‘I still make music, you know,’ he said, ‘Not as I am used to do, on stages, performing in front of an audience; but in my room, within the silence of the walls.’ Yet, I know it is important for him to continue playing, sharing his music, because music has a unique power, which we need now more than ever.

If anything has the power to overcome boundaries of any kind, it is music; boundaries between individuals, and within individuals; language barriers, and buried emotions; physical gaps, and psychological or cultural gaps. Music smashes boundaries and connects. In times of social distancing, lockdowns and quarantines, there is more space, time, and especially need for music.

The Mirror of Music

Ironically, when I’m calling with my friend at the other side of the world, I am watching the Airlie Beach Good Music Friday Festival live-streamed out of the artists’ houses into ours. Since all of them are home-bound, like all of us, they are not able to perform on stage.

Yet, precisely music is one of the things we embrace and need more than ever in times of crisis, as has been shown throughout history. Mankind has always looked for music to express, encourage, empower and connect in times of crisis.

Tremendous are the slavery songs of the African slaves in North America, passing on information, wisdom, encoded escape routes, as much as hope and perspective for once regained freedom. Later Blues would follow as expression of the regained freedom, which in accordance to the time would evolve partly into jazz.

The Jamaican Stage

Music reflects more than the mind of the musician only. Like Reggae reflected the troubled situation in Jamaica from the late 1960s throughout the 1970s. Not only did reggae refer to political unrest, increasing crime, poverty, and the oppressions of slavery, but as well, it gave hope; hope for a better future, and hope for unity.

When reggae musicians took stage, they gave the entire mix of emotions and experiences of the Jamaicans a stage. While reggae lyrics were informing, and denouncing, the sound was uplifting, and empowering. This was no coincidence, this was needed.

Real Art Interacts

It is no coincidence that big movements in history, evolutions, revolutions, and disasters, were the fertile soil in which a particular kind of music would grow.

It is no coincidence that organisations, from football clubs to nations, have their own anthem.

It is no coincidence that we sing lullabies to comfort a baby to fall asleep; or that Medieval storytellers sung their stories, rather than telling them.

Real art interacts with the society it is born in, and offers it a mirror, insights, or precisely hope. Real art shouldn’t house in an ivory tower, preserved for the elites, and the lucky few.

Real art is a real human thing to create and to long for.

Transcendental Music

Music is transcendental. Music has the capacity to express, to empower, and to connect. Music has the capacity to overcome inner and outer boundaries, to exceed limits of any kind and be pulled out of your inner bubble, and gain new insights, hope, and energy.

You don’t even have to understand the language to feel the music, feel the underlaying emotions, and feel connected with the musicians, the audience, and the world around you.

Chances are high that if you ever struggled finding your words, a musician has found them for you; if you ever dwelled in emotions you couldn’t express nor process, a musician has expressed them for you; if you ever felt lost in the chaos of your existence, a musician has composed something that will show you the light.

The Show Goes on

The live stream gives every artist fifteen minutes to interact with the audience. Fifteen minutes of fame, before the silence marks the end, rather than an applause. Fifteen minutes in which they can express, connect and empower. Not only do they bring own known songs, or covers, but as well newborn songs out of the COVID-19 epoch.

The ‘crazy times’ are taking stage.

While watching the waving palm trees through the window of one musician, I see similar palm trees waving from our balcony, the same blue ocean in the background. A satisfied feeling sets in. We are all connected. We are all in this together.

If anything in the world has the power to smash all boundaries, and connect us all, it is music.

Music Maestro! This Good Friday, definitely is a Good Friday.

This article is part of the series of Hope in Times of Corona. Read

• how this times of self-isolation should not mean loneliness,
• how you can contribute to this battle, 
• how gratitude lights up the dark,  
• how united we will stand strong
• on the most util strategy in awake of a crisis 
• how I got blown of my feet as well, but caught by many caring hands, 
• how being calm can get us through the storm.
• about Love in Times of Corona
• how to discover your own talents 
• why we need stories to hold on to 
• how you can be creative and innovative.
• how to spend your mot valuable assets in times of Corona.
• how to listen to the sound of silence. 
• How breate taking Corona really is.
• discover the other freedoms Corona has shown us, 
• about the new-born freedom Corona gave us.
• about another way to exceed your personal bubble.
• about the position of nature in this entire story
• about nature bouncing back
• about the crucial choice between resilience and resistance
• about the game to play
• about star gazing in dark times
• about looking for the Meaning of Life

Or wait until tomorrow, when I’ll shine another light on yet another positive corner of this dark times.