lyrics. Our love for music holds meaning. It is found within our souls. We connect and learn from one another through the music we listen to.
Music is a significant part of culture and identity.
My mom and I watched Bollywood movies every week. I fell in love with high-pitch singing and melodic songs. We sang along to Pappu Can’t Dance with Imran Khan and Genelia D’Souza as we raided the pantry for movie snacks. Envisioning the classic scene where there is tall grass and a perfect amount of rain, we frolicked in my living room to Kal Ho Naa Na. Indian weddings are colorful, large, and spectacular. The long-awaited and favorite part of every Indian wedding is when the DJ invites everyone to enter the dance floor. The children are the first ones on the floor, dragging their parents and siblings with them. Popular Bollywood music fills the room. I have stomped my feet and moved my body to Desi Girl, Badtameez Dil, and Lungi Dance with my uncles, aunts, and cousins.Â
An American high school dance tends to follow specific guidelines. As everyone sways to the music awkwardly, the DJ connects us through the movement of the ChaCha Slide and Cupid Shuffle. Every time I laugh and smile with my friends as we move to the right or do the charlie brown. Shoes come off, arms fly to the air, and everyone begins jumping as Yeah! and I Don’t F*** With You plays. We gasp as the nostalgic hits begin to play: Super Bass, Replay, and Hollaback Girl. Everyone enjoys the Pitbull classics, Hotel Room Service, and Time of Our Lives. Girls (I am the “girls”) throw down to Gasolina and Ayy Ladies! Ending the night with the classic slow dance to Perfect by Ed Sheeran.Â
As I drive home from work, I roll down the windows, and blast Ain’t Shit by Doja Cat and Medicine by Queen Naija during my hot girl era. I dance, jive, and have the time of my life to Dancing Queen (“Mamma Mia” version)! I scream I Want You All Around, Treat Me Like Somebody, and Broken Clocks as if I had gone through a major breakup the day before.Â
Every hot girl experiences sad girl eras too.
When I am sad, I want to feel sad. I want my emotions validated. I refuse to listen to hype songs that will cheer me up. Instead, I sob and jam to Chasing Cars, Moon River, Easily, and Who Hurt You? During 2021-2022, I experienced a heartbreak that I never imagined I would go through. I created an entire mood album, called“heartbreak on blast”, I repeatedly and religiously listened to Easy On Me (shoutout to Adele for releasing a new album when I needed it the most) and Strange. The lyrics spoke to the situation I faced where I fought for a person; but it felt like they did not or simply could not fight for me. We were in two different periods of life, so we grew apart. All I wanted was for life to go easy on me.Â
I struggle with anxiety, and during 2020 I really suffered with my mental health. I found myself losing sleep because I could not control the thousands of thoughts bouncing throughout my mind. It is very challenging to communicate my emotions, so I use different techniques to cope with them. I use music, specifically the band Cigarettes After Sex, as my coping mechanism. It reduces my anxiety as the rhythm narrows my thinking to focus on the music and my breathing. I am immersed in a world where it is me, myself, and the music. The lyrics remind me that I am not alone, as it validates my thoughts and emotions. Some of my favorite songs to fall asleep to are Apocalypse, Crush, and K.Â
I am a silent worker, as in, I am only productive in a quiet environment to do homework. Unless I am craving social interaction or working on a group project, I will not work around other people. I love working in the library because it is quiet enough that I can focus and not feel like I am living in a simulation. As I previously mentioned, music helps me focus. So, I listen to a specific genre of music that helps me focus: traditional French music. I do not understand French, so it helps me focus on my homework rather than the lyrics. Yet, it still allows me to appreciate melodic music. My homework playlist includes La Vie en Rose, C’est l’amour, and Si tu vois ma mère.Â
In sixth and seventh grade, my dad drove me to school every day. At 8 AM, we tuned into Dennis Mitchell’s Breakfast with the Beatles. He reminisced on the old days when he listened to the Beatles and discovered Paul McCartney. We sang Yesterday, Let It Be, and Octopus’s Garden. He would smile with joy if I recognized one of their songs. He introduced me to the Scorpions and now our song is Wind of Change. To this day, we blast Rock You Like A Hurricane every summer afternoon.Â
Lastly, and most importantly, I must talk about my sister. Although I deny it, my sister created and defined my music taste. She set the path for me as she introduced me to Super Bass and My Boo at a young age. She taught me relationship standards by singing Grenade by Bruno Mars (basically do not settle for someone who refuses to catch a grenade for you). She is the reason why I love music. So Miriam, if you see this, thank you for raising me with good music taste. I am able to meet new people and share my story with others because music connects us all.Â
Self-promo: Spotify handle is @racheljason
https://open.spotify.com/user/miriamjason?si=a4a0d3221eb043e5
