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THE SONG
Can Music Save the World?
Finding magic in all the smallest things
In the 1989 classic Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, the time-bending Rufus explains to Bill S. Preston Esq and Ted “Theodore” Logan how the music of their band — Wyld Stallyns — will one day save the world:
Rufus: You see, eventually your music will help put an end to war and poverty. It will align the planets and bring them into universal harmony, allowing meaningful contact with all forms of life, from extraterrestrial beings to common household pets. And… it’s excellent for dancing.
— https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096928/characters/nm0137506
Pay no attention to the fact that neither character has much musical skill or even raw talent at that point in the flick. As Rufus, himself, says later in the film: “They get better!”
Regardless of how you feel about the Bill and Ted trilogy, it asks an interesting question: Can music save the world? Is there a hidden power in words and notes that can reach humanity at a level beyond human understanding?
A couple of days ago I heard Ed Sheeran’s “Celestial” from 2022. (I am not sure how it fell into my Deezer feed between Mammoth WVH and my newfound obsession The Struts, but … oh wait. Yeah, that actually tracks.) The song is actually lovely overall, but one line in the song cut particularly deep into my heart:
“We were made to be nothin’ more than this, finding magic in all the smallest things”
Innocuous, right? Maybe. However, could the secret to world peace live somewhere in this one artfully crafted lyric?
Think about it. We humans have mastered the art of complexity, confusion, and chaos. When did you last “find magic in all the smallest things?” As a child, we view a vast world through a lens of wonder. However, as we grow older and become more distracted by work, relationships, where we live, and other grand plans, there seems to be very little time for “finding magic” or “all the smallest things.”
But what if real life actually exists in the magic and smallest things? Close your eyes and recall the sweet scent of fresh-cut grass or a meadow filled with wildflowers. Recall the first time you…
