We all do it — listen to music during our commutes, with friends, while working out or alone. Even in our busiest moments, music stays with us. It’s something we can’t escape.

Music often enhances our daily experiences when we choose to romanticize them. From my observations on social media, romanticizing life has become the new normal. Whether it’s a school day, doing chores, having coffee or going out with friends, many people add music to their Instagram or TikTok posts to share everyday moments. I find this beautiful, as it can enhance life’s value and create a sense of upgrading our environment.

Studies have shown that music can evoke strong emotional responses, helping people bond and create memorable experiences. Jose Valentino Ruiz, a 37-year-old professor in the School of Music at the University of Florida, emphasizes the strong interaction between the brain’s limbic system and music. Ruiz highlights how songs can bookmark emotional moments in life, making music a powerful tool for emotional expression and connection. It’s no accident that the music you listen to impacts your mood and actions.

Reflecting on these emotional connections, I find that in a world of the unexpected — that is how I like to define life — music is always there. As Fordham undergrads walk around campus with headphones in, listening to music as we go where the day tells us to next, does music put us in a better mood? Or does music trigger an escape into a different world?

For some, music is an escapegoat for issues and external reality, and I couldn’t agree more.

People tend to overlook how meaningful music is in our lives. Many treat it as mere background noise, when in reality, the music we choose reflects and influences our mood and actions.

​For instance, while listening to music on the Ram Van, I like to think about certain points in my life that either have happened, are happening or I wish to happen in the future. It’s almost like the music enhances my reflection on life. My past relationships and the importance of the people that have influenced me all sing through the music. For that reason, when I am particularly drawn to a song or artist, I realize it is because my life resonates with the song; usually, the artist’s lifestyle or perspective is a major factor I consider when choosing music.

​The American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” To this day, I find his words significant, as they suggest that people who have difficulty expressing their feelings verbally may feel more comfortable expressing them through music. Singers express themselves through their music, mirroring how they feel. For example, a slow tempo conveys sadness while a faster tempo is associated with high-arousal emotions such as happiness and anger.

​On other occasions, I am present, listening to music and just observing my surroundings, appreciating  life’s beauty. Often, the music I listen to matches my surroundings and activities, which helps me enjoy it more. If I’m working out, I like to listen to club music or Latin hits because it gets my body pumped and it gives me the same mentality and adrenaline rush as if I were in a club. 

​This can be due to the “happy hormone,” also known as the neurotransmitter dopamine, which enforces the positive responses induced by music. These responses are comparable to those generated by food or sex, but unlike those stimuli, music has no known biological significance. This evidence suggests that music could function as a therapeutic mechanism regulating our mood.

​Whether it’s shifting a mood or transforming a walk across campus into something more, students are using music to shape their day.

Ultimately, the real impact of music is not just in what plays, but in how it shapes our experiences and perceptions.

The right song can transform any moment, making the ordinary memorable and revealing music’s central place in how we experience life.

Bridgette Leahy, FCRH ’27, is a journalism major from Basking Ridge, New Jersey.