Play On
Written by Shannon McManus, Culture Staff Writer
I used to question my friend’s insane amount of Spotify playlists. She made a playlist for any occasion or feeling, even when she was just bored. Personally, I only create playlists when I have songs that I think fit together or that I like. I never could understand why she constantly made playlists, until I recently made one of my own when I was feeling stuck this week. Honestly, I highly recommend it for people to try.
My playlist only consisted of a few songs—nothing excessive—but only what I needed to hear at that moment. It is hard to say if I will actually go back and play it again any time soon, but it is more than just the music that helps. The creation of the playlist, looking for songs and resonating with what I was hearing was helpful in its own right.
When listening to music, everyone has different reactions and needs. It may sound silly, but it can be cathartic to find music that suits your mood. Even just organizing a playlist for you to play when you are happy, sad, alone, energized or any other moods can help you feel better if you are down.
Music has so much power. It is a reflection of thoughts and feelings, and finding music similar to what you are feeling can truly benefit you. When you listen to music that fits what you are feeling, it can help you feel that you are not alone in your thoughts.
Music brings people together and connects them through a platform different from talking. Music is so important to self-expression and exploration, it can lead you to discover new ways of thinking. When creating playlists, you expose yourself to many different styles, familiar songs you love and new ones that you connect to.
There are so many different sounds depending on what people want to listen to. It doesn’t matter what music you like, as long as you like listening to it. It is important to focus on what you enjoy, not the music that you think will make you cooler. People need to focus on finding the music they personally love, and creating personal playlists is a great way to start.
Creating playlists can also be cathartic in that it allows you to express emotions in another way. You can create playlists about a certain time in your life to help you move forward, or a playlist to reflect on that time. I did not make my playlist public because it was a personal reflection and a time I needed to be alone.
Nowadays, I make playlists to reflect on different moods or experiences I have, even when I’m not bored. Music is an outlet in more ways than one, and creating playlists helps me organize and understand different moods and experiences. I used to think it was a waste of time, but spending time listening to yourself and letting out your emotions is definitely not a waste.
It may sound mushy, but I truly do think listening to music that reflects what you are feeling helps you feel better. Creating playlists has helped me especially when I am home on the computer, and listening to music, even if just the background, is a great way to work out emotions—or just enjoy what you hear.