THE BOND BETWEEN PERSON AND MUSIC

“Where words fail, music speaks.” Music says a lot about a person. It may seem like I am looking for new strategies to analyze the people around me, but one thing I am sure of is the fact that music is important and it plays a vital role in our lives. As much as I try to understand the people around me and put myself in their shoes, think about their outlooks and perception on life, I will never understand people who don’t listen to music. Music can be personal and emotional. ​​The connection between a person and their music is ageless and indestructible. It's a partnership that develops throughout time, adapting to our shifting moods and phases. Music is a constant companion in times of joy and sadness, celebration and introspection, understanding and amplifying our deepest thoughts and feelings. Our emotional connection to music demonstrates its universal power. It serves as a reminder that regardless of our differences, we all have a rhythm that moves us, a melody that speaks to our spirit, and a song that tells our narrative.

Music is such an integral element of culture and daily life that it has long been thought to be linked to one's personality. Music, more than any other medium, has profound ties with our emotions and adds a soundtrack to life. In a community, it can create a sense of belonging. Music has the incredible ability to capture the essence of an experience, transforming ephemeral moments into unforgettable memories. It creates a tapestry of sounds that remind us of who we are and where we've been. In my community as an Arab, when I hear arabic music my grandparents used to play in the house, naturally, I get nostalgic as it's linked to a happy memory of mine. A coffee on the balcony with Teta Widad and Abdel Halim Hafez playing in the background is more than just a memory, it's a feeling I crave. As I write this article, I am currently sitting on the same balcony, except this time I'm not listening to Abdel Halim Hafez, I'm listening to a song a friend of mine gave me a couple of weeks ago. It’s a form of love in my eyes, that someone is reminded of you when they hear a song they think you might like. Bonding over music and discussing your preferred tastes with someone, doesn’t only deepen your connection with that person, but with the music itself. 

The five attributes of personality are: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. These traits have been utilized to construct a complex—yet incomprehensible—picture of who we are as individuals. In my eyes, there is a strong correlation between these five characteristics and a person's music choices. Your preferred music genres may reveal more about you than you may think. Without complicating matters, people who enjoy a wide variety of music are more extraverted, agreeable, and conscientious. Opposingly, people who only listen to one genre and are close-minded in terms of ever expanding their taste, are stubborn and lack the ability to adapt. Yes, a miniscule occurrence such as this one can define your personality traits. If you disagree and try to argue this fact, you are proving my point about being stubborn. 

Here are my top 10 songs of all time (They aren’t in any specific order):

Come a little closer - Cage The Elephant 

Lover, You Should’ve Come Over - Jeff Buckley

Hometown Glory - Adele 

Something Stupid - Frank Sinatra 

Twenty Eight - The Weeknd 

The Morning - The Weeknd 

Star67 - Drake (Specifically after 1:50)

Like a Tattoo - Sade 

Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon

 Weekend - Jorja Smith 

If you're interested in more of my preferred tastes, follow me on apple music @farahsaabneh

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.”

Plato

Guest Essay

By Farah Saabneh

Published February 3, 2025