I believe 100 percent in the power and importance of music.

“I believe 100 percent in the power and importance of music.” Thus declared James Taylor, singer of soul and healer of hearts. In these words there is no hesitation, no half-measure—only total conviction. He speaks not of music as ornament, nor as passing amusement, but as something sacred, a force that can transform, uplift, and even save. For what food is to the body, what light is to the eyes, music is to the soul.

The ancients would have said: “He who masters music masters the heart of man.” From the chants of the shamans, to the psalms of David, to the hymns of temples rising in smoke, every age has known the power of music to bind communities, to soften grief, to inspire courage. James Taylor, with his voice of quiet fire, knew this truth deeply, for his own songs were born of both sorrow and healing, and carried to millions the balm of comfort.

Consider the tale of Orpheus from Greek legend, whose lyre could tame beasts, calm storms, and soften even the hearts of gods. When his beloved Eurydice was taken to the underworld, Orpheus sang so beautifully that Hades himself was moved to grant her release. Though tragedy struck before they reached the light, the story endures because it reveals what Taylor affirms: the importance of music is not in entertainment, but in its ability to reach into the deepest places of existence, where nothing else can touch.

Or reflect on the days of the Civil Rights Movement, when men and women marched for freedom under the weight of hatred and oppression. Their voices rose in song—“We Shall Overcome”—a melody so simple, yet filled with courage. Those who sang drew strength from one another; those who heard were stirred to compassion. No weapon was raised, yet with music they shook the foundations of injustice. Here, the truth of Taylor’s words shines: music carries power to change history itself.

The meaning of this declaration is clear: music is no mere companion to life—it is life itself speaking in rhythm and tone. It gives words to grief when mouths fall silent. It gives wings to joy when hearts overflow. It unites where division reigns, and it heals where wounds lie deep. To believe “100 percent” in its power is to recognize that no other force so purely reflects the human spirit and so directly uplifts it.

The lesson for us is profound: do not take music lightly. Use it as medicine for your own heart, and as offering to others. Sing when your spirit is heavy, and the weight will lift. Play when the silence feels unbearable, and sound will carry you forward. Share songs that speak truth, that awaken courage, that bring comfort, for in doing so you join in the eternal work of healing the world.

Practical counsel follows: make room each day for music—not only to hear it, but to feel it, to let it shape your mood and spirit. Support artists who bring beauty and truth. Teach children to love melody and rhythm, for in doing so you pass down a shield against despair. Above all, let music be part of your response to life’s struggles: when met with fear, sing; when met with loss, sing; when met with joy, sing all the louder.

So remember this, O children of the future: as James Taylor declared, believe fully, believe 100 percent, in the power and importance of music. For it is not merely sound, but breath given form, emotion made eternal, and the purest bridge between human and divine. Cherish it, wield it, and let it guide you, for in music there is healing, there is strength, and there is life everlasting.