Music and songs are written at different periods of time, at
Music and songs are written at different periods of time, at different times in your life. They reflect the feelings you have and to be honest, I quite like having positive emotions.
Scott Ian, warrior of the guitar and poet of heavy sound, once declared: “Music and songs are written at different periods of time, at different times in your life. They reflect the feelings you have and to be honest, I quite like having positive emotions.” In this confession, there is more than art—there is the story of the soul. For music is not merely sound, but memory given voice, emotion given form, and time itself woven into melody. Each song becomes a mirror of the heart at the moment of its birth.
The essence of his wisdom is this: the life of a creator is measured not in years alone, but in songs, each born from joy, sorrow, rage, or hope. A man’s diary may fade, but his songs endure as living echoes of his feelings. To say that he prefers positive emotions is to remind us that the truest gift of music is not in glorifying despair, but in carrying listeners toward light, even when it is born from shadow.
History bears witness to this truth. Beethoven, though deaf and tormented, poured into his Ninth Symphony a hymn to joy, declaring through music that even amidst suffering, the human spirit must strive for exaltation. His song reflected not the silence of his ears, but the triumph of his heart. So too does Scott Ian remind us that songs written across life’s seasons are vessels, bearing emotions to future generations long after the moment has passed.
Yet the teaching is not only for musicians. All people write songs of their lives—some with pen, some with labor, some with love. Every act, every creation reflects the feelings we carry within us. If we cultivate despair, we will spread despair. If we choose positive emotions, we will weave joy into the fabric of our families, our work, and our culture. Thus Ian’s words call us to examine the melodies we leave behind in the world.
Let this truth be remembered: time will pass, seasons will change, and emotions will rise and fall like tides. But if we seek to fill our days with positive emotions, then the songs of our lives, whether sung aloud or written in silence, will become a source of light for those who come after us. For music is the memory of the heart, and a heart tuned to joy will echo forever in the halls of time.
QTQUOC THAI
It's refreshing to hear someone openly embrace the positivity that music can bring. I’ve often found myself drawn to upbeat and uplifting songs because they create such a strong emotional connection. But do you think the types of music we gravitate toward reveal something deeper about our emotional state or mental health at the time? Could it be that the music we choose has a way of reflecting or influencing our moods?
LPlily pham
Music as a reflection of emotions is a fascinating concept, but I wonder if there's a fine line between enjoying positive music and ignoring the complexities of life. Can we always embrace happiness in music, or do you think there’s something to be learned from songs that express struggle or pain? Maybe that’s where the depth of music lies, in the balance between joy and hardship.
TATo Nguyen Truc Anh
It's interesting how songs can act as a time capsule, reflecting both the personal and cultural moments from different periods in life. I like that Scott Ian mentions having positive emotions, as we often hear about how music can be tied to sadness or melancholy. But do you think it's possible for music to be truly 'positive' or is it always layered with some kind of complexity or sadness underneath?
CHBui Cong Hau
I agree with Scott Ian's perspective. Music really does capture the essence of what we're feeling at specific times in our lives. It's almost like a soundtrack to our emotions. Do you think that music can also help shape or alter our emotions, though? It seems like certain songs can make us feel better or worse depending on the mood they evoke. How much control do we have over that?