Music is powerful.

Or at least I believe it can be. Then again, I?m one of those ?suckers? who believes that the person writing this music actually feels like this or has experienced such events. I hope that they?re making this music for the love of the art, not just because they?re money- hungry corporate sell-outs that will do anything to make some scratch.

So as a believer in music, tell me: What is it about music that can literally ?take you away.? Listen to songs such as Donavon Frankenreiter?s ?Too Much Water,? Jason Mraz?s ?I?m Yours? or Incubus? ?Wish You Were Here.? After listening to such songs you think you would rather be relaxing on a beach with powder white sand or jumping into waves of crystal blue water as they crash on the beach. Why do we feel like this? Don?t get me wrong, I love that feeling, but what about those songs makes us think like this?

Another question that could be posed is whether the life depicted in these songs is actually that great. Not to sound like a complete pessimist, but do we long for these types of feelings simply because we are where we are? I love Dayton and specifically UD, but come on, who wouldn?t rather be on a beach or even, dare I say, in Daytona?

But are these thoughts just a break from the norm? We long for these feelings simply because every time we go to the beach it?s because we?re on vacation. We don?t have to worry about making money or any other problems that might arise. So, for the time being we can say: ?Man, why don?t I just pack up all my stuff and move out to a beach house.? But once we get there will things be any different? Or will we continue to have our constant daily struggles?

This is why music is powerful. If we analyze the situation it can get messy. But for that brief three minutes and change, these artists can take us to a completely different place and give us a whole new outlook on life. The choice is yours: You could go anywhere you want through the use of music. You?ve got an afternoon to spare, where do you want to go?