Growing up, I always enjoyed listening to music. I briefly played piano and clarinet. I was in the middle school band (lured by the promise of a trip to Disneyland to perform). I liked listening to CDs and the radio and later my iPod. Joel is really into music and was in a band in college and coordinated concerts for the campus radio station. When we met, I was doing an internship that had a super long commute, and he used to make me CDs with different weekly playlists. I wish I had kept more of them even though I don’t have a way to play them now.
Eventually, I started listening to podcasts and my commute time to work mostly shifted towards new episodes rather than albums although I still listened to music. As I became a parent, and then a few years later, a stay-at-home parent I gradually noticed that music was becoming a less prevalent part of my life as my kids became old enough to request songs and wanted to hear the same songs over and over. There was less time when I was the only one at home or in the car, and so I was less attuned to new music.
Earlier this year, I started making monthly-ish playlists with my family. Everyone puts on their favorite songs of the month, and we add to it as the month goes on. We usually listen on shuffle, so everyone gets turns but you never know what’s coming next. Sometimes I choose to add songs I already love, and other times I pick songs from a new album or artist I want to check out. I like that this playlist gets me back in the habit of looking out for new music, and it’s very fun that by the end of the month the kids are starting to sing along to some of our picks.
In November we have a mix including Raffi, Florence + the Machine, KPop Demon Hunters, Snocaps, Abba, Christmas music, and Zombies 4. It’s a nice way for our kids to get lots of music picks, but be more open to listening to different songs. What do you like to listen to lately? Do you listen mostly to albums or playlists? If you regularly drive with other people, how do you select who gets to pick the music?
Music is so important to me. I listen to playlists mainly, Spotify is good like that. I have discovered many great artists because the algorithm thought I may like it. And they were right, I did! lol
ReplyDeleteI like jazz, country, folk, and alternative. Heck , I like it all, depends on my mood.
I have Tank's Alexa in my kitchen so I will ask her to play whatever I'm in the mood for. I usually ask her to play Cure radio or U2 or Bob Dylan, or John Denver or Rusted Root. When I drive, I often listen to a Spotify Neil Diamond playlist or 80s playlist. To be clear, I made none of these lists - I rely on them to be already in there ready to go. My car, my tunes.
ReplyDeleteMonthly playlists is a great idea! I am making one big one with all new music for this year, and it is kind of a mess when listened to all together.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a fun idea! I am not a huge music person, but in 2024, I had a goal of listening to one new album per month to expand my musical horizons. I want to get back to that goal in 2026 and doing monthly playlists would be a fun addition!
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