Music as Argument

The healing power of music is extremely effective. It can take you through a complete series of emotions and feelings without even you known it. It can be use for positive purposes as negatives intention too. As we get ready to analyze the music video "Stand by Me" prepared by Playing for Change,  keep in mind the importance of music as a society and the benefits that come from it.

The W.O.V.E.N elements were very obvious throughout the video. The written aspect of it was very light but never-less very important. It displayed the name of the musicians and the place in the world were that section of the song was being played at. It gave you a huge sense of globalization as it listed places from all over the world. It started in Lousiana, New Mexico, France, Russia, Venezuela, Congo, Spain and even as remote as South Africa.

As music can emotionally transport you to different places just by playing specific instruments, this video makes use of the written element by spelling out in white simple letters the places and that right there is enough to take you in a trip around the world.

The oral element is of course the singing. They are all male voices singing beautifully in harmony as one big voice, even when it's obvious that the video as a whole was put together by editing and cropping together many different videos, filmed at different times. That is the electronic element too in this video. The instruments vary from very sophisticated ones to rustic instruments, even one can be manmade by a street artist.

Street Musicians

It's definitely a party for your sight senses as you appreciate the visual part of it. It shows very common yet beautiful places from around the world. Beautiful people of different age, color, culture and places. They all sing with a very palpable passion about the fact the all human kind needs somebody to lean on. It's a universal need that is very clearly shown in the video, over and over again. It appeals to the Pathos principal as it makes you realized that we truly are the same and share some very basic needs as human beings.

Another aspect were we can see the electronic part is the use of microphones, headphones, cameras, instruments, etc. It's a video made primarily thanks to the editing miracle that happens when you can mix music together and presented as a whole. It's a contribution of many street musicians as a whole big team to deliver an important message.

The non-verbal aspect was also present as in the common clothes that the musician wore. Nothing to fancy or unique that would distract the audience. It's simple but bright and full of colors. The audience also plays its part as you first see them walking by not paying much attention to the song but at the end of the video you see them engaging and enjoying the song, some of them even dance to the beat. Their faces showed happiness and peace after listening to the song.

Overall, we can see why music can develop into something way more than entertainment. It's clear how it can take you though many emotions and even heal you or give you peace. Music has been used as medicine for many years. It has the power to add to you spiritual benefits almost as much as a pharmaceutical drug.  As we read on the article called "What Are The Benefits of Music Therapy" written by Positive Phycology, where you see the huge influence of some notes of music put together can transform you from the inside out.

Sources:

“What Are the Benefits of Music Therapy?” PositivePsychology.Com, 20 Mar. 2019, https://positivepsychology.com/music-therapy-benefits/