How Well Does the Algorithm really know me?
Whenever I’m too tired to read (or even Game) but don’t want to go to bed (yes, I’m stubborn that way) I often find myself listening to music on YouTube – in addition, it must be said, to the music emanating from my radio 15 hours a day. About a month ago I was doing this and after about 30 minutes I thought it would, actually would HAVE, made a decent Blog post if ONLY I had made a note of the actual music tracks.
So, a few days ago I was idly checking my phone and was prompted to listen to ‘Sleeping on the Blacktop’ by Colter Ward, so I clicked on it. Just as it was going to go to the next track, I noticed what it was and let it run... Then I thought... THIS is what I meant a month ago and grabbed a nearby note pad. Two tracks in I started to wonder: How much of my favourite music will it give me. Just how well does the Algorithm really KNOW me? Quite well, it seems! This is what it presented me with...
Sleeping on the Blacktop by Colter Ward
No Roots by Alice Merton
Smells like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
Gangsters Paradise by Coolio
7 Nation Army by The White Stripes
Song 2 by Blur
Wonderwall by Oasis
Solitary Man by Johnny Cash
Drops of Jupiter by Train
Breakfast at Tiffanys by Deep Blue Something
I Think I’m Paranoid by Garbage
Human by Rag’n Bone Man
Makeba by Jain
Barracuda by Heart
A Thousand Years by Christina Perry
Home by Machine Gun Kelly, X Ambassadors & Bebe Rexha
Smooth Criminal by Alien Ant Farm
Roll the Bones by Shakey Graves
Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol
Broken People by Logic & Rag ‘n Bone Man
Don’t Let me be Misunderstood by Nina Simone
We Didn’t Start the Fire by Billy Joel
Black Sheep by Metric (with Brie Larson)
Creep by Radiohead
My Silver Lining by First Aid Kit
...and then it crashed out with something I didn’t like. Not BAD. 25 tracks in a row. I was honestly impressed.
8 comments:
A FAK fan! I haven't listened to them in a while. I remember when they were two teenagers with a video camera and guitar in the woods doing a Fleet Foxes cover.
Do you like Billy Joel in general? I'd heard music by him before and liked it, but last year I became obsessed with Piano Man and then wound up listening to its album, The Stranger. "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" was a real surprise..
Oh, I've liked First Aid Kit for *years*. I think I have at least 3-4 of their CD's. I do indeed like Billy Joel in general. I have an old fashioned fondness for songs that tell stories - which he does REALLY well. Not sure if I've got ant of his full albums, but I do have a 2-3 CD collection of his works.
I feel like someone is missing from this list. I could make you a whole playlist on Spotify if you give her a chance ;)
Seriously though, that's a very solid selection of songs!
People are constantly surprised by my music tastes. They seem to think that its somehow age related... [looks confused]
Agreed...but SOMEONE IS STILL MISSING!!!
I only know Piano Man and Vienna, but I get so excited whenever I hear Vienna. It's such a sweet, uplifting song.
The other day I listened to my "Archive Mix" that YouTube put together for me of old favorite songs. I was floored by my own excellent taste :D
I've found a lot of good music in the last several months after a long dry spell... My current obsession (as of the last 2 days) is "The Happy Dictator" by Gorillaz ft Sparks. :P I had never listened to Sparks before - now I have a new assignment for myself this week as I do humdrum tasks at work...
BIG fan of 'Gorillaz'. I actually suprised one of the team leaders @ work by saying how much I liked '30 Seconds to Mars'. It was apparently his teenage daughter's favourite band. Well, I said, then she has good taste. He did struggle with the idea of someone 40 years older liking them too though!
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