The Closest Thing We Have To Time Travel
Not too long ago, I was on youtube listening to some music. I forgot what the song was called but it had some element of nostalgia. The nostalgia aspect is important!
As the music video was playing, I started reading the comment section, as one may, to participate with those of your same interest. Doing so to find the feeling of inclusiveness that comes with people loving the same music that you love. At least, that is what I do.
As I was scrolling, I came upon a midnight clear…..just kidding! Got Christmas on the brain. What I really came upon was a comment that said something like “music is the closest thing we will ever get to time travel”. Reading that I was like WHAO! That is so true!
Now, honestly, I do not know everything. For all I know, time travel could be real and I just have no idea how it is possible. However, reading that comment just felt right. Not necessarily because time travel does or does not exist. It felt right to me because music is a strong source of nostalgia that is able to bring us back to a time where it has the most relevance.
In other words, music may not be able to physically transport us back in time, but it can surely transport our feelings back to a certain time. This unique perspective towards the relation between music and time travel is just so cool to me. Obviously, I have felt nostalgic when I have listened to older music from my life, but I have never thought of connecting it with the concept of time travel.
Now that I have been introduced to this concept by a random commenter I do not remember. I have realized that even with music that is beyond my lifetime, I have felt some elements of recognition to that era of music. Whether it was the 1920s, 1970s, or 1990s.
There is a unique connection I feel when I have listened to older music that I am just now being able to put together. It is the feeling of love and connection with the people of that time.
It could be Beethoven, Buddy Holly, Ray Charles, or even Stevie Wonder who is still around today. You listen to their music and feel a bond with them because you love the same music. Music that united people then and unites us now.
Which as a result, all of us get the opportunity to feel united with them. Which is a magical feeling. I think this happens because music is one of the best arts at emotional story-telling. Storys that are based on empathy, thoughts, and truths of their time. Lots of which, may still be relatable as we are all a part of the same human family separated by time.
To me, that is fascinating and really awesome. Again, we may not be able to time travel in the traditional sense that we are used to thinking about it, however, I feel confident in the idea that through music, our feelings can pass through space and time to moments that we might find a connection of love, fun, and understanding with our past selves. As well as, people from different times.
It is true that all of us are different and unique. Some of which may be hard for others to understand from their fellow human beings, but as Stevie Wonder once sang(and hopefully still sings on earth and in heaven)….
“Music is a world within itself With a language we all understand With an equal opportunity For all to sing, dance, and clap their hands”
Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder; 1976 Album, Songs in the Key of Life
With that being said, let us do our best to take life lessons from the past and move forward, doing our best to remember the good things about people. Giving everybody the chance to do better and be better. Like we all are designed to be.