Pure Communication
It has been said that music is the expression of one’s heart and soul. Music is capable of saying that which words and speech alone cannot articulate. Song lyrics when taken out of the context of song and placed into verbal speech become melodramatic. People within modern Western culture appreciate music as a higher level of expression and are therefore more sympathetic and willing to believe the message of a song more readily than that of words delivered via regular speech. Even though the message and feelings behind verbal communication might be equal to those given through song, the effects on the recipient or listener are vastly different. In part this is due to the fact that people are aware that they cannot say all that they wish to say without social repercussion. When one bares emotion too bold-facedly, one is at serious risk of being perceived as ridiculous or insincere. Music however, remains the exception to this social misunderstanding. For these reasons music can justly be considered the “pure” form of communication.
Although history has recounted countless tales of impassioned speeches from great leaders, it is through music that the everyday ordinary soul can find release and catharsis. Certain figureheads such as political, artistic and economic leaders will always have a place within the Western community for emotive speech. Oration is a long-standing tradition that will continue to thrive in the upper echelons of society. The expectation that these captains of modern civilization will share their inner most feelings and heart-felt messages is a necessity to their success. However, this small percentage of people is hardly the normative majority. Music then, is for masses. It is how the everyday man can express himself and find familiarity in the naked emotions of their kin without shame or embarrassment. There is no stage and no global audience awaiting the words of the average citizen. Music remains the vehicle through which they can purely express their sentiments without diluting them.
Western culture is partially to blame for this phenomenon of social verbal oppression. Its generous understanding of self-expression is limited to the confines of song. Music is regarded as the space in which powerful emotion is not histrionic but beautiful, not exaggerated but meaningful and not insincere but desirable. This social construction that divides the meaning of language based on context is the reason that music in its entirety can be considered as the purest form of communication.
It can be stated that the communicative relationship between the listener and speaker is an equal partnership. One party must give and the other must accept. In the case of music vs. conversation both parties have a specific socially designed interpretation of what is acceptable to give and accept. With conversation, participants know they must attenuate social restrictions for fear of being deemed dramatic and therefore irrelevant. In spoken word, logic and rationality is the desired emanation. If one is overzealous, they are branded as absurd and their words cannot be recognized as meaningful. The speaker cannot risk losing credibility by putting forth raw passion and the listener cannot absorb it for fear of seeming gullible or naive. Music however, works in the opposite manner to this, no matter how unrefined, crazed or fervent the message, the point is that it is true. Music is acknowledged as the space where truth and genuine reaction is legitimized and valid.
Pure communication is that which does not strangle itself with fear of scorn or derision. It is the product of immediate truth and the acknowledged space in which reality in its essence reigns free. While verbal communication plays its part in modern Western culture, it certainly cannot be described as the purest form. The social restrictions surrounding speech are too great and inhibiting. Music however, is given room to foster uncontaminated expressive outpourings. For these important reasons, music is can be regarded as the purest form of communication.