One thing we like about the iPod is the "shuffle" feature: With hundreds of songs from dozens of bands, we never know what we're going to hear next. But since these songs all come from our own collection, we are pretty much guaranteed to hear a song we like.
The only drawback to shuffle is when it lands on a song that is part of a larger work. Think side two of "Abbey Road"--from "Here Comes the Sun" through "And in the end. . . ." is really all one big symphony. But the iPod doesn't know that. Nor does it know that the reprise of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band" is SUPPOSED to be followed by "A Day in the Life." So instead of hearing familiar piano chords right after the cheering and guitars fade out, we might hear Guns n' Roses or Aimee Mann or Springsteen: Nothing wrong with that in and of itself, but jarring nonetheless. Don't even get us started on what happens after "The Happiest Days of Our Lives" --better known to most people as that bit that comes right before the "We don't need no education. . . " part of "Another Brick in the Wall": The music crescendoes, but instead of a rock-and-blues marching anthem, we get. . . well God knows what we get.
Yes, we know, we could just take the iPod OFF shuffle when it's playing a song that is really just a single part of a larger whole. But then we worry that we're going to confuse the device, and it'll just start playing things that it was playing right before we took it off shuffle. . . . Maybe we're overthinking this.
Suggestions?
You're overthinking it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you're over-thinking this, or maybe you're trying to squeeze out a column. Nonetheless, it's understandable, the initial unexpected jolt while floating along with music. I have a playlist of classical pieces that I use for relaxation. One of the pieces is Rhapsody in Blue. However, I downloaded and paid for a version by the United States Marine Band. They don't have any strings. For the most part the Rhapsody is well played, but there is one particular note two where the strings are sorely missed, and every single time I hear it, I twinge. Solipsist, you are not alone.
ReplyDeleteTURN OFF SHUFFLE AND. LEAVE. IT. OFF.!!!!!
ReplyDeletei know it's hard, but pretend to be a pioneer who killed his own meat. cooked his own meat. AND PICKED HIS OW MUSIC!!!!!
We did pick it out. We picked it out when we bought it. Rather difficult to carry around 300-400 CDs, don't'cha know?
ReplyDelete