Music has always played a huge role in shaping our lives, especially for young people. Whether it is through the lyrics or what we see in music videos, artists have a lot of influence over how we think, feel, and behave.
Sometimes this influence can really be positive, but other times it can be negative. Without further ado, Let me start by talking about it's postive influences.
First of all, music has become a way for youths to earn a living and change their lives for the better.
In Nigeria, for example, there are so many artistes that have risen from nothing to something and become wealthy and successful, like Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Tems. These artistes have shown that music can be a real career path and a way to generate revenue.
Through their music and their stories towards achieving success, they have also been able to inspire and motivate so many youths to pursue their talents and work hard, which has given them the chance to build a better future for themselves and even their families.
Another positive thing about music is how it helps us youth deal with stress and express our emotions.
Sometimes life can get overwhelming, and for a lot of young people, music is actually an escape.
Personally, when I'm feeling stressed or just need to clear my head, I put on some music and it really helps me feel better. It’s like a therapy – a way to release emotions, get lost in the sound, and come out feeling more relaxed and focused.
I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. Music just has a special way of making tough times become a little easier to handle.
However, music's influence has is own drawbacks.
One of the biggest issues is the glorification of illegal activities, like internet fraud or gangsterism.
I have listened to alot of Nigerian songs that has made "internet fraud" sound like an easy and cool way to get rich. I get that everyone wants to succeed, but pushing the idea that fraud is a solution to life's struggles is actually not advisable. A lot of young people get influenced by this and end up thinking that engaging in illegal activities is an acceptable way to make money, which is not only illegal but also harmful to the society.
Also, Nowadays, there are many songs that glorify gang life , violence, drug dealing, and other criminal activities.
I mean It is quite understandable that some artists use their music to reflect the harsh realities they’ve experienced in life, but then there’s a fine line between storytelling and glamorizing destructive behavior.
When gangsterism is portrayed as a way to gain respect, wealth, or power, it can easily influence young listeners, and make them believe that crime is an acceptable way to succeed in life.
Another negative influence is the promotion of harmful behaviors
It's quite unusual to see artists smoking weed or cigarettes in their videos, and for young fans, this can make those behaviors seem cool or normal to exhibit. I once heard a guy say, "If Rema and Burna boy are smoking, then who am I not to?" This just shows how much impact these things have on people. When you see your favorite artists doing something, it’s easy to emulate such behaviours and think it’s okay to follow their lead, even if it’s harmful to your health.
Furthermore , the way women are often portrayed in music videos is another big issue.
These days, it’s common to see women exposing their bodies and been dressed in indecent manners in music videos. This sometimes pass across a really harmful message to young people, it teaches boys that women are just there for their pleasure and makes girls feel like they have to look a certain way for them to be valued in the society which is not right.
In the end, music is incredibly powerful. It can inspire us, give us a sense of hope, and help us through tough times. But then it is also important to recognize when it promotes unhealthy or harmful behaviors. Musicians have a lot of influence on the listeners, and young people often look up to them. Therefore, i feel it's crucial for artists to be aware of the messages they pass across through their music and for youths and other listeners to think critically about what they’re consuming or what they get from listening to those songs.
Thanks for reading.