Emma Sacco

Mrs. Thomas
UWRT 1104
18 October 2016
What is music to me?
WID: How do I make this paper less sloppy? Do you think it is too personal? Do I need more
facts/statistics?
Reflection #1:
I think my paper is a little sloppy but I like where I am headed in several areas. I think
things just need to be polished up. I am very satisfied with the examples I have come up with so
far. However I think I need to tie them and the rest of the paper all together. I also need to relate
everything back to my initial question of inquiry. I need to make things more personal and
relatable to me.
Music is art. Music is free expression. Music is a reflection of our soul. Without music, I
couldnt survive the day. It allows me to meditate. It allows me to be able to tolerate people and
all their bullshit. I believe that music allows us to escape, even if its just for a little while, and
pretend we are someone else. Music allows us to examine our weaknesses and cope with our
hardships. What is music to me?
There are various genres of music. There is rock, country, reggae, r&b, hip-hop/rap,
electronic, classical, jazz, pop, folk, etc, I enjoy almost all types of music from almost only era.
My taste varies from Roy Orbison, to Bob Marley, to Lil Wayne. All very different, but all the
same in one aspect: they bring about emotion.

I believe that music genres and specific artists have an effect on their fans. For example,
Miley Cyrus was just an innocent little girl from Tennessee. She wore a sparkly shirt and a hot
pink skirt. She had long blonde hair when she portrayed herself as the well-known Hannah
Montana. She sang the songs every 13-16 year-old could relate to. The topics included best
friends, boys, and becoming a movie star...every little girls dream. Then she grew up. She hit us
like a wrecking ball. Now only referred to as Miley Cyrus, she chopped off her long locks,
changed her style to more scandalous and revealing, and changed her attitude to a carefree hot
mess. Along with many other young girls, I grew up with her. Seeing her change made me
question myself. I was constantly wondering what it is I should look like, how I should act, what
I should wear, etc. It is the actions of teens like Miley Cyrus that influenced how I acted, what I
wore, and who I thought I should be.
Peace derives from your favorite music artists. An example of this would be the Beatles.
The Beatles believed in love, peace, and happiness. They were the hippies that brought the world
together through song. Come Together and All you Need is Love are just two examples of
the songs that made us forget about the struggles in the world, and allowed for us to take a step
back from it all.
Music can provide an escape. Take Bob Marley for example. The symbol of reggae
music. My parents both love reggae music, therefore it is what I always heard playing in my
house. It is what I grew up on. Bob Marley believed in Rastafarianism. Rastafarianism is a
movement amongst black Jamaicans that believes in the gradual redemption of blacks and how
they will return to Africa. Rastafarians encourages the ritualistic use of marijuana and forbids the
cutting of hair. They also venerate Haile Selassie as a god. Now, I may not believe in
rastafarianism due to my belief in the Catholic faith. However, you can see how it is relatable

and enjoyable to the many stoners. Bob Marleys songs including One Love, Three Little
Birds, and Positive Vibration all project anda Mellow Mood (another one of Marleys
songs). They encourage relaxation and positivity. Whenever I listen to his music I instantly feel a
wave of complete euphoria. I feel as though nothing can touch me or tear me down.
Bruce Springsteen, the star to our American stripes. He wrote the song Born in the
USA. This song marked his transition to a serious music icon. This song made him legendary. It
served as a clear representation of our pride in the great country of the United States of America.
This song now plays at every July 4th party, and allows us to show our patriotism, another aspect
of music. Without music, we could not express our great pride and excitement in being apart of
this amazing country.
Music is used in movies to set the tone. It can be used to create suspense, bring about a
melancholy mood, or express happiness and success. In scary movies, we can always foresee
when something bad is about to happen when the music picks up. In romantic movies, happy
music is always played at the end when things workout. When something sad happens, the music
slows down. All of these scenarios allow for emotion in the audience. Music allows for a further
interpretation of the scene.
So you see, music is everything and everywhere. For me, music is vital. I couldnt live
without it. It allows me to set the tone for the day. I believe that the artists that create this music
impact my life as well. The music I listen to is a reflection of my mood. My moods change
second by second. And I find that as I grow older, some artists play a larger role in my life than
others. I believe that is because the lyrics change meaning to me as I grow older and wiser.
Reflection #2:

