s called the blues. Today, the reach of the blues into popular music is immense. B.B. King says, “... the blues is universal. The rockers, and rappers and soul children all come out of the blues. The blues is the grandfather watching over his children.” (p202)The most powerful function of music, however, is its ability to express our emotions, thoughts, and feelings. Music has been so important to me, I would venture to say that without it, I would not be alive. As someone diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, or more commonly known as manic depression, I have been prone to very wide and potentially dangerous mood swings. These moods and the emotions associated with them, although often times irrational, were nonetheless extremely powerful. Emotions that powerful had to be released and expressed to the outside world. I like many teenagers, found that to express myself with words was far too difficult and frustrating. I found a way to express myself, handle difficult situations, and manipulate my emotions. “Music creates order out of chaos; for rhythm imposes unanimity upon the divergent; melody imposes continuity upon the disjointed; and harmony imposes compatibility upon the incongruous” (Menuhin, p9).Music is the most powerful force on earth. It can make you fall in love, strike down an enemy, or weep for friends lost. Without music in everyday life, the world would be an extremely hostile and ugly place. Anthony Storr said it best in his book Music and the Mind; “music exalts life, enhances life, and gives it meaning...it is both personal and beyond the personal...it remains a fixed point of reference in an unpredictable world. Music is a source of reconciliation, exhilaration, and hope that never fails” (p 188). WORKS CITEDFirth, Raymond. Elements of Social Organization.London: Watts.1961. p171.King and Ritz. “Blues All Around Me”. Essence magazine.Nov. 96. Vol.27. Issue 7. ...
