90’s Mariah Carey: Vision of Love (interpersonal communication)
“Vision of Love” by Mariah Carey was released by her label in 1990. When she wrote the song, she was reflecting back on the monumental life changes she was experincing as a result of getting signed by a record company.
Interpersonal Communication can be broken down and expressed in 4 different ways: written, verbal, non-verbal, and audio. Interpersonal communication can occur between two people, or a huge group of people. An artist delivering a message to their listeners. (Mass communication)
I didnt hear the song until 2015 when everything in my life was falling apart. This song spoke to my heart in ways I dont think I can ever adequately express. It is particularily interesting to me that a song bought by millions of people could feel so incredibly personal to me; almost as though Mariah was singing to just me. That is the power of effective communication.
Though I dont know Mariah personally, through her music, which she writes herself, I can find common themes that we share in our individual lives.
When analzing the single “vision of love” through the lenses of interpersonal communication theory, I was able to really begin to understand why the musical arrangment, the conviction in Mariah’s voice, and all that incapsulates the song, spoke to me in the way that it did.
This was a period of time in my life when I was being awakened to God’s presence. I was beginning to learn the different avenues in which he would speak and minister to His people.
The song speaks about the joy and hope of a future that is brighter than the past and present situtation one is in. Trusting in a Greater Being to carry you through difficult times. Trusting , simpl that inspite of whatever you are facing, the Lord can not only carry you through, but use you to help others; that was the message I got anyway.
I would listen to the song for hours on end, and honestly pray out the lyrics. In the last three years, I have seen the Lord carry me through truly dire circumstances. The lyrics have come to life in my own life. Jesus has moved so mightly in my life, in ways that are nothing short of miraculous.
He has kept his promises to me, and continues to do so. This song was definitely an achor for me to hold on to Him who makes the sun to rise and set. After about the 20th time of listening to the song, I began to listen just for the sense of desperation with which she would sing certain parts of the song. I could not help but want to believe that what she was saying was happening for her could become true for me too.
It is often said that certain songs can zoom you back to particularly vivid memories and well, “Vision of Love” does that for me. Wherever I might happen to be, when I am listening to the song, I’m immediately brought back to my 17 year old self, clinging onto my dilapidated electronic device and singing the lyrics at the top of my lungs or in the quiet stillness of my heart hoping that I too, would one day be singing of new joyous things happening in my life.
When I listen to it now, it is to give God thanks for how far he’s brought me. It is also a sense of assurance for me, that He’ll continue to carry me for always. Needless to say “Vision of Love” is my all time favorite song.
