Tuesday 21 July 2009

I miss my iPod*

I know I am sometimes a bit of a technophobe** and that I didn't want an iPod at first, but when the one I was given got swiped (ages ago), I didn't really click what I was losing... Salvation from South African radio DJs and crappy teeny-bopper pop music nonsense that invades my headspace daily (along with the nutty ideas, odd complexes and few delusions that already reside there, it's getting a bit crowded now).



We have such a limited choice of radio stations (in English, my mother tongue, at least) here and I just don't understand why they must all be stocked with annoying DJs. And I'm not just talking about the music (wait, that rant is coming later in this post) - I know they don't get much of a choice in the playlists. But for goodness' sake... is it really necessary to be so irritating?



There are those who make lame toilet-humour jokes that are appropriate for kids under the age of 10 (ok, ok, ok... and me, after a few glasses of wine). Then there are others who turn every single sentence into some sort of dodgey sexual innuendo (like that freaky Brand Power lady who sounds all sultry and excited about washing powder and other such scintillating products). Some are boring (the mere sound of their droning voices puts you to sleep and you should not be tuning in while driving). Others are whiney. And there are a whole bunch who think they are way funnier than they are.



There are one or two who are not bad at all (and they are obviously the ones in the prime driving-time slots), but most of them still play the awful music that all sounds the same to me.



Call me a granny, but I like music with a beat, a tune and decent lyrics. At the moment all I seem to hear (on whatever radio station it is that the girls at the office are permanently listening to throughout the day) is high-pitched nonsense that all sounds the same. And the words! I have come to the conclusion that the best way to make a career in music is to find a phrase or even a word you really like and sing it (or shriek it in some cases) over and over and over again. At least three times.

Example 1:
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella
(Ella ella, eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella, eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella, eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella, eh eh eh, eh eh eh)


Example 2:


Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield

Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield

Better go and get your armor (get your armor), get your armor (get your armor)

I guess you better go and get your armor (get your armor), get your armor (get your armor)

I guess you better go and get your...

Example 3:
It's not fair
And I think you're really mean
I think you're really mean
I think you're really mean
Oh you're supposed to care
But you never make me scream
You never make me scream

Oh it's not fair
And it's really not ok
It's really not ok
It's really not ok
Oh you're supposed to care
But all you do is take
Yeah all you do is take

And who could forget that super-stupid "boom boom boom" song from the Black Eyed Peas?

Give me some good old-fashioned Counting Crows, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Simon & Garfunkel, Cold Play or U2. Hmmm... it seems only half the problem is with the daft music... I don't seem to like female musicians as much as the men. No, that can't be right, becuase there's loads of awful music by dudes on the radio... Pit Bull, Sean Kingston and Kanye West ("Paranoid" is a prime example) to name just a few.

If I had the choice I would work in silence. It's easier to concentrate. But if I was going to pick music to listen to at the office, it certainly wouldn't be the crap we have on at the moment (Something about Release Meeeeeeeee, Release my bod-eeeeeeeee. Ugh).

I reckon my project this week will be to create a mix CD for the office.


*If I say it three times in a row to a beat, I could be the next big pop star!

**Which is better than being a rectal probe

11 comments:

Janine / Being Brazen said...

I totally agree...

MAke that Mix CD asap :) Be sure to share your work playlist

Damaria Senne said...

LOL. So glad you said it. was starting to wonder if I was the one who didn't get it and the music was just fine:-)

Helen said...

I haven't played the radio for over 2 years, I plug my ipod into my car and enjoy the fact that I have yet to hear a song by Lady Gaga

phillygirl said...

I'm so with Helen on this! I heart my iPod ... for when I want to be in a bubble at my desk or most especially to rather listen to podcasts when I drive. When I actually have to listen to the radio, I cycle thru stations like you *can not* believe!

Shania said...

You should try satellite radio. I haven't listend to terrestrial radio in years. With satellite, they have entire channels with one specific type of music, no commercials (which makes it worth the subscription right there!) and since the artist and title comes up on the screen, no DJ's.

Anonymous said...

um.... I go out a lot so beat less repititive music makes me really happy dancing wise because you can always follow a beat. I like dancing.

but stuff on my iPod is slightly more well rounded- I am Otis Redding's HUGEST fan this side of his generation... LEGEND!

But the music thou complainest of is where the youth are listening to and that is frightening. But where can the fresh new and well rounded music coming from???

It's interesting to note though that repetitive music in terms of beats, etc. speaks to a something in your genetic make up that makes you like it anyway- like the way tribal drums are always played in war... I don't know how to explain that.

I always dance to Black Eyed Peas "Boom Boom Pow" I don't think the music was made with the intention to broaden music; but for the pure enjoyment of dance.

I should be ashamed... but I'm not really- I'm just waiting for the nest music legend who isn't John Mayer... blegh. Someone fun.

Anonymous said...

um.... I go out a lot so beat less repititive music makes me really happy dancing wise because you can always follow a beat. I like dancing.

but stuff on my iPod is slightly more well rounded- I am Otis Redding's HUGEST fan this side of his generation... LEGEND!

But the music thou complainest of is where the youth are listening to and that is frightening. But where can the fresh new and well rounded music coming from???

It's interesting to note though that repetitive music in terms of beats, etc. speaks to a something in your genetic make up that makes you like it anyway- like the way tribal drums are always played in war... I don't know how to explain that.

I always dance to Black Eyed Peas "Boom Boom Pow" I don't think the music was made with the intention to broaden music; but for the pure enjoyment of dance.

I should be ashamed... but I'm not really- I'm just waiting for the nest music legend who isn't John Mayer... blegh. Someone fun.

Chick said...

I definitely feel your pain! Even worse when a colleague selects one of those lovely songs for their ringtone... ;P

Slyde said...

i couldnt agree with you more about todays music.. i hate most of it (and i couldnt live without my ipod..)

po said...

Heehee I TOTALLY agree with you, the radio stations in the UK are terrible, really really bad, and the music is repetitive to that max. I am all for Counting Crows etc, and also prefer the men, and the Americans.

Although I have been known to listen to teenage pop tarts and other crimes, so maybe I should not say anything :)

AngelConradie said...

I can't work without my music. I have a bundle of CDs loaded on my laptop and I shuffle the tracks all day.