“If the song doesn’t include drugs, sexual content, or some type of vulgar language, I don’t really want to hear it,” says the boy who does not believe in listening to ‘sappy’ love songs.

It almost seems like these days, it is very rare to find people who still like to listen to songs that speak raw emotions. Now, I’m not attempting to be discriminatory towards rap music but as we all know, most of the songs that do fall under that genre of music tend to include some type of profanity or ill-mannered content.

First off, I am not trying to convince anyone that rap songs do not speak passionate emotions nor am I trying to convince anyone that rhyming verses do not tell a profound story. I just want to make that clear.

As I’ve kept my eye out during scenes of observation, I’ve noticed something incredibly disappointing.

This generation has forgotten what it feels like to hear a tune that refrains from using the “F” bomb.

This generation has forgotten what it feels like to hear a tune that speaks about love, and not lust.

This generation has forgotten what it feels like to embrace a tune that speaks about the intense grief you feel when a loved one has passed away.

We tend to do a good job at hiding behind masks – often feeling afraid to acknowledge what is in ourown hearts. We do not want to hear ‘cliché, beautiful piano music,’ or a melody that sounds like it came from heaven itself. We yearn for a disguise. We strive for something – anything that will do to cover up our feelings of vulnerability, disappointment, or sadness.

One thing still remains true for me, however.

I still stand for love songs that form a vivid picture in your mind and depict the exact moment when you met that one special person.

I still stand for love songs that make you feel bubbly inside and spark feelings of endless joy.

I still stand for love songs that make you say, “This is going to be my wedding song one day.”

And, I even stand for breakup songs that make you realize, “it truly is time to move on now.”

There is strength in ‘sappy’ love songs. There is beauty in sentimental, hard-to-the-core melodies. There is power and courage in confronting your sentiment. There is nothing wrong with respecting other people’s choice of music, regardless of how ‘dramatic’ or ‘unnecessarily deep’ you may think it is.

Listening to nostalgic songs does not, in any case, define the term ‘masochistic.’ Humans are humans and we were built to experience a rollercoaster that makes up this thing called ‘life.’ Oftentimes, music is our best tool of self-expression and our best tool for deleting the intoxication that builds up within us from time to time.

It is OK to shed some tears. It is okay to be happy. It is also okay not to be OK sometimes. There is nothing immoral about that and there is nothing that demands you to feel shameful about that either.

I say, let’s begin to respect each other’s taste in music. Let’s refrain from degrading one genre in particular. Listening to a melancholic song on a sad day does not mean that you are a masochist. Let’s start breaking these pitiful stereotypes, which say that only rap music is a good representation of ‘masculinity.’ Refrain from judging and I dare you. I dare you to listen to just one love song that allows you to feel human for two to three minutes. Don’t encage your feelings. Allow your mind, heart, and soul to make a deep connection with the words and beautiful sounds that so many instruments come together to create. Allow your emotions to experience warmth again.