The Sound of Feelings

Without music, the world would not be as colorful as it is. I think the reason for my taste in music has a lot to do with the fact that I understand people express themselves in different ways. For instance, not everyone can sing as soulfully as…let’s say Stevie Wonder. On the flip side, not everyone can rap like KRS-One or play like Hendrix. However, most of us, if not all of us, have a desire to express ourselves in the best way we know how. People are closed off to different music genres, claiming that one is better than the other. Of course it’s fine to have preferences, but ALL OF IT is considered MUSIC. We all have our opinions, but as for my own…I don’t think anyone has the right to say one genre is not as “real” as another. What I’m referring to is the old joke that “rap music” is an oxymoron.

Like I said, people choose to express themselves the best way they know how and with what they are most talented in, to show people how they feel or to voice their opinions. I remember telling a friend of mine that people should not denounce rap. Rappers are people who may not be able to sing, but like sharing their thoughts through music, the way they know how.

I listen to everything, whether it be rock or country or reggae. It all depends on how I’m feeling on a certain day, or what I am doing. For instance, Bob Marley is the best to listen to on a warm day when you’re driving for a while (like on a stretch of the Garden State Parkway) with the windows down and the wind blowing through your hair. Keith Urban is the only country artist I really listen to, but he’s also a Parkway favorite, as well as Maroon 5 and John Mayer. Once the evening hits, R&B and acoustic is on rotation. I could listen to old and new R&B, from the Temptations to Ne-Yo. Cousins in the Philippines got me listening to Boyce Avenue’s acoustic covers, which is my newfound love! In the morning when I need to wake up and coffee can’t do the trick, I blast some rock music or turn on a Christian radio station. When I’m working out, I listen to dance mixes of my favorite songs and upbeat hip hop.

Basically, I cannot listen to only one genre of music. Life is too diverse, and it needs an eclectic soundtrack to go along with it.

And now for your viewing and listening pleasure, Alejandro Manzano of Boyce Avenue...check out the whole band on YouTube. I am now a fan!

You Can't Tell Me I'm Wrong

Recently I watched a documentary on eating disorders of which I cannot remember the title. All I remember is that people with eating disorders have a connection to each other via the Internet. The curious person that I am, I searched these websites that promote eating disorders, and are used by people for motivation and inspiration. They (particularly girls), give each other advice on how (not) to eat, how to weigh themselves without anyone realizing how much weight they have lost, and other things to help them live with their eating disorders. Some of these sites have motivational quotes that mention that the thinner you are, the more attractive and beautiful you will feel. Their perception of the ideal body is pretty much skin and bones. Meat = no good.

I am not condemning nor condoning this behavior; at least, not in this blog. Even though my intent is to express myself, I will not do it if I think it will insult someone (at least not intentionally). Anyway, this leads me to my main point: perception. Beauty, a sense of "reality," and what is good versus evil, is all in the eye of the beholder. I am a strong believer in the idea of "live and let live." There are people who think "thin is in" and other people who believe it is healthier to have more meat on their bodies. People have different views, opinions, and ideals. What one person thinks is wrong could actually be the basis of values for an entire culture or religion. What could be a social norm to one population could be a social violation to another. In other words, I do not think we can judge one another based on our personal opinions. We all must learn to accept each other's differences. Now, some of you may be thinking that eating disorders are harmful, and so it should not be accepted. Yes, that may be so. However, it is one thing to say that it is wrong; it is another to say that it is dangerous. This may sound confusing, so let me clarify: I think that it is more concrete to make a list of what is dangerous as opposed to what is wrong. For instance, suicide bombing is dangerous, but it is not wrong according to certain groups of people. So, back to what I was saying. How many of us can actually relate to someone with an eating disorder? Or relate to someone who is in an arranged marriage? Or someone who believes in polygamy?

All I am saying is that people have different views. We should not throw around the word "wrong" as loosely as we do. I'm at fault for doing this as well (you will notice as I post more entries, that many of them are based on certain realizations or epiphanies that I have). It is a hard "habit" to break; especially because the majority of us have similar beliefs of what is right and wrong. Before we judge people with eating disorders, we should first think about how they feel and why they do it. If you know someone with an eating disorder who thinks he or she is correctly dieting and living life the "right" way, I do not think you should tell him or her it is wrong. I think it is better to say that it is dangerous and harmful, and as a friend, you are looking out for the health of someone you care about. This could be a good way to help people, not just for eating disorders, but for other reasons. This is something I have personally just realized, and I think by doing this, people I may want to help in the future might be more open to hear me out. When you tell someone that they are wrong, more than likely their first response would be, "You can't tell me I'm wrong." Then, how much harder would it be to help someone when they think you're judging and belittling them? There are other things that are not dangerous, and these things go under the "live and let live" saying. People should not tell other people they are wrong for having more than one wife, for being Christian instead of Catholic, for being homosexual, etc. It may not be something you practice or something that you are, but it should just be accepted, or at the very least, you could just ignore it and live your life.