Scintillating Satie: A Somatic Stimulus

“Spectacular.” “Amazing.” “A Triumph.” All of these words are used by MSNBC in a review of Britney Spears’ album Blackout. None of these words represent how I feel. In recent years, the music industry has transformed into a monstrous abomination, milking its uninformed victims of their money, minds, and creativity. Perpetuating disgusting sexual stereotypes and immortalizing undeserving, fawning attention whores, today’s “music” is less about expression and more about fulfilling self-righteous yearnings. The unbelievably complex, timeless artistic works of Erik Satie shield me from the unsubstantiated music of today

Erik Satie, born into the Paris bourgeoisie in 1886, was rather unappreciated for much of his early life. His avant-garde, left-field music never saw the light of large public concert halls or glamour of a public performance. Soon leading a life of poverty, Satie persevered. Only motivated by the sheer love and appreciation for self expression, Satie continued to pursue his musical aspirations. Eventually his compositions were discovered, and later adored, by scores of Paris’s hippest social circles. Unafraid to challenge social and musical norms of the time, Satie remained an enigma to the masses, while superficial music continued to proliferate throughout the continent.

Satie’s music delves into the deepest confines of the soul, leaving neither a crack nor crevice unexplored. Regardless of external circumstances, nothing is more satisfying then sitting back and letting go. Letting all the troubles, trials, and tribulations of the modern human dictation simply vanish. Satie’s intricate lyrical passages, coupled with melancholy convoluted bass lines allow me to boundlessly inquire. To question societal ranks and biases. To question why we live and how we live. To question the validity of our being. If only popular music could do that.

Satie’s revolutionary music remains relevant to this day. His undeterred, unbreakable love for passionate musical articulation, as misunderstood as it may have been, as poor as it may have left him, is truly admirable. Satie motivates me to challenge societal norms, no matter how accepted they may be, and to never allow the shackles of society to imprison my artistic expression.