Recently Played: Music at Denmark

 

With hit albums, such as Sour from Olivia Rodrigo and Dawn FM from The Weeknd, this school year’s music timeline has been rather intriguing. Recent pop artists have made major billboard hits – many of their albums selling out with new records. In addition to these, artists are selling out concert tickets and booking out venues in mere minutes. Sour, consisting of 10 tracks, Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album, was voted the best album of 2021 in our official survey. An anonymous submission said, “I really love her music because the lyrics are so poetic and powerful. I can relate to a lot of it and the messages really help me.” Rodrigo’s vision for the lyrics was to explore a variety of emotions that young women, “are often shamed for,” such as anger, jealousy, and sadness. Songs such as “Brutal” and “Traitor” explore the raw side of normal relationships and help young women differentiate between toxic and healthy relations. These songs resonate with modern teenagers, helping to boost awareness and draw attention to the sour side of adolescence.

Music comes from a human passion for innovation. Hearing the effort put into their tracks boosts memory and focus and contributes to greater overall concentration. Many Denmark students spend their free time listening to and enjoying music. Aryan Dhabale, a sophomore, recounts, “Music has a great significance to me. It defines the mood of any event or any thought I have. It impacts how I view the world, and I certainly cannot live without it.”

 Different types of genres produce different results in our brains. For example, upbeat tracks cause our brains to produce chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. When asked which neurotransmitter cocktail they preferred, 25.6% of students voted for pop, 12.5% voted for K-Pop, and 9.4% voted equally for hip-hop R&B. K-Pop has been rising through our ranks as the genre’s popularity increases. New bands, such as Ateez and Stray Kids’ attract student’s attention through their upbeat and energetic songs. “All of the members are multi-talented and excel at dancing and singing. They also produce their own beats and lyrics for their unique concepts, which I find refreshing,” freshman Saanvi Arora says.

As many students agree, music is influential in our lives. By listening to a movie soundtrack, a simple stroll outside can feel like an epic battle. With the school year coming to a close, I hope everyone has a great summer and keeps on listening. Remember, summer can be whatever you want with the help of music!