It started with smooth jazz; the upbeat melodies of Ray Charles could instantly fill a room with groups of smiling, dancing people of all color and culture, united by the electrifying sounds and commanding beats.

Rock, Rap, Hip-Hop, Pop, Dub step; each generation had its own steady tempo that offered them an escape from the reality of their lives. Music done right has the capacity to create any emotion imaginable, and great artists have developed such a talent for evoking a sentimental response in their listeners that they command well deserved million dollar contracts. Drake, for example, comes to mind; his music has always been praised for its ability to connect with a grieving soul, and calm the mind by offering a gentle expression of similar feelings which brings solace to all who feel alone in experiencing their various levels of pain.

In contrast, artists like Mac Miller, whose music is arguably less meaningful but equally impressive in its art, can have the effect of intensifying feelings of joy, or creating them where before there were none. Bob Marley spreads mellow vibes with his simple reggae beats, and his music has traveled through generations of people just trying to chill out and have a good time. And contrary to popular belief, smoking weed is not a precursor for enjoying reggae music, just like cowboy boots and a wild west hat aren’t necessary for someone to enjoy country music.

Every art has its criticisms, and there will always be those who argue that exerting effort towards developing music is a waste of time. On the contrary; music is and has always been the most distinguishing feature of human culture. Since early humans took their first tentative steps on this earth, music has been present alongside them. It’s the most ancient evidence exemplifying the true capacity of the human intellect. The development of music has become so ingrained in humanity and its culture that to call it useless or unnecessary would be incredibly ignorant. Maybe music is mainly of use as a stress reliever, a kind of medicine for the mind that allows it to reach the full extent of its potential brain power without being totally overwhelmed by the curse of unending neurological activity that haunts all of mankind.

Or maybe the answer is simpler – maybe music is just an inevitable byproduct resultant of such incredible minds, without any true practical use, yet still destined to exist forever as long as humans live and breathe on this earth. Either way, its origin and purpose is an afterthought, the only fact the truly matters is that music, throughout centuries of genocides and an ever present threat of evil, has brought happiness and solace to people in all states of suffering. Music has always helped heal even the deepest wounds mankind has been forced to face, and it’s one of the few things, along with other arts, that has united warring people for centuries.