I am very attached to Spotify, even though I know I shouldn’t be. I’m not sure if it’s because of Spotify that so many musicians are struggling to earn a living, or if it’s the music companies that are failing to distribute the royalties they receive. Perhaps both. Still, if you’ve got rid of all your CDs and albums you don’t have much choice, unless you switch to another equally evil provider. And Spotify is so much more fun to say than Amazon Music.
Every December, subscribers are treated to Spotify Wrapped – a personalised recap of the top songs and artists they listened to during the year. Which is quite fun, and usually fairly predictable, except this year, when I was shocked to discover that my top artist was Taylor Swift and my most streamed song was her hit Fearless. Something had gone seriously wrong. She definitely wasn’t my favourite singer of the year. Far from it. I did listen to some of her music a few months ago, trying (unsuccessfully) to understand the Taylor Swift phenomenon, but I’m not a fan and have never listened to anything of hers since. How did this happen, I wondered?
Then I remembered that my other half was also curious about her music and had somehow managed to download a playlist of Fearless on a never-ending loop. Every time we got into the car, that wretched playlist would start up and keep going until one of us managed to locate the app and put an end to it. At first I was convinced that all her songs sounded the same until I realised that we were in fact listening to the same song over and over again. Sorry, Taylor.
So now I’m branded. An algorithm has decided that I am a Swiftie. Spotify Wrapped also obligingly offers you little video clips of your favourite artists, but I skipped over Taylor Swift in her glittery underwear to watch a heavily made-up Alice Cooper dressed in black and chains. He was discussing his outsider status, but I knew that he’d really rather be on a golf course wearing a smart polo shirt and chinos. I guess he’s forced to leave the python at home. Although, oddly, he wasn’t my second most listened to artist and in fact I can’t see him in my top 100 list at all. It’s starting to look a bit suspect.
Having got over my Taylor Swift shock, I was very pleased to see that the number two position is occupied by Johnny Flynn singing the theme tune from Detectorists. It makes me smile just to think of that nearly perfect TV series with its haunting soundtrack. And Johnny Flynn’s beautiful deep voice, sounding as though it was marinated in the English countryside.
Spotify Wrapped also revealed that I listened to 13,396 minutes of music this past year – which works out to 36.7 minutes a day. That’s a lot of music. Is it too much? I’m starting to worry that the Spotify algorithms are judging me. So, I have a plan. Next year I’ll be listening mostly to experimental jazz and Gregorian chants in order to keep Taylor Swift firmly, but politely, at bay.
We often have the same problem with Caroline’s phone when we get into her car, some Adele track starts up and we scramble to stop it. It’s such a shame about Taylor Swift though, it kept all those Abba tracks from being replayed for you.
I’m with you on the theme tune to the Detectorists.
How wicked of you, Robert! Mentioning ABBA will have given Sheridan a fit of the vapours! Quick, where are the smelling salts?! 🤣🤣🤣
I’ve never had a fit of the vapours. I’m going to add it to my to-do list.
Our Halloween flash mob danced to Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! and I listened to those same 3 minutes over and over again in rehearsals for weeks. I think I’ve suffered enough.
🤣