Sierra Dellenbaugh Blog 10: The Power of Nostalgia?
Week 10
(The Power of Nostalgia?) - 2/22 [7:22]
We all have that one special thing that makes us feel better when things are tough. It could be a movie, a favorite dish, or music, but it’s that one thing that we reach for when we’ve had a bad day. I know that when I feel completely done with life, I’ll lock myself in my room, blast twenty one pilots (not capitalized because that’s how they roll) and stare at the wall, and for some odd reason, it really helps me feel better. Why do these random, stupid things bring us so much peace? In my case, it’s nostalgia.
Junior High was really rough for me; it was a period of loneliness, anxiety, and self discovery. I was trying to figure out who I was, and I didn’t really know what my sense of style was, or what music I liked yet, so I was incredibly impressionable. So impressionable, in fact, that there was a period where I was listening to Florida Georgia Line (if you don’t know who they are, just read it again and take a wild guess), Green Day (American Idiot), and Tears for Fears (“All around me are familiar faces…”) all at the same time. Twenty one pilots had released their legendary album Trench in eighth grade, and after hearing about how good it was, I decided to give it a listen; I was immediately obsessed. I’m not quite sure what hooked me, but one thing’s for sure: I couldn’t go a day without them.
I think the reason they’ve become my comfort band over the years is because they got me through what I consider to be the worst years of my life. I guess that’s why they’re my go to when I’m not feeling the best. Four years ago, I never would’ve thought that my favorite band would end up having that much power over the way that I cope, and that they would be such a huge influence that shaped who I am today.
The main focus of this post didn’t turn out to be about the power of music or nostalgia, but the power that everyone has to make whatever they want out of anything. I was desperate for something to make me happy, and once I found it, that was it. It doesn’t matter what twenty one pilot’s intentions were behind their music, and it doesn’t matter what they were trying to make their listeners feel; I felt drawn to them for my own reasons, I will continue to have a soft spot for them, no matter what. In the end, when people are presented with some form of outside stimuli, the person will do with it what they wish. If that’s not ridiculously powerful, I don’t know what is.
Tyler Joseph (lead singer) at The Bandito Tour in 2018
(Obviously I had to include one of TOP’s songs, so here’s my favorite from Trench: Nico and the Niners - twenty one pilots https://open.spotify.com/track/5SehvGGC53A7SZKCLXQcyt?si=8ae52167b3094fc6 )
What is one thing that never fails to cheer me up when I'm down? I have to say it's talking to people and getting to know a little bit more about something I don't know about or just getting lost in someone else's thoughts and for maybe a moment I could forget my own. For me nostalgia feels more like indifference. I recently wrote a memoir about a time when I was at my worst and looking back I don't feel any sympathy for that person despite knowing just how it felt at the time. That's nostalgia—to me it's an out-of-body experience and a chance to reevaluate something more objectively.
ReplyDeleteHi Sierra,
ReplyDeleteI could really relate to your blog post. Whenever things get tough, listening to nostalgic music is one of the things I do to feel better. When I was little, my family would always play Bollywood music from the 2010s on roadtrips, and I actually saved this playlist and go through it every time I feel down. I think language, through music, can have a strong influence on our moods, and it is a very potent way to not only influence others, but heal any bruises to the mind.
Sincerely,
Krish
Hi Sierra,
ReplyDeleteI recently rediscovered Chinese songs from the '80's that my mom used to blast in the car during road trips. While I hated those songs when I was younger (I associated them with carsickness), listening back reminds me of a simpler time when I did not have much to worry about. And I'm sure in the future, I will look back on the music I listen to right now, as I think about a time when I had less to worry about (I will never forget the RA packet). But yes, the power of nostalgia is quite powerful; plus, it sweeps you off your feet and takes you by surprise when you least expect it.
Sincerely,
Sean
Hi Sierra,
ReplyDeleteI can relate to your blog post a lot. Middle school/Junior High was one of the roughest times of my life. I was bullied almost everyday, I couldn't do anything about it. To feel better I just distract myself from those thoughts: do some homework, play some games, etc. I would just try to forget what happened. The power of nostalgia is truly powerful when in times like that.
Sincerely,
Vivan Waghela
Hi Sierra,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post and it's nice to learn how twenty one pilots became your comfort band. Personally, I can't think of a major comfort band, artist, show, or movie I have. I can only think of the YouTuber Cody Ko. If you don't know who he is already, you should leave this assignment and search him up right away. APENG can wait. I just love how his videos always put a smile to my face and leave me on the edge of my seat laughing. I'm not sure how he is able to achieve that in every single one of his videos, but it has definitely created a sense of happiness and comfort that I can always look back on.
Hi Sierra,
ReplyDeleteNostalgia is a very strong emotion and the points that you bring up are true. People can interpret any meaning from anything, and I can think of a good experiment to test that. It would be interesting to see what people think songs in a foreign language are about. What would they think the song is about without being able to understand the words? I think that it would be interesting to test out. What do you think of this?
Sincerely,
Raymond Yu
Hi Sierra,
ReplyDeleteIt seems as if the blog group has just come together to collectively rebel against the traditional meaning of power. I think your take on it might be the most interesting I have seen yet. The power to reject the intentions of the creator might be one of the coolest interpretations of power. I think its really cool that you were able to find solitude in an album regardless of its intentions, and while I don't have a single album that immediately makes me feel better, I have most definitely overwritten some of the author's intentions for some songs.
Hi Sierra,
ReplyDeleteThis blog was actually really relatable because I to hold the belief that nostalgia has the power to make me feel at peace. Because of this, two of the things that I commonly go to to feel less stressed is baking and playing video games. This is because I grew up playing video games with my brother and baking by myself. Its to the point where I have a sense of nostalgia while doing those things. Especially playing an old video game or baking something I've baked a dozen times.
Hey Sierra!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear that junior high was so bad for you. I honestly felt the same way going through those years and I feel for you. I am really glad you were able to overcome that and use it to flourish into the really cool person I know you as. I think the power of nostalgia is unlike any other. It goes beyond the realm of happiness; if anything it could be described as bittersweet. I love that music induces nostalgia for you because it does the same for me. I associate certain songs and artists with certain people and memories. This makes music that much better because of the sentimental it holds to me. Thank you for sharing:)