Music as a form of connection
Importance of Music: Part II
Connection is an intrinsic human need, one that has been created since our existence. As social beings, we always crave companionship that provides support, understanding, and a sense of belonging. In this sense, music acts as an instrument and channel to make communication between person and listener possible. It provides an enriching experience, whether it lasts for minutes (if we're talking about a couple of songs) or hours (if we're talking about an entire album).
For as long as I can remember, I've enjoyed using music as an escape, furthermore as a way to understand myself and my surroundings. Thus, on days that may have seemed ordinary during my adolescence, and thanks to the power of the internet, I had so much love for certain songs by artists and bands that I made the conscious decision to become a fan.
If you look up the definition of a "fan" as a noun online, you'll find that it's defined as someone who likes and admires a (famous) person or something (such as a sport or sports team)1. For me, it has meant a positive transformation in my personality; Every singer or band I've met on my own or through recommendations has opened doors to new worlds.
Last year, I went to a screening of Taylor Swift's documentary, The Eras Tour, it was incredible to think about how everyone there was able to immerse themselves in the artist's life by simply listening to one song or watching a video and feeling a sense of community and familiarity as if we'd all known each other for years despite having only interacted for a few seconds.
After leaving the screening, we exchanged friendship bracelets2, gave each other stickers, and made friends with people who, over time, would assume a pivotal role in our lives. Perhaps some of us find our musical soulmates or best friends within these groups, and that's the purpose of music itself: to create a connection that transcends time and distance, so that we know we can find a sense of belonging just a click away.
Definition of "fan" obtained from Britannica Dictionary (https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/fan).
The way you describe connection, as something music quietly fosters, moment by moment, is so true. It’s easy to forget how deeply we long to be seen, to feel understood, and how a single song can hold space for that.
Your reflection on becoming a fan, not just of music but of the emotions and worlds it opens up, really awoke something in me.
That moment after the screening, exchanging bracelets and stickers with strangers who suddenly didn’t feel like strangers at all, that’s the kind of tenderness we don’t talk about enough. It’s real. It matters.
Thank you for putting words to something so many of us feel but rarely articulate. I’ll be carrying this with me for a while.
Siggy xx
This this this!!! The way music and fandom connects people is so wonderful, grateful that Substack is a place for that 🫶