I believe my second rough draft was much cleaner than my first. It was more defined and
sharp. However there are many areas I hope to improve on. This includes my facts/supporting
details, providing more content and depth. However I do believe I made this paper a little less
choppy.
What is music to me? Music is art. Music is free expression. Music is a reflection of our
soul. Without music, I couldnt survive the day. It allows me to dig deep to my truest self and
cope with my internal struggles. Just as water fills a riverbed, music fills the gaps in my life. I
believe that music allows for an escape, even if its just for a little while We can be any version
of ourselves, better yet we can pretend we are someone else. Music allows us to examine our
weaknesses and cope with our hardships. Thats what music is to me.
There are various genres of music. There is rock. There is country. There is reggae. And
also r&b, hip-hop/rap, electronic, classical, jazz, pop, folk, etc. I enjoy almost all types of music
from almost any era. My taste varies from Roy Orbison, to Bob Marley, to Lil Wayne. All very
different, but all the same in one aspect: they bring about emotion. Roy Orbison, a hit in the 60s,
offered a unique composition that appealed to many on various level. Bob Marley, the king of
reggae, wrote about the Rastafarian lifestyle. Showing us reggae, roots, and culture and placed
important emphasis on loving one another, not worrying about the little things, and always being
positive. Lil Wayne, a sort of tortured artist if you ask me. He writes about all the ups and
downs in his life. Even if we havent been through the exact same struggles, we can relate this to
our own lives and compare.
The style of an artist can have a direct effect on the fans. For example, Miley Cyrus
was just an innocent little girl from Tennessee. She threw on a sparkly shirt and a hot pink skirt
and instantly grabbed the attention and heart of every 13 year-old. She had long blonde hair

when she portrayed herself as the well-known Hannah Montana. She sang the songs every 1316 year-old could relate to...best friends, boys, and becoming famous...every little girls dream.
Then she grew up. She hit us like a wrecking ball. Now only referred to as Miley Cyrus, she
chopped off her long locks, changed her style, and wrote music according to her truest self. She
gained many fans with this change...and at the same time lost fans as well. Some people didnt
want to see the real her, they wanted to see what they wanted to believe. However who she used
to be was nothing but a lie, a facade. It was as if she was hiding behind a mask her whole life and
finally gained the courage to take it off. As soon as she took that wig off she was free. Many
disagreed with her idea of entertainment, but Miley Cyrus did not let the haters stop her. She
only used this as momentum as she rebuilt her platform. Along with many other young girls, I
grew up with her. Seeing her change made me question myself. Every girl has been insecure at
some point in her life. I constantly worried about how I should act, what I should wear, how to fit
in. But like Miley Cyrus, I eventually found myself. I took my mask off and showed the world
the real me. I stopped caring about what others thought of me. I started to wear clothes that I
enjoyed, and not what every other girl was wearing. I started doing things for me and by my own
rulebook. This was all my doing. However it is the influence of artists like Miley Cyrus that have
inspired and motivated me to be myself.
Peace can derive from music. An example of this would be the Beatles. The Beatles
believed in love, peace, and happiness. They were the hippies that brought the world together
through song. No matter your race, gender, history, etc. music allows us to forget our worries and
live in the moment in harmony with one another. Come Together and All you Need is Love
are just two examples of the songs that made us forget about the struggles in the world, and
allowed for us to take a step back from it all. Music allows for an escape. Take Bob Marley for

example. The symbol of reggae music. Bob Marley believed in Rastafarianism. Rastafarianism is
a movement amongst black Jamaicans that believes in the gradual redemption of blacks and how
they will return to Africa. Rastafarians encourages the ritualistic use of marijuana and forbids the
cutting of hair. They also venerate Haile Selassie as a god. My parents both love reggae music,
therefore I always heard playing throughout my house. It is familiar to me. People tend to lean
towards the familiar because it is comforting. And that is what Bob Marleys music provided for
me and many others: comfort. Bob Marleys songs including One Love, Three Little Birds,
and Positive Vibration all projecting a Mellow Mood (another one of Marleys songs). They
encourage relaxation and positivity. Whenever I listen to his music I instantly feel a wave of
complete euphoria. I feel as though nothing can touch me or tear me down, providing
encouragement throughout my days.
Bruce Springsteen, the star to our American stripes. He wrote the song Born in the
USA. This song marked his transition to a serious music icon. It served as a clear representation
of our pride in the great country of the United States of America. This song now plays at every
July 4th party, and allows us to show our patriotism. Music allows us to express our emotions or
excitement about something or someone specific. Music allows us to make our voice heard and
evoke passion.
Music is used in movies to set the tone. It can be used to create suspense, bring about a
melancholy mood, or express happiness and success. In scary movies, we can always foresee
when something bad is about to happen when the music picks up. In romantic movies, happy
music is always played at the end when things workout. When something sad happens, the music
slows down. All of these scenarios allow for emotion in the audience. Music allows for a further
interpretation of the scene.

So you see, music is everything and everywhere. For me, music is vital. I couldnt live
without it. It allows me to set or change the tone for the day. The music I listen to is a reflection
of my mood, beliefs, and culture. Music expresses my own personal story. I am changing
everyday and I believe that the lyrics change meaning to me as I grow older and wiser.