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When the power of music hits the soul
I love this scene from the movie Equilibrium about the beauty of music and how important it is to humanity. Equilibrium questions what it means to be human.
Imagine a world where all art, literature, and music (everything that is beautiful) is banned for social order, and the state police character, portrayed by Christian Bale, devoted his life to stomping out all beauty in humanity discovers what music is all about.In this scene, he discovers a hiding place of a fugitive, and hears music for the first time: “The realization that he has been destroying so much beauty for so many years overwhelms him. The beauty of the music he is hearing, and that which he will never hear, on account of all the destruction, is too much to bear. All that clearly communicated with just facial expression, wonderful!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b3_-pPzDVk
Christian Bale’s finest performance.
For all the like-minded folks here who love music, and most importantly MLT music, I thought I’d share this for fun.
I often have these kind of moments when I hear new MLT music they create.I remember a few other times in my life when I felt music hitting my soul. Singing in grade 5 music class to “One Tin Soldier”, “Blowin in the Wind”, and Christmas Carols.
Anyone else care to share a particular “Equilibrium” moment when music reached down and moved your soul?
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7 Replies
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I’m with you on the examples you cited, Jung. I learned both of those songs in childhood, but I didn’t grasp their deeper meaning until much later. “Blowin’ in the Wind” really hit me at the time of the Tiananmen Square massacre.
Another song I’d put in that category is “Puff the Magic Dragon”, which was my favorite song when I was six. Once my dad listened to it with me and he ended up fighting back tears, and I couldn’t for the life of me imagine why. Now, of course, it moves me in the same way.
I saw Peter, Paul and Mary in concert in 1990, and at the end of that song Peter added a spoken epilogue about Jackie Paper all grown up and bringing his son to visit with Puff. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.
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Hi David, thanks for sharing that. Puff the Magic Dragon I remember was one of my favorites too that we use to sing in grade 1 and 2. I had a listen again to that song sang by Peter, Paul, and Mary, and I never realized until now just how beautiful and touching the lyrics are, and I think I can relate to how your father was so moved by that song.
It reminds me of the summer of 2010 when my 7 years old nephew came to spend the summer with us. We had so much fun that summer, and my dog Max I think thought he had a new brother! On the day he had to leave us, and fly back to Korea at the end of the summer, I remember going to IHOP with him for breakfast before going to the airport, and he told me during breakfast not to be sad and pulled some candy out of his pocket. I still get teary eyed when I think of that. Although I’ve seen my nephew Tony many times since then (he is 16 now) and we are the best of friends, I will never forget the little 7 year old Tony I first met, and that special summer of 2010.
Here is a photo of my nephew Tony and Max from 2010
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To me, “Puff” is a metaphor for the bittersweet nature of growing up: you’re moving on to bigger and better things, but you’re leaving your (hopefully) idyllic childhood behind. The dragon is a personification (well… dragonification) of your younger self being abandoned. It just makes me sad, but in a therapeutic way, to think of it like that.
That’s a sweet story about your nephew, Jung. I’m glad you’ve been able to stay connected with him as he’s grown up. Those interactions help keep Puff from becoming lonely.
This song includes one of my best-remembered instances of misheard lyrics: as a little kid I’d sing along and go “in a land called Halloween”.
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Your metaphor analogy makes a lot of sense David, of leaving ones childhood behind, and the dragon being the personification of ones younger self. I am sure that was the meaning of that song. Interestingly for me, when I heard that song in context of my nephew, I felt like the dragon was me, and that little 7 year old nephew I had the great pleasure of knowing that summer, would forever be different the next time I see him as he grows and matures, to better and bigger things as he should naturally, but I still can’t help but miss the way he was, at that point in time.
It’s amazing what music can do, helping to express feelings and emotions in such a therapeutic way. It is a consoler and a mediator into our inner being or soul.
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Here is an interesting TED talk about music, and how it moves us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_nKpiHWcC0
Music is a universal language that can be spoken and appreciated by people without regard for religion, race, ethnicity, or education.
Music belongs to the whole of humankind.
It transcends boundaries to unite.
It is deemed one of the best forms of emotional communications and is the drive behind social and political change.Music is a spark for change.
No matter where we come from or what music we like, music moves us. It moves us to be healthy and happy, to cry, to laugh, and to dance.So the next time you are listening to an MLT song from Orange, When We’re Together, or one of their covers or a Christmas song, know that it is profoundly good for your health and well being too.
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This beautiful Beach Boys gem really says it all. Add Some Music to Your Day!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBkA4-U4MPk
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I came across this really touching story about what it is to be a musician and pursuing a life of music.
Life With Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ohPbKJ5FCo
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