That One Musical Note that Strikes a Chord

Today's top 10 hits on iTunes, an egregiously meticulous calculation of the most purchased, most listened to, most liked songs available to the everyday iTunes consumer. Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) by Kelly Clarkson, holding its own for over a week now at number 1 on the iTunes top singles chart, ringing in as the top selling digital song with 225,000 copies purchased, also rocketed to number 2 on this weeks Billboard Hot 100. A close second to Adele, sitting comfortable in the No.1 for her hit single, Set Fire to the Rain. For its 18th week in a row Adeles' album "21" leads the Billboard 200 album chart, but Clarkson is quick to pace her. 

What is it about the work of these two female musicians that hits home with such a vast majority of the musical audience of our nation? Clarkson and Adele, separated in age by a short 6 years, have swiftly stole the lime light of the music entertainment business. Their impeccable vocal gifts paired with talented producers, these two have run away with the show but what is it about the content of these two songs which have so profoundly grasped our attention?

When it comes to music, often times we think 'to each his own.' With genres ranging from alternative to blues, classical to dance, hip hop/rap to jazz, R&B/Soul to reggae, country to rock, its a musical world of diversity as much in pertinence to the artists as the listeners themselves. So what is it? Adele and Clarkson, according to iTunes are both categorized under the "Pop" Genre, buts its not the genre itself that causes these two songs to so drastically stand apart from the rest. 

At the end of the day, music is relatable; to your mood, your experiences, your thought processes and inspirations. Whether it be the beat of a song, the eloquence of lyrics, or the particular timing of when the notes hit your ears, as a culture so driven by branding and advertisements we are drawn to the concepts and ideas that connect on an emotional level to our own lives. Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) is a song of empowerment and is considered to be an anthem for "recovery" after the finality of a negative relationship, and Set Fire to the Rain delves into the contradictory aspects of relationships, and the impossibility of letting go. These two songs are grounded in the details of relationships, and relationships on any level, are relatable to everyone, which is why I can't say I'm surprised that these two works have soared to the top and managed to stay there.