As you’ve probably noticed, Song of the Day has become something of a regular item in recent weeks. You might think it’s just a case of me casting about for filler because my life is so full and fabulous. Hey, could happen, but … no. The SOTD trend reflects a serious and rapid deterioration of my mental health.
See, I don’t really choose the song of the day. It kinda, well, “presents” itself to me. Hmm. Let me try to explain a little more … better.
About two months ago, my commute went from T‘ing it to driving. Back in the T days, I passed the time by doing a crossword or reading or people-watching, but now that I drive, my morning pat-check is pretty much: keys, phone, lip gloss, iPod.
I can’t be bothered to make quality playlists, so I almost always set the music to shuffle. I also just really dig that feeling of glee you get when a beloved song jams unexpectedly. (This, in fact, is how SOTD got started. I believe it was “Spoonman,” by Soundgarden. It came on one morning, and I was like Duuuuuuude! Song. Of. The. Day. Rock fingers may or may not have been involved.)
Okay, sane so far.
Well, more and more, the shuffle seems … less than random. What I mean is, I get the feeling that the iPod is pushing certain songs or particular artists. So, for example, every single goddamned morning last week the iPod wanted me to listen to “Save a Prayer,” by Duran Duran. (And this is exactly how I’ve come to think of it, by the way. “The iPod wanted …” is no literary device.) The iPod also has an intense fondness for Massive Attack and Bright Eyes. It doesn’t matter how many times I skip, I get at least five Massive Attack and three Bright Eyes per morning.
Sure, all this may seem like nothing but a petty nuisance … fodder for the blog or first-date schtick, but there’s a darker side: I’m increasingly interested in what the iPod—and, by extension, life—is trying to tell me.
The iPod wants me to listen to John Parr’s “Naughty Naughty” every evening on my way home. That much is clear. The question is why?
Don’t tell me “I don’t wanna be a girl like that.”
Do you wanna see a grown man cry?
You don’t wanna be a girl like that.
Baby, this could be the first time (this could be the first time).
If there’s a life lesson in there for me, I’m missing it.
Let me say in my own defense, I’m not particularly superstitious or spiritual. I walk under ladders. I let spilt salt just brazenly lie there most of the time. And I’d be really fucking blown away if there ends up being an afterlife, a god or an Easter bunny. Still, part of me is drawn to the idea that things happen for a reason and that the reason is discernible if we’re open to discovering it … in other words, that the shuffle ain’t random.
Run-of-the-mill hippy-dippy shit? Maybe.
I’m pretty sure when you start attributing motives and desires to electronic devices, though, you’ve jumped the rails (or you’re about to).
Anyway, I share all this with you now for three reasons:
- If you have any knowledge of the program that drives the iPod shuffle feature, contact me immediately. I fear only a deep and thorough understanding of the code will dispel the scourge of magical thinking that has taken root in my psyche.
- If you notice an inherent pattern in the SOTDs, contact me immediately. I fear it is terribly obvious … to everyone but me.
- If you know someone at McLean Hospital, contact me immediately. I fear the waiting list is very, very, very long.
“Rock fingers?!” What the hell kinda effete, bourgoisie gesture is “rock fingers?” Here in War Town, they’re called “horns,” baby. Horns!!! Ferchrissake, go practice in the mirror. Use both hands.
;)
The shuffle feature tends to play song played more often that songs played less often, and there is a setting to adjust the probability that another song by the same “artist” may play next. If that is set high, it can get into a sort of feed back loop. It plays songs by the same folks more other, and the more those songs get played, the more likely that are to play.
Also, if you never turn the ipod off (like all the way off, not jsut in sleep more) it might not reseed the randomizer. As I am sure you know, not machine can have a truly random feature. It’s more of a pseudo-random, with a different starting position every time it reseeds.
Not that I know what I am talking about. I think I made most of that up, with some truth peppered in there. Good like with the bright eyes first thing in the morning…and, btw, who the fuck names themselves bright eyes. What a schmuck.
For a self proclaimed GeekGirl I’m suprised you don’t know how to do this. We’ll forget that though and have pride in the fact that you’re not afraid to ask.
Once you’ve got iTunes open go up top and click the Edit drop down menue. At the bottom (he he) click Preferences. Once the Preferences window pops up (he he) click the Playback tab. At the bottom of that page well be a section for Smart Shuffle with a slide control. Slide it to the right for Less Likely and click OK.
This should set you up.
Enjoy!
Val: I use the phrase “rock fingers” either because it portrays me as the dainty, delicate flower that I am OR because it helps me ward off fears that someday I’ll say “I’d hit that” one too many times and suddenly sprout a pair of ‘nads on the outside.
ulmedas and chris: So, are you saying that the iPod *isn’t* trying to get me to quit my job and build a yurt in Wyoming? Interesting.
Let me tell you…a yurt is not good in the winter…especially if mushrooms (ehm, let us say, not the canned kind) are involved.
ulmedas: Good point about the yurt. I’ll add that winter in Wyoming isn’t just any kind of winter. It’s crazy winter with crazy wind.
If you truly believe your iPod is evil I’d say have it blessed by a priest or wipe it off every morning with a soft cloth moistened with holy water.