It’s no secret that I love music more than the average 20 year old Londoner. Where everyone has their hobbies on what they spent their hard earned money from (better known as student loans) mine pretty much revolves around music. Reading about it, listening to it, and going to see it.

I was lucky enough to go and see Eminem at his second Wembley gig. Regardless of what everyone has said about it being a flop and the sound was awful or whatever – I had a great time! The atmosphere more than made up for the crappy sound quality, which is one of the main reasons I love going to gigs so much.

Another “main reason” gigs are basically heaven for me is it allows me to see the person that wrote the lyrics I love so very much, and suddenly that person isn’t just a poster on a wall or the sound in my headphones – they are there. They are alive. They are standing in front of me and talking to me!

A lot of people may think I’m ridiculous for my extreme love for music. My parents think I’m completely insane for spending around half of everything I’ve ever earned on gig tickets (I say half but it’s probably more than that) but they don’t get it.

Have you ever heard a song so amazing it literally turns you speechless? Have you ever listened to a song and suddenly thought that your life makes a bit more sense? Have you ever loved a song so much you can literally feel it – you can feel the music and the lyrics!
If you haven’t, then you have all my pity.

I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the music I listen to. If it wasn’t for a lot of bands, I would either be a depressed wreck confused about my life and where it’s going; I’d be a mess. Or dead, but that’s just a depressing story for another depressing day.

Like I mentioned before, I was one of those lucky people that went to see Eminem at Wembley. There’s a reason I’ve now said this twice, and a reason that this post is titled what it is.
His song, Sing For The Moment says something about the importance of music. For all you uncultured swines who have not heard the song, I will allow you to listen to it now. Google the lyrics if you’re just that lazy.

The last verse especially explains the importance of music from the performers perspective, which I love. Eminem knows it because he’s lived through the importance of music from both sides, so what he says is so full of truth and it means so much to him. He is that performer with fans all over the world and he has been that shitty kid that relies on music to get them through life, but for some reason so many people don’t realise just how much power a song can have over someone.

It’s why we sing for these kids who don’t have a thing
Except for a dream and fucking rap magazine
Who post pin-up pictures on their walls all day long
Idolise their favourite rappers and know all their songs
Or for anyone who’s ever been through shit in their life
So they sit and they cry at night wishing they’d die
So they throw on a rap record and they sit and they vibe
We’re nothing to you, but we’re the fucking shit in their eyes

That’s why we seize the moment, try to freeze it and own it
Squeeze it and hold it cause we consider these minutes golden
And maybe they’ll admit it when we’re gone
Just let our spirits live on through our lyrics that you hear in our songs

Now, sit there and tell me that that is not amazing, and that it doesn’t mean anything.
If you’ve not found that song that reaches out to you yet, then you will not understand, and there’s nothing wrong with that at all. It only becomes an issue if you refuse to accept the fact that music is an important part of some people’s lives, and in many cases can save a life.

When you’re sitting in your room and confused about your life, having no idea what is going on, blaming yourself for everything that goes wrong and thinking everything and everyone would be better off if you weren’t around then it’s pretty obvious that your life is just bleak. These people can often find solace in music, especially those songs that reach out and can perfectly describe exactly how you feel. It’s comforting to know that these people have gone through similar experiences to you and managed to fight their way out. It makes you feel empowered and confident – if they can survive it, then what’s stopping you?

The best example I can give is Bring Me The Horizon.
They are amazing. Musically, they’re so sick and talented, but even just their lyrics are so powerful, they manage to capture the feelings well and lay it out in a way that easily explains what the hell is going on which is probably best shown with It Never Ends.
I’ll post a lyric video up for you to make it easier to understand…

It’s lyrics that are able to reach out and touch millions of people that make sure people will never die. People who write and sing meaningful songs like that can essentially be immortal as long as there’s someone around still being helped with their songs. Kurt Cobain has been dead for twenty years but Nirvana are still the favourite band for a shit load of people (me included) and thousands of people are finding their music every day. Nirvana and Cobain will never die out – the music is always far too relevant, and not every artist will be able to say that. The work of some artists will die with them, even though it was fun while it lasted.
Don’t get me wrong, I love to listen to random songs that mean nothing – it’s fun and happy!

But don’t ever say try to argue that music doesn’t mean anything. Don’t be critical of someone whose life has been made better by a lyric.

Unless said person is crying just because someone is hot and thinks that their life is made a million times better because of a good looking artist. Superficial people are ridiculous. There is so much more to life, and to music.