When we look back at the aspects of our pasts that made us the people we are today, we tend to tie a lot of sentimentality to those memories. It seems to be that music is one of the most powerful tools to bring back memories; both good and bad. Entering into 2016, it’s been brought to my attention that many of the records that I credit as “life-changing” are reaching the ten-year bench mark. When I pulled up Alternative Press’ article, “20 Albums We Can’t Believe Turn 10 This Year,” I knew that I was in for a stomach-turning wave of nostalgia and embarrassment, and I got more than I bargained for. Scrolling through the titles, each one more shocking than the last, I found myself feeling very old, but also very… happy.

The fact that music has the power to alter your life, to change the direction in which you’re moving, even if it’s only ever-so-slightly, is an incredible part of our lives. Think back to how you’ve been influenced by the music that you listen to. Music has the power to lead us to our passions, to inspire us to never quit, even to make us feel like we’re not alone. I believe it’s the true talent of the musician to be able to express feeling in the way that millions, if not billions of people can get behind. When I was reading over that list, I was reliving the moments when I listened to those records for the first time, and I felt like I was part of something, something bigger than whatever was going on in my day to day back in sixth grade. I know that other people can relate in the exact same way, perhaps not to the same albums that I was blasting back in ole middle school, but definitely to something. Maybe that band was the one that taught you to stand up for yourself. Maybe that person’s voice spoke to you like nobody else had before. Maybe music has taught us to be strong in ways we don’t even recognize. Maybe it still does.

Music is a beautiful thing. It unites us as people, whether that’s under a message or a movement, or just an appreciation. Music traverses the borders that we face in the other aspects of our lives, it makes those borders nonexistent. We all know the excitement we feel in our chests when that song from “back in the day” comes on over the radio or iTunes or Spotify, whatever. We all try our best to remember the words, or maybe just dance wildly in the car like we did back then, but one way or another, we’re reliving those days in memory, if only for a moment. I don’t believe that there’s anything else in the world that is as powerful as music, especially when it comes to reliving those times. People can sit around and tell stories about the good days for hours, but nobody will feel exactly what they felt back then more than when the song that changed their life comes on. Nothing can compare.

Also, quick note, 10-year benchmarks mean reunion tours, so if any of those old bands are reading, please make it happen.