When I’m out in public and I hear a song I like, or a song I don’t know, or a song I can’t remember, or a song to act as memory, I get out my smartphone and try to use the Shazam app to identify and log it.
To be honest, I’m not a fan of most public music.
Generally, it’s too loud. Some store manager or district manager is convinced that studies exist saying that loud music encourages shopping. No such studies exist. I’ve looked into it over the years. If you have heard of one, let me know. I think all loud music does is torture the public and the employees.
Just as bad is public music that is not curated sensibly or tries to cover too many genres. Terrible music will have me run for the exits quicker than loud music.
Of all the places I go, I think the clothing stores have the best music. Banana Republic’s music mix is excellent, although the employees there said it’s not changed often enough. J Crew has pretty good music. The local casino has a rather eclectic but generally good mix of 50s and 60s oldies, 80’s pop, modern country, and soul. Trader Joe’s, too.
This is a crazy playlist. 155 songs and over 10 hours. I don’t include everything I identify, much less everything I hear. It’s in reverse order, so the first track, “China” by Red Rockers, was captured on Thursday, December 28th at Trader Joe’s. It’s been forever since I’ve heard that one and it was a pleasure to rediscover.
Other notables:
“Asc. Scorpio” by Oracle Sisters. Never heard this before. Banana Republic. Lovely.
“Kiss” by Prince. It’s so indisputably a classic, and always has been from the first listen. I can’t help but Shazam it whenever I hear it. This was heard at the Meskwaki Casino. I’m amazed that any app can identify music in a casino.
“Bluebird” by Miranda Lambert. What a great tune. Never heard it before. I like classic country rather than modern country, but I like this because it’s more pop that rock or “pickup truck driving beer drinking” cheese, and she does a great job with the vocal. I would remix it. The drums are too sterile and the backing could use a little more “band feeling” rather than being tweaked to death.
One of the grocery stores in my town plays deep tracks from the 1970s. That’s why you see Dr John, Leon Russell, Jefferson Starship, and the J. Geils Band in here.
“Sideshow” by Blue Magic. Who??? Very good tune heard at Prairie Meadows Casino.
“I’m Not in Love” by 10cc, heard at the grocery store. Another indisputable classic being broadcast in the wrong environment. Why even bother?
“Hang Fire” by the Rolling Stones, a song they seem to have disowned. Also heard at the grocery store, which amused me to no end. It sounded really good in the store! I guess this was their attempt at punk rock?
I could go on and on and on. Music in a playlist as memory!
I’ll be starting 2024’s playlist soon, but for 2023 I’m done.