What is music? As I type away on this blog, listening to Desert Rose I realize that I have never asked myself this question.

Never.

Have you?

Wikipedia defines music as:

Music is an art form consisting of sound and silence expressed through time. Elements of sound as used in music are pitch (including melody and harmony), rhythm (including tempo and meter), and sonic qualities of timbre, articulation, dynamics, and texture.

Perhaps this may be one of the simplest and most articulate definitions of music ever. Perhaps it may be a bit of junk which just seems good as it uses a lot of big, complicated words and has 14 links. (Yes, I counted them; perhaps that tells you a bit more about me than I want you to know). For me, the first adjective that comes to mind on seeing this is bland.

I cannot claim to be an expert; I cannot sing (I can, but the point is no one -- in their right minds -- would want to listen. This brings us to the all encompassing philosophical question: does a man singing make a sound if no one is there to hear him?) nor can I play a musical instrument (again, I can pluck strings and thus, technically, 'play' an instrument).

Music to me is something that is pleasant to listen to; something that affects me in a hundred ways, makes my heart pound faster (exercise?), makes me drowsy(sleeping pill?), makes me more awake(caffeine?), alleviates my mood (jokes?), depresses me (the daily News?), occasionally grabs me by the ears, kicks my brain and refreshes my body.

Is it just the melody that matters? Or is it the words too? For me: both.

I have many favourite songs; they can jump-start me; make me accomplish what I consider impossible and generally energize me. (Should they be classified as drugs? They're very addictive too: I keep hearing them in my head all the time.)

I listen to all sorts of music; music is as diverse as the people it is created by. While I cannot include guitar riffs and piano tunes here, I can give lyrics of some of my favourite songs.

I sit and talk to God
and he just laughs at my plans
My head speaks a language
I don't understand

(Robbie Williams, Feel)

I tried so hard
And got so far
But in the end
It doesn't even matter

(Linkin Park, In the end)

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

(John Lennon, Imagine)

There are too many songs for me to put in one post. All of us have our one favourites, whether because of their lyrics their music or something that strikes a chord inside.

I have never yet met a person who hates all forms of music. Have you?