Fear

fear

ˈfir/ 

noun: fear; plural noun: fears

1.

an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat

Or perhaps, it is a feeling that upsets one because they are not willing to lose what it is that causes them happiness. Fear is a very interesting emotion, as everyone has experience this emotion themselves, and in many different ways. Through songs, I have found that singers will talk about things they fear. Such as loving a loved one, or facing their past, maybe even fearing of what the future holds. Again, all expressed in different ways because everyone experiences fear differently.

I have found that you can sense a singers fear based off their lyrics, the tone, and sometimes the general vibe of how the sound of the song is presented. There are many reasons why a singer could, and would, sing about the things that they fear. Feminist singers sing about their fears in order to spread awareness. Some singers may sing about their fears because that is their way of coping with a traumatic event, or something that is bugging them. They express their feelings through music because people can, and will, be able to relate. That is what is so universal about music. Music, no matter the language, the people, sound etc, can bring people -no matter what of the sorts- together.

I have chosen three songs, that I believe demonstrate good examples of different fears. To begin, we have Hop Along's, Trouble Found Me. This is a song generally about a young girl finding out that her hero, or role model, being taken away by perhaps illness. The speaker's fear is being alone with out that light still shining in front of her. From growing with her mother, to having to find a way to make her own light. Next, Ghosting by Mother Mother, represents someone feeling invisible to society or a single person of whom they are trying to get their attention from the most. It portrays what isolation feels like, and how they can relate to a ghost; their main fear is being ignored forever by the person they seek the attention from.

Again, music is universal and can bring people together. One emotion that is probably the most common and repeatable, is fear. That is why I believe that fear is a strong theme to find songs and connect to. Seeing many songs of people that have fear, we are reminded of how we are all human.