Thursday, December 1, 2011

What does your music preferences say about you?

Recently, a music loving friend of mine convinced me that I needed to download an app called Spotify. I had never heard of Spotify. When I first heard the name I seriously thought it was like a key-finding service or something (wouldn't that be amazing, btw?). So, he explained to me what it was and I promptly downloaded it.
And promptly fell into love with it.

Then the free preview ended and I promptly forgot about it (#shortattentinospan).

Spotify is an app that allows you to stream music (for practically nothing) commercial free and without downloading it. You can gather "friends" on there and also listen to their playlists as well, which works out great for me because I hate making playlists (I know, weird. Am I the only one?).

Recently, I remembered how much I liked it and decided to go for it and pay the $10 a month for mobile streaming on my phone. Basically, I wanted to listen to what I wanted, when I wanted without commercials or annoying deejays. Pandora is great, and I will probably still use it regularly, but so far I like the music organization of Spotify and how I can search for one artist and listen to their entire album as much as want for, ahem, only $10/month. Cheeeaaap!

Anyway. The reason for this blog post is I didn't notice until recently that Spotify posts everything you listen to on your Facebook page*, which is fine, but it got me thinking. Sometimes music can be a personal thing! What I want to listen to is determined by so many different variables! My mood, what I'm doing, where I'm going... etc, etc, etc, they all dictate what kind of music I will be listening to that day.

I definitely do not have one favorite type of music and my tastes change every. single. day. It's kinda funny, but my tastes tend to change with the seasons too - for example, in the summer I listen to a lot more country, and in the winter I always go through an alternative phase.

Take yesterday for example, I listened to:
  • The Civil Wars - while studying. This music is PERFECT for studying. It's not distracting, has just the right beat, and the music is gorgeous (don't try to deny it. They make beautiful music. Just saying...)

  • Rihanna - usually I'm not a fan of top 40 music. I would rather listen to something a little bit more, uhhh, underplayed? But today? I was feeling it. We Found Love? Not too bad if you haven't heard it 34235674 times. After about a minute, I was on to something else.

  • Bruno Mars - I love that man. Everything except for The Lazy Song, is top of the list for me. I love Runaway Baby, Count on Me and Marry You. All such good songs! I think I listened to that album about 10 times yesterday.

  • Glee Christmas Album - yep. I admit it. I love me some Glee music. I don't watch the show (am I the only one???) but I love the music from it! On Mondays and Wednesdays when I work with C, she insists on Christmas music in the car and this is perfect.
  • Everclear - How can you not love Everclear? They make me all happy inside. I'm also in a serious 90s phase right now. I cannot get enough. Give me some Goo Goo Dolls, Smashing Pumpkins (love), No Doubt (love even more), Cake, Weezer, DMB, Pearl Jam... Ok. I'll stop now. Seriously though, if you're an 80s or 90s child, try not to smile when listening to any of those!

  • Oldies - Sometimes I swear I am a 50 year old trapped in a 30 year old body. Blame it on my dad. In fact, I DO blame it on my dad. I love the 60s and 70s. I can think of countless times I walked into the house to hear my dad blaring some sort of hippie music that he loved in the 60s or 70s. If I'm listening to the radio here in Des Moines, it is most likely on 93.3, our oldies station. I hate that they have begun to play 80s music though. It makes me cringe and I usually turn it off. Hear that, KIOA?? No. More. 80s. Please, I am begging you. Sincerely, a young fan of the oldies. (if anyone makes a joke about me calling myself young, I will never speak to you again. I mean it.)
So, where am I going with this? Music can tell you a lot about a person and give you a lot of insight into their personality. For me, it can tell you if I'm happy, sad, energetic... whatever. It can tell you if I want to be bothered or not. It can symbolize how easygoing or uptight I am. How outgoing I am feeling, or if I'm feeling shy. It really says a lot.

What kind of music do you listen to? What do you think it says about you? Are you a radio person? Ipod person? Pandora? Inquiring minds want to know!

*You can change the settings so that it does not post to your Facebook, but it kind of loses that comradery** of finding out you like the same music as some of your friends.

**is that spelled right? Merriam-Webster says yes, I think it looks funny

10 comments:

Marisa A. said...

I'm very....diverse in my music tastes. I can go from Rage Against the Machine to Neil Diamond in a snap. I just love music. All kinds. Just not country really...bluegrass and folk yes, country no.

Amber said...

I am not really a music person. I mean, I listen to music but I don't really "hear it" if that makes sense. And I don't listen to music A LOT. I will listen to classical music sometimes at work when I really need to focus down on a project and zone out, I will always listen to music when I run even though I kind of "zone out" and I will occasionally throw some on when I'm cooking. I listen to the radio during my commute but more to hear the news than the music.

That being said, I do think music says a lot about a person! I'm a BIG country fan. I wonder what that says about me? Haha

Amber said...

I just re-read my comment and I think that the only time I really listen to music IS when I am zoning out on something and maybe that's why I never really 'hear it'?? Interesting!!

Lesli said...

I use Pandora and i heart radio on my iPhone, and satellite radio in my car.

I like listening mainly to alternative rock from the 90s. But I also love current, top 40 pop stuff. And I have been known to listen to Hair Nation--I like the hard rock, too! :-)

But like you, it all depends on my mood.

Kyria @ Travel Spot said...

I listen to a little bit of everything. I like Rap and Rock for running, Classical if I am trying to get work done or read, everything else for whenever. There really isn't a music I don't like! I use Pandora or my iPod usually.

I am with you on that Lazy song. I really don't like it.

Stephany said...

I'm like Amber, I'm not a huge music fan. I listen to it while driving (I actually can't stand not to have music on when I drive) and when I work out but that's about it. I don't listen to it at work or home, really. I find it to be distracting.

As for my tastes, I listen to a lot of Christian music and try to listen to mainstream but just can barely stand some of the stuff that is played. None of it is original at all! I will say that I do rock out to the Glee soundtracks sometimes. I don't watch the show, but kinda love the music. :)

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

I would not like the 'posting to facebook' aspect of the ap, so it's good to know you can disable that feature. I am a HUGE music person. I love discovering new artists and going to concerts. Some of my faves are Ingrid Michaelson, Mat Kearney, Ben Folds, and Brandi Carlile. I listen to music when i am walking to and from work, and then when I am getting ready in the morning.

Unknown said...

I lOvE Spotify! :)

Pearls and Curls
sunnidaegregory.blogspot.com

marisol said...

Love, love Everclear. I'll have to check out The Civil Wars.

I tried Spotify but prefer the Rdio. Similar service. I find that these types of services are great for discovering & re-discovering music. I don't like to listen to FM radio due to the amount of repeated songs that they play.

Lily said...

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