It's no secret that music impacts our mood. Of course, I'm no scientist, so I figured I should find some proof to back up this claim, even if no one was arguing against it. Fortunately for me, there was no shortage of information about how music impacts mood and overall wellbeing. I liked THIS ONE in particular because it wasn't filled with lots of medical and scientific jargon I didn't understand. Ain't nobody got time for that.
So what does this have to do with organizing? While I'd love to help you sort and categorize your vast collection of records, cassette tapes and CDs (no, seriously, I'd really love that!), I'm current enough with the times to know that these vintage collections are a thing of the past for most people (not us though-I'm not ashamed to admit that we actually continue adding to our collection of records and cassette tapes regularly).
In the age of digital everything, we've found ways to shrink the footprint of almost everything we do. Mail has turned into email, bills have turned into electronic statements, photo albums have turned into digital folders and music has turned into playlists of songs we don't even own on streaming services we can access from pretty much anywhere. Sure beats that old sun visor CD organizer I used to have!
But with an unending library of music and no limit to the number of songs we can add to a playlist, is it even necessary (or practical) to create an organized system for digital music? I'd argue that it is.
As mentioned in the article above, different songs can impact us in diverse ways. And songs that make some people cry can be inspirational to others. Not only do we like and dislike different kinds of music, but that music can also impact our mood in a wide variety of ways.
Over the years, I've created a playlist of my favorite songs. I love them all for different reasons. The list is currently 64 songs and ranges from Eminem to Jason Mraz to Kenny Chesney and provides me with 3 hours and 45 minutes of entertainment. What I've found, however, is that, depending on my mood, I'll skip many of the songs on that list. I still love them, but they're not what I'm looking for in that moment. Maybe I'm going for a walk and I just want some fun, upbeat songs to keep me moving at a good pace. Suddenly, some of my less happy, more angry music comes on and it's all wrong for my current mood, so I skip it for something that better fits my state of mind. While it's no big deal to skip a song, I've found that creating separate playlists for the kind of mood I'm in, or hope to be in, is a better way to go. Not only do streaming services allow you to create a playlist with infinite songs, but I'm pretty sure there's also no limit to the number of playlists one can have. It's time to get your money's worth from that service!
When it comes to sorting through a playlist, I don't recommend scrolling through it and putting songs where you think they belong based on genre. Instead, listen to each song with an open mind and let yourself ease into whatever mood it puts you in, then move that song to the playlist that best fits that mood. This is not a ten minute project. In fact, I've been working on mine for several months now and it's not yet done (thus the 64 songs still on that 'favorites' playlist). I also find that songs sometimes move from one playlist to another or even end up on multiple lists... there's no right or wrong way to do it.
Organizing your songs in this way may seem like a waste of time, but let's look at it another way... Let's say you've had a rough day ___ (fill in the blank: at work, taking care of kids, dealing with unkind people... the list of things that can put us in a bad mood is endless). We know that music has the ability to change our mood through the release of dopamine in our brains, so it stands to reason that listening to music that puts us in a good mood will have a positive impact on our mental state when we're feeling down. Likewise, if we're feeling sad and want to sit in those feelings for a little while, turning on music that matches our mood can allow us to work through emotions we may need to sort through.
The problem with organizing your music by genre is that not all songs in that genre have the same impact. Even songs by the same artist can affect your mood in different ways. Take Toby Keith's extensive list of hits, for example. "Red Solo Cup" might make you want to fire up the grill and pour yourself an ice cold beer while "How Do You Like Me Now?!" could inspire you after a breakup and "My List" might cause you to think twice about how much time you put in at work. That's not to imply that these belong in 3 different playlists... they all just make you feel a different emotion, which could dictate when you want to listen to them.
For myself, I mainly use these playlists:
Songs that remind me of specific people and times in my life: Listening to this playlist brings back so many great memories and is a favorite for long car trips by myself.
My son's favorite music: A playlist says a lot about a person and I love listening to whatever my son is into these days. Surprisingly, it's a great mix of old school stuff like House of Pain and Coolio, music we listened to together when he was younger like Flo Rida, Pitbull and Fitz & The Tantrums, and newer stuff he's introducing me to that I haven't decided whether or not I like yet. I let him play DJ whenever it's just the two of us playing ping pong or driving somewhere and makes me feel like I'm getting to know him a little better in the process.
Music that pumps me up: There is no shortage of music that gets me fired up and I love this playlist for when I'm doing things I don't particularly enjoy, like exercising and doing chores... you know, adulting.
Music for chilling: For pool days when the only thing I plan to work on is my tan, this playlist is perfect for kicking back with an ice cold beverage (iced tea works too!) and putting my brain on vacation mode.
Songs about girl power: These days, there's no shortage of songs for this female-artist-packed playlist that has a way of motivating me even on my toughest days.
Dance party songs: While I don't host dance parties regularly (okay, it's rare, but it sometimes happens by accident), I do occasionally treat myself to my own personal dance party in the kitchen when no one else is around. I'm not really into working out, so sometimes this is the only physical activity I get all week. Therefor, having the right playlist to keep me moving is essential to my physical fitness.
While I don't have a playlist for it myself, a friend of mine has one where she adds any songs with 'oohs' and 'aahs' because they remind her of a girls weekend road trip and the absolutely awful (and somehow also awesome) sing-along we had in the car. There may have been microphones involved. Maybe you had to be there...
While I'd love to share my actual playlists with you, the fact is that mine won't likely look anything like the playlists you'd make for yourself. How music impacts each individual can be so vastly different, so each playlist should be personal to you.
If you've read through this entire post and suddenly realized that your playlist game is severely lacking, I've got a great way to get you started on creating your ultimate playlists! While this can certainly be done by yourself, it's even more fun with others... like most things in life, I suppose.
From time to time we'll be hanging out with friends listening to music. Usually, it's when people are visiting from out of town and we're sitting outside enjoying a beautiful day and some cold beers. While we love our own playlists, we're often with people that don't have the same taste in music. This is when we play what I call the Alphabet Game. Feel free to rename it before suggesting it to friends so it doesn't sound so lame :)
The game is simple and there are no winners or losers (and also no participation trophies). It works well for any size group and, other than really little kids, anyone can play along. All you need is a music streaming service so that you're not limited on the songs that can be selected. There are free options out there if you're willing to listen to commercials and don't already subscribe to one.
The first person starts with the letter A and comes up with a song title or artist that begins with that letter. They search for the song and play it. The device (iPod, smartphone, etc. based on how you play your streaming music) is passed to the next person who does the same with the letter B. When the first song finishes, the second one is played and the device is passed to the next person to pick a song for C. The goal is to pick the next song before the previous one finishes and it's usually not tough to do when you can plan ahead based on where you're sitting to determine what letter you'll have. Whether you stop at Z or keep the party going for a second round, there is no limit on time (other than bedtime, which could be 9pm with no judgment from me).
You can certainly make the game more challenging by limiting yourself to only song titles or artists and you can narrow it down to specific genres, but the real fun is in seeing what everyone comes up with. Keeping the rules loose means you're more likely to have a very wide range of songs as people often try to come up with something completely unexpected when it's their turn.
If your group is a fun one and the gathering is something you will likely look back on with fondness, create an empty playlist in advance and ask your friends to add their song to that playlist along the way. While it won't be organized like your other playlists by mood, it will likely be an eclectic mix of music and remind you of this group and this night for years to come. And, of course, as you listen to this playlist later, you can copy your favorites into your other organized lists to keep them fun and fresh for future listening.
The best part of organizing your playlists is that there is no right or wrong way to do it. And if you like the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with a completely random mix of songs, don't hesitate to leave it just as it is! When music is digital and takes up no space, no one can judge you on your messy playlist :)
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