Playlist confessions
A few weeks ago, I made the leap and upgraded my chintzy little MP3 player to a full-blown, 80-gig iPod.
I am not an avid music buff. I like what I like simply because it’s the backdrop to my life. I like blues because it adds texture to an already-mellow evening. Classic rock is the anthem for my “leaving it all behind” daydream to become a roadie. Classical tends to inspire my creativity. Country is the soundtrack to my northwoods-loving alter ego.
But, as I peruse my new iTunes store, I got to thinking. What would my eclectic collection of tunes say about me?
Admit it … you have songs on your iPod that you’d be mortified if anyone knew you not only listened to, but also had on your “Most Often Played” playlist.
But, an even more random train of thought is what those artists would say if they knew they were parked right next to each other on said playlist?
Would Shania Twain and KT Tunstall get along? Who would win the fight between Heart and Poison? Would a duet ensue between Etta James and Tom Petty? Would Tony Bennett buy Norah Jones a drink, or would he be too busy chatting with B.B. King? Or what about Toby Keith, Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, the Dixie Chicks, Muddy Waters and Madalyn Peroux … now that’s a “We Are The World” group if I’ve ever seen one.
I think our iPod collections are one of the truest, purest representations of who we are. It’s the soundtrack to our personality – old-school, new-age, classic-rock, Top-40 all rolled into one.
An appreciation for this hodge-podge of personality goo is something I bring with me to most of my client meetings. A big part of why I love doing what I do is because I get to know and partner with a huge variety of wildly fascinating people. To me, the people I work with are much more than the projects they send my way … they’re also duck-hunting, dog-training, opera-singing, model-train-loving, fashion-forward, diverse hobbyists of all shapes and sizes.
So here’s my random thought for the day. Next time you meet someone new – whether it be a big-wig CEO, your kid’s new teacher, or the eccentric guy who moved in down the street – remember, don’t judge an iPod by its playlist.
