Music often serves as a way to temporarily escape problems faced in the real world. When life starts to get stressful, many people take their iPod or other music device and plug their headphones into each ear, drowning out the world in the process. There are different musical genres, each used to achieve different sensations. In this essay I will elaborate different types of music along with their characteristics and purposes. Three of the most commonly listened to types of music are pop, rap, and hard rock/metal. Pop music, short for "popular" music, is listened to primarily to release emotions. Many pop songs have a deep message behind the beat. For example, Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball", although the music video is risqué, has profound lyrics. Toward the end of the songs, Cyrus sings, “I never meant to start a war; I just wanted you to let me in. And instead of using force, I guess I should have let you win. In this sentence, he is saying that he simply wanted to have further communication with a loved one. Maybe she went too far and lost her loved one in the process. Pop songs are often related to everyday life. The lyrics talk about stress, love, loss or even death. And because they are so relatable, people often listen to them to release their negative feelings. I often listen to sad songs when I feel sad to realize that I'm not the only person who has felt sad about something specific. Taylor Swift writes several songs about horribly depressing breakups, and because of the subject matter, many people can relate to the lyrics. Whether the song ends with Swift remaining sad or brightening up, listeners often feel a sense of relief when the song ends. As a result…half the sheet…is a Thing” by Aerosmith. The song features raspy vocals and strong beats that cause people to release their anger. The song is strong, but not full of hate. Many songs from Alice in Chains and Korn have similar characteristics. Because they have a strong rhythm, the strength of which helps facilitate the release of anger rather than repression. Hard rock or metal music helps release anger and consequently makes people happier. Music allows you to temporarily escape from the stress that is rampant throughout the world. Whether it's pop, rap, rock or any other genre, it allows people to become happier and slightly freer from stress. Music can not only provide entertainment, but it can also create a sense of equality, positivity and happiness. Over the years music has evolved drastically. However, one thing will always remain the same: music is good for your health.