playlists
The lost art of playlist creation for your friends and why it’s imperative to reinstate these social behaviors
When I sold my 2013 RAV4 last year, I was most heartbroken about losing the ability to roadtrip to the theme songs of my nostalgia
Beginning with the rush of capturing a song from the radio by recording it on a tape deck and morphing into burnt mixed CDs with handwritten memos, the art of curating playlists is an invigorating pastime. Its brilliance endures in how it is in essence a bonding technique. Music brings people together. We know this. Receiving the friendship gift of an artfully crafted list of songs that aligns with your experiences in life equals one of the greatest displays of affection. Missing this particular behavioral social trend, I am on a mission to reinstate artful playlist building for your loved ones rather than letting it slip away from our lives.
Examples of playlists curated for me by those I love
Now that we utilize streaming devices rather than hardware to listen to music, we allow AI or software programs to choose playlists for us. We no longer listen to a wide variety of music, insisting that the algorithms running in the background know our preferences better than our own critical thinking skills. Without the physicality of handing over a tape or CD, we as a society are losing a tangible connectedness to sharing music together. As I’ve mentioned before, I am friends with all generations and when I sent along a playlist I built for my younger friends they were shocked, awed, and quite a bit apprehensive. Why? This new experience of benevolence filled them with wonder and love in a way they could hardly fathom. For their generation, music is or always has been a singular occupation with earbuds glued in tight.
Therefore, I proclaim, “Bring it back!” How? I know not everyone uses Spotify but I do enjoy the share feature of creating playlists this app offers us. Whatever app or format of hand selecting songs for playlists you choose, even the old school style of writing a list and sharing it with a friend, works. I think it’s imperative we take action to at least try. Crafting a set of songs that align with your friend’s personality speaks volumes. (Pun intended—turn that volume up and enjoy the music!). Understanding a person in that manner is the true, underlying art I’m attempting to convey. A way to prove that you see your friend. A way to feel understood. That’s the package of love worth the effort! Do you agree? If so, let’s experiment. Choose someone in your life to reach out to with a list of songs you think they will enjoy. Report back next week with the results.
I’m still not willing to give CDs up despite the convenience factor of modern day music apps
In the meantime, what albums are you currently looping with relish and gusto because you simply can’t get enough? What playlists do you have in your library? Are they based on the seasons, the heartaches you’ve survived, or the adventures you’ve encountered? What mixed music do you miss from your childhood or young adulthood? What’s your fondest memory of sharing music with your friends? Let’s share it all here and bring this lost art back to our lives!