The Power of Music to Unite
Several weeks ago, a longtime friend and I enjoyed a fun girls’ weekend in Nashville, TN. One of the highlights of visiting Music City is how widely available live music is at all times of the day. On her last afternoon, while we watched another band showcase their talents, she commented on the diversity of the people in the music venues and bars throughout the weekend.
Her observation made me think about the power of music and its ability to unite strangers without concern for gender preference, race, political affiliation, wealth status, or any other numerous issues of the day that increasingly divide us as brothers and sisters in this world.
For decades, artists have collaborated to raise awareness of issues and unite people for important causes. As a child of the eighties, I vividly remember the diverse supergroup collaboration for "We Are the World" in 1985. While its original and intended purpose was to raise money for famine relief in Africa, it made a broader impact culturally. Even though I was only eight, singing that song connected me to a larger world and purpose I had not yet experienced. I recently watched the video and was struck by the realization that my full attention was captured without interruption for seven minutes. The lyrics remain inspirational, even more so in our current times.
Another example is Farm Aid, a concert collaboration organized by Willie Nelson, John Cougar Mellencamp, and Neil Young, featuring country, rock, and other genres to educate and raise awareness for American farmers in crisis. The first Farm Aid event featured Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, and others, showcasing how music for a purpose brings together diverse artists and encourages us to set aside our differences. I attended my first Farm Aid concert in Bristow, Virginia, in 1999. I recall feeling connected to the cause and the strangers around me because of the shared experience and love for music.
In 2019, when Playing for Change, a multi-media music project, released their musical collaboration, "One Love," I was in awe of the unification and their mission to inspire and connect the world through music. The original song, released in 1965 by Bob Marley, encourages you to have hope, even during times of struggle. When Playing for Change brought artists together from across the globe, it was the perfect embodiment of breaking barriers and promoting a universal human experience through the language of music. I encourage you to visit their website and enjoy the global singers and musicians using their talents and the power of music to exemplify unity over differences.
Music can be a shining light for putting down our swords and pausing our conflicts, even if it's only for three minutes—music and song offer an easy opportunity to put aside our differences and exist cohesively without conflict and judgment. It encourages dialogue and helps build feelings of fellowship and empathy.
Think about concerts you've attended, and the eye contact you've made with strangers that suddenly turn into smiling, well-timed head bobs. You will likely never see that person again. Still, you've just made a connection through a shared experience, and, at that moment, music cracked the armor.
Forgive me for being a little cliché; we all walk to the beat of our own drum. Your rhythm is different than mine, and mine is different than yours, but the chords of music create a connection and level the playing field for just a moment.
Next time you feel conflict rising or you're in an awkward situation with someone and don't know what to say, take a beat and ask about their favorite genres of music, artists, or songs. Or play some tunes and let the shared experience of music connect you and see what happens.
