Harmony Across Borders: Celebrating World Music Day

"Where words fail, music speaks." - Hans Christian Anderson

Music has been a part of each of us. It is already in our blood and culture. It’s more than just a song. It’s an expression, a universal language that resonates deeply within us.

When we feel sad, lonely, or anxious, we turn up our music and let it embrace our broken parts. Even when we are happy, music remains our companion. Sometimes when expressing ideas verbally proves challenging, music helps us. When words fail, we write lyrics, compose melodies, and the songs we create resonate deeply, connecting with others who share similar experiences.

Undeniably, music is universally cherished, bringing people together across continents. In celebration of this unity and joy, today, we commemorate World Music Day.

World Music Day

World Music Day, also known as 'Fête de la Musique', is annually celebrated on June 21st. In 1981, Jack Lang, along with Maurice Fleuret, a music journalist and radio producer, proposed the idea of dedicating a day to music. The following year, the first Fête de la Musique took place in Paris.

The celebration includes free music events for enthusiasts and provides a global platform for both amateur and professional artists to showcase their talents, emphasizing the benefits and significance of music.

In terms of health, researchers highlight music's role in fostering social cohesion and connectedness. Also, according to NorthShore, studies indicate that music improves circulation, lowers heart rate and blood pressure, reduces cortisol levels, and increases serotonin and endorphin levels, enhancing mood. Music also stimulates dopamine production in the brain, alleviating anxiety and depression by activating pleasure responses. The amygdala, essential for emotional regulation, processes music directly, contributing to its stress-relieving and mood-enhancing effects. Additionally, music has been found to alleviate symptoms of depression, manage pain, and offer various therapeutic benefits. There are actually a lot of benefits you can get from music. You don’t just enjoy music, you get something from it.

Going back, this day holds great importance as music is deeply cherished by many. It’s a day to appreciate songs and artists. This day encourage active participation that contributes to a more vibrant global community through the universal language of music

Music, a universal language

World Music Day aims to unite people of diverse nationalities, cultures, and races through the universal language of music.

As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” And it is indeed. It communicates emotions and experiences beyond words, connecting us through its melodies and rhythms. Because no matter what language it is, music transcends.

As a testament, I have been a fan of BTS, a K-pop boy band, and though Korean isn’t my language, their songs touch a part of me. It shows that music goes beyond language, borders, and culture. When you listen to music, you don’t simply hear it—you feel it, you enjoy it. And we can enjoy music regardless of its country of origin or whether we understand the lyrics, because if we can’t understand it, translations are readily accessible. Language is not a barrier in music because you can feel the songs, the rhythms. And it connects us to others, uniting people regardless of our differences.

Indeed, music has a unique ability in connecting individuals, stirring emotions, and fostering empathy and shared experiences. It serves as a universal language that brings people together, transcending the complexities of our diverse world. Music speaks directly to the soul, conveying sentiments and thoughts that words alone often cannot express.

And though we come from different cultures, nationalities, and beliefs, there is one universal language that unites us: music. As we celebrate World Music Day, let us immerse ourselves in melodies, listen to our favorite artists, discover new songs, and perhaps even create music ourselves. Allow the rhythm to resonate within ourselves and experience the deep connections that music enriches our lives with.