Emotion and Meaning in Music

Joy:
"Home"- Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Music has the ability to elicit several emotions from an individual: joy being a popular emotion. Putting a smile on my face has been a task that music has never failed to complete. In fact music can effortlessly  put me in the best mood at any time of the day. The interpretant (feeling) that this song makes me feel is one of happiness and joy, and it physically puts a smile on my face with every listen. There are certain things in life that really make me feel joy- being in the comfort of my own home is one. My home acts as a sign that reminds me of family. At home I am at peace, and with family as my object I feel joy and comfort. I think of my home as my own peaceful temple where I can just be myself worry free. My family plays a large part in my happiness as well and the song describes my thoughts perfectly, "home, let me come home, home is whenever I'm with you".

Sadness/Mourning:
"Take It All"- Adele

I usually am not one to openly talk about my personal feelings with other people, but I sometimes feel that talking is the only way alleviate stress. This song certainly evoked a strong sense of sadness for me during a difficult time in my life. I can't tell you how many times this one song has made me cry, but for some reason it always had a way of pulling me back. This Adele song personally stands for the end of an extremely close relationship between me and my boyfriend of over two years (sign). Since he was/is the only guy I've ever dated our breakup led to my immediate loneliness (object). The thought of being alone made me extremely sad. It wasn't just the end of a relationship that I valued, but the end of a meaningful friendship that I missed. I try not to listen to this anymore because I don't like to think about old memories.

Anger:
"Unfaithful"-Rihanna

Although I don't always listen to Rihanna due to personal preference I knew immediately that this song would be my selection for anger. I find cheating to be abhorrent, and I don't understand why it ever happens in a relationship. If a relationship does not seem to be working rather then being unfaithful I believe in talking. In this semiotic rapport cheating (sign) is the direct result of a dishonest relationship (object), which in turn leads to anger and frustration (interpretant). Through my experience in a relationship I have learned that the truth always finds a way to make itself known. That is why I don't agree with generally all of Rihanna's vapid song lyrics- "and to him I just can't be true". The thought of using another genuine person makes me question their morals. As a sensitive young woman I have always found it appalling that people have the capacity to take advantage of something good in a negative manner. Every individual is given the power to make a choice, and using that choice to ruin something with potential makes me extremely angry.

Family:
"We Are One"- The Lion King

Instead of discussing the feeling of 'family' which I felt to be a broad term I changed it to the sense of belonging. This song delivers a meaningful message that symbolizes unity as a family (object). The object of unity as family is a sign for home. Every person just wants to feel like they belong to something important. As we stated in class, in order to express our identity we must form and sustain social groups as an essential part of our culture. It is certainly comforting knowing that I will always have a place where I belong which is my family. Having a solid relationship with my family has been my inspiration to branch out and form other relationships with different people. I learned to build my confidence with making new friendships based off of my tight relationship with my family. The reason my confidence has strengthened is because of the trust I have knowing that if it doesn't work out my family will be there. "But you'll see every day that we'll never turn away"


Sexuality: 
"Can't Hold Us Down"- Christina Aguilera

Creating your own voice as a woman is essential to your growth and maturity as you age. In a society full of stereotypes about how a woman should act, talk, eat, and dress I find myself apprehensive to begin. Finding your own voice (object) by establishing a solid sense of self is terrifying to most women. Vulnerability hinders the progress of searching for our own voice as a result of fear. From society's perspective our minds have been influenced to seeing women as the stay-at-home moms, cooks, and cleaners. It takes courage to step outside of a comfort zone in order to prove to the rest of the world that you are to be taken seriously. By establishing your own voice and opinions you are able to resist (sign) preconceived notions and stereotypes that you, as a woman, find wrong. Not only will a new voice give you a sense of credibility it will also give you confidence. There is nothing more powerful than a group of women with opinions and confidence. (Of course this is my own opinion- I am not arguing that I think men are powerless) Christina Aguilera effectively communicates the need for women to join together in order stand up for themselves. I think her strategy turns out to be successful because she approaches this issue as a common concern for every type of woman worldwide. By telling us that this issue should be a concern to any woman it makes us feel comfortable enough to know that we aren't alone. By using a universal approach we feel empowered.