Music is one of the most subjective forms of art known to mankind. People from all around the world have been making, producing, composing, appreciating and even revolutionized music, deriving influences from different cultures and heritage. It is hard to give the true definition of music. There is a massive conflict of ideas and theories when it comes to defining this celebrated art. What can be said is that music is a form of expression, which can be produce just by playing a single note or the merging of different elements of a chord, beat or scales of symphonic notes.
I love music. I have been very passionate about it ever since I was a child and I was exposed to music at a very young age. One of the earliest forms of music that came to me were nursery rhymes such as ‘Three Blind Mice’, ‘Old McDonald’, and even some traditional Malay old folk’s songs like ‘Jong Jong Inai’ and ‘Lenggang Kangkung’. The habit of listening and singing came naturally to me. Then it gave me an urge to explore deeper into various branches and roots of music. I started playing my first musical instrument at the age of 13. From then on, I have started to learn how to appreciate music. The art of creating and producing sounds and frills that infiltrate and intrigue the soul is unexplainable.
Growing up, I have been influenced by so many people and their music. From traditional to modern, from old to new, I came across uncountable types of expressions that has been interpreted in the form of music. As a teenager, I admit that initially I have problems to digest some of the materials that I have listened to and have my own bias perceptions towards those unusual and different sounds that differed and drifted far apart from the music that the people of my age listened to, but the more I learned about music the more I understood that I need to go beyond from what is upon me, to use my imagination and constantly reminding myself to be in the shoe of those who created and made the music as it is in order to really appreciate music to the fullest.
People loves to talk about the things they love, they cherish and adore. For me to talk about genres of music that I love is irrelevant because I can talk about it all day long. I am going to talk about music that I have difficulties appreciating and listening to. The likes of the Korean pop aka K-pop and the body shaking Dangdut.
I have the most problems appreciating k-pop songs so let me start with the K-pop. The music of K-pop artists is the usual catchy beats of pop songs, which is modest if I am to comment about their musicianship. Furthermore, the Korean language is extremely foreign to me, so basically I have absolutely no conscious understanding of the lyrics that had been sang by K-pop artists. I have encountered many obstacles before I can to finally digest what is being conveyed by the artists. The thing that I have noted about K-pop music is that it is fresh and new, portraying youth and perfections. Most of the songs bring arrays of surging rushes of excitement through their music which I considered as a very positive form of expression. Next, is the Dangdut. The music Dangdut is most adored in Indonesia but the genre had also made it to the Malaysian shore. There is not much of a language barrier as the Indonesian and the Malay language is quite similar thus, making it easier for me to comprehend with the lyrics. What I can say about Dangdut is that it is one of the hardest music to play to. The unusual arrangements of music and the adamant tone of the singer’s voice are nothing short of unique. I gave my earnest respects to those who are involved in the Dangdut music industry.
As a conclusion, music is a subjective art form. People may judge and give insensible critics and comments but, music is a form of infinite expressions which evolves and revolves around mankind and we as humans have our own way of expressing what is in our minds and hearts in which some, many can relate to and some only few that really understood. Patience, imagination and passion are the key to music appreciation which will finally conclude the true meaning of MUSIC.
