Music In My Heart

JACLYN LICCONE
Nov 7, 2016
5 min read

Long Live Rock & Roll

My favorite type of music is rock/ rock & roll. This ranges from the Beatles in the ‘60s to Led Zeppelin in the ‘70s, Guns N’ Roses in the ‘80s, and Nirvana in the ‘90s, just to name a few. In my opinion, rock music is the best music there ever was and nothing can top it.

Rock is its own genre of popular music that started out as “rock and roll” in the US in the ‘50s which led to many different styles in the ‘60s and even decades to follow. Rock typically existed in the US and the UK.

Music affects my life in so many ways. I listen to music everyday and have it programmed in my brain and in my daily routine. I listen to music when I’m happy, when I'm sad, when I need to be relaxed, or when I need to be pumped up. I listen to music when I do homework, when I’m working out, when I'm in the car, in all my free time, and just as background music. Since I’m so emotionally invested in rock music, I feel that it makes up my character and gives me a sense of belonging.

I wish I was a musician so that I would be able to play an instrument to all my favorite songs. Since I’m not fortunate enough to be, I get engaged in any other way I can such as frequently listening to all my favorite albums, going to concerts, watching videos, and buying merchandise such as t-shirts and posters. Being engaged in those ways make up a big part of my life.

If music didn’t exist, I feel like I would not be able to express myself. Music is its own expression and it’s a way to find your place in the world. There are so many genres to choose from and so many different artists to fall in love with based on the stories that are told throughout albums. Albums are like books to me and each song is a new chapter.

Music also affects my memories. Every time a big moment happens in my life, a song is playing. Whether the moment is good or bad, there is always somehow a song that I tie to the moment. From that point on, that song is forever connected to that memory that I will remember for the rest of my life. I think that rock music is especially capable of doing this because the style of the songs and the meaning behind all the lyrics really touch me in a special way. The lyrics speak out to my feelings and that’s where the connection is.

Getting chills from hearing a song lets me know how important that song is to me. For example, one of the number one songs that instantly gives me the chills is Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin. That song is so genius that the lyrics, along with the instruments, along with the vocals of Robert Plant, and the change of pace and frequency throughout the song, make a story that is a masterpiece. It’s really so amazing to realize that about a song. It’s like falling in love. Everything just feels right.

Without music I wouldn't be the person I am. All throughout my life since I was young, I listened to the rock music my mom used to play in the car, or around the house. I picked up some of the greatest rock songs from her. She led me down the path of rock & roll and now over the years, I have become an even bigger fan than her of the rock genre.

Rock music originated from the combination of many other genres such as blues, folk music, jazz, and rockabilly which is very interesting to me. When listening to rock music, there are many instances where I can see how that would be. Bob Dylan, the biggest folk musician of all time, influenced the Beatles. On the surface, listening to the two artists separately, they don't sound so similar. But once you take into consideration the stories being told and some of the instrumentation, it is easy to see how they are related. I never really liked Bob Dylan until I learned that he influenced the Beatles and once I listened to his songs, I could see why. Knowing the background of rock and where it came from, makes me understand it and respect it even more.

I think it’s safe to say that there is nothing like good old rock & roll. The rock & roll era was more than just a time in the world that society went through. It was a movement. A movement that changed the world. I wish I lived during that movement so that I could experience it first hand, because I truly believe that was the best time to be alive. To have experienced something so life changing and incredible was probably an amazing thing that I can only live through now by listening to songs and watching videos. I watch live videos of my favorite bands like Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Eagles, Guns N Roses and many more. Watching live videos is the closest I can get to actually being there. I also wish I lived during Woodstock so that I would have been able to experience that life changing experience. I’ve watched documentaries, read books, and watched live videos of performances all from Woodstock in ’69. That’s how I make myself feel connected to the incredible music event that took place in the summer of ’69.

Feeling connected to the music I enjoy is a main hobby in my life. I make sure of it everyday. Music will forever be around us, the old and the new, and for me, I need to have it in my life to make me feel certain emotions and feelings at certain times when I need it the most. I think that’s why I’ve fallen in love with rock music. It makes me feel many emotions all the time, and depending on the band I am listening to, my mood changes. AC/DC pumps me up, The Beatles relax me, Led Zeppelin makes me feel passionate, Aerosmith makes me happy, Nirvana usually makes me sad, Queen makes me feel empowered, and Def Leppard makes me feel like I can do anything I put my mind to. I feel these different emotions based on the stories that are told throughout the music and how the different instruments play into the stories.

Music, especially rock & roll music, is an amazing thing and it is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Thirty years from now, I know I will still be as big as a rock fan as I am now because of how the genre has touched my heart and soul, and I know it'll be that way forever. I can’t be sure of anything in my life, anything can happen at any moment. But I do know that rock & roll music will always be there for me and I’m happy to know that it is a constant in my life —Long live rock & roll.