Why does music transcend generations? | News, Sports, Jobs – Escanaba Daily Press

I recently spent a weekend in Chicago with my close friends, celebrating music at the annual Lollapalooza festival in Grant Park. The music festival garners hundreds of thousands of concert-goers annually, with various performances showcasing on eight stages throughout the park. From rap to punk rock, Korean pop to electric dance music, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

This recent trip was not my first time attending the music festival, so I had prepared myself for the insanity and diversity of the crowd. However, when I first went two years ago, it was a culture shock.

Before attending Lollapalooza in 2021, I thought some music genres only appealed to specific age groups. My belief was not necessarily false. For instance, it is a well-known fact that the hip-hop/rap genre often attracts younger audiences. Consumer data from streaming services in the United States shows that 48% of those listening to the genre were aged 16-19, significantly higher than the 15% of those between 45-54 who enjoy it.

Because of this fact, we can conclude that music often appeals to the generation that created it. Those who were teenagers and young adults in the 1970s and 1980s continue to prefer classic rock over 2010s pop, just as Gen Zers often listen to music released today. I have experienced this implicit bias firsthand, for my parents have kept the radio glued to the classic rock station since I can remember.

However, their bias for the longest time influenced my understanding of music and, therefore, my listening patterns. In high school, it was no secret that my taste in music was odd compared to my classmates. While teammates listened to modern rap by Drake and J. Cole to get pumped for games, I listened to Billy Joel and ELO. I hardly ever strayed from the strongholds of mellow gold and psychedelic rock that permeated my childhood.

The music is not bad by any means. It still rocks and rotates in and out of my go-to tunes. But after attending Lollapalooza in 2021, my understanding of musical influence finally came full circle.

As I watched people in their 60s jam out to modern hip-hop artists, I simultaneously witnessed people younger than me dancing to the musical stylings of Journey (who put on a fantastic show, by the way). Everything I presumed about music and demographic seemed to fly out the window. I was no longer the only outcast that enjoyed music outside of my age demographic’s stereotype. And while I was a bit dumbfounded by the sights and sounds of adoring fans of all ages surrounding me, I could not help but smile at what I witnessed.

It did not matter who you were when listening to the live music. The superficial characteristics used to categorize concert-goers had disappeared at the moment. Everyone seemed to be friends – they danced with each other, laughed with each other, and looked out for each other in the overwhelming crowd. It was a melting pot of individuals, joined as one, with the common goal of making friends and having fun.

How does music achieve this? We are all products of our surroundings regarding our taste in music, with genres and artists appealing to us because it is what we have always known. But my experience at Lollapalooza proved that our taste in music is not as confined by our environment as I once thought. So what is it, then, that makes music so transcendent?

For some, it may be lyrical. Common motifs in popular music, like friendship, heartbreak, and general discontent, are relatable to all. These shared human experiences unite us all in some way, shape, or form, which means that a connection forms no matter how that message is conveyed to us – whether in a rock and roll ballad or the chorus of a pop song. That connection exists not only between the musician and the audience but also between individual audience members.

I experienced this during Journey’s performance in 2021. I attended the concert alone, my friends opting to see Post Malone instead, and connected with a girl from Russia. Despite the language barrier, she knew all the words to “Faithfully,” so we sang it together and swayed back and forth.

Someone from a foreign country that spoke a different language felt the music as I had because the words are relatable to all – not just those who grew up with it. It was an eye-opening experience, and I now know there is no better feeling than screaming the lyrics of a love song with a stranger.

But sometimes those words are said differently or not said at all. Musicians’ melodies, instrumentals, and emotions also help them transcend time. Several acts at Lollapalooza this year featured no vocal performances, with only beats, guitar solos, and drum breaks used to get crowds moving. Sometimes instruments have a better way of describing our feelings, with a wailing saxophone emanating a passion or fire that can carry many to tears.

Overall, the combination of lyrics and sound help make music timeless – allowing it to be enjoyed from generation to generation. Sure, we may outgrow some artists, or their sound may no longer appeal to us. But the music of all ages will continue to flow in and out of our lives because we can always relate it to something we feel.

That is the beauty of music to me: it knows no age or time. It only knows how to express sentiments that are relatable and forever-lasting.

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Andie Balenger is a native of Gladstone and is currently attending Northern Michigan University. Her column focuses on college life and runs Thursdays in the Daily Press.