I’m going to say it like it is: we’re pretty weak animals in the food chain. Right in between pigs and anchovies, in the latest classification. We’re not fast, we’re not strong, we have no claws, no powerful jaws, and we don’t jump very high. We only made it this far because we gathered in groups to protect each other and work together.
And what gathers a community like a party with good music?
Game of Stones
Music is the oldest and most popular form of art because it brings people together around a sensorial experience. It’s definitely been more successful at bridging gaps and erasing frontiers than language.
Music is the oldest and most popular form of art because it brings people together around a sensorial experience. It’s definitely been more successful at bridging gaps and erasing frontiers than language.
Once fire was invented, they probably used the same rocks to create humanity’s first ever drumming kit. Fire and drums. The person who invented those two on the same day was nothing short of an absolute genius.
And we danced. Food and musical rituals are a tradition that is shared by all tribes of the world. From the Tibetan singing bowls to Aboriginal didgeridooto Swiss yodeling (MUST WATCH. Disclaimer: You can never unsee this), we’ve arrived to this. Sometimes I wonder if it was all reasonable.
There is something so obviously sacred about music it’s no surprise that religion quickly put this rival force under control.
No social force that powerful could be outside of the official channels. For a very long time indeed, the only accepted music was religious. Pagan music was sanctioned by torture, inquisition, and death. They even considered some intervals (chords) to be satanic… “Music comes the closest to expressing the inexpressible” they say. Closer than priests and archbishops?
One can only wonder at the potential of this force if it had to be repressed like this.
It’s in your system already
Don’t fight it. The brain loves steady rhythms. It reinforces memory, affects the thought process and synchronises the integration of brain-motor functions (dancing). The why is still something that’s being explored by research. But it’s there, and no one can take that away. We got the rhythm, and no one else has (no one?).
What’s for sure is that our brain is hardwired to music. You should learn an instrument. It’s like playing all the brain games on your smartphone at the same time. Just harder, better, faster and stronger.
Nature sounds have other beneficial effects: they reduce stress levels, raise attention span, and, researchers are also investigating, inspire a sense of connexion. To what?
Nothing is proven. Yet.
Ambient sounds seem to put us in an alternative mindset, in a deeper state of perception. The same way the ear catches beats, steady sounds seem to activate a focus mode in our brain. All those of us who are addicted to having some sort of sound atmosphere when we work (sleep, cook, pick our noses…), we had a point all along. Here’s for you, here’s to us!
Each week, Plan A publishes a playlist on our Spotify account to raise awareness around climate change. Covering the vast plains of the realm of music, from sounds inspired by nature to disco dance, from deep house to world music, Plan A has love for every cultures and every genre.
Rock to the same beat. Together